NOTES ON LOCALITIES. 



In spite of the encroachments constantly being made by advancing 

 "civilization," and the agricultural, and other improvements being carried 

 out, in large tracts of country, fortunately, for the sake of Entomological 

 and Botanical Science, we have still many localities left to us in a compara- 

 tive state of nature. The geological and physical features of a country are 

 well known to be the chief regulating agencies in the production of its Flora 

 and its Fauna. We are chiefly interested in the Insect Fauna only, and the 

 Flora upon which that mainly depends. If the observer is assured of the pro- 

 ductiveness of any particular locality in a special plant, or family of plants, he 

 may fairly conclude that there are corresponding Insects also to be found. 

 Hills, as a rule, (when moderately covered with a good variety of not-too- 

 closely planted wood) seem more productive than purely agricultural districts 

 in the vale, besides producing special Insects which are not to be found 

 elsewhere. Wet places, provided they are not too much exposed, produce 

 more insect-life than colder and dryer places. Thus forests, woods, heaths, 

 bogs, and especially fens, and sandy districts bordering the sea, are favourite 

 resorts of the Entomologist. In these latter places especially do we find 

 rare and interesting insects. Some of them are remarkably local, being 

 apparently confined to a very small space, not always precisely defined by 

 the range of the food-plant. In some of these districts, notably the " Breck" 

 districts of Norfolk and Suffolk, the ancient coast-line, inside the existing 

 line, is unmistakeably indicated, and produces its special plants and insects, 

 not to be found elsewhere in the kingdom. These are spots which are most 

 interesting from a scientific point of view, and ought never to be " hunted 

 to death," for the sake of the rare specimens they produce, or we may see 

 " the goose killed for the sake of the golden eggs," to our cost, a process, 

 indeed, we are threatened with, in regard to some of our local insects, by 

 needy dealers, and greedy Collectors. Mr. Charles G. Barrett has done much 

 to make us acquainted with the riches of this " Breck" district, and the 

 neighbouring fens, and by his energy and intelligence has greatly enlarged 

 our scientific knowledge of many species. 



Probably one of the best districts in this country for Insects is Rannoch, 

 which is doubtless largely due to the abundant vegetation of the heaths, 

 woods, and hills having from time immemorial remained wild and unshorn. 

 This it is, too, which makes our old forests such excellent hunting grounds 

 for local insects, particularly Sherwood Forest, and the New Forest. Epping 

 Forest, too, (now happily preserved against further encroachments from lucre- 

 loving lords-of-the-manor), was once a famous locality, and doubtless many 

 good species still linger there. The Forest of Dean has^ been somewhat 

 disappointing, probably because of the poorness of a good deal of the soil, 

 and the number of young plantations, interspersed with coal-pits and iron- 

 works ; while it is a difficult country to work, on account of its hilly character. 

 Bewdley Forest, Worcestershire, has yielded larvae of E. versicolora, and 

 Other good things. 



