A HISTORY OF WORCESTERSHIRE to entomologists in the future to work up the different orders which are inadequately treated here. There is little variation to be noted in the insects generally captured, but amongst the Lepidoptera melanistic examples have been secured of the Coronet {Acronycta ligustri), the Treble Lines [Caradrina trigrammica var. bilinea), the Marbled Rustic {Hadena strigilis var. aethiops), the Brindled Crescent [Miselia oxyacanthce var. capucwa), the Peppered Moth {Biston betularius var. doubledayarius), the Mottled Beauty {Selidosema repandata var. destrigaria), the Dark Arches [Hadena polyodon). From my own personal observation in the county it seems that a considerable number of the females of the Oak Beauty {Biston stratarius) are crippled in nature, and this forms some ground for supposing that the female of this species is tending towards an imperfectly winged con- dition. The season 1900 was marked by a considerable migration of the Clouded Yellow {Colias edusd) and the great number of the larvs and pups of the Death's Head {Acherontia atropos). NEUROPTERA The list of Fsoctdce contains some twenty-two examples and is of average length. The Planipennia present a fairly strong list, but the Odonata, or dragonflies, commonly called ' horse-stingers,' have not been well worked up to the present and are poorly represented. From my own personal observation in the county I have noticed that Calopteryx virgo passes through a notable early stage. After emerging from the water, and when its wings have become firm enough for flight, it rises and flies slowly over the meadows to the top of some low tree, where it settles in the sun. At this period it is of a reddish-brown colour, with sooty wings. In this state it used to be considered a distinct species, and was named C. vesta. When it becomes mature its colour is lighter, and its wings to a very great extent have lost their sooty hue. ODONATA Sympetrum vulgatum, L. Woods and lanes — scoticum, Don. Dodder hill Common (Rea) Libellula depressa, L. Woods and lanes — quadrimaculata, L. Tibherton Gomphus vulgatissimus, L. Woods and lanes Cordulegaster annulatus, Latr. Broadwas, TVyre Forest jEschna cyanea, Mull. Woods and lanes — grandis, L. Shrawley, Cotheridge Calopteryx virgo, L. Himhletoriy the Teme — splendens, Harr. Laughern Brook Platycnemis pennipes, Fall. Meadows by the Teme Pyrrhosoma nymphula, Sulz. Lanes outside woods Ischnura elegans, Lind. Pool at Cotheridge Agrion puella, L. Lanes and wood sidings PSOCID^ Atropos divinatoria, Mull. Clothilla pulsatoria, L. Psocus nebulosus, Stph. | — variegatus, F. — fasciatus, F. V — bifasciatus, Latr. — 4-macuIatus, Latr. ) Stenopsocus immaculatus, Stph. — stigmaticus, McLach. — cruciatus, L. ) Caecilius pedicularius, L. Often indoors — flavidus, Stph. 1 „ • i T "^ Beating oaks, etc. — vittatus, Latr. J ^ ' Peripsocus alboguttatus, Dahn. — subpupillatus, McLach. — phaeopterus, Stph. From a hedge, Coihe- Indoors By beating trees and hedges By beating hedges Indoors 84
