ENTOMOLOGICAL, RAMBLES IN THE MIDLANDS. 85 



plenty of Phytophaga, including Donatio, linearis, sericea, and coniart, Letna 

 cyanella, Ohrysomela polita, Phmdon cochlearice, Prasocuris phellandrii, 

 Galeruca calmariensis, Aphthona, Phyllotreta, Thyamis, Cassida oblonga, 

 and obsoleta , Sphceroderma, Coccinella 19-punctata, bipunctata, 7-punctaia, 

 and 22-punctata, Scymnus frontalis, Rhizobius litura, and Coccidula 

 rufa. 



It must not be supposed that it is always easy and pleasant to strip 

 reeds in the way described. Often they are filled with a mass of ice, 

 in which the insects lie entombed — not dead, but dormant — awaiting 

 the coming of a more genial season. If taken out and placed in a 

 higher temperature they recover from their frozen torpor and walk 

 about as if nothing had happened. In very cold weather standing in a 

 bog picking insects from the icy flags is anything but conducive to the 

 comfort of one's extremities, and one is soon glad to vary the occupa- 

 tion. Fortunately, we can change both our ground and our method, 

 without loss of either interest or occupation, and greatly to the 

 advantage of our half-frozen fingers and toes. A short walk at once 

 promotes our circulation, and brings us to a number of oak trees, at 

 the roots of which we can vigorously ply our diggers with the certainty 

 of finding lots of pupos of moths. In company with these are many other 

 kinds of insects — Ichneumon-flies, Humble-bees, Saw-flies, and Beetles. 

 Amongst the latter we soon recognise several old friends, including 

 two or three species of Notiophilus, Carabus catenulatus and viohiceus, 

 the ubiquitous Nebria brevicollis, Leistm spinibarbis, fulvibarbis, ferru- 

 gineus and rufescens, Loricera pilicornis, Badisterbipustulatus, Anchomenus 

 junceus and prasinus, Pterostichus niger, vulgaris, and striola, two or 

 three Be mbidiei, a large number of " Staphs " — including the formidable- 

 looking Ocypus olens, the pretty Xantholinus glabratus, and several 

 Philonthi — and the shiny but sluggish Silpha atrata. 



Being tired of stooping, let us now stand up and search the 

 bark of these same trees, in which we may find more insects 

 and of a different stamp. Here are several species of Coccinella ; 

 Dromius meridionalis, agilis, quadrimaculatus, and quadrinotatus ; 

 two or three Anchomeni ; the rare Scydmcenus ezilis ; Soronia 

 arisen; Rhizophagus ferrugineus, and bipustulatus (in dead trees;) 

 Hclops striatus ; Salpingus castaneus ; Rhinosimus ruficollis, viridipennis, 

 and planirostris ; and Orehestes quercus. The hinder femora (thighs) of 

 the last-named beetle are very powerful, and enable it to jump a most 

 surprising distance. I have often envied this beetle and wished that I had 

 a similar power, in proportion to my larger bulk, so that, when a long 

 distance from home, tired and hungry — no inn or railway near at hand 

 — I could just take a few leaps and be there ! In removing the bark 

 from a dead oak tree we turn out a large number of the fat white 

 larvae, and, now and then, a pupa, or an imago, of Rhagium inquisitor, 

 a beetle of the long-horn section, which may be obtained freely from 

 this time until May, scarcely a dead oak at Sutton being untenanted 

 by this insect in its several stages of development. 



