196 ENTOMOLOGICAL RAMBLES IN THE MIDLANDS. 
Geranium, G. sanguinewm, and G. sylvaticum. Whilst moving towards 
these, we notice a large and strikingly beautiful moth sitting on an oak 
leaf, and of course stop to examine it. It is one new to us, and we feel 
all the thrilling pleasure of a “first find.” We gloat over it—the deli- 
cately outlined markings, and the silvery, pearly-gray gloss on the wings 
are inexpressibly exquisite, and a fine crest on the thorax, gently stirred 
by a passing zephyr, seems to be waved at the will of the insect. It is 
so lovely, and spreads all its riches of beauty so unsuspectingly before us, 
that we shrink from the idea of laying violent hands upon it. But the 
moth is the Silvery Arches, Aplecta tincta, and our cabinet hitherto 
knows not the species! Acquisitiveness overcomes sentiment, and in @ 
moment the rarity is ours! In capturing it (of course you must under- 
stand that ‘ perfect coolness” steadied our hands!) we rustle the tree, 
and out fly two other prizes, by name Limacodes testudo and Lithosia 
mesomella, which soon share a similar fate. 
Now for the Geranium flowers, in which we find, quite in the 
centre of the blossoms, a chubby, rugose, intensely black-backed, white- 
bellied little weevil, which feigns death and falls to the ground at your 
slightest touch of the plant on which it is resting. Thisis a good catch, 
and rejoices in the name of Coeliodes geraniit. We take plenty ‘ for 
selves and friends,” but scarcely seem to diminish their numbers. Two, 
male and female, in one flower, are common, and often three-—-generally 
one male and two females—occur in a single bloom. They eat the petals 
of the flower, and seem to like such fairy-food, as indeed they ought. 
But, tempting as these little beauties are, we must move on, seeking 
‘‘fresh fields and pastures new.” Lo! here, ‘‘ where the bee sucks,” is 
fine sport. In front of us is a grand specimen of the Guelder rose in full 
bloom, and swarming with insects. Where shall we begin, and what 
shall we take first? Beetles first, decidedly, and Longhorns before 
everything, and so we attack accordingly. Clytus arietis, Rhagium 
inquisitor, R. bifasciatum, Toxotus meridianus, Pachyta collaris, P. octo- 
maculata, Strangalia quadrifasciata, S. armata, Leptura livida, and 
Grammoptera ruficornis—all are here, and all are captured. Some of 
them so covered with pollen-dust that it is hard, at first sight, to tell 
what they are. This is particularly the case with Pachyta collaris, which, 
instead of his usual genteel blue-black coat and red waistcoat, looks asif he 
had been made tipsy and then rolled in a baker’s trough, “for a lark.” 
We are glad to have him, though, and feel already more than satisfied 
with our success. There is, however, more work yet to be done before 
retracing our steps. But first let us think of responding to an increas- 
ingly powerful appeal from the ‘inner man,” and, with that view, make 
bold to enter the house at Cooper’s Mill, placed hereabouts as if on 
purpose to meet our gastronomic requirements. Mrs. Weaver, always 
kind and obliging, provides a bountiful supply of ham and eggs, and 
brews some excellent tea, upon which, with plenty of her own home- 
made bread, we regale ourselves with the relish inspired by good fare 
and keen appetites. 
[To BE CONTINUED.] 
