ENTOMOLOGICAL EXCURSION. 51 



we reached Leominster; and there terminated our journey for 

 a while. 



June 6th. The locahty of Leominster is particularly suited 

 to the increase of the insect tribes. It stands in a valley inter- 

 sected by numerous streams, the banks of which are generally 

 bordered by trees and underwood ; and the valley itself is com- 

 pletely inclosed by hills, the summits of which are frequently 

 wooded. On the morning after our arrival, we ventured out, 

 notwithstanding the ragged and stormy appearance of the clouds, 

 and were rewarded by the capture of several good insects ; 

 among them Pachyta collaris and Atherix Ibis, both in consi- 

 derable abundance. The extremely confined habitat of the 

 former insect is worthy of notice : we found it only on Umbelli- 

 ferce in the hedgerows surrounding a hop-ground ; and although 

 we could not satisfactorily ascertain that its larva feeds in the 

 decaying poles, there appeared but little reason to doubt it. 

 We have since learnt from Mr. Griesbach, that he has found 

 this insect on the white-thorn blossoms in the same neighbour- 

 hood. Chelostoma florisomne and Eucera longicornis were 

 also abundant in the hop-grounds : the former nidificates in the 

 poles ; on which we also observed a great number of Lyctus 

 oblongus : the females were thrusting their long retractile ovi- 

 positors into the wood. These various tribes must, of course, 

 cause great injury and eventual decay to the poles : we ob- 

 served many were perforated in all directions. Among the 

 growers, the hop seems to be the only object of attention ; other- 

 wise, it would not be difficult, by a slight wash over with some 

 nauseous fluid in the winter, to secure the poles from these 

 destroyers. The hops were looking moderately well ; but on 

 the upper leaves the Aphis was to be seen, three to ten on each 

 leaf. The constant showers during the day prevented our 

 going further than a few fields from the town : and the length 

 and wetness of the grass insured us wet legs and feet; even 

 though the sky above was for a time tolerably fair. 



7th. We again kept close to the town : took more Atherix 

 Ibis. This beautiful fly we obtained by sweeping with a com- 

 mon water-net among the weeds on the banks of the rivers. 

 The female is much the rarer sex, occurring but as one to six 

 of the male : the eyes of the insect, when living, are remarkably 

 beautiful and iridescent. In the same locality we also found 

 Orthoperiis inmctum, Leiodes miiltistrigata, and another 



