THE YOUNG NATURALIST. 



61 



from their winter quarters and relentlessly 

 dropped into a cold box for future exami- 

 nation. Beetles we found very plentifully, 

 but were somewhat surprised on splitting a 

 stump in the centre of the wood to find 

 several of Aphodius fimetarius snugly es- 

 consed ; along with a few of the Coccinella, 

 most plentiful of which was the four-spot 

 ladybird. Bliagium bifasciattmi was our 

 next find, and of it we took several speci- 

 mens in the rotton wood. I found also 

 several specimens of the same insect dead 

 and decomposed, which I think was the 

 result of the wood being too damp. In 

 October last I found a specimen of this 

 longicorne in the same piece of wood as I 

 found these in ; and as I searched the log 

 carefully at that time and did not find any 

 more, I presume that these must have re- 

 tired to hybernation later on. It would be 

 interesting to know the period of time which 

 elapsed between these specimens of the same 

 species taking to hybernation. Several of 

 Carabus violaceus and Cychrus rostratus were 

 next taken, and later on Silj?7ia atrata was 

 found plentifully enough. In another log that 

 very pretty little beetle, S. biguttatus, was 

 found, along with a perfect swarm of other 

 species, most of which we did not know. 

 Boxing as many of these as we required, 

 we determined to try our luck in the further 

 end of the wood, and accordingly set out in 

 that direction. 



It was only then that we observed the 

 many birds which were flying about, chirp- 

 ing quite merrily, as if it were a fine day in 

 spring, instead of a cold afternoon in mid 

 winter. We were very sorry that a know- 

 ledge of ornithology was not one of our 

 accomplishments ; had it been, we might 

 have been able to have identified some of 

 the species. But not being possessed of any 

 scientific knowledge in this subject, but 

 an ardent love for our woodland songsters, 

 we had to content ourselves with feeling 

 quite enlivened after listening for some 



short time to their sweet carols. We were 

 greatly surprised at the number of birds 

 which remain with us during bleak and 

 dreary winter ; and if anything enlivens the 

 heart of the true lover of nature, it is to 

 hear the sweet notes of our songsters at 

 such a time as this. 



A rather marshy part of the wood next 

 attracted our attention, and it seeming a 

 likely place in which to find the larvae of 

 some of the clear-wing moths, we at once 

 began examining the stems of the trees, and 

 before long came across several perfectly 

 honey-combed with the borings of the larvae 

 of Sesia bembeciformis, and by cutting off 

 portions of the stems we secured a great 

 many. Several stems of pine were next 

 searched and yielded many specimens of 

 Hylobius abietis and O. sulcatus. In the 

 same place we took several of another 

 weevil, very like abietis, but instead of the 

 ground colour being black it was of a red- 

 dish colour. I do not know whether it is a 

 distinct species or only a light variety. Can 

 any of your readers inform me ? 



As it was now well on in the afternoon, 

 and we were beginning to feel that collect- 

 ing did otherwise than satisfy our appetite, 

 we resolved to turn our steps homeward. 

 A pleasant walk through the wood brought 

 us down to the canal bank, and crossing 

 Lambhill Bridge we soon arrived at Possil 

 Park, where we were so fortunate as to 

 secure seats on the 'bus. We reached our 

 homes about 4 p.m., in plenty of time for 

 tea, and well laden with treasure. 



In concluding this rather lengthened 

 description of a ramble in winter, I would 

 impress upon my readers the certain suc- 

 cess of winter workers, and that they should 

 go a ramble for themselves, and if they look 

 in the proper places they cannot fail to be 

 well rewarded for their trouble. Space has 

 not allowed me to mention more than "a 

 few" of our "takes" on this day. — Glasgow, 

 9th January, 1884. 



