ENTOMOLOGIOAL RAMBLES IN THE MIDLANDS. 195 
Godarti and Cephennium thoracicum. Stopping to examine some fine 
plants of the rather rare Helleborus viridis, we notice, close by, a dead 
hedgehog, strongly appealing to our sense of smell, and not in vain, for, 
knowing that what is so offensive to us is considered a rich treat by 
certain members of our favourite order of insects, we carefully and 
expectantly turn it over and examine it, being rewarded for our pains 
(literal meaning, if you please!) by several fine beetles. Amongst them 
are two or three species of Choleva, the Burying Beetles Necrophorus 
humator, N. mortuorum, and N. vespillo; Silpha littoralis, S. thoracica, 
and S. sinuata, also come forth in plenty; whilst Histers positively 
abound, and WNitidula bipustulata, Omosita colon, and O. discoidea, 
Swarm upon the remains of poor “‘spiny.” Of course there are also 
a good many ‘“Staphs ”—Aleochara, &c., but nothing to be specifically 
noted. 
In rising from our unsavoury, but, withal, profitable beetle-trap, our 
attention is riveted on a handsome caterpillar feeding on the hawthorn 
above us, and which we recognise as the larva of T'richiura crategi (one 
of the Bombycidz,) which, if we take it home and carefully feed it, will 
become a moth in August or September, proving an acquisition to our 
cabinet. 
We are now fairly in the forest, and find so much to claim our 
attention that it is at first somewhat bewildering. A little too early for 
the Silver-washed Fritillary, Argynnis paphia, the dark variety of which, 
valezina, also occurs here; and the Purple Hair-streak, Thecla quercus, 
(of which two or three laggard larvee, which ought to have completed 
their feeding and changed to pups before this, have fallen to the beating 
stick,) we are gladdened with the sight of scores of ‘‘ Pearl borders,” 
Argynnis euphrosyne and A. selene, flitting about all around us, the former 
somewhat worn and showing signs of living beyond its time. Ah! what 
have we now? Not a Black-veined White, certainly, visions of which 
have more than once crossed our minds, and which is reported to have 
been formerly found here ; nor a Camberwell Beauty, a butterfly assuredly 
netted here, once at any rate, not many years ago; but, fluttering in our 
net, we have a very interesting butterfly, nevertheless, viz., the “ Greasy 
Fritillary,” Melitea artemis. This is soon boxed, and the net again in 
requisition. This time we have taken two curious day-flying moths, 
‘Mother Shipton” and ‘‘ Mother Shipton’s Likeness,” Huclidia mi and 
FE. glyphica, the former having a droll caricature figure of a human face 
on each fore-wing. Here also is Phytometra enea, likewise a lover of 
sunshine; and, flitting about in the shady parts of the walks, the prettily 
speckled Geometer, Venilia maculata. Sitting onthe flowers in the hot 
sunshine, busily sipping their sweets, are several specimens of the small 
Angle-shades moth, Euplexia lucipara, and in yonder shady opening in 
the wood, moving with ghost-like flight, is the Wood-white butterfly, 
Leucophasia sinapis. Having boxed as many as required of the former, 
and netted the latter while at rest on a “‘lady’s smock,” we pass 
towards a number of large purplish flowers, descried growing just within 
the margin of the wood, and which prove to be those of two species of 
