MIDLAND ENTOMOLOGY. 31 
These three questions are a digest of a great number of enquiries 
which I have heard made during the last few months, and they seem 
to indicate that, in at least one leading Society in the ‘Midland 
Union,” Entomology is about to assume a new and more hopeful phase. 
This is very gratifying ; for although I do not admit that this science is 
neglected quite to the extent some would have us believe, I am only too 
well aware that it does not receive the attention it deserves; but, in 
truth, the last remark applies equally to the whole of the British — 
Islands as to the Midland Counties. From all parts we hear the same 
lament that Entomology is too much neglected. It seems to flourish 
most in the south and north, whilst in the east and west it is very little 
regarded. The English and Scotch, respectively, are most attached to 
this pursuit, the Irish being a long way behind both, and the Welsh just 
nowhere at all! But, however interesting it might be to prosecute an 
enquiry into this broader subject, our attention for the present must be 
concentrated upon the narrower theme of ‘ Midland Entomology.” 
How it has come about I am unable to explain, but certain it is that, 
entomologically speaking, the Midland Counties have acquired a bad 
name. In the “ Entomologists’ Intelligencer” for 1857 frequent allusion 
js made to the alleged barrenness of the Midland fauna—especially as 
regards insects—and one writer, in giving counsel to Coleopterists, says : 
“In a general sense, therefore, let the Midland Counties be shunned by all 
as they would the plague!” 'The italics are in the original, and are used, 
I imagine, to intensify the meaning, and to impress upon any rash adven- 
turer in search of Midland insects the utter hopelessness of his design. 
I recollect that, upon my advent into this district, now eleven years ago, 
I was told that I might choose some other hobby than Entomology, 
‘for there are no insects in the Midlands except Nebria brevicollis, Pieris 
rape, Panorpa communis, Musca domestica, and a few others equally 
common!” TI was certainly very much impressed, though not depressed, 
by this information; for, as my object was to make myself acquainted 
with the insects of the locality, and not simply and primarily to acquire a 
“complete collection,’ I was not deterred from prosecuting my 
researches as far as my limited time and abilities allowed. With what 
result? Why, during the very first season I found, almost without 
effort, somany “good things” that my faith in the written and oral 
counsels referred to was greatly shaken, if not wholly destroyed, and 
the conclusion I came to was that this district would prove as 
interesting and productive (in a general way) as any other, if properly 
worked. Subsequent experience, and a comparison of notes with a few 
close but unobtrusive observers, have confirmed the justness of this 
view. 
It would occupy too much space here to give a list of the rarer 
species of insects captured in the district. For Lepidoptera I must refer 
enquirers tothe Transactions (Vols. I. and II.) of the Birmingham Natural 
History and Microscopical Society. The lists there given, however, only 
apply to the immediate neighbourhood of Birmingham, and must not be 
taken as representing the wealth of the Midlands in the particular order 
