TTbe Dfctoria Ibfstor^ of the
Counties of JEnglanb
EDITED BY WILLIAM PAGE, F.S.A.
A HISTORY OF
LEICESTERSHIRE
IN FOUR VOLUMES
VOLUME I
THE
VICTORIA HISTORY
OF THE COUNTIES
OF ENGLAND
LEICESTERSHIRE
LONDON
ARCHIBALD CONSTABLE
AND COMPANY LIMITED
This History is issued to Subscribers only
By Archibald Constable & Company Limited
and printed by Eyre & Spottiiwoode
H.M- Printers of London
INSCRIBED
TO THE MEMORY OF
HER LATE MAJESTY
QUEEN VICTORIA
WHO GRACIOUSLY GAVE
THE TITLE TO AND
ACCEPTED THE
DEDICATION OF
THIS HISTORY
THE ADVISORY COUNCIL
OF THE VICTORIA HISTORY
His GRACE THE LORD ARCH- SIR JOHN EVANS, K.C.B., D.C.L., COL. DUNCAN A. JOHNSTON, C.B.
BISHOP OF CANTERBURY LL.D., F.R.S., ETC. R.E.
His GRACE THE DUKE OF SIR EDWARD MAUNDE THOMP- Late Director General of the Ordnance
BEDFORD, K.G. SON, K.C.B., D.C.L., LL.D.,
F.S.A., ETC.
Director of the British Museum
SIR CLEMENTS R. MARKHAM,
K.C.B., F.R.S., F.S.A.
President of the Zoological Society
His GRACE THE DUKE OF DEVON-
SHIRE, K.G.
Chancellor of the University of Cam-
bridge
His GRACE THE DUKE OF
PORTLAND, K.G.
His GRACE THE DUKE OF
ARGYLL, K.T.
Survey
PROF. E. RAY LANKESTER, M.A.,
F.R.S., ETC.
Director of the Natural History
Museum, South Kensington
President of the 'noyal Geographical REGINALD L. PoOLE, M.A.
Society University Lecturer in Diplomatic,
Oxford
}. HORACE ROUND, M.A., LL.D.
WALTER RYE
SIR HENRY C. MAXWELL-LYTE,
K.C.B., M.A., F.S.A., ETC.
Keeper of the Public Records
THE RT. HON. THE EARL OF SIR Jos. HOOKER, G.C.S.I.,M.D., W. H. ST. JOHN HOPE, M.A.
RoSEBERY K.G. K.T D.C.L., F.R.S., ETC. Assistant Secretary of the Society of
THE RT. HON. THE EARL OF SlR ARCHIBALD GEIKIE, LL.D.,
COVENTRY KR.S., ETC.
President^ of the Royal Agricultural REV. J. CHARLES Cox, LL.D., Among the original members of
F.S.A., ETC. the Council were
r .b.A., ETC. T HE LATE MARQUESS OF SALISBURY
HON. THE VISCOUNT LlONEL CusT> M .V.O., M.A.,
'.S.A., ETC.
Director of the National Portrait
Gallery
THE RT. HON. THE LORD LISTER CHARLES H p M A LL D
Late Preset of the Royalty Re^s Pr^or 0} Modern History, T E
THE LATE DR. MANDELL
CREIGHTON, BISHOP OF LONDON
LATE DR. STUBBS, BISHOP
THE RT. HON. THE LORD Oxford OF OXFORD
ALVERSTONE G.C.M.G. ALBERT C. L.G. GUNTHER,M.A., THE LATE LORD ACTON
M.D., F.R.S., PH.D. THE LATE SIR WILLIAM FLOWER
THE^ HON. WALTER ROTHSCHILD, Late President of the Linncan Society THE LATE PROFESSOR F. YORK
F. HAVERFIELD, M.A., LL.D., POWELL and
SIR FREDERICK POLLOCK, BART., F-S-A . THE LATE COL. SIR J. FAROJJ-
LL.D., P.S.A., ETC. Camden Professor of Ancient History HARSON
General Editor WILLIAM PAGE, F.S.A.
GENERAL ADVERTISEMENT
The VICTORIA HISTORY of the Counties of England is a National Historic Survey
which, under the direction of a large staff comprising the foremost students in science, history,
and archaeology, is designed to record the history of every county of England in detail. This
work was, by gracious permission, dedicated to Her late Majesty Queen Victoria, who gave it
her own name. It is the endeavour of all who are associated with the undertaking to make it
a worthy and permanent monument to her memory.
Rich as every county of England is in materials for local history, there has hitherto been
no attempt made to bring all these materials together into a coherent form.
Although from the seventeenth century down to quite recent times numerous county
histories have been issued, they are very unequal in merit ; the best of them are very rare
and costly ; most of them are imperfect and many are now out of date. Moreover, they were
the work of one or two isolated scholars, who, however scholarly, could not possibly deal
adequately with all the varied subjects which go to the making of a county history.
VII
In the VICTORIA HISTORY each county is not the labour of one or two men, but of many,
tor the work is treated scientifically, and in order to embody in it all that modern scholarship
can contribute, a system of co-operation between experts and local students is applied, whereby
the history acquires a completeness and definite authority hitherto lacking in similar
undertakings.
The names of the distinguished men who have joined the Advisory Council are a
guarantee that the work represents the results of the latest discoveries in every department
of research, for the trend of modern thought insists upon the intelligent study of the past
and of the social, institutional, and political developments of national life. As these histories
are the first in which this object has been kept in view, and modern principles applied, it is
hoped that they will form a work of reference no less indispensable to the student than
welcome to the man of culture.
THE SCOPE OF THE WORK
The history of each county is complete in itself, and in each case its story is told from the
earliest times, commencing with the natural features and the flora and fauna. Thereafter
follow the antiquities, pre-Roman, Roman, and post-Roman ; ancient earthworks ; a new
translation and critical study of the Domesday Survey ; articles on political, ecclesiastical, social,
and economic history ; architecture, arts, industries, sport, etc. ; and topography. The greater
part of each history is devoted to a detailed description and history of each parish, containing,
an account of the land and its owners from the Conquest to the present day. These manorial
histories are compiled from original documents in the national collections and from private
papers. A special feature is the wealth of illustrations afforded, for not only are buildings of
interest pictured, but the coats of arms of past and present landowners are given
HISTORICAL RESEARCH
It has always been, and still is, a reproach that England, with a collection of public
records greatly exceeding in extent and interest those of any other country in Europe, is yet
far behind her neighbours in the study of the genesis and growth of her national and local
institutions. Few Englishmen are probably aware that the national and local archives contain
for a period of 800 years in an almost unbroken chain of evidence, not only the political,
ecclesiastical, and constitutional history of the kingdom, but every detail of its financial and
social progress and the history of the land and its successive owners from generation to
generation. The neglect of our public and local records is no doubt largely due to the fact
that their interest and value is known to but a small number of people, and this again is
directly attributable to the absence in this country of any endowment for historical research.
The government of this country has too often left to private enterprise work which our con-
tinental neighbours entrust to a government department. It is not surprising, therefore, to find
that although an immense amount of work has been done by individual effort, the entire
absence of organization among the workers and the lack of intelligent direction has hitherto
robbed the results of much of their value.
In the VICTORIA HISTORY, for the first time, a serious attempt is made to utilize our
national and local muniments to the best advantage by carefully organizing and supervising
the researches required. Under the direction of the Records Committee a large staff of experts
has been engaged at the Public Record Office in calendaring those classes of records which are
fruitful in material for local history, and by a system of interchange of communication among
workers under the direct supervision of the general editor and sub-editors a mass of information
is sorted and assigned to its correct place, which would otherwise be impossible.
THE RECORDS COMMITTEE
SIR EDWARD MAUNDE THOMPSON, K.C.B. C. T. MARTIN, B.A., F.S A.
SIR HENRY MAXWELL- LYTE, K.C.B. J. HORACE ROUND, M.A., LL.D.
y-J- HARDY > F -S-A. S. R. SCARGILL-BIRD, F.S.A.
F. MADAN, M.A. W. H. STEVENSON, M.A.
G. F. WARNER, M.A., F.S.A.
vui
FAMILY HISTORY
Family History is, both in the Histories and in the supplementary genealogical volumes
of chart Pedigrees, dealt with by genealogical experts and in the modern spirit. Every effort
is made to secure accuracy of statement, and to avoid the insertion of those legendary
pedigrees which have in the past brought discredit on the subject. It has been pointed out
by the late Bishop of Oxford, a great master of historical research, that ' the expansion and
extension of genealogical study is a very remarkable feature of our own times,' that ' it is an
increasing pursuit both in America and in England,' and that it can render the historian most
useful service.
CARTOGRAPHY
In addition to a general map in several sections, each History contains Geological, Oro-
graphical, Botanical, Archaeological, and Domesday maps ; also maps illustrating the articles on
Ecclesiastical and Political Histories, and the sections dealing with Topography. The Series
contains many hundreds of maps in all.
ARCHITECTURE
A special feature in connexion with the Architecture is a series of ground plans, many
of them coloured, showing the architectural history of castles, cathedrals, abbeys, and other
monastic foundations.
In order to secure the greatest possible accuracy, the descriptions of the Architecture,
ecclesiastical, military, and domestic, are under the supervision of Mr. C. R. PEERS, M.A.,
F.S.A., and a committee has been formed of the following students of architectural history
who are referred to as may be required concerning this department of the work :
ARCHITECTURAL COMMITTEE
J. BILSON, F.S.A., F.R.I.B.A. J. A. GOTCH, F.S.A., F.R.I.B.A.
R. BLOMFIELD, M.A., F.S.A., A.R.A. W. H. ST. JOHN HOPE, M.A.
HAROLD BRAKSPEAR, F.S.A., A.R.I.B.A. W. H. KNOWLES, F.S.A., F.R.I.B.A.
PROF. BALDWIN BROWN, M.A. ROLAND PAUL, F.S.A.
ARTHUR S. FLOWER, F.S.A., A.R.I.B.A. J. HORACE ROUND, M.A., LL.D.
GEORGE E. Fox, M.A., F.S.A. PERCY G. STONE, F.S.A., F.R.I.B.A.
H. THACKERAY TURNER, F.S.A.
GENEALOGICAL VOLUMES
The genealogical volumes contain the family history and detailed genealogies of such
houses as had at the end of the nineteenth century seats and landed estates, having enjoyed
the like in the male line since 1 760, the first year of George III., together with an intro-
ductory section dealing with other principal families in each county.
IX
The general plan of Contents and the names among others of
those who are contributing articles and giving assistance are as
follows :
Natural History
Geology. CLEMENT REID, F.R.S., HORACE B. WOODWARD, F.R.S., and others
Palaeontology. R. LYDEKKER, F.R.S., etc.
/Contributions by G. A. BOULENGER, F.R.S., H. N. DIXON, F.L.S., G. C. DRUCE, M.A.,
Flora I F.L.S., WALTER GARSTANG, M.A., D.Sc., F.L.S., HERBERT Goss, F.L.S., F.E.S.,
Fauna j R. I. POCOCK, REV. T. R. R. SHEDDING, M.A., F.R.S., etc., B. B. WOODWARD, F.G.S.,
^ F.R.M.S., etc., and other Specialists
Prehistoric Remains. SIR JOHN EVANS, K.C.B., D.C.L., LL.D., W. BOYD DAWKINS, D.Sc., LL.D.,
F.R.S.,F.S.A.,GEo. CLINCH, F.G.S., JOHN GARSTANG, M.A.,B. Litt.,F.S.A.,andothers
Roman Remains. F. HAVERFIELD, M.A., LL.D., F.S.A.
Anglo-Saxon Remains. C. HERCULES READ, F.S.A. , REGINALD A. SMITH, B.A., F.S.A., and others
Domesday Book and other kindred Records. J. HORACE ROUND, M.A., LL.D., and other Specialists
Architecture. C. R. PEERS, M.A., F.S.A., W. H. ST. JOHN HOPE, M.A., and HAROLD BRAKSPEAR,
F.S.A., A.R.I.B.A.
Ecclesiastical History. R. L. POOLE, M.A., and others
Political History. PROF. C. H. FIRTH, M.A., LL.D., W. H. STEVENSON, M.A.> J. HORACE ROUND,
M.A., LL.D., PROF. T. F. TOUT, M.A., PROF. JAMES TAIT, M.A., and A. F. POLLARD
History of Schools. A. F. LEACH, M.A., F.S.A.
Maritime History of Coast Counties. Prof. J. K. LAUGH TON, M.A., M. OPPENHEIM, and others
Topographical Accounts of Parishes and Manors. By Various Authorities
Agriculture. SIR ERNEST CLARKE, M.A., Sec. to the Royal Agricultural Society, and others
Forestry. JOHN NISBET, D.CEc., and others
Industries, Arts and Manufactures )
. . > By Various Authorities
Social and Economic History )
Ancient and Modern Sport. E. D. CUMING and others
Hunting \
Shooting [ By Various Authorities
Fishing, etc./
Cricket. SIR HOME GORDON, BART.
THE
VICTORIA HISTORY
OF THE COUNTY OF
LEICESTER
EDITED BY
WILLIAM PAGE, F.S.A
VOLUME ONE
LONDON
ARCHIBALD CONSTABLE
AND COMPANY LIMITED
1907
DA
(,10
L4V6
V. /
CONTENTS OF VOLUME ONE
PAGE
Dedication v
The Advisory Council of the Victoria History vil
General Advertisement ............. vii
Contents xiii
List of Illustrations .............. xv
Preface xvii
Table of Abbreviations ............. xix
Natural History :
Geology . . .- By C. FOX-STRANGWAYS, F.G.S., late of H.M.
Geological Survey ...... i
Palaeontology . . . By R. LYDEKKER, F.R.S.. F.L.S., F.G.S. . . .19
Botany By HARRY FISHER
Introduction .............. 27
Botanical Divisions .............31
Phaenogamia .............. 35
Cryptogamia Vascularia ............ 47
Cryptogamia Cellularia . . . . 47
Musci (Mosses) ............. 47
Hepaticae (Liverworts and Scale Mosses) . . . . . . . . .50
Characeae .............. 50
Algae 50
Lichenes (Lichens) ............. 53
Fungi . 55
Zoology :
Molluscs By B. B. WOODWARD, FL.S., F.G.S, F.R.M.S. . 61
Insects By FRANK BOUSKELL, F.E.S., F.R.H.S. ... 64
Hymenoptera (Ants, Wasps, Bees, etc.) ......... 64
Aculeata .............. 65
Coleoptera (Beetles) . . . 66
Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths) . . . 78
Rhopalocera 79
Heterocera 79
Diptera (Ffies) . 89
Hemiptera Heteroptera (Bugs) . . . . . . . . . .92
Spiders By FRANK BOUSKELL, F.E.S., F.R.H.S. ... 94
Crustaceans . . . . By the Rev. T. R. R. STEBBING, M.A., F.R.S., F.Z.S. 96
Fishes ..... By MONTAGU BROWNE, F.Z.S. . . . .108
Reptiles and Batrachians . . ....112
Birds . .114
Mammals .... .... 158
xiii
CONTENTS OF VOLUME ONE
Early Man
Romano-British Leicestershire
Descriptions of the West Gate and
Mosaic Pavements, Leicester .
Anglo-Saxon Remains
Ancient Earthworks ....
Introduction to the Leicestershire
Domesday
Translation of the Leicestershire
Domesday .....
The Leicestershire Survey .
Ecclesiastical History
By GEORGE CLINCH, F.G.S. .
By THE GENERAL EDITOR and Miss KEATE
By G. E. Fox, Hon. M.A. Oxon. F.S.A.
By REGINALD A. SMITH, B.A., F.S.A.
By J. CHARLES WALL ....
By F. M. STENTON, M.A.
By the SISTER ELSPETH of the Community of
All Saints
PAGE
I6 7
179
221
243
277
306
339
355
XIV
\
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS
PAGE
Valley of the Soar, near Leicester. By WILLIAM HYDE ...... frontispiece
Neolithic and Early Bronze-Age Antiquities of Stone found in Leicestershire full-page plate, facing 1 70
Bronze-Age and Early Iron-Age Antiquities' found in Leicestershire . full-page plate, facing 172
Bronze Terret found in Leicestershire . . . . . . . . . .173
Plan of Roman Leicester . . . . . . . . . . . . .183
Plan and Elevation of the Jewry Wall or West Gate, Leicester . . . . . .186
Plate I. Pavement found in St. Nicholas Street, Leicester, 1898 . . full-page plate facing 1 88
Plan showing Roman Walls under the New Tower of St. Martin's Church, Leicester . .189
Plate II. Corinthian Capital found in Talbot Lane, Leicester
Column found in 1907 in Blue Boar Lane, Leicester
r full-page plate, facing 192
Stone Tank found in High Cross Street, Leicester >**' >**
Impost Moulding found in Blue Boar Lane, Leicester
Capitals and Bases found in Leicester . . . . . . . . . . .191
Plate III. Pavement found in Jewry Wall Street, Leicester
Pavement found in High Cross Street, Leicester
Plate IV. Pavements found in Blackfriars Street, Leicester . . . full-page plate, facing 194
Plate V. Pavement found in Vine Street, Leicester . . . .)
. . . ,,. f full-pare plate, facing 106
Pavement found in Blackfriars Street, Leicester . . J "
Plan of Pavements found in the Cherry Orchard, Leicester, 1851 ..... 197
Section of Roman Well found at Leicester, showing Basket . . . . . . .198
Plate VI. Fragment of Samian Ware from Bath Lane, Leicester
Hexagonal Glass Cinerary Urn from Oxford Street, Leicester . j
Fragment of Green Glass Cup from Bath Lane, Leicester fall-page plate, facing 198
Roman Milestone from Thurmaston .
Column found at Danett's Hall in 1851
Bone Objects found in Roman Well at Leicester ....... . 199
Plan showing Excavations at Barrow upon Soar . . . . . . . . .210
Amphora, Glass Vessels, and Lamp, found at Barrow upon Soar . . . . . .211
Patella of Bronze found at Hallalon . . . . . . , . . . .212
Glass Bowl found at Hallaton . . . . . . . . . . . .212
Bronze Handle found at Hallaton . . . . . . . . . . .212
Plate VII. Pavement at Medbourne . . . . . . .\
Pavement at the corner of High Street and High Cross \ full-page plate, facing 214
Street, Leicester ...... )
Plan of Villa at Rothley 216
Plan of Manduessedum . . . . . . . . . . . . .218
Bronze Brooches found near Bensford Bridge . . . . . . . . .222
Anglo-Saxon Antiquities from Leicestershire ..... coloured plate, facing 222
Cinerary Urn found near Bensford Bridge . . . . . . . . . .223
Long Square-headed Brooches, West Cotes, Leicester . . . . . . . .224
Plate I. Square-headed Bronze Gilt Brooch, Rothley Temple . .\
Bowl Escutcheons and Annular Brooches, Twyford . . . I
T D u c ir JD i \ full-page plate, facing 226
Long Brooch, Stapleford Park
Bronze Penannular Brooch, Leicester . . . . ./
xv
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS
PAGE
228
Toilet Articles, Leicester ...
Plate II Bronze Bowl from Lullingstone, Kent \
Bone Girdle-end, Leicester .1 .... full-pa plate, facing 228
Cinerary Urn. Church Gate, Leicester /
Brooches, Girdle-hangers, and Fragments from Great Wigston . 229
Plate III. Cinerary Urns, Saxby (excavations of 1 890-1) . - full-page plate, facing 234
Square-headed and Ring Brooches, Beads, Tweezers, and Pin, from Saxby . -235
Cruciform Bronze Brooch, from Saxby
Plate IV. Bronze Brooches, Saxby (excavations of 1890-1) . . . fall-page plate, facing 236
Brooches, Clasp, and Necklet of Beads from Beeby . . . -237
Die and Draughtsmen from Keythorpe
Jewelled Gold Stud, Wibtoft . Z 4
Ancient Earthworks :
The Camp, Billesdon 2 45
The Bulwarks, Breedon on the Hill . . .246
Burrough Camp, Burrough on the Hill ........ 247
Sanvey Castle, near Withcote . ..... 249
The Camp, Belton . -251
The Camp, Hallaton ... 251
Bury Camp, Ratby . .... -253
Site of Sapcote Castle, Sapcotc 253
Manduessedum Camp, near Witherby . 254
Belvoir Castle, near Bottesford . ........255
Castle Hill and Moat, Castle Donington . . . . . . . . .256
Castle Hill, Hinckley .257
Castle Mount anj Moat, Gilmorton ........ . 258
Castle Hill, Groby, near Ratby -259
Castle Hill Camp, Hallaton 260
Leicester Castle .... ....... . .261
The Castle, Whitwick 262
Old Ina.irsby Moat, Hungerton . . . . . . . . . . .266
Moat and Entrenchments on Site of Priory, Kirby Bellars ...... 267
Moat and Site of Hall, Kirby Bellars 268
Kirby Castle and Moat, Kirby Muxloe ...... . . 269
King Lud's Entrenchments, Croxton Kerrial ........ 272
LIST OF MAPS
Geological Map . between xxiv, I
Orographical Map ............ 8, 9
Botanical Map 26, 27
Prehistorical Map . ........... facing 167
Romano-British Map .......... . . 179
Anglo-Saxon Map . ,,221
Ancient Earthworks Map ............. 243
Domesday Map . ,,306
Leicestershire Surrey Map . . . . . . . . . . 339
XVI
PREFACE
1
first historian of Leicestershire was William Burton, B.A.,
who began his work as early as 1597, but his Description of
Leicestershire containing matters of antiquitye, historye, armorye,
and genealogy, was not published till 1622. A second and
revised edition was prepared, but owing to the Civil War and the death
of Burton in 1645 ^ was not printed. In 1777 an enlarged and
corrected edition was published, but the editing was carelessly performed
and consequently the work shows little improvement upon the original
edition.
John Throsby, parish clerk of St. Martin's Church, Leicester,
a good draughtsman and a careful collector of antiquarian notes,
published in 1 777 his Memoirs of the Town and County of Leicester in six
volumes. This was followed in 1789 by a volume entitled Select Views
in Leicestershire from original drawings, and in the next year by a Supple-
mentary Volume to the Leicestershire Views containing a Series of Excursions to
the Villages and places of Note in that County. In 1791 he published
The History and Antiquities of the Ancient Town of Leicester. He died
in 1803.
It is, however, to John Nichols, F.S.A., that we may well assign
the title of the historian of Leicestershire. Nichols was the son of
Edward Nichols, a baker of Islington, and was apprenticed to William
Bowyer, the printer whose partner and biographer he afterwards became.
He developed tastes for antiquarian research at an early age, but it was
probably in consequence of his marriage with his second wife, Martha,
daughter of William Green of Hinckley, in 1778, that lead to his interest
in the county of Leicester. In 1795 he published the first two
parts of The History and Antiquities of the Town and County of Leicester ;
the second part of the fourth and last volume of his history was not
completed till 1811. His work, as is stated on the title page, includes
Burton's description of the county published in 1622, and the later
collections of Thomas Staveley, Rev. Samuel Carte, Mr. Peck, and Sir
Thomas Cave. He was assisted by Richard Gough and many local
helpers, his acknowledgements to whom fill several pages of his preface.
Nichols was a most careful and accurate compiler, and in genealogy and
heraldry there are few county historians to compare to him ; in archae-
ology and architecture, however, we cannot expect a standard higher
than was set at the time. His work will always stand high among the
best of the English county histories.
xvii c
PREFACE
The Editor wishes to express his thanks to Mr. J. H. Round,
M.A., L.L.D., for revising the articles on the Domesday Survey and
Leicestershire Survey; to Mr- G. E. Fox, Hon. M.A. Oxon., F.S.A., and
to Major W. J. Freer, V.D., F.S.A., for assistance on the article on the
Roman Remains of the county ; to Mr. A. R. Horwood, acting
curator of the Leicester Museum, for information as to the collections
under his charge, and for many notes and additions to the articles on
Molluscs and Botany ; to Mr. I. Chalkley Gould, F.S.A.,for revising the
article on Earthworks ; to Mr. J. T. Biggs and the Committee of the
Leicester Corporation Museum for permission to photograph objects in
the Museum ; to Mr. W. B. Worthington, engineer-in-chief of the
Midland Railway, Derby, for permission to photograph the Anglo-
Saxon objects found at Saxby in his charge ; and to the Society of
Antiquaries, the Archaeological Institute, the Leicester Architectural
and Archaeological Society, the Associated Architectural and Archaeo-
logical Societies, and the Illustrated London News for illustrations.
JSVIll
TABLE OF ABBREVIATIONS
Abbrev. Plac. (Rec.
Com.)
Acts of P.C. . .
Add
Add. Chart. . .
Admir
Agarde ....
Anct. Corresp. .
Anct. D. (P.R.O.)
A 2420
Ann. Mon. .
Antiq
App
Arch
Arch. Cant. . .
Archd. Rec. . .
Archil
Assize R. . . .
Aud. Off. ...
Aug. Off. . . .
Ayloffe . . .
Bed. . .
Beds . .
Berks .
Bdle. .
B.M. .
Bodl. Lib.
Boro.
Brev. Reg.
Brit. . .
Buck. .
Bucks
Cal
Camb. . .
Cambr
Campb. Ch. . .
Cant
Cap
Carl
Cart. Antiq. R.
C.C.C. Camb. . .
Certiorari Bdles.
(Rolls Chap.)
Chan. Enr. Decree
R.
Chan. Proc.
Chant. Cert.
Chap. Ho. . . .
Charity Inq.
Chart. R. 20 Hen.
III. pt. i. No. 10
Abbreviatio Placitorum (Re-
cord Commission)
Acts of Privy Council
Additional
Additional Charters .
Admiralty
Agarde's Indices
Ancient Correspondence
Ancient Deeds(Public Record
Office) A 2420
Annales Monastic!
Antiquarian or Antiquaries
Appendix
Archaeologia or Archzological
Archaeologia Cantiana
Archdeacons' Records
Architectural
Assize Rolls
Audit Office
Augmentation Office
Ayloffe's Calendars
Bedford
Bedfordshire
Berkshire
Bundle
British Museum
Bodley's Library
Borough
Brevia Regia
Britain,British, Britannia, etc.
Buckingham
Buckinghamshire
Calendar
Cambridgeshire or Cambridge
Cambria, Cambrian, Cam-
brensis, etc.
Campbell Charters
Canterbury
Chapter
Carlisle
Cartae Antiquae Rolls
Corpus Christi College, Cam-
bridge
Certiorari Bundles (Rolls
Chapel)
Chancery Enrolled Decree
Rolls
Chancery Proceedings
Chantry Certificates (or Cer-
tificates of Colleges and
Chantries)
Chapter House
Charity Inquisitions
Charter Roll, 20 Henry III.
part i. Number 10
Chartul. ....
Chas
Ches
Chest
Ch. Gds. (Exch.
K.R.)
Chich
Chron
Close . . . .
Co
Colch
Coll
Com
Com. Pleas .
Conf. R. . . .
Co. Plac. . . .
Cornw
Corp
Cott
Ct. R
Ct. of Wards . .
Cumb
Cur. Reg. . . .
D
D. and C. . . .
De Bane. R. . .
Dec. and Ord .
Dep. Keeper's Rep.
Derb
Devon . . . .
Dioc
Doc
Dods. MSS. . .
Dom. Bk. . . .
Dors
Duchy of Lane. .
Dur
East
Eccl
Eccl. Com.
Edw
Eliz
Engl
Engl. Hist. Rev. .
Enr
Epis. Reg. . . .
Esch. Enr. Accts. .
Excerpta e Rot. Fin .
(Rec. Com.)
Exch. Dep. . .
Exch. K.B. . .
Exch. K.R. . .
Exch. L.T.R.
Chartulary
Charles
Cheshire
Chester
Church Goods (Exchequer
King's Remembrancer)
Chichester
Chronicle, Chronica, etc.
Close Roll
County
Colchester
Collections
Commission
Common Pleas
Confirmation Rolls
County Placita
Cornwall
Corporation
Cotton or Cottonian
Court Rolls
Court of Wards
Cumberland
Curia Regis
Deed or Deeds
Dean and Chapter
De Banco Rolls
Decrees and Orders
Deputy Keeper's Reports
Derbyshire or Derby
Devonshire
Diocese
Documents
Dodsworth MSS
Domesday Book
Dorsetshire
Duchy of Lancaster
Durham
Easter Term
Ecclesiastical
Ecclesiastical Commission
Edward
Elizabeth
England or English
English Historical Review
Enrolled or Enrolment
Episcopal Registers
Escheators Enrolled Accounts
Excerpta e Rotulis Finium
(Record Commission)
Exchequer Depositions
Exchequer King's Bench
Exchequer King's Remem-
brancer
Exchequer Lord Treasurer's
Remembrancer
xix
Exch. of Pleas, Plea
R.
Exch. of Receipt .
Exch. Spec. Com. .
Feet of F. . . .
Feed. Accts. (Ct. of
Wards)
Feod. Surv. (Ct. of
Wards)
Feud. Aids . . .
fol
Foreign R. . . .
Forest Proc. . .
Gaz
Gen
Geo
Glouc
Guild Certif. (Chan.)
Ric. II.
TABLE OF ABBREVIATIONS
Exchequer of Pleas, Plea Roll
Exchequer of Receipt
Exchequer Special Commis-
sions
Feet of Fines
Feodaries Accounts (Court of
Wards)
Feodaries Surveys (Court of
Wards)
Feudal Aids
Folio
Foreign Rolls
Forest Proceedings
Gazette or Gazetteer
Genealogical, Genealogica,
etc.
George
Gloucestershire or Gloucester
Guild Certificates (Chancery)
Richard II.
Memo. R. . - .
Mich
Midd
Mins. Accts. . .
Misc. Bks. (Exch.
K.R., Exch.
T.R. or Aug.
Off.)
Mon.
Monm. . .
Mun.
Mus. . .
N. and Q. .
Norf. . .
Northampt.
Northants .
Northumb. .
Norw. .
Nott. . .
N.S.
Memoranda Rolls
Michaelmas Term
Middlesex
Ministers' Accounts
Miscellaneous Books (Ex-
chequer King's Remem-
brancer, Exchequer Trea-
sury of Receipt or Aug-
mentation Office)
Monastery, Monasticon
Monmouth
Muniments or Munimenta
Museum
Notes and Queries
Norfolk
Northampton
Northamptonshire
Northumberland
Norwich
Nottinghamshire or Notting-
ham
New Style
Hants . . .
Harl. . . .
Hen. . . .
Hcrcf. . . .
Hertf. . . .
Herts . . .
Hil
Hist. . . .
Hist. MSS. Com.
Hoip.
Hund. R. . .
Hunt. . . .
Hunts . . .
Inq. a.q.d. .
Inq. p.m.
Inst
Invent. .
'P.'
Itin. . . .
Jas. . . .
Journ. .
Lamb. Lib.
Lane.
L. and P.
VIII.
Lansd.
Ld. Rev. Rec.
Leic. . .
Le Neve's Ind.
Lib. . . .
Lich. . .
Line. . .
Lond.
Hen.
m.
Mem.
Hampshire
Harlcy or Harleian
Henry
Herefordshire or Hereford
Hertford
Hertfordshire
Hilary Term
History, Historical,Historian,
Historia, etc.
Historical MSS. Commission
Hospital
Hundred Rolls
Huntingdon
Huntingdonshire
Inquisitions ad quod damnum
Inquisitions post mortem
Institute or Institution
Inventory or Inventories
Ipswich
Itinerary
James
Journal
Lambeth Library
Lancashire or Lancaster
Letters and Papers, Hen.
VIII.
Lansdowne
Land Revenue Records
Leicestershire or Leicester
Le Neve's Indices
Library
Lichfield
Lincolnshire or Lincoln
London
Membrane
Memorials
Off. . .
Orig. R.
O.S. . .
Oxf. .
Palmer's Ind. .
Pal. of Chest. .
Pal. of Dur. .
Pal. of Lane. .
Par
Parl
Parl. R. . . .
Parl. Surv. . .
Partic. for Gts.
Pat
P.C.C.
Pet
Peterb
Phil
Pipe R
Plea R
Pop. Ret. . . .
Pope Nich. Tax.
(Rec. Com.)
P.R.O
Proc
Proc. Soc. Antiq. .
Pt
Pub. .
R
Rec. . . .
Recov. R. . .
Rentals and Surv.
Rep
Rev
Ric. .
Office
Originalia Rolls
Ordnance Survey
Oxfordshire or Oxford
Page
Palmer's Indices
Palatinate of Chester
Palatinate of Durham
Palatinate of Lancaster
Parish, parochial, etc.
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Patent Roll or Letters Patent
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bury
Petition
Peterborough
Philip
Pipe Roll
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Population Returns
Pope Nicholas' Taxation (Re-
cord Commission)
Public Record Office
Proceedings
Proceedings of the Society of
Antiquaries
Part
Publications
Roll
Records
Recovery Rolls
Rentals and Surveys
Report
Review
Richard
xx
TABLE OF ABBREVIATIONS
Roff. .... Rochester diocese
Rot. Cur. Reg. . Rotuli Curiae Regis
Rut. . . Rutland
Topog.
Sarum ....
Ser
Sess. R
Shrews
Shrops ....
Soc
Soc. Antiq. .
Somers
Somers. Ho.
S.P. Dom. . . .
Staff. ....
Star Chamb. Proc.
Stat
Steph
Subs. R. . . .
Suff.
Surr. .
Suss
Surv. of Ch. Liv-
ings (Lamb.) or
(Chan.)
Salisbury diocese
Series
Sessions Rolls
Shrewsbury
Shropshire
Society
Society of Antiquaries
Somerset
Somerset House
State Papers Domestic
Staffordshire
Star Chamber Proceedings
Statute
Stephen
Subsidy Rolls
Suffolk
Surrey
Sussex
Surveys of Church Livings
(Lambeth) or (Chancery)
Trans.
Transl.
Treas.
Trin.
Topography or Topographi-
cal
Transactions
Translation
Treasury or Treasurer
Trinity Term
Univ University
Valor Eccl.
Com.)
Vet. Mon. .
V.C.H. . .
Vic. . . .
vol. .
(Rec.
Warw. .
Westm. .
Westmld.
Will. .
Wilts .
Winton.
Wore.
Yorks
Valor Ecclesiasticus (Record
Commission)
Vetusta Monumenta
Victoria County History
Victoria
Volume
Warwickshire or Warwick
Westminster
Westmorland
William
Wiltshire
Winchester diocese
Worcestershire or Worcester
Yorkshire
XXI
A HISTORY OF
LEICESTERSHIRE
HISTORY OF LEICESTERSHIKE
GEOLOG
%Rtrsrar
THE VI CTOR I A
AL MAP
BASED ON THE MAPS OF THE GEOLOGICAL SURVEY
EXPLANATION Of COLOURING
RECENT! \Mburuan.
Oxford, day
CombrasK
Great OoUie Series
Inferior Oolite
Upper Lias
M-UUl&Lias
Lower Lias
Keeper Red Marh
Sandstone
Bunfer- Sandswne
and Pebble Beds
Maqnesia/i. Lung, stone
fcnwia anJ Sandstone,
Coal Measures
i Grit
Ton-dale
Carboniferous Limestone
PRE- I I Pre. -wmbriari and
CAMBRIAN | -_ MetamorptvUi
County Boundary shown thus
COUNTI ES OF ENGLAND
GEOLOGY
ONE of the most striking features in the general geology of England
is the fact that the outcrop of the geological formations forms a
series of roughly parallel bands crossing the country in a south-
west and north-east direction from the Channel to the North Sea.
This regular succession of parallel bands is due to the general inclination of
the strata to the south-east, but it is interrupted to a certain extent by two
great anticlinal movements, one in the north and the other in the south-east,
which have brought up lower strata and caused the outcrop of those above to
divide into two arms, thus destroying the general symmetry of the arrange-
ment. Where the two arms unite the breadth of the outcrop is much
increased, and the widest spread of the covering formation occurs.
The anticline in the south-east is that of the Weald, which ranges in an
easterly and westerly direction, and has split the Upper Cretaceous rocks into
two arms known as the North and South Downs. These unite to the west
in Hampshire and Wiltshire, and form the great spread of Chalk country
extending over the wide expanse of Salisbury Plain.
The second anticline, which is the more important, and the one that
affects the district with which we are now concerned, is the great range of the
Pennine Hills, which runs from the borders of Scotland to the immediate
neighbourhood of the county of Leicester. The main effect of this anticline
is to separate the outcrop of the Trias into two branches, one of which
extends north across the counties of Nottingham and York, while the other
strikes to the north-west through Cheshire and Lancashire. At the bifurca-
tion south of the Pennine Range the Trias attains its widest extension and
produces the undulating country so characteristic of the Midlands.
The county of Leicester, situated nearly in the centre of England,
includes a large part of the great central plateau formed by the Trias and
Lower Lias in this part of the country. The county in fact is nearly equally
divided between these two formations, the western half being mainly covered
by the Trias with small patches of older rocks protruding here and there,
while the Lias occupies with a few exceptions the whole of the eastern half.
It consists on the whole of a more or less undulating plain, which is over-
spread in places with beds of clay and gravel. In the north-western part of
the county this plain is broken by the elevated ground of Charnwood Forest,
which rises in a somewhat miniature mountain range to the height of 9 1 2 ft.,
and forms the culminating point of the district, and the principal elevation in
this part of the Midlands. To the west of this the Coal Measures are
brought in, at first beneath a thick covering of Trias, but further west on the
borders of South Derbyshire they come to the surface. On the eastern side
some of the hills rise to a height of 600 ft., and are outliers of the great
Oolitic escarpment which extends from the Cotteswold Hills to the H umber.
This escarpment just enters the northern portion of the county, and forms the
A HISTORY OF LEICESTERSHIRE
high ground about Waltham and Croxton Kerrial. The larger part of the
area, however, does not rise much above an average of from 300 to 500 ft.;
but, nevertheless, forms the watersheds between the tributaries of the Trent
flowing north, those of the Avon flowing south-west, and those of the
Welland flowing to the east.
Five main groups of rocks are represented in Leicestershire : (i) the
Pre-Cambrian rocks of Charnwood Forest ; (2) the Coal Measures of the
Leicestershire and South Derbyshire Coalfield ; (3) the Red rocks, the
Permian and Trias, lapping round them and covering a large part of the
plain ; (4) the Jurassic rocks, comprising the three divisions of the Lias, and
the few small patches of Oolite capping the eastern hills ; and (5) the
superficial clays and gravels that overlie the other formation indiscriminately.
The following are the subdivisions of the rocks that are exposed at the
surface :
Period
Formation
Character of the Strata
Approximate
Thickness in feet
Recent . . .
Pleistocene .
Alluvium
Jurassic . .
River terraces
Boulder-clay, sand and gravel .
Inferior f Lincolnshire Limestone
Oolite \ Northampton Sand
'Upper
Middle
Lower
Triassic . .
Permian .
Carboniferous .
Pre-Cambrian or
Archaean
Rhaetic
Keuper
Bunter
Marl .
Sandstone .
Permian (?) .
Coal measures
Millstone Grit . . .
Carboniferous Limestone
Charnian
Silt, clay, peat and gravel .
Gravel and loam
Stony clay, sand and gravel
Limestone and freestone
Sands with layers of clay in the
upper part, Ironstone below
Clay and shale with calcareous
concretions
Ferruginous limestone and iron-
stone. Sandy shales in lower
part
Clay and shale ; argillaceous lime-
stone
Black shale ; sandstone ....
Red and variegated marl with
bands of gypsum and a little
sandstone
Red sandstones with marl bands .
Beds of shingle with a little sand-
stone
Breccia and red marl ....
Shales with seams of coal and
fireclay with beds of sandstone
and ironstone
Massive sandstones and coarse grits
with beds of shale ....
Limestone with occasional beds of
chert
Slates, hornstones and agglomerates
with intrusive igneous rocks
Up to 25
I Up to 150
Sc
Up to 40
1 10 to 180
100 to 200
750
38
600
IOO
o to 800
o to 50
500 or more
zo to 500
Unknown
The geology of Leicestershire has been previously treated by many
writers, but only passing reference to the more general of these publications
in these pages. 1 It is not, however, until late years that the
'^ '
2
GEOLOGY
more detailed work has been accomplished which gives us a fuller insight
into its geological structure and history.
During the eighteenth century several notices occur as to the minerals,
fossils, soil, &c., but these early writers had no connected view of the
structure of the country, or of the nature of the rocks. The first to acquire
a knowledge of the stratification of England was William Smith, who in 1815
published his ' Map of the Strata of England and Wales,' followed in 1821 by
a ' New Map of Leicestershire,' coloured geologically. In the following year
the Rev. W. D. Conybeare and W. Phillips published the Outlines of the
Geology of England and Wales, which contains some valuable notes on the
Ashby Coalfield. This coalfield was further described in 1834 in the
elaborate work of E. Mammatt, which, although giving many interest-
ting facts and observations, is somewhat marred by the crude theories
propounded. In 1838 Professor J. B. Jukes gave a Popular Sketch of the
Geology of the County of Leicester, which is the earliest general description of
the geology of the county. In 1846 another 'Sketch of the Geology of
Leicestershire,' by the Rev. W. Ccleman, appeared in White's History of
Leicestershire and Rutland, a second edition of which was published in 1863 ;
this latter is one of the best accounts of the general geology of the county
that we possess. Previous to this, however, more minute details had been
given in two of the memoirs of the Geological Survey relating to this
district which were published in i860. 1 In 1866 Professor Ansted gave an
account of the Physical Geography and Geology of the County of Leicester. In
1869 two important descriptions of the district were written. One, a
Geological Survey memoir by E. Hull, on 'The Triassic and Permian Rocks
of the Midland Counties of 'England ; the other by W. Molyneux, on Burton-on-
T'rent, its History, its Waters, and its Breweries. In later years many papers
relating to the rocks in different parts of the district were published ; but,
except the very detailed Sketch of the Geology of Leicestershire and Rutland,
given by W. J. Harrison in 1877, no general account of its geology
appeared. In 1889 the resurvey of the district was commenced by the
Geological Survey, and all the maps, with the exception of the southern
and north-eastern portions of the county, have been issued, together with a
series of memoirs, giving a detailed account of its geology.
PRE-CAMBRIAN OR ARCHAEAN
The geology of Charnwood Forest has been studied for many years,
but owing to the obscurity of its strata and the paucity of exposures, it has
not attracted the attention of geologists to the same extent as many other
areas. Among the earliest writers on these rocks were Professor Sedgwick
(1834),* Professor Jukes (1842)," Professor Ansted (1863)," Rev. W. H.
Coleman (i863), 6 and others; but it was not until 1877 that the first
1 W. T. Aveline and H. H. Howell, The Geology of Part of Leicestershire, Expl. of Sheet 63 ; E. Hull,
The Geology of the Leicestershire Coalfield and the Country around j4shby-de-la-Zouch.
' Phil. Mag. (Ser. 3), iv, 68, 69.
1 Appendix to the Geology, Botany, and Ornithology of the District, in Potter's Hist, and Antiq. of
Charnwood Forest.
4 Geologist, vi, 371.
5 ' Geology of Leicestershire ' ; in White's Hist. Gaz. and Direct, of the Counties of Leic. and Rut.
A HISTORY OF LEICESTERSHIRE
systematic study of these rocks was undertaken. In this year the first of the
well-known papers by Professor Bonney and the Rev. E. Hill was published,
followed in 1878, 1880, and 1891 by further accounts of this district. 1
These were supplemented in 1896 by Professor Watts, who proved the
general succession of the rocks, and worked out their physical structure
in such a manner as to allow the various sub-divisions to be represented on
a geological map.'
Charnwood Forest is composed of a series of craggy hills and ridges
standing out from a fairly uniform surface. These hills are uncultivated and
usually devoted to plantations ; while the spaces between, which are thickly
covered with angular detritus, are generally enclosed and cultivated.
Professor Watts has shown that these rocks existed as islands in the
Triassic and Carboniferous seas, and most probably stood up as mountains on the
land in Old Red Sandstone times. Their features are not those of the present
day, but date back partly to the subaerial denudation of Old Red Sandstone
and probably earlier times, and partly to the aqueous denudation of Carboni-
ferous and Triassic times. Present day denudation by clearing out the Triassic
debris has done little more than expose to-day a pre-Triassic landscape. 8
The rocks of Charnwood Forest are the oldest known in the Midlands.
They consist of a thick mass of clastic volcanic rocks with overlying grits and
shales ; they are intruded upon in places by several types of igneous masses,
and the whole of them are of pre-Cambrian age. They have been classified
by Professor Watts in the following sub-divisions* :
f Swithland and Groby Slates.
The Brand Series . J. Conglomerate, Grit and Quartzite.
( Purple and Green Beds.
1 Olive Hornstones of Bradgate.
Woodhouse Beds : Hornstones and Volcanic Grits.
Slate Agglomerate of Roecliffe.
Hornstones of Beacon Hill.
Felsitic Agglomerate.
The Blackbrook Series Hornstones and Volcanic Grits.
The succession is clearest in the eastern part of the district, but it
becomes much more confused in the north-west from the fact that this region
appears to have been the focus of volcanic activity, and consequently the rocks
are here much disturbed and faulted.
The rocks consist to a large extent of volcanic ingredients, even the fine
hornstones and slates being made of volcanic dust often interleaved with tuffs
and breccias. No traces of organic remains have been found in any of these
rocks with the exception of a worm burrow discovered by Professor Lapworth
in the slates low down in the Brand Series, and a few other examples since
obtained by Mr. Rhodes.
The igneous rocks of Charnwood Forest are extensively quarried for
road-metal and paving setts ; a large trade is also carried on in artificial flag-
stones made from the ground-up rock mixed with cement.
337-5<> ; xlii, 7 8- IOO .
GEOLOGY
Great intrusions of igneous rock took place at various periods in this
area. The earliest of these appears to be the porphyroids of Peldar, Sharpley,
and Bardon. Following this comes the syenite of Bradgate, Groby, Mark-
field, Sapcote, Croft, Enderby and Narborough, that at the four latter localities
issuing from under the Trias. Subsequent to this the hornblendic granite
of Mountsorrel, Buddon Wood, and Brazil Wood appears to have been
intruded, and in these there are dolerite dikes of still later age.
The Charnwood Hills are notably dislocated and shattered. The general
structure of the district is that of an elongated semidome having its major axis
in a north-westerly and south-easterly direction. This axis is a line of fracture,
and east and west of it are other faults which repeat the beds, showing that
the sides of the arch have been thrust over its centre. Cross faults help to
complicate the structure and show the enormous disturbance to which the
region has been exposed.
That the pre-Cambrian era was one of great volcanic activity is evident
from the nature of the rocks, and the intense disturbance of the stratification.
It may also be inferred that during this period this part of Britain formed
a land surface on which numerous volcanoes were established, and from which
vast flows of lava were poured out, and large quantities of volcanic detritus
were ejected. Portions of this land sank beneath the sea, in which the
denuded material from these volcanic products was spread out in more or less
stratified beds. At this period the earth's crust was comparatively thin, and
consequently was being continually broken up and crushed by the explosive
forces of the contained igneous matter, and by the contraction of the earth's
mass as it cooled. This explains the enormous amount of pressure that is
evinced in the faulting and overthrusting of these rocks. After the deposi-
tion of the pre-Cambrian rocks a great break takes place in the geological
succession in this region. No representative of the Cambrian, Silurian, or
Old Red Sandstone has as yet been found within the area of the county.
While these rocks were being laid down in other districts this part of England
appears to have been dry land, although some of these rocks may eventually
be discovered beneath the older rocks abutting against the Charnwood Hills
or the thick Triassic covering to the east.
CARBONIFEROUS
CARBONIFEROUS LIMESTONE
The Carboniferous Limestone succeeds the pre-Cambrian Rocks, and is
found resting against them on the northern side of the range at Grace Dieu.
To the north of this it comes to the surface in a series of inliers at Osga-
thorpe, Barrow Hill, Breedon Cloud, and Breedon, being turned up against a
fault ranging in this direction. It also crops out in the valley at Dimmins-
dale, and at Calke and Ticknall in the next county. The limestone has been
worked in former times at all of these places, but the only quarries now in
use are at Breedon and Breedon Cloud.
It is a magnesian limestone or dolomite, and consists of a light-coloured,
brownish grey, semi-crystalline rock, which is very hard and full of joints.
At the south end, in the neighbourhood of the Charnwood rocks, the lime-
stone is browner and more impure, and contains a line of cavities that are
5
A HISTORY OF LEICESTERSHIRE
filled with a curious white sandstone or indurated marl. The limestone is
very fossiliferous, especially at Ticknall. 1 Corals are fairly plentiful, as also
are the stems of Crinoids, and several species of Brachiopoda. At Breedon
Cloud the limestone is burnt for lime, certain bands being said to make the
best agricultural lime, while the more irregular rock is the best for building.*
Mineral ores are not very common, but galena was formerly worked at
Dimminsdale and copper ore is said to have been obtained in Calke Park. 8
There is not much doubt that the limestone underlies the other forma-
tions at no very great depth in the district to the north of Grace Dieu between
Ticknall and Breedon. In this area the beds are bent into a flat arch on the
western side, while on the eastern side they are turned up nearly vertically by
a large fault which appears to be a continuation of one of the Charnwood
fractures. To the south the limestone becomes much thinner, and although
it probably underlies most of the coalfield, it thins out further south. In a
boring at Desford only a little over twenty feet were found. 4
Overlying the limestone there are some dark shales with thin beds of
sandstone and limestone, which become more sandy in the upper part before
they are succeeded by the massive grits above. These beds are exposed over
the limestone at Dimminsdale and Ticknall ; they vary considerably in thick-
ness, but at the former place are from thirty to forty feet thick. They are
also seen at Calke, under the railway at Worthington, and at Grace Dieu,
but at Breedon, Breedon Cloud, and Osgathorpe are hidden by overlying beds
of Trias.
MILLSTONE GRIT
Although there is a considerable area covered by Millstone Grit just
beyond the north-west border of the county very little of this formation is
seen within the county itself. The principal outcrop is that surrounding the
limestone at Dimminsdale, which is the southern portion of the larger mass
beyond the county boundary extending to the Trent at Stanton-by-Bridge.
Another small inlier of this rock comes up at Thringstone, and it also occurs
at the foot of the Keuper escarpment at Castle Donington, but the beds are
very obscurely seen, and it is doubtful to what age they should be assigned.
The Millstone Grit of this area is but a very poor representative of this
rock as it occurs in the northern part of Derbyshire. It consists of a series
of sandstones and grits, which are coarse and conglomeratic in the lower part,
but fine-grained and thin-bedded towards the top. Some of the beds are
very massive, and have been extensively worked as a building-stone, but the
beds are too soft to form the striking features that they do further north
beyond Derby.
From the soft sandy character of the upper part of this formation it
forms good arable land, which in places is largely appropriated for market
gardens. The water supply afforded by these rocks is good, and is utilized
for many places in Derbyshire.
An analysis of this lime is given in the above memoir.
W. J. Harrison, Geol. of Lelc. and Rut. 16
.
G " 1 ' *"" *TT? f Pr greSS f r I 94- P- '54- The details of this boring are
ing memoir on the Leicestershire and South Derbyshire Coalfield.
given
6
GEOLOGY
COAL MEASURES
The Leicester Coalfield occupies that part of the county west of the
Charnwood Hills. It extends also into South Derbyshire, but the two are so
intimately connected together that it will be necessary in describing this
coalfield to include the whole area.
The formation is composed of a series of sandstones and shales with
many seams of coal and ironstone. The coal seams vary in thickness from a
maximum of 1 5 ft., but the majority of workable seams are from 7 ft. to 8 ft.
or less.
The strata are bent into a flat arch having its axis running in a north-
westerly and south-easterly direction parallel with that of Charnwood Forest,
so that the seams on the east dip to the east, while those on the west dip in
the main to the west, although there are several minor disturbances which
alter this general arrangement. The effect of this is that the coalfield is
separated into three areas, the western or Moira Coalfield, the eastern or
Whitwick Coalfield, and the central region of lower unproductive measures.
The coal seams on either side of the anticline have not as yet been correlated
with one another ; there is considerable difference in the nature of the
measures on the two sides of the coalfield, and until further advance has been
made in the palaeontology of these rocks it is not possible to compare the
seams with any certainty.
The following is a list of the principal seams on the two sides of the
coalfield :
MOIRA OR WESTERN COALFIELD WHITWICK OR EASTERN COALFIELD
Average Average
Name of Coal Seam Thickness Name of Coal Seam Thickness
ft. in. ft. in.
Ell 3 Stone Smut Rider .... 3 8
Dickey Gobler 36 ( 3 o
Jack Dennis, Block or Wat- Stone Smut \ to
son 40 (60
Little or Five Feet ....50 Swannington 40
Main 140 Soft or Three Quarters ..20
Toad or Little Woodfield ..40 Slate Coal Rider . . . . i o
Slate 38 Slate 50
Woodfield 60 Yard 40
Stockings 70 Rattlejack 30
Eureka 4 6 Stinking or Sulphurous ..30
Stanhope 46 Main 60
Kilburn 46 Smoilc 36
Upper Lount 3
Middle Lount 56
Nether Lount 60
Roaster
Associated with some of these seams are beds of fireclay which are of
much importance, especially about Moira and Swadlincote, where they are
employed for the manufacture of firebricks, saggers, &c. The clays in the
upper part of the measures are also extensively used for sanitary pipes, &c.
In the south-eastern part of the coalfield the seams are worked beneath
a thick covering of Keuper Marl and Sandstone, the Coal Measures them-
selves, except at Heather, being entirely hidden by this formation.
7
A HISTORY OF LEICESTERSHIRE
At Whitwick Colliery and as far south as Ellistown the Coal Measures
are overlaid by a sheet of basalt, which was poured out in a molten state, and
has charred the measures with which it came in contact.
Although the Coal Measures were probably originally laid down over
the country to the east of the Charnwood Hills they were swept away in pre-
Triassic times ; and there is evidence, from several boreholes that have been
made, that the red measures rest directly upon highly inclined beds of a
much older date. 1
The physical history of the Carboniferous period is clearer than that ot
those that went before, from the fact that the record of this epoch is more
complete, and there are more reliable data to work upon. During the early
part of this period it is probable that an inland sea existed to the north,
extending along what is now the western borders of Derbyshire and York-
shire, to the south of Scotland. In this depression was deposited the thick
mass of limestone that covers this district ; while in the extreme north and
south, where the old land surfaces seem to have principally existed, a greater
amount of muddy or sandy matter was brought in. From the small thickness
of limestone that occurs in this part of the area it is probable that it was
near the southern margin of this sea ; while further proof that the water was
comparatively shallow is afforded by the dolomitic character of much of the
limestone. After a time a change took place and deposits of mud and sand,
which had at first been confined to the neighbourhood of the shore, extended
themselves over nearly the whole of this marine basin, and formed the shales,
sandstones, and grits that overlie the limestone. Later the sea became con-
verted into a freshwater lake or large estuary, while the further filling up of
the water or the elevation of the land gradually produced low swampy flats
intersected with land surfaces, on which vegetation quickly sprang up, and
furnished the material for beds of coal. During this later period constant
oscillation of level took place, producing the frequent alternations of shale and
sandstone, latterly with coal seams, which characterize the Coal Measures.
PERMIAN
In this district there is a marked unconformity between the Coal
Measures and the succeeding deposits of Red rocks, the lowest of which have
been classed as Permian. These rocks belong to a special series of strata,
which has been distinguished by Professor Hull as the ' Salopian type ' of
British Permian. 8 There is, however, no proof that they are of Permian
age ; they may represent the commencement of the Trias epoch, and it is
very doubtful whether the separation should be maintained. They are com-
posed of coarse angular breccia with occasional beds of marl and sandstone.
The breccia is usually angular, especially towards the south, and is composed
of fragments of Carboniferous rocks, volcanic ash and other igneous rocks,
slates, feldspathic grits and quartzites, embedded in a sandy calcareous matrix. 8
The fragments do not appear to have come from any distance, and most of
1 Details of these borings are given in the Memoirs of the Geol. Surv. : ' The Geology of the Country
near Leicester.'
' Memoir, tf the Geol. Surv. : 'The Triassic and Permian Rocks of the Midland Counties of England,' 11.
rown, 'The Permian Rocb of the Leicestershire Coalfield,' Quart. Journ. Geol. Soc. xlv, 24.
8
HISTORY OF LEICESTERSHIRE
OROGRAF
45'
IS
REFERENCE NOTE
bore 80O iWt
| 6OO to 800 feet
B4OO to 600
ZOO U 400 (r-t
100 to ZOO (eft
below 100 feel
THE VI CTOR I A HI STORY (
ICAL MAP.
:'^P^^n'-"" \
ifv^'S^x/ x \.^\ \*tfai>;\
.. . . j--^ t j (' >ir ii
.:, .
County Boundary shown thus.
COUNTI ES OF ENGLAND
GEOLOGY
them may be derived from rocks that occur within 10 or 20 miles. The
occurrence of these beds seems to indicate the margin of a large mass of land
occupying this part of England, the cliffs of which furnished the debris that
was transported a short distance, and mingled with the marls and sands of the
neighbouring sea. The origin of these rocks has given rise to much con-
troversy. Ramsay considered that they were the morainic matter of old
glaciers existing in Permian times. 1 Jukes thought they were the debris
derived from neighbouring rocks now concealed beneath the Trias, 2 and this
view is the one now generally held by geologists at the present time. The
outcrop of these rocks is most irregular, but they appear to occur principally
along hollows in the underlying Carboniferous rocks. The unconformity
between them is very marked along the western side of the coalfield, the
breccia occurring in patches of no great thickness, and being frequently
overlapped by the various members of the Trias. The thickest beds of
breccia are those at the southern end of the coalfield about Measham,
Packington and Donisthorpe.
TRIAS
The Trias covers the largest area of any formation in this part of the
Midlands, and extends from west to east over a distance of from 50 to 80 miles.
It consists of the following subdivisions :
Rhaetic
K _ f Red marl with thin bands of sandstone.
I Red, white, and brown sandstone with thin beds of marl.
Bunter Pebble-beds and beds of sandstone.
Of these rocks the Keuper covers the greater part of the district ; the
Bunter, which is thinning out rapidly in this area, occurs only at a few
isolated places around the western part of the Coalfield ; while the Rhaetic
Beds crop out as a narrow band running from north to south nearly across the
centre of the county.
BUNTER
The Bunter consists mostly of beds of shingle with occasionally some
beds of soft sandstone. These pebble-beds are formed of partially con-
solidated quartzose gravels which pass into alternations of more or less
pebbly sandstone. The pebbles themselves are mostly brown and grey
quartzites, and the matrix of the rock is in many cases so hard and con-
solidated that they fracture more readily across the pebbles than between
them. They are often covered with small indentations or pits caused by
pressure or chemical action where they are in contact. 3 Professor Sollas
considers that they are caused by earth tremors.* The origin of these pebbles
and the manner in which they have been formed are questions concerning
which there is a great diversity of opinion. 6 These beds probably have a
1 Quart. Journ. Geol. Soc. xi, 198.
1 Memoirs of the Geol. Surv. : 'South Staff. Coalfield,' 2nd ed.
3 W. S. Gresley, Geol. Mag. dec. iv, vol. ii, 239 ; T. Mellard Reid, ibid. 341.
4 Brit. Assoc. Rep. for 1893, p. 755.
' C. Lapworth, Proc. Geol. Assoc. xv, 382 ; T. G. Bonney, Quart. Journ. Geol. Soc. Ivi, 279 ; and
O. A. Shrubsole, Quart. Journ. Geol. Soc. lix, 311.
9 2
A HISTORY OF LEICESTERSHIRE
maximum thickness to the west of the county of about 1,000 ft., but they
thin out very rapidly eastwards, and are not present at Ashby-de-la-Zouch or
anywhere to the east of that town. They are most strongly developed about
Measham and Donisthorpe ; there is also an outcrop at Boothorpe and on the
banks of the Trent at Castle Donington.
When a sufficiently large area of these beds is exposed they form a dry
but rather poor soil disposed in rounded gravelly knolls, which considerably
add to the beauty of the scenery.
KEUPER SANDSTONE
The Keuper Sandstone has an average thickness of about looft., but it
passes so gradually into the marls above that it is difficult to separate the one
from the other. It consists of massive beds of soft sandstone, sometimes
white, but usually stained red or brown. These sandstones are split up
by numerous beds of marl ; they are generally false-bedded and frequently
ripple-marked. In the neighbourhood of the Charnwood Hills, about
Thringstone, and also at Heather and other places, the base of the sandstone
contains many quartz pebbles and angular fragments, and occasionally hard
beds of conglomerate. Near Castle Donington footprints of Labyrinthodon
have been found in these beds, but fossils are extremely rare. 1
The sandstones have been used as a building-stone to some extent, but
the rock is too soft in this district to be of much value. The Keuper Sand-
stone is a valuable water-bearing stratum, and large supplies are obtained from
it at Coalville, Ellistown, and other places.
The outcrop of the rock extends along the western portion of the
county from Appleby by Measham and Normanton to Ashby-de-la-Zouch.
North of this it spreads out, covering Pistern Hill and most of the high
ground between Woodville and Coleorton. At Thringstone it is thrown
down by the large fault bounding the Coalfield, along the north side of which
it forms a conspicuous escarpment as far as Staunton Harold, where striking
to the north the escarpment is continued to Melbourne, and along the bank
of the Trent to Castle Donington.
The Keuper Sandstone usually forms a light and dry soil, but the outcrop
in this district, when free from Drift, is too narrow to have much effect on
the land.
KEUPER MARL
The Keuper Marl covers the whole of that part of the county west of
Leicester with the exception of the small areas of older rocks which have
been previously mentioned. It forms an undulating plain mostly under
cultivation, of which the greater part is arable land well suited to the
growing of corn. The strata consist of red and mottled marls with thin
beds of grey and white sandstone, known as ' skerry.' Thin beds of gypsum
occur at intervals throughout these marls, especially in the upper part, where
one bed has a thickness of from 6 ft. to 1 2 ft. The sandstones are frequently
ripple-marked, and contain pseudomorphous crystals of salt. Near Leicester
a thick bed of soft white sandstone occurs in the upper part of the marl, but
1 Memoirs of the Geol. Sxrr. .- The Leicestershire Coalfield,' 62.
10
GEOLOGY
this is very exceptional ; the bed, which is quite local, thins out in all
directions, and only covers a very small area.
Water from these rocks is very hard owing to the presence of gypsum,
and consequently unsuitable for general purposes, although much appreciated
for brewing.
The Keuper Marl overlaps unconformably the rocks beneath ; and
although along its junction with the Keuper Sandstone it succeeds that
formation quite regularly, in fact the one passes into the other by almost
insensible gradations, still, where the oldest rocks come to the surface, as
around Charnwood Forest, and at Enderby, Croft, Narborough, Sapcote, and
Mountsorrel, it abuts directly against them without any intervening beds of
Keuper Sandstone, showing that these older rocks must have stood up as
islands in Triassic times.
Various opinions have been advanced by geologists as to the mode of
origin of the Triassic rocks. Ramsay considered that all the Red Sandstones
of the Midlands, including both the Trias and Permian, were deposited under
continental conditions, 1 and this is the view, with slight modifications,
generally adopted at the present day. There can be no doubt that the rocky
floor of this region upon which the Trias rests was most irregular in form.
It was probably broken by tracts of high land in the neighbourhood of the
Pennine Chain, the Welsh Hills, the Lickey Hills, the hills of North
Warwickshire, the Charnwood Hills, and others, from which the material
was derived, and which enclosed basins and lagoons in which beds of salt and
gypsum were deposited; while the surrounding land was desert, producing
the ever-shifting sands that have formed the false-bedded sandstones, and the
remarkable eroded surfaces that have been found on the granite at Mount-
sorrel.*
RHAETIC
At the top of the Keuper Marl there are a series of beds which, although
they are classed with the Trias, are in mineral character more closely allied to
the overlying Lias. They rest on beds of tea-green marl at the top of the
Keuper, which was at one time included with them, but there is a sharp line
of division which is usually occupied by a thin band of conglomerate or
coarse sandstone, having a peculiarly gritty feel, known as the Bone-bed.
This bed, although sometimes absent, generally varies in thickness from
| in. to 2 in., or rather more. When met with at a little distance from the
surface it is very hard and pyritic, but nearer the outcrop it becomes
decomposed and much more brittle. It is a highly pyritous and impure
sandstone, full of the fragmentary remains of saurians and fish, the teeth and
scales of Colobodus^ scales of Gyrolepis alberti, teeth of Saurichthys acuminates,
Acrodus minimus and Hybodus cloacinus, together with fragments of Triassic
sandstones, pebbles, and coprolites. The Bone-bed is succeeded by a thick-
ness of about 1 7 ft. of dark, finely laminated shales, containing Avicula
contorta, Protocardium phillipianum, and other bivalves in considerable
abundance. These beds pass up into a series of bluish or grey shales which
1 Quart. jfourn. GeoL Soc. xxvii, 195.
1 These were first described by Professor Watts, Brit. Assoc. Rep. for 1899, p. 747 ; Free. Geol. Assoe.
xvii, 379.
I I
A HISTORY OF LEICESTERSHIRE
have a thickness of 20 ft., and which are not unlike the tea-green marls below.
The Rhaetic Beds, which thus altogether have a thickness of about 40 ft., form
a narrow band at the foot of the Lias. South of Wigston the outcrop has not
as yet been traced, but there is no doubt that it occurs some distance to the west
of Lutterworth, although the ground here is deeply covered by Drift gravels,
which entirely conceal the rocks beneath. In the neighbourhood of Leicester
the outcrop is fairly clear, but becomes very much obscured again where it
crosses the valley of the Wreak. North of Barrow-on-Soar it becomes
clearer, and these shales, together with the lowest beds of the Lias, form a
conspicuous group of hills near West Leake in the next county. Throughout
this extended outcrop the only clear exposure of the Rhaetic Beds is that in
the brickyard at Glen Parva near Leicester.
In the physical history of the earth the Rhaetic Beds show a transition
from the continental and lacustrine conditions of the Trias to the open sea in
which the Lias was laid down. They are of special interest as they mark the
time when the great Triassic lake was invaded by the sea. The stunted
character of the Mollusca shows that the conditions of this sea were not
suitable for vigorous growth ; while the character of the Bone-bed, with its
fragments of bones, scales, and teeth, testifies to the sudden irruption of the
water which exterminated the saurians and fish previously existing.
LIAS
The Lias occupies almost the whole of the eastern half of the county,
but it is so much covered over by Glacial beds that it is not exposed over a
large part of this area. It forms heavy clay land which is mostly in
permanent pasture, affording one of the most renowned hunting grounds in
England.
The formation is separable, from its petrological character, and the
nature of its organic remains, into three distinct horizons, Lower, Middle,
and Upper, each of which is further divisible into zones characterized by
particular assemblages of fossils.
LOWER LIAS
This division consists of a series of thin argillaceous limestone bands and
shales in the lower part, and a thick series of clays or shale in the upper. It
occupies a large stretch of country extending from Lutterworth across the
low ground east of Leicester to Melton Mowbray, having a breadth of six or
seven miles. In the northern part of the county the Lower Lias covers a
large area extending into Nottinghamshire. Over a large part of this district
the beds are completely hidden by Boulder-clay ; it is therefore chiefly along
the numerous streams, and on the steeper slopes at the foot of the Middle
Lias escarpment, that exposures of these beds are met with. These sections
show that the Lower Lias may be separated into the following subdivisions
or zones characterized by species of Ammonites -.Ammonites (Psiloceras]
planorbts, Ammonites (Schlotheimia] angulatus, Ammonites (Arietites} Bucklandi,
Ammonites (Arietites) semicosfatus, Ammonites (Oxynoticeras) oxynotus, Ammonites
(Aegoceras) Jamesom, and Ammonites (Aegoceras) capricornus. The two highest
12
GEOLOGY
of these zones, that of Am. capricornus and Am. yamesoni, have by some
authors been included with the Middle Lias, but it is better to class them
with the Lower Lias, as the line of the higher horizon is the only one that
can be drawn in the field. 1 The best exposures of the lower part of these
beds is undoubtedly in the lime pits at Barrow ; the higher zones can only
be made out from obscure sections, mostly along the stream courses. The
bands of limestone in the lower part are burnt for lime at Kilby Bridge,
Barrow-on-Soar, and Normanton Hills, that from Barrow making a noted
hydraulic cement.
MIDDLE LIAS
The Middle Lias consists of two divisions ; the upper part is a rock bed
of ferruginous and sandy limestone, having at Tilton a thickness of about
1 8 ft., while below this are sandy shales and clays occupying another looft.
or more. These correspond to the two palaeontological zones of Ammonites
(Amaltheus] margarifafus, and Ammonites (Amaltheus) spinatus, and are easily
recognized wherever the rock crops out free of Drift. The thickness of
the Rock Bed, however, varies considerably in its passage across the county,
reaching its maximum development along the western escarpment about
Billesdon and Burrow-on-the-Hill ; while it nearly thins away altogether
at several points towards the eastern part of its outcrop.
Where the Rock Bed is best developed it forms a fine escarpment over-
looking the Lower Lias plain, as at Life Hill near Billesdon and at Burrow-
on-the-Hill, at both of which places it rises to an elevation of 690 ft. above
the sea.
North of Melton Mowbray the Middle Lias also forms a bold escarp-
ment running from Ab Kettleby by Harby Hill to Belvoir Castle.
The Rock Bed is extensively worked for ironstone at Holwell, Eastwell,
and Eaton, and was formerly used for roadstone and as a building material.
The Rock Bed being a very open porous rock, springs are frequently
thrown out at its base, but the water is usually very ferruginous. Where
the rock is free of Drift it gives rise to a red soil, which is very pro-
ductive, and nearly always under the plough, forming a marked contrast
to the clay land above and below, which is always in pasture.
UPPER LIAS
The Upper Lias of this district has been separated by Professor Judd
into the following five divisions s :
5. ' Leda ovum Beds.' Clays with numerous bands of septaria (many
fossils) .
4. Highly pyritous clays, with much jet in places (few fossils).
3. ' Communis Beds.' Laminated blue clays with bands containing
numerous small fossils.
2. ' Serpentinus Beds.' Clays with nodules of limestone, sometimes
ferruginous (ammonites abundant).
i. ' Paper shales with Fish and Insect Limestones.'
1 Memoirs of the Geol. Surv.: 'The Jurassic Rocks of Britain,' i, 28 ; iii, 187.
1 Ibid. : ' The Geology of Rutland,' 89.
'3
A HISTORY OF LEICESTERSHIRE
The thickness of these shales is about 200 ft., but it varies somewhat in
different places. Exposures in them are very rare, and consequently it is
only from artificial excavations that the above classification can be made out.
The Upper Lias usually rises in a steep bank above the terrace formed
by the Rock Bed ; and produces an undulating district, much covered by
Drift, which extends along the eastern side of the county from Market
Harborough to Pickwell. North of Edmondthorpe the outcrop is much
narrower, and the ground being covered with a thick deposit of Drift these
beds are but obscurely seen.
The dark shales of the Lias have been mistaken for Coal Measures,
which sometimes led in former times to fruitless trials for coal, as was the
case at Billesdon Coplow. 1
That the Lias has been laid down in seas of varying depth is indicated
by its fossil contents. The passage from the Rhaetic with fragmentary
remains to the lower beds of Lias with Ammonites, Saurians, and Fish shows
a gradual change from shallow lagoons to an open sea. The sandy beds of
the Middle Lias and the basement portion of the Upper Lias indicate the
oncoming of shallower water, which again deepened when the main mass of
the Upper Lias clay with its abundant Ammonites was laid down.
INFERIOR OOLITE
The Inferior Oolite, which makes such a fine escarpment just beyond
the eastern boundary of the county, is but poorly represented in Leicester-
shire. Small patches, however, of the rock are found capping hills at
Nevill Holt, Loddington, Robin-a-Tiptoes, and Whatborough. North of
Melton Mowbray a projecting spur of the main outcrop comes within the
district about Waltham-on-the- Wolds and Croxton Kerrial. It comprises
two divisions, the Northampton Sand and the Lincolnshire Limestone.
The first of these is further sub-divided into the two horizons of the North-
amptonshire Ironstone and the Lower Estuarine Series.
THE NORTHAMPTON SAND
The Northamptonshire Ironstone is usually a rich ironstone which, when
not altered by the percolation of water, is a hard and compact rock of a
blue or green colour composed of carbonate and silicate of iron. Under
the microscope it is seen to consist of rounded oolitic grains. The rock,
when it occurs near the surface and has been exposed to atmospheric
influences, exhibits a peculiar cellular structure resembling a collection of
oblong boxes. This has been produced by the concentration of hydrated
peroxide of iron along the bedding planes and joints, which has split up the
rock into roughly rectangular blocks.'
This ironstone passes up into brown sands, which are succeeded by
white sands with occasional layers of clay and lignite. To these upper
beds the name Lower Estuarine Series has been given. The total thickness
1 Life and Letters ofj. B. Jukes, 1871, p. 467.
' Memoirs of the Geol. Surf. : ' The Geology of Rutland,' 1 1 8, 1 34.
GEOLOGY
of the group is variable, but Mr. A. J. Jukes Browne states that it does
not exceed 40 ft. in this district. 1
THE LINCOLNSHIRE LIMESTONE
The Lincolnshire Limestone is rather variable in character ; in some
places it forms beds of valuable freestone, but in others it is a coarse shelly
ragstone interstratified with soft marly or oolitic limestone. Professor Judd
has pointed out that the Lincolnshire Oolite presents two aspects which
may be specially characterized." A ' coralline facies ' which is characterized
by beds of slightly argillaceous limestone, of compact, subcrystalline, or but
slightly oolitic texture, abounding with corals, which are usually converted
into masses of finely crystalline carbonate of lime. These limestones afford
evidence of having been true coral reefs ; they contain shells which
are particularly characteristic of this facies. The other variety has
been termed the ' shelly facies.' It consists almost wholly of small
shells or fragments of shells, sometimes waterworn and sometimes encrusted
with carbonate of lime. Small gasteropods are abundant, but are usually
waterworn ; the bivalves occur usually as single valves, and are frequently
eroded and broken. These beds were evidently banks of dead shells accumu-
lated near the coral bed, under the influence of varying currents.
The ferruginous beds of the Northampton Sand form a rich red soil,
which is specially adapted for the growth of crops, while the soil over
the Lincolnshire Limestone is also mostly in arable land ; but the outcrop in
this district is so limited and so frequently covered by Boulder-clay that
the underlying rock has not much effect on the character of the soil.
GLACIAL DRIFT, VALLEY DEPOSITS, AND ALLUVIUM
After the deposition of the Oolites an immense break takes place in the
series of beds that are found in this part of the Midlands. Although
higher beds of Oolite and the Cretaceous Rocks come on in regular succes-
sion further to the east and probably at one time covered most of this
district, they have now been completely removed by denudation, and there
is no trace left of any of these rocks or of the Tertiary strata which play
so important a part in the eastern counties and around London. Great
changes took place during this period in which the present surface was first
mapped out, although it has been subsequently much modified by the action
of moving masses of ice, rain, and rivers. After this long period the first
evidence of fresh deposition in this district is that afforded by the boulder-
clays and gravels, which irregularly overlie the older beds, and are found over
the greater part of the area. These beds may be conveniently divided under
the separate heads of Glacial Drift, Valley Drift, and Alluvium.
GLACIAL DRIFT
The glacial beds which occur in this district are of considerable interest
from the fact that they illustrate the character of these beds over a large
1 Memoirs of the Geol. Surv. : ' The Geology of the South-west part of Lincolnshire,' 45.
' Ibid. 'The Geology of Rutland,' 139.
A HISTORY OF LEICESTERSHIRE
portion of the great Trent basin. The nature of the Pleistocene succession
in this area has been described by Mr. R. M. Deeley, who separated the beds
into no less than eight sub-divisions l in the following order :
Newer Pleistocene Epoch.
Later Pennine Boulder-clay.
Interglacial River-gravel.
Middle Pleistocene Epoch.
Chalky Gravel.
Great Chalky Boulder-clay.
Melton Sand.
Older Pleistocene Epoch.
Middle Pennine Boulder-clay.
Quartzose Sand.
Early Pennine Boulder-clay.
Mr. Deeley drew his conclusions from a large number of isolated sections ;
but the detailed mapping of the ground, which has since been undertaken, does
not entirely bear out these ideas. The main fact drawn from the study of the
Drifts is that they are of two distinct ages ; a lower one having its included
fragments, consisting principally of quartzite pebbles and fragments derived
from the west or north, and an upper one containing detritus of the Chalk
and Oolites derived from the east. These occupy the relatively higher ground
throughout the district, and appear to have formed one vast sheet rising
gradually to the watershed, and falling equally gradually on the other side.
This sheet, which seldom has a thickness of more than iooft., is cut through
by all the principal streams of the district ; so that the solid strata are
exposed in nearly all the valleys, while the Drift is found capping all the
ridges between them.
The greater part of this Drift is composed of Boulder-clay, but there are
also large quantities of sand and gravel, which occur at various horizons in
the clay, although principally between the two clays mentioned above, and
also associated with the Chalky clay. The thickest deposits of gravel are in
the southern part of the county around Lutterworth, in the neighbourhood of
Market Bosworth, and on the higher ground about Tilton and Skeffington.
The greatest elevation at which the Drift is found is on the Charnwood
Hills, where it occurs slightly above the 600 contour line, and on Life Hill
near Billesdon, where it rises to 730 ft., which is the highest ground in
the neighbourhood, so that there is no evidence as to what its maximum
elevation may have been. The Boulder-clay is thickest in the country to the
south of Leicester ; it is also of considerable importance as far north as the
high ground about Six Hills, but thins out to the north of the Charnwood
Hills, and along the valley of the Trent, beyond which it soon disappears.
The Drift occasionally contains large transported masses of Oolite, Chalk,
and Marlstone, which appear to be the result of coast ice acting along the
shore at a period when the country was partially submerged. One of these
occurs to the north-west of Melton Mowbray. It is a mass of oolitic lime-
stone ; and as far as can be made out from old quarries, and the fragments
' Quart. Journ. Geol. Soc. xlii, 437.
16
GEOLOGY
lying about, appears to be at least 300 yards long and 100 yards across. The
nearest point from which this mass can have come is at Waltham-on-the-
Wolds, about 5 miles to the north-east. Other large transported masses of
rock occur near Belton, Ashby Magna, and south of Lutterworth.
VALLEY DRIFT
A later deposit of clay and stones is found in many of the valleys. This,
although not a true Boulder-clay, appears to have been formed in late glacial
times, as the material is often thrust into the underlying beds, showing that
some ice existed at the time. It is of no great thickness, and is only found
along valleys that have been cut through the older Boulder-clay. These beds
evidently mark a very late period merging into the time when the terraces of
the existing rivers were laid down ; and consequently the separation of them
from the river beds is very obscure. They in fact form a connecting link
between beds of glacial age and the alluvial deposits of the present rivers.
They are best seen at Barrow-on-Soar, but occur also in the neighbourhood of
Market Bosworth and other places.
RIVER-GRAVELS AND ALLUVIUM
All the main rivers of the district are flanked by well-marked river
terraces, composed of well-stratified gravel and loam. They form terraces at
from fifteen to twenty feet above the present alluvium of the rivers, from
which they usually rise in a sharp bank. These gravels make considerable
spreads at the junction of the Wreak and Soar at Syston, and along the
Trent Valley north of Kegworth and other places. They extend in many places
up the lateral valleys, and in the upper part join on to the alluvium of the
present streams. A great number of mammalian remains have from time to
time been found in these gravels. 1 These beds have been deposited at a time
when the rivers flowed at a higher level, and when there was a greater volume
of water than at the present time.
With regard to the modern alluvium which flanks all the larger streams
there is little to be said beyond that it forms fertile meadows and pastures,
while the gravel terraces above are mostly arable land.
The general inference to be drawn from the Drifts of this district is that
the glaciation which produced these deposits of Boulder-clay and gravels
emanated from two distinct sources. The earliest had its origin somewhere
to the north-west, and derived its material solely from rocks older than the
Trias. This glaciation, however, does not appear to have been so extensive as
that which succeeded, and which, bearing Cretaceous and Jurassic rocks mingled
with material from the earlier Boulder-clay, must have come from an easterly
direction. The large quantity of gravel and sand associated with this Boulder-
clay seems to point to the fact that the termination of the glacier cannot at
times have been far from this district, although it varied somewhat at different
periods. In fact there is every probability that the Midland counties occupied
what was the fringe of the great glaciation that occurred at this period ; and
that the frequent advance and retreat of the ice-sheet over this district
produced along its edge the complicated series of torrential and swampy
deposits which now form the Glacial beds of this part of England.
1 Montagu Browne, The Vertebrate Animals of Leicestershire and Rutland.
1 17 3
PALAEONTOLOGY
task of drawing up a list of the fossil vertebrates of Leicester-
shire, at least so far as known up to the year 1889, is rendered
easy by Mr. Montagu Browne's excellent account of the Vertebrate
Animals of Leicestershire and Rutland. The writer is further
indebted to Mr. Browne, who formerly had charge of the Town Museum at
Leicester, for information with regard to additions to the fossil vertebrate
fauna of the county since the date of publication of that work. Commencing
with the mammals of the superficial formations, it may be noted that all
these belong to the ordinary species, and are consequently in the main of no
special interest or importance. An exception in this respect has, however,
to be made with regard to two specimens of elephants a skull and a
skeleton noticed below, of which unfortunately only fragments were saved.
Among the species most numerously represented in the county is the
mammoth or extinct Siberian elephant (Elepba s primigenius] , a near relative of
the existing Asiatic elephant (. maximus], but distinguished by the narrower
and more numerous vertical plates of the molar teeth, as well as by the thick
and abundant coat of bristly hair and woolly under-fur which clothed the
skin. A molar of this species was discovered in the valley of the Soar in
1849, and a tusk in a gravel-pit at Belgrave about 1861 ; while a remarkably
fine tusk, originally measuring 1 1 ft. in length, was disinterred in the autumn
of 1 86 1 in the gravel of Sydney Street, Belgrave Road, Leicester. A portion
of this tusk, as well as the two preceding specimens, is preserved in the
Leicester Museum, which also possesses part of a larger but more slender tusk,
apparently dug up in Sydney Street in 1867. In 1874 the Leicester Museum
received portions of a mammoth molar from a pit by the side of the Midland
Railway near Thurmaston, from which large quantities of gravel were dug
for ballast. According to information obtained on the spot by Mr. W. J.
Harrison, it appears probable that the workmen dug up a whole skull of this
mammoth, which, with the exception of the aforesaid molar, was broken up
and carted away in a ballast-truck. 1 Such a piece of vandalism is a matter for
much regret. Mammoth teeth are also recorded from Keyworth and
Kettering ; while a well-preserved specimen was dug up in Wood Street,
Belgrave Road, Leicester, in 1883, and examples have been obtained from
the Abbey Meadow, near Leicester, and from other localities in the valley of
the Soar. In excavating for a gasometer at Loughborough in 1888 a
mammoth molar was discovered, and there are several other records of such
finds in the county. Special mention must be made of a fine last upper
molar from Kirby Park, Melton Mowbray, preserved in the Sedgwick
(Woodwardian) Museum at Cambridge, on account of its being described
1 Browne, op. cit. 27.
A HISTORY OF LEICESTERSHIRE
and figured by the late Dr. Leith Adams in his monograph on ' British
Fossil Elephants,' published by the Palaeontographical Society of London,
between 1877 and 1881 ; the figures of this particular specimen being given
in plate 13. A second regrettable instance of the destruction of unusually
well-preserved elephant remains appears to have taken place in the county in
1858, in which year a skeleton of one of these monsters was discovered in
the gravel overlying the Lias of Barrow on Soar. According to a contem-
porary account given by Mr. James Plant' :
The animal, which measured about 1 1 ft. in length, was lying on its side, nearly two
yards below the surface, and only a few inches above the bed of blue marl which constitutes
the uppermost member of the Lower Lias at Barrow. So perfect was it when just
discovered that the integuments were plainly discoverable. In a short time, however,
exposure to the atmosphere produced its wonted effects, and of the whole skeleton it was only
possible to preserve portions of the tusks, four teeth, part of a femur, and a large fragment of
the scapula ; some of these remains have been deposited in the Museum of the Literary and
Philosophical Society.
The sole remains of the Barrow specimen, now extant, appear to be one
perfect molar and a portion of a second, preserved in the Leicester Museum.
Together with a molar in the same collection from Thorpe Arnold, these
specimens are referred in Mr. Browne's book to the straight-tusked
elephant (E. antiquus), a species differing from the mammoth by the some-
what thicker and less numerous plates of the molars. If this identification
be trustworthy, it would appear that the Barrow find is the only instance of
the discovery of a complete skeleton of Elephas antiquus in this country.
The statement as to the preservation of the integuments in that specimen is
a little difficult to credit.
Of rhinoceros molars the Leicester Town Museum in 1889 was in
possession of thirteen specimens from the upper and eleven from the lower
jaw collected at various dates from the Belgrave gravels, in addition to one
upper molar presented in 1881, five lower ones found in 1886, and a
metacarpal bone of the fore-foot dug up in 1876. There are also teeth
known from Thurmaston, one of which is in the Museum. The Belgrave
teeth, at any rate, are referred in Mr. Browne's book to the narrow-nosed
species, Rhinoceros leptorhinus, and not to the common woolly rhinoceros
(R. anfiqu/talis), of which the molars are of a different type. The latter
species is, however, recorded by Messrs. Woodward and Sherborn in their
Catalogue of ^ British Fossil Vertebrata from Market Harborough. In the same
work mention is made of remains of the horse, probably the wild Equus
caballusfossilis, from the neighbourhood of Leicester.
Certain remains from the gravels of various districts in the county are
referable to the Pleistocene bison, Bos (Bison) prisons, often mis-called the
fossil aurochs. Of the true aurochs, or extinct wild ox (Bos taurus primi-
genius), the Leicester Museum, in addition to other remains, is in possession
of a fine skull discovered in 1880 in the gravels of Abbey Meadow near
Leicester. The domesticated breed of cattle known as the Celtic shorthorn
(often incorrectly regarded as a distinct species, under the name of Bos
longifrons) is represented by various remains from superficial deposits in and
near Leicester, some of which belong to the Bronze Age. From similar
' See Browne, op. cit. 27.
2O
PALAEONTOLOGY
deposits, both at Leicester and Barrow, have been obtained remains referable
to the domesticated sheep or goat.
Of the red deer (Cervus elaphus) antlers and bones have been discovered
in refuse-heaps at Barrow on Soar and other localities in the county, which
are probably of Prehistoric age. Other antlers in the Leicester Museum, one
of which is from the Abbey Meadow, and a second from North Bridge, were
dug up at considerable depths below the surface, apparently in the gravel,
and indicate stags of large size. Certain remains from the gravels of the
county which were referred to the fallow deer and roebuck 3 appear to have
been wrongly identified. On the other hand, a small number of antlers and
bones from the Belgrave and other gravels in the county are certainly referable
to the reindeer (Rangifer tarandus}. The finest antler of this species obtained
up to the date of publication of Mr. Browne's book is one found in
excavating the pit for a gasometer in river-gravel near Aylestone in 1888, at
a depth of between loft, and n ft. below the surface.
Tusks of the wild boar (Sus scrofaferus) have been dug up in deposits of
Prehistoric age in several localities in the county, several of these having
been bored and used as ornaments by early man. A pair of tusks of the same
species was dug up in Friar Lane, Leicester, in 1867, and a smaller pair in
Abbey Street, but the formation in which they occurred is not mentioned.
From the alluvium at Bede House Meadows were obtained in 1888 certain
remains which it is suggested may belong to a breed very similar to the
so-called Sus pa/ustris, the domesticated swine of the Prehistoric Swiss lake-
dwellers.
Passing on to the fossil reptiles of the county, it has to be noted that
nearly all these are from the Lower Lias of Barrow on Soar, and belong to
the two great marine orders Ichthyopterygia, or Ichthyosauria, and Sauro-
pterygia, or Plesiosauria. Some of the Barrow specimens of the former
group are, however, of more than ordinary interest on account of showing
the outline and impression of the integument of the paddles preserved in the
fine Lias mud. The Ichthyopterygia, or ' fish-lizards,' it may be observed,
are characterized by the short neck, large head (with a ring of bones in the
sclerotic, or 'white' of the eye), paddles composed of a number of polygonal
bones arranged in pavement-like fashion, and by the short double-cupped
discs formed by the bodies of the vertebrae, which are quite separable from
the arches, or portion enclosing the spinal marrow. In the Sauropterygia,
on the other hand, the neck is typically long and the head small and without
a ring of bones in the eye, while the bones of the paddles are elongated and
not articulated to form a pavement-like structure, and the bodies of the
vertebrae are more or less elongated, only slightly cupped, and firmly articu-
lated with the arches. The members of both groups were marine, and some
of them attained a length of as much as 30 ft. They were, in fact, the
whales of the Secondary period. Of the Barrow ichthyosaurs, the most
abundant species seems to be the typical Ichthyosaurus communis, characterized
by its broad, many-rowed paddles ; the Dublin Museum of Science and Art
containing no less than thirteen Leicestershire skeletons assigned to this
species. One of the earliest known specimens from Barrow is a skull
preserved in the museum of the Philosophical Institution at Birmingham,
' Plant, Rep. Lett. Lit, and Phil. Sac. (1874), 37.
21
A HISTORY OF LEICESTERSHIRE
and described by the late Sir R. Owen in the Report of the British Association
for 1839. Of greater interest is a slab showing the impressions of the bones
and integument, together with some of the bones themselves, of an imperfect
hind-paddle from Barrow, presented in 1855 to the British Museum by the
late Sir P. de Malpas Grey-Egerton, where it bears the register number
29672.* This species has also been obtained from the Lias of the vale of
Belvoir, and likewise from a pit between Barrow and Sileby. Of the closely
allied Ichthyosaurus intermedius the Dublin and the Leicester Museums possess
several more or less incomplete skeletons from the Barrow Lias. By far the
most interesting of these specimens is a split nodule in the last-named
collection exhibiting the skeleton of the fore part of the body and of one
front-paddle. In this specimen the outline of the soft parts of the paddle is
clearly displayed ; the posterior border showing fine parallel streaks which are
considered to represent the impressions of muscular fibres. A figure of this
paddle is given by the present writer in the Geological Magazine for 1889.
The best half of the nodule is in the Leicester Museum, and the counterpart
in the British Museum. To a third species of the same group of the genus,
namely Ichthyosaurus conybeari, typified by a skeleton from Somerset, not
improbably belongs an ichthyosaurian skeleton from Barrow preserved in the
Sedgwick, or Woodwardian, Museum at Cambridge.
The remaining fish-lizards from Barrow belong to a group characterized
by the narrowness of the paddles, which contain fewer longitudinal rows of
bones than in the typical section. Of the species Ichthyosaurus tenuirostris
the Leicester Museum possesses a slab of Barrow Lias showing a skeleton
about nine feet long. Another long-jawed and narrow-paddled fish-lizard has
received the name of Ichthyosaurus latifrons, although it is doubtful whether
it is really specifically distinct from the last. The type specimen, which is
believed to be from Barrow on Soar, is in the British Museum (No. R. 1 122),
and was figured so far back as 1825 by Konig in Icones Fossilium Secti/es
(pi. xix), and later on by Owen in his ' Monograph of the Reptiles of the
Lias,' published by the Palaeontographical Society. A second skeleton in the
same collection (No. 36182) is certainly from Barrow; it was made the type
of a distinct species by Owen, under the name of I. longirostris, but is not
distinct from I. latifrons, whether or no the latter be separable from /. tenui-
rostris. Impressions of the skin of the creature are noticeable on this slab.
Here brief reference may be made to a very interesting but specifically
undetermined ichthyosaurian skeleton from Barrow now preserved in the
museum at Oxford. This specimen, which is about five feet long, is men-
tioned by Potter in his History and Antiquities of Charnwood Forest,* and is
described and figured in Dean Buckland's Geology and Mineralogy, , 8 where
mention is made of the fact that impressions of portions of the skin are dis-
played in the matrix. An ichthyosaurian vertebra in the Leicester Museum
was obtained from the Middle Lias, or Marlstone, of Tilton-on-the-Hill.
It should be added that there is some doubt whether the great smooth-
oothed fish-lizard, Ichthyosaurus, or Temnodontosaurus, platyodon, is represented
' This interesting specimen has been several times figured, once by Owen in Tram. Geol. Soc. Lend.
<*? "' f.P? n '" h / S /T V Reftitia ( P ^~ntographical Soc.), pi. xxviii, fig. 3 ; also by Kiprijanoff
in the Memwtftht Impmal Academy of St. Petersburg, vol. xxviii, art. 8, pi. ix, fig. 12 (iW
nut. and Antiq. ofCharnviood forest, 64
Vol. ii, 22, pi. x.
22
PALAEONTOLOGY
in the Barrow Lias, as at the date when Mr. Browne's book was published
no Leicestershire specimens of this species were contained in either the
British or the Leicester Museum. It is, however, recorded from Barrow in
D. T. Ansted's Physical Geography and Geology of the County of Leicester.
Plesiosaurian remains, as in other localities, appear to be much less
abundant in the Leicestershire Lias than are the skulls and skeletons of the
fish-lizards. The Leicester Museum is, however, in possession of a magni-
ficent specimen, measuring 17 ft. across the paddles, of the skeleton of the
large species known as Plesiosaurus megacephalus, which was obtained from
the Ammonites planorbis zone of the Barrow Lias some time previous to the
year 1851. The species is stated also to have been obtained from the pit
between Barrow and Sileby. A large plesiosaur skeleton from Barrow pre-
served in the Dublin Museum, measuring 1 3 ft. in length, has been assigned
both to this species and to the very distinct 'Thaumatosaurus megacephalus.
Of other plesiosaurian specimens, it must suffice to mention that the
British Museum possesses a split slab of Lower Lias from Bennington 7
showing part of the skeleton of a small specimen of Plesiosaurus hawkinsi,
and also three imperfect cervical vertebrae from Barrow, in the original
matrix, which it has been suggested may be referable to a species first
described from the Lias of Belgium under the name of P. dewalquii.
Plesiosaurian remains are likewise recorded from the Rhaetic bone-bed
in the Spinney Hills. 8 The latter formation has also yielded a bone which is
probably part of the lower jaw of a species of primaeval salamander, or
labyrinthodont, although its condition is too imperfect to admit of accurate
identification. Undescribed specimens from the Rhaetic of Wigston pre-
served in the Museum of the Geological Survey, Jermyn Street, appear also
to pertain to labyrinthodont amphibians. 9
The fossil fishes of Leicestershire seem to be confined to three horizons,
namely the Lower Lias, the Rhaetic, and the Coal Measures. By far the
most important and interesting are those from the Lower Lias, chiefly at
Barrow on Soar and its neighbourhood, since they include several types at
present unknown elsewhere. Commencing with these Barrow fishes, the first
on the list is Undina (?) tamrvtensu, an imperfectly known member of the
group of fringe-finned ganoids (for the most part extinct), belonging to the
family Coelacanthidae. Its reference to the genus Undina of which a species
occurs in the corresponding formation of Lyme Regis, Dorset is only
provisional, Dr. A. Smith Woodward 10 stating that the single known speci-
men, which is in the British Museum and was obtained at Barrow not later
than 1847, is too imperfect for definite determination. The second Barrow
fish, now called Oxygnathus egertoni, although at first described as Cosmolepis,
belongs on the other hand to the fan-finned group (Actinopterygii), and is
included among the sturgeon-like ganoids (Chondrostei). It is classed in the
Palaeoniscidae, a family characterized by the complete scaling of the body.
Down to the year 1891, at any rate, this species was known only by three
somewhat imperfect specimens in the collection of the British Museum. 11
Another family of the same group the Belonorhynchidae is represented
by a jaw from near Barrow in the Leicester Museum assigned to Belonorhynchus
' Mentioned in Nichols' Hist, of Leicestershire, \, 205. 8 Browne, op. cit. 180.
9 Ibid. 182. 10 Cat. Foss. Fish. Brit. Mus. ii, 413. Ibid. 520.
23
A HISTORY OF LEICESTERSHIRE
acutus" of the Lias of Dorset and Yorkshire. This specimen was discovered
in 1 874. It should be mentioned that Leicestershire is not given as one of
the localities of this species by Dr. Smith Woodward. 13 To this same family
(in which scales are usually wanting) undoubtedly belongs a small imperfect
fish from Barrow in the Leicester Museum which has been made the type of
a genus and species under the name of Browneicbtbys ornatus, the somewhat
unclassical generic title having been bestowed in honour of Mr. M. Browne,
while the specific name refers to the enamelled plates investing the head.
Dr. Woodward 14 believes this fish to be related to Belonorhynchus and Saurich-
thys, from both of which it differs by the presence of scales on the fore part
of the body. At present this singular fish is known only by the type
specimen. A third family of Chondrostei the typical Chondrosteidae is
represented in the Barrow Lias by Chondrosteus acipenseroides, a large sturgeon-
like fish measuring about a yard in length. The Barrow specimen 16 is
preserved in the Leicester Town Museum.
Turning to ganoids, or enamel-scaled fan-finned fishes of another group
(Protospondyli), we find in the family Semionotidae the species Dapedius dor sails
fairly common in the Barrow Lias, from which formation the British
Museum possesses a considerable number of specimens. Dapedius, it may be
observed, is one of the deep-bodied group of ganoids, and is represented by
many species from the Mesozoic formations. Some of the specimens now
assigned to D. dorsalis were at one time regarded as indicating distinct species,
under the names of D. (Tetragonolepis) monilifer and D. stn'o/atus, one half of
a split nodule from Barrow containing one of these fishes in the British
Museum being labelled in the handwriting of the great ichthyologist Agassiz
with the former name, while the opposite half bears the latter designation. 1 '
There is, however, a second well-defined species of the genus from Barrow,
characterized by its remarkably rounded outline, and hence named D. orbis.
At present it is unknown from any other county. Specimens are preserved
in the British, Dublin, Leicester, Derby, and Warwick Museums. A fish
from Barrow in the British Museum typifies a species of the genus Mesodon,
which belongs to another family of the same group of ganoids, known as the
Pycnodontidae, and taking its name from the numerous button-like teeth on
the vomer and the opposing portion of the lower jaw. The Leicester
species, Mesodon liassicus, is common to the Lower Lias of Somerset and
Gloucestershire. Yet another family the Eugnathidae of this group of
ganoids has several representatives in the Barrow Lias. The first of these is
Eugnathus bastingsiae, a species belonging to a genus numerously represented
during the Mesozoic epoch ; this particular species was first described from
Barrow, although it has been subsequently recorded from the Warwickshire
Lias. On the other hand, the second Leicestershire member of the family
appears to be at present unrecorded from any other locality but Barrow. It
is mentioned in Mr. Browne's volume as Pholidophorus bastingsiae, but its
proper title is Heterolepidotus serrulatus, although it has been confounded with
another member of the same family bearing the name Eugnathus serrulatus.
The genus Heterolepidotus includes several other species from the Mesozoic
formations. Of the Barrow species the British Museum possesses a consider-
" Browne, op. cit. 197. ' Op. cit. iii, 21. M Op. cit. iii, 23.
See Browne in Trans. Leic. Lit. and Phil. Soc. 1889, p. 16. M Woodward, op. cit. 139.
24
PALAEONTOLOGY
able number of specimens. It should be added that a fish from the horizon
of the Kimeridge Clay known as Leptolepis sprattiformis has been recorded
from the Barrow Lias, but it is probable that this is a misidentification of
remains referable to the above-mentioned Heterolepidotus. 11 Whether another
species of the same genus, Leptolepis bronni (c once ntricus] , occurs at Barrow
seems to be open to doubt. Reverting to the family Eugnathidae (Leptolepis
belonging to a family of its own, which approaches the modern type of bony
fishes), we find that the Barrow Lias has a peculiar species (P. minor] of the
widely-spread Liassic genus Ptycbolepis, which takes its name from the deep
grooves in the enamel-coated scales. The type specimen of P. minor, now in
the British Museum, was described by the late Sir Philip Grey-Egerton, only
one other example being apparently known, and that also in the national
collection. This concludes the list of fishes belonging to the group Pro-
tospondyli from the Barrow Lias, our next representative pertaining to the
section Isospondyli, and to the type genus of the family Pbolidopboridae, a
near relation of the Leptolepididae. The Barrow species, Pbolidopborus strick-
landi, also occurs in the Lower Lias of Somerset. The so-called Pbolidophorus
egertoni, to which a brief reference is made in Mr. Browne's volume, appears
to have been named in error.
Of the fishes of the Leicestershire Rhaetic perhaps the most interesting
is a species of lung-fish belonging to Cera fo Jus, a genus which still survives
in Queensland. Two of the teeth of this fish from the Rhaetic beds of the
Spinney Hills have been identified by Dr. Smith Woodward 18 with Ceratodus
latissimus, the species commonly occurring in the Rhaetic beds of Aust Cliff,
near Bristol. The genus takes its name from the prominent ridges on the
palatal teeth, which have been compared to horns ; these teeth being all that
was known of these remarkable fishes till the discovery of the living Australian
species in 1864.
As stated by Dr. Woodward in the paper just mentioned, the crushing
palatal teeth of sharks belonging to the same family (Cestraciontidae) as
the existing Port Jackson Cestracion phllippi are occasionally met with in
some numbers in the Rhaetics of Wigston, some of these being assigned to
the widely distributed Hybodus minor, while others, it has been thought, may
be referable to the equally wide-ranging H. cloacinus. Not improbably the
fin-spines of sharks from Wigston belonging to the type known as Nema-
cantbus monilifer were really borne by one or other of the above-mentioned
species of Hybodus. Other spines and teeth from the Spinney Hills have
been assigned to the sharks known as Acrodus minimus and A. keuperinus.
Remains of enamel-scaled, or ganoid, fishes appear to be rare in the
Rhaetic of the county, but scales of the widely-spread Gyrolepis albertii a
member of the family Palaeoniscidae are recorded. Other remains have
been assigned to Saurichthys acuminatus, a Triassic ganoid of the family
Belonorbyncbidae, widely distributed in north-western Europe. Sargodon
tomicus, a ganoid belonging to the family Semionotidae, of which remains occur
in the Trias of Aust Cliff and of Wiirtemberg, is also reported from the
Rhaetic beds of the county. Of greater interest are, however, the remains
of a more specialized type of ganoid fish, Pholidophorus bigginsi, otherwise
17 Browne, op. cit. 192.
18 Trans. Leic. Lit. and Phil. Soc. 1889, p. 29, where they are identified.
i 25 4
A HISTORY OF LEICESTERSHIRE
P. nitidus, which have been obtained from the so-called paper-shales of the
Wigston Rhaetics, since this species is known only from that locality and
Aust Cliff. The Leicestershire specimens have been described by Dr. Wood-
ward in the paper already cited. The genus Pholidophorus is the typical
representative of the family Pholidophoridae.
The fish-remains from the Coal Measures of the county do not appear
to be of any special importance, and have not yet been fully worked out.
Teeth of the type of those of the imperfectly known cestraciont Sphenacanthus
are recorded from Ashby de la Zouch coalfield by Mr. Browne, who also
mentions other teeth from the same field referred to Pleuroplax attheyi and
P. rankinei, members of a genus belonging to the family Cochliodontidae, a
Palaeozoic forerunner of the Cestraciontidae. Another common Coal Measure
cochliodont, Helodus simplex^ has likewise been recorded from the Ashby field,
which has also yielded other teeth respectively assigned to two common
representatives of the more ray-like Palaeozoic family Petalodontidae^ namely,
Ctenoptycbius apicalis and Janassa linguae-formis (= Climaxodus, sp.). Among
ganoid types, the common fringe-finned Goelacanthus lepturus has been stated
to occur in the Leicestershire Coal Measures, where teeth of other widely-
spread Carboniferous species, such as Megalicbthys hibberti, may very probably
also have been found.
26
HISTORY OF LEICESTERSHIRE
BOTANIC A
LIST OF BOTANICAL DISTRICTS
Based on the River Basint
I A . Trent
I B . Anker
H A - Soar, West
H B . Soar, Eait
III . Deoon
IV. (Affluent)
Severn
Ouu VI. Welland
~y fjMi~ &. ' fofafaftyQ
/'k^nfe^ .^"m
'^f - 1
-A.. -M -;'' -
DISTRICTS.
y.^cta f]]
^S o s tTiMier^TT ^^^^ .^Cj"""
BOTANY
I
earliest account of Leicestershire plants is the MS. catalogue of
plants near Loughborough, by R. Pulteney, in the year 1747.
Another MS. catalogue by the same author is dated 1749. The
former is in the Leicester Museum, the latter in the library of the
Linnean Society. A list of plants, also by Pulteney, appeared in 1759
in Philosophical Transactions, xlix.
Richard Pulteney was born at Loughborough in this county in the year
1730. He practised medicine and surgery at Leicester, was elected F.R.S.
in 1762, M.D. Edin. 1764, in which year he removed to Blandford, Dorset.
Ten years later he contributed the article on natural history and botany to
Hutchin's History of Dor -set ', followed in 1803 by a fuller account in the
second edition, which was completed in 1814. This second article did not
appear until after his death, which took place on 13 October, 1801. A
biography of this distinguished naturalist, by Dr. Maton, was published in
the above-mentioned history. Camden's Britannia, 1789, contains a list of
plants by Gough. The Rev. George Crabbe, the poet, contributed with
Dr. Pulteney the 'Lists of rarer Plants ' in Nichols's History of Leicestershire,
1796.
Crabbe spent some years of his life in the neighbourhood of Belvoir,
where he made himself acquainted with many of the wild plants within
walking distance of the castle, at which he acted as chaplain for nearly
eighteen months (17835) ; he then 'wisely' accepted the vacant curacy of
Stathern, which he held for four years. He was then presented to the
two livings of Muston and Allington, the latter just over the boundary in
Lincolnshire. He held these two livings from 1789 for over twenty-five
years, but he was non-resident for thirteen years (1792-1805). At this
period he was troubled with indifferent health whilst living at Parham, Great
Glemham, and Rendham, all of which were near his native Aldeburgh in
Suffolk. He returned to Muston in 1805, where he remained until 1814,
when he was introduced to the living of Trowbridge, Wiltshire, 3 June, 1814.
He died here in February, 1832, in his seventy-eighth year. Some of the
rarer plants recorded by Crabbe have disappeared through drainage from the
Belvoir district, but others have been found since that were unknown to
him when his list of Belvoir district plants was published. A few of his
localities in Nichols's History are outside the county.
The Rev. Andrew Bloxam, M.A., was born at Rugby, 22 Septem-
ber, 1 80 1, entered Rugby School 1809, Worcester College, Oxford, 1820,
of which he was afterwards Fellow. In 18245 ^ e was naturalist on
board the frigate Blonde in the Pacific Ocean. He published papers on
27
A HISTORY OF LEICESTERSHIRE
botany, conchology, and ornithology in various periodicals, and contributed
the 'List of Leicestershire Plants' to Potter's Qbarnwood Forest. He
devoted himself, as no other botanist has hitherto done, to the investigation
of the brambles, mosses, lichens and all other kinds of fungi. Most of
Mr. Bloxam's life was spent in and on the border of this county. Before he
became perpetual curate at Twycross he had resided at Calke, where he
made a collection of Leicestershire and Derbyshire plants. This collection
was examined and criticized by his friend, the Rev. W. H. Purchas, in the
Journal of Botany, 1887, p. 145. When, in 1871, Mr. Bloxam became rector
of Harborough Magna, near Rugby, he was still quite near enough to con-
tinue his study of Leicestershire plants. He died in 1878 at the last-named
place (Harborough Magna).
The Rev. W. H. Coleman, M.A., was an assistant-master at the grammar
school at Ashby-de-la-Zouch, where he died about 1864. His knowledge
of flowering plants was exceptional. The Flora of Leicestershire, 1886, was
based on the MS. which Mr. Coleman had written, as stated in the preface
to the Flora. This MS. was placed in the hands of the Leicester Literary
and Philosophical Society in 1875 by the late Mr. Edwin Brown, of Burton-
on-Trent. Mr. Coleman rendered great service to future investigators by
collecting and very carefully drying excellent examples of the brambles of the
county, many of which have proved to be exceptionally interesting. Without
this material it would have been impossible to have correlated them with any
of the forms which have been distinguished during the past quarter of a
century. Mr. Bloxam was Mr. Coleman's chief colleague in the preparation
of the MS. Flora of Leicestershire.
The Rev. Churchill Babington, D.D., Fellow of St. John's, Cambridge,
son of the Rev. M. D. Babington, of Thringstone, in this county, was born
at RoeclifFe, Swithland, in 1821. He contributed the article on ornithology,
and assisted Mr. Bloxam with the article on botany in Potter's Gharirwood
Forest. He died in 1889 at Cockfield in Suffolk.
Miss Mary Kirby, formerly of Friar Lane, Leicester, published a Flora
of 'Leicester -shire in 1850. She was born in Leicester 27 April, 1817, married
the Rev. H. Gregg in 1860, and lived at Brooksby near Melton Mowbray,
where she died 15 October, 1893.
Mr. Frederick Bates of Leicester contributed a most valuable account of
the freshwater algae to the Flora of 1886. The importance of this article
cannot be over-estimated. Mr. Bates left much to be done in this depart-
ment of botany, yet after twenty years scarcely anything of importance has
been added to his list.
The Rev. W. Moyle Rogers has rendered a great service to the litera-
ture of Leicestershire botany by his study of the brambles, not only in the
herbarium, but in their homes in Charnwood and other parts of the county.
In the Flora of 1886 there are many names of persons who have supplied
information, and also a list of works relating to the botany of Leicestershire.
The list of ' authorities for recorded stations ' is too long to insert here, but
some of their names appear in these pages after the names of the plants which
they have found.
Since the publication of the Flora of Leicestershire in 1886, by
Messrs. Mott, Carter, Cooper (E. F.), Finch, and Cooper (C. W.), for
28
BOTANY
the Leicester Literary and Philosophical Society, many additions have
been made to the lists of flowering plants and mosses and a few lichens,
chief credit being due to the late Rev. T. A. Preston of Thurcaston, who
kept a complete account of all the flowering plants of the county, with
the intention of publishing a new edition of the Flora, The additional
lichens are contained in a paper in the journal of Botany for February,
1904, by A. R. Horwood. Other papers on mosses, by A. B. Jackson,
have appeared in the same journal for November, 1904, August, 1905,
and August, 1906.
In this article all aliens which have been found since 1886 have been
disregarded, the majority of these being casuals introduced with corn, &c.,
and found in the immediate neighbourhood of flour-mills, on railway and
canal banks, and other similar places. Such plants are quite insignificant in
the treatment of a county flora, as most of them are just as likely as not to
be found in any part of the civilized world. In estimating the flora it does
not, however, seem desirable to ignore all the aliens reported up to 1886, but
they must be distinguished from the native plants. It is sometimes difficult
to differentiate between aliens, denizens, and colonists ; it is often a matter of
opinion as to which of these some plants should be referred. 1
The list of Leicestershire flowering plants in this article contains 943
species. Of those 38 are extinct, 11 doubtful, 15 mistakes, and 109 aliens,
leaving a balance of 770 natives, denizens, and colonists now to be found
growing. Comparing Leicestershire with the county which on the whole
it most nearly resembles, a very similar result appears. Nottinghamshire has
a total of 966 recorded flowering plants and vascular cryptogams as follows :
extinct 41, doubtful 13, mistakes 6, aliens, casuals, and garden escapes, 134 ;
leaving a balance of 772 natives, denizens, and colonists now growing in the
county a numerical difference of 2 ; but, of course, the species are not exactly
the same. This numerical similarity is accentuated by an almost identical
number of mosses, as stated under the heading Muscineae. Lincolnshire
being so much larger, and having a considerable coast-line, has a larger flora
than either of the two mentioned counties, but not a larger one than might
be expected. There are 1,191 records, of which 20 are extinct, 24 doubt-
ful, 20 mistakes, and 248 aliens, leaving us with 879 natives, colonists, and
denizens.
The total number for Northamptonshire given by Mr. Druce in the
Victoria History is 830. Further comparison with the other counties forming
the boundaries of Leicestershire may be given, but the writer attaches no
importance to these figures because opinions differ so much regarding the
degree of wildness of our flowering plants. It has, however, been the custom
in writing the flora of our counties, as well as of countries, to compare one
with another ; it may therefore be stated that Warwickshire is very similar,
both numerically and in the character of its species, to Leicestershire, and
that Derbyshire is of course far richer, as might be expected of a county with
gritstone moorlands over 2,000 ft. above the sea, and mountain limestone
pastures and gorges with splendid cliffs, intersected by boulder-strewn rapid
1 In the Lincolnshire Naturalists' Union Transaction! for 1906 the Rev. E. A. Woodruffe-Peacock has an
article entitled ' Natural Habitats and Nativeness,' which was the subject of his presidential address. He
suggests other terms for Mr. H. C. Watson's ' denizen," ' colonist,' &c.
2 9
A HISTORY OF LEICESTERSHIRE
streams. Such conditions favour the growth of many submontane plants
which could not now exist in Leicestershire.
Of the 78 extinct Leicestershire species, some have not been reported
since Pulteney's time, some that were known to Bloxam, Coleman, and
Churchill Babington have disappeared, and a few that were reported twenty
years ago seem to have shared the same fate. All these extinctions are placed in
the list of flowering plants (Phaenogamia) within square brackets, so that it is
unnecessary to name them all here, but the most important are : the marsh
St. John's wort (Hypericum elodes] this disappeared from Beacon Hill
before Pulteney left the county ; Trifolium glomeratum (Loughborough, Pul-
teney) ; Lathyrus palustris (Pulteney) ; two sundews (Drosera) ; Stum latifolmm
(Pulteney) ; Antennaria dioica (Crabbe, not certainly, but most probably, on the
Leicester side of the boundary) ; lesser fleabane (Inula Pulicaria) ; chamomile
(Antbemis nobilis}; marsh gentian (Gentiana Pneumonanthe) ; deadly nightshade
(Atropa Belladonna); butterwort (Pinguicula vu/garis); peppermint (Mentha
piperita] ; fiddle dock (Rumex pulcber] ; frog-bit (Hydrocbaris) (not seen since
Pulteney's time, excepting the one which Mr. Rollings planted about 1848) ;
Luzula (Juncoides] Forsteri (1791); Ryncbospora alba and Schoenus nigricam
(Pulteney) ; Carexjiliformis (Bloxam) ; black spleenwort (A. Adlantum-nigrum)\
marsh fern 8 (Lastraea Thelypteris) ' about Croxton Park ' (Crabbe in Nichols's
Hist, of Leicestershire, vol. i, p. cxcix) ; the royal fern (Osmunda regalis] ; two of
the club-mosses (Lycopodium inundatum and L. Selago). There are seven other
plants which have not been seen for a number of years. These are marked
in the list as extinct? They are Sagina nodosa, not recorded since 1850;
Crepis paludosa, not seen since 1886 ; Hypocbaeris glabra , not seen since Cole-
man's record, perhaps an alien as in Lincolnshire ; the cowberry (Vaccinium
Vitis-Idaed), discovered by Miss Kidger at the southern foot of High Sharpley,
June, 1887, but not seen again, although thoroughly searched for up to 1906;
Senecio campestris, found at Saltby Spinneys by the botanical section of the
Leicester Lit. & Phil. Soc. in 1887, has not been seen since.
The plants which must be regarded, or which are known to be erroneously
recorded are Ranunculus Baudotii, Fumaria densiflora, Cocblearia offictnalis,
Hypericum Androsaemum, Vicia gracilis, Apium graveo/ens, Galium silvestre
(umbellatutri) ; melancholy thistle (Cnicus heterophyllus] ; Crabbe must have
mistaken C. prafensis, which grows in that part of the county within eight miles
of ' bogs at Knipton ' and was probably plentiful enough in his (Crabbe's) time
in the latter place, although he did not report it, for the submontane plant C.
heterophyllus ; lesser calamint (Clinopodium Nepeta], Lamium intermedium, Orchis
ustulata, Habenaria bifolia (Pulteney, 1746), the Scottish asphodel (T^ofieldia
palustris), Scirpus carinatus, green spleenwort (Asplenium 'viride), and Rumex
sanguineus type.
' There is no reason why this fern should not have been abundant in the wet valley formed by the
Devon. The locality is altogether changed through drainage. All the marsh plants disappeared many years
ago. 'Shipman's Bog' is now a pasture, meadow, and plantation. There seems to have been a considerable
extent of boggy land from the sources of the Devon to below Knipton, and, judging from its appearance
during the past thirty years, we think the marsh fern would probably be plentiful along with Pinguicula vulgarif
and Parnaiiia. These last still grow on similar soil in the neighbouring county of Lincoln, one of them
within six miles, the other was close by, but disappeared in 1880. It is still found elsewhere in that county,
as is also the marsh fern, but this seems to have gone from Nottinghamshire before 1885. E. J. Lowe in Our
Native Term, vol. i, pt. 218 (1874), says he procured it from Oxton Bogs. That was thirty-five years after
the original record (Valentine in Howitt's Flora).
3
BOTANY
The doubtful records are : the climbing fumitory (Fumaria capreolata),
Prunus Cerasus, Oenantbe silaifolia (probably an error), 3 but there was a specimen
in the Leicester Museum under that name, A rnoseris pusilla (Pulteney, never
confirmed, perhaps a casual), Gentlana campesfrts, Symphytum tuberosum (an extinct
alien), soft shield fern (Polystichum angulare), and others, mostly aliens and
not reported since Coleman's time.
BOTANICAL DIVISIONS
The map of the county which was published with the Flora of 1886 was divided into twelve
botanical divisions each named after its chief town (excepting Division 2, after the largest village, there
being no town). These divisions were arranged partly according to the river basins ; only one fault
can be found with that map one which the writers of the Flora were quite aware of that small
portion which is drained by the Witham affluent was included with the Devon (Belvoir) division.
If the map which accompanies this article is no improvement in any other direction, it may be
claimed to be more uniform as regards those which have preceded it in this work and more strictly
in accordance with the drainage. It would have been far easier to have followed the 1886 map,
and the writer is quite conscious of certain drawbacks in the new one ; the new division 2 B is too
large and might have been again divided, but the desire was to reduce the number of divisions for
so small a county ; to divide 828 (approx.) sq. miles into twelve divisions gives an average of
less than 70 sq. miles for each. It would have been well if Leicestershire could have been divided
into six divisions of equal size, that is with about 140 sq. miles in each, with a town as near
the centre as possible ; this would make a good workable division. One very unsatisfactory
reason for dividing counties into river basins is exemplified in both the 1886 and the new maps.
Bardon Hill, the chief of the Charnwood hills, has to be placed in a different division from the rest of
the forest ; this led to some confusions in the 1886 flora : sometimes it appeared in one and some-
times in the other. In the new map it would have been a good thing if Division 4 could have
been extended westward to include all the Oolite, but even then the district would be a very small
one compared with 2B, which latter might be divided into a north and south division, the Queni-
borough Brook being the boundary.
Leicestershire is drained by four main rivers or their tributaries ; by far the greater part
by the Trent and its tributaries, the remainder by the tributaries of the Ouse, Severn, and Witham.
The divisions of the new map are as follows :
i A. TRENT
This district is drained by two very small brooks and the northern half by the main river. Trias
marls and sandstones, Coal Measures, Dolomitic Mountain Limestone, and very small patches of Mill-
stone Grit are represented. The lowest ground by the Trent is about looft. and the highest in
the southern half about 300 ft. above the sea. Rare plants are conspicuous by their absence ;
two only seem to be confined to this division, Hottonla palustris and Rubus Griffithianus, also
one hepatic, Reboulia hemhpherica, found at Breedon in 1903. The absence of Salvia verbenaca
and Arabh hirsuta is remarkable.
IB. ANKER
The Anker district includes the Mease, a small tributary of the Trent, and the Sence, the
chief feeder of the Anker, which is the largest stream running into the Tame, that joins the Trent
less than a mile above the place where the Mease enters the main river.
Coal Measures occur in the north about Ashby, a patch also at Heather, Trias marls and
sandstones elsewhere, and thin beds of Permian, which intervene between the first two. The
elevation varies from about 260 ft. at Sheepy to nearly 600 ft. in the north-east, rising to 912 ft.
at Bardon Hill, which is quite different geologically from the remainder of the area, being composed
of ancient rocks (ashy lava, &c.), and is of course part of Charnwood Forest ; from this the surface
soil is much modified by the drift, which extends in a south-westerly direction in a broad strip
capping all the higher ground with gravel, becoming more and more sandy towards the south.
* It has been withdrawn, and a note, doubting all the records, is in its plare (F. L. Foord-Kelcey in litt.
27 May, 1907).
31
A HISTORY OF LEICESTERSHIRE
The marsh cinqucfoil (PottntUla pahatrii) is now only known in this division, and many rare
and uncommon brambles (Rubi), lichens and other fungi; some of the last have not however been
seen since Bloxam's time.
2A. WEST SOAR
The lowest ground in the county, 90 ft., is on the Trent bank in the north corner of this
area, and all the highest in the county excepting Bardon Hill is situated in the centre, comprising
the well-known Charnwood Forest, whose hills average about 700 ft. From a botanical point
of view the glory of Charnwood has long since departed. Between two and three hundred years
ago Charnwood was a well-wooded tract, but all the trees were cut down about 200 yean since.
Older trees may be seen in other parts of the county than any now growing in the forest. Some-
where about the same time as the cutting down of the timber, the forest must have been drained,
for when Pulteney explored this area from about 1750 onwards, he never saw any cranberry,
sweet gale or bog asphodel ; it is hard to believe that all these were absent before the drainage
had made itself felt. Pulteney says he could not again find the marsh St. John's wort (Hypericum
eludes) ; this plant very soon disappears from drained ground, whereas the sweet gale can live on
comparatively dry sandy soil for many years. The cranberry is a puzzling plant ; it is absent from
the New Forest, and yet grows in Woolmer Forest not far away, and in the Isle of Wight.
It seems to have disappeared from its only Nottinghamshire station since 1886, but not because it
was too dry, for it flowered three years ago in Leckby Carr, Yorkshire, which has been drained
thirty years. There could not have been any bog in the forest in 1750, but some of the valleys were
wet enough for a few plants which cannot live without a continuous supply of moisture. One by
one they^disappeared, until now it is only in three or four very small patches of damp heath or
pool margin that it is any use searching for them. Some parts of this forest are being very exten-
sively quarried, as at Groby, Mountsorrel, Buddon, Markfield, &c. (syenite), and one of the most
interesting bits of the old forest is being destroyed by the enterprise of the stone companies at Spring
Hill and Peldar Tor (agglomerate). Where there are no quarries or slate pits the land is now highly
cultivated, in some places to the bare crags on the tops of the highest hills. Here and there are
small tracts of heath, and thanks to the fox-hunter, some covers and good sized woods ; in other
uncultivated parts there is little to be found now but bracken, the common but beautiful hair
grass (Deschampiia fexuosa), and in places where the land is almost completely drained the purple
hair grass (Molinia varia) abounds to such an extent that scarcely any other flowering plant
can exist. So monotonous is this, one cannot help wishing it were made into meadow without
any further delay ; doubtless this wish will be fulfilled in due course. Of the plants which remain
in this division, Capnoides claviculata grows luxuriously amongst rocks in several places near
Whitwick (also outside the division on Bardon Hill and Cole Orton Wood); other plants which
are very scarce outside Division 2A are Cerastium quaternellum, Scutellaria minor, Euphorbia
amygdaloides ; the following are now confined to it : crowberry (Empetrum nigrum, Chrysosp/enium
alternifolium, Cotyledon Umbilicus, Polygala oxyptera, Campanula patula, bog pimpernel (Anagallh tenella),
Polygonum minus, Epipactis palustris, Eriopborum latifolium, Carex teretiuscula, the last two at Groby,
the best locality in the division for rare plants ; it is hoped these will be long preserved. Rubus
pallidus, W. & N., Inula britannica, an alien well established at Cropston Reservoir (not included
in the list), also most of the liverworts (hepatics) and the few peat mosses known for the county ;
two rare mosses formerly found at Swithland slate-pits, Bartramia ithypbylla, discovered by
J. F. Hollings, and Grimmia commutata, Htlbn. by Bloxam, have not been observed lately. There
were many rare lichens in the forest in Bloxam's time ; where are they now ? and what is the cause
of their disappearance ? There are many collieries on the west and south-west side of the forest, the
town of Leicester has increased enormously since these lichens were found ; can it be the smoke
from these which has eradicated them ? A fair number of forms are, however, still growing,
equal in number to those of counties similarly situated, and there are other conditions no less
favourable than those which prevail here. Several very rare fungi are known to have been
found in this division.
Besides the igneous rocks and slates of Charnwood, Trias marls and sandstones (Keuper) covered
by drift occupy nearly all the remainder (and the greater part of the division) ; there are small patches
of Dolomitic Mountain Limestone at Grace Dieu, 'Greenstone' (Syenite) at Enderby, Croft,
Potters Marston, Stoney Stanton, and Sapcote.
2B. EAST SOAR
Upper and lower Lias clays prevail throughout, Marlstones at Wartnaby, Ab Kettleby, Holwell,
Tilton-on-the-Hill, Owston, Wymondham, &c. The character of the actual surface soil, which
often changes somewhat suddenly, is much modified, chiefly on the lias, where the hills are capped
32
BOTANY
and the valleys more or less thickly covered by accumulations of drift (sands, gravels, and clays), and
by a broad strip of alluvium in the valley of the Soar, there is a fringe of lower Oolite along its
north-eastern boundary, Lias Limestone at Barrow towards the north-west. The only plants in
this large division which seem to be confined to it are Carum segetum, found at the last named place
by Mrs. Foord-Kelcey, 4 and a bramble ; the Oolite is too well cultivated to admit any of the plants
which are so characteristic of this formation, excepting the old quarries or stone-pits near Waltham
and Stonesby. 4 " Nothing here is absent from Division 4, but close by is a rare bramble (Rubus
dumetorum, var. rubriflorus) found in 1906, but not elsewhere in Leicestershire. Other plants ought
to be found in this neglected corner. The highest ground on the east side of the Soar is 700 ft.
near Tilton and 570 ft. near Croxton Park and Waltham. The lowest is on the Soar bank, 120 ft.
approximately.
3. DEVON
The high ground at Croxton Kerrial is capped by the impure Limestone (Lincolnshire Lime-
stone and Northampton sand) of the lower Oolite, to the west is a strip of calcareous sand of the
Marlstone, elsewhere Lias clay and Marlstone preponderate. Excepting the famous Belvoir Woods,
and the rather numerous fox covers and the barren Croxton Park, this area is highly cultivated, or
pasture and meadow land. Some parts are over-drained, as evidenced by the pastures in a hot dry
summer. The woods about Belvoir and Stathern are now too dry for variety of wild plants, of
which there is very little, even in the damp parts wherever a little spring is allowed to assert itself.
If these are advantages to the sportsmen, and doubtless they must be, the botanist must not forget that
the fox covers are the homes of a few wild plants that would have to go if the same were converted
into cultivated land. This district was first explored by the poet Crabbe, and has had much
attention since his time, but much might be done, as some cryptogams have had no attention.
Knipton Reservoir and the pond below it will be found to contain many microscopic plants not yet
recorded for Leicestershire ; the division is very poor in mosses, and hepatics are remarkably scarce.
One very promising-looking spot, the source of the Smite, is the only locality where these have any
chance of maintaining an existence ; it is, however, a most disappointing place for the searcher
after mosses and hepatics. Here is a rare bramble, Rubus Koehleri (type). Three plants rare in
this county were found by the Rev. A. E. Furnival ; these are Cerastium arvense (at Harston) and
Astragalus bypoglottis (A. danicus, Retz) at Muston, both plants are also in the next division (4),
and Trifolium scabrum at Muston. Epipactis media was reported by Mr. G. C. Druce for Belvoir.
From the lowest part of the vale, 140 ft. (approx.), the ground rises abruptly more or less from Belvoir
Castle to Old Dalby and beyond the boundary to Six Hills, the highest point, 533 ft., being at Harby
Hills ; here the wild daffodil (Narcissus pseudo-narcissus] has its home, but not elsewhere in Leicester-
shire. Ononis spinosa is very characteristic on grassy roadsides and sometimes in rough pastures.
Perhaps the most striking plant is the honeysuckle, which grows most luxuriously in places about
Belvoir (and Croxton Park just outside in Division 2B). Carduus nutans is luxuriant on Marlstone.
4. WITHAM (AFFLUENT)
This very small area being almost all on the Oolite the flora is small and less varied than in the
other divisions, but several plants grow here that are not found elsewhere in the county, some occur-
ring in greater abundance than in any other division. A narrow belt of wild ground has been most
fortunately preserved by his Grace the Duke of Rutland, the flora of this belt is composed of colonies,
some large and others exceedingly small, the representatives of larger colonies which flourished on
Saltby Heath before it was reclaimed and converted into meadows and cornfields ; it is really most
remarkable how some of these plants maintain an existence even on preserved ground, because the
smallest have to contend with the largest, and must eventually be driven out by them. Crabbe
does not appear to have visited this locality, but must have been very near it ; his record of Antennaria
dioica refers to a place very near if not actually on the eastern boundary of the ' belt '; he also found
Chlora perfoliata at Saltby and Sproxton. Pulteney first found Clinopodium acinus, one of the most
plentiful plants to be seen here now, but his reference to two others is too vague ; ' chalky soil on
the eastern side of the county ' may mean any place on the Oolite which extends into 2B and 3.
Coleman certainly came here and found Bromus erectus, the most abundant and widely dispersed plant
in this division. It is usually accompanied by another grass, Brachypodium pinnatum, which was first
noticed by Pulteney somewhere on this side of Leicestershire. Three conspicuous plants which are
known in other parts of the county are Helianthemum vulgare, Cnicus eriophorus, and Orchis pyrami-
dalis. Cerastium arvense and Astragalus danicus are only known here and in one place in Division 3.
4 Mr. Harris first found this. <a Arabis hirsuta ought to be found here.
i 33 5
A HISTORY OF LEICESTERSHIRE
The following are confined to this division and all are very scarce; two of them it is feared have
been eradicated since 1886 -.-Aquilegia vulgaris (W. Bell, 1902) ferula cynanchca, H,pp crep, S
(om o,a, Scntcio camped, and Verbal Lychnith, which was found in 1 906, looks as true a native
as C. Acinoi and Ononis, with which it is associated ; nor are there any plants in the ne.ghbourhood
that can be suspected as aliens.
Before the heath was reclaimed probably some of the rarer Lincolnshire and Northampton-
shire Oolite plants grew there, such as Linum perenne, Anemone puhattlla, Hyfocbatru macu/ata,
Artnaria taut/Ma, Herniaria glabra, Thesium, Orobancbe tlatitr, and Octroi (the last in Northampton
only of the two counties). .
Some at least of the mosses which abound on the Oolite in Lincolnshire, and which might be
expected, are absent from this Leicestershire portion of the same formation, for the simple reason
that there are no suitable places for them ; there can be no drier tract in this country than
Division 4, whereas 3^ miles to the east, but in Lincolnshire, Pinguicula vulgaris still grows, and
the handsome moss CKmac'mm dendroides fruits so splendidly that probably nowhere else in Britain
can be found more fully developed examples ; it is very rarely seen in fruit in Britain, too this
must be regarded as a relic of very exceptional occurrence. Excepting the bed of the Cringle
Brook in Buckminster Park the ground is almost all about 500 ft. (Buckminster 5 19 ft.). 6
5. AVON
The Avon and its tributary the Swift drain this area, which is wholly on the Lower Lias clay,
deeply covered in parts by drift. Of the 390 or more species recorded none need be specified,
as they are not uncommon elsewhere in the county.
6. WELLAND
Lower Lias clay, Upper Lias, Marlstone rock and sand and a small outlier of Lias limestone and
Northampton sand occur. The northern portion is well wooded and possesses considerable variety
of surface. These combinations give rise to an improvement in the flora when compared with
the last-named division. Although nothing is absolutely confined to it, there are three very
uncommon plants: Rubus Bellardii found by W. Bell, 1903, Vina si/vatica, and Campanula
Trachelium. The mosses and fungi are imperfectly known. The reservoir near Saddington and
the Welland may be expected to furnish many microscopic plants as yet unrecorded for
Leicestershire.
Although Leicestershire has suffered so much of late from a botanical point of view through
drainage, cultivation, and the spread of its towns, and the villages in the coal mining district, the
county can still justly claim to possess a greater variety of brambles (Rubi) (71) than any of the
counties in the northern half of England, excepting Staffordshire (77). About the year 1830 the
Rev. A. Bloxam commenced to study this difficult genus, giving a great amount of his time for the
remaining forty-eight years of his life to the investigation of the brambles of this county.
Thirty-four species were found in the parish of Twycross alone, this number being slightly
augmented. Two have been added since Mr. Bloxam's time by other students of Rubi, so that
now we have a total of thirty-six species, making it appear that this parish contairts as many species
as several English counties are known to have within their boundaries at the present time.
Mr. Bloxam was joined in the study of brambles by the Rev. W. H. Coleman, and
the Rev. Churchill Babington was also a collaborator about the same t?me as Coleman,
but not nearly to such an extent as the latter. Since Mr. Bloxam's decease, a great amount
of time has been devoted to the study of Leicestershire 'brambles, many additions having been
made to the older records. The most valuable work has been accomplished during the last
fifteen years, especially by the Revs. E. F. Linton and W. Moyle Rogers, 'the latter having
elucidated some very difficult species, either unknown to, or very imperfectly understood, either by
Bloxam, Coleman, or their successors. For full descriptions of all known species of Rubi see the
Handbook of British Rubi by the Rev. W. Moyle Rogers, 1 900, and papers !>y tjhe same author in
the Journal of Botany for April, 1902, and July, 1905.
The writer's sincerest thanks are due to the Rev. W. Moyle Rogers for giving so much time
to the records and collection of brambles (Rubi) ; ako to Mr. William West ifor naming certain
Algae, to Mr. Arthur Bennett for a list (marked H of the Naiadaceae and Chanjiceae; to Mrs. E.
' Sewstern is in this division, not in 2B as indicated in the map.
34
BOTANY
Foord-Kelcey of Quorn, for lists of plants, for the loan of her copy of Mr. Preston's MS. and
published lists of Leicestershire flowering plants, and for help in many other ways; to Mr. J. A.
Wheldon for determining several mosses, to Mr. H. N. Dixon for the number of Northampton-
shire plants, to Prof. Carr for latest additions to Nottinghamshire, and the Rev. H. P. Reader of the
Holy Cross Priory, Leicester, for a complete list of the mosses and hepatics, with some useful notes.
Father Reader's experience of Leicestershire, combined with much knowledge of plants in other
parts of England, has enabled the writer to give a representative list of mosses and hepatics.
In the following summary of the vascular plants of Leicestershire species to which no sign
is attached are to be regarded as ' wild ' in the sense of being natives, colonists, or denizens.
Aliens and plants of recent introduction which maintain their ground more or less successfully
are indicated by an asterisk.
Species of merely casual occurrence recorded down to 1886, or which were probably recorded
in error, or have long been extinct, are inclosed within square brackets. The sequence of the
London Catalogue (ed. 9) is followed as far as possible, the brambles (Rubi) in accordance with
Mr. Rogers' Handbook, the Gymnosperms follow the Monocotyledons, and the Characeae follow the
mosses.
Localities are given for all new county records, both of vascular and cellular plants.
The following abbreviations have been adopted : W. M. R. = W. Moyle Rogers ; E. F. L. =
E. F. Linton ; Journ. Bat. = Journal of Botany ; B. R. = Babington's British Rubi ; Fl. L. = Flora
of Leicestershire, 1886.
PHAENOGAMIA
DICOTYLEDONES
RANUNCULACEAE
[Clematis Vitalba, L. IB, ZA, ZB]
Thalictrum flavum, L. IB-ZB, 6
Anemone nemorosa, L. IA, 2A-3, 6
Myosurus minimus, L. IA, IB [ZA, ZB, 1841]
Ranunculus circinatus, Sibth. IB-ZB, 6
fluitans, Lam. IA [IB, ZA]
pseudo-fluitans, 'Bab.' IB, ZA, ZB
- trichophyllus, Chaix. 2A, ZB
- Drouetii, Godr. ZA, 3
var. Godronii (Gren.). ZB
- heterophyllus, Web. ex. p. ZA, ZB, 6
var. triphyllus (Hiern). ZB
var. submersus (Hiern). ZA, ZB
- peltatus, Schrank. 183, 6
Lenormandi, F. Schultz. IB, ZA, ZB
hederaceus, L. IA~3, 6
sceleratus, L. iA-3, 5, 6
flammula, L. iA-3, 5, 6
lingua, L. IB, 2 A, [3]
auricomus, L. IA 3, 6
- acer, L. IA-6
- repens, L. iA-3, 5, 6
bulbosus, L. iA-6
sardous, Crantz. IB, ZA, ZB, 5
parviflorus, L. I A 2 A, 3
arvensis, L. IA-6
Ficaria, L. I A 6
Caltha palustris, L. IA-3, 5, 6
var. Guerangerii (Boreau). 2A
[Helleborus viridis, L. ZA]
[ foetidus, L.]
Aquilegia vulgaris, L. JIB, ZA], 4, [5]
[Delphinium Ajacis, Reich. ZA]
[Aconitum Napellus, L. IB-ZB]
BERBERIDEAB
Berberis vulgaris, L. 18-3, 6
DICOTYLEDONES (continued')
NYMPHAEACEAE
Nymphaea lutea, L. IA-3, 5, 6
Castalia speciosa, Salisb. IB-ZB
PAPAVERACEAE
[Papaver somniferum, L. ZA, ZB, 3]
- Rhoeas, L. IA-6
var. Pryorii, Druce, ZA, ZB
dubium, L. iA-6
var. Lecoqii (Lamotte), IB-ZB, 4, 6
- Argemone, L. iA-6
Chelidonium majus, L. IA-6
FUMARIACEAB
Capnoides claviculata (DC.). IA-ZA
[ lutea (DC.). ZA, ZB]
[Fumaria capreolata, L. ZA, ZB]
officinalis, L. IA-6
CRUCIFERAE
*Cheiranthus Cheiri, L. IA-ZB
Radicula officinalis (R. Br.), Groves. IA-3, 5, 6
var. microphyllum (Reich.). IB, ZA
- pinnata, Moench. IA, 2 A
- palustris, Moench. IA-3, 5, 6
- lancifblia, Moench. IA 3, 6
Barbarea vulgaris, R. Br. IA-3, 5, 6
[ praecox, R. Br. 2A, ZB]
[Arabis hirsuta, Scop. 2A]
perfoliata, Lam. IB
Cardamine amara, L. IA-ZB, 6
pratensis, L. IA-6
hirsuta, L. IA-6
- flexuosa, With. IA-3, 6
impatiens, L. IB (Bloxam hb., Kirby hb.)
35
A HISTORY OF LEICESTERSHIRE
DICOTYLEDONES (continued}
CRUCIFERAE (continued)
Erophila vulgaris, DC. I A 6
var. praecox (DC.), ZA, ZB
var. stenocarpa. ZA, 2B
var. majuscula. 2A
[Alyssum calycinum, L. ZA, ZB]
[Cochlea ria officinalis, L. (casual)]
[ Armoracia, L.]
[Hcsperis matronalis, L. IB-ZB]
Sisymbrium Thalianum, J. Gay. I A 3
- officinale, L. iA-6
- 'Sophia, L. IA-3, 6
- Alliaria, Scop. IA-6
[Eiysimum cheiranthoides, L.]
[Camelina sativa, Crantz]
[Brassica campestris, L.]
- Rapa, L. ]
[ Sinapioides, Roth. ZB, 3, 6]
- Sinapistrum, Boiss. IA-6
'alba, Boiss. 18-3
Bursa pastoris, Weber. IA-6 (See Fl. L. 1886)
Sencbiera Coronopus, Poir. IA-3, 6
LepiJium campestre, R. Br. IA-3
- heterophyllum, Benth. 2A-3 f
Thlaspi arvense, L. 1 6-3
Teesjalia nudicaulis, R. Br. ZA
*Raphanus Raphanistrum, L. IA-6
RESEDACEAE
Reseda lutea, L. ZA, 234
luteola, L. IA-3
ClSTINEAE
Helianthemum Chamaecistus, Mill. ZA-4
VlOLARIEAE
Viola palustris, L. IA-ZA
- odorata, L. IA.-6
- liirta, L. I A, 2A-6
- Reichenbachiana, Bor. IA-ZB, 6
- Riviniana, Reich. I A 6
- ericetorum, Schrad. ZA.
- tricolor, L. iA-6 (agg.) 2A -3, 6 (segg.)
- arvensis, Murr. iA-6
POLYGALEAE
Polygala vubaris, L. IA~4, 6
- oxyptem, Reich. 2A
- serpyll.tcea, Weihe. ZA
CARYOPHYLLKAE
Dianthus deltoides, L. ZA
[Snponaria offLinalis, L. IA-J]
Silene Cucu't alus, Wibel. IA-6
[ anglLa, L. IB-ZB]
[ noctiflor,i, L. IA-ZB, 3]
Lychnis alba, Mill. iA-6
dioica, L. iA-6
- Flos-cuculi, L. iA-3, 5, 6
'Githago, Scop. iA-3, 5, 6
Cerastium quatcrnellum, 1 enzl. 2A, 3
semidecandrum, L. ZA [lA~3]
glomeratum, Thuill. i A -6
triviale, Link. IA-6
arvense, L. ZA, 3, 4
DICOTYLEDONES (continued)
CARYOPHYLLEAE (continued)
Stellaria aquatica, Scop. IA-3, 5, 6
media, L. iA-6
var. Boraeana (Jord.), 2A-6
umbrosa, Opiz.
var. decipiens (S. neglecta, Weihe). IA-ZB
Holostea, L. IA-6
palustris, Retz. IA-ZB
graminea, L. IA-6
uliginos.i, Murr. IA-3, 5, 6
Arenaria trinervia, L. IA-3, 5, 6
serpyllifolia, L. IA-6
var. leptoclados (Guss.). IA, 2A, ZB
Sagina apetala, L. IA~3, 5, 6
ciliata, Fries. ZA
procumbens, L. IA-6
- nodosa, Fenzl. IB, ZA. Extinct?
Spergula arvensis, L. IA-6
Alsine rubra, Crantz. IB, 2A
PoRTULACEAE
Monti i fontana, L. IB, 2A
HYPERICINEAE
Hypericum perforatum, L. IA-6
maculatum, Crantz. IB, 2A
qusdrangulum, L. IA-3, 5, 6
humifusum, L. IA-3, 6
pulchrum, L. iA-6
hirsutum, L. IA-3, 6
[ elodes, L. 2A. Extinct]
MALVACEAE
Malva silvestris, L. IA-6
rotundifolia, L. IA-3, 5> 6
rr.oschata, L. IA-3, 6
TlLIACEAK
[Tiha cordata, Mill. IB, 2A]
[ platyphyllos, Scop. I B]
[ vulgaris, Hayne]
LINEAE
[Radiola linoides, Gmel. 2A]
Linum catharticum, L. iA-6
[ usitatissimum. IA~3, 6]
GERANIACEAE
[Geranium phoeum, L. 2A, 2B.]
- pratense, L. iA-6
*pyrenaicum, Burm. fil. IB, 2A, 2B
molle, L. iA-6
pasillum, L. IA~3, 5
dissectum, L. IA-6
lucidum, L. iA-3
Robertianum, L. IA-6
Erodium cicutarium, L. IA-3, 6
[ moschatum, L'Herit. IB, ZB, 3, 6]
Oxalis Acetosella, L. iA~3, 6
ILICINEAE
Ilex Aquifolium, L. IA~5
BOTANY
DICOTYLEDONES (continued')
CELASTRINEAE
Euonymus europaeus, L. IA-J, 6
RHAMNEAE
Rhamnus catharticus, L. IA-3, 5, 6
Frangula, L. IA-ZA, 3
SAPINDACEAE
[Acer Pseudo-platanus, L. iA-6]
campestie, L. iA-6
var. leiocarpon, Wallr. ZA, 2B
LEGUMINOSAE
Genista tinctoria, L. IA-3, 6
anglica, L. IB, ZA [28,3]
Ulex europaeus, L. IA 6
Gallii, Planch. IA ZA
Sarothamnus vulgaris, Wimm. IA 5
Ononis repens, L. IA 6
- spinosa, L. IA-3, 5, 6
[Medicago sativa, L.]
- lupulina, L. IA-6
[ denticulata, Willd.]
- arabica, Huds. IA-ZA, 3
Melilotus officinalis, Lam. iA-6
Trifolium subterraneum, L. ZA, ZB ?
- medium, L. IA~3, 5, 6
- pratense. IA-6
[ incarnatum, L.]
arvense, L. 15-3
striatum, L. I A- 3
scabrum, L. i B, Measham ; Bloxam. 3
[ glomeratum, L. ZA]
( ' hybriduTi, L.]
repens, L. IA-6
- fragiferum, L. IA-3
- procumbens, L. I A 6
dubium, Sibth, IA-6
- filiforme, L. IA-ZA (ZB ?)
Anthyllis Vulneraria, L. IB-6
Lotus corniculatus, L. IA-6
tenuis, Waldst and Kit. IB, ZA, 6
uliginosus, Schk. IA-3, 5, 6
Astragalus glycyphyllos, L. IA, 2 A, 3, 5
hypoglottis, L. ZA, 3, 4. (A. danicus Retz)
Ornithopus perpusillus, L. 183
Hippocrepis comosa, L. 4
[Onobrychis viciaefolia, Scop. ZA, ZB, 3]
Vicia hirsuta, Gray. IA 6
gemella, Crantz. I A- 3, 6
Cracca, L. iA-6
silvatica, L. IB, 6
sepium, L. IA-6
{ sativa, L.]
angustifolia, Roth. IB, ZA, ZB
Lathyrus Nissolia, L. 3
- pratensis, L. IA-6
silvestris, L. [ZA], IB, 6
[ palustris, L. ZA]
montanus, Bernh. I A 3
var. tenuifolius, Reich, fil. IB, ZA
DICOTYLEDONES (continued)
RoSACEAE
Prunus spinosa, L. IA-6
insititia, L. IA-6
[ domestica, L.]
Avium. IA-3, S> 6
[ Cerasus. IB-ZB]
[ Padus, L. iA-3]
Spiraea Ulmaria, L. IA-3, 5, 6
Filipendula, L. IA 4
Rubus 6 idaeus, L. i A -6. Found in all divisions of
the county, but probably not native in some
fissus, Lindl. i B : Moira Reservoir, Coleman,
hb. Mason ! ZA : Charnwood Forest, Bloxam,
teste Chas. C. Babington.
suberectus, Anders. ZA : Charnwood, Bloxam,
B.R. ; nr. Charley Hall, Bloxam, Leic. Museum !
Lane between Ulverscroft and Stonywell Wood
1896, Mott.
plicatus, W. & N. IB : Twycross, Bloxam hb.
Mason !
nitidus, W. & N. IB : Twycross, Bloxam hb.
W. M. R. !
carpinifolius, W. & N. IB : Tivyeross, Bloxam,
hb. J. Ball, teste Focke. ZA : Ulverscroft Lane,
nr. Aspen, W. M. R.
incurvatus, Bab. ZA : Fenny Hill, nr. Belton,
1904, Routh. ZB : Fox Covert, nr. Billesdon
Coplovi, 1 904, Horwood. ' Apparently forms
of the strong Derbyshire plant referred to in
my Handbook; W. M. R.
Lindleianus Lees. IA : Belton Asplands ; Piper
Wood ; Worthington (Journ. Bot., Aug. 1906) ;
Castle Donington, Coleman, Fl. L. IB : nr.
Ashbj, Coleman hb. Mason ! ; Twycross,
Bloxam ! , Market Bosworth (Bloxam, Fl. L.).
ZA : Charnwood Forest, Bloxam, Fl. L. Common
throughout Charnwood F., 1906 ; Peckleton,
Coleman. ZB : Billesdon, (Journ. Bot. Aug.
1906) ; Cold Overton Wood, Coleman, FL L.
3 : Holwell Mouth, 16 July, 1906.
durescens, W. R. Linton. IA : nr. South Wood,
1902, W. M. R. IB : nr. Packington, T. E.
Routh and A. B. Jackson
rhamnifolius, W. & N. IB : Twycross, B. R.
Coleman hb. Mason, small form ! ZA :
Stoithland Wood (Journ. Bot. Aug. 1906) ;
Woodhouse Eaves ; Ulverscroft; Newtown Lin-
ford to Copt Oak
subsp. Bakeri, F. A. Lees. IA or 2A : Spar-
ingly in a lane between Hemington (IA) and
Diseviorth (ZA), 1903, T. E. Routh.
pulcherrimus, Neum. IB : Twycross ; Ashby,
Coleman ! as ' R. carpinifolius.' ZA : Stvan-
nington ; Groby ; Rothley (Journ. Bot., Aug.
1906) ; Woodhouse Eaves to Ulverscroft; between
High Sharpley and Ratchet Hill; Grace Dieu,
1906. ZB : Billesdon (Journ. Bot., Aug. 1906).
3 : about Belvoir, especially on Blackberry
Hill, where it is magnificent.
Lindebergii, P. J. Muell. IA : South Wood,
W. M. R. IB : Twycross, Bloxam ! ZA :
Blackbird's Nest ; Lea Lane, 1897, E. F L !
Ulverscroft, W. M. R.
The records of the Rubi have been examined by the Rev. W.
Moyle Rogers, who has kindly added some previously unrecorded
species. All doubtful records are omitted.
37
A HISTORY OF LEICESTERSHIRE
DICOTYLEDONES (continual)
ROSACEAE (continued')
Rubus villicaulis, Koehl.
subsp. Selmeri (Lindeb). I A : Lount Wood
(Journ. Sot. Aug., 1906). IB : Twycross,
Fraser ! 2A : Martinshaw Wood (Journ.
But., Aug. 1906). Very common through-
out Charnwood forest, especially so between
Woodhouse Eaves, Ulverscroft, and Netvtown
Linford. Sparingly on the rugged bare
crags of High Sbarpley (north side), seen
at Hanging Rocks Lea Lane &c., by
W. M. R. ; Groby Pool, W. Bell !
3 : Holwell Mouth, 1906
subsp. calvatus, 7 Blox. IB : Twycross,
Bloxam ! Fraser ! ; nr. Packington, Cole-
man hb. Mason ! as ' sylvaticus ' ; Black-
fordby, Routh ! Bardon Hill Wood (Journ.
Bot., Aug. 1906). ZA : Ulverscroft Lane ;
Swithland Wood, not typical (Joum. But.,
Aug. 1906) ; outskirt of Cademan Wood,
1906
- thyrsoideus, Wimm. IB : Tviycross, Bloxam ! ;
Moira, Coleman hb. Mason ! ; Packington,
Routh ! ZA : nr. Kegworth ; Birstall Gone ;
Stoney Stan fan (Journ. But.). 2B : Barkby
(Journ. But., Aug. 1906.) 3 : Knifton Lodge ;
Branston to Knipton.
- rusticanus, Merc. IA-6. Common all over the
county. IB: Twycross, B. R. as 'R. discolor"
is the first record
- macrophyllus, W. & N. I A : Piper Wood (Journ.
But., Aug. 1906.) IB : Higham, Bloxam teste
C.C.B. 2A : Swithland, in lane near the wood,
W. M. R.
subsp. Schlechtendalii (Weihe). IB : Twy-
cross, 'Q.^.. 2 A : Ulverscroft; by Swithlanti
Wood,W. M. R. 2B : nr. Billesdon Cop-
low; nr. Ingarsby station (Joum. Bat.,
Aug. 1906). 3 : Lings Cover. (A plant
found on the western side of Hoi-well
Mouth is either a form of this or an
intermediate one towards pulcherrimus, a
shade form flowering late). 6 : Tugby
Wood (Journ. Bot., Aug. 1906)
var. amplificatus (Lees). IB : Twycross,
Bloxam !
- Salteri, Bab. IA : Staunton Harold, Bloxam
hb. Arthur Bennett ! ; nr. South Wood, W.M.R.
2A : nr. Kirkby, Bloxam ; Ulverscroft; by Staith-
landWood,^. M. R. (Rogers' Handbook, p. 102,
is the first record).
- Colemanni, Blox. (Brit. Rubi (1869), p. 127;
Kirby's Flora, 38(1850), Bab. ! Man. ed. 6,
109), W. M. R. IB : Packington, Bloxam !
- Sprengelii, Weihe. IA : South Wood, Coleman ! ;
also seen there by W.M.R. IB : Talbot Lane ;
Seal Wood, Coleman ! ; Twycross, Bloxam, teste
Focke ; Boothorpe Lane, Hailstone Wiggs (Journ.
Bot. Aug. 1 906) ; Bardon Hill, Bloxam ; still
there 1906. 2A : Grace Dieu Wood, and out-
skirt of Cademan Wood, 1906.
' Mr. Rogers points out that Bloxam sometimes gave the
name calvatus to plants which really belonged to Selmeri
(which, however, he oftcner named affinis). (R. gratus, Focke,
which grows in Warwick, Derby, Notts, and Lincoln, should
be found in Leicestershire, although not recorded for North-
amptonshire).
DICOTYLEDONES (continued)
ROSACEAE (continued)
Rubus hirtifolius, Muell and Wirtg. var. danicus, Focke.
2 A, Lea Lane, Ulverscroft ; lane near Swithland
Wood (form*) ( Journ. Bot. Aug. 1906) ; Rogers' I
Handbook (1900), p. 102.
var. mollissimus Rogers. ZA : Newtown Lin-
ford \a Lea Lane, Rogers' Handbook, 102.
pyramidalis, 8 Kalt. I A : Staunton Harold, Cole-
man, as 'villicaulis'! IB: near Packington,
Coleman, as 'villicaulis' ! ; near Packington,
Bloxam, as ' oblongifolius, Mull ' ! ZA : near
Roecl'tffe ; Swithland Wood ; Lea Lane; lane at
Nanpantan (Journ. Bot. Aug. 1906). f. eife-
liensis, Wirtg. ZA : Swithland Wood, Rothley
Plain, Martinshaw Wood (Journ. Bot., Aug.
1906).
leucostachys, Schleich. IA: Generally distributed
(Journ. Bot., Aug. 1906). IB : Twycross,
Bloxam. ZA : generally distributed in Charn-
wood Forest (Joum. Bot., Aug. 1906) ; Grace
Dieu, 1906. 3 : Stathern Wood.
criniger, Linton. I A : Griffydam, 1903, Routh.
IB : Breech Hill, near Ashby, Coleman, Mason
hb. ! ZA : Blackbird's Nest, E. F. L. !
- cinerosus, Rogers. 2A : Swithland Wood, 1902,
W. Moyle Rogers ; ' Stem almost eglandular
and not aciculate . . . pan. typical.'
mucronatus, Blox. IB: Twycross, Bloxam ! ; Twy-
cross, Coleman hb. Mason ! as 'sylvaticus, Bab.'
2 A : Buddon Wood (Journ. Bot., Aug. 1906) ;
Swithland Wood, 1897, E. F. L. ; Lea Lane,
Ulverscroft, W. M. R.
Gclertii, Frider. ZA : Blackbird's Nest, near the
Outwoods, 1898, E. F. L. ! (Journ. Bot. 1902) ;
not typical W. M. R.
- anglosaxonicus, Gelert. 2A : 'So far as I know
typical R. anglosaxonicus has not yet been
found in Leicester. I thought Mr. Linton's
forest border plant might go under it as a
form ; while the several plants referred to by
Mr. Jackson (Ulverscroft, Swithland Wood, &c.)
are nearer to vars. setulosus and raduloides than
to type anglosaxonicus.' W. M. R. in litt.
- infestus, Weihe. 2A : Charnwood Forest, Linton !
(Rogers' Handbook, p. 103)
Drejeri, G. Jensen. 2A, Lea Lane, Ulverscroft,
E. F. L. ; ' form with subglabrous stem,'
W. M. R.
radula, Weihe (type). IB : Twycross, Bloxam, teste
Focke ; Swithland Wood ; Blackbird's Nest, &c.,
E. F. L. ; Anstey to Lea Lane, W. M. R. ZB :
Glen Corse, W. Bell.
subsp. anglicanus, Rogers. IB : Twycross,
Bloxam ! ; nr. Ashby, Coleman hb.
Mason ! ZA : Charnwood Forest, E. F. L. ! ;
Quorn Park ; Hanging Rocks, W. M. R. ;
quarry, Mountsorrel ; Quorn ; Swithland
Wood; Blackbird's Nest (Journ. Bot., Aug.
1906).
subsp. echinatoides, Rogers. ZA : Belton Asp-
/anJ,W. M. R. 1902.
8 Mr. Rogers says : ' The earlier Leicestershire records of
R. villicaulis, W. and N. are most probably all R. pyramidalis,
Kalt, which seems invariably to have been named R. villicaulis
in England then.' He also says : 'I have no recollection of the
occurrence of the f. R. eifeliensis, Wirtg. in Leicestershire, but,
of course, Jackson may be right about it.'
BOTANY
DICOTYLEDONES (continued)
ROSACEAE (continued}
Rubus echinatus, Lindl. I A : Newbold ; Leant Wood
(Journ. Sot., Aug. 1906). IB: Twycross ;
Stoepstonf, Bloxam ! ; Blackfordby (Journ. Bat.
Aug. 1906). ZA : Swithland Wood, E. F. L.
and W. M. R. ; Helton; near Buddon Wood;
Blackbird's Nest; Woodbouse Eaves (Journ. Bot.,
Aug. 1906). 2B : Blllesdon Coplotv, 'forma
umbrosissima ' (Journ. Bot., Aug. 1906).
rudis, W. and N. IB : Owston Wood, Bloxam hb.
Mason ! ZB : Big Sfinney, Knighton ; Glen
Gorse ; Wymondham, W. Bell ! 3 : Lings Cover,
1906. 6 : Tugby Wood, W. B.
oigocladus, Muell and Lefv. IB : Ttv\fross,
Bloxam ! 2 A : Buddon Wood Lane, W. M. R.
1902 ?
var. Bloxamianus, Colan. IA: Piper Wood;
Lount Wood (Journ. Bot., Aug. 1906). IB:
near Blackfordby ; Owston Wood ; &c.
(Journ. Bot., Aug. 1906). 2 A : Swithland
Wood ; Cropston ; Thurcaston ; Ulverscroft ;
Roecliffe ; &c. (Journ. Bot.) ; Bardon Hill,
towards Whitwick. 2B : Syston ; Scraptoft ;
Lowesby ; Billesdon Coplow (Journ. Bot.,
Aug. 1906) ; and Purchas (Journ. Bot.,
1887, p. 102).
Griffithianus, Rogers. IA : Breedon; Lount Wood,
W. M. R.
Bloxamii, Lees. IB : Tviycross, Bloxam ! 2A :
Burbage Wood, Jackson.
fuscus, W. and N. IB : Twycross, Bloxam ! ZA :
Charnwood Forest, E. F. L. !
var. nutans, Rogers. ZA : Charnwood Forest,
E. F. L. ! = Lea Lane, Ulverscroft,
1898.
pallidus, W. and N. 2A : Stoithland Wood, 1898,
E. F. L. ; Grace Dieu Wood, 24 July, 1906,
teste W. M. R.
scaber, W. and N. IB : Twycross, Bloxam ! teste
Focke, as ' R. Bellardi dentatus,' W. M. R.
ZA : Blakeshay Wood (between Netvtotvn Linford
and Ulverscroft), 1898, E. F. L. (Rogers' Hand-
book, 1900, p. 104)
foliosus, W. and N. IB : Ashby, Bloxam. 2 A :
Charnwood Forest, E. F. L. ! ; by Swithland
Wood, W. Bell ! ; Buddon Wood, W. M. R.,
1902 ; Buddon Wood, near the large stone pit,
Bloxam in Fl. L. (as 'saltuum'), (Rogers' Hand-
book, 1900, p. 105).
rosaceus, W. and N. 2 A : Buddon Wood ; Black-
bird's Nest (Journ. Bot., Aug. 1906) ; Ulvers-
croft, W. M. R.
var. hystrix, W. and N. (Rogers' Handbook,
105.) 2A : Pocket Gate (Journ. Bot., Aug.
1906) ; Ulverscroft, just beyond Lea Lane,
W. M. R.
subsp. infecundus, Rogers. I A : Piper Wood,
W. M. R., 1902. IB: Twycross, Bag-
nail ! ; Little Orion, near Ttvycross, Bloxam
hb. Mason ! ; Sutton Ambien Wood, W.
Bell ! 2 A : Shepshed Lane ; Netvtotvn Lin-
ford (Journ. Bot., Aug. 1 906)
subsp. adornatus (P. J. Muell). IB : Ttvy-
cross, Bloxam hb. Mason ! ; Tviycross,
Bagnall (most abundant) !
horridicaulis, P. J. Muell. 2A : lane by Buddon
Wood, 1902, apparently W. M. R.
DICOTYLEDONES (continued)
ROSACEAE (continued)
Rubus Koehleri, W. and N. (typical or nearly so)-
ZA : lane by Swithland Wood(= near Roecliffe)^
W. M. R. 3 : Holwell Mouth, 16 July, 1906,
confirmed by W. M. R.
subsp. dasyphyllus, Rogers. IB : Ttvycross,
B. R. (as ' R. pallidus ') ; Ashby, Coleman
hb. Mason ! ZA : Woodhouse Eaves to
Ulverscroft ; Newtown Linford ; Copt Oak ;
Whitwick ; Grace Dieu, &c. ZB : Scrap-
toft, shade form (Journ. Bot., Aug. 1906).
3 : Common about Belvoir ; Croxton
Kerrial to Branston. 4 : Saltby Heath.
viridis, Kalt. 3 : grounds below Belvoir Castle,
Bloxam !
divexiramus, P. J. Muell. IB : Twycross, Bloxam !
hb. Babington (in his ' praeruptorum ' packet),
W. M. R. (Rogers' Handbook, 1900, p. 105)
- Bellardii, W. and N. IB: Ttvycross, Bloxam hb.
Mason ! ' fairly typical,' W. M. R. 6 : Tugby
Wood,Vf. Bell (1903), typ. !
- hirtus, W. and N. IB : Ttvycross, Bloxam ! Focke
assenting ; Ttvycross, hb. Mason !
subsp. Kaltenbachii (Metsch). ZA : Rothley
Plain; outskirts of Buddon Wood, W. M. R. ! ;
very fine in Buddon Wood near the cottages,
1906 (Rogers' Handbook, 1900, p. 106)
ochrodermis, A. Ley. ZA : Outskirt of Buddon
Wood, 24 July, 1906 ; seen there in 1902 by
Mr. Rogers ; not typical, but Mr. Ley agreed
to the name.
velatus, Lefv. IB : Plantation, Gopsall, Coleman
hb. Mason ! ZA : near the Railway Station,
Quom, 1 899, W. M. R.
dumetorum, W. and N. (sp. collect). IA-6 :
Tivycross, Bloxam, ' very glandular form ' !
var. ferox, Weihe. I B : Allans, Ashby (Journ.
Bot. Aug. 1906). z A : Cropston; Charn-
viood Forest, E. F. L. ; Anstey, &c. (Journ.
Bot., Aug. 1906) ; Birstall Copse, &c., &c.,
W.M.R. ; Quorn ; Netvtotvn Linford to Copt
Oak ; scarce but very fine near the monas-
tery. ZB : Sileby (Journ. Bot., Aug. 1906).
3 : Holwell Mouth. 6 : Loddington ; Horning-
field ; East Norton (Journ. Bot., Aug. 1906).
var. britannicus, Rogers. IB : Sutton Ambien,
W. Bell. ZA ; Lea Lane ; Ulverscroft ;
Hanging Rocks, W. M. R. ; Bardon Hill to
Peldar Tor. ZB : Knighton, W. Bell !
var. diversifolius, Lindl. IB: near Ashby,
Bloxam, teste Focke. ZA : Swithland Wood
Lane, 1902, W. M. R. 2s : Glen Gorse
(Joum. Bot., Aug. 1906).
var. rubriflorus, Purchas. 2B : On the Oolite,
Bescaby to Waltham, 17 July, 1906, teste
W. M. R.
var. tuberculatus (Bab.). IB : Twycross, B. R. ;
M oira Lane i z B : Sutton Ambien Wood, W. Bell !
var. fasciculatus (P. J. Muell). IB : Twy-
cross, B.R. 2A : Between Quorn Railway
Station and Quorn Village, W. M. R. 2B :
Knighton Grange Rd., W. Bell ! 4 : Three
Queens, 1906, W. Bell !
var. concinnus, Warren. IB : Ttvycross,
Bloxam hb. Mason ! Twycross, ' most
abundant,' Bagnall ! 6 : East Norton (a
form), (Journ. Bot., Aug. 1906).
39
A HISTORY OF LEICESTERSHIRE
DICOTYLEDONF.S (continued)
ROSACEAE (continued)
Rubus corylifolius, Sm. (sp. collect.). (Rogers' Hand-
book, p. 1 06.) IA-6
var. sublustris (Lees). IB: Ttoycross, Blox-
am ! ZA : Tburcaston ; Quont ; Rothky,
&.c., &c. W. M. R. 3 : Kniptm, &c.
var. cyclophyllus,Lindeb. (Rogers' Handbook,
1906, p. 1 06.) Tburcaston. 2E : Knigbton ;
Blaby (Journ. Sot., Aug. 1906). 2 A :
Birstall
Balfourianus, Blox. IB : Sutton Ambien Wood ;
W. Bell ! ZA : Charnwood Forest, E. F. L. !
caesius, L. [lA-6], IB : Twycross, Bagnall. 2 A :
Birstall Copse, &c., &c., W. M. R. (Common
in the Vale of Behoir, but not noticed in the
Leicestershire portion)
Geum urbanum, L. IA-6
- rivale, L. IB-ZB, 5, 6
X urbanum. 2A, 2B, 6
Fragaria vesca, L. IA-3, 6
Potentilla Fragariastrum, Ehrh. [lA-6] IB-2B, 6
- silvestris, Neck. IA-6
- procumbens, Sibth. IA-ZA, 6
reptans, L. I A 6
- Anserina, L. IA-6
- argentea, L. 2A
- palustris, Scop. IB[2A]
Alchemilla arvensis, Lam. IA-6
- vulgaris, L. IB-ZB (sp. collect.)
a. pratensis (Schmidt). IB
f. filicaulis (Buser). I A, 2 A, 2B, 6.
Agrimonia Eupatoria, L. IA-6
- odorata, Mill. IA, 2 A, 6
Poterium Sanguisorba, L. IA 4
officinale, Hook. iA-3, 6
Rosa spinosissima, L. IB, 2A
- involuta, Sm. var. Sabini (Woods), IB [2 A, 2s]
villosa, L. IB, 2A, 2B [3]
- tomentosa, Sm. IA-3
var. subglobosa (Sm.), 5
var. scabriuscula (Sm.), 2A, 2B
var. silvestris (Lindl.), [IB, 2A]
- eglanteria, L. (rubiginosa). IB, 2 A, 6 [IA,
ZB, 3]
micrantha, Sm. 2A, 3 [IA, IB, 2B, 6]
- agrestis, Savi. 3 (forma)
obtusifolia, Desv. 2B
var. frondosa, Baker, IB, ZA ! 3, 5
var. tomentella (Leman), IB, ZA, 2B
canina, L. var. lutetiana (Leman), IA 6
f. andegavensis (Bast.), 2A 3
var. sphaerica (Gren.), [2A, 2B, 3]
var. dumalis (Bechst.), IA-6
f. verticillacantha (Merat), IB 3
var. Blondaeana (Rip.) 5 [6, 2A, ZB]
var. urbica (Leman), ZA 3, 5, 6
var. dumetorum (Thuill), 2A, 5
var. 'arvatica' Baker, 16-3, 5 (?)
glauca, Vill. 2A !
var. subcristata, Baker, ZA
var. implexa (Gren.), ZA
var. coriifolia (Fr.), ZA
var. Watsoni, Baker, ZB
stylosa, Desv. var. systyla (Bast.), ZA, 6
- arvensis, Huds. IA-6
Pyrus torminalis, Ehrh. [IB, ZB, 5]
Aucuparia, Ehrh. ZA [IA, IB, 3, 6]
DICOTYLEDONES (continued')
ROSACEAE (continued)
[Pyrus communis, L. IA-ZA]
Malus, L. i A 6
Crataegus Oxyacantha, L.
a. oxyacanthoides (Thuill), ZA-3, 5, 6
d. 'monogyna (Jacy), * IA-6
SAXIFRAGEAE
Saxifraga tridactylites, L. IA, 2A-3 5, [IB, 6]
granulata, L. IA-5
Chrysosplenium alternifolium, L. ZA
oppositifolium, L. IA ZB, 6
Parnassia palustris, L. IB, ZA [3]
[Ribes Grossularia, L. IA 6]
[ rubrum, L. var. sativum, L. IA-ZB, 5, 6]
[ nigrum, L. IA-ZA]
CRASSULACEAE
Cotyledon Umbilicus, L. ZA [ZB]
[Sedum album, L. IB ZB, 5]
- acre, L. IA-6
[ reflexum, L. IA-6]
[Sempervivum tectorum, L. IA-6]
DROSERACEAE
[Drosera rotundifolia, L. ZA]
L anglica, Huds. ZA]
HALORAGEAE
Hippuris vulgaris, L. iA-3, 6
Myriophyllum verticillatum, L. I A [ZA]
spicatum, L. IA-ZB, 6
alterniflorum, DC. IB
Callitriche verna, L. 2 A, ZB, 6
stagnalis, Scop. I A, 2 A
hamulata, Kutz. 2A, 5, 6
- obtusangula, Le Gall. IA, [2 A] ZB
LYTHRARIEAE
Lythrum Salicaria, L. IA-3, 6
Peplis Portula, L. I A ZA
ONAGRARIEAE
Epilobium angustifolium, L. IB-6
- hirsutum, L. IA 3, 5, 6
- parviflorum, Schreb. IA~3, 5, 6
montanum, L, IA-6
roseum, Schreb. IA ZB
adnatum, Griseb. IB, ZA [IB, ZB, 3, 5, 6]
obscurum, Schreb. IA-IIB, 6. Also X roseum,
ZA
palustre, L, I A 3, 5, 6
montanum X obscurum. ZA
X hirsutum. ZA
X roseum. ZA, IB ?
Circaea lutetiana, L. IA-4, 6
CUCURBITACEAE
Bryonia dioica, Jacq. IA-4, 6
40
BOTANY
DICOTYLEDONES (continued)
UMBELLIFERAE
Hydrocotyle vulgaris, L. I B, ZA, 6
Sanicula europaea, L. I A 3, 6
Conium maculatum, L. iA-6
[Smyrnium Olusatrum, L. IB, 2 A]
[Bupleurum rotundifolium, L. ZA-3]
[Apium graveolens, L. IB-ZB, 6]
nodiflorum Reichb. I A 3, 5, 6
var. repens, Hook. ZA
var. ochreatum, Bab. ZA
inundatum Reichb. IA ZA, 3, 6
[Carum Carvi, L.]
Petroselinum, Benth. *IA [IB, 2 A]
segetum, Benth. ZB
Sison Amomum, L. iA-3, 6
[Sium latifolium, L. ZA, ZB, extinct]
erectum, Huds. IB-3, 5, 6
^Egopodium Podagraria, L. IA-6
Pimpinella Saxifraga, L. IA-6
var. nigra (Mill), f. dissecta. ZB
var. dissecta, With. ZA
major, Huds. IA 3, 5, 6
Conopodium denudatum, Koch. I A 6
Chaerophyllum temulum, L. IA-6
Scandix Pecten, L. IA-6
Anthriscus vulgaris, Bernh. IA ZA, 3, 4, 6
silvestris, Hoffm. IA-6
Oenanthe fistulosa, L. IA-ZA, 6
silaifolia, Bieberst [IB, ZA, ZB.] 55 Top. Bat.
(specn. according to T. A. Preston MS. now
withdrawn)
Lachenalii, C. Gmel. IB, ZB
Phellandrium, Lam. IB-3, 6
- fluviatilis, Coleman. IB-ZB, 6
^Ethusa Cynapium, L. IA 6
Silaus flavescens, Bernh. IA-6
Angelica silvestris, L. IA 3, 5, 6
Peucedanum sativum, Benth. IA 6
Heracleum Sphondylium, L. IA 6
var. angustifolium, Huds. ZA-3, 6
Daucus Carota, L. IA-6
Caucalis arvensis, Huds. 1 8-3 ?
nodosa, Scop. IA-3, 5
- Anthriscus, Huds. IA-6
ARALIACEAE
Hedera Helix, L. IA-6
CoRNACEAE
Cornus sanguinea, L. IA-6
CAPRIFOLIACEAE
Adoxa Moschatellina, L. IA-ZB, 6
Sambucus nigra, L. IA-6
Ebulus, L. iB-[3 ?] 6, sp. High Cross and
Div. 5 = 2A or ZB
Viburnum Opulus, L. IA-3, 6 (Yellow fruit at
Narborough, ' very rare ')
'Lantana, L. 18-3, 5, 6
Lonicera Periclymenum, L. IA-6
I
DICOTYLEDONES (continued)
RUBIACEAE
Galium Cruciata, Scop. IA-6
verum, L. I A 6
erectum, Huds. IA, IB, ZA, ZB
Mollugo, L. IA-4, 6
saxatile, L. I A 4, 6
palustre, L. IA-6
var. elongatum (Presl.), IB, ZA
var. Witheringii (Sm.), IB, ZA, 3, 6
uliginosum, L. IA-3, 6
Aparine, L. IA-6
*tricorne, With. ZA, ZB, 3
Asperula odorata, L. iA-3, 6
cynanchica, L. 4
Sherardia arvensis, L. IA-6
VALERIAENAE
Valeriana dioica, L. IB, ZA, ZB, 5, 6
officinalis, L. (sp. collect.). IA-3, 6
a. Mikanii Syme. ZA, ZB, 6
b. sambucifolia, Willd. ZA ('common,'
F/. L.)
Valerianella olitoria, Poll. IA-6
dentata, Poll. IA-4
DlPSACEAE
Dipsacus silvestris, L. IA-3, 5, 6
pilosus, L. IB ZB, 6
Scabiosa Succisa, L. IA-3, 5, 6
Columbaria, L. IA, ZA~4
arvensis, L. IB-6
CoMPOSITAE
Eupatorium cannabinum, L. IA-ZA, 6
Solidago Virgaurea, L. IB, ZA
Bellis perennis, L. IA 6
Erigeron acre, L. IA-ZB
Filago germanica, L. IA-,
minima, Fr. IA, ZB
[Antennaria dioica, R. Br. 4 ?]
Gnaphalium uliginosum, L. IA-3, 5, 6
silvaticum, L. IA-ZA, 3
Inula Conyza, DC. [IB, ZA, old records]
dysenterica, L. IA-3, 5, 6
[ Pulicaria, L. ZA (?) ZB (?)]
Bidens cernua, L. IB-ZB, 6
tripartita, L. IA 3, 5, 6
Achillea Millefolium, L. iA-6
Ptarmica, L. IA-3, 5, 6
Anthemis Cotula, L. 18-3, 5, 6
arvensis, L. 18-4
[ nobilis, L. ZA, IB ? Extinct]
Chrysanthemum segetum, L. IA-6
leucanthemum, L. IA-6
Matricaria inodora, L. IA-6
Chamomilla, L. IA 6
Tanacetum vulgare, L. IA-3, 5, 6
'Artemisia Absinthium, L. IA, ZA, 5, 6
vulgaris, L. IA-6
Tussilago Farfara, L. IA-6
Petasites officinalis, Moench. IA-3, 5, 6
4.1 6
A HISTORY OF LEICESTERSHIRE
DICOTYLEDONES
COIIPOSITAI
Senecio Tulgaris, L. IA 6
sflTaticns, L. IA-ZA, 3
_ Jacobaee, L. i*~4, 6
eroafblios, L. i*~3, 5 *>
aquation, Huds. I*-3 5f 6
_ jampestris, DC 4 (Section 1887. Ex-
tinct ?)
Cariina Tulgaris, L. IA-ZA, 35
Arctium majos, Bernh. IB-IB, 5, 6
nemorosum, Lej. IB-3, 5, 6
minus, Berni. IA 6
intermedium, Lange. IB-ZB, 4, 6
Cardans nutans, L. IA~5 [6]
- crispos, L- i~3 S *>
[ X nntans. 2A-3, 5, 6 :]
Cnicos lanceolatus, Willd. IA-6
criophorus. Roth. 2A, 2B, 4, 5 [IA, 3, 6]
palostris, Willd. IA-3, 5, 6
pratsniii, Willd. IB-2B
acaoLs, Willd. I A, ZA-6
irvensii, Hofiin. IA-6
[ heierophyllas, Willd. 3. Error.]
Onopordon Acanduum, L. IA, ZA, 2B
[Mariana lactea, Hill. 2AJ
Serratda tinctorla, L. IA-3, 6
Cer.:iarea nigra, L. IA-6
Scibiosa, L. IA-6
Cvinni, L. IE 3, 5
'Cickorium Intybus, L. 183, ;
[Arr.oseHi poiula, Gierta. 2.\]
Lar-=ani coxmunis, L. IA-6
Fieri; hieracioides, L. IA-ZB, 4
e.hioiiss, L. 1 8-3, 6
Crepb viren;, L. IA-6
- biennis, L. IB, 2 A, 2B
[ setosa, Hall. IB, 2 A]
paludosa, Moench. IB, ZA. Eitinct :
- 'uraoacifolia, Thuill. 2 A, ZB
Hiericium Piloselh, L. I A 6
- sciaphilom, Uechtr. rar. ZA, 3 '^teste A. Ley)
- Tulgaram, Fr. (?)
var. maculatum. IB, 2 A
- acroleucum, TIT. matabile, Ley. 2A. Mvattsirrel,
Mn. Foord-Kekey, 1906
rigidum, Hartm.
rar. linearnm, Dahlst
var. scairescens, Johanns. ZA
rar. tridenutnm (Fr.). IA-ZA.
- boreale, Fr. IB-ZB [IA, 6 :]
nmbellatnm, L. IB, I A
Hypochaeris glabra, L. 2A. Eitinct ?
radicata, L. IA-6
Leontodon hirtns, L. IA, IB, ZA, 2B, 3. [5, 6]
hispidnj, L. IA-6
autumnalis, L. I A 6
Taraiacnm officinale, Web.
a. Dens-leonis, Des IA-6
b. erythroapermom (Andr.). 2A, ZB
c. paiostre (DC.). IB, ZA, ZB
Lactoca rirota, L. IB, ZA, [3]
muralii, Fresen. IA-ZA, 5
Sonchos oleraceus, L. IA 6
asper, Hofiin. IA 6
- arrenas, L. IA 3, 5, 6
Tngopogon prateiue, L. ZB
TV. minus (Mill.). iA-6
DICOTYLEDONES (,
CAMPANVLACEA*
Jasione montana, L. IB, ZA
Campanula glomerata, L. ZB, 3
Trachelium, L. ZA, 6
latifolia, L. IA-ZB, 6
rotnndifolia, L. IA-6
parala, L. ZA
Specnlaria hjbrida, DC IA, ZA, 3, 5, 6
VACCIXIACZAI
Vaccinium Vitis-Idaea, L. ZA. Extinct ?
Myrtillus, L. IB, ZA
ERICACTAI
Callnna Erica, DC. IA-ZB
f. pnbescens, Koch. ZA
Erica Tetralix, L. IB, ZA
cinerea, L. IB, ZA (veiyrare)
PRIMULACEAI
Hottonia palustris, L. IA. [IB, ZA]
Primula veris, L. I A 6
acaulis, L. I A 6
b. caulescens, Koch
X veris. ZA, 6
Lpimachia Tulgaris, L. 2A, ZB
Nummularia, L. IA-3, 5, 6
nemorum, L. IA ZA, 6
Anagallis arvensi;, L. IA 6
I caeimlea, Schreb. IB-2B. Casual]
- tenella, L. 2A. [3. Eitinct]
Samolus Valerandi, L. IB 2B, 6
Fraiinus excelsior, L.
Ligustrum vulgare, L.
OLEACEAI
IA-6
IA-6
APOCYHACEAI
Vinca minor, L. 2A-3
GESTIAJCEAI
Biackstonia perfoliata, Hnds. 26-4
Erythraea Centaurium, Pen. IA-6
Gentiana Pneumonanthe, L. [2 A. Extinct]
Amarella, L. [2A-3]
campestris, L. [ZA 4]
MenyantLes trifoliata, L. 2A-3
PoLMIONIACEAX
[Polemonium caeruleum, L. IA, IB, ZB. Escape]
BoRAGINEAZ
IB 2B
3, 5. 6
Cynoglossum officinale, L.
Svmphytum officinale, L.
[ tuberosum, L. ZA]
[Bongo officinalis, L. ZA, ZB]
[Anchusa officinalis, L. IB, 2 A. Casual]
Lycopsis arvensis, L. 183, 6
[Pnlmonaria, officinalis, L. IB-2B]
BOTANY
DICOTYLEDONES (continued')
BORAGINEAE (continued)
Myosotis caespitosa, Schultz. IA 3, 5, 6
scorpioides, L. IA-3, 5, 6
repens, G. Don. ZA
silvatica, Hoffm. I A, ZA, 6
arvensis, Lam. IA-6
var. umbrosa, Bab. I A, ZA, ZB, 5
collina, Hoffm. I A ZB, 6
versicolor, Reichb. 183
Lithospermum officinale, L. IB 3
- arvense, L. IB 3
Echium vulgare, L. IB ZB (mostly as a casual)
CONVOLVULACEAI
Volvulus sepium, Jung. I A 6
Convolvulus arvensis, L. I A 6
Cuscuta europaea, L. IB-ZB
- Epithymum, Murr. ZA
[ Trifolii, Bab. IA, ZA. Casual]
SOLAKACEAB
Solanum Dulcamara, L. IA-6
[ nigrum, L. Casual]
[Lycium barbarum, L.]
['Atropa Belladonna, L. I A, ZA]
[Datura Stramonium, L. IA-3. An escape]
Hyoscyamus niger, L. 18-4, 6
SCROPHULARINEAB
Verbascum Thapsus, L. I A 5
- Lychnitis, L. 4(1906)
[ nigrum, L. ZA. Casual]
[ - virgatum, Stokes. ZA. ZB. Casual]
[Linaria Cymbalaria, Mill. ZA 3, 6. An escape]
-'Elatine, Mill. ZA-3
[ spuria, Mill. ZB, 3]
[ purpurea, L. ZA. An escape]
- vulgaris, Mill. 18-4, 6
- "viscida, Moench. IB, 2A, 3
[Antirrhinum majus, L. IA 3]
Scrophularia aquatica, L. I A 3, 5, 6
nodosa, L. IA-3, 6
[Mimulus Langsdorfii, Donn. ZA. An escape,
established and increasing]
[Limosella aquatica, L. IB, ZB. (Extinct)]
Digitalis purpurea, L. IA-ZA [4]
Veronica hederaefolia, L. I A 6
didyma, Ten. ZA, ZB, 6 [IA, 3]
- agrestis, L. I A-6
'Tournefortii, G. Gmel. IA 4, 6
- arvensis, L. I A-6
- serpyllifolia, L. I A-6
- officinalis, L. I A 6
Chamaedrys, L. I A-6
- montana, L. IA, ZA, 3, 6
- scutellata, L. IA-ZA, 5, 6
- Beccabunga, L. IA-3, 5, 6
- Anagallis, L. IA-3, 5, 6
Euphrasia nemorosa, H. Mart. IA-ZB. 4, 6
- Rostkoviana, Hayne. IB, ZA
[ stricta, Host. ZB]
- curta, Fr. ZA ; f. glabrescens, W. ZA, ZB
DICOTYLEDONES (continued')
SCROPHULARINEAE (continued)
Bartsia Odontites, Huds. IA-6 (verna)
f. serotina. ZH
Pedicularis palustris, L. 183, 5
silvatica, L. IA-3, 5, 6
Rhin.inthus Crista-galli, L. I A 6
Melampyrum pratense, L. IB, ZA [ZB]
OROBANCHACEAK
Orobanche major, L. IB, ZA
elatior, Sutton. 6
purpurea, Jacq. ZB F/. L. I
- Hederae, Duby. IB, ZB
Lathraea Squamaria, L. ZA, 6
LENTIBULARIEAE
Urticularia vulgaris, L. (neglecta in Preston's printed
list). IB, ZA, 5
[Pinguicula vulgaris, L. ZA, 3, extinct]
VERBENACEAE
Verbena officinalis, L. IA-ZB, 6
LABIATAB
[Mentha viridis, L. IB, ZA]
[ piperita, L. IA-ZA]
hirsuta, Huds. IA-3, 5, 6
b. subglabra (Baker). IA (?)
c. citrata (Ehrh.). ZA or ZB (?)
sativa, L. IA-ZA
c. subglabra, Baker. ZA
gentilis, L. IB [2 A, extinct]
arvensis, L. IA-6
Pulegium, L. 2A [3]
Lycopus europaeus, L. IA-3, 5, 6
Origanum vulgare, L. IA-ZB
Thymus Serpyllum, Fr. IA, 2A, ZB, 4, 6
Cham.iedrys. Fr. ZA, ZB [IA, IB, 5, 5, 6]
Clinopodium vulgare, L. IA-4, 6
calamintha, O. Kuntze. IB, ZA, ZB
[ Nepeta. ZA, ZB (Pult.), error ?]
- Acinos, O. Kuntze. [ZB, 3,] 4
[Melissa officinalis, L. ZA. An escape]
Salvia Verbenaca, L. ZA, 2B
Nepeta Cataria, L. IA-3
Glechoma, Benth. IA-6
Scutellaria galericulata, L. IA-3, 5, 6
minor, Huds. IB, ZA
Prunella vulgaris, L. I A-6
[Melittis Melissophyllum, L. ZA]
Marrubium vulgare, L. IA-ZB, 5
Stachys Betonica, Benth. IA-6
palustris, L. I A 3, 5
X silvatica, IB, ZA
silvatica, L. I A 6
arvensis, L. I A ZB
Galeopsis Ladanum, L. 2 A, 3,4
speciosa, Mill. ZA
Tetrahit, L. I A-6
[Leonurus Cardiaca, L. An escape]
Lamium amplexicaule, L. I A 6
hybridum, Vill. IB-ZB, 5, 6
purpureum, L. I A-6
- album, L. IA-6
Galeobdolon, Crantz. IA~3, 6
43
HISTORY OF LEICESTERSHIRE
IA-2B
2B
DICOTYLEDONES (continued')
LABIATAB (continued')
Ballota nigra, L. a. foetida, Koch. IA-6
Teucrium Scorodonia, L. IA-ZB
Ajuga reptans, L. IA-6
PLANTAGINEAB
Plantago major, L. IA-6
media, L. IA-6
lanceolata, L. IA-6
coronopus, L. IA, 2 A
Littorelk juncea, Berg, i B, 2A
ILLECEBRACEAE
Scleranthus annuus, L. 1 8-3
var. biennis (Reuter), 2A
CHENOPODIACEAE
Chenopodium *polyspermum, L.
var. cymosum, Moq. 2
album, L. IA-6
a. incanum, Moq. 2A
b. viride, Syme. IA-6
c. viridescens, St. Am. I A 6
"ficifolium, L. i A, 2 A, 3 (casual ?)
- *murale, L. IB, 2 A
[ urbicum, L. Casual]
- rubrum, L. iA-3, 6
*Bonus-Henricus, L. IA-3, 6
Atriplex p.itula, L. IA-6
hastata, L. 2A, 2B, 5, 6
dcltoidea, Bab. 2 A, 5, 6
PoLYGONACEAE
Polygonum Convolvulus, L. IA-6
b. subalatum, V. Hall. 2*, 2B, 5
aviculare, L.
a agrestinum (Jord.) b. vulgatum, Syme.
IA-6
c. arenastrum (Bor.). 2A, 2B, 5
e. rurivagum (Jord.). 2A, 2B, 5, 6
- Hydropiper, L. iA-3, 5, 6
- minus, Huds. 2A
Persicaria, L. IA-6
var. incanum, Coleman. 2A
lapathifolium, L. IA-6
maculatum, Trimen & Dyer. 2A
- amphibium, L. iA-3, 5, 6
Bistorta, L. IB- 3
Rumex conglomeratus, Murr. iA-3, 5, 6
- sanguineus, L. [IA, 2A]
b. viridis (Sibth.). IA-6
maritimus, L. IB-2B
- limosus, Thuill. 2A
[ pulcher, L. 2A, 3]
- obtusifolius, L. IA-6
crispus, L. IA-6
X obtusifolius. 2A [iA-3, 5, 6]
Hydrolapathum, Huds. iA-[2s], 6
Acetosa, L. IA-6
- Acetosella, L. IA-6
ARISTOLOCHIACEAE
[Aristolochia Clematitis, L. 2A, extinct, alien, see
F/.L. 1886, 'errata' p. 373]
DICOTYLEDONES (continued)
THYMELAEACEAB
Daphne Laureola, L. 2A-3, 6
LORANTHACEAB
'Viscum album, L. 2A
EUPHORBIACEAE
Euphorbia Helioscopia, L. IA-6
amygdaloides, L. IA, 2 A
Peplus, L. IA-6
exigua, L. IA-6
[ Lathyris, L. 2A, 2B, escape]
Mercurialis perennis, L. IA-4, 6
URTICACEAE
Ulmusglabra, Huds. IA-6
*campestris, Sm. IA-6
var. glabra (Sm. or Mill ?) 2B
Humulus Lupulus, L. IA-3, 5, 6
Urtica dioica, L. IA-6
urens, L. IA-6
Parietaria ramiflora, Moench. iA-3, 6
CUPULIFERAE
Betula verrucosa, Ehrh. ZA, [IA, IB, 3, 6]
Alnus glutinosa, Medic. IA-3, 5, 6
[Carpnius Betulus, L. 18-3, 6]
Corylus Avellana, L. IA-6
Quercus Robur, L. IA 6
a. pedunculata {Ehrh.)
b. intermedia (D. Don.)
c. sessiliflora (Salisb.)
*Fagus silvatica, L. IA-6
SALICINEAE
Salix pentandra, L. i A (Coleman), [2A (Pulteney),
2B, 3 (Crabbe) extinct]
triandra, L. IA-3, 5, 6
X fragilis, 2A, 2B
X alba (undulata, Ehrh.), 2A, 5
fragilis, L. (?)
b. britannica, F. B. White. 2A-3, 6
X triandra ? (decipiens, Hoffm.). 2A-3
X alba. 2A
alba, L. IA-3, 5, 6
b. vitellina, L. xT 2A ]
- purpurea, L. IA-2B
/ Lambertiana, Sm. i A, IB, 6
X viminalis (rubra, Huds.). 2A
viminalis, L. IA-3, 6
X cinerea (Smithiana, Willd.) _ [IA] IE,
[5,6]
X Caprea (rugosa, Leefe) 2B
- Caprea, L. IA-3, 5, 6
aurita, L. IB-2B, 6
X cinerea. 2A, 2B
X repens. IB
cinerea, L. IA-3, 5, 6
b. aquatica, Sm. IB, 2B
repens, L. IB, 2 A
f. ascendens (Sm.). IB, 2A
Populus *alba, L. ZA, 6
*canescens, Sm. [IB, 2B, 6]
- tremula, L. *IA, *IB, 2A [ZB, $, 5, 6]
[ nigra, L. 2A, 2B, 6]
44
BOTANY
DICOTYLEDONES (continued')
EMPETRACEAE
Empetrum nigrum, L. ZA
CERATOPHYLLEAE
Ceratophyllum demersum, L. IB-ZB
MONOCOTYLEDONES
HYDROCHARI DEAE
'Elodea canadensis, Mich. iA-3, 5, 6 (Discovered
by Miss S. Kirby at Lubenham in 1847)
[Hydrocharis Morsus-Ranae. ZA extinct, ZB intro-
duced]
ORCHIDEAE
Neottia Nidus-avis, Rich. IA, ZA, ZB, 6
Listera ovata, R. Br. iA-6
Spiranthes autumnalis, Rich. ZA
Epipactis latifolia, All. IA-J, 6
media, Fi. 3
palustris, Crantz. ZA
Orchis pyramidalis, L. IB, ZB, 4
[ ustulata, L. (Pulteney, error ?)]
Morio, L. i A 4, 6
mascula, L. iA~4, 6
incarnata, L. ) r ,.-,
. ., .. I [ZA [lA-3, 61
latifolia, L. J L
maculata, L. iA-6
Ophrys apifera, Huds. IA, ZA
Habenaria conopsea, Benth. IB-ZB [3, extinct]
viridis, R. Br. IA 4
[ bifolia, R. Br. (Pulteney, 1746)]
chloroleuca, Ridley. IA-ZB [3], 6
IRIDEAE
[Iris foetidissima, L. IB, 3]
pseud-acorus, L. iA-3, 5, 6
AMARYLLIDEAE
Narcissus Pseudo-narcissus, L. [IA-ZB], 3
[Galanthus nivalis, L. Escape]
DIOSCOREAE
Tamus communis, L. IA 6
LlLIACEAK
Ruscus aculeatus, L. ZA
[Polygonatum multiflorum, All. (Escape)]
Convallaria maialis, L. I A, IB, 2A
Allium vineale, L. IA ZB (aggr.)
b. bulbiferum, Syme. ZA
c. compactum (Thuill). ZB
'oleraceum, L. ZA
ursinum, L. iA-3, 6
Scilla festalis, Salisb. I A 4, 6
[Ornithogalum urnbellatum, L. (Escape)]
[ nntans, L. (Escape)]
[Lilium Martagon, L. IB, ZA, escape]
'Fritillaria Meleagris, L. I A ZB
[Tulipa silvestris, L. ZA, 3]
Colchicum autumnale, L. I A 2B
[Tofieldia palustris, Huds. IB, error]
Paris quadrifolia, L. IA-ZB, 6
MONOCOTYLEDONES (continued)
JUNCACEAE
Juncus bufonius, L. IA-6
squarrosus, L. IA-ZA
compressus, Jacq. IA, 2A, 2B, 6
inflexus, L. IA-6
effusus, L. i A 6
X inflexus. IB, ZA [IA, ZB, 5, 6]
conglomeratus, L. IA-6
bulbosus, L.
obtusiflorus, Ehrh. IB, 5 [IA ?]
articulatus, L. IA 3, 5, 6
- acutiflorus, Ehrh. IA-3, 5, 6
Juncoides Forsteri (DC.). ZA, J. Babington, 1791
pilosum, O. Kuntze. IA-ZB, 6
silvaticum, O. Kuntze. IA-ZB, 6
campestre, O. Kuntze. IA-6
multiflorum, Druce. IA-ZA [3]
b. congestum, Koch. ZA, &c.
TYPHACEAE
Typha latifolia, L. IA-3, 5, 6
angustifolia, L. IA, ZA, 2B [3], 6
Sparganium erectum, L. IA-3, 5, 6
simplex, Huds. IA-ZB, 5, 6
[ affine (natans), Schnizl. ZA]
AROIDEAE
Arum maculatum, L. iA-4, 6
Acorus Calamus, L. IA-ZB, 6
LEMNACEAE
Lemna trisulca, L. IA-3, 6
minor, L. IA-6
gibba, L. IA-ZB
polyrrhiza, L. IB-ZB, 6
ALISMACEAE
AHsma Plantago, L. IA-3, 5, 6
ranunculoides, L. IB, 2 A
Sagittaria sagittifolia. iA-3, 6 [5]
Butomus umbellatus, L. IA-J, 5, 6
NAIADACEAE
Triglochin palustre, L. in-3, 6
Potamogeton natans, L. ! IA-3, 5, 6
var. prolixus, Koch.
polygonifolius, Pourr. IB, ZA
coloratus, Horn (plantagineus, Du Croz). 5 5
Top Sot. ed. z
alpinus, Balb. IB, 6
heterophyllus, Schreb. ! IB, 5
lucens, L. ! i A ZB, 6
var. acuminatus, F. I A, ZA, ZB, 6
angustifolius, B. & Presl. ! IB
decipiens, Nolle. ! IB, ZB
perfoliatus, L. ! IA-3, 5, 6
crispus, L. ! IA-3, 5, 6
X perfoliatus ! ZA
densus, L. 1 8-3
zosterifolius, Schum. ! IA 3, 5, 6
obtusifolius, Mert. & Koch. ZA
45
A HISTORY OF LEICESTERSHIRE
MONOCOTYLEDONES (continued)
NAIADACEAE (continued)
Potamogeton Friesii, Rupr. ! [IA, 2 A, ZB, 6]
pusillus, L. ! 1 8-3, 6
- pectinatus, L. ! IB-ZB [IA, 5, 6]
interruptus, Ritab. ! IA-2B, 5, 6
Zannichellia palustris, L. IB, ZA, ZB, 5 [IA, 3, 6]
CYPERACEAE
Eleocharis acicularis, Sm. IB, ZA
- palustris, R. Br. IA, ZB, 3, 5, 6
- multicaulis, Sm. ZA
[Scirpus pauciflorus, Lightf. IA, 2 A (extinct)]
- caespitosus, L. ZA, extinct or nearly so f
- fluitans, L. IB [ZA, extinct]
- setaceus, L. IA-ZB
- lacustris, L. iA-3, 5, 6
- silvaticus, L. iA~3, 6
Eriophorum vaginatum, L. ZA
- angustifolium, Roth. ZA
- latifolium, Hoppe. ZA
[Rynchospora alba, Vahl. ZA, extinct]
[Schoenus nigricans, L. ZA, extinct]
[Carex dioica, L. ZA, 3, extinct]
- pulicaris, L. is-[3]
- disticha, Huds. IA-ZB, 5, 6
- teretiuscula, Good. ZA
- paniculata, L. IA-3, 6
- vulpina, L. IA~3, 5, 6
- muricata, L. IA-3, 5, 6
- divulsa, Good. IB, ZA
- stellulata, Good. IB, ZA, 3
- remota, L. IA-3, 6
[ curta, Good. ZA, Pulteney]
- ovalis, Good. iA-3, 5, 6
- acuta, L. iB-3, 6
- Goodenowii, J. Gay. IA-ZB, 6
- flacca, Schreb. iA-6
- pilulifera, L. IB-ZB [3, error]
- verna, Chaix. IA-ZB, 6
- pallescens, L. IA-ZB, 6
- panicea, L. IA-3, 6
- pendula, Huds. IA, ZA [ZB], 3
- strigosa, Huds. IA-ZA, 6
- silvatica, Huds. IA~3, 6
- laevigata, Sm. IB, ZA
- binervis, Sm. IB, ZA [3, extinct]
- 'fulva,' Good. IB, ZA, ZB (probably all Horn-
schuchiana, Bab.)
- flava, L. (aggr.) IB, ZA, 5
[ filiformis, L. ZA (extinct)]
- hirta, L. iA-6
- Pseudo-cyperus, L. IA, ZA, 3, 6
- acutiformis, Ehrh. IA-ZB, 6 [3]
- riparia, Curtis. iA-3, 5, 6
rostra ta, Stokes. IA~3
- vesicaria, L. IA-ZB
GRAMINEAE
[Setaria viridis, Beauv. Casual]
[Phalaris canariensis, L. Casual]
- arundinacea, L. u-3, 5, 6
Anthoxanthemum odoratum, L. iA-6
Alopecurus agrestis, L. 2 A, 3 [i A, IB, 5, 6]
- fulvus, Sm. IB, 2A, 3, 6
- geniculatus, L. iA~3, 5, 6
MONOCOTYLEDONES (continued)
GRAMINEAE (continued)
Alopecurus pratensis, L. IA-6
X geniculatus, L. 2 A, ZB
Milium effusum, L. IA ZA, 3, 6
Phleum pratense, L. IA-6
b. nodosum, L. ZA-3, 6, and c. stoloni-
ferum, Bab.
Agrostis vulgaris, With. IA-6
c. nigra (With.). IB ZB
alba, L. IA-3, 5, 6
canina, L. IA ZB, 5
Calamagrostis epigeios, Roth. IA-ZB, 4, 6
lanceolata, Roth. IA-ZA, 6
Aira caryophyllea, L. IB, ZA, 3
proecox, L. IA 4
Deschampsia caespitosa, Beauv. IA-6
- flexuosa, Trin. I A, IB, ZA, 3
Holcus moll is, L. iA-6
- lanatus, L. IA-6
Trisetum pratense, Pers. IA-6
Avena pubescens, Huds. IA-4
pratensis, L. 2A, ZB, 3 ?
[ strigosa, Schreb. Casual]
[ fatua, L. Casual]
Arrhenatherum avenaceum, Beauv. IA-6
b. nodosum, Reich. ZB
Sieglingia decumbens, Bernh. [IA], IB, 2A [3, 5, 6]
Phragmites communis, Trin. IA-3, 5, 6
Cynosurus cristatus, L. IA-6
[ echinatus, L. Casual]
Koeleria cristata, Pers. IA-4, 6
var. gracilis (Pers.). 2B
Molinia varia, Schrank. IA-2A
Catabrosa aquatica, Beauv. IA~3, 5, 6
Melica nutans, L. (M. uniflora, Retz.). IA-2A, 6
Dactylis glomerata, L. IA-6
Briza media, L. IA 6
Poa annua, L. IA-6
pratensis, L. iA-6
b. subcaerulea (Sm.). 2A ?
c. angustifolia (L.). 2A, 2B i
d. strigosa, Gaud. [IB, 2A]
compressa, L. IA-2B, 6
- nemoralis, L. [IA, IB], 2 A [ZB]
- trivialis, L. IA 6
Glyceria fluitans, R. Br. iA-6
- plicata, Fr. IA-2B, 6
var. pedicellata (Towns.). 2A, 2B, 6 (= flui-
tans X plicata)
aquatica, Sm. IA~3, 5, 6
- distans, Wahlenb. [iA-2B. Casual]
Festuca rigida, Kunth. IA~3, 6
myuros, L. ZA, ZB
- sciruroides, Roth. IA-ZB, 4, 6
- ovina, L. IA-6
rubra, L. iA-3, 5, 6
var. fallax, Thuill. 2B (?)
elatior, L. iA-4, 6
var. pratensis, Huds. IA-6
f. pseudo-loliacea. IA, ZB, 6
X Lolium perenne f
arundinacea, Schreb. ZB
Bromus giganteus, L. IA-3, 5, 6
- ramosus, Huds. a. serotinus (Benek.). i A ~3, 5, 6
var. inermis. 2A
- erectus, Huds (IA, 2x. Casual]. 2B, 3, 4, 6
sterilis, L. IA 6
46
BOTANY
MONOCOTYLEDONES (continued)
GRAMINEAE (continued)
[Bromus secalinus, L. ZA. Casual]
racemosus, L. ? IA, 2 A* ? [iA-6]
commutatus, Schrad. 2 A [IA, IB, 2B, 5, 6]
mollis, L. i A 6.
b. glabratus, Doell.
Brachypodium gracile, Beauv. IA-3, 5, 6
pinnatum, Beauv. I A, 28-4, 6
b. pubescens, Syme. 2B, 4
Lolium perenne, L. iA-6
[var. italicum, Braun. Escape]
Agropyron caninum, Beauv. IA-2A [3], 6
MONOCOTYLEDONES (continued')
GRAMINEAE (continued}
Agropyron repens, Beauv. I A 6
var. barbatum 2B
Nardus stricta, L. IB, 2 A [IA, 3]
Hordeum nodosum. iA-6
murinum, L. IA-6
GYMNOSPERMIA
CoNIFERAE
[Taxus baccata, L. Planted]
Pinus silvestris, L. 2A [iA-6. Planted]
CRYPTOGAMIA VASCULARIA
PTERIDOPHYTA
FlLICES
Pteris aquilina, L. I A 6
Blechnum spicant, With. IA-ZB, 6
Asplenium Adiantum-nigrum, L. [IA-ZA, 6]
[ viride, Huds. 2A. Error]
- Trichomanes, L. IB-ZB [3]
- Ruta-muraria, L. IA-ZB [3, 6]
Athyrium Filix-foemina, Roth. IA-ZA, 3, 6
'Ceterach officinarum, Willd. 2A
Phylitis Scolopendrium, Greene. IA-3, 5, 6
Cystopteris fragilis, Bernh. IA-IB. Extinct?
Polystichum lobatum, Presl. IA-ZB
b. aculeatum, Syme. IA-2B, 6
[ angulare, Presl. IA-2A]
[Lastraea Thelypteris, Presl. 3. Extinct]
Oreopteris, Presl. IA-ZA
Filix-mas, Presl. IA-6
spinulosa, Presl. IA ZB [3], 6
dilatata, Presl. IA-3, 6
Polypodium vulgare, L. IA-3, 5, 6
[Osmunda regalis, L. 2A. Extinct]
PTERIDOPHYTA (continued)
FILICES (continued)
Ophioglossum vulgatum, L. IA-3,
Botrychium Lunaria, Sw. 1A-2B
EQUISETACEAE
Equisetum maximum, Lam. I A, 2A-3, 6
arvense, L. IA-6
silvaticum, L. IB, 2A
palustre, L. IB, 2B [IA, 2 A, 5, 6]
limosum, Sm. I A 3, 5, 6
var. fluviatile (L) IB, 2B, 6
hyemale, L. IB, 2 A
LYCOPODIACEAE
[Lycopodium Selago, L. 2A. Extinct]
[ inundatum, L. 2A. Extinct]
- clavatum, L. ZA
MARSILEACEAB
Pilularia globulifera, L. IB
CRYPTOGAMIA CELLULARIA
MUSCINEAE
MUSCI (Mosses)
There are 567 species and sub-species of true mosses in Dixon's 2nd edition Handbook of
British Mosses. The appended list contains 217 species and sub-species found in Leicestershire
and includes 35 additions to the one in the Flora of 1886. Nottinghamshire has 207 known
species and sub-species, so that as regards ' native ' flowering plants and mosses the number is
remarkably similar, a difference numerically of 8 species only. Lincolnshire is known to have
196 species and sub-species of mosses; Northants 225. Warwickshire is known to have some
20 or more species than Leicestershire ; possibly this excess is due to more thorough search. Derby-
shire is far richer in mosses, and has had much more attention from bryologists than any of the
other counties mentioned. There are 40 Warnstorfian species of Sphagnum in Britain, 9 in
Leicestershire, 10 in Lincolnshire, n in Nottinghamshire, 4 only in Northamptonshire; Derby-
shire has many more, and further north-westwards there are 30 in Lancashire, a similar number
47
A HISTORY OF LEICESTERSHIRE
being found in northern England and Wales, where the conditions are so much more favourable for
these moisture-loving peat-mosses.
[Sphagnum acutifolium, Ehrh. IA, 2 A, IB (F/. L.
and Journ. But. Aug. 1905)]
[ rubellum, Wils. 2A : Charmaood Forest (Journ.
But. 1905)]
[ squarrosum, Pen. ZA : Whltwick Rocks, &c.,
Bloxam]
[ cuspidatum, Ehrh. 2A : Beacon Hill; Bloxam,
Mott.]
recurvum, R. and W.
var. mucronatum, Warnst. ZA : High
SAarflfy ; Spring Hill; July, 1906
molluscum, Bruch. ZA : Spring Hill; July, 1906
lubsecundum, Limp. ZA : Charnwood Heath,
July, 1906
rufescens, Warnst. 2A : SpringHill; Charnwood
Heath; July, 1906
- cymbifolium, Warnst. ZA : Buddon Wood; High
Sharpley ; Spring Hi/I ; July, 1906
[ cymbifolium, Ehrh. Frequent. (Fl. L. and
Journ. Sot. 1905)]
Tetraphis pellucida, Hedw. IA-ZA
Catharinea undulata, Web. and Mohr. IA-3
Polytrichum nanum, Neck. IB, ZA
abides, Hedw. IA-ZA
urnigerum, L. ZA
piliferum, Schreb. IB, ZA
juniperinum, Willd. IA-ZA
formosum, Hedw. IB-2B, 5
- commune, L. IA-ZB
Archidium alternifolium, Schimp. IB, ZA
Pleuridium axillare, Lindb. IB, ZA, 6
- subulatum, Rab. IA-ZA, 6
- alternifolium, Rab. IB, ZA
Ditrichum homomallum, Hampe. IB
- flexicaule, Hampe. I A
Ceratodon purpureus, Brid. IA-6
Dichodontium pellucidum, Schimp. IA-ZA
[Dicranoweisia crispula, Lindb. [IA Bloxam, ZA
Coleman]]
- cirrata, Lindb. IB-ZB
Dicranella heteromalla, Schimp. IA-J, 6
cerviculata, Schimp. IB, ZA, 3
secunda, Lindb. I A, IB
rufescens, Schimp. 2 A
varia, Schimp. IA-ZB, 6
Schreberi, Schimp. ZA
var. elata, Schimp. ZB
Campylopus flexuosus, Brid. IA-ZA
var. paradoxus, Husn. ZA (1906)
'pyriformis, Brid. IB, ZA, ZB
Dicranum Bonjeani, De Not. IB ZB
scoparium, Hedw. I A ZB, 6
var. spadiceum, Boul. ZA (1906)
majus, Turn. IB, ZA
montanum, Hedw. ZA
Leucobryum glaucum, Schimp. ZA
Fissidens exilis, Hedw. IB ZB, 6
- viridulus, Wils. IA-3
pusillus, Wils. ZA
incurvus, Starke. 2 A, ZB
bryoides, Hedw. IA-3, 6
adiantoides, Hedw. IB-ZB
- taxifolius, Hedw. IA-ZB, 6
Grimmia apocarpa, Hedw. I A, ZA, ZB
var. rivularis, W. and M. ZA
48
Grimmia pulvinata, Sm. iA-6
trichophylla, Grev. ZA
decipiens, Lindb. IB
commutata, Hub. ZA
Rhacomitrium aciculare, Brid. IB, ZA
protensum, Braun. ZA
fasciculare, Brid. ZA
heterostichum, Brid. IB, ZA
lanuginosum, Brid. ZA
canescens, Brid. ZA
Ptychomitrium polyphyllum, Ftlrnr. ZA
Hedwigia ciliata, Ehrh. ZA
Acaulon muticum, C. M. IB, ZA
Phascum cuspidatum, Schreb. I A- 4.
Pottia bryoides, Mitt. IA-ZB
truncatula, Lindb. I A 4
'intermedia, Fttrnr. IB-ZB, 6
minutula, Ftlrnr. IB ZB
- lanceolata, C. M IA-ZA, ZB
Tortula pusilla, Mitt. IB-ZB
lamellata, Lindb. ZB
rigida, Schrad. IA ZB, 6
ambigua, Angstr. I A, ZA, ZB
aloides, De Not. IA, ZB
muralis, Hedw. IA-6
var. rupestris, Wils. ZA, ZB, 4
subulata, Hedw. IA ZB
*angustata, Wils. ZB
mutica, Lindb. IA-ZB, 6
laevipila, Schwaeg. IA-6
intermedia, Berk. IA ZB
ruralis, Ehrh. IA, ZA, ZB, 6
papillosa, Wils. ZB, 6
Barbula lurida, Lindb. ZB
rubella, Mitt. IA, 2A, 2B
tophacea, Mitt. IB-ZB
fallax, Hedw. IA-ZB
var. brevifolia, Schultz. ZB
cylindrica, Schimp. I A, ZA-3, 6
'vinealis, Brid. ZA, ZB (?)
sinuosa, Braithw. ZA, ZB
Hornschuchiana, Schultz. IB
revoluta, Brid. ZA, ZB, 6
convoluta, Hedw. IA ZB
unguiculata, Hedw. IA-3, 5, 6
Leptodontium flexifolium, Hampe ? [ I B], ZA ?
Weisia crispa, Mitt. I A ZB
var. aciculata, Braithw. ZB
rostellata, Lindb. ZA
squarrosa, C. M. IB-ZB
microstoma, C. M. I B-2A
viridula, Hedw. IA-ZB
Trichostomum tortuosum (L.), Dixon. IA
Cinclidotus fontinaloides, P. Beauv. ZA
Encalypta vulgaris, Hedw. IA-ZB, 6
streptocarpa, Hedw. IA, IB or ZA = nr. Hinckley
Zygodon viridissimus, R. Br. IZA, ZB, 6
Ulota crispa, Brid. IB, 2A '
var. intermedia (Schimp.), Braithw. 6
Orthotrichum anomalum, HedW;.
{$ saxatile, Milde. IA ZB
cupulatum, Hoffin. IB ZB \
/J nudum, Braithw. 2B\
leiocarpum, B. and S. IB, 2A\
Lyellii, H. and T. IB, 2 A, 6\
BOTANY
Orthotrichum affine, Schrad. IA-ZB, 6
Sprucei, Mont. IB, ZB
[ stramineum, Hornsch. 2BJ
tenellum, Bruch. ZB
pulchellum, Sm. 2A
diaphanum, Schrad. 18-3, 6
Schistostega osmundacea, Mohr. ZA (Coleman)
Ephemerum serratum, Hampe. I A, 2A
Physcomitrella patens, B. & S. IB-ZB, 6
Physcomitrium pyriforme, Brid. IB-J, 6
Funaria fascicularis, Schimp. ZA
hygrometrica, L. I A, 6
Aulacomnium palustre, Schwaegr. IA-2A
androgynum, Schwaegr. IA-3
Bartramia ithyphylla, Brid. ZA. Extinct
pomiformis, Hedw. IB, ZA
Philonotis fontana, Brid. IA-ZB
Breutelia arcuata, Schimp. IA (Coleman)
Leptobryum pyriforme, Wils. [IA-ZB, alien]
Webera nutans, Hedw. IA-ZB
annotina, Schwaegr. IA, IB
carnea, Schimp. 18-3, 6
albicans, Schimp. ZA-3, 6
Bryum pendulum, Schimp. IA [IB], 4
inclinatum, Bland. IA-ZA
pallens, Sw. I A, IB, ZB
[ turbinatum, Schwaegr. IA, Coleman]
"bimum, Schreb. IA-ZB
intermedium, Brid. ZA
caespiticum, L. IA-ZB
capillare, L. IA-3
erythrocarpum, Schwaegr. ZA
atropurpureum, W. and M. IB, ZB
murale, Wils. ZB
alpinum, L. ZA (Bloxam)
argenteum, L. IA-3
var. lanatum, B. & S. ZB
roseum, Schreb. IA-ZA, 6
Mnium affine, Bland. ZA
ft datum. ZB (Reader, 1907)
cuspidatum, Hedw. IA-ZA
rostra turn, Schrad. IA-ZB
undulatum, L. iA-3, 6
hornum, L. IA-3
serratum, Schrad. IB
stellare, Reich. IB (Coleman)
punctatum, L. IA-3
Fontinalis antipyretica, L. I A ZB
Cryphaea heteromalla, Mohr. IA, IB (Coleman), ZB,
ZA, 6
Neckera crispa, Hedw. [IA], 2A (Pulteney).
Extinct
complanata, L. IA 2B, 6
pumila, Hedw. IB, ZA
Homalia trichomanoides, Brid. IA-3, 6
Pterygophyllum lucens, Brid. I A, IB, ZA
Leucodon sciuroides, Schwaegr. IA ZB, 6
Pterogonium gracile, Sw. ZA (Pulteney)
Antitrichia curtipendula, Brid. IB, ZA
Porotrichum alopecurum, Mitt. IA ZB, 6
Leskea polycarpa, Ehrh. IA-ZB, 6
Anomodon viticulosus, H. & T. I A ZA, 6
Heterocladium heteropterum, B. & S. ZA
Thuidium tamariscinum, B. & S. IA-ZB
recognitum, Lindb. 2A, 2B, 6
Climacium dendroides, L. IA 3
Pylaisia polyantha, B. & S. ZB
Camptothecium sericeum (L.). iA-6
lutescens, B. & S. IA-ZB
Brachythecium glareosum, B. & S. ZA, ZB
albicans, B. & S. IB-ZB
salebrosum, B. & S. ZA
var. palustre, Schimp. IB, ZA, ZB
rutabulum, B. & S. iA-6
rivulare, B. & S. ZA, 2B
var. chrysophyllum, Bagnall. ZB
velutinum, B. & S. iA-3
populeum, B. & S. IA-ZB, 6
plumosum, B. & S. IB, ZA
caespitosum, Dixon. ZA, ZB, 6
purum, Dixon. iA-6
Eurnynchium piliferum, B. & S. iA-3, 6
speciosum, Schimp.
praelongum, Hobk. IA-6
- Swartzii, Hobk. ZA, ZB
tenellum, Milde. 5, 6
myosuroides, Schimp. IB ZB
- myurum, Dixon. IA-2A, 3, 6
- striatum, B. & S. IA-ZB, 6
[ striatulum, B. & S. ZA]
- rusciforme, Milde. IA-3
- murale, Milde. IB-ZB, 6
confertum, Milde. IA-ZA
Plagiothecium elegans, Sull. IB, ZA
- denticulatum, B. & S. IA-3
silvaticum, B. & S. IA-ZB
undulatum, B. & S. IA-ZA
Amblystegium serpens, B. & S. IA-3
varium, Lindb. ZA, ZB
- irriguum, B. & S. ZA, ZB
filicinum, De Not. IA-ZB, 6
var. Vallisclausae, Dixon. ZA
Hypnum riparium, L. IB-ZB
polygamum, Schimp. ZA
stellatum, Schreb. IA, ZA, ZB
var. protensum, Rohl. ZB
chrysophyllum, Brid. I A ZB
aduncum, Hedw. IB-ZB
Group Kneiffii, Ren. IB ZB
fluitans, L. IA-ZB.
var. falcatum, Schimp. ZA. zo July, 1906.
' a very abnormal form ..." Wheldon
in litt.
exannulatum, Climb.
var. stenophylloides, Ren. ZA. z I July,
1906, teste J. A. Wheldon
commutatum, Hedw. IA, ZA, ZB, 6
cupressiforme, L. iA-3
var. tectorum, Brid. ZA, ZB
var. ericetorum, B. & S. IB
var. resupinatum, Schimp. I A ZB, 6
var. filiforme, Brid. IB, ZB, 6
Patientiae, Lindb. IB, ZA
molluscum, Hedw. IA ZB
palustre, Huds. I A ZB
cordifolium, Hedw. IA-ZB
cuspidatum, L. IA 3, 6
Schreberi, Willd. IA-ZA
Hylocomium splendens, B. & S. IA-ZB, 6
brevirostre, B. & S. IB, Bloxam ; ZA, J. F.
Hollings
loreum, B. & S. IB, ZA, 6
squarrosum, B. & S. IA~4, 6
triquetrum, B. & S. IA~4, 6
49
A HISTORY OF LEICESTERSHIRE
HEP ATICAE
(Liverworts and Scale Mosses)
The total number of liverworts recorded for Britain is 225. Leicestershire has 51, omitting
Sphaerocarpus and Dumortiera ; the former is extinct and the latter erroneously recorded. Notting-
hamshire has 38, including those which are extinct. Lincolnshire 37, and i doubtful. Warwick-
shire 50. Derbyshire 93. Northamptonshire liverworts are not yet recorded. Reboulia hemi-
spherica found at Breedon, 17 April, 1903, had not been recorded since Pulteney's vague record.
Frullania Tamarisci, Dumort. IB, ZA
- dilatata, Dumort. I A- 3
Lejeunia serpyllifolia, Lib. IB, 2 A
Rndula complanata, Dumort. IA-3, 6
Porella platyphylla, Dill. IA-ZB, 6
Blepharozia ciliaris, Dumort. IB, ZA
Lcpidozia reptans, Dumort. IB, ZA
- setacea (Web.). iB,.Bloxam.
Kantia trichomanis (Dicks.). I A- 3
- Sprengelii (Mart.). IB, ZA (Horwood, 1905)
arguta, Lindb. 2A
Cephalozia bicuspidata, Dumort. IA-ZA
Scapania compacta, Dumort. 2A
- nemorosa, Dumort. IB, 2 A
- irrigua, Dumort. ZA
- undulat.1, Dumort. I A, IB, ZA
Diplophyllum albicans, Dumort. IB, ZA
Lophocolea bidentata, Dumort. IA~3, 6
cuspidata, Limpr. 2A
- heterophylla, Dumort. IA-3, 6
Chiloscyphus polyanthos, Dumort. IB, ZB, 6
Mylia anomala, Gray. ZA
Pl.igiochila asplenioides, Dumort. IA-ZB
Jungermania inflata, Huds. IA, ZA
- sphaerocarpa, Hook. ZA. Oakley Wood (F. T.
Mott, 1898)
Flocrkii, Web. & Mohr. IB, ZA
Jungermania barbata, Schreb. IB, ZA
gracilis, Scheich. IB, ZA
incisa, Schrad. IB
- bicrenata, Schmid. IB, ZA
ventricosa, Dicks. IB, ZA
crenulata, Sm. IB, ZA
gracillima, Sm. ZA
Nardia scalaris, Gray. IB, ZA
- emarginata, Gray. ZA
Fossombronia pusilla, Dumort. IA ZA, 6
Blasia pusilla, L. ZA
Fellia epiphylla, Corda. iA-3
calycina, Nees. IB ZB, 6
Aneura multifid.i, Dumort. IB-ZB
pinguis, Dumort. I A ZA
Metzgeria furcata, Dumort. IA-3, 6
Marchantia polymorpha, L. IB ZB
Conocephalus conicus, Dumort. IA-3, 5, 6
Reboulia hemispherica, Raddi. IA [ZA, Pulteney]
Lunularia cruciata, Dumort. ZA, ZB, 6
[Dumortiera hirsuta (Sw.) ZA, error]
[Sphaerocarpus terrestris, Mich. IB]
Riccia glauca, L. IA ZA
- crystallina, L. ZA (F. T. Mott, August 1894)
Ricciella fluitans (L.). IA (F.T.Mott). iB(Coleman)
Ricciocarpus natans (L.). ZA (F. T. Mott)
Anthoceros punctatus, L. IB, Bloxam ; ZA, Pulteney
CHAREAE
Chara vulgaris, L. IB-ZB
var. longibracteata, Ktitz
var. papillata, Wallr.
- hispida, L. I A, IB
CHARACEAE
C H A R E A E continued
Chara fragilis, Desv. IB-ZB
NlTELLEAE
Nitella opaca, Agard. 16-3
ALGAE
In the Flora of Leicestershire, 1886, Mr. F. Bates published a most valuable account of the Fresh
Water Algae, several of the species being new to science. The following list of 242 species is
arranged in the order of G. F. West's British Fresh Water Algae. Doubtful forms are omitted, and
those within square brackets require confirmation.
A few additions, including diatoms, have been named by Mr. Wm. West, to whom the writer
is much indebted.
RHODOPHYCEAE
Batrachospermum moniliforme, Roth.
- atrum (Dillw.)
CHLOROPHYCEAE
Oedogonium cryptoporum, Wittr.
var. vulgare, Wittr.
Vancherii (Le Cl.)
CHLOROPHYCEAE (continued)
Oedogonium platygynum, Wittr.
Rothii (Le Cl.)
undulatum (Breb.) IB, Moira, 1906, K. & K. M.
Fisher
Braunii, Kutz
ciliatum (Hass.)
Pringsheimii, Cram.
- excisum, Wittr. and L.
BOTANY
CHLOROPHYCEAE (continued)
OeJogonium Areschougii (Wittr.)
capilliforme (Kutz.)
cardiacum (Hass.)
- oelandicum, Wittr. (Fl. L. p. 31 2)
Bernardense, Bates. (Fl. L. p. 31 3)
Bulbochaete mirabilis, Wittr.
Coleochaete scutata, Breb.
Herposteiron confervicola, Nag.
Ulothrix moniliformis, Katz.
- zonata (Web et M.), Katz.
subtilis (Katz.) 2A, Spring Hill, 1 906
var. variabilis (Kutz.)
var. tenerrima (Kutz.). ZA, Charmuood
Heath; Spring Hill; IB, Moira ; 1906,
K. & K. M. Fisher
tenuis (Klltz.)
moniliforrais (Kdtz.)
zonata (Web. et M.)
Chaetophora pisiformis (Roth.)
tuberculosa (Roth.)
elegans (Roth.)
incrassata (Huds.), Hazen
Myxonema nanum (Dillw.)
fastigiatum (Katz.)
tenue (Ag.)
Draparnaudia glomerata (Vauch.), Ag. (Draparnaldia)
plumosa (Vauch.), Ag.
Microthamnion striatissimum, Rabenh.
Kutzingianum, Nag.
Trentepohlia aurea (L.), Mart.
Monostroma bullosa (Roth.), Wittr.
Enteromorpha intestinaiis (L.)
Prasiola parietina (Vauch.), Wille. (Fl. L. 315)
2A, Temple Hill; 1906
- crispa (Lightf.). (Fl. L. 315).
Microspora vulgaris, Rabenh.
fugacissima (Roth.)
Rhizoclonium hieroglyphicum, Katz.
Cladophora crispata (Roth.)
- fracta, Kfltz.
- glomerata (L.), Kutz.
Vaucheria sessilis (Vauch.), DC.
- aversa, Hass.
- geminata (Vauch.), DC. (Bates in Fl. L. 309.)
Div. 2B, Scalford Dyke, April, 1903
- terrestris, Lyngb.
Mougeotia genuflexa (Dillw.)
- nummuloides, Hass.
- parvula, Hass.
- viridis (Katz.)
Zygnema cruciatum (Vauch.)
- Vaucherii, Ag.
ericetorum (Katz.). I IA, High Sharpley, &c., 1886
(Bates), abundant 1906
Spirogyra tenuissima (Hass.)
inflata (Vauch.)
Weberi, Katz.
insignis (Hass.)
gracilis (Hass.)
var. flavescens (Hass.)
communis (Hass.)
porticalis (Vauch.)
- condensata (Vauch.)
- velata, Nordst.
- calospora, Cleve
- nitida (Dillw.)
Gonatozygon Ralfsii, De Bary
CHLOROPHYCEAE (continued)
Spirotaenia condensata, Breb.
Mesotaenium mirificum, Arch.
macrococcum (Kutz.)
violascens, De Bary
Endlicherianum, Nag.
Cylindrocystis Brebissonii, Menegh. (Bates in Fl. L.
p. 335, 1886.). Charmuood Heath; Spring
Hill, 1906
crassa, De Bary
Netrium Digitus (Ehrenb.), Itzigsh and Rothe
Penium Navicula, Breb.
Closterium macilentum, Breb.
angustum, Hantsch
Jenneri, Ralfs
Venus, Kutz.
Leibleinii, Kutz.
moniliferum (Bory)
Ehrenlerghii, Menegh.
acerosum (Schrank)
Lunula (Muller). 2A (Bates in Fl. L. p. 333
(1886) ; 3, Muston Gone, April, 1903
Cornu, Ehrenb.
aciculare, Tuffen West
costatum, Corda
- striolatum, Ehrenb.
- intermedium, Ralfs
- lineatum, Ehrenb.
- juncidum, Ralfs
- pronoun, Breb.
acutum (Lyngb.)
KUtzingii, Breb.
- rostratum, Ehrenb.
- setaceum, Ehrenb.
Pleurotaenium Ehrenbergii (Breb.)
Trabecula (Ehrenb.). IB, Moira, 1906 ; K. &
K. M. Fisher
truncatum (Breb.)
Tetmemorus Brebissonii (Menegh.)
granulatus (Breb.)
laevis (Kutz.)
Euastrum oblongum (Grev.)
- didelta (Turp.)
ansatum, Ralfs
- elegans (Breb.) and forma declivis, Reinsch.
- binale (Turp.)
Micrasterias rotata (Grev.).
denticulata, Breb.
Cosmarium calcareum, Wittr.
- melanosporum, Archer
Cucumis, Corda
- coelatum, Ralfs
- ornatum, Ralfs
- reniforme (Ralfs)
margaritiferum (Turp.).
undulatum, Corda
bioculatum, Breb.
Corbula, Breb.
Turpinii, Breb.
Kjelmanii, Wille
punctulatum, Breb.
humile (Gay)
var. substriatum (Nordet). IB, Moira, 1906,
K. Fisher
Boeckii, Wille (Bates in Fl. L. p. 329 (1886).
Ulverscroft, 1906
nitidulum, De Not.
notabile, Breb.
A HISTORY OF LEICESTERSHIRE
CHLOROPHYCEAE (continued)
Cosmarium tetraophthalmum (Kfltz.)
- Botrytis (Bory). IB, 2 A (common)
- ochthodes, Nordst.
- subspeciosum, Nordst.
- biretum, Brib.
crenatum, Ralfs
abruptum, Lund.
pygmaeum, Arch.
- Meneghinii, Br6b. Bates in Fl. L. (1886).
Ulverscnft, 1906
laeve, Rabenh. M oira ; Spring Hill; 1906
var. septentrionale, Wille. Bates in FL L.
(1886)
Staurastrum mucronatum, Ralfs
Dickiei, Ralfs
Avicula, Brb.
dispar, Brb.
- Bribissonii, Archer
- furcatum (Ehrenb.)
- hirsutum (Ehrenb.)
- orbiculare (Ehrenb.)
margaritaceum (Ehrenb.)
Arthrodesmus convergens, Ehrenb.
Spaerozosma excavatum, Ralfs
Hyalotheca dissiliens (Sm.)
Sphaerella lacustris (Girod), Wittr.
Gonium pectorale, (Mull.)
Pandorina morum (Mull.)
Eudorina elegans, Ehrenb.
Volvox globator (L.)
Characium ornithocephalum, A. Br.
Pleurococcus vulg.iris, Menegh.
[ angulosus (Corda)]
Urococcus insignis (Hass.), Kutz. ZA, Spring Hill, 1 906
Pediastrum Boryanum (Turp.)
var. granulatum (Kutz.)
duplex, Mcyen
- tetras (Ehrenb.)
Coelastrum microporum, Nag.
Scenedesmus antennatus, Breb.
obliquus (Turp.)
Ankistrodesmus falc.itus (Corda), Ralfs
Nephrocytium Agardhianum, Nag. (inclus. N. Nagelii)
Eremosphaera viridis, De Bary. Bates in Fl. L.
p. 300 (1886). Charnwood Heath, 1906
Tetraedron regulare, Ktltz.
- enorme (Ralfs)
Palmella mucosa, Kutz.
Schizochlamys gelatinosa, A. Br.
Tetraspora gelatinosa (Vauch.)
lubrica (Roth.)
Apiocystis Brauniana, Nag.
[Palmodictyon viride, Kutz.
HETEROKONTAE
Mischococcus confervicola, Nag.
Chlorobotrys regularis (West), Bohlin. ZA, Spring
Hill, 1906
Tribonema bombycina (Ag.), Derb. & Sol.
Botrydium granulatum (L.), Grev.
BACILLARIEAE
(DIATOMACEAE)
Diatoma vulgare, Bory. ZA : Spring Hill, 1906
Fragilaria capucina, Desmaz. ZA : Vherscroft, 1906
BACILLARIEAE (continued)
(DIATOMACEAE continued)
Synedra Ulna (Nitzsch). ZA : Grace Dieu, 1906
Ceratoneis Arcus (Ehrenb.) ( = Eunotia Arcus, W.
Sm.) var. minor, V.H. IB: Moira, 1906,
K. & K. M. Fisher
Eunotia major (W. Sm.). ZA : Charnwood Heath ;
Spring Hill, 1 906
lunaris (Ehrenb.). ZA : Charnwood Heath ; Spring
Hill, 1906. 3 : Muston, April, 1903
gracilis (Ehrenb.). ZA : Charnwood Heath ; Spring.
Hill, 1906
Achnanthes parvula, Ktltz. 2A : Spring Hill, 1906
exilis, Kutz. ZA : Grace Dieu ; Charnwood Heath ;
Ulverscroft, 1906. ZB : Scalford Dyke, 1903
microcephala (Ktttz.). ZA : Spring Hill, 1906
Cocconeis Pediculus, Ehrenb. 3 : Croxton Kerrial,
1906
Placentula, Ehrenb. 2 A : Ulverscroft, 1906
Navicula major, Kutz. ZA : Charnwood Heath, 1906
viridis, Kutz. ZA : Grace Dieu ; Spring Hill, 1906
lata, Bre'b. ZA : Charnwood Heath, 1 906
Brebisonii, Kutz. ZA : Chsrnwood Heath, 1906
mesolepta, Ehrenb. ZA : Charnwood Heath, 1906;
Spring Hill, 1906. 3 : Muston Gone, April,
1903
dicephala, Ehrenb. I A : Breedon Cloud Wood,
April, 1903
exilis (Kutz.). I A : Breedon Cloud Wood, April,
1903 ; IB : Moira, 1906, K. & K. M. Fisher.
ZA : Grace Dieu, 1906
- Amphisboema, Bory. 2 A : Ulverscroft, 1906
Goraphonema acuminatum, Ehrenb. ZA : Charnwood
Heath, 1906
- intricatum, Kutz. ZB : Scalford Dyke, April, 1903
olivaceum (Lyngb.). I B : Moira, 1 906, K. &
K. M. Fisher
Epithemia Sorex, Kutz. ZA : Vherscroft, 1906
Nitzschia obtusa, W. Sm. IB: Moira, 1906, K. &
K. M. Fisher
Palea (Ktttz.). IB: Moira, 1906, K. & K. M.
Fisher. ZA : Ulverscroft, 1906
Surirella ovalis, Br6b. var. pinnata (W. Sm.). IB:
Moira, 1906, K. & K. M. Fisher
MYXOPHYCEAE
Tolypothrix lanata (Desv.)
Nostoc muscorum, Ag.
coeruleum, Lyngb.
verrucosum, Vauch.
sphaericum, Vauch.
Anabaena Flos-aquae (Lyngb.)
- oscillariodes, Bory
- Smithii (Thw.)
Thwaitesii (Ralf.)
nitellicola, Bates in Fl. L. p. 330
Aphanizomenon Flos-aquae (L.)
Cylindrospermum stagnale (Kutz.)
majus, Ktitz.
[Microcoleus chthonoplastes, Thuret. and M terrestris,
Desmaz.]
Lyngbya ochracea (Ktttz.)
Phormidium inundatum, Kutz.
Retzii (Ag.)
Oscillatoria limosa, Ag.
BOTANY
MYXOPHYCEAE (continue*)
Oscillatoria tenuis, Ag.
amphibia, Ag.
aerugescens, Drumm.
splendida, Grev.
chalybea, Mertens
Spirulina major, Kiitz.
Gloeotrichia pisum (Ag.)
MYXOPHYCEAE (continued)
Gloeotrichia natans (Hedw.)
Merismopedia glauca (Ehrenb.)
Coelosphaerium Kutzinghianum, Nag.
Porphyridium cruentum (Ag.)
Chroococcus cohaerens (Brb.)
pallidus, Nag. IB : Moira, 1906, K. & K. M.
Fisher
LICHENES
(Lichens)
The lichens of Charnwood Forest and the Twycross district were mostly found by
Mr. Bloxam. His localities were published by Leighton & Crombie ; excepting those which now
have his name within brackets they rest solely on his authority. The best list of lichens is to be
found in White's Gazetteer (1863), drawn up by Coleman. 9
Collema pulposum, Ach. ZA
furvum, Ach. [ZA]
flaccidum, Ach. ZA
glaucescens, Hoffm. ZA
cheileum, Ach. ZB
crispum, Ach. IB, ZA, ZB
[ cristatum, Hoffm. IB, ZA]
[ fasciculare, Ach. IA]
Collemodium biatorinum, Nyl. 2A
Leptogium lacerum, Ach. IA, ZA
'pulvinatum, Nyl. IB
tremelloides, Gray f IB
Sphinctrina anglica, Nyl. IB
Calicium melanophaeum, Ach. ft ferrugineum,
Schaer. I B
hyperellum, Ach. IB, ZB
curtum, Turn. & Borr. IB-ZB
trachelinum, Ach. ZA
chrysocephalum, Ach. ZA
Trachylia tympanella, Fr. IB, ZA
stigonella, Fr. IB
[Sphaerophorus coralloides, Pers. IB, ZA]
fragilis, Ach. IB (Bloxam) Charnwood F.
(Crombie)
Baeomyces rufus, DC. IB, ZA
roseus, Pers. IB (Bloxam)
aeruginosus, DC. ZA
[Stereocaulon coralloides, Fr. 2 A]
Cladonia alcicornis, FlOrke ZA
pyxidata, Fr. I A 3, 6
ft pocillum, Fr. ZA
pityrea, Florke, ZA
fimbriata, Fr. IB
f. macra, Crombie. ZA
"fibula, Nyl.
ft subcornuta, Nyl. ZA
f. tortuosa, Nyl. ZA
gracilis, Hoffm. IB, ZA
f. aspera, Fl6rke. 2 A
cornuta, Fr. IB
cervicornis, Schaer. ZA
furcata, Hoffm. IA-ZB
ft corymbosa, Nyl. ZA
y spinosa, Hook. IB
"racemosa, Nyl. f. recurva, FlOrke. ZA
Cladonia pungens, FlOrke. 2A
*muricata, Cromb. ZA
squamosa, Hoffm. IA-ZB
*adspersa, Nyl. ZA
caespiticia, FlOrke. 2A
delicata, Florke. IB (Bloxam in Fl. L.)
coccifera, Schaer. I B, 2A
macilenta, Hoffm. ZA, ZB
f. scolecina, Nyl. IB
var. coronata, Nyl. ZA
var. ostreata, Nyl. ZA
Florkeana, Fr. f. trachypoda, Nyl. IB
Cladina rangiferina, Nyl. IB, ZA
silvatica, Nyl. IB, 2 A
f. portentosa, Leight. ZA
var. alpestris, Nyl. ZA
f. pumila, Leight. 2A
uncialis, Nyl. IB, 2 A
Ramalina farinacea, Ach. IA~3, 6
fraxinea, Ach. IA-3, 6
fastigiata, Ach, ZA ZB, 6
calicaris, Nyl. IB, 2B, 6
pollinaria, Ach. IB, ZB, 6
- evernioides, Nyl. IB
Usnea florida, Ach. IB
hirta, Hoffm. IB, ZB, 6
- dasypoga, Nyl. IB, ZA
ceratina, Ach. IB
Alectoria jubata, Nyl. 2A
Cetraria aculeata, Fr. IB, 2A
f. hispida, Cromb. IB, ZA
[Platisma sepincola, Nyl. IB (Bloxam), (ulophyllum ?) 1
- ulophyllum, Nyl. IB
- difiusum, Nyl. IB
- glaucum, Nyl. IB, ZA, 6
Evernia prunastri, Ach. IA-4, 6
furfuracea, Fr. IB-ZB
f. scobicina, Nyl. IB, ZB
Parmelia perlata, Ach. IA-3
- laevigata, Ach. ZA
- tiliacea, Ach. IB (Bloxam), ZB Horwood
saxatilis, Ach. iA~3, 6
f. furfuracea, Schaer. ZA, ZB
sulcata, Tayl. ZA, ZB, 6
Borreri, Turn. IB-ZB, 6
* It is customary to place the lichens in a separate class, but the British forms will be placed as a family
of the Ascomycetes, one of the great sub-classes of the fungi, unless any of them should be found to belong to
another sub-class.
53
A HISTORY OF LEICESTERSHIRE
Parmelia caperata, Ach. I A- 3
conspersa, Ach. IB, ZA
var. stenophylla, Ach. IB
Mougeotii, Schaer. ZA
[ incurva, Fr. 2A (Bloxam)]
- acetabulum, Dub. IB, 6
- exasperata, Nyl. 2A, 2B, 6
- subaurifera, Nyl. IB
- fuliginosa, Nyl. ZA, ZB, 6
- physodes, Ach. IB-ZB, 6
/ labrosa, Ach. IB-2B
var. platyphylla, I A, IB, ZB
[ olivacea, Ach. error]
- prolixa, Nyl. ZA (Bloxam)
Parmeliopsis ambigua, Nyl. IB
Stictina silvatica, Nyl. IB
Lobarina scrobiculata, Nyl. IB, ZA
Lobaria pulmonaria, Hoffm. IB, ZA
Ricasolia laetevirens, Leight. I B, ZA
1'eltigera canina, HofFm. lA-3
- rufescens, HofFm. I A, IB, ZA (forma, F. T. Mott)
spuna, Ach. 2A
- polydactyla, HofFm. I A, ZA, ZB, 5, 6
- horizontals, HofFm. IB, ZA
Physcia parictina, De Not. IA-6
f. cinerascens, Leight. IB-ZB, 6
var. aureola, Nyl. IB
- polycarpa, Nyl. IB-ZB
- lychnea, Nyl. ZA, ZB, 6 (Reader)
- ciliaris, DC. ZA, ZB, 6
- pulverulenta, Nyl. IB ZB, 6
-'pityrea, Nyl. IA (Bloxam), ZB
- stellaris, Nyl. IB-ZB, 6
'tenella, Nyl. IB-ZB, 6
aipolia, Nyl. ZB
var. cereidia, Nyl. I B
- astroidea, Nyl. IB (Bloxam)
- obscura, Nyl. IB, ZA (Bloxam), ZB, 6
- ulothrix, Nyl. IB
- adglutinata, Nyl. IB (Bloxam), ZB
Umbihcaria pustulata, HofFm. ZA
Gyrophora polyphylla, Turn, and Borr. ZA
- flocculosa, Turn, and Borr. ZA
Pannularia, nigra, Nyl. i \. ZB
Leproloma lanuginosum, Nyl. IB
Lecanora saxicola, Ach. IK-ZB, 6
- murorum, Ach. ZA, ZB, 6
- dissidens, Nyl. IB
- vitellina, Ach. ZA, ZB
- citrina, Ach. IB-ZB
- aurantiaca, Nyl. IB-ZB
[ *erythrella, Nyl. /?. inalpina, Nyl. IB (Leighton)]
- ferruginea, Nyl. ZA
- pyracea, Nyl. IB
- luteo-alba, Nyl. IB, ZB
- sophodes, Ach. IB (Bloxam), ZA
- roboris, Nyl. ZA
- circinata, Ach. IB
- subfusca, Nyl. ZA, ZB, 5, 6
- galactina, Ach. IB-ZB, 6
- allophana, Nyl. IB-ZB
- parisiensis, Nyl. IB
- rugosa, Nyl. ZB
-'chlarona, Nyl. IB-ZB, 6
ft geographica, Nyl. ZA
[ albella, Ach. (Bloxam)]
- angulosa, Ach. ZB
- glaucoma, Ach. IB, ZA
Lecanora crenulata, Nyl. ZA (Bloxam), ZB, 6
sulphurea, Ach. IB, ZA
varia, Ach. IB, ZA, ZB, 6
/3 polytrop.i, Schaer. ZA
conizea, Ach. IB
expallens, Ach. I B, ZA
var. lutescens, Nyl. IB
symmicta, Ach. I B (Bloxam)
atra, Ach. ZA, ZB
effusa, Ach. IB
- erysibe, Nyl. ZB
- badia, Ach. IB, ZA
rhypariza, Nyl. IB
parella, Ach. IB
tartarea (L.). ZA
gibbosa, Nyl. ZA, ZB
calcarea, Somm. IA
- glaucocarpa, Ach. ZB
- lacustris, Fr. ZA (Bloxam)
[ squamulosa, Nyl. ?. IB, ZA (Bloxam)]
- fuscata, Nyl. ZA
Pertusaria multipuncta, Nyl. IB
globuliFera, Nyl. IB ZB, 6
- velata, Nyl. IB, ZA (forma)
- communis, DC. IB-ZB, 6
- melaleuca, Dub. IB
- pustulata, Nyl. IB (Bloxam)
- Wulfenii, DC. ZA
- leioplaca, Schaer. IB
amara, Nyl. I A 3, 6
Phlyctis agelaea, Korb. ZA (Bloxam), ZB, 5 (Reader)
argena, Korb. ir ZB
Thelotrema lepadinum, Ach. IB [ZA]
Urceolaria scruposa, Ach. IB [2 A]
Lecidea ostreata (HofFm.). IB, ZB
- lucida, Ach. ZA (Bloxam), ZB
fl-xuosa (Fr.). IB
var. aeruginosa (Borr.\ (Bloxam in Leighton,
L.F.)
conglomerata, Fr. IB (Bloxam in Leighton, L. F.)
- decolorans, FlOrk. IB (Power), ZA (Bloxam)
vernalis (L.). ZA (Bloxam)
- quernea (Dicks.) ' Frequent.' (Bloxam) ZA, ZB
parasema (Ach.). IB ZB, 6
var. elaeochroma, Ach. IB (Bloxam in
Leighton, L. F.)
uliginosa (Schrad.) ZA
var. fuliginea (Ach.), IB-ZB, 6
coarctata (Sm.). 2 A (Bloxam), ZB
- tenebrosa (Flot.). ZA
[ lapicida, Fr. 'Frequent' (Bloxam) ZB]
- fusco-atra, Ach. (Pulteney, Bloxam) ZA
var. fumosa, Ach. IB (Power)
- contigua, Fr. f. leprosa, Leighton, IB (Bloxam
in Leighton, L. F.)
[ confluens (Web.). 'Frequent' (Bloxam) IB]
- canescens (Dicks.). ZA (Bloxam, Reader), IB, 2B, 6
[ verruculosa, Borr. IB (Power)]
- myriocarpa (DC.). IB-ZB, 6
var. pinicola, Ach. IB, ZA
- grossa (Pers.) IB
[ Lightfootii (Sm.). IB (Bloxam)]
- tricolor (With.). IB, ZB
anomala (Fr.). IB
- cyrtella, Ach. IB
lutea (Dicks.). IB
diluta (Pers.). IB
caradocensis, Leight. IB
54
BOTANY
Lecidea albo-atra (Hofftn.). IB, ZB, 6
aromatica (Sm.). IB (Power), ZA
abietina, Ach. ZA
foveolaris (Ach.). ZA
pachycarpa (Duf.). ZA
milliaria, Fr. IB
sabuletorum, FlOrk. 2A (Bloxam), ZB
saxicola, f. ZB (?L. premnea, Ach. f. saxicola,
Leight.)
carneola, Ach. IB
endoleuca, Nyl. IB
muscorum (Sw.). ZA, 2B
effusa (Sm.).
var. fuscella, Fr. IB
var. caesio-pruinosa, Mudd. IB
geographica (L.). IB, ZA
[f. atro-virens (L.). IB (Power)]
petraea (Wulf.). IB (Power), ZA
parasitica (FlOrk). IB
Opegrapha herpetica, Ach. IB-ZB
f. rufescens, Pers. IB
atra, Pers. IB, ZA, 6
varia, Pers. 'Frequent' (Bloxam) IB, 6
f. rimalis (Fr.). IB
vulgata, Ach. IB, ZB
var. stenocarpa, Ach. IB
lyncea (Sm.). I A (Bloxam), IB (Power), ZA
(Bloxam)
viridis, Pers.
var. taxicola, Leighton. IB
Stigmatidium crassum, Dub. IB
Arthonia lurida, Ach. IB
spadicea, Leight. IB
punctiformis, Ach. IB (Bloxam)
astroidea, Ach. 'Frequent' (Bloxam) IB-ZB, 6
- epipasta, Ach. ' Frequent ' (Bloxam)
- Swartziana, Ach. IB (Pulteney), 6
cinnabarina (Wall.)
Arthonia pruinosa, Ach. IB
[ anastomans, Ach. IB (Power)]
Graphis elegans (Sm.). I A (Power), IB, ZA
scripta, Ach. ZA, ZB
var. varia, Leight. IB
var. serpentaria, Ach. IB
var. eutypa, Ach. IA
var. tremulans, Leight. IB
inusta, Ach. ' Frequent '
var. divaricata, Leight. IB
sophistica, Nyl. ZA
var. flexuosa, Leight. IB
var. divaricata, Leight. I B
var. pulverulenta (Sm.). IA, IB
Endocarpon rufescens, Ach. 2 A
fluviatile, DC. ZA (Bloxam) (?)
hepaticum, Ach. IA (Bloxam), ZA (F. Bates)
Verrucaria epigaea (Pers.). IB
laevata, Ach. var. nigrata, Leight. ZA
nigrescens (Pers.). IB-ZB, 6
glaucina (Ach.). ZB
macrostoma (Duf.). IB-ZB
- viridula (Schrad.). IA 2B
hymenogonia, Nyl. 6
rupestris, Schrad. IU-ZB, 6
var. muralis, Ach. IA, 6
epidermidis, Ach. ' Frequent' (Bloxam) IB, 6
- immersa, Leight. IA (Bloxam)
cinerea (Pers.). ZA (Bloxam)
punctiformis, Ach. ' Frequent ' (Bloxam) ZA
biformis, Borr. IB
chlorotica (Ach). ' Frequent'
var. codonoidea, Leight. ZA
nitida (Weig.). IB
olivacea, Borr. IB
[ umbrina, Wahlenb. ZA (Bloxam)]
[ clopima, Wahlenb. ZA (Bloxam)]
Strigula Babingtonii, Berk. IB
FUNGI
The Leicestershire Flora of 1886 contains 445 numbered species of fungi, of these 299 are
Hymenomycetes, 14 are Gastromycetes, 74 are Ascomycetes, the remaining 58 belong to Uredineae,
Ustilagineae, Phycomycetes, Hyphomycetes, 10 and the class Mycetozoa. The Rev. A. Bloxam con-
tributed almost all the records, chiefly from the immediate neighbourhood of Twycross ; n when the other
parts of the county have been worked the list will be enlarged considerably, especially in the Uredineae
and Ustilagineae. Some very rare Hymenomycetes and Discomycetes were found by Mr. Bloxam
as follows . Cypella Bloxami, Merulius serpens, Polystictus hirsutus, Hydnum argutum, Phlebia radiata,
Nolanea Babingtonii, Mollisia micrometra, Lachnella Berkeleii, and Phacidium Rut! at Twycross.
Calloria auricolor, Dermatea livida, Patellaria livida, and P. pallida at Gopsall ; most of these and
the following are still believed to be very rare fungi : Geaster mammosus, G. rufescens (Berkeley),
G. hygrometricus (Rev. Churchill Babington), Clavaria contorta, Grace Dieu (Mott), C.rosea (Babing-
ton), Psilopezia Babingtonii, Grace Dieu Wood (Babington), and Merulius pollens. A few of these
have been found in other places since Bloxam's time. There are some additions to the 1886 list.
BASIDIOMYCETAE
GASTROMTCET ' AE
Cyathus vernicosus, DC.
Scleroderma vulgare, Fr.
verrucosum, Pers.
Lycoperdon pyriforme, Schaeff.
nigrescens (Pers.)
plumbeum, Pers.
GASTROMTCETAE (continued)
Lycoperdon bovista, L.
geminatum, Batsch.
caelatum, Bull
perlaturr, Pers.
Geaster mammosus, Chev.
rufescens, Pen.
hygrometricus, Pers.
Ithyphallus impudicus, Fisch.
10 The last four and the Pyrenomycetes need revision.
11 The less common are contained in Berkeley's OutRnet and supplement and Cooke's Handbook, the
more uncommon ones, followed by Bloxam's name, rest solely on his authority.
55
A HISTORY OF LEICESTERSHIRE
HrMENOMTCETJE
TREMELLINEAE
Hirncola auricula-judae, Berk.
Exidia glandulosa, Fr.
Tremella mesenteries, Retz.
Naematelia encephala, Fr.
Dacrymyces stillatus, Nees.
Calocera viscosa, Fr.
CLAVARIEAS
Clavaria fastigiata, L.
muscoidcs, L.
coralloides, L.
cristata, Ho'msk.
- rugosa, Bull.
- fusiform is, Sow.
- inaequalis, Flor. Dan.
- fragiiis, Holmsk.
rosea, Fr.
- contorta, Holmsk.
Typhula erythropus, Fr.
THELEPHOREAE
Thelephora terrestris, Ehrh.
- laciniat.i, Pers.
- arida, Fr.
Coniophora puteana, Mass.
Peniophora quercina, Cooke
- gigantea, Mass.
Cyphella Bloxami, B. and Phill.
- muscigena, Fr.
Stereum hirsutum, Fr.
purpureum, Pers.
- sanguinolentum, Fr.
spadiceum, Fr.
rugosum, Fr.
HYDNEAE
Hydnum auriscalpium, L.
- membran.iceum, Bull.
- argutum, Fr.
Radulum orbiculare, Fr.
- quercinum, Fr.
Phlebia radiata, Fr.
Grandinia granulosa, Fr.
POLYPOREAE
Merulius serpens, Tode
- pallens, Berk.
lachrymans, Fr.
Daedalea confragosa, Pers.
- unicolor, Fr.
Trametes suaveolens, Fr.
Poria vaporaria, Fr.
- purpurea, Fr. (Mrs. Foord-Kelcey)
Polystictus versicolor, Fr.
perennis, Fr.
hirsutus, Fr.
Fomes annosus, Fr.
igniarius, Fr.
- ribis, Fr.
- fomentarius, Fr.
- lucidus, Fr.
Polyporus squamosus, Fr.
- elegans, Fr.
- giganteus, Fr
HrMENOMTCETJE (continued)
POLYPOREAE (continued)
Polyporus sulfureus, Fr.
caesius, Fr.
destructor, Fr.
adustus, Fr.
adiposus, B. and Br.
hispidus, Fr.
Fistulina hcpatica, Fr.
Boletus luteus, L.
elegans, Schum.
chrysenteron, Fr.
subtomentosus, L.
badius, L.
piperatus, Bull.
pachypus, Fr.
edulis, Bull.
luridus, Schaeff.
var. erythropus, Fr.
AGARICINEAE
Coprinus comatus, Fr.
atramentarius, Fr.
niveus, Fr.
micaceus, Fr.
radiatus, Fr.
plicatilis, Fr.
Anellaria separata, Karst.
Panaeolus phalaenarum, Fr.
- retirugis, Fr.
campanulatus, L.
Gomphidius gracilis, B. and Br.
Psathyrella atomata, Fr.
disseminata, Pers.
Psathyra corrugis, Pers.
conopilea, Fr.
Psilocybe semilanceata, Fr.
- spadicea, Fr.
- uda, Pers.
Hypholoma sublateritium, SchaefF.
epixanthum, Fr.
fasciculare, Huds.
lachrymabundum, Fr.
velutinum, Pers.
Candolleanum, Fr.
storea, Fr.
var. caespitosum, Cooke
Stropharia aeruginosa, Curt.
obturata, Fr.
squamosa, Fr.
stercoraria, Fr.
semiglobata, Batsch.
Agaricus campestris, L.
var. silvicola, Vitt.
arvensis, SchaefF.
- silvaticus, SchaefF.
Paxillus involutus, Fr.
panuoides, Fr.
Cortinarius decipiens, Fr.
hinnuleus, Fr.
evernius, Fr.
ochroleucus, Fr.
anomalus, Fr.
cinnabarinus, Fr.
argentatus, Fr.
sanguineus, Fr.
cinnamomeus, Fr.
BOTANY
HrMENOMTCETJE (continued)
AGARICINEAE (continued)
Cortinarius collinitus, Fr.
- elatior, Fr.
- multiformis, Fr.
- glaucopus, Fr.
- calochrous, Fr.
- purpurascens, Fr.
prasinus, Fr.
Crepidotus mollis, Schaeff.
Tubaria furfuracea, Pers.
Flammula flavida, Schaeft.
lenta, Pers.
Galera hypnorum, Batsch.
Naucoria cucumis, Pers.
- horizontalis, Bull.
semiorbicularis, Bull.
Hebeloma crustuliniforme, Bull.
Inocybe geophylla, Fr.
Bolbitius Boltonii, Fr.
fragilis, Fr.
Pholiota squarrosa, Mull.
- adiposa, Fr.
- spectabilis, Fr.
mutabilis, Schaeff.
Claudopus variabilis, Pers.
Clitopilus prunulus, Scop.
orcella, Bull.
Leptonia lampropoda, Fr.
Nolanea pascua, Pers.
Babingtonii, Blox.
Entoloma sinuatum, Fr.
Bloxamii, B. and Br.
- jubatum, Fr.
- rhodopolium, Fr.
- sericeum, Fr.
Pluteus umbrosus, Pers.
- cervinus, Schaeff.
nanus, Pers.
Lenzites betulina, Fr.
Schizophyllum commune, Fr.
Panus torulosus, Fr.
Lentinus lepideus, Fr.
Cantharellus cibarius, Fr.
aurantiacus, Fr.
tubaeformis, Fr.
Hygrophorus Colemanmanus, Blox.
- laetus, Fr.
- ceraceus, Wulf.
- coccineus, Schaeff.
- puniceus, Fr.
- conicus, Fr.
- chlorophanus, Fr.
- psittacinus, Schaeff.
pratensis, Fr.
- virgineus, Wulf.
- niveus, Fr.
cossus, Sow.
hypothejus, Fr.
eberneus, Bull.
Pleurotus septicus, Fr.
applicatus, Batsch.
fimbriatus, Bolt.
ostreatus, Jacq. (Mrs. Foord-Kelcey, 1907)
Omphalia sphagnicola, Berk.
- umbellifera (L.)
grisea, Fr.
fibula, Bull.
HTMENOMYCET4E (continued)
AGARICINEAE (continued)
Omphalia integrella, Pers.
pyxidata, Bull.
Clitocybe nebularis, Batsch.
cerussata, Fr.
candicans, Fr.
gigantea, Sow.
inornata, Sow.
pithyophilus, Fr.
infundibuliformis, Schaeff.
geotropa, Bull.
- flaccida, Sow.
- cyathiformis, Bull.
brumalis, Fr.
ditopa, Fr.
fragrans, Sow.
Laccaria laccata, Scop.
Lactarius torminosus, Schaeff.
[ cilicioides, Fr.]
turpis, Fr.
insulsus, Fr.
blennius, Fr.
pyrogalus, Bull.
chrysorrheus, Fr.
[ plumbeus, Fr.]
piperatus, Fr.
vellereus, Fr.
deliciosus, Fr.
quietus, Fr.
glyciosmus, Fr.
fuliginosus, Fr.
volemus, Fr.
serifluus, Fr.
mitissimus, Fr.
subdulcis, Fr.
- camphoratus, Fr.
Russula alutacea, Fr.
nitida, Fr.
- nigricans, Fr.
adusta, Fr.
- heterophylla, Fr.
virescens, Fr.
vesca, Fr.
depallens, Fr.
cyanoxantha, Schaeff.
- fellea, Fr.
rubra, Fr.
ochroleuca, Fr.
citrina, Fr.
emetica, Fr.
fragilis, Fr.
Mycena vulgaris, Pers.
tenerrima, Berk.
epipterygia, Scop.
- leucogala, Cooke
- galopoda, Fr.
sanguinolenta, A. & S.
iris, Berk.
filopes, Bull.
leptocephalus, Pers.
alcalina, Fr.
vitrea, Fr.
galericulata, Scop.
polygramma, Bull.
flavo-alba, Fr.
[ elegans, Pers.]
pura, Pers.
57
A HISTORY OF LEICESTERSHIRE
HYMENOMYCET4E (continued)
ACARICINEAE (continued')
Collybia radicata, Relh.
platyphylla, Fr.
fusipes, Bull.
maculata, A. & S.
butyracea, Bull.
velutipes, Fr.
confluens, Pers.
- dryophila, Bull.
clava, L.
- caulicinalis, Bull. (A. stipitarius, Fr.)
Marasmius pcronatus, Fr.
- urens, Fr.
- oreades, Fr.
[_ Vaillantii, Fr.]
- rotula, Fr.
- androsaceus, Fr.
- foetidus, Fr.
Tricholoma fucatum, Fr.
.[ equestre, L.]
[ colossum, Fr.]
- ionides, Bull.
- flavo-brunneum, Fr.
- rutilans, Sch.ieff.
- columbetta, Fr.
- vaccinum, Fr.
imbricatum, Fr.
saponaceum, Fr.
personatum, Fr.
nuJum, Bull.
- gambosum, Fr.
- humile, Fr.
- brevipes, Bull.
- grammopodium, Bull.
subpulverulcntum, Pers.
scjunctum, Sow.
Armillaria mellea, Vahl.
mucida, Schrad.
- ramentacea, Bull.
Lepiota procera (Scop.), Fr.
- rachodes, Vitt.
excoriata, Schaeff.
- clypcolaria, Bull.
- cristata, A. & S.
- carcharias, Pers.
granulosa, Batsch.
Amanitopsis vaginata, Roze.
Amanita verna, Bull.
- phalloides, Fr.
- mappa, Fr.
- panthcrina, Fr.
- muscaria (L.), Fr.
rubescens, Fr.
asper, Fr.
ASCOMYCETAE
DlSCOMYCBTAK
Morchella semilibera, DC.
Helvella crispa, Fr.
lacunosa, Afz.
Leotia lubrica, Pers.
acicularis, Pers.
Geoglossum hirsutum, Pers.
difforme, Fr.
ASCOMYCETAE (ccutimted)
DISCOMYCETAE (continued')
Peziza vesiculosa, Bull.
reticulata, Grev. Welby to Melton Mozvbray,
14 April, 1903
[ Browniana, Blox. Twycross. ' Position doubtful,'
see Phillips' Discomycetes, 408
Otidea aurantia (Pers.), Mass.
Humaria granulata (Bull.), Sacc.
Psilopezia Babingtonii, Berk.
Hymenoscypha calyculus (Sow.)
Belonidium minutissimum (Batsch.), Phill. ; on Hel-
minthosporia
Mollisia cinerea (Batsch.), Karst.
micrometra, B. & Br.
trifolii (Bernh.)
Helotium ferrugineum (Schum.)
[ pinodes, B. & Br.]
[ microspila, B. & Br.]
Dasyscypha virginea (Batsch.)
- calycina (Schum.), 3, Lings Cover, July 1906
nivea (Hedw.), Mass.
Tapesia aurelia (Pers.) = T. aurata, Mass. = Beloni-
dium auratum, Sacc. IB: Twycross; Bloxam.
I A : Breedon Cloud Wood, 17 April, 1903
[ Bloxami, B. & Br. Rejected by Phillips, 408
(no asci)]
Lachnella Berkeleii (Blox.), Phill.
Ascophanus testaceus (Moug.), Phill.
Bulgaria inquinans, Fr.
Calloria auricolor (Blox.), Phill.
Dermatea livida (B. & Br.), Phill. (Patellaria con-
stipata, Blox)
rhabarbarina (Berk.). Phillips' Discomyc., 341
Cenangium ribis, Fr. IB : Twycross (Bloxam)
Patellaria pallida, Berk. I B : Twycross (Bloxam in
Fl. L.)
- atro-vinosa, Blox. MS.
atrata (Hedw.) IB : Gopsall (Bloxam in Fl. L.)
Schmitzomia radiata (L.), Phill. IB : Twycross
(Bloxam in Fl. L.)
Phacidium rubi, Fries.
Rhytisma corrugatum, Ach.
Hysterium repandum, Blox.
PYRENOMYCETAE
Nectria cinnabarina, Fr.
pulicaris, Fr.
- ochracea, Fr.
coccinea, Fr.
hirta, Blox.
Bloxami, B. & Br.
- Russeliana, Mont.
Hypocrea rufa, Fr.
Cordyceps entomorrhiza, Fr.
militaris, Fr.
Hypoxylon udum, Fr.
Daldinia concentrica, Bolt. Mucklin Wood, Mrs. Foord-
Kelcey, 1907
Xylaria hypoxylon, Grev.
Diatrype disciformis, Fr.
incarcerata, B. & Br.
Dothidea filicina, Fr.
Valsa platanigera, B. & Br.
rhodophila, B. & Br.
- fenestrata, B. & Br.
- aglaeostoma, B. & Br.
BOTANY
ASCOMYCETAE (continued)
PYRENOMYCETAE (continued)
Cucurbitaria macrospora, Tul.
Hypospila quercina, Fr.
Sphaeria callimorpha, Mont.
Aspegrenii, Fr.
paecilostoma, B. & Br.
nigerrima, Blox.
pantherina, Berk.
tritorulosa, B. & Br.
tubaeformis, Tode.
Saubinettii, Mont.
felina, Fckl.
( ) maculaeformis, Pers.
Capnodium Footii, Berk, and Desm.
Sphaeropsis malorum, Berk.
Cytispora rubescens, Fr.
Discella carbonacea, B. & Br.
Phlyctaena vagabunda, Desm.
PHYCOMYCETAE
Cystopus candidus, Lev.
Phytophthora infestans, Mont.
parasitica, De Bary.
UREDINEAE
PUCCINEAE
Puccinia violae (Schum.)
graminis, Pers.
poarum, Niel.
Phragmidium rubi (Pers.)
subcorticatum, Winter
Gymnosporangium sabinae (Dicks.)
clavariaefbrme (Jacq.)
Melampsora populina (Jacq.)
betulina (Pers.)
Coleosporium sonchi (Pers.)
Aecidium grossulariae (Gmel.)
Uromyces rumicis (Schum.) ? and U. poae, Rab. ?
UsTILAGINEAE
Ustilago segetum (Bull.)
Urocystis occulta, Rabenh.
IB : Twycross (Bloxam)
HYPHOMYCETAE
Trichoderma lignorum, Harz.
Penicillium crustaceum, Fr.
Sepedonium chrysospermum, Fr.
Stilbum fimetarium, B. & Br.
turbinatum, Tode
Aspergillus glaucus, Link
candidus, Link
Helminthosporium tiliae, Fr.
apiculatum, Corda
altum, Preuss
scolecoides, Corda
Tubercularia vulgaris, Tode
Illosporium roseum, Fr.
corallinum, Roberge
coccineum, Fr.
Oidium fructigenum, Schrad.
Acremonium fuscum, Schum.
Psilonia arundinis, Desm.
Hydrophora stercorea, Tode
Sporocybe byssoides, Fr.
- alternata, Berk.
Sporidesmium melanopum, B. & Br.
opacum, Corda
- abruptum, B. & Br.
Coniothecium amentacearum, Corda
Epicoccum neglectum, Desm.
Rhinotrichum Bloxamii, B. & Br.
SPHAEROPSIDIACEAE
Septoria polygonorum, Desm.
MELANCONIACEAE
Melanconium bicolor, Nees
MYCETOZOA
Ceratiomyxa mucida, Schroet.
Badhamia utricularis, Berk.
nitens, Berk.
Fuligo septica, Gmel.
Craterium minutum, Fr.
Leocarpus vernicosus, Link
Didymium farinaceum, Schrad.
squamulosum, Fr.
[ hemisphericum, Fr. (Bloxam)J
Dictydium umbilicatum, Schrad.
Trichia Botrytis, Pers.
Arcyria incarnata, Pers.
Perichaena populina, Fr.
59
ZOOLOGY
MOLLUSCS
The physical structure of the county of Leicester ought to be favourable
to molluscan development, being well diversified ; and if the portion to the
west of the Soar, where the Trias comes to the surface, affords less favourable
soil than the secondary rocks to the east of that river, the Great Chalky
Boulder Clay, which covers much of the central as well as the eastern por-
tions of the county, should largely equalize matters for the land snails.
The water drainage, on the other hand, is so extensive and varied that
many suitable habitats are afforded for the water snails.
Nevertheless the county has been rather neglected by malacologists in
fact only two papers of any note have appeared on its molluscan fauna:
one by J. Plant, compiled in 1850, but only brought to light and published
in 1887;* and the other by H. E. Quilter detailing the specimens found by
him between 1885 and 1887,* which practically formed the basis of the
list in the Records of the Conchological Society. This last, however, did
not include results from what might be expected to prove the most pro-
ductive districts. We are further indebted to Mr. A. R. Horwood of the
Leicester Museum for notes principally of additional localities.
Altogether 92 species out of the 146 or so recorded for the British
Islands, have been met with in Leicestershire, and this is a very fair average.
The number will probably be further increased when more extended re-
searches shall have been made, especially in the limestone districts.
Two, or three, more species of slugs, several of the small Vertigos,
as well as some other species ought certainly to be found in the district.
Plant's record of Zonites lucidus has had to be rejected on account of
the uncertainty attaching to the identification of the species so designated.
It certainly had nothing to do with the Vitrea lucida now recognized as
British. The records of Clausilia laminata prove so far to be errors for
C. bidentata and have been omitted.
An attempt was made without success to introduce the Roman snail
(Helix pomatia) into the county, in 1845, when a number of specimens
was turned out near Leicester ; but no survivors have been recorded though
dead shells have been gathered.
Owing to Leicestershire's central position none of the more typical
northern, western, or southern species are present.
The nomenclature adopted in the following list is that of the Con-
chological Society issued in 1904, and differs from that employed in the
earlier county histories of this series. Where the names here used differ from
those previously given, the latter are added in square brackets in order to
facilitate comparison.
1 Tram. Leic. Lit. and Phil. Soc. i, pt. 2, pp. 22-33. ' Op. cit. i, pt. 7, pp. 17-21 ; pt. n, p. 36.
61
A HISTORY OF LEICESTERSHIRE
A. GASTROPODA
I. PULMONATA
a. STYLOHMATOPHOHA
Testacetta scutulum, Sby. Gardens of Belvoir Casde ;
Beau Manor Park, Loughborongh
Ltmax maximiu, Linn. Common
- fiavm, Linn. Abundant
Agriofimax agrfstii (Linn.). Too common
laffit (Mull.). Leicester
Milax [Amafui] sncerbii (Per.). A few in gardens in
Leicester
f'itrina pelhcida (Moll.). Local. Sheet Hedges and
Buddon Woods ; Kirby Fields ; Birstall ; Ev-
ington, &c.
Vitrta crystaliinj (Moll.). Common about St. Mary's
Mills ; Bradgate Park ; Aylestone Meadows ;
Birstall
cfllarij (Milll.). Common
- regent, B .15. Woodw. [=g!aber, auct.]. Young
specimen near Anstey ; Kibworth
- ei::.:r'.a (Mull.) Gopsall Wood
- niaJula (Drap.). Banks of the Soar ; Bradgate
Park ; Kirby Muxloe ; Birstall ; Tilton-on-the-
Hill ; Leicester
- radlatula (Alder). Charnwood Forest
Zcn:t;i.:es [I'itrra] nifiJus (Moll.). SadJington
excacatiu (Bean). Willow stumps below the
Casde Mount ; Bensclitt Wood
Euscnulus [I'itrea] fukus (Moll.). Very local. Swith-
land Wood
Arion ater (Linn.). Very common
- intermedita, Norm. Glenrield ; Groby Pool
- k:ritnsis, Fer. Plentiful
jairiattis, Nils. [=sarcunucriptus, Johnst.]. Ha-
thern
Punctum ptgmatinn (Drap.). Rare. Aylestone Church-
yard ; Congerstone ; Carlton Brook
Sphyradium edcrstulum (Drap.). Near Leicester ;
Gopsall Wood
PyrsmiJuIa ntpeitris (Drap.). Rather rare. Foot of
rocks Mountsorrel ; Abbey walls
nfun.:'ata (Moll.). Common even-where
HeMeL'a rirgata (DaCosta). Tilton-on-the-Hill ;
Ingarsby
- itala (Linn.). Barrow-upon-Soar ; Seagravc ;
Melton Mowbray ; Evington ; Fleckney, &c.
- caperata (Mont ) Wartnaby Quarries ; Lough-
borough ; Ingarsby
- (anftana (Mont.). Saltby ; Sproxton ; Melton
Htgrcmij hiiplda (Linn.). Abundant
- rttfixens (Penn.). Abbey meadows, &u
Acaxtkiutla atuleata (Moll.). Gopsall
Valletta pukkeWi (Mull.). Meadows by the River
Soar ; Bradgate Park ; Evington, &c. With this
may be included some examples of y. exten-
trifa, a species only recently recognized in
this country
- nstata (Moll.). Bradgate Park ; Crown Hills ;
Inganby
HtFieignu lapicija (Linn.). Thringstone ; also in
localities with the following
crimtttnm (Linn.). Very local. Burrow Hills ;
Breedon ; Staunton Harold Park ; Gracedicu
Abbey ; Smeeton ; SadJington ; Belvoir
HtSx fiptrsa, MulL Abundant throughout
I. PULMONATA (cm&nued)
a. STYLOMMATOPHORA (continued)
Helix HtmoraKs, Linn. Abundant, especially in the
limestone districts
hortensis, Moll. Sparingly in the western, abun-
dantly in the eastern half of the county
Ena [BuKminus] obicura (Moll). Rather uncommon.
Tilton-on-the-Hill ; Anstey ; Scraptoft ; Lei-
cester Abbey
CochRcopa lubrica (Mull). Common
Azeca trident (Pult.). Two specimens at Gracedieu
Abbey
CaeciRoides \CaedfianeI/a] acicula (Moll). River Wreak ;
Breedon ; Gracedieu ; Ingarsby
Jaminia [Pupa] cyRndratea (DaCosta). Plentiful in
Bradgate Park ; Evington ; Woodhouse Eaves ;
Leicester Abbey
miacorum (Linn.). Three specimens near Ayle-
stone Bridge
ffrtigo pygmaea (Drap.). Bradgate Park; near Con-
gerstone ; Evington ; Ingarsby
Balea ptrversa (Linn.). Bradgate ; Breedon Hill
- bldentata (Strom.). Spinney Hills ; Belvoir ;
Brajgate ; Gopsall ; Anstey ; Evington, &c.
Sucdnea putris (Linn.). River Soar ; Groby Pool ;
Bradgate ; Saddington, &c.
elegans, Risso. River Soar ; Groby Pool ; Sheet
Hedges Wood ; near Birstall ; Aylestone
b. BASOMMATOPHORA
Carychium minimum, Mull. Meadows and banks of
the Soar ; Crown Hills ; Evington, &c.
Ancylus fluriat-lis, Mall. Bradgate Brook ; River
Soar, &c.
Acrelcxus [f'dletia] lacustrit (Linn.). Groby Pool ;
River Wreak, &c,
Limnaea auricu.'aria (Linn.). Osbaston Pool ; Groby
Pool ; Saddington Reservoir ; Aylestone ; Wis-
tow ; Foxton ; Blaby ; Abbey Park
t* re & er (Mull.). Common even-where
palustris (Moll.). Local : River Soar and ditches
- truncatula (Moll.). Common throughout
stagnaRs (Linn.). Common
PLnstrbii cornetu (Linn.). Common
albus, Moll. Leicester Abbey meadows ; Groby
Pool ; Saddington Reservoir ; Congerstone, &c.
glaber, Jeff. Bradgate Park
crista \_ nautileus\ (Linn.). Pond on theAppleby
Road near Twycross ; Groby Pool ; Old
Walby
eoriaatus, Moll. Common
tunbirtcatus, Moll. [ = marginalia, Drap.]. Very
common
vertex (Linn.). Most abundant
spirorbu (Linn.). Abundant but local
cor.tcrtvs (Linn.). River Sence ; near Con-
gerstone, &c,
fmtaniu (Lightft.). River Soar ; Bradgate Park ;
, Bosworth Park ; Groby Pool
Stgmntina nitida (Mull.). [ = Plontrb'u fouatus,
Walker]. Vale of Belvoir, whence it was de-
scribed by Walker
62
MOLLUSCS
Pbysa fontinaRs (Linn.). Plentiful in Leicester Abbey
gardens ; Hinckley ; Loughborough ; Aylestone,
&c.
ApUcta [Pbysa] bypnorum (Linn.). Ditch in Welford
Road, Leicester, now built over; near Birstall ;
Saffron Lane
II. PROSOBRANCHIA
Bitbynia tentaculata (Linn.). Abundant
leachit (Shepp.). Aylestone Brook, &c.
Vlvlpara vlvipara (Linn.). River Soar ; common in
canal near Wistow Park
contecta (Millet) . River Soar and canals ; Sadd-
ington
Valvata piscinafis (Mall.). Bradgate Park ; River Soar ;
Bosworth Mill ; Groby Pool, &c. ; canals
cristata, Mull. Rare. Cham wood Forest ;
Groby Pool ; Ingarsby
Pomatias elegans (Mull.). Near Buckminster and
Sewstern
Neritina JluviatiKs (Linn.). River Soar ; Bradgate
Park; Blaby
B. PELECYPODA
Dre'usensia pofymorpha (Pall.). Canals throughout
Unio pictorum (Linn.). Plentiful
tumiJus, Retz. Common
Anodmta cygnaea (Linn.). Extremely common
Spbaerium rivicola (Leach). Local : Aylestone ;
Blaby ; Mountsorrel
corneum (Linn.). Plentiful
lacustre (Mall.) . Stable Quarry, Bradgate Park
P'uldium amnicum (Mull.). Common
- ctuertanum (Poll). \=JmAnak'\. Common
P'uldium hcnslowianum (Shepp.). Aylestone ; Sadding-
ton Reservoir
pttkhellum, Jenyns. Rarely in ditches
puslllum (Gmel.). Aylestone ; Market Bosworth :
Stable Quarry, Bradgate Park ; Congerstone
obtusalc, Pfr. Aylestone ; Groby Pool
gassiesianum, Dupuy [ = mi/ium, auct.]. Aylestone;
Saddington Reservoir
(The correct identification of most of the species
of Pisldium is questionable.)
INSECTS
The county of Leicester does not take an important place in regard to
the number of its species of insects. Many interesting forms occur both
in the Coleoptera and Lepidoptera which have been well worked out,
but owing to the absence of specialists in the other orders the records are
very scanty.
The greater part of the county is arable and pasture land in a high state
of cultivation, but on the whole it is well wooded. Charnwood Forest,
which includes well-known localities like Buddon Wood, Bardon Hill, and
Bradgate Park, is perhaps the richest district in the matter of records, pro-
bably because it has been more worked than other districts. Owston Wood,
on the Rutland border, with its varied flora, produces a number of species
not found in other parts of the county. Seal Wood, Grange Wood, and the
Ambien Wood, in the neighbourhood of Sutton Cheney, are all good collect-
ing ground.
The following abbreviations have been adopted throughout the lists in
this article, viz. : c. denotes common ; v.c., very common or abundant ;
n.c., not common ; r., rare or scarce ; v.r., very rare ; and gen. dist., generally
distributed.
I have to express my thanks, for valuable assistance received, to
Mr. H. St.J. Donisthorpe, F.Z.S., F.E.S., Rev. Canon Cruttwell, M.A.,
Rev. G. W. Whittingham, Prof. Hudson Beare, Mr. W. A. Vice, M.B.,
Mr. G. B. Dixon, F.E.S., Mr. W. J. Kaye, F.E.S., Mr. C. B. Headly, F.E.S.,
Mr. G. B. Chalcraft, Dr. W. H. Barrow, Mr. J. H. Wooley, Mr. H. Holy-
oak, and others, for notes on the various orders. I have also had the
advantage of the use of notes made by the late Rev. A. Matthews and
Mr. J. Weildt.
HYMENOPTERA
Ants, Wasps, Bees, &c.
So far as is known Leicestershire has never been systematically worked with regard to its
hymenoptera. A few bees and wasps have been taken from time to time in different parts of the
county, and that is all that has been done. The hymenopterist has here full scope for his energies
and need not anticipate much rivalry in this field of research.
The members of the Psythorus and Crabro families are well represented and generally
abundant, as are also some of the Andrena, Nomada, and Fossores. Ichneumons are abundant but
practically nothing is known of them.
It is not intended to put the following notes forward in any way as a list, but it is
certainly advisable to show what has been done, or rather, in this case, what has' not been
INSECTS
done, and possibly in the future some hymenopterist may come forward and turn his attention
to our county.
Messrs. W. A. Vice, M.B., and G. B. Dixon have taken the following species :
ACULEATA
PoMPLIDAE
Priocnemis fuscus, L. Wigston
Trypoxilon clavicerum, Lep. Blaby
PEMPHREDONIDAE
Pemphredon lugubris, Latr. Blaby
NYSSONIDAE
Gorytes mystaceus, L. Blaby
MELLINIDAE
Mellinus arvensis, L. Blaby
CRABRONIDAE
Crabro leucostomus, L. Blaby
dimidiatus, Fb. Wigston
interruptus, De Geer. Blaby
VESPIDAE
Vespa vulgaris, L. Blaby. Gen. dist.
germanica, Fb. Blaby, Swithland
rufa, L. Blaby, Leicester
sylvestris, Scop. Blaby
norvegica, Fb. Blaby, Market Bosworth
EUMENIDAE
Odynerus spinides, L. Tilton
callosus, Thorns. Blaby
par'etum, L. Blaby
parietinus, L. Blaby
COLLETIDAE
Prosopis communis, Nyl. Blaby, Great Easton
ANDRENIDAE
Halictus rubicundus, Chr. Anstey Lane
cylindricus, Fb. Blaby, Wigston
subfasciatus, Nyl. Bardm Hill
tumuloruro, L. Anstey Lane
xanthopus, Kirby. Qwston Wood
leucozonius, Schr. Qwston
Andrena cingulata, Fb. Blaby
albicans, Kirb. Blaby, Sileby. Gen. dist.
trimmerana, Kirb. Gen. dist.
cineraria, L. Tilton
varians, Rossi. Titian
ACULEATA (continued)
ANDRENIDAE (continued)
Andrena fulva, Schr. Blaby, Ouiston, Tilton, Bradgate,
Evington
Clarkella, Kirb. Blaby
- ch ysosceles, Kirb. Blaby, Sileby
labialis, Kirb. Owston
- nigroaenea, Kirb. Blaby, Sileby
Gwynana, Kirb. Blaby
praecox, Scop. Blaby
fuscata, Sm. John />' Gaunt
Afzeliella, Kirb. Blaby
Nomada succincta, Panz. Blaby, Peatling, Owston
alternata, Kirb. Blaby, Wigston, Owston, Silel'f,
Sixhills, Kibworth
ruficornis, L. Blaby, Owston, Kibworth, 'Ratciife,
Norton
ochrostoma, Kirb. Blaby, Owston
Fabriciana, L. Blaby, Owston
APIDAE
Melecta armata, Panz. Blaby, Aykstone, Kibworth
Megachile circumcincta, Lep. Blaby
centuncul.iris, L. Blaby, Wigston
Chelostoma flori omnc, L. Blaby, Rothley
Osmia rufa, L. Blaby, Evington, Tilton, Ratcliffe,
Sileby
Anlhophora pilipes, Fb. Blaby, Knigbton, Owston,
Bardon, Scraptoft, Kibworth
Psithyrus campestris, Panz. Blaby, Owston, Bardon
quadricolor, Lep. Blaby
rupestris, Fb. Owston, Swithland
vestalis, Fourc. Owstcn, Swithland
barbutellus. Kirby, Owston, Swithland, &c.
Bombus cognatus, Steph. Gen. dist.
muscorum, L. Gen. dist.
latreillellus, Kirb. Blaby, Owston, Leicester, Kib-
worth, Longcliffe, Swith/and, Scraftoft, &c.
hortorum, L. Gen. dist.
v. harrisellus, Kirb. Blaby, Leicester, Owston
schrimshiranus, Kirb. Bradgate, Owston, Kib-
worth, Bardon, Swithland, Sixhills, Billesdon
pratorum, L. Gen. dist.
sylvarum, L. Blaby, Bradgate, Owston, Sixhills,
Galby
derharaellus. Kirb. Blaby, Owston, Sixhills, Kib-
worth, Scraftoft, Billesdon, &c.
lapidarius, L. Gen. dist.
terrestris, L. Gen. dist.
leucorum, L. Gen. dist.
A HISTORY OF LEICESTERSHIRE
COLEOPTERA
Beetles
The county of Leicester is rich in Coleoptera, nearly 1,800 species being recorded. The late
Mr. Fred Bates, better known as an authority on the Heteromera, his brother, Mr. H. W. Bates, of
Amazon fame, the Rev. A. Matthews, the latter as a specialist on the Tricopteryigidae, have largely
contributed to make the list so complete. Following them come Mr. H. Holyoak, who first dis-
covered Trachodes bhpidus at Buddon Wood, Mr. J. H. Harris, of Burton-on-Trent, and in more
recent years the writer of this article, Messrs. H. St. J. Donisthorpe, F.Z.S., C. B. Headly, F.E.S.,
J. H. Wooley, Rev. Canon Cruttwell, Dr. Barrow, and others have all worked hard at the county
distribution.
About twelve species are confined to the county. Tetropium castaneum (since described on the
continent as Tetropium gabrielli, by Weise) was added to the British list by the author, and has since
been taken in other counties.
Calasoma inquisitor occurs at Buddon Wood, rather more north than its normal range, and the
specimens are darker than those from the south. Blethisa multipunctata is very abundant at times at
the various reservoirs.
Bembidium clarki and B. assimi/eare. both recorded from Thornton, whilst B. obliquum and B.flam-
mulatum are two of our most abundant species. Hydroporus longulus, always an exceedingly rare
beetle, occurs in the ditches at Bradgate Park, Hydaticus transversa/is is noted from Gumley, Hydro-
cbui brevis from near Leicester, Dinarda markeli, with Formica rufa, at Buddon Wood, Philonthus
quisquilarius var. dimidiatus has been found at all our reservoirs; the type is one of the most abundant
species, and Oxyporus rufus is recorded from fungi in the autumn at Bardon Hill.
The next two species, Omalium brevicorne and O. testaceum, were added to the British list by
Rev. A. Matthews. Both were taken at Gumley, and, so far as we have been able to ascertain,
have not been taken since. Another interesting record by the same worker is the first capture in
England of Neuraphcs sparshalli var. minutus. Triathron markeli has been taken from under fir
trees by evening sweeping, at Bardon Hill.
In the Tricopterygidae our records are strong. In Tricopteryx we have twenty-five specimens,
including T. fratercu/a, the only British record, T. attenuata, only taken in two other counties,
T. brevis^ with only one other record, T. longicornis from Market Harborough and Gumley, but not
recorded elsewhere ; T. jansoni three specimens (unique) from Gumley, T. guerinii, only two other
records, T. fuscu/a (unique) from Gumley, T. vario/osa, added to the British list from Gumley, but
since taken in several other counties. Ptilium rugulosum is only recorded from Gumley in England,
but it occurs, however, in Scotland. Ptenidum laevigatum, again, is probably the only record.
P. kratzn was taken by Canon Fowler at Buddon Wood out of nests of Formica rufa. This species
is only recorded from one other locality, viz. Rannoch (Scotland).
Orthoperus brunnipes, also from Gumley, and according to Fowler, the only other specimen
known, is in Mr. Wilkinson's collection. O. punctulatus, the only example known, was taken by
Rev. A. Matthews at Gumley.
Sphaerius acaroides was taken at Gumley in 1855 by Rev. H. Matthews. Scymnus arcuatus
was added to the British list by Wollaston, who took it out of old ivy at Shenton Hall on 24 August,
1872; since then it has been taken in Surrey. Pediacus dermestiodes is a recent addition to the
county list by the author, from the Bosworth district, Trip/ax aenea from Leicester Frith, Cryptarcha
imperialis from Bardon, Cerymbites aeneus on the Charnwood Forest Hills; Ax'motarsus rtificollis is
recorded from Sheet Hedges Wood by Mr. A. R. Wallace. As it is our only record of the beetle,
and the only note of the famous explorer, probably it was taken during one of the excursions which
he made with H. W. Bates and F. Bates before the great Amazon trip was arranged.
Til/us elongatus and Thanasinus formicarius from Owston, the latter from a Cossus-infested tree;
from the same wood the author has taken Molorchus minor three times, and since in the Bosworth
district in numbers.
Monochammus sartor and M. tutor are both recorded from Leicester, Phytoecia cylindrica from
Gumley, Stenostola ferrea from Sutton Cheney, but on the whole the county is not strong in
Longicornes.
Zeugophora flavicollis was taken at Seal Wood by the late Mr. J. T. Harris. Melasoma aenea,
a local insect, has been found at Swithland, Phyllobrotica quadrimaculata is abundant in places where
the Scullcap (Scutellaria) grows, Clinocara tetratoma, Hallomenus humeralis, Phloetrya rufipei have all
been found in several localities ; Oncomera femorata has come to sugared trees, Brachytarsus fasciatus
has been found at Sheet Hedges Wood and Kibworth, Tropideres niveirostris was taken at Buddon
Wood by Mr. F. Plant on 9 September, 1860 ; the same collector added T. sepicola to the British
66
INSECTS
list from the same place, where he got it out of a bag of oak branches, and another specimen has
been taken in the New Forest, and is now in the Bates collection. Rhynchites interpunctatus occurs
on young hawthorn buds at Buddon Wood, and R. pubescens on oak. A single specimen of the rare
Otiorhynchus ligustrici was taken at Bradgate by Mr. H. W. Bates, and Caenopsis fissirostris in the same
locality. Cryphalus abietis was first discovered in England at Gumley, by Rev. A. Matthews, but
has since been taken in several other localities.
In the space available it is only possible to give a list of the rarer species, with brief notes on
the more important ones.
Most of the species not recorded by Fowler for the Midlands are specially mentioned, though
it is quite possible many of them occur in our adjoining counties. ' No other Midland record '
refers to Fowler's British Coleoptera.
The classification followed is that of Beare and Donisthorpe.
ClCINDELIDAE
Cicindela campestris, L. Bradgate, n.c.
CARABIDAE
Cychrus rostratus, L. n.c.
Carabus catenulatus, Scop. n.c.
granulatus, L. Local along Soar Valley
arvensis, F. Beacon Plain
Calosoma inquisitor, L. Buddon and Seal Woods
Notiophilus substriatus, Wat. Market Harborough
district
aquaticus, L. n.c.
palustris, Duft. n.c.
Leistus spinibarbis, F. r. Buddon Wood (Barrow)
fulvibarbis, Dej. n.c.
ferrugineus, L. Local
rufescens, F. Local
Nebria brevicollis, F. v.c.
Blethisa multipunctata, L. At the various reservoirs
in some numbers
Clivina collaris, n.c.
Dyschirius politus, Dej. Market Bosworth
aeneus, Dej. r.
Badister unipustulatus, Bon. Market Bosworth
sodalis, Duft. Sheet Hedges Wood, v.r.
Chlaenius vestitus, Payk. Syston, v.r.
nigricornis, F. Groby Pool, Thornton, n.c.
var. melanocornis, Dej. Groby Pool, r.
Oodes helopiodes, F. Groby, Cropston, r.
Stenolophus vespertinus, Panz. Reservoirs, v.c.
Acupaipus dorsalis, F. Market Harborough
exiguus, Dej. Market Harborough
meridianus, L. Near Leicester, n.c.
Bradycellus placidus, Gyll. Market Harborough, r.
cognatus, Gyll. Market Harborough, r.
verbasci, Duft. Bradgate, Market Bostvorth, n.c.
harpalinus, Dej. Bradgate, Market Harborough, n.c.
collaris, Payk. Market Harborough, r.
- similis, Dej. Bradgate, r.
Harpalus puncticollis, Payk. n.c.
rufibarbis, F. n.c.
latus, L. Buddon, Gumley, n.c.
tardus, Panz. Gumley (Matthews)
Dichirotrichus pubescens, Payk. Gumley, r.
Anisodactylus binotatus, F. Groby Pool (H. W. Bates)
Zabrus gibbus, F. Gumley (Matthews)
Stomis pumicatus, Panz. Bradgate, Leicester Frith, n.c.
Pterostichus versicolor, Sturm. Gumley
oblongopunctatus, F. Sutton Ambien, v.c., under
chips (Bouskell)
niger, Schall. Bradgate, n.c. (F. Bates)
anthracinus, 111. Bradgate, Gumley
nigrita, F. Bradgate, Saddington
CARABIDAE (continued)
Pterostichus minor, Gyll. n.c.
picimanus, Duft. Soar Valley (F. Bates) ; Glen-
field (Wooley)
inequalis, Marsh. Gumley (Matthews) ; Stoughton
(Headly)
vernalis, Gyll, n.c.
Amara aulica, Pz. n.c.
convexiuscula, Marsh. Market Harborough
bifrons, Gyll. Leicester Frith (Wooley)
- ovata, F. n.c.
similata, Gyll. n.c.
lunicollis, Schiod. Soar Valley, r.
communis, Panz. n.c.
- plebia, Gyll. Local
Amphigynus piceus, Marsh. Bradgate, n.r.
Sphodrus leucophthalmus, L. Local
Anchomenus oblongus, Sturm, r.
atratus, Duft. n.c.
micans, Nic. Local
gracilis, Gyll. Bradgate, r.
piceus, L. n.r.
thoreyi, Dej. r.
puellus, n.r.
Bembidium aeneum, Germ. r.
fumigatum, Duft. Groby Pool
assimile, Gyll. c.
clarki, Daws. n.c.
articulatum, Panz. n.c.
doris, Panz. SaJJington
gilvipes, Sturm, n.c.
affine, Steph. Near Leicester
- femoratum, Sturm, n.c.
bruxellense, Wesm. v.r.
- flammulatum, Clairv. c.
varium, Ol. r.
obliquum, Sturm. At all the reservoirs in count-
less numbers
Tachypus pallipes, Duft. Loughborough
flavipes, L. Stoithlana 1 , r.
Trechus discus, F. n.c.
nicros, Herbst. n.c.
rubens, F. v.r.
secalis, Payk. r.
HALIPLIDAE
Brychius elevatus, Panz. Local
Haliplus flavicollis, Sturm, r.
variegatus, Sturm. Local
cinereus, Aubi. Local
fluviatilis, Aub6. r.
Cnemidotus impressus, F. Gumley, r. There appear
to be no Midland records besides this in Fowler
6 7
A HISTORY OF LEICESTERSHIRE
PELOBIIDAE
Pelobius tardus, Herbst. Tburmaston. One of the
few records north of London
DYTISCIDAE
Noterus sparsus, Marsh, v.r.
Bidessus geminus, F. Thringstone
Coelambus versicolor, Schal. n.c.
decoratus, Gyll. v.r.
confluens, F. n.c.
parallelogrammus, Ahr. r.
Hydroporus granularis, L. v. local
- rivalis, Gyll. n.c.
septentrionalis, Gyll. Stony ditches, r. (H. W.
Bates). This is a northern species which one
would not expect to find
- vittula, Er. Bradgate, v.r.
longulus, Muls. Bradgate, in running ditches,
v.c. at times
- discretus, Fairm. n.c.
ferruginous, Steph. Gumley (Matthews). This
appears to be the only Midland record
Agabus didymus, Ol. r. and local
- femoralis, Payk. n.r.
abbreviate, F. v.r.
Ilybius fenestratus, F. Soar Valley, n.c.
Copelatus agilis, F. Gumley
Rhantus exoletus, Forst. n.c.
- pulverosus, Steph. A single specimen near
Leicester (T. B. Kirby)
Dytiscus circumflexus, F. Stoughton (Bouskell)
Hydaticus transvcrsalis, Berg. v.r.
GYRINIDAE
Gyrinus minutus, F. Gumley
Orectochilus villosus, Mull. Bradgate, under sub-
merged logs abundant, no other locality in the
county
HYDROPHILIDAE
Hydrophilus piceus, L. Syston, many years ago
Hydrobius oblongus, Herbst. Usually a coast
species, but recorded from Gumley
Philydrus testaceus, F. r.
- nigricans, Zett. Bradgate, n.c.
melanocephalus, Ol. Local
Cymbiodyta ovalis, Th. c.
Enochrus bicolor, Pk. v.r.
Anacaena bipustulata, Steph. n.c.
Berosus signaticollis, Charp. Gumley
luridus, L. n.c.
Chaetarthria seminulum, Pk. v.r.
Helophorus rugosus, Ol. c.
dorsalis, Marsh, n.c.
brevicollis, Th. Avstej (F. Bates)
nanus, Sturm. Two specimens taken by Mr. T. B.
Kirby in the Leiceiter district
Hydrochus brevis, Hbst. v.r.
Henicocerus exsculptus, Germ. v.c. Bradgate
Cercyon obsoletus, Gyll. Local
marinus, Th. Local
nigriceps, Marsh. Bradgate, n.r.
terminatus, Marsh. Local
minutus, F. r. in dung Leicester district
STAPHYLINIDAE
Aleochara lata, Gr. Buddon
cuniculorum, Kr. Bradgate, I.
- lygea, Kr. Bradgate, r.
moerens, Gyll. r.
moesta, Gr. Desford
Oxypoda formiceticola, Mark. Buddon Wood, in nests
of Formica rufa (Donisthorpe, Bouskell)
recondita, Kr. Buddon Wood, in nests of Formica
rufa (Donisthorpe)
annularis, Sahl. Local
Ischnoglossa corticina, Er. r.
Ocyusa picina. Aub. r.
Ilyobates propinquus, Aub. Market Bosworth, n.c.
Calodera nigrita, Man. r.
- rubens, Er. r.
Dinarda markeli, Kies. Buddon Wood, with Formica
rufa, v.c.
Atemeles emarginatus, Pk. v.r.
Myrmedonia collaris, Pk. Sadd'mgton, r.
Notothecta flavipes, Gr. Buddon, with Formica
rufa, c.
anceps, Er. Buddon, with Formica rufa, c.
- confusa, Mark. r.
Homalota pavens, Er.
gregaria, Er.
luteipes, Er.
luridipennis, Mann.
elongatula, Gr.
silvicola, Fuss. Buddon
vicina, Steph.
graminicola, Gr. Thornton
- fungivora, Th.
picipes, Th.
subglabra, Shp. Buddon
aequata, Er.
angustula, Gyll.
caesula, Er.
circellans, Gr.
- immersa, Er. Markficld
cuspidata, Er.
analis, Gr.
aenicollis, Shp.
Xantpoptera, Steph. Ulverscroft
fungicola, Th.
nigricornis, Th.
palustris, Kies.
testaceipes, Heer.
sericea, Muls.
atricolor, Shp.
hodierna, Shp.
cauta, Er.
villosula, Kr.
laevana, Muls.
intermedia, Th.
sordida, Marsh.
- aterrima, Gr.
laticollis, Steph.
fungi var. clientula, Er.
Gynpeta labilis, Er. Bradgate
Ischnopoda coerulea. Sahl. Gumley
Falagria sulcata. Pk.
sulcatula, Gr.
thoracina, Curt.
obscura, Gr.
Gryophaena poweri, Crotch. Gumtey the only
Midland record
bevipennis, Kr.
68
INSECTS
STAPHYLINIDAE (continued}
Gryophaena manca, Er.
strictula, Er.
Agaricochara laevicollis, Kr. Buddon
Placusa infima, Er. Gumley
Leptusa analis, Gyll. Gumley (Rev. A. Matthews),
only one other British specimen recorded
Sipalia ruficollis, Er. Buddon, &c. under bark
Bolitochara lucida, Gr. Owston Wood in fungi (Bous-
kell, Donisthorpe)
lunulata, Pk. n.r.
Hygronoma dimidiata, Gr. Saddington
Oligota inflata, Man.
pusillima, Gr.
flavicornis, Lac.
apicata, Er. Three specimens Gumley
Myllaena intermedia, Er.
elongata, Mat. Thornton
- gracilis, Mat. Gumley
brevicornis, Mat.
Deinopsis erosa, Steph. Bardon Hill and Thornton,
abundant in moss at margins of reservoirs
(Bouskell, Beare)
Hypocyptus ovulum, Heer. r.
seminulum, Er. r.
discoideus, Er.
Conosoma littoreum, L. Owston, n.c.
pubescens, Gr. Bardon, Owston, &c. n.c.
pedicularium, Gr. Gumley
lividum, Er.
Tachyporus solutus, Er. Klbwortk, Gumley, n.c.
pallidus, Shp. Kibtvorth
Cilea silphoides, L. In hot-beds n.r.
Tachinus pallipes, Gr. Bardon Hill
scapularis, Steph. Gumley, r.
elongatus, Gyll. Seal Wood
Megacronus cingulatus, Man. r.
analis, F. r.
Bryoporus cernus, Gr. Bardon Hill, out of moss
(Bouskell). I do not know of any other recent
British record
Habrocerus capillaricornis, Gr. r.
Heterothops praevia, Er. r.
Quedius longicornis, Kr. Buddon Wood, r.
microps, Gr. r.
fulgidus, F. n c.
cruentus, Ol. n.r.
brevis, Er. Buddon Wood, with Formica rufa.
I once took 50 specimens out of one nest
fumatus, Steph. r.
scintillans, Gr. r. in haystack refuse
rufipes, Gr. r.
attenuatus, Gyll. r.
semiaeneus, Steph. n.c.
Leistotrophus nebulosus, F. Gen. dist.
murinus, L. Gen. dist.
Staphylinus pubescens, DeG. Gen. dist.
stercorarius, Ol. r.
latebricola, Grav. Gumley, 3 specimens ; no other
record for the county
erythropterus, L. r.
casareus, Ceder. r.
Ocypus brunnipes, F. n.r. in woods
Philonthus nigriventris, Th. r.
quisquilliarius, var. dimidiatus, Er. This var. is
found abundantly, at all our reservoirs the type
is in millions. Fowler says it is not recorded
from the Midlands
69
STAPHYUNIDAE (continued)
Philonthus splendidulus, Gr. n.c.
nigrita, Nor. n.c.
micans, Gr. n.c.
nigritulus, Grav. Gumley
fulvipes, F. r.
puella, Nor. r.
Xantholinus fulgidus, F. Local
atratus, Gr. Buddon, with Formica ru!a, c.
tricolor, F. n r.
Leptacinus parumpunctatus, Gyll. r.
batychrus, Gyll. n.c.
formicetorum, Mark. Buddon Wood, with Formica
rufa
Lathrobium rufipenne, Gyll. Local
angustatum. Lac. r. Gumley. A southern
species
punctatum, Zett. r. Not recorded for many
Midland localities
fileforme, Gr. r.
- quadratum, Payk. r.
Achenium humile, Nic. Gumley
Scopaeus sulcicollis, Steph. Gumley
Medon apicalis, Kr. Gumley, only two other British
localities are given by Fowler
obsoletus, Nor. r.
Sunius filiforme, Lat. Gumley, generally a coast and
chalk insect
Paederus littoralis, Grav. r.
riparius, L. Market Bosworth is the only county
record
Evaesthetus scaber, Gr. Market Bom'orth Canal under
water weeds (Donisthorpe, Bouskell)
Dianous coerulescens, Gyll. Bradgate
Stenus ater, Mark. Gumley
canaliculatus, Gyll. r.
nitens, Steph. r.
fuscipes, Gr. n.c.
circularis, Gr. r.
crassus, Steph. r.
carbonarius, Gyll. Local
brunnipes, Steph. Local
fuscicornis, Er. Oviston Wood (Dr. Barrow)
geniculatus, Gr. Local
pallipes, Gr.
binotatus, Ljun. r.
pallitarsis, Steph.
picipennis, Er. Local
paganus, Er. n.c.
Oxyporus rufus, L. Bardon Hill, out of large fungi
(Bouskell)
m j. i , T, ("These 2 species from Gumlev
Bledms longulus, Er. ,\ . . ',
.?, f-^ \ are of interest, as inland
atricapillus, Germ. , ., .
\ records are not plentiful
Platystethus capito, Heer. Gumley
nitens, Sahl. Gumley, usually a chalk insect
Oxytelus rugosus, var. terrestris, Lac. Bradgate
piceus, L. Gumley
fairmairei, Pand. Gumley
Ancyropherus omalinus, Er. Gumley, Fowler only
gives 5 other English records
aureus, Fauv. Another local species from the
same locality
Trogophloeus corticinus, Gr. Local
Syntomium aeneum, Mull. Local
Lesteva sicula, Er. Local
Acidota crenata, F. r.
Coryphium angusticolle, Steph. Buddon
A HISTORY OF LEICESTERSHIRE
STAPHYLINIDAE (continued)
Homalium laeviusculum, Gyll. Gumley, usually a
coast insect
eziguum, Gyll. Local
oxycanthae, Gr. n.c.
salicis, Gyll. r.
brevicorne, Er. Gumley. The Rev. A. Matthews
introduced this species to the British list in
1862
iopterum, Stcph. Local
- planum, Pk. r.
deplanatum, Gyll. r.
testaceum, Er. Gumley, 3 specimens in 1862, in
rotten wood (Rev. A. Matthews) ; no other
British record is known
striatum, Gr. Local
Eusphalerum primulae, Pk. Local
Anthobium minutum, F. Local
sorbi, Gyll. Gumley, r.
Ptoteinus atomarius, Er. Gumley, r.
Megarthrus dcnticollis, Beck. r.
hemipterus, 111. r.
Phloecharis subtilissima, Man. Gumley
Prognatha quadricornis, Kirb. Under bark, local,
but n.r.
SILPHIDAE
Calyptomerus dubius, Marsh. Local
Clambus armadillo, DeG. r.
- minutus, Sturm, r.
Agathidium nigripenne, Kug. c. Under bark in
April
atrum, Payk. n.c.
seminulum, L. Sheet Hedges Wood, r.
laevigatum, Er. Buddon
- varians, Beck. Gumley
convcxum, Sharp. Bradgate
- nigrinum, Sturm. Local
Amphicyllis globus, F. Local
Liodes humeralis, Kug. Under oak bark
orbicularis, Hbst. r.
Cyrtusa minuta, Ahr. Gumley, one specimen
Anisotoma cinnamomea, Pz. Local evening sweeping
in woods
oblonga, Er. Bar Jon Hill, September evening
sweeping
dubia, Kug. Bradgate, r.
ovalis, Schm. Local
punctulata, Gyll. r.
calcarata, Er. n.r.
nigrita, Schm. n.r.
Colensis dentipcs, Gyll. Bardcm Hill, evening
sweeping
Triathron markeli, Schm. Bardon Hill, evening
sweeping
Necrodes littoralis, L. Abundant at times, but n.c.
Necrophorus interruptus, Steph. r. Leicester (Dr.
Barrow)
Silpha tristis, 111. n.r.
nigrita, Cr. c.
quadripunctata, L. Charntaood Forest, c.; not
found elsewhere in the county
reticulata, F. Buddm, Gumley, r.
opaca, L. Leicester, r.
thoracica, L. c.
rugosa, L. c.
sinuata, F. n.r.
SILPHIDAE (continued)
Silpha dispar, Hbst. Gnby and Sheet Hedges Wood
laevigata, F. r.
atrata, L. c.
var. brunnea. Buddon, Leicester Frith
Choleva angustata, F. c.
intermedia, Kr. r.
spadicea, Stm. r.
anisotomoides, Spence. v.r.
longula, Kell. r.
coracina, Kell. Gumley, v.r.
morio, F. r.
fumata, Spence. c.
Colon serripes, Sahl. Bradgate, r.
puncticolle, Kr. Gumley
- brunneum, Lat.
latum, Kr.
SCYDMAENIDAE
Neuraphes sparshalli, Den. r.
var. minutus, Chaud. First taken at Gumley
by Rev. A. Matthews
Scydmaenus godarti, Lat. Buddon Wood, with For-
mica rufa ; taken again recently after a lapse of
nearly forty years (Donisthorpe, Bouskell)
pusillus, Mull. Buddon Wood
Euconnus hirticollis. 111. r.
Euthia scydmaenoides, Steph. Kegworth
plicata, Gyll. Buddon Wood, with Formica rufa
PSELAPHIDAE
Bythinus puncticollis, Den. r.
- validus, Aub. r.
- curtisi, Denny, r.
- securiger, Reich. Buddon Wood
Rybaxis sanguinea, L. Saddington Reservoir, v.c.
Bryaxis haematica, Reich, r.
- impressa, Pz. r.
Biloporus bicolor, Den. r.
Euplectus kunzei, Aub. Gumley
- karsteni, Reich. Kegworth, Gumley, I.
signatus, Reich. Gumley
nanus, Reich. Gumley
TRICHOPTERYGIDAE
Ptinella aptera, Guer. r.
Trichopteryx thoracina, Waltl. Gumley, r.
anthracina, Mat. Gumley
fratcrcula, Mat. Gumley, 3 specimens ; no other
British record
grandicollis, Man. n.r.
- cantiana, Mat. Gumley ; only 3 other records
attenuata, Gill. Gumley, v.r.; only 3 other records
brevis, Mots. Gumley, twice in vegetable refuse ;
only one other British record from Repton
(Derby)
bovina, Mots. n.r.
brevipennis, Er. Local ; Gumley, Buddon Wood
longicornis, Man. Gumley, r. ; as far as I can
ascertain there is no other locality known
longula, Mat. r.
picicornis, Man. r.
jansoni, Mat. v.r. ; the only 3 British specimens
known were taken near Gumley by Rev. A.
Matthews
7
INSECTS
TRICHOPTERYGIDAE (continued)
Trichopteryx montandonii, All. n.c.
rivularis, All. Gumley, only recorded from one
other locality, Birmingham
guerini, All. Gumley; only 3 other records
fuscula, Mat. In moss Gumley (Rev. A. Matthews) ;
no other locality
chevrolati, All. Gumley
dispar, Mat. Gumley
variolosa, Muls. The first British specimen was
taken at Gumley
Smicrus filicornis, Fair. Gumley ; only four other
British records
Nephanes titan, New. Gumley
Ptilium rugulosum, All. Gumley ; no other British
locality is given
exaratum, All. Gumley
Ptenidium fuscicorne, Er. Gumley
laevigatum, Gill. Gumley probably the only
authentic British record
wankowiezi, Mat. Gumley
kratzi, Mat. Buddon Wood
CoRYLOPHIDAE
Orthoperus brunnipes, Gyll. Gumley (Rev. A.
Matthews); only one other British specimen
known, locality uncertain
punctatulus, Mat. Gumley (Rev. A. Matthews) ;
the only example known
Sphaerius acaroides, Waltl. Gumley ; only two other
British records
PHALACRIDAE
Phalacrus caricis, Stm. Bradgate, Market Bosworth,
Gumley
Olibrus corticalis, Pz. Gumley, Kibworth ; no other
midland records
aeneus, F. Leicester district, n.r.
bicolor, F. ) Leicester district, herbage near hedge
liquidus,Er. j banks n.c. ; no other Midland record
millefolii, Gumley ; no other Midland record
COCCINELLIDAE
Subcoccinella 24-punctata, L. Near Leicester, no
other Midland record
Hippodamia variegata, Goez. Gumley, Loughborough ;
no other Midland record
Anisosticta ig-punctata, L. Gumley
Adalia obliterata, Muls. Abundant on larch, firs,
and other conifers. I have a nearly black form
from Bardon Hill
Mysia oblongoguttata, L. Local
Anaitis ocellata, L. Bradgate, n.c. ; Bardon Hill, a
nearly black form
Coccinella hieroglyphica, L. Gumley
Hyperaspis reppensis, Hbst. Sheet Hedges, r.
Scymnus pygmaeus, Fourc. Gumley
frontalis, F. Gumley ; Birmingham seems to be its
northern limit
arcuatus, Ross. Shenton Hall, 24 August, 1872,
out of very old ivy added to the British list by
Wollaston; since then taken I believe in Surrey,
and a record previously doubted confirmed
haemorrhoidalis, Hbst. Gumley
minutus, Hbst. Gumley, the previous records are
confined to the SE. counties
COCCINELLIDAE {continued}
Chilocorus similis, Ross. On alders in woods, local
bipustulatus, L. Buddon &c., c.
Exochomus quadripustulatus, L. Bradgate, Buddon, c.
ENDOMYCHIDAE
Mycetaea hirta, Marsh. Kirby Muxloe
Lycoperdina bovistae. Buddon, Bardon, n.c.
Endomychus coccineus, L. Gumley
EROTYLIDAK
Dacne humeralis, F. Market Bosworth, Oaiston,
Gumley
rufifrons, F. c.
Triplax russica L. Local, but c. where it occurs
aenea, Schal. Leicester district, Gumley, local
CoLYDIIDAE
Orthocerus muticus, L. Fairly c.
Ditoma crenata, F. Gumley
Cerylon histeroides, F. Bradgate, Buddon Wood,
mahogany coloured form with Formica rufa
HlSTERIDAE
Hister unicolor, L. n.c.
merdarius r.
cadaverinus, Hoff. n.r.
- succicolor. Thorns. Bradgate
purpurascens, Hbst. Local
neglectus, Germ. r.
carbonarius, 111. Local
bissexstriatus, F. Leicester district, damp meadows,
n.c.
bimaculatus, L. In hot beds, n.r.
12-striatus, Schr. c.
Kissister minima, Aub. Gumley
Dendrophilus punctatus, Hbst. Local
pygmaeus, L. Buddon Wood
Gnathoncus nannetensis, Mars. Sutton Ambien, Gumley,
local
Saprinus aeneus, F. r.
Abraeus globosus, Hoff. r.
Halacritus punctum, Aub.
Acritus minutus, Hbst. r.
nigricornis, Hoft. Local
Ontophilus striatus, F. Local
MlCROPEPLIDAE
Micropeplus porcatus, Pk. r.
Margaritae, Duv. r.
NlTIDULIDAE
Brachypterus gravidus, 111. r.
Cercus pedicularis, L. Gumley
bipustulatus, Pk. Aylestone, r.
Carpophilus hemipterus, L. Leicester, in figs im-
ported
Epurea melina, Er. c.
oblonga, Hbst. Bradgate
silacea, Hbst. r.
longula, Er. Gumley
deleta, Er. c.
parvula, Stm. v.r.
variegata, Hbst. In fungi, n.c.
A HISTORY OF LEICESTERSHIRE
NITIDULIDAE (continued)
Omosiphora limbata, F. Anstey Lane, Gumley, n.c.
Micrurula melanocephala, Marsh. In fungi, dung,
n.c.
Nitidula 4-pustulata, F. Gumley
rufipes, L. Gumley
Soronia punctatissima, 111. Local
grisea, L. n.r. at sap.
Thalycra sericea, Stm. r.
Pocadius ferrugineus, F. Sheet Hedges Wood, r.
Pria dulcamarae, Scop. r.
Melegethes lumbaris, Stm. Ulverscnft, r.
- diflicilis, Heer. Gumley, r.
- memnobius, Er. r.
- pedicularis, Gyll. Local
- picipes, Stm. Bradgate on hieracium, n.r.
- symphiti, Heer. Gumley
murinus, Er. r.
Cychramus fungicolor, Heer. Owston, n.c.
Cryptarcha strigata, F. At sap, local
- imperialis, F. Bardon Rill, at birch sap, r.
Ips 4-guttata, F. c. at sap, and under birch bark
- 4-punctata, Hbst. Bardon, Buddon, Ou-ston, at
sap
^-pustulata, L. Leicester, Gumley, r.
Pityophagus ferrugineus, F. r ; Fowler says, ' I know
of no Midland record '
Rhizophagus cribratus, Gyll. r.
depressus, F. Bradgate, n.r.
perforatus, Er. Buddon, Gumley
- ferrugineus, Pk. Local
nitidulus, F. Local
- dispar, Pk. c. at birch sap and under bark
TROGOSITIDAE
Tenebrioides mauritanicus, L. Leicester, Ratby, local
Thymalus limbatus, F. Under fir bark (H. W.
Bates), Gumley
MoNOTOMIDAE
Monotoma conicollis, Aub. Buddon with Formica
rufa, c.
- formicetorum, Th. Buddon, with Formica rufa, c.
picipes, Hbst. n.r.
- longicollis, Gyll. Gumley
LATHRIDIDAB
Anomatus 12-striatus, Mull. r.
Lathridius angulatus, Man. Gumley
Enicmus testaceus, Steph. Gumley
Cartodere elongata, Curt. Leicester Frith
filiformis, Gyll. Gumley
filum Aub. Gumley (2)
Corticaria denticulata, Gyll. Gumley
- fenestralis, L. Leicester, c. in old houses ; Gumley
Melanopthalma transversalis, Gyll. var. Wollastoni,
Wat. Gumley
CUCUJIDAE
Pediacus dermestoides, F. Market Bosworth, Sutton
Ambien, under oak bark (Bouskell)
Laemophloeus ferrugineus, Steph. Leicester district
v.r.
Psammoechus bipunctatus, F. Gumley
CUCUJIDAE (continued}
Nausibius dentatus, Marsh. Gumley, &c. (an intro-
duced species)
Silvanus surinamensis, L. Leicester, &c. (an intro-
duced species)
unidentatus, Ol. Leicester
bidentatus, F. Leicestershire (H. W. Bates)
BYTURIDAB
Byturus sambuci, Scop. c.
tomentosus, F. c.
CRYPTOPHAGIDAE
Antherophagus nigricornis, F. c. but always occurring
by single specimens
pallens, Ol. r. Sutton Ambien (Donisthorpe)
silaceus, Hbst. r. Bradgate (H. W. Bates)
Cryptophagus setulosus, Stm. Bradgate, n.c.
punctipennis, Bris. Leicester
- populi, Pk. Bat-don Hill (Headly)
distinguendus, Stm. Bradgate, Gumley
- acutangulus, Gyll. r.
- fumatus, Gyll. Buck Hill Lane (F. Bates) ; Fowler
gives no Midland record
Paramecosoma melanocephalum, Hbst. Leicestershire
(H. W. Bates)
Atomaria nigriventris, Steph. Buddon Wood
umbrina, Gyll. Market Bosworth, &c.
badia, Er. Market Bosworth, sweeping under firs
(Donisthorpe, Bouskell)
fuscipes, Gyll. Gumley, r. inland
- peltata, Kr. Shenton, Market Bosworth
- nigripennis, Pk. Bradgate (F. Bates)
munda, Er. Gumley
- atra, Hbst. Leicester, r.
- berolincnsis, Kr. Gumley
mesomelas, Hbst. Nr. Leicester, Gumley
- apicalis, Er. Market Bosworth, evening sweeping,
Gumley
- versicolor, Er. Leicester
Ephistemus globosus, Waltl. Buddon, Bardon, n.r.
MYCETOPHAGIDAE
Triphyllus suturalis, F. Gumley
Litargus bifasciatu?, F. Market Bosworth, Owston,
Bradgate
Mycetophagus piceus, F. Market Bosworth in dead
birch r. (Donisthorpe, Bouskell)
atomarius, F. Gumley
multipunctatus, Hell. Market Bosworth, Qviston,
Leicester, &c., fungi on elms, c.
DERMESTIDAE
Dermestes vulpinus, F. c. in bones, but local
murinus Gen. dist.
lardarius, L. n.r. in dry skins, &c.
Megatoma undata, L. Market Bosworth, Buddon,
Qviston
Anthrenus varius, F. Gumley
Helocerus claviger, Er. Newtown Linford
BYRRHIDAB
Byrrhus fasciatus, F. Bradgate, Buddon, c.
dorsalis, F. Bradgate, n.c.
- murinus, F. Gumley
INSECTS
BYRRHIDAE (continued)
Cytilus varius, F. c.
Morychus aeneus, F. Guntley
Simplocaria semistriata, F. Bradgate, Gumley n.c.
Aspidiphorus orbiculatus, Gyll. Gumley
PARNIDAE
Elmis aeneus, Mull. Local
parallelopipedus, Mull. Gumley
Limnius tuberculatus, Mull. Bradgate, n.c.
Potaminus substriatus. Leicestershire (Bates)
Parnus auriculatus, Pz. Bradgate, &c., n.c. '
algiricus, Lucas. Bradgate, n.c.
HETEROCERIDAE
Heterocerus flexuosus, Steph. Soar Meadows
laevigatus, Pz. c.
obsoletus, Curt. Gumley
LUCANIDAE
Dorcus parallelopipedus, L. Market Bosworth, Lough-
borough
Sinodendron sylindricum, L. Market Bosworth, Otv-
ston, Buddon, c.
SCARABAEIDAE
Onthophagus coenobita, Hbst. Anstey, r.
fracticornis, Preys, r.
nuchicornis, L. r.
Aphodius erraticus, L. c.
subterraneus, L. c.
haemorrhoidalis, L. Market Bosworth, Kibworth,
&c., local
foetens, F. Charnwood Forest, Kibwortb, local
scybalarius, F. Anstey Lane, Leicester Frith, local
granarius, L. c.
nitidulus, F. Stoughton, Leicester Frith, v.r.
sordidus, F. Local
borealis, Gyll. Bradgate Hills, r.
plagiatus, L. Gumley, r.
porcus, F. Gumley, r.
tristis, Pz. Local
inquinatus, F. Market Bosviorth, Gumley, local
conspurcatus, L. Bardon Hill, r.
sticticus, Pz. Kibworth, r.
contaminatus, Hbst. Local, but n.r.
obliteratus, Pz. Stoughton, Bardon Hill, local
zenkeri, Germ. Market Bosworth, Bradgate, in
deer dung, c.
luridus, F. Bradgate, Leicester Frith, local
depressus, Kug. c.
Oxyomus porcatus, F. Soar Valley, Bradgate, local
Geotrupes mutator, Marsh. Gumley, local
sylvaticus, Pz. Charnwood Forest, Owston, Market
Bosviorth, c.
vernalis, L. Charnwood Forest, n.c.
Trox sabulosus, L. Bradgate, in rabbit skins, c.
scaber, L. Soar Valley, Bradgate, local
Hoplia philanthus, Fus. Soar Meadows, n.c.
Serica brunnea, L. Charnwood Forest, n.c.
Rhizotrogus solstitialis, L. Saddington, Gumley, local
Phyllopertha horticola, L. Local
Cetonia aurata, L. Blaby, Humberstone, Kibworth, r.
BUPRESTIDAE
Agrilus laticornis, 111. Woods, n.c.
angustulus, 111. Buddon, r.
Trachys minuta, L. Gumley.
THROSCIDAE
Throscus dermestoides, L. Bradgate, r.
obtusus, Curt. Gumley
EUCNEMIDAB
Melasis buprestoides, L. Bardon Hill, in numbers
(Bouskell). Blake Hayes
ELATERIDAE
Lacon murinus, L. Bradgate, Kibworth, n.c.
Cryptohypnus riparius, F. c. in Soar Valley
quadripustulatus, F. r. in Soar Valley
dermestoides, Hbst. Bradgate, n.c.
Elater balteatus, L. Charnwood Forest, n.c.
Megapenthes tibialis, Lac. Gumley
Athous niger, L. Local, but c.
longicollis. Ol. Local
vittatus, F. Woods, n.r.
Limonius minutus, L. Aylestone, Leicester Frith
Sericosomus brunneus, L. Local
Adrastus limbatus, F. Evington, r.
Corymbites pectinicornis, L. Owston, c. ; Charnwood,
r. ; Sutton Ambien, &c.
cupreus, F. Charnwood, c. ; Market Bosworth, &c.
tessellatus, F. Local
- qucrcus, Gyll. Local
holosericeus, F. Bradgate, n.c.
aeneus, L. Charnwood Hills, n.r.
bipustulatus, L. Buddon (7), 1853 (F. Bates),
not taken since
- metallicus, Pk. Aylestone, r.
Campylus linearis, L. c.
DASCILLIDAE
Dascyllus cervinus, L. Charnwood, n.r.
Helodes marginata, F. r. in woods
Microcara livida, F. Bradgate, &c., n.r.
- var. bohemanni, Man. Kibworth
Cyphon coarctus, Pk. Bradgate, Leicester district
variabilis, Thunb. Sheet Hedges, c. ; Gumley
- pallidulus, Boh. Gumley
padi, L. Gumley
Prionocyphon serricornis, Mull. Buddon, r. (Donis-
thorpe, Bouskell)
Scirtes hemisphericus, L. Newton Unthank, r.
LAMPYRIDAE
Lampyris noctiluca, L. Bradgate, n.r. Does not
appear to occur elsewhere in the county
TELEPHORIDAE
Podabrus alpinus, Pk. Gen. dist.
Telephorus fuscus. Gumley
bicolor, F. Bradgate, c.
oralis, Germ. Gen. dist. n.c.
thoracicus, Ol. Leicestershire, r. (F. Bates)
Rhagonycha unicolor, Curt. Sheet Hedges,'r.
- fuscicornis, Ol. Local
73 I0
A HISTORY OF LEICESTERSHIRE
TELEPHORIDAE (continued}
Malthinus fasciatus, Ol. Local
balteatus, Suff. Local
fronulis, Marsh. Bradgate
Malthodes flavoguttatus, Kies. Leicester, n.c.
guttifer, Kies. Charnwood, local
Thornton, r.
Gen. dist.
Gumley, Bradgate (Taylor)
MELYRIDAE
dispar, Germ.
minimus, L.
atomus, Th.
Malachius aeneus, L. Gumley, r.
- viridis, F. Gumley
Axinotarsus ruficollis, Ol. Sheet Hedges (Wallace)
Anthocomus fasciatus, L. Groby, Bradgate, r.
Dasytes flavipes, F. n.c.
- aerosus, Kies. Bradgate, &c., c.
Haplocnemus impressus, Marsh. Gumley
nigricornis, F. Markfield
Phloeophilus edwardsi, Steph. Gumley, occasionally
on oaks
CLERIDAE
Leicester, Owston, Market
Owston, under Cossus
Anstey
Tillus elongatus, L.
Bosu'orth, r.
Thanasimus formicarius, L.
bored bark (Bouskell)
Necrobia ruficollis, F. Gen. dist.
violacea, L. Gen. dist.
rufipes, De G. Klbworth
Corynetes coeruleus, De G. Market Bosworth in
Anobium borings ; c. Leicester
PTINIDAE
Ptinus 6-punctatus, Pz. Gumley
- lichenum, Marsh. Gumley
Niptus crenatus, F. Klrby Muxloe, in pigeons' nests
Hedobia imperialis, L. Gen. dist. but usually single
specimens
ANOBIIDAE
Dryophilus pusillus, Gyll. Market Bosworth, sweep-
ing under firs ; Bradgate, r.
Priobium castaneum, F. Bardon, Gumley, &c.
Anobium denticolle, Pz. Leicester district, swept
from herbage under elms
paniceum, L. Gumley
Xestobium tessellatum, F. Leicester Frith, Gumley
Ernobius mollis, L. Aylestone, Klrby Muxloe
Ptilinus pectinicornis, L. Glen Parva, Kibworth
Ochina hederae, Mull. Sheet Hedges
Dorcatoma chrysomelina, Stm. Market Bosworth in
old birch ; Sutton Amblen, v.c. in oak (Bouskell,
Donisthorpe)
LYCTIDAE
Lyctus canaliculatus, F. On new oak palings, n.r.
ClSSIDAE
Cis micans, Hbst. Gumley
hispidus, Pk. Under fir bark, probably Cham-
wood (H. W. Bates)
- bidentatus, Ol. Sheet Hedges, Gumley
alni, Gyll. Buddon, Gumley
nitidus, Hbst. Gumley
- punctulatus, Gyll. Gumley
festivus, Pz. Bradgate
CISSIDAE (continued)
Rhopalodontus perforatus, Gyll. Gumley
Enneathron affine, Gyll. Gumley
cornutum, Gyll. Bradgate
Octotemnus glabriculus, Gyll. Bardon, Melton Mow-
bray, Leicester
CERAMBYCIDAE
Aromia moschata, L. Leicester, Quorn, Cavendish
Bridge on osiers. Mr. J. Weildt used to take
it in quantities near Loughborough by putting
down fresh dough
Tetropium grabrielli, Weise. Near Market Bosworth
first taken by the writer, and added to the
British list as T. castaneum, but afterwards de-
scribed as a species new to Europe by Weise.
These specimens were the first taken in Europe
Callidium violaceum, L. v.c. where it occurs, Market
Bosworth, Kirby Muxloe, Saddlngton, &c.
variabile, L. Market Bosworth, Gumley, Buddon,
Leicester, n.c.
alni, L. Buddon, Gumley, r.
Clytus arietis, L. c.
mysticus, L. Sutton Amblen, Owston, c. ; Buddon, r. ;
Leicester, Gumley
Gracilia minuta, F. Leicester, Gumley
Molorchus minor, L. Owston Wood, 1895, 1903,
1904 ; Market Bosworth, 1904, 1906, 1907, n.r.
Searching thorn blossom (Bouskell)
umbcllatarum, L. Charnwood forest, no modern
record
Rhagium inquisitor, F. Gen. dist.
- bifasciatum, F. Bardon, Buddon, Owston, Bradgate
Toxotus meridianus, L. Gen. dist. Black ab., some
years more abundant than type
Pachyta collaris, L. Gumley
Leptura livida, F. Gumley
Strangalia armata, Hbst. Gen. dist.
nigra, L. Gumley
melanura, L. Gen. dist.
Grammoptera tabacicolor, De G. Gen. dist.
ruficornis, F. Gen. dist.
LAMIIDAE
Leiopus nebulosus, L. Widely dist. but local
Pogonochaerus bidentatus, Th. Bardon, Buddon,
ston, n.c.
dentatus, Fourc. Buddon, under oak bark in
winter ; Owston, Bradgate
Saperda populnea, L. Blake Hayes Wood
Tetrops praeusta, L. Buddon, Humberstone, Kib-
worth
Stenostola ferrea, Schr. Sutton Amblen, 18 June, 1903
(Bouskell)
Phytoecia cylindrica, L. Gumley
BRUCHIDAH
Bruchus cisti, F. Gumley
rufimanus, Boh. Market Bosworth, Leicester Frith,
Gumley
affinis, Froh. Gumley
atomarius, L. Klbworth, Gumley
villosus, F. Sheet Hedges, Leicester
74
INSECTS
CHRYSOMELIDAE
Orsodacna cerasi, L. Gumley
Donacia crassipes, F. River Soar, c.
dentata, Hopp. River Soar, n.c.
versicolora, Brahm. Bradgate
sparganni, Ahr. Misterton
dentipes, F. Misterton, Gumley
limbata, Pz. c.
bicolora, Zsch. Bradgate, Kibwortb
thalassina, Germ. Bradgate
impressa, Pk. Kibworth
simplex, F. c.
vulgaris, Zsch. Ulverscroft, Bradgate
- clavipes, F. River Soar, canal nr. Leicester
semicuprea, Pz. Bradgate, canal Market Bosworth
sericea, L. c.
discolor, Pz. Gumley
braccata, Scop. Canal Leicester district
affinis, Kunz. Leicester
Haemonia appendiculata, Pz. Groby Pool (Plant)
Zeugophora subspinosa, F. Sheet Hedges (H. W.
Bates)
flavicollis, Marsh. Seal Wood (J. T. Harris)
Crioceris asparagi, L. c.
Clythera 4-punctata, L. Buddon, with Formica rufa,
c. ; Bardon, Sheet Hedges. F. rufa does not occur
in the two latter woods.
Cryptocephalus coryli, L. Gumley
bipunctatus, L. var. lineola, F. Sviithland, Blaby,
Gumley, r.
aureolus, Suff. Gumley
hypochaeridis, L. Blake Hayes, Gumley, r.
moraei, L. Gumley
fulvus, Goez. Anstey Lane, r.
pusillus, E. Sheet Hedges
labiatus, L. Woods, local
Lamprosoma, concolor, Stm. Gumley
Timarchia tenebricosa, F. Anstey Lane, Buddon, &c.
violaceo-nigra, De G. Bradgate, c.
Chrysomela marginata, L. Gumley
staphylea, L. c.
polita, L. c.
orichalcia, Mull. Knighton, Gumley
varians, Schal. Buddon
fastuosa, Scop. Loughborough, Aylestone, Kibworth, c.
didymata, Scrib. Brazil Wood, on Hypericum
perforatum
hyperici, Forst. Sheet Hedges
Melasoma aeneum. Sviithland Wood, on alders
populi, L. Bradgate
Phytodecta rufipes, De G. c.
olivacea, Forst. c.
v. litura, F. Sviithland
Gastroidea viridula, De G. c.
Phaedon concinnus, Steph. Cropston, Groby Pooi
Phyllodecta cavifrons, Th. c.
Hydrothassa aucta, F. Buddon, damp meadows, n.r.
Phyllobrotica 4-maculata, L. Bradgate, Buddon, Crop-
ston, c. on Scutellaria
Luperus nigrofasciatus, Goez. Gumley
flavipes, L. Gumley
Lochmaea crataegi, Forst. Sheet Hedges, Gumley
Galerucella viburni, Pk. SwithlanJ Wood, Leicester
nymphaea, L. Groby, Thornton, c.
lineola, F. SaJdington, c.
- calmariensis, L. Bradgate
- tenella, L. c.
Adimonia tanaceti, L. Bradgate, Buddon, local, c.
CHRYSOMELIDAE (continued)
Sermyla halensis, L. Bradgate, c.
Longitarsus anchusae, Pk. Leicester district, Kibworth
ater, F. Markfield. Buddon, &c.
holosaticus. L. Beacon Hill
4-guttatus, Pont. Gumley
castaneus, Duft. Evington
luridus, Scop. Kibworth, Gumley
fusculus, Kuts. Gumley
suturellus v. fuscicollis, Steph. Bradgate, on rag-
wort
atricillus, L. Leicester, Kibworth, Gumley, n.c.
atriceps, Kuts. Kibworth, Gumley
picipes, Steph. Stoughton
lycopi, Foud. Gumley
waterhousei, Kuts. Gumley
femoralis, Marsh. Gumley
tabidus, F. Bradgate, c., on ragwort
rutilus, 111. Gumley
Haltica coryli, Al. Gumley
pusilla, Duft. Gumley
Hermaeophaga mercurialis, F. Gumley
Phyllotreta nodicornis, Marsh. Gumley
nigripes, F. Gumley
consobrina, Curt. Kibworth
punctulata, Marsh. Gumley
cruciferae, Goez. Narborough
- vittula, Redt. Leicester Frith, Kibworth
ochripes, Curt. Leicester Frith, Kibworth
- sinuata, Steph. Gumley
tetrasigma, Com. Sheet Hedges
Apthona nigriceps, Redt. Gumley
nonstriata, Goez. Gumley
venustula, Kuts. Gumley
atrocoerulea, Steph. Gumley
virescens, Foud. Gumley
atro-virens, Forst. Kibworth
herbigrada, Curt. n.c.
Batophila rubi, Pk. c.
aerata, Marsh. Gumley
Mniophila muscorum, Koch. Gumley
Podagrica fuscipes, L. Gumley
fuscicornis, L. Gumley
Mantura obtusata, Gyll. Gumley
Ochrosis salicariac, Pk. Gumley
Crepidodera nitidula, L. CharnwooJ, on aspens, n.r.
helxines, L. c.
Epitrix pubescens, Koch Gumley
Chaetocnema confusa, Boh. Gumley
hortensis, Fourc. Anstey, Bradgate
Psyllioides chrysocephala, 111. Buckhill Lane
marcida, 111. Gumley
dulcamarae, Koch. Gumley
hyoscyami, L. Gumley
luteola, Mull. Anstey Lane
picina, Marsh. Leicester district, osier holts, n.c.
Cassida murraea, L. Gumley
vibex, L. Leicestershire (H. W. Bates)
flaveola, Thunb. Sheet Hedges, Gumley
equestris, F. Bradgate, n.c., Loughborough
TENEBRIONIDAE
Blaps similis, Lat. Glenfield (Wooley)
Scaphidema metallicum, F. Glen Parva, Desford,
Leicester Frith, Gumley
Tenebrio obscurus, F. Leicester Frith, in bone meal
Gnathocerus cornutus, F. Leicester, Leicester Frith
75
A HISTORY OF LEICESTERSHIRE
TBNEBRIONIDAE (continued)
Tribolium ferrugineum, F. Leicester, Leicester Frith,
Gumley
confusum, Duv. Leicester, flour mills
Helops coeruleus, L. Recorded from Gumley many
years ago by Rev. A. M. Matthews, but there
is no other note
LAG RI i DAE
Lagria hirta, L. c.
ClSTELIDAE
Cistela murina, L. Bradgate, Sheet Hedges
MELANDRYIDAE
Tetratoma ancora, F. Markfield
Orchesia micans, Pz. Gumley
Clinocara tetratoma, Th. Sutton Amb'ten Wood, Gumley
Hallomenus humeralis, Pz. Leicester, Market Bosworth
Conopalpus testaceus, Ol. Bradgate, n.c. ; Gumley
- var. vigorsi, Steph. Bradgate, r.
Melandrya caraboides, L. Charmvood Forest, r.
Abdera 4-fasciata, Curt. Sutton Ambien, in dead oak
under bark (Bouskell, Donisthorpe)
Phloeotrya rufipes, Gyll. Bradgate, Market Bosworth
PVTHIDAE
Salpingus castaneus, Pz. Gumley
Lissodcma 4-pustulata, Marsh. Anstey Lane, Gumley,
twice
OEDEMERIDAE
Oedemera nobilis, Scop. Gumley
lurida, Marsh. Gumley
Oncomera femorata, F. Gumley, at sugared trees
Ischnomera coerulea, L. Sheet Hedges
MORDELLIDAE
Anaspis garneysi, Fow. Bradgate
- geoffroyi, Mull. Kibworth, Gumley
subtcstacea, Steph. Buddon, Gumley
- maculata, Fourc. c.
ANTHICIDAE
Anthicus floralis. c.
var. quisquilius, Th. Kibworth
MELOIDAE
Meloe proscarabeus, L. Bardon, EarlSbilton
ANTHRIBIDAE
Brachytarsus fasciatus, Fo st. Sheet Hedges, Kibworth,
v.r.
- varius, F. Sheet Hedges, out of hazel helm
Tropideres niveirostris, F. Buddon Wood
- sepicola, F. Buddon Wood, 18 August, 1856, the
first British specimen (F. Plant)
Choragus sheppardi, Kirb. Sheet Hedges, Kegworth
CuRCULIONIDAE
Apoderus coryli, L. Hazek in woods, local
Attelabus curculionides, L. Buddon, Otvston, Sutton
Ambien, c.
Byctiscus betuleti, F. Blaby, Gumley, r.
CURCULIONIDAE (continued)
Rhynchites cupreus, L. Gumley
aequatus, L. Charnwood forest, in blossom, n.c.
aeneovirens, Marsh. Buddon, Martin Sbato Wood,
c. in spring
coeruleus, De G. Gumley
minutus, Hbst. Gen. dist.
interpunctatus, Steph. Buddon Wood, on hawthorn
when just breaking into leaf, r.
pauxillus, Germ. Buddon
nanus, Pk. Bardon, Sheet Hedges, &c.
uncinatus, Th. Gumley
sericeus, Hbst. Buddon Wood, on birch, c..
Oioiton
pubescens, F. Buddon, Sheet Hedges, Sutton Ambien,
on oaks, n.c.
Deporaus megacephalus, Germ. Gumley
Apion pomonae, F. Leicester district, Kibworth
subulatum, Kirb. Gumley
ulicis, Forst. c. on furze
- malvae, F. Gumley
urticarium, Hbst. Gumley
miniatum, Germ. Leicester district, on Rumex
obtusifolius, r. ; Kibworth
cruentatum, Walt. Aylestone, n.c.
- haematodes, Kirb. Dock and wild sage, c.
- rubens, Steph. Gumley
pallipes, Kirb. Sheet Hedges
rufirostre, F. On mallow, r.
- viciae, Pk. On Vicia cracca, n.c.
- difforme, Germ. Gumley
varipes, Germ. Gumley
apricans, Hbst. Clover fields, c.
bohemani, Th. Kibworth
trifolii, L. Bradgate, &c. n.c.
dichroum, Bed. Clover fields, c.
nigritarse, Kirb. Meadows, Leicester district,
n.c.
confluens, Kirb. Gumley
sorbi, F. Charnwood Forest, hedges, r.
aeneum, F. On mallow, c.
radiolus, Kirb. On mallow, local
onopordi, Kirb. On thistles, n.c.
- carduorum, Kirb. On thistles, n.r.
- atomarium, Kirb. Gumley
virens, Hbst. Grassy places, c.
punctigerum, Pk. Hedges, &c., c.
pisi, F. Vetches, c.
aethiops, Hbst. On Vicia sepium, c.
ebeninum, Kirb. Gumley
striatum, Kirb. Beacon Hi/7, on furze, c.
spencei, Kirb. Leicester district, r. in hedges
ervi, Kirb. Market Bosworth, on Vicia cracca
vorax, Hbst. Grassy places in woods
gyllenhali, Kirb. Gumley
- unicolor, Kirb. Gumley
- scutellare, Kirb. Beacon Hill, c. on ulex
waltoni, Steph. Gumley
loti, Kerb. On Lotus corniculatus, n.c.
seniculum, Kirb. c.
tcnuac, Kirb. c.
simile, Kirb. Gumley
curtisi, Curt, Gumley
marchium, Hbst. On Teucrium, c.
affine, Kirb. Gumley
violaceum, Kirb. On Rumex, c.
hydrolapathi, Kirb. On Rumex, c.
humile, Germ. v.c.
7 6
INSECTS
CURCULIONIDAE (continued)
Otiorhynchus raucus, F. Gumley
scabrosus, Marsh. Bradgate, Gumley
ligneus, Ol. BraJgate, near Anstey
ligustici, L. Bradgate, one specimen (H. W.
Bates)
rugifrons, Gyll. Gumley
ovatus, L. Bradgate, c.
Trachyphloeus squamulatus, Ol. BraJgate, v.r.
scaber, L. BraJgate, c.
scabriculus, L. BraJgate, r.
alternans, Gyll. Gumley
Caenopsis fissirostris, Walt. BraJgate, r. (Headly)
waltoni, Boh. BraJgate, n.r.
S rophosomus capitatus, De G. BraJgate, BudJon
var. fulvicornis, Walt. BraJgate
retusus, Marsh, BraJgate, Klbwortb
faber, Hbst. BraJgate, Klbworth
lateralis, Pk. Beacon Hill, Whltmck
Exomias araneiformis, Schr. Bradgate, BarJon
pellucidus, Boh. Gumley
Brachysomus echinatus, Bons. BraJgate
hirtus, Boh. Gumley
Sciaphilus muricatus, F. Woods, grassy places, n.r.
Tropiphorus carinatus, Mull. Gumley
tomentosus, Marsh. On Mercurialis perennis, c.
Liophloeus nubilus, F. n.r.
Metallites marginatus, Steph. Gumley
Polydrusus micans, F. Swithland Wood, Gumley
pterygomalis, Sch. c.
flavipes, De G. BuJJort
Phyllobius maculicornis, Germ. Gumley, Kibworth
Tanymecus palliatus, F. Anstey, on thistles ; Knighton
Barynotus obscurus, F. Loughborough, Leicester, Kib-
worth
schonherri, Zett. Loughborough, Leicester, Kill-
worth
elevatus, Marsh. Knighton, Loughborough, Leicester
Alophus triguttatus, F. c.
Sitones cambricus, Steph. Sheet Hedges
regensteinensis, Hbst. On furze and broom,
n.c.
waterhousei, Walt. Gumley
linellus, Gyll. Gumley
hispiduls, F. c.
humeralis, Steph. Sheet Hedges
meliloti, Walt. Gumley
suturalis, Steph. Aylestone, n.c.
Hypera pollux, F. Leicester Frith, Gumley
polygoni, L. On Rumex, r.
variabilis, Hbst. Leicester district meadows, n.c.
plantaginis, De G. c.
trilineata, Marsh, c.
Cleonus sulcirostris, L. Glenfeld
Liosoma oblongulum, Boh. BuJJon
Curculio abietis, L. On firs, BarJon, Market Bosworth,
n.c.
Trachodes hispidus, L. BudJon Wood, on oak twigs
in August, confined to one small area, but in
numbers, rediscovered by Holyoak
Orchestes avellanae, Don. Bardon Hill sweeping.
Gumley
fagi, L. Leicestershire (H. W. Bates)
rusci, Hbst. Sheet Hedges, on aspens, r.
Rhampus flavicornis, Clair. Local
Orthochaetes setiger, Beck. Gumley
Grypidius equiseti, F. Aykstone, Knighton, Klbworth,
Gumley
CURCULIONIDAE (continued)
Erirhinus scirpi, F. Syston, Klbworth
bimaculatus, F. Gumley
acridulus, L. c.
Thryogenes festucae, Hbst. Leicester district, r.
nereis, Pk. Sheet Hedges, r.
scirrhosos, Gyll. Canal Bank, near Leicester
Dorytoraus vorax, F. Leicester Frith, Gumley
tremulae, Pk. Gumley
tortrix, L. Sheet Hedges, on aspens, n.c.
maculatus, Marsh, c.
affinis, Pk. Gumley
melanophthalmus, Pk. v. agnathus, Boh. Ratby
Lane. v.r.
pectoralis, Gyll. Markfeld, Buddon
majalis, Pk. Gumley
Tanysphyrus lemnae, F. Syston
Bagous alismatis, Marsh. Bradgate, Groby, n.c.
glabirostris, Hbst. Syston
Anoplus plantaris, Naez. Sheet Hedges, Swithland
roboris, Suff. Swithland
Acalyptus rufipennis, Gyll. Gumley
Elleschus bipunctatus, L. Aspens and sallows, borders
of woods, r.
Tychius meliloti, Steph. Gumley
tomentosus, Hbst. Aylestone, n.r.
tibialis, Boh. Gumley
Miccotrogus picirostris, F. Syston
Sibinia primita, Hbst. Sheet Hedges, v.r.
Miarus campanulae, L. Gumley
plantarum, Germ. Gumley
Gymnetron beccabungae, L. Anstey, Leicester, n.c.
pascuorum, Gyll. Meadows. Local
labilis, Hbst. Sheet Hedges, n.r.
antirrhini, Pk. Gumley
Mecinus circulatus, Marsh. Gumley
Anthonomus pedicularis, L. Hedges &c., n.r.
pomorum, L. BudJon, DesforJ, Leicester
varians, Pk. Gumley
Nanophyes lythri, F. Bardon, Gumley
Cionus scrophulariae, L. c. in woods
tuberculosus, Scop. BudJon, Gumley
thapsus, F. Buddon, Gumley
hortulanus, Marsh, c. in woods
blattariae, F. c.
pulchellus, Hbst. c.
Orobitis cyaneus, L. Buddon. c.
Cryptorhynchus lapathi, L. Quorn, Loughborough, in
osiers, c.
Acalles roboris, Curt. Buddon, in dead oak twigs
ptinoides, Marsh. BuJJon (Holyoak)
turbatus, Bon. BuJJon, Gumley
Coeloides rubicundus, Hbst. Gumley
cardui, Hbst. Leicester district, on nettles, r.
geranii, Pk. Gumley
Poophagus sisymbrii, F. c.
nasturtii, Germ. Gumley
Ceuthorhynchus constrictus, Marsh. Aylestone, v.r.
cochleariae, Gyll, damp meadows, n.c.
ericae, Gyll. Beacon Hill, Bradgate
contractus, Marsh, c.
cyanipennis, Germ. Leicester
chalybaeus, Germ. Gumley
quadridens, Pz. Leicester district, osier holts,
n.c. Klbworth
pollinarius, Forst. c.
picitarsis, Gyll. Gumley
rapae, Gyll. Gumley
77
A HISTORY OF LEICESTERSHIRE
CURCULIONIDAE (continued)
Ceuthorhynchus marginatus, Pk. c.
urticae, Boh. Gumley
rugulosus, Hbst. Bradgate
- melanostictus, Marsh. Leicester district, v.r.
asperifoliarum, Gyll. Bradgate. r.
chrysanthemi, Germ. c.
litura, F. Loughborough, Gumley
Ceuthorhynchidius floralis, Pk. c.
pyrrhorhynchus, Marsh, c.
melanarius, Steph. Gumley
horridus, F. Gumley
troglodytes, F. c
Amalus haemorrhous, Hbst. Gumley
Rhinonchus gramineus, F. Soar Valley, r.
- perpendicularis, Reich. Damp meadows, n.r.
castor, F. Bradgate
Litodactylus leucogaster, Marsh. Gnby Pool, Buddon
Phytobius comari, Hbst. Aylestone
- 4-tubercuIatus, F. Woodhouse
- canaliculatus, Fahr. Thornton, Gumley
Limnobaris t-album, L. Woods and meadows, n.c.
Baris laticollis, Marsh. Gumley
- picicornis, Marsh. Aylestone
- lepidii, Germ. Gumley
Balaninus venosus, Grav. In floods April 1843
(Plant) is our only note of this species
nucum, L. c. On hazels in woods
- villosus, F. Sheet Hedges, Buddon, Sutton Amblen
Woods
Calandra granaria, L. Flour mills, Leicester
- oryzae, L. Flour mills, Leicester
Stcreocorynes truncorum, Germ. Gumley
Magdalis armigera, Fourc. Leicester district on elms.
n.c.
- cerasi, L. Buddon, Sheet Hedges, r.
- pruni, L. On blackthorn, n.r.
barbicornis, Lat. Gumley
SCOLYTIDAE
Scolytus destructor, c. in elms
pruni, Ratz. Gumley
intricatus, Ratz. Gumley
rugulosus, Ratz. Gumley
multistriatus, Marsh. Qwston, Leicester Frith, Gumley
SCOLYTIDAE (continued)
Hylastes ater, Pk. c. in oak.
cunicularius, Er. Near Gumley, once (Matthews)
angustatus, Hbst. Gumley
Hylastinus obscurus, Marsh, n.c.
Hylesinus crenatus, F. Ash. n.c.
oleiperda, F. Gumley
vittatus, F. Gumley
Myelophilus piniperda, L. c. in pines
Cissophagus hederae, Schm. Leicester Frith
Xylechinus pilosus, Ratz. Leicestershire
Phloeophthorus rhododactylus, Marsh. Gumley
Cryphalus abietis, Ratz. Gumley, out of Scotch fir
the first British specimens (Matthews)
Pityophthorus pubescens, Marsh. Gumley
Xylocleptes bispinus, Duft. Gumley
Dryocaetes villosus, F. Bradgate, Gumley, Bardon
Pityogenes chalcographus, L. Gumley
bidentatus, Hbst. Buddon, Gumley
Trypodendron domesticum, L. Buddon, Bardon,
Qwston, in oak. c.
Xyleborus dryographus, Ratz. Gumley
ABNORMAL COLEOPTERA
STYLOPIDAE
Stylops melittae. Kirb. f in various species of An-
drena no note of <$
INTRODUCED SPECIES
CARABIDAE
Carabus auratus. Swithland, probably introduced
with plants (W. Moss)
DERMESTIDAE
Anthrenus scrophulariae, L. Gumley (Matthews)
CERAMBYCIDAE
Monohammus sartor, F. Leicester
sutor, L. Leicester, Aylestone
tittilator, F. Leicester, a specimen in the Bates
collection
Serropalpus striatus, Heil. Leicester
LEPIDOPTERA
Butterflies and Moths
For Lepidoptera the county of Leicester is hardly an ideal one, though a good many workers at
various times have left on record many interesting notes.
A list of the Macro Lepidoptera by Messrs. Bouskell and Headly was published in 1891 in the
Transactions of the Leicester Literary and Philosophical Society.
The Micros have not been thoroughly worked, though the Rev. Canon Cruttwell and others
have done some good work in this direction.
Amongst those who have studied the county distribution and contributed their notes to the
writer, which are comprised in an unpublished list of the Lepidoptera compiled by him, are the
late Rev. A. Matthews who worked the Market Harborough district, the late Mr. J. Weildt of
Loughborough, Mr. F. R. Rowley of Exeter, the late Rev. J. H. Hind of Quorn, Mr. G. B. Dixon
of Leicester, Mr. C. B. Headly, of Leicester, Mr. W. J. Kaye of Ditton Hill, Rev. G. W. Whitting-
ham of Knighton, and the Rev. A. R. Birkenhead of Market Bosworth.
78
INSECTS
A number of records are also taken from the Burton-on-Trent list by the late Mr. J. T. Harris
and Dr. P. Mason, as their district includes part of Leicestershire.
A number of melanic forms occur in the neighbourhood of Leicester and will be dealt with in
the notes to the list.
The classification followed is that of South.
RHOPALOCERA
PlERIDAK
Pieris brassicae, L. (Large White) ^ .-,
T /c 11 iin.-* \ Common every-
rapae, L. (Small White) > , '
napi, L. (Green-veined White))
Anthocharis cardamines, L. (Orange Tip.) Gen. dist.,
larvae on garden rocket ; >s also at rest on that
plant
Leucophasis sinapis, L. (Wood White.) Recorded by
Stainton and Coleman ; there is only one other
record from Earl Shilton in 1880
Colias hyale, L. (Pale Clouded Yellow). Recorded by
Stainton. I have a specimen taken in the
Anstey Lane in 1877
edusa, F. (Clouded Yellow.) Occasionally in
numbers, notably in 1877, 1893, and 1900 all
over the county
var. helice, Hb. This pale form has occurred
in 1877 Anstey Lane, 1893 Stoughton, 1900
Cadeby
Gonopteryx rhamni, L. (Brimstone). Odd specimens
always occurring throughout the county, abun-
dant in 1900, usually rare
NYMPHALIDAE
Argynnis selene, Schiff. r. Loughborough, Quorn, Charn-
zvood Forest
euphrosyne, L. Owston, Bradgate, Seal Wood,
Quorn, Knighton
aglaia, L. v.c. at Bradgate forty years ago now
extinct, Market Bosworth one specimen 1906
probably blown over from Staffordshire
adippe, L. Owston, Skfffington, Billesdon, Quorn, r.
paphia,L. Owston, c.,Quorn, Seal Wood, Gum/ey,Sf.c.
Melitaea aurina, Rott. Recorded by Stainton, Charn-
wood Forest (E. Brown) ; Bardon Hill, 1892,
E. S. Pink, is the only recent record
Vanessa C-album, L. (Comma.) No recent records, but
notes from Gumley, Quorn, Loughborough, Blaby,
Anstey, Seal Wood
polychloros, L. (Large Tortoiseshell.) Quorn,
Owston, Sutton Ambien, Kibworth, Tugby, Scrap-
toft, &c., r.
urticae, L. (Small Tortoiseshell.) Gen. dist.
io, L. (Peacock.) Gen. dist.
antiopa, L. (Camberwcll Beauty.) Leicester a
number of specimens in 1873, also from Lough-
borough, Bitteswell
atalanta, L. (Red Admiral.) Gen. dist.
cardui, L. (Painted Lady.) Gen. dist.
APATURIDAB
Apatura iris, L. (Purple Emperor.) Recorded by
Stainton but no recent record
SATYRIDAE
Melanargia galatea, L. (Marbled White.) A chalk
insect ; recorded from Gumley(R.ev. A. Matthews),
Quorn (J. H. Hind)
RHOPALOCERA (continued)
SATYRIDAE (continued)
Pararge egeria, L. (Speckled Wood.) v.r., Bardon Hill,
Seal Wood, Quorn, Gumley, Loughborough
megaera, L. (Wall.) Chamwood, Mountsorrel, Six-
hills, Billesdon, Tilton, Ratcliffe, Quorn, Gumley
Epinephele janira, L. (Meadow Brown.) Gen. dist.
tithonus, L. About brambles when in bloom,
gen. dist.
hyperanthes, L. (Ringlet.) Common in a few woods
but local, Bardon, Scraftoft, Skejpngton, Owston,
Sutton Ambien, Barkby, Sixhills, Gumley
ab. arete, Mull. The form without spots on the
under side has been taken at Owston
Coenonympha pamphilus, L.C. c. on heaths and open
spaces
LYCAENIDAE
Thecla W-album, Knoch. Local but abundant in
some localities, Owston Wood, v.c., Evington,
Rothley, Swithland, Buddon, Loughborough, Seal
Wood, Sutton Ambien, Quenby, Scraptoft
quercus, L. n.c. but found round young oaks,
Charnwood Forest, Ulverscroft, Swithland, Quorn,
Bardon, Anstey, Gumley, Seal Wood, Owston,
Sutton Ambien
rubi, L. Recorded from Quorn (Rev. J. H. Hind)
Polyommatus phleas, L. Gen. dist.
Lycaena astrache, Bgstr. r. near Gumley (Matthews)
icarus, Rott. c. and gen. dist.
argiolus, L. Local but widely dist. Gumley,
Quorn, Kibworth, Bradgate, Market Bosworth
ERYCINIDAE
Nemeobius lucina, L. Recorded from Quorn (Rev. J. H.
Hind) ; occurs in some numbers in Rutland
and Northants, so maybe found on that side of
the county at Owston or other woods
HESPERIIDAE
Syrichthus malvae, L. Very local but abundant at
Owston Wood, has occurred at Loughborough,
Gumley, Quorn, Sixhills, Market Bosworth
ab. taras, Meig. Owston
Nisoniades tages, L. Local, Loughborough, Gumley,
Buddon, Owston, Quorn
Hesperia thaumas, Hufn. Local but fairly common
where it occurs, Loughborough, Quorn, Gumley,
Sixhills, Owston, Tilton, Wellesborough
sylvanus, Esp. Fairly common in woody places
where it occurs, Owston, Sutton Ambien, Quorn,
Loughborough, Gumley, Sixhills, Ratcliffe, Ashby,
Barkby
HETEROCERA
SPHINCIDAE
Acherontia atropos, L. A number of records from
all parts of the county, always rare however
79
A HISTORY OF LEICESTERSHIRE
HETEROCERA (continued)
SPHINGIDAE (continued)
Sphinx convolvuli, L. Many casual records through-
out the county, probably occurs every year
ligustri, L. r., recorded from Quorn, Loughborough,
Gumley, Leicester, Blaby
Deilephila galii, Schiff. Casual visitors recorded from
Loughborough and Gumley
livornica, Esp. Stainton and Morris both record ;
there is a recent record from Leicester, doubtless
emigrants
Choerocampa celerio, L. Recorded by Stainton and
Morris, Leicester, 1885 (F. R. Rowley)
- porcellus, L. Buddon at rhododendrons, Market
Bostcorth at honeysuckle, Gumley , Bar Jon
- elpenor, L. Loughborough, larvae on willow-herb,
Quern, Gumley, Lelcest, r, Syston, Lvwtsby
Smerinthus ocellatus, L. Gen. dist. Market Bostvorth,
Leicester, Croft, Bradgate, Brooksby, Loughborough,
Aylestone
populi, L. Gen. dist.
- tiliae, L. r., Loughborough, Gumley, Blaby
SESIIDAE
Trochilium apiformis, Clerck. Wigston, Gumley, r.
- craboniformis, Lewin. Osier beds nr. Loughborough,
Cavendish Bridge, Leicester years ago
Macroglossa stellatarum, L. Gen. dist.
- fuciformis, L. Bardon Hill at honeysuckle, Otuston
Wood at ragged robin (Bouskell)
- bombyliformis, Och. An old record from Earl
Shilton
Sesia tipuliformis, Clerck. In gardens on currant
trees, Quorn, Market Bostcorth, Knighton, Carl-
ton, &c.
asiliformis, Rott. Bradgate on ragwort, Buddon
on oak trunk (Bouskell)
- culiciformis, L. Seal Wood (J. T. Harris)
formiciformis. Loughborough, Groby
ZYGAENIDAE
Ino statices, L. Oaiston Wood, abundant but confined
to a small area, Gumley
Zygaena trifolii, Esp. Recorded by Stainton
(Rev. J. H. Hind)
- lonicerae, Esp. Quorn, probably occurs at
Charnwood Forest
filipendulae, L. Anstey, Aylestone, Quorn, Padding-
ton, Omton, Shenton, Tilton, Rearsby, but very
local
BOMBYCES
NYCTEOLIDAE
Hylophila prasinana, L. Quorn, Bardon, Sutton Ambien
bicolorana, Fuchs. Quom, Market Bosteorth, r.
NoLIDAE
Nola cucullatella, L. Gen. dist.
strigula, SchifF. Gumley, Quorn
confusalis, H.S. Bred from larva off oak, Knifbton
(C. B. Headly)
80
BOMBYCES (continued)
LlTHOSIIDAE
Nudaria senex, Hb. Gumley
mundana, L. Gumley, Quorn, Bradgate, Market
Bosworth
Lithosia mesomella, L. Gumley (Rev. A. Matthews)
griseola, Hb. Market Harborough, Loughborough,
Kibworth
var. stramineola, Dbl. Knighton (Bouskell) ;
Gumley (Matthews)
lurideola, Zinck. Knighton, Oadby, Gumley, Lough-
borough, Kibworth
Gnophria quadra, L. One record from Gumley
(Matthews)
Deiopeia pulchella, L. One specimen of this migrant
was taken near Loughborough (J. Weildt)
EuCHELIIDAE
Euchelia jacobaeae, L. Common on ragwort at
Charnwood Forest, occasionally on groundsel
CHELONIIDAE
Nemeophila russula, L. Gumley
plantaginis, L. Quorn, Ulverscroft, Bardon Hill,
(J. T. Harris) ; no recent record
Arctia caia, L. Gen. dist.
Spilosoma fuliginosa. Bardon Hill, Gumley, Quorn
lubricepeda, Esp. Gen. dist.
manthastri, Esp. Gen. dist.
urticae, Esp. Knighton, also Burton-on-Trent
district
HEPIALIDAE
Hepialus humuli, L. Gen. dist. and destructive to
herbaceous plants larvae feeding on roots
sylvanus, L. Gen. dist.
velleda, Hb. Charnwood Forest, c. ; Knighton,
Market Bostcorth, Loughborough, Gumley, very
variable
lupulinus, L. Gen. dist.
hectus, L. Market Bosworth, Omton Wood, Chant-
wood, Gumley, usually in woods on the wing
before dusk
COSSIDAE
Cossus ligniperda, Fb. Gen. dist., destructive to
timber, especially willows, in the Loughborough
district
Zeuzera pyrina, L. Gen. dist., not so common as
preceding insect
LIPARIDAE
Porthesia chrysorrhoea, L. Local near Leicester,
Loughborough, Gumiey
similis, Fues. c. and gen. dist.
Leucoma salicis, L. Leicester, Loughborough, Gumley,
Anstey Lane
Ocneria dispar, L. An old record from Earl Shilton
many years ago, now undoubtedly extinct
Psilura monacha, L. Quorn, Buddon Wood
Dasychira fascelina, L. Gumley
pudibunda, L. Local, Quorn, Loughborough,
Market Harborough ; larvae, nr. Leicester
Orgyia gonostigma, Fb. Loughborough, bred from
larvae ; Gumley, r.
antiqua, L. c. and gen. dist.
INSECTS
BOMBYCES (continued')
BoMBYCIDAE
Trichiura crataegi, L. Leicester, Ashby de la Zouch,
Market Harborough, Loughborough ; larvae, Mar-
ket Bosworth
Poecilocampa populi, L. Gen. dist., larvae, Leicester,
Market Bosworth
Eriogaster lanestris, L. c. in larvae state
Bombyx neustria, L. Quorn, Loughborough, Market
Harborough s a form without the white lines
occurs in the Soar Valley
quercus, L. Widely dist. but n.c.
Odonestris potatoria, L. Gen. dist., larvae c.
Lasiocampa quercifolia, L. Leicester, Earl Shilton, no
recent record
SATURNIIDAE
Saturnia carpini, Schiff. Two old records, now extinct
DREPANULIDAE
Deprana lacertinaria, L. Bardon Hill on birch ;
Ashby de la Zouch
falcataria, L. Owston and Cloud Woods, Bardon
Hill
binaria, Hufn. Market Bosworth, Bardon Hill,
Loughborough
Cilix glaucata, Scop. Gen. Dist.
DlCRANURIDAE
Dicranura furcula, L. Leicester, Loughborough, Gumley,
Cloud Wood, i.
bifida, Hb. Loughborough, Cloud Wood, Gumley
vinula, L. Gen. dist.
NoTODONTIDAE
Pterostoma palpina, L. Market Bosworth, Leicester,
Quorn, Gumley ; freely at light, also bred
Lophopteryx camelina, L. Gen. dist.
cuculla, Esp. Stoneygate
Notodonta dictaea, L. Leicester, Loughborough, Gumley
dictaeoides, Esp. Quorn
dromedarius, L. Bardon Hill, Cloud Wood, Lough-
borough, Gumley
ziczac, L. Market Bosworth ; larvae Bardon Hill,
Loughborough
chaonia, Hb. Loughborough, larvae
trimacula, Esp. Seal Wood, Loughborough
PYGAERIDAE
Phalera bucephala, L. Gen. dist.
CYMATOPHORIDAE
Thyatira derasa, L. Market Bosworth at sugar,
(Birkenhead), Leicester district, Loughborough,
Gumley, n.c.
batis, L. Locally at sugar, Leicester, Loughborough,
Market Harborough
Cymatophora or, Fb. Gumley
duplaris, L. Buddon Wood at sugar
fluctuosa, Hb. Nr. Market Harborough
Asphalia diluta, Fb. Knlghton, Loughborough, Gumley
flavicornis, L. Bardon Hill at rest, larvae in rolled
up leaves of birch (Bouskell)
81
NOCTUAE
BRYOPHILIDAE
Bryophila muralis, Forst. Nr. Market Harborough
(Matthews)
perla, Fb. Gen. dist. on granite walls
BOMBYCOIDAE
Demas coryli, L. Buddon Wood, larvae also
Acronycta tridens, Schiff. Larvae gen. dist.
psi, L. v.c.
leporina, L. Cloud Wood, I. (Rev. G. A. Small-
wood)
aceris, L. Bradgate Park, Gumley, Loughborough
megacephela, Fb. Loughborough, Gumley, &c.
alni, L. Larvae from Market Bosworth, Knightm,
Loughborough, Gumley, Ashby
ligustri, Fb. Larvae nr. Loughborough, Gumley
rumicis, L. Leicester, Owston Wood, Market Bos-
worth, Loughborough, Gumley, larvae fairly c.
Diloba caeruleocephala, L. c.
LEUCANIIDAE
Leucania conigera. Aylcstone, Bradgate at sugar; Mar-
ket Bosworth, Loughborough, Owston Wood, Gumley
- turca, L. Nr. Loughborough (Weildt)
lithargyri.i, Esp. Gen. dist.
obsoleta, Hb. Nr. Market Harbonugh (Matthews)
- comma, L. Gen. dist.
impura, Hb. Gen. dist.
pallens, L. Gen. dist.
Coenobia rufa, Haw. Aylcstone
Tapinostola fulva, Hb. Market Bosworth, Leicester,
Gumley, Owston Wcod
Nonagria arundinis, Fb. In reed mace, John o'
Gaunt, Loughborough, Gumley
Calamia lutosa, Hb. Gumley
APAMEIDAE
Gortyna flavago, Esp. Market Bosworth, Leicester,
Gumley, Bardon Hill
Hydroecia nictitans, Bork. Gen. dist.
petasitis, Dbl. Stoneygate
micacea, Esp. Loughborough, Gumley, Market Bos-
worth, Leicester, n.c.
Axylia putris, L. Widely dist.
Xylophasia rurea, Fb. c.
- lithoxylea, Fb. Gen. dist.
sublustris, Esp. Quorn, Market Bosworth, Lough-
borough, Gumley, n.c.
monoglypha, Hufn. v.c.
hepatica, L. Gen. dist.
scolopacina, Esp. Gumley
Neuria reticulata, Vill. Loughborough (Weildt)
Neuronia popularis, F. c.
Chareas graminis, L. c.
Cerigo matura, Hufn. Quorn, Blaby, Gumley, Owston
Wood, at sugar
Luperina testacea, Hb. c.
cespitis, Fb. Stoneygate (Bouskell)
Mamestra abjecta, Hb. Knighton, Gumley
sordida, Bork. Stoneygate, Glen Parva
albicolon, Hb. Quorn
furva, Hb. Gumley
brassicae, L. v.c.
persicariae, L. v.c.
II
A HISTORY OF LEICESTERSHIRE
NOCTUAE (continued)
APAMEIDAK (continued)
Apamea basilinea, Fb. c.
connexa, Bork. Gum/ey
gemina, Hb. Aylestone, Loughborough, Market
Bosworth, Market Harbonugh
unanimis, Tr. Stoneygate, Gum/ey
leucostigma, Hb. Gum/ey
didyma, Esp. v.c.
Miana strigilis, Clerck. c.
fasciuncula, Haw. c. at sugar
bicoloria, Vill. Leicester, New Parks, Lough-
borough
arcuosa, Haw. Leicester, Bardon Hill, Owston
Wood, Market Bosworth
CARADRINIDAK
Grammesia trigrammica, Hufn. Wistow, Quorn,
Loughborough, Gumley, Market Bosworth
Caradrina morpheus, Hufn. Loughborough, Gumley,
Leicester
- alsines, Brahm. Loughborough
taraxaci, Hb. c.
4-punctata, Fb. Gen. dist.
Rusina tenebrosa, Hb. Buddon Wood at sugar ;
Loughborough, Gumley
NOCTUIDAE
Agrotis vestigialis, Hufn. Nr. Leicester (F. R.
Rowley)
- puta, Hb. Market Harborough
suffusa, Hb. Loughborough, Blaby
saucia, Hb. Loughborough, Blaby
segetum, Schiff. v.c.
exclamationis, L. v.c.
cortices, Hb. Loughborough, Leicester
nigricans, L. Loughborough, Gumley, Leicester,
Market Bosworth
agathina, Dup. Gumley
tritici, L. Gumley, Loughborough
praecox, L. Gumley (Matthews)
obscura. Quorn, Wigston, Kibworth, Gumley, at
sugar
simulans, Hufn . Near Market Harborough
Noctua glareosa, Esp. Whitwick
augur, Fb. v.c.
plecta, L. Gen. dist.
c-nigrum, L. Gen. dist.
triangulum, Hufn. Gumley, Buddon Wood
stigmatica, Hb. Gumley
brunnea, Fb. Whitwick, Knighton, Quorn, Blaby,
Loughborough, Gumley
festiva, Hb. Gen. dist.
var. conflua, Tr. Leicester
rubi, View. Gen. dist.
umbrosa, Hb. Quorn, Loughborough, Whitwick, Lei-
cester, Gumley
baia, Fb. Market Bosworth, Whitwick, Loughborough,
Gumley
- xanthrographa, Fb. Gen. dist.
Triphaena ianthina, Esp. Gen. dist.
fimbria, L. Loughborough, Quorn, Gumley, Owston
Wood
subscqua, Hb. Loughborough
conies, Hb. Gen. dist.
pronuba, L. v.c.
82
NOCTUAE (continued)
AMPHIPYRIDAE
Amphipyra pyramidea, L. Bradgate, Gumley, Otvston
Wood, Bardon Hill
tragopogonis, L. Gen. dist.
Mania typica, L. Gen. dist.
maura, L. Quorn, Leicester, Loughborough, Market
Bosworth, Gumley.
ORTHOSIIDAE
Panolis piniperda. Bardon Hill, n.c.
Pachnobia rubricosa, Fb. Leicester, Buddon Wood,
Bardon Hill, Market Bostvorth
Taeniocampa gothica, L. v.c.
var. gothicina, H. S. Knighton.
incerta, Hufn. Gen. dist.
populeti, Fb. Knighton, Loughborough, Gumley
stabilis, View. v.c.
- gracilis, Fb. Quorn, on osiers ; n. c. Loughborough,
Market Harborough
miniosa, Fb. Loughborough, Market Harborough
munda, Esp. Quorn, Knighton, Sutton Ambien,
Gumley, Loughborough
pulverulenta, Esp. v.c.
Ortnosia upsilon, Bork. Loughborough, Market Har-
borough
suspecta, Hb. Ulverscroft (Whittingham)
lota, Clerck. Knighton, Loughborough, Gumley
macilenta, Hb. Market Bosworth, Loughborough,
Gumley
Anchocelis rufina, L. Quorn, Loughborough, Bardon Hill
- pistacim, Fb. Gen. dist.
- lunosa, Haw. Kibwortk, Leicester, Loughborough,
Gumley
litura, L. Market Bosworth, Leicester, Quorn,
Loughborough, Gumley
Cerastis vaccinii, L. Knighton, Quom, Market Bos-
worth, Market Harborough
- spadicea, Hb. Market Harborough, Oadby
Scopelosoma satcllitia, L. Buddon Wood, Bardon Hi//,
Market Bosworth, Gumley, Knighton, Loughborough,
both at ivy and sallows in the spring
Dasycampa rubiginea, Fb. Loughborough (Weildt)
Oporina croceago, Fb. Gumley (Matthews)
Xanthia citrago, L. Quorn, Loughborough, n. c.
- fulvago, L. Knighton, Leicester, Gumley, Lough-
borough
flavago, Fb. Leicester, Loughborough, Gumley
aurago, Fb. Knighton at light, Quorn
- gilvago, Esp. Loughborough, Leicester, Gumley,
Harborough
circellaris, Hufn. Market Bosworth, Leicester,
Gumley, Quorn. Gumley, very variable, self-
coloured forms, n.r.
Cirrhocdia xerampelina, Hb. One of the character-
istic species found every year usually at light,
Leicester in numbers, Gumley, Loughborough
COEMIIDAS
Tethea subtusa, Och. Leicester, Gumley, Lount Wood,
Market Bosworth
retusa, L. Gumley
Calymnia trapezina, L. Gen. dist.
diffinis, L. Leicester, Quorn, Market Bosworth,
Loughborough, Gumley
affinis, L. Blaby, Quorn, Glen Parva, Willesley,
Gumley
INSECTS
NOCTUAE (continued)
HADENIDAE
Dianthoecia capsincola, Hb. Quorn, Gumley, Kib-
worth
cucubali, Fues. Owston, Bradgate, Swithland,
Market Bosworth, Gumley, Leicester
carpophaga, Bork. Quorn
Hecatera serena, Fb. Gumley
Polia chi, L. Gen. dist.
flavicincta, Fb. Gen. dist.
Epunda nigra, Haw. Recorded by Matthews from
Gumley, no other record
lutulenta, Bork. Euddon Wood
Cleoceris viminalis, Fb. Owston Wood at sugar
(Bouskell, Kaye)
Miselia oxyacanthae, L. Gen. dist.
Agriopis aprilina, L. Gen. dist.
Euplexia lucipara, L. Gen. dist.
Phlogophora meticulosa, L. Gen. dist.
Aplecta prasina, Fb. Owston, Market Bosuiorth, Bar-
Jon Hill
nebulosa, Hufn. Owston, Market Bosworth, Lough-
borough, Harborough, Lount Wood
occulta, L. Gumley
tincta, Brahm. Leicester, Gumley, Leicester district
Hadena adusta, Esp. Leicester, Gumley
protea, Bork. Gen. dist.
glauca, Hb. Gumley
dentina, Esp. Buddon, Market Bosworth, Gumky,
Owston, Kibworth
trifolii, Rott. Leicester, Gumky, Quorn
dissimilis, Knoch. Gen. dist.
oleracea, L. Gen. dist.
pisi, L. Loughborough, Gumley, Ashby de la Zouch
thalassina, Rott. Gumley, Market Bosworth,
Brooksby, Wigiton, Quorn
contigua, Vill. Gumley, Knightm
rectilinea, Gumley
XYLINIDAE
Xylocampa areola, Esp. Knighton, Market Bosworth,
Swithland, larvae Gumley
Calocampa vetusta, Hb. Quorn, Knighton at sallows,
Bar Jon Hill, Loughborough, Gumley
exoleta, L. Gumley, Loughborough, Quorn at sal-
lows
Xylina ornithopus, Rott. Gumley
semibrunnea, Haw. Gumley, Bardon Hill
socia, Rott. Gumley at ivy
Asteroscopus sphinx, Hufn. Leicester at lamps, Mar-
ket Bosworth larvae (Bouskell, Birkenhead)
Cucullia verbasci, L. Gumley, Market Bosworth larvae
on various species of verbascum, Medbourne,
scrophulariae, Esp. Gumley
umbratica, L. Gen. dist.
GoNOPTERIDAE
Gonoptera libatrix, L. Gen. dist.
PLUSIIDAE
Habrostola tripartita, Hufn. Market Bosworth, Leices-
ter, Gumley, Loughborough
triplasia, L. Leicester, Gumley, Market Bosworth at
valerian
NOCTUAE (continued}
PLUSIIDAE (continued")
Plusia moneta, Kibworth 1898, Market Bosworth abun-
dant feeding on six species of aconitum, also
delphinium, the former seems to be preferred
chrysitis, L. Gen. dist.
festucae, L. Leicester, Market Bosworth larvae on
mentha at margin of canal
iota, L. Gen. dist.
pulchrina, Haw. Gen. dist.
gamma, L. v. c.
HELIOTHIDAE
Anarta myrtilli, L. Quorn, Gumley, Owston
Heliaca tenebrata, Scop. Market Bosworth, Knighton,
Quorn, Gumley
Heliothis armigera, Hb. Leicester
ERASTRIIDAE
Erastria fasciana, L. Gumley
PoAPHILIDAE
Phytometra viridaria, Clerck. Gumlej
EUCUDIIDAE
Euclidia mi, Clerck. Owston, Buddon, Market Bos-
worth, Beacon Hill
glyph ica, L. Aylestone, Owston, Market Bosworth,
Quorn, Gumky
HERMISCIIDAE
Rivula sericealis, Scop. Buddon (Whittingham)
Zanclognatha tarsipennalis, Tr. Quorn
grisealis, Hb. Quorn
Pechypogon barbalis, Clerck. Kibworth, Quorn
HYPENIDAE
Bromolocha fontis, Thnb. Buddon (Whittingham)
Hypena ro^tralis, Buddon Wood amongst bilberry, July,
v. c.
proboscidalis, L. v. c.
BREPHIDAE
Brephos parthenias, L. Bardon Hill, Buddon Wood, a
fine lemon ab. from the former locality
notha, Hb, Swithland, Buddon
GEOMETRAE
UROPTERYGIDAE
Uropteryx sambucaria, L. Gen. dist., larvae off ivy
ENNOMIDAE
Epione parallellaria, Schiff. Earl Shilton, Quorn
apicaria, Schiff. Leicester, Loughborough, Gumley
Rumia luteolata, L. v. c.
Venilia maculata, L. Bradgate, Swithland. Local
Angerona prunaria, L. Loughborough, Gumley
Metrocampa margaritaria, L. Gen. dist.
Ellopia prosapiaria, L. Market Bosworth (Birkenhead)
Eurymene dolobraria, L. Knighton, Quorn, Gumley. r.
Pericallia syringaria, L. Leicester, also larvae, Market
Bosworth, Gumley
A HISTORY OF LEICESTERSHIRE
GEOMETRAE (continued)
ENNOMIDAE (continued')
Selenia bilunaria, Esp. Gen. dist., also summer form
juliaria
lunaria, Schiff. Kibworth, Knighton, Quorn, Gum-
ley, Staunton Harold, Oadby
tetralunaria, Hum. Loughborough larvae
Odontopera bidentata, Clerck. Gen. dist.
Crocallis elinguaria, L. Gen. dist.
Eugonia autumnaria, Wernb. Loughborough
- alniaria, L. (tiliaria, Bork). Gen. dist.
fuscantaria, Haw. Leicester district at lamps, v.c.
at times, larvae Gumley, larvae (Dixon)
erosaria, Bork. Gen. dist.
quercinaria, Hufn. Gen. dist.
Himera pennaria, L. Leicester, Gumley, Loughborough,
Market Bosworth, larvae
AMPHIDASYDAE
Phigalia pedaria, Fb. Gen. dist. ; black ab. Buddon,
Leicester, Market Bosworth
Nyssia hispidaria, Fb. Buddon Wood, abundant black
ab. r. Bar don Hill r.
Biston hirtaria, Clerck. Gumley
Amphidasys strataria, Hufn. Woods, gen. dist.
betularia, L. Gen. dist.
var. doubled.iyaria. Gen. dist. also inter-
mediate forms, commoner than it was twenty
years ago
BOARMIIDAE
Hemerophila abruptaria, Thnb. Gen. dist. ; a dark
form occurs occasionally
Clcora glabraria, Hb. Recorded from Gumley (Mat-
thews)
- lichenaria, Hufn. Loughborough, Gumley
Bo.irmia repand.it.i, L. c.
- gemmaria, Br.ihm. Gen. dist.
- roboraria, Schift". Gumley
- consoruria, Fb. Gumley
Tephrosia consonaria, Hb. Gumley
crepuscularia, Hb. Gen. dist.
biundularia, Bork. Gen. dist. ; a dark form occurs
- punctularia, Hb. Bardon Hill, Swithland, Lough-
borough
GEOMETRIDAE
Pseudopterpna pruinata, Hufn. Loughborough, Gumley.
n.c.
Geometra papilionaria, L. Swithland Woodvcd. larvae ;
Seal Wood, Loughborough, Gumley
Phorodesma pustulata, Hum. Knighton, Market Bos-
worth, probably overlooked (Bouskell, Bir ken-
head)
lodis lactearia, L. Gen. dist.
Hemithea strigata, Mull. Gen. dist.
EPHYRIDAE
Zonosoma punctaria, L. Bradgate Park, Loughborough,
Quorn
linearia, Hb. Owston Wood, Gumley
- annulata, Schulz. Quorn, Gumley
AciDALIIDAE
Asthena luteata, Schiff. Knighton, Swithland, Quom,
Market Bosworth, Omton Wood
candidata, Schiff. Gumley, Loughborough, Market
Bosworth, Otcston Wood
84
GEOMETRAE (continued)
AC.DALIIDAE (continued)
Asthena sylvata, Hb. Gumley, r.
Eupisteria obliterata, Hufn. Quorn, Loughbonugh
Acidalia dimidiata, Hufn. Quorn, Gumley
bisetata, Hufn. Gumley, Loughborough, Quom,
Owston Wood
trigeminata, Haw. Anstey Lane
marginepunctata, Goze. Quom, Gumley
immutata, L. Gumley, Quorn
remutaria, Hb. Loughborough
imitaria, Hb. Gumley
aversata. L. Gen. dist.
var. spoliata. Gen. dist. but not v.c.
emarginata, L. Quorn
Timandra amataria, L. Gen. dist.
CABERIDAE
Cabera pusaria, L. Gen. dist. in woods
exanthemaria, Scop. Gen. dist. in woods
Bapta temerata, Hb. Owston Wood, Quorn, Bardon
Hill, Gumiey
MACARIIDAE
Macaria alternata, Hb. Owston Wood
liturata, Clerck. Market Bosworth
Halia vauaria, L. Gen. dist.
FlDONIIDAB
Panagra petraria, Hb. Charnwood Forest. Gen. dist.
Ematurga atomaria, L. Open commons, Charnwood
Forest
Bupalus piniaria, L. Charnwood, Bradgate Park, Bar-
don Hill
Aspilates ochrearia, Rossi. Gumley
ZERENIDAE
Abraxas grossulariata, L. Gen. dist. and destructive.
sylvata, Scop. Charnwood Forest, Owston Wood,
abundant ; Market Bosworth, Gumley, &c.
Ligdia adustata, Schiff. Loughborough
Lomaspilis marginata, L. Swithland, Quorn, Buddon
Wood, Market Bosworth
LlGIlDAB
Pachycnemia hippocastanaria, Hb. Local, Quorn
HYBERNIIDAE
Hybernia rupicapraria, Hb. Gen. dist.
leucophearia, Schiff. Gen. dist. in woods, melanic
forms abundant
aurantiaria, Esp. Quorn, Gumley
marginaria, Bork. Gen. dist.
var. fuscata. Abundant near Leicester, Mar-
ket Bosworth
defoliaria, Clerck. Gen. dist.
Anisopteryx aescularia, Schiff. Gen. dist.
LARENTIIDAE
Cheimatobia brumata, L. Gen. dist. and destructive
at times
boreata, Hb. Quorn, probably overlooked in other
localities
Oporabia dilutata, Bork. Gen. dist.
filigrammaria, H. S. Leicester district
INSECTS
GEOMETRAE (continued
LARENTIIDAE (continued}
Larentia didymata, L. Gen. dist.
multistrigaria, Haw. Bardon Hill
caesiata, Lang. Recorded by Matthews from
Gumley (this requires confirmation)
salicata, Hb. Owston Wood
olivata, Bork. Gen. dist. in woods
Emmelesia affinitata, St. Knighton, Leicester, Gumley,
Market Boiioorth
albulata, SchifF. Gen. dist. but local
decolorata, Hb. Oa/ston Wood, Kibworth, Market
Bosworth, Gumley, Wigston, Quorn
adaequata, Bork. Gumley (Matthews)
Eupithesia venosata, Fb. Loughbonugh
linariata, Fb. Quorn, Loughbonugh, Knighton
pulchellata, St. Bardon Hill, larvae v.c. in digi-
talis flowers
oblongata, Thnb. Bardon Hill, Owston Wood,
Gumley, Ashby, Anstey, Oadby
subfulvata, Haw. Leicester, Gumley, Quorn, Ashby
satyrata, Hb. Knighton
castigata, Hb. Gen. dist.
fraxinata, Crewe. Charnwood (Whittingham)
- trisignaria, H. S. Cloud Wood. v.c.
albipunctata, Haw. Uherscroft (Whittingham)
- vulgata, Haw. Gen. dist.
absithiata, Clerck. Cloud Wood
minutata, Gn. Cloud Wood, Tonge
assimilata, Gn. Leicester, Gumley, Quorn
laricata, Frr. Quorn, Market Bosworth, Otvston
Wood
abbreviata, St. Quorn, Gumley
exiguata, Hb. Gumley, Quorn, Knighton, Otoston
Wood
sobrinata, Hb. Gumley, Quorn
togata, Hb. Loughborough
coronata, Hb. Knighton (Whittingham)
rectangulata, L. Gen. dist. on apple trees
debiliata, Hb. Larvae on bilberry, Buddon
Wood. v.c.
Lobophora sexalistata, Hb. Gumley
halterata, Hufn. Owston Wood, Bardon Hill, Gum-
ley, Loughborough
viretata, Hb. Gumley
carpinata, Bork. Bardon Hill
Thera simulata, Hb. Leicester district
firmata, Hb. Leicester, Market Bosworth
Hypsipetes trifasciata, Bork. Swithland, Quorn, Gumley
sordidata, Fb. Gen. dist. bilberry forms, Buddon
Wood
Melanthia bicolorata, Hufn. Bradgate Park, off
alders, Blaby, Leicester, Loughborough
ocellata, L. Gen. dist.
albicillata, L. Occurs in most of the woods with
any undergrowth
Melanippe procellata, Fb. Quorn. A chalk insect, it
was taken on the lias near Barrow-upon-Soar
unangulata, Haw. Gumley, Loughborough, Quorn
rivata, Hb. Bardon Hill
sociata, Bork. Gen. dist.
montanata, Bork. c. Gen. dist.
galiata, Hb. Leicester district
iluctuata, L. v.c.
Anticlea rubidata, Fb. Leicester district. Gumley
badiata, Hb. Market Bosworth, Gumley, Leicester,
Knighton, Quorn
nigrofasciaria, Goze. Blaby, Leicester
GEOMETRAE (continued)
LARENTIIDAE (continued}
Coremia designata, Hufn. Knighton, Loughborough
ferrugata, Clerck. Gen. dist.
unidentaria, Haw. Wigs.on
quadrifasciaria, Cleick. Gen. dist.
Camptogramma bilineata, L. c.
fluviata, Hb. Gumley
Phibalapteryx vittata, Bork. Aylestone, Loughborough,
Knighton
vitalbata, Hb. Leicester district, v.r.
Triphosa dubitata, L. Gen. dist.
Eucosmia certata, Hb. Loughborough, Quorn, Wigston,
Market Bosworth
undulata, L. Gumley, Buddon Wood. v.c. amongst
bilberries
Scotosia vetulata, Schiff. Evington, Glen Parva
rhamnata, Schiff. Evington (Headly)
Cidaria siterata, Hum. Gumley
miata, L. Leicester, Loughborough, Kibworth, Mar-
ket Bosworth
picata, Hb. Gumley, Wigston
corylata, Thnb. Quorn, Tilton, Loughborough, Ow-
ston Wood, Market Bosworth
truncata, Hufn. Quorn, Loughborough, Bradgate
Park, Market Bosworth
immanata, Haw. Gen. dist. melanic forms, v.c.
suffumata, Hb. Knighton, Wigston, Market Bos-
worth, Owston Wood
silaceata, Hb. Gumley, Loughborough, Knighton,
Bradgate Park, Owston Wood
prunata, L. Gen. dist.
testata, L. Gen. dist.
populata, L. Knighton, Quorn, Bradgate Wood. v.c.
fulvata, Forst. Gen. dist. occasionally injurious
to rose trees
dotata, L. Gen. dist.
associata, Bork. Gen. dist.
Pelurga comitata, L. Leicester district, at lamps,
Quorn, Market Bosworth
EUBOLIIDAE
Eubolia cervinata, Schiff. Leicester district, n.c.
limitata, Scop. Gen. dist.
Anaitis plagiata, L. Cloud Wood, Leicester district, at
lamps ; Buddon Wood, Market Bosworth
Chesias spartiata, Fues. Loughborough
SlONIDAE
Tanagra atrata, L. Bradgate Park, Owston Wood,
Quorn, v. local
PYRALIDES
PYRALIDAE
Aglossa pinguinalis, L. c. in stables.
Pyralis costalis, Fb. Knighton, Humberstont
farinalis, L. c. in stables
Scoparia ambigualis, Tr. Gen. dist.
cembrae, Haw. Ashby de la Zouch
crataegella, Hb. Knighton
resinea, Haw. Knighton
trunicolella, Sta. Bradgate Park, oak trunks on
windy slopes (Cruttwell)
Nomophila noctuella, Schiff. Leicester district, at
lamps
A HISTORY OF LEICESTERSHIRE
PYRALIDES (continued)
PYRALIDAE (continued)
Pyrausta purpuralis, L. Owston Wood, Bradgate Park,
Bardon Hill
Herbula cespitalis, SchifF. Ulverscroft (Whittingham)
Ennychia nigrata, Scop. Bradgate Park
BOTYDAE
Agrotera nemoralis, Scop. Quorn.
Eurrhypara urticata, L. Gen. dist. amongst nettles
Scopula lutealis, Hb. Gen. dist.
olivalis, SchifF. Gen. dist.
prunalis, SchifF. Kibworth
ferrugalis, Hb. Kibworth
Botys hyalinalis, Hb. Buddon Wood
ruralis, Scop. Gen. dist.
- terrealis, Tr. Quorn
Ebulea sambucalis, SchifF. Gen. dist.
Spilodes verticalis, L. Gen. dist.
Pionea forficalis. Gen. dist.
Orobena extimalis, Scop. Quom, Charnwood
Perinephele lancealis, SchifF. Knighton
HYDROCAMPIDAE
Cataclysta lemnata, L. Knighton, Quorn, at edges of
ponds ; Bardon Hill, Market Bosworth
Hydrocampa nympheata, L. Quorn, near water ;
Bardon Hill, Owston Wood, Market Bosworth
sugnata, Don. Knigktm, Bardon Hill, Bradgate
Park, Owston Wood
PTEROPHORI
PTEROPHORIDAE
Platytilia bertrami, Rossi. Market Harbonugh
isodactylus, Zell. Charnwood forest
gonodactyla, SchifF. Market Harbonugh, Gresley
(Derby)
Amblyptilia acanthodactyla, Hb. Kibworth
cosmodactyla, Hb. Market Harbonugh
Mimaeseoptilus bipunctidactyla, Haw. Market Har-
bonugh
- pterodactylus, L. Market Harbonugh
Oedcmatophorus lithodactylus, Tr. Kibworth
Pterophorus monodactylus, L. Common.
Aciptilia pentadactyla, L. Gen. dist.
ALUCITIDAE
Alucita hexadactyla, L. Gen. dist.
CRAMBIITES
CHILIDAE
Schoenobius forficellus, Thnb. Aylestme
gigantellus, SchifF. Canal, Market Boswortb
CRAMBIDAE
Crambus pratellus, L. c.
perlellus, Scop. Leicester, Bardon Hill, Bradgate
Park, Market Boswortb
tristellus, Fb. Charnwood forest, Evington, Otoston
Wood
culmellus, L. Quom, Knighton, Bradgate Park,
Bardon Hill
hortuellus, Hb. Quorn, Knighton, Bradgate Park,
Ou'iton Wood
CRAMBIITES (continued)
PHYCIDAE
Euzophera pinguis, Haw. Knighton, Stoughton
Cryptoblades bistriga, Haw. Knighton
Plodia interpunctella, Hb. Kibworth, at rest on out-
house
Phycis betulae, Goze. Buddon (Whittingham)
GALLERIDAE
Galleria mellonella, L. In beehives, Kibworth, Market
Bosworth (Birkenhead)
Aphomia sociella, L. Humberstone
Achroea grisella, Fb. Kibworth, beehives
TORTRICES
TORTRICIDAE
Tortrix podana, Scop. Leicester district, Quorn
crataegana, Hb. Owston Wood
xylosteana, L. Buddon
sorbiana, Hb. Bar Jon Hill
rosana, L. Gen. dist.
cinnamomeana, Tr. Whitwick
heparana, SchifF. Knighton
ribeana, Hb. n.c., Bardon Hill, Owston Wood
- viridana, L. Gen. dist.
ministrana, L. Quorn, Kibviorth, the dark vai.
found commonly in the north occurs
forsterana, Fb. Knighton, Kibworth
Dichelia grotiana, Fb. Buddon
Peronea schallerana, L. Charnwood Forest
variegana, SchifF. Charnwood Forest
ferrugana, Tr. Charnwood Forest
Rhacodia caudana, Fb. Charnwood Forest
Teras contaminata, Hb. Knighton, Bradgate Park
Dictyopteryx holmiana, L. Grace Dieu, Knighton
bergmanniana, L. Bardon Hill
forskaleana, L. Seal Wood
Argyrotoza conwayana, Fb. Seal Wood
Ptycholoma lecheana, L. Loughbonugh, Seal Wood,
Owston Wood
PENTHINIDAE
Penthina corticana, Hb. Seal Wood
pruniana, Hb. Charnwood
ochroleucana, Hb. Kibworth, n.c.
sauciana, Hb. Buddon (Whittingham)
Antithesia salicalla, L.B.W.
SPILONOTIDAE
Hedya ocellana, Fb. Kibworth, n.r., but uncertain in
appearance ; Owston Wood
lariciana, Zell. Kibwortb
dealbana. Seal Wood, Kibworth
Spilonota trimaculana, Haw. Kibworth, n.r. on elm
rosaecolana, Dbl. Kibwortb, n.v.c.
roborana, Tr. Kibworth, Bradgate Park
Pardia tripunctana, Fb. Knighton
SERICORIDAE
Aspis udmanniana, L. Knighton, Kibworth
Sericoris lacunana, Dup. Seal Wood, Bardon Hill
urticana, Hb. Buddon
Roxana arcuana, Clerck. Kibworth
Orthotaenia antiquana, Hb. Kibworth, at light
striana, SchifF. Kibworth, n.v.c.
86
INSECTS
TORTRICES (continued}
SciAPHILIDAE
Cnephasia musculana, Hb. Kibworth
Sciaphila nubilana, Hb. Kibworth, lying late in the
afternoon
hybridana, Hb. Kibworth, fairly c.
GRAPHOLITHIDAE
Bactra furfurana, Haw. Kibworth, Saddington, out of
reeds
Phoxopteryx biarcuana, St. RoecRffe
myrtillana, Tr. Buddon
lundana, Fb. Owston Wood, Kibworth
Grapholitha subocellana, Don. Ulverscroft
trimaculana, Don. Kibworth, n.r. on elm
penkleriana, Fisch. Kibworth, near canal
naevana, Hb. Kibworth. c. round holly bushes
Phloeodes tetraquetrana, Haw. Buddon
Hypermecia angustana, Hb. Charnwood
crucians, L. Owston Wood
Paedisca corticana, Hb. Seal Wood
occultana, Dougl. Charnwood
semifuscana, St. Bradgate Park
Ephippiphora cirsiana, Zell. Ulverscroft
pflugiana, Haw. Ulverscroft
brunnichiana, Frol. Kibworth
nigricostana, Haw. Ulverscroft
tetragonana, St. Owston Wood
Olindia rufillana, Wilk. Kibworth
Coccyx argyrana, Hb. Buddon (Whittingham)
taedella, Clerck. Owston Wood
vacciniana, Fisch. Buddon
Carpocapsa pomonella, L. Kibworth, Market Bos-
worth, &c.
Stigmonota perlepidana, Haw. Knighton, Kibworth
- nitidana, Fb. Ulverscroft
Dicrorampha petiverella, L. Kibworth
Pyrodes rheediella, Clerck. Kibworth, flying by day
Catoptria hypericana, Hb. Owston Wood
albersana, Hb. Buddon
PYRALOIDEDAE
Choreutes myllerana, Fb. Charnwood
Syrnaethis oxycanthella, L. Charnwood
CONCHYLIDAE
Eupoecilia nana, Haw. Ulverscroft
Xanthosetia zoegana, L. Stoughton Lane, Buddon
Wood
hamana, L. Leicester district, Quorn, Owston Wood
Argyrolepia badiana, Hb. Owston Wood
APHELIDAB
Tortricodes hyemana, Hb. Buddon (Whittingham)
TINEAE
EPIGRAPHIIDAE
Lemnatophila phryganella, Hb. Kibworth, flying at
4 p.m.
Diurnea fagella, Fb. Gen. dist., melanic forms
abundant
Epigraphia steinkellneriana, SchifF. Kibworth, Market
Harborough
TINEAE (continued}
TlNEIDAE
Diplodoma marginepunctella, St. Kibworth
Ochsenheimeria bisontella, Zell. Market Harborough
Scardia granella, L. Market Harborough
cloacella, Haw. Kibworth, Market Harborough
arcella, Fb. Market Harborough
Blabophanes rusticella, Hb. Kibworth, in hothouses
abundant
Tinea fulvimitrella, Sodof. Ulverscroft, r.
tapetzella, L. Kibworth, Market Harborough
misella, Zell. Kibworth, Bardon Hill
pellionella, L. Kibworth, c.
ruscipunctella, Haw. Kibworth
argentimaculella, Sta. Kibworth
lapella, Hb. Kibworth, flying in afternoon
semifulvella, Haw. Market Harborough
Phylloporia bistrigella, Haw. Grange Wood
Tineola biselliella, Haw. Kibworth
Lampronia praelatella, SchifF. Owston Wood, Ulvers-
croft, r.
rubiella, Bjerk. Ulverscroft, Kibworth, local
Incurvaria muscalella, Fb. Kibworth, flying by day ;
Market Harborough
pectinea, Haw. Ulverscroft
Micropteryx calthella, L. Market Harborough
seppella, Fb. Market Harborough
aureatella, Scop. Seal Wood
thunbergella, Fb. Market Harborough
subpurpurella, Haw. Market Harborough
Nemophora swammerdammella, L. Kibworth, Market
Harborough
schwarziella, Zell. Kibworth, Ulverscroft
ADELIDAE
Adela fibulella, Fb. Grange Wood, Kibworth
rufimitrella, Scop. Kibworth, r.
croesella, Scop. Ulverscroft
degeerella, L. Seal Wood, Charnwood, Market
Harborough
viridella, L. Swithland, Owston Wood, Buddon
Wood, Bardon Hill
HYPONOMEUTIDAE
Swammerdammia combinella, Hb. Kibworth, round
caesiella, Hb. Kibworth
pyrella, Vill. Kibworth, Market Harborough
Hyponomeuta plumbellus, SchifF. Market Harborough
irrorellus, Hb. Market Harborough
- padellus, L. Kibworth, Bardon Hill
Prays curtisellus, Don. Kibworth, dark var. ; Brad-
gate Park
PLUTELLIDAE
Plutella cruciferarum, Zell. Kibworth, Market Har-
borough, Bardon Hill
porrectella, L. Kibworth, flying in hot sunshine ;
Market Harborough
Cerostoma sequella, Clerck. Kibworth, Market Har-
borough
vittella, L. Market Harborough
radiatella, Don. Market Harborough
costella, Fb. Knighton, Market Harborough, Brad-
gate Park
sylvella, L. Market Harborough
alpella, SchifF. Ravenstone
A HISTORY OF LEICESTERSHIRE
TINEAE (continued')
PLUTELLIDAE (continued')
Harpipteiyi nemorella, L. Kibworth
xylostella, L. Kibworth, Bardon Hill, Bradgate
Park
Theristis mucronella, Scop. Knighton
GELECHIIDAE
Orthotelia sparganella, Thnb. Market Harborough
Phibalocera quercana, Fb. Market Harborough, Kib-
worth, r.
Depressaria costosa, Haw. Market Harborough
assimilella, Tr. Market Harborough
arenella, Schiff. Market Harborough, Knighton,
Bardon Hill
- propinquella, Tr. Knighton, Market Harbonugb,
Bardon Hill
alstroemeriana, Clerck. Bardon Hill, Kibworth,
n.c. ; Market Harborough
conterrainella, Zell. Market Harborough
applana, Fb. Kibworth, abundant ; Buddon Wood
- albipunctella, Hb. Market Harborough
Gelechia pinguinella, Tr. Market Harborough
scalella, Scop. Buddon (Whittingham)
Bryotropha terrella, Hb. Market Harborough
domestica, Haw. Kibworth, fairly c. on windows ;
Market Harborough
Lita tricolorella, Haw. Seal Wood
- fratcrnclla, Dougl. Whitwick
Teleia proximclla, Hb. Market Harborough
fugitivella, Zell. Market Harborough
Recurvaria nanella, Hb. Market Harborough
Ptocheuusa subocella, St. Market Harborough
Monochroa tenebrclla, Hb. Kibworth, flying over
stems of uncut grass
Anacampsis anthyllidella, Hb. Market Harborough
Chelaria hubnerella, Don. Market Harborough
Dasycera sulphurella, Fb. Kibworth, Market Har-
borough, Bardon Hill
Oecophora minutella, L. Market Harborough
fulvigutella, Zell. Market Harborough
fuscescens, Haw. Kibworth, c.
pseudospretella, Sta. Kibworth, in outhouses
abundant
Endrosis fenestrella, Scop. Gen. dist.
Butalis fusco-cuprea, Haw. Market Harborough
GLYPHIPTERYGIDAE
Glyphipteryx fischeriella, Zell. Market Harborough
fuscoviridella, Haw. Ulverscroft, flying over grass
ARGYRESTHIIDAE
Argyresthia ephippella, Fb. Market Harborough
semitestacella, Curt. Market Harborough
albistria, Haw. Ozvston Wood, unicolorous vars.
Market Harborough
semifusca, Haw. Whitwick
glaucinella, Zell. Bradgate Park
retinella, Zell. Market Harborough
curvella, L. Kibworth
sobriella, Tr. Market Harborough
pygmaeella, Hb. Market Harborough
goedartella, L. Kibworth, Market Harborough
brochella, Hb. Market Harborough, Bradgate Park
arceuthina, Zell. Market Harborough
TINEAE (continued)
GRACILARIIDAE
Gracilaria alchimella, Scop. Ulverscroft, Market
Harborough
elongella, L. Market Harborough
syringella, Fb. Ulverscroft, Kibworth, Market
Harborough
Ornix avellana, Sta. Kibworth, Market Harborough
anglicella, Sta. Grange Wood
torquillella, Sta. Whitwick
guttea, Haw. Kibworth, on wing flying by day
CoLEOPHORIDAE
Coleophora fuscocuprella, H.S. Market Harborough
troglodytella, Dup. Market Harborough
lineola, Haw. Market Harborough
lutipennella, Zell. Kibworth, fairly c.
ELACHISTIDAE
Batrachedra praeangusta, Haw. Market Harborougb
pinocolella, Dup. Grace Dieu
Laverna propinquella, Sta. Market Harborough
lacteella, St. Market Harborough
epilobiella, Schr. Kibworth, Gy.
ochraceella, Curt. Kibworth, Market Harborough
hellerella, Dup. Market Harborough
Chrysoclysta aurifrontella, Hb. Kibworth, Ulvers-
croft
Elachista magnificella, Tgstr. Ulverscroft, flying in
wood
albipunctella, Sta. Ulverscroft
albifrontella, Hb. Ulverscroft, Market Harborough,
Ottiston Wood
luticomclh, Zell. Market Harborough
nigrella, Hb. Kibworth, v.c. some years
obscurella, Sta. Kibworth, flying in afternoon
megerlella, Zell. Market Harborough
cerusella, Hb. Market Harborough
rhynchosporella, Sta. Market Harborough
rufocinerea, Haw. Kibworth, Market Harborough,
Bardon Hill
argentella, Clerck. Kibworth, Bradgate Park
Tischeria complanella, Hb. Market Harborough, Ul-
verscroft
marginea, Haw. Ulverscroft
LlTHOCOLLETl DAE
Lithocolletis cavella, Zell. Kibworth, feeds on
birch
pomifoliella, Zell. Kibworth, Market Harborough
coryli, Nicelli. Kibworth, Market Harborough
faginella, Mann. Market Harborough
viminetorum, Sta. Knighton
ulmifoliella, Hb. Market Harborough
quercifoliella, Fisch. Market Harborough
cramerella, Fb. Market Harborough
tenella, Zell. Knighton
sylvella, Haw. Bradgate Park
emberizaepennella, Bouche. Grange Wood
frolichiella, Zell. Ulverscroft, flying amongst
alders in marshy copse
nicelli, Zell. Kibworlh
88
INSECTS
TINEAE (continued)
LYONETIIDAB
Phyllocnistis suffusella, Zell. Kibworth
Cemiostoma laburnella, Heyd. Leicester, Kibworth
NEPTICULIDAK
Nepticula aucupariae, Frey.
borough
TINEAE (continued)
NEPTICULIDAE (continued')
Nepticula septembrella, Sta. Market Harbonugh
subimaculella, Haw. Market Harbonugh
floslactella, Haw. Market Harbonugh
salicis, Sta. Market Harbonugh
betulicola, St. Whitiaick, Market Harbonugh
Whlfuiick, Market Har- aurella, Fb. Knighton, Market Harbonugh
lutella, Sta. Whitwich
DIPTERA
Flies
The work that has been done in the diptera of Leicestershire is due to one collector,
Mr. W. A. Vice, M.B., and we are indebted to him for the list of species recorded.
It will be obvious to the student of Diptera that some extensive groups have not been worked
at all ; it will also be apparent from the localities given that only comparatively few areas have been
collected from.
Blaby may be taken as typical of the large area of the county, whereas Bradgate Park, Bardon
Hill, and Owston Wood have each characteristics of their own, and have produced species which
are apparently very local in the county, and would certainly repay more continuous and diligent
work.
ORTHORRHAPHA
NEMATOCERA
BlBIONIDAE
Scatopse notata, L. Blaby
Dilophus febrilis, L. Wigston, Blaby
albipennis, Mg. Bradgate Park, Blaby
Biblio marci, L. Swithland, Blaby
- leucopterus, Mg. Crofston, Blaby
hortulanus, L. Blaby
ferruginatus, Gmel. Blaby, Anstey Lane
nigriventris, Hel. Longcliffe, Blaby
laniger, Mg. Bradgate Park, Bardon Hill, Blaby
johannis, L. Blaby
lacteipennis, Ztt. Longcliffe, Blaby
SlMULIDAE
Simulium reptans, L. Blaby
PTYCHOPTERIDAE
Ptychoptera contaminata, L. Great Glen, Braunstone
lacustris, Mg. Narborough
albimana, Fb. Blaby
LIMNOBIDAE
Anisomera aequalis, Mg. Braunstone
TlPULIDAE
Pachyrrhina crocata, L. Longcliffe
maculosa, Mg. Longclife, Blaby
Tipula longicomis, Scr. Buddon Wood
lunata, L. Blaby
gigantea, Schrk. An:tey Lane, Bradgate Park
oleracea, L. Blaby
lutescens, Fb. Blaby
ochracea, Mg. Blaby
Dictenidia bimaculata, L. Blaby
RHYPIDAE
Rhyphus fenestralis, Scop. Blaby
I
ORTHORRHAPHA (continued)
BRACHTCERA
STRATIOMYIDAE
Stratiomys chamaelcon, L. Oicston Wood
Sargus cuprarius, L. Owston Wood, Narborough
infuscatus, Mg. Blaby, Owston Wood, Bardon Hill
Chloromyia formosa, Scop. Blaby, Bradgate
Microchrysa polita, L. Anstey Lc.ne, Buddon Wood,
Blaby
flavicornis, Mg. 'Narborough, Blaby
Beris clavipes, L. Blaby
vallata, Forst. Bradgate Park, 'Narborough, Blaby
chalybeata, Forst. Longcliffe, Bradgate Park, Blaby
TABANIDAE
Haematopota pluvialis, L. Saddington, Owston Wood,
Bradgate Park, Blaby
Tabanus bromius, L. Longcliffe
Chrysops caecutiens, L. Buddon, Owston Wood, Blaby
relictus, Mg. Saddington.
LEPTIDAK
Leptis scolopacea, L. Owston Wood, Bradgate Park,
Blaby
notata, Gurtl. Crofston
tringaria, L. Blaby, Cropston
lineola, Fb. Bradgate Park, 'Narborough
Chrysopilus auratus, Fb. (synaureus, Mg.). Blaby,
Owston Wood, Bradgate Park
ASILIDAE
Leptogaster cylindrica, DeG. Market Bosworth,
Blaby
Dioctria rufipes, DeG. John o' Gaunt, Blaby
linearis, Fb. Market Bosworth
Epitriptus cingulatus, F. Bradgate Park
Dysmachus trigonus, Mg. Blaby
89 12
A HISTORY OF LEICESTERSHIRE
ORTHORRHAPHA (continued)
BRACHYCERA (continued)
THEREVIDAE
Thereva fulva, Mg. Blaby, June, 1871
EMPIDAB
Hybos grossipes, L. Bradgate Park
femoratus, Mull. Narbonugb
Cyrtoma nigra, Mg. Longcliffe
spuria, Fb. Blaby
Rhamphomyia nigriceps, Fb. LongcKffe
- sulcata, Fin. Stoithland, Broughton, Blaby
spinipes, Fin. Blaby
flava Fin. Bradgate Park
Empis tessellata, Fb. Gen. dist.
- livida, L. Somerby, Blaby, Oviston Wood
opaca, Fb. Blaby
stercorea, L. Blaby, Bradgate Park
- trigramma, Mg. Anstey, Brougbton, Blaby
punctata, Mg. Tilton, Anstey, Blaby
- lutea, Mg. O'.oston Wood
- scutellata, Curt. Blaby
- pennaria, Fin. Tilton
- albinervis, Mg. Blaby
- chioptera, Fin. Tilton, Blaby, Bradgate Park
Pachymeria femorata, Fb. Blaby
Hilara maura, Fb. Blaby, Bradgate Park
- pinetorum, Zett. Saddington
- fuscipes, Fb. Blaby
- quadrivittata, Mg. Blaby
- chorica, Fin. Blaby
- nana, Ff. Blaby
Ocydromia glabricula, Fin. Narborough, Blaby
Leptopeza flavipes, Mg. Braunstone
Ardoptera irrorrata, Fin. Bradgate Park
Tachista arrogans, L. Blaby
connexa, Mg. Braunstone
DoLICHOPODIDAE
Psilopus platypterus, Fb. Blaby, Bradgate Park
longulus, Mg. Longcliffe, Market Bosivorth
obscurus, Fall. Bradgate Park
Eutarsus aulicus. Mg. Blaby, Bradgate Park
Dolichopus plumipes, Scop. Tilton, Blaby, Bradgate
Park, Narborough
pennatus, Mg. Tilton, Blaby, Bradgate Park
popularis, W. Braunstone, Longcliffe, Bradgate
Park
griseipennis, Stain. Blaby, Longcliffe
trivialis, Hal. Tilton, Blaby, Longcliffe, Bradgate
Park
- brevipennis, Mg. Tilton, Blaby
aeneus, De G. Tilton, Saddington, Blaby, Nar-
borough
Orthochile nigrocoerulea, Str. Bradgate Park
Gymnopterus aerosus, Fin. Bradgate Park, Narborough
Chrysotus neglectus, W. Bradgate Park
gramineus, Fin. Narborough
Diaphorus oculatus, Fin. Narborough
Argyra diaphana, Fb. Blaby
argentina, Mg. By. Narborough
leucocephala, Mg. Somerby, Narborough
Porphyrops spinicoxus, Lw. Bradgate Park, Lmgliffe
elegantulus, Mg. Cropston
ORTHORRHAPHA (continued)
BRACHYCERA (continued)
DOLICHOPODIDAE (continued)
Xiphandrium caliginosum, Mg. Blaby
monotrichum, Lw. Aylestone
appendiculatum, Zett. Longcliffe
Scellus notatus, Fb. Ososton Wood
Sympycnus annulipes, Mg. Bradgate Park
CYCLORRHAPHA
PROBOSCIDEA
SYRPHIDAE
Pipizella vlrens, Fb. Blaby
Pipiza lugubris. Blaby
noctiluca, L. Blaby
Liogaster metallina, Fb. Blaby
Chrysogaster macquarti, Lw. Blaby
splendens, Mg. Blaby, Scraftoft, Woodhouse
chalybeata, Mg. Groby Pool
cameteriorum, L. Groby Pool, Woodhouse, Breedon
hirtella, Lw. Great Glen, Blaby, Somerby
Chilosia antiqua, Mg. Blaby
pulchripes, Lw. Blaby, Longcliffe
decidua, Egg. Blaby, Broughton Astley
vernalis, Fin. Blaby, Groby, Saddington
grossa, Fin. Blaby on sallows
flavimana, Mg. Blaby, Bradgate Park, Narborough,
Oviston Wood
variabilis, Pz. Blaby, Bradgate Park, Burbage Wood
pigra, Lw. Oviston Wood
- oestracea, L. Oviston Wood
Leucosona leucorum, L. Blaby, Oviston Wood, Brad-
gate Park
Melanostoma ambiguum, Fin. Blaby, Bardon Hill
dubium, Zett. Blaby
scalare, Fb. Otvston Wood, Breedon
mellinum, L. Blaby, Longcliffe, Narborough
Melangyna quadrimaculata, Ver. Bardon Hill
Pyrophana granditarsis, Foster. Blaby, Narborough
Platychirus manicatus, Mg. Groby, Blaby, Oviston
Wood
albimanus, Fb. Blaby, Bradgate Park
peltatus, Mg. Blaby, Bradgate Park
scutatus, Mg. Blaby, Otvston Wood, Bradgate Park
scambus, Stoeg. Blaby, Bradgate Park, Breedon
podagratus, Zett. Cropston
clypeatus, Mg. Blaby, Bradgate Park, Narborough
Syrphus punctulatus, Ver. Blaby, Bardon Hill, Longcliffe
compositorum, Ver. Bardon Hill
umbellataum, Fb. Blaby, Longcliffe
auricollis, Mg. Blaby, Longcliffe
cinctellus, Zett. Longcliffe
balteatus, De G. Saddington, Blaby
bifasciata, Fb. Blaby, Bardon, Somerby
arcuatus, Fin. Saddington, Blaby
luniger, Mg. Blaby, Bardon Hill, Breedon
corollae, Fb. Blaby, Longcliffe, Bardon
annulatus, Zett. Bardon Hill
latifasciatus, Mcq. Anstey Lane, Blaby
nitidicollis, Mg. Bardon Hill
vitripennis, Mg. Blaby, Longcliffe
ribesii, L. Blaby, Buddon
tricinctus, Fin. Bardon Hill, Oviston
venustus, Mg. Blaby, Longcliffe, Bardon Hill
90
INSECTS
CYCLORRHAPHA (continued)
PROBOSCIDEA (continued)
SYRPHIDAE (continued)
Syrphus lunulatus, Mg. Blaby, Longcliffe
albostriatus, Fin. Blaby, Longcliffe
glaucius, L. Buddon Wood
Catabomba pyrastri. Longcfife, Blaby
Sphaerophoria scripta. Longcliffe, Blaby
picta, Mg. Narborough, Owston Wood
menthastri, L. Blaby
Xanthogramma ornatum, De G. Blaby
citrofasciata, De G. Blaby
Baccha elongata, Fb. Blaby
Sphegina clunipes, Fin. Blaby
Ascia podagrica, Fb. Blaby, Bardon Hill
floralis, Mg. Blaby
Rhingia rostrata, L. Blaby, Bradgate Park, Owston
Volucella bombylans, L. Blaby, Owston Wood, Bardon
Hill
pellucens, L. Blaby, Qwston, Bardon, Breedon
Sericomyia borealis, Fin. Blaby
Eristalis sepulchralis, L. Anstey Lane, Blaby
tenax, L. Gen. dist.
arbustorum, L. Anstey Lane, Blaby, Otvston Wood
intricarius, L. Blaby, Narborough
pertinax, Scop. Blaby, Owston Wood, Market
Bosworth
horticola, De G. Buddon Wood
Myiotropa florea, L. Anstey Lane, Blaby, Owston
Helophilus trivittatus, Fb. Anstey Lane, Blaby
hybridus, Lw. Bnughton Astley, Blaby
pendulus, L. Blaby, Bradgate Park
lineatus, L. Amesby
Meredon equestris, F. Owston Wood ; as the narcissus
does not grow in this wood it would be interest-
ing to know what plant it is attached to.
Criorrhina ruficauda, De G. Switbland
berberina, Fb. Owston Wood
Xylota segnis, L. Swithland, Somerby, Bardon Wood
sylvarum, L. Owston Wood
Syritta pipiens, L. Saddington, Blaby, Owston Wood
Chrysotoxum sylvarum, Mg. Blaby, Bradgate Park
bicinctum, L. Somerby, Thurcaston, Longcliffe
CoNOPIDAE
Sicus ferrugineus, L. LongcRffe, Bardon Hill
Myopa buccata, L. Blaby, Bradgate Park
testacea, L. Blaby
OESTRIDAB
Gastrophilus equi, Fb. Mountsorrel
TACHINIDAK
Alophora hemiptora, F. Owston Wood
SARCOPHAGIDAE
Sarcophaga carnaria, L. Blaby, Longcliffe, Bardon
MUSCIDAE
Lucillia coruicina, Fb. Blaby
caesar, L. Blaby
sylvarum, Mg. Braunstone
sericata, Mg. Cropston, Blaby
rufipes, Mg. Glen Parva, Woodhouse
illustris, Mg. Braunstone
CYCLORRHAPHA (continued)
PROBOSCIDEA (continued)
MUSCIDAE (continued)
Calliphora erythrocephala, Mg. Blaby
vomitoria, L. Blaby
Pollenia rudis, Fb. Blaby, Longcliffe
Musca domestica, L. Gen. dist.
corvina, Fb. Blaby, Longcliffe
Pyrellia lasiopthalma, Mcq. Blaby
Mesembrina meridiana, L. Lutterworth, Blaby
Gramphomyia maculata, Scop. Blaby, Breedon
Morellia simplex, Lw. Blaby
Cyrtoneura stabulans, Flu. Blaby
Stomeoxys calcitrans, L. Blaby
Acanthiptera inanis, L. Blaby; June, 1899, bred
from wasp's nest
CORDYLURIDAE
Cordylura pubera, L. Blaby
Norellia spinimana, Fin. Blaby, n June, 1891
liturata, Mg. Bradgate Park, 21 May, 1884
scybalaria, L. Ashby
inquinata, Mg. Braunstone
Scatophaga squalida, Mg. Bradgate Park, Blaby
stercoraria, L. Blaby
SCIOMYZIDAE
Tetranocera elata, Fb. Bradgate Park, 9 July, 1885,
23 June, 1895
laevifrons, Lw. Blaby, Bradgate
- sylvatica, Mg. Great Glen, Owston Wood, Brad-
gate Park
- reticulata, L. Aylestone, Saddington
punctulata, Scop. Owston Wood, Somerby
Limnia unguicornis, Scop. Braunstone, Tilton
Elgiva albiscta, Scop. Aylestone, Saddington, Blaby
- dorsalis, Fb. Bradgate Park, 9 July, 1887
PsiLIDAE
Loxocera aristata, Pz. 'Narborough Bogs, 23 July, 1885
albiseta, Schr. Blaby
- sylvatica, Mg. Braunstone, Swithland
Calobata petronella, L. Charnu-ood Forest, Blaby
cifearia, L. Blaby, Thurmaston
ORTALIDAE
Ceroxys gangranosus, L. Saddington, Narborough
Platystoma seminationis, Fb. Somerby, Blaby
TRYPETIDAE
Acidia heraclei, L. Blaby, Bradgate Park, Bardon Hill
Tephrites milliaria, Schr. Owston Wood
BoRBORIDAE
Borborus nitidus, Mg. Mountsorrel, Blaby, Bradgate
Park
Sphaerocera subsultans, Fb. Blaby
Limosina sylvatica, Mg.
crassimana, Hal. Blaby, Bradgate Park
HIPPOBOSCIDAE
Ornithomyia avicularia. Anitey, Longcliffe, Blaby
9 1
A HISTORY OF LEICESTERSHIRE
HEMIPTERA HETEROPTERA
Bugs
Although the county has never been systematically worked for Hemiptera, yet Mr. John
Stanyon has put in a good deal of hard work, and Mr. Marshall did some collecting, and coleop-
terists have added some notes.
In the appended list 109 species are recorded, many of the notes being interesting for a Midland
county. The most important record is Globiceps ater, of which a single specimen was taken by
Marshall, and on his authority added to the British List ; since then it has not been taken in England
as far as I am aware.
Corizus parumpunctatus, a rare species, is recorded from Kirby Muxloe.
Myrmus miriformis, a southern insect, has occurred at Swithland Wood ; there is no other
Midland record, neither is it noted from the west or north.
A rare species, Macrolophus nubi/us, found on Stachys sylvatica, was unrecorded for the Midlands
till Marshall took it near Leicester.
Orthotylus bi/ineatus, a rather rare insect found on aspens, is recorded from Leicester.
0. ochrotrichus, taken at Bradgate, has not hitherto been taken outside the southern and
London districts.
Piallus quercus, taken at Leicester by Marshall, is only recorded from four other localities.
Atractotomus mall is rather local, and there are only four other records ; Mr. Stanyon took it at
Lea Lane.
Plaglonathus saltitans is also a rather local species.
The following list must not by any means be taken for a complete record, as much work
remains to be done in the county (in common with most of England) before we shall have a
thorough knowledge of the Hemiptera.
In the following list the writer is indebted to Mr. John Stanyon for most of the notes ; others
have been furnished by coleopterists who have taken chance specimens.
GYMNOCERATA
CYDNIDAE
Sehirus, Am. S.
bicolor, L. One specimen
PENTATOMIDAE
Pentatoma, Oliv. (Subgenus Carpocoris)
baccarum, L. Charntvood Forest. R.mk herbage
Tropicoris, Hahn.
rufipes, L. Stvitkland Wood
Acanthosoma, Curt.
- dentatum, De G. Stvitbland Wood
(Subgenus Elasmostethus)
- A. interstinctum, L. Swithland Wood
COREINA
CoREIDAE
Corizus, Fall
- parumpunctatus, Schill. Kirby Muxloe
Myrmus, Hahn
- miriformis, Fall. Swithland Wood (Marshall)
LYGAEINA
LYGAEIDAE
Nysius, Dall
- thymi, Wolff. Cnfston Reservoir (Stanyon)
Ischnorhynchus, Fieb.
resedae, Panz. Bar Jon Hill
geminatus, Fieb. Charntcood Forest
LYGAEINA (cominued)
LYGAEIDAE (continued)
Scolopostethus, Fieb.
affinis, Schill. v. c.
neglectus, Edw. c.
- decoratus, Hahn. Bradgate in turf (Stanyon)
Drymus, Fieb.
- sylvaticus, F. In moss.
- brunneus, Sahib. Groby Parks
Gastrodes, Westw.
ferrugineus, L. Leicester (Marshall)
TlNGIDIDAE
Orthostira, Fieb.
- parvula, Fall. Netvtown Linford
Dictyonota, Curt.
strichnocera, Fieb. Croft Hill
Derephysia, Spin
- foliacea, Fall. Leicester
Monanthia, Lep.
cardui, L. c.
HYDROMETRINA
HYDROMKTRIDAE
Hydrometra, Latr.
stagnorum, L. Plentiful on running water
Velia, Latr.
currens
Gerris, F
Najas, De G.
thoracica, Schum.
lacustris, L.
INSECTS
REDUVIINA
REDUVIIDAB
Ploiaria, Scop.
vagabunda, L. Amtey Lane (i) (Stanyon)
Nabis, Latr.
major, Cost.
flavomarginatus, Scholtz. Anstey Lane
ferus, L. Sheet Hedges Wood
rugosus, L. Ulverscroft Lane
SALDINA
Salda, F.
pallipes, F. Stvithland
cocksii. Gumley
cincta, H. Schff. Leicester (Marshall)
ClMICINA
Cimex, L.
lectularis
Lyctocoris, Hahn.
campestris, F.
Piezostethus, Fieb.
galactinus, Fieb. Groby Parks
Temnostethus, Fieb.
pusillus, H. Schff.
Anthocoris, Fall.
confusus, Reut. Evlngton
gallarum ulmi, De G. Groby
sylvestris, L.
Tertraphleps, Fieb.
vittata, Fieb. Braunstone
Acompocoris, Reut.
pygmaeus, Fall. c. on firs
Microphyso, Westw.
psalaphiformis, Curt. Bradgate Park (Stanyon),
pear tree
CAPSIDAE
Miris, F.
holsatus, F.
laevigatus, L. c.
- calcaratus, Fall. c.
Megaloceraea, Fieb.
erratica, L. Charnwood Forest, Cnpston Reservoir
(Stanyon)
ruficornis, Fall. Anstey Lane
Leptopterna, Fieb.
- dolobrata, L. Bradgate (Stanyon)
Bryocoris, Fall.
pteridis, Fall. Bradgate
Monalocoris, Dahlb.
filicis, L. Bradgate
Pantilius, Curt.
tunicatus, F. Thurcaston Brook (Stanyon). 1.
Phytocoris, Fall
populi, L. Stoithland, Buddm
tiliae, F. Bar Jon Hill
longipennis, Flor. Bardon Hill
reuteri, Saund. Groby Parks, Aug. 1895 (Stanyon)
ulmi, L. Evlngton Brook
varipes Boh.
Calocoris, Fieb.
striatellus, F. Anstey Lane (Stanyon), hawthorn
sexguttatus, F. Groby (Marshall)
roseomaculatus, De G. Charnwood forest, Crop-
ston Reservoir (i) (Stanyon)
chenopodii, Fall. Scraptoft Common, on ononis
(Stanyon)
REDUVIINA (continued)
CAPSIDAE (continued)
Calocoris bipunctatus, F. Very plentiful
Oncognathus, Fieb.
binotatus, F. v. c.
Dichrooscytus, Fieb.
rufipennis, Fall. Thornton Reservoir
Lygus, Hahn
pabulinus, L.
contaminatus, Fall. Alders, Bradgate (Stanyon),
Birch, Otvston (Bouskell)
pratensis, F.
pastinacae, Fall.
cervinus, H. Schf. Leicester, limes
rubricatus, Fall. Charley Wood (Stanyon) ; Leices-
ter (Marshall)
Liocoris, Fieb.
- tripustulatus, F.
Capsus, F.
laniarius, L. Leicester
Khopolotomus, Fieb.
- ater, L. Bradgate, &c.
Macrolophus, Fieb.
nubilus, H. Schf. Leicester (Marshall)
Dicyphus, Fieb.
epilobii, Reut. Scraptoft
- globulifer, Fall. Leicester (Marshall)
Campyloneura, Fieb.
virgula, H. Schf. Narborougb
Cyllocoris, Hahn.
histrionicus, L. Ulverscroft Lane
Aetorhinus, Fieb.
- angulatus, Fall. Evlngton Brook, Swithland
(Stanyon)
Globiceps, Latr.
flavomaculatus, F. Bardon Hill, &c.
ater, D. & S. This species was added to the
British list on the authority of one J specimen
taken near Leicester by Marshall, and has not
been taken since (F.B.)
Mecomma, Fieb.
- ambulans, Fall. Grace Dleu, Charley (Stanyon)
Cyrtorrhinus, Fieb.
caricis, Fall. Charnwood Forest, Cropston Reservoir
(Stanyon)
Orthotylus, Fieb.
bilineatus, Fall. Leicester (Marshall)
ochrotrichus, D. & S. Bradgate (Stanyon) ; only
taken as a rule in the southern and London
districts (F.B.)
marginalis, Reut. Bradgate, alders
- chloropterus, Kbm. Anstey Lane
ericetorum, Fall. Bradgate
Malacocoris, Fieb.
chlorizans, Fall. Narborough
Heterotoma, Latr.
merioptera, Scop. c.
Harpocera, Curt.
thoracica, Fall. Benscliff
Phylus, Hahn.
melanocephalus, L. Swithland Wood
Atractotomus, Fieb.
mali, Mey. Lea Lane
Psallus, Fieb.
betuleti, Fall. StoiMand Wood, birch (Stanyon) ;
Buddon (Bouskell)
variabili , Fall. Netotovin Harcourt
quercus, Kbm. Leicester (Marshall)
93
A HISTORY OF LEICESTERSHIRE
CRYPTOCERATA
NEPIDAE
. in ponds
NoTONECTIDAE
in ponds.
REDUVIINA (continued)
CAPSIDAE (continued)
Psallus Rotermundi, Scholtz. Netalovm Linfird. On
white poplar (Stanyon) ; Leicester (Marshall)
Falleni, Reut. Bardon Hill
alnicola, D. & S. Leicester
lepidns, Fieb. Netvttwn Harcourt (Stanyon)
varians, H. Schf. Bardon Hill
salicellus, Meyer. Lea Lane
Pl.igiognathus, Fieb.
arbustorum, F. Braunstone
- viridulus, Fall. c.
saltitans, Fall.
Nepa, L.
cinerea, L.
Notonecta, L.
glauca, L.
Corixa, Geoffr.
semistriata, Fieb.
COKIXIDAB
ARACHNIDA
Spiders
The following species have been taken by Messrs. W. J. Kaye and C. B. Chalcraft :
LYCOSIDAE
LYCOSA
Lycosa campestris, Blackwall
Very common. Found running on the ground
Lycosa saccata, Blackwall
Very common. Always found in large numbers
together ; found in profusion in such places as dung-
heaps and places where straw is laid
DOLOMEDES
Dolomedes mirabilis, Latreille
Found running on the ground among long grass,
and carries its egg sac under the sternum
Owston Wood (G. B. C.)
SALTICIDAE
SALTICUS
Salticus scenicus, Clerck
Probably all over the county. Taken off wall
covered with ivy, Leicestershire : also Swithland
Wood (G. B. C.)
THOMISIDAE
THOMISUS
Tkomisus cristatus, Walckenaer
Very common in the county ; one of the spiders
which has the power of launching itself into the air,
and often travels considerable distances in this manner
Thomisus citreus, Blackwall
Found on flowers of Valerian, from whence it cap-
tured Lepidoptera sitting there. Owston Wood
(F. B. and W. J. K.)
DRASSIDAE
DRASSUS
Drassus cufreus, Blackwall
Taken at Buddon Wood
DRASSIDAE (continued)
CLUBIONA
Clubiona accentuata, Latreille
Very rapid in its movements ; found in woods.
Taken in Buddon Wood
CINIFLONIDAE
ClNIFLO
Ciniflo atrox, Blackwall
Very common ; found under stones and loose bark ;
hunts at night. Varies considerably in the colour of
the markings of the abdomen
Leicester (G. B. C.), October
AGELENIDAE
TEGENARIA
Tegenaria domestica, Walckenaer
Found in houses ; very common. Taken in
Leicestershire (G. B. C.)
Tegenaria civilis, Walckenaer
Found in houses ; common. Taken in Leicester
(G. B. C.)
CAELOTES
Caehtes saxatilis, Wider
Frequents dark hiding places. Common at Bardon
Hill and probably elsewhere (G. B. C.)
TEXTRIX
Textrix lycosina, Sundevall
THERIDIIDAE
THERIDIOM
Theridion quadripunctatum, Blackwall
Found in cracks of walls and disused houses, &c. ;
fairly common. Leicester (G. B. C.)
94
SPIDERS
THERIDIIDAE (continued}
THERIDION (continued')
Tberidion nervosum, Walckenaer
Taken at Swithland
Therldlon guttatum, Wider
Fairly distributed. Leicester (G. B. C.)
LINYPHIIDAE
NERIENE
Neritne bicolor, Blackwall
Common ; chiefly obtained by beating
WALCKENAERA
Wakkena'ira punctata, Blackwall
Taken at Aylestone (G. B. C.)
Wakkenaira pratensis, Blackwall
Taken at Buddon Wood
EPEIRIDAE
EPEIRA
Epeira cucurbitina, Clerck
Very common
Epeira scalaris (syn. Marmdreus, Clerck)
Taken at Owston Wood
EPEIRIDAE (continued}
EPEIRA (continued)
Epeira umbratica, Clerck
Generally considered uncommon, but probably that
is on account of its retiring habits. Taken at Blaby
under Willow bark
Epeira lutea. Koch
Common. Leicester (G. B. C.)
Epeira diademata, Clerck
Common (G. B. C.)
Epeira callophylla, Blackwall
Fairly common. Leicester (G. B. C.)
Epeira ornata, Blackwall
One taken
Epeira antriada, Blackwall
At Saddington reservoir (G. B. C.)
Epeira inclinata, Blackwall
Taken in Leicester and Buddon Wood
Epeira conica, Pallas
Taken in Buddon Wood
TETRAGNATHA
Tetragnatha extensa, Latreille
Taken in Owston Wood and Swithland
95
CRUSTACEANS
An interest in this branch of zoology cannot be traced back to a remote
past in the annals of this county. The Description of Leicester Shire, by William
Burton, in 1622, takes no notice of its invertebrate fauna. A Topographical
History of the County of Leicester, by the Rev. J. Curtis, published in 1831, is
equally neglectful. The introduction includes an article on botany, contri-
buted by ' Three Loughborough botanists, Mr. Thomas Hands, Joseph Paget,
Esq., and Mr. William Parkinson.' 1 This article begins by saying, ' Leices-
tershire, comprehending within its boundaries, hills, valleys, and plains,
alluvial and secondary strata, bogs, marshes, cultivated and waste ground,
together with woods of every aspect, is peculiarly rich in its botany.' * There
follows a very long list of plants, among which are several pond weeds, these
and other circumstances of the description justifying the inference that this
county will eventually be found as well supplied with land and freshwater
crustaceans as most of our purely inland shires. At length, in 1886, we find
one of the species more or less definitely mentioned. A Report of the
Leicester Literary and Philosophical Society says :
Mr. Garnar exhibited specimens of the small crustacean Asellus aquaticus, common at the
bottom of ponds, and in which the circulation of the internal fluid was very distinctly seen
under the microscope. He read an account of this animal extracted from several works,
but stated that the principal work upon the subject was in French, and was not procurable
in Leicester. 3
It is not expressly stated where the specimens were found, but, as they were
alive, no doubt they came from the immediate neighbourhood of Leicester
itself. The French work alluded to is the Histoire Naturelle des Crustaces
d'Eau douce de Norvege, published in 1867, by the distinguished Norwegian
professor, G. O. Sars. In 1894 a paper on 'the Leicestershire brooks,' by
Mr. Mott, chairman of the society just mentioned, contains the calculation
that there are about 450 distinct streams in the county, and about 160 species
of plants to which their existence is essential, besides a small number of
vertebrate animals, and a large number of invertebrates. 4 In the year 1900
Mr. F. W. Rowley, giving his inaugural address to the zoological section of
the same society, made the following pertinent remarks :
I may say that when I and Mr. Elliott arranged excursions to the reservoirs at Swithland,
Cropston, and Thornton, it was really with a desire to interest some of the members in a
branch of our work almost untouched and with a peculiar fascination of its own. For,
indeed, our ditches, ponds, and reservoirs teem with material for study, and study of a
serious kind ; the forms of life which we meet with have not served their purpose, as some
would seem to think, when they have been utilized to compel admiration at a soiret. On
the contrary they present problems for solution which tax to the utmost the abilities of the
most acute and skilful observers.
Further on he says :
On the zoological side, Mr. Garnar has for some years made a special study of the
Entomostraca, and I hope that he will at no distant date consent to let us have his results
for publication in the Transactions. 5
1 Op. cit. p. vii. * Ibid. p. xxxv. 3 The Midland Naturalist, ix (1886).
4 Trans. Leic. Lit. and Phil. Sue. iii, 399. ' Ibid, v, 504 (1900).
96
CRUSTACEANS
In the same year the honorary secretary of the society, discussing ' Animal
Life in the Leicester Corporation Water Supply,' mentions Dapbnia and
Cyclops as probably accidental escapes through the filter beds. 6 The Four-
teenth Report of the Museum Committee to the Town Council as to the
Leicester Corporation Museum and Art Gallery, from i April, 1902, to
31 March, 1904, under the heading, 'Crustacea (trilobites, crabs, lobsters,
prawns, &c.),' observes that
specimens of recent freshwater forms are desiderata, and many of these might very easily
be obtained by local enthusiasts in this direction from the rivers and streams of the county,
our knowledge of their distribution throughout Britain generally being at present very
limited, and still more so in the case of local forms. 7
It is no doubt extremely desirable that a local museum should have
suitably preserved specimens of all the local fauna. There is, however, little
reason to expect that the crustaceans of Leicestershire will ever excite the
wonder or admiration of the multitude by an exhibition of them in show-
cases. The majority of them are microscopic in size, and among the larger
forms the marvels of structure and elegancies of apparel are for the most part
still microscopic. The aquatic species need to be kept in liquid or imbedded
in some preservative material. Consequently the ordinary passing observer
requires enlarged models or very much magnified pictures of the animal and
its dissected parts, if he is to appreciate these forms of life at all at their true
value.
For the highest sub-class of crustaceans, the Ma/acostraca, Leicestershire
is singularly barren of records. All the greater is the satisfaction now to be
derived from publishing the fact that Potamobius pallipes (Lereboullet), the
common river crayfish, exists here as it does in so many other counties of
England. It is in our strictly inland shires the solitary representative of
the Macrura^ a lobster-like form, stalk-eyed, ten-legged, breathing by divided
gills which are concealed under the large cephalothoracic shield or carapace.
For the opportunity of making this record I am indirectly indebted to
Mr. H. H. Arnold-Bemrose, J.P., F.G.S., who ascertained that at Derby
members of the electric lighting staff were accustomed to catch crayfish from
the canal for domestic consumption. He suggested that the same thing
might happen at Leicester. In accordance with this anticipation Mr. Alfred
Coulson, M.Inst.C.E., manager of the Corporation of Leicester Gas and
Electric Lighting Department, obligingly writes to me under date 1 5 De-
cember, 1906, ' that crayfish are caught in the canal adjoining one of their
works.' Dr. W. T. Caiman, D.Sc., has also since informed me that Leicester
is one of the localities from which the British Museum has received speci-
mens of this crustacean.
Still unrecorded, but beyond all doubt present, is the ubiquitous Gam-
marus pulex (Linn.). This is a characteristic representative of the Amphipoda^
which are sessile-eyed Ma/acostraca, with fourteen legs, simple exposed gills,
and a cephalothoracic shield much shorter than that of the crayfish. The
species in question is one of the few that we have in fresh water. Their salt-
water kindred are exuberantly diversified both round our own shores and in
other parts of the globe. Just as surely as the brooks and ponds of the county
6 Tram. Leic. Lit. and Phil. Sue. v, 377. ' Op. cit. 12 (1904).
i 97 13
A HISTORY OF LEICESTERSHIRE
will yield the Gammarus, its gardens and roadsides and bosky dells will supply
many species of woodlice or woodland shrimps. These are the Isopoda
terrestria, sessile-eyed, fourteen-legged, with short carapace, in all these
respects agreeing with the Amphipoda, but differing from them by having
some appendages of the pleon or tail converted into breathing organs, instead
of having gills attached to the legs of the middle-body. Their abundance
and extensive range make it really singular that they should for so long have
escaped all notice in this county, where hitherto, so far as public records are
concerned, the only malacostracan rescued from the realms of conjecture has
been Asellus aquaticus, Linn. This, indeed, is our only distinctively fresh-
water isopod in England, very abundant, very widely distributed, but not to
be regarded as quite a typical isopod, since, of the six pairs of appendages
proper to the pleon, the female has lost or dispensed with the second pair.
In contrast with the state of inanition in the great sub-class above-
mentioned, the Entomostraca are now making their presence known in no
inconsiderable variety. The credit of this development is in a large measure
due to two investigators, one being the late Mr. Garnar, whose name has
already been brought forward, the other, Mr.J. D. Scourfield, whose intimate
knowledge of the subject gives exceptional value to the unpublished list of
species with which he has generously supplied me. There are, however, as
will presently appear, one or two additional authorities to whom the county
is indebted for discoveries of special interest.
The three orders among which the Entomostraca are distributed, the
Branchiopoda, Ostracoda, and Copepoda, are so remarkably unlike in general
facies that some study is required before the propriety of classing them side by
side can be appreciated. Yet, in spite of this diversity, there are certain
forms which have been bandied to and fro between the first and third orders,
without obtaining, even to this day, a quite secure position in either. These
are the Branchiura, at present by some accepted as a sub-order of the
Branchiopoda, sharing that rank with the Phyllopoda and Cladocera. Alter-
natively, the three divisions have been raised to independent orders, near to
one another. But Mr. Charles Branch Wilson, in his very valuable
' Systematic Review ' of the family Argulidae, 8 would again make them a sub-
order of the Copepoda. This is not a fitting opportunity for discussing his
arguments. Apart from these his definition of the Branchiura may con-
veniently be quoted. According to this they have a ' flattened body, consisting
of a shield-shaped cephalothorax in which the first thoracic segment is fused
with the head, a free thorax of three segments, and a two-lobed abdomen
without segments ; four pairs of swimming feet, long and furnished with two
rows of plumose setae ; two large compound eyes, movable, and surrounded
by a blood sinus ; testes in the abdomen ; heart present ; females without ovisacs,
eggs attached to foreign objects.' There is only one family, including three
genera.
For instituting a comparison between the Branchiura on the one hand
and the malacostracan crayfish or isopods on the other, we may accept the
opinion that in the former the paired appendages, apart from the eyes, repre-
sent in succession first and second antennae, mandibles, first and second
maxillae, maxillipeds, and four pairs of two-branched locomotive limbs, in
* Proc. U.S. Nat. Mas. xxv, 701 (1902).
CRUSTACEANS
which the outer branch is unjointed. In one genus, however, Chonopeltis,
Thiele, the first antennae are wholly wanting, contrary to the character
almost universal in the crustacean class. But this genus shares with Argulus
the peculiarity that the second maxillae are transformed into suckers. There
is a twofold reason for speaking of this as a case of transmutation, because in
the third genus, Do/of s (Audouin), these maxillae form, not suckers, but
strong hooks, and in the larval Argulus foliaceus the transition stage has been
observed from a claw to a sucking-disk. Mr. Wilson very justly suggests
that though the uncinate form of maxilla anchors the parasite strongly to its
host, the suckers are a better contrivance, because they are so much more
easily fastened and unfastened. By alternately holding fast with the sucker
on one side while that on the other is released and advanced, the owner is
enabled to move rapidly and yet securely over the surface of a fish. Whether
A. foliaceus (Linn.), which is said to be generally distributed, actually occurs
in Leicestershire I am not in a position to affirm, but of the larger and
seemingly much rarer A. coregoni (Thorell), Mr. Scourfield says, 'Canon
Norman possesses specimens of this species, which were taken by Mr. Dodds
on the Barbel, in Leicestershire ; it has not previously been placed on record
as British.' 9 While A. foliaceus in the female attains the length of only six
or seven millimetres, and has an elliptical carapace, the lobes of which reach
the fourth pair of legs, this sex in A. coregoni is thirteen millimetres long,
fully half an inch, with a nearly orbicular carapace, which leaves the fourth
pair of legs entirely uncovered. The smaller male has a still more rounded
carapace completely covering all its legs. The respiration appears to be
dependent on the general surface, rather than on any special appendages. It
should be noticed that the movable eyes, the habit of depositing the eggs
instead of carrying them about in ovisacs, and the position of the sucker-
disks, are characters strongly differentiating the Argulidae from all uncon-
troversial families of parasitic Copepoda. The genus Argulus is also dis-
tinguished by having a venomous stilet in its oral siphon, which apparently
prevents a fish from retaliating on its persecutor, when otherwise opportunity
offers for swallowing it. To prevent the destructive multiplication of these
little vampires in closed waters, Mr. Wilson points out that in such vivaria
it is inexpedient to keep only valuable fishes. It is the little insignificant
kinds that feed with useful voracity on the larval Argulus
The antlered Cladocera owe their title to the two-branched setiferous
second antennae, which are their swimming organs. Mr. Garnar's list of the
species taken in the immediate neighbourhood of Leicester was sent, in a
letter dated 6 April, 1903, to Mr. Scourfield, who has kindly supplied a copy
of it annotated by himself for use in this chapter. The number of species is
twenty-four, Seddington Reservoir being specified as the locality for three of
them, namely, Macrotbrix /aticornis, Ilyocryptus sordidus^nft. Lathonura rectirostris*
Mr. Scourfield's own collections were made in the Charnwood Forest district
at Whitsuntide, 1906, the localities examined being ' Groby Pool, ponds
near Beacon Hill and Bardon Hill ; Old Fish Pond, Grace Dieu Priory,
and various little roadside and farmyard ponds, &c.' Sixteen species are
named in this list, seven of them additional to those examined by the late
9 Journ. Queketl Micros. Club, 40, April, 1 904.
10 Proc. U.S. Nat. Mus. xxv, 652.
99
A HISTORY OF LEICESTERSHIRE
Mr. Garnar, making, after some deductions suggested by Mr. Scourfield, a total
of thirty species of Cladocera to the credit of this county. In this sub-order
there are two principal divisions, the Calyptomera and the Gymnomera. It
is only with the former that we are here concerned. The name implies that
the feet are for the most part covered by the carapace. The division
contains two tribes, the Ctenopoda, comb-footed, and the Anomopoda,
differentially footed. In the former there are six pairs of feet, all thin and
leaf-like, and except the last pair nearly alike in structure, not prehensile,
having the inner branch furnished with plumose setae in comb-like arrange-
ment. 11 There are two families, one of which, the Sididae, contains the
species called by Mr. Garnar Diaphanosoma brandtianum. This name was given
it by S. Fischer in 1850, but as it had been earlier named Slda brachyura by
Lievin in 1848, it must now stand as D. brachyurum^ implying that this little
sylph has a particularly short tail and shares with several of her sisters a
generally diaphanous structure. In this genus the upper branch of the second
antennae is two-jointed and the lower three-jointed, whereas in Sida the case
is just the reverse.
The Anomopoda, to which most of our Leicestershire cladocerans belong,
have five or six pairs of feet, not in fraternal agreement, the first two pairs
being more or less prehensile, without the foliaceous character of the following
pairs. This tribe is distributed over four families, the Daphnidae, Bosminidae,
Macrotrichidae, and Chydoridae, for discriminating which the articulation of
the natatory antennae and the intestine supply some useful, but not wholly
decisive, guidance. In the fourth family both branches of the second an-
tennae are three-jointed, in the first and third families one branch has four,
the other only three, joints ; but the small family of the Bosminidae, with
only two genera, distinguishes one of them, Bosminopsis, by its having the
swimming-organs jointed as in the Chydoridae, from the companion genus
Bostmna, which in this respect agrees with the other two families. The
number of these joints, therefore, will not in any case absolutely determine
the family. Upon having recourse to the other character, we find that the
intestine in the Daphnidae has two coecal appendages in front, but has no
loop, in the Bosminidae it has neither loops nor coecal appendages, in the
Macrotrichidae it has coecal appendages rarely, and sometimes a loop, but .
sometimes not, while lastly, in the Chydoridae it always has a median loop,
coecal appendages in front rarely, a single such appendage behind often.
When both characters are combined there is still some confusion possible
between the Daphnidae and some members of the Macrotrichidae. But this
chance is much diminished by taking into account the first antennae, which
in the female of the Daphnidae are short and almost rigid, except in the
genus Moina, whereas in that genus and throughout the Macrotrichidae they
are long and mobile. As it happens no species of Moina is included in our
present catalogue, but there are four other genera of the same family with
which we have to deal, Daphne or Daphnia, O. F. Miiller; Scapholeberis,
Schodler; Simosa, Norman; Ceriodaphnia, Dana. In the first three there is a
distinct rostrum which is wanting in the fourth. The head is carinate above
in the first, but convex and not carinate in the second and third, and, to dis-
tinguish these two, it must be noted that the hinder and lower margins of
11 Lilljeborg, Cladocera Sutciae, 14 (1901).
100
CRUSTACEANS
the valves in Scapholeberis meet in an acute or obtuse process, but that they
pass one into the other with a curve in Simosa. li
The genus Daphne, as O. F. Miiller first called it, or Dapbnia, the change-
ling which has been so long accepted as legitimate, involves many perplexities
besides those connected with its generic name. D. pulex is, among all the
' water-fleas,' probably the most familiar. The specific name is due to
Linnaeus. Yet authors commonly ascribe it to de Geer, because in this
instance they think that Linnaeus did not very precisely know what he was
talking about, and that de Geer did. In fact, it requires a practised specialist
to criticize to much purpose the specific and varietal names which have
clustered round this form and its nearest allies. In Mr. Garnar's list we find
given as species Daphnia magna, D. pulex, D. hamata or minebaba, D. obtusa,
D. longispina, D. hyalina, D. galeata. Mr. Scourfield remarks that D. minebaba
is only a form of D. pulex, and in his own list gives ' D. pulex (pbtusa and
proplnqua forms only), D. longispina, D. hyalina (the small galeata form).' He
supposes that Mr. Garnar's D. galeata is the form last mentioned. In this
view the records of Leicestershire Daphniae will be reduced to four species,
which are thus discriminated by Lilljeborg. D. pulex (de Geer) and
D. magna, Straus, have the large terminal spines, sometimes called the caudal
ungues, pectinate with spinules or spinuliform setae, whereas in D. longispina,
O. F. Miiller, and D. hyalina, Leydig, the armature of the ungues is reduced
to fine setules or mere cilia. D. magna, which Dr. Brady transfers to a
separate genus, Dactylura is distinguished from D. pulex, not only by its
generally superior size, but by having the caudal margin of the female strongly
sinuate instead of gently undulating. The size is an ineffective guide, since
the length of the adult female in the ' great ' species varies between 3-2 and
5'3 mm., and in the typical species between 3-6 and 4*4 mm., the upper
limit of the common species thus being much above the lower limit of its
supposed superior. D. longispina has the keel of the head interrupted below
the eye, and is thus distinguished from D. hyalina, in which the keel is con-
tinued without interruption to the apex of the rostrum. 14 For the last species
Lilljeborg accepts four sub-species, in three of which, including hyalina, the
front part of the head has, at least in the female, a rounded profile, but in
D. galeata, Sars, this part is angular, or produced into a process more or less
large, acuminate, and helmet-like. 16 The effect of these variations is some-
times extremely eccentric, and even comical. Dr. Brady, in 1898, accepts
D, galeata as an independent species, and does the same for D. obtusa, Kurz,
1874, but agrees with M.Jules Richard in reducing D. propinqua, Sars, 1895,
to a variety of D. obtusa. He institutes the new species D. hamata, but
supposes that it may be identical with D. minehaha, Herrick, 1884. For his
discussion of these disputed names his own memoir must be consulted. 16 It is
worthy of note that D. propinqua, which Mr. Scourfield has found in the
waters of this county, was originally described in Norway, not as a Norwegian
form, but as bred in that country by Prof. Sars out of dried mud, which he
had received from South Africa. For Scapholeberis Mr. Garnar has recorded
two species, S. mucronata (O. F. M.) and S. cornuta (Jurine), but the latter,
" Cladocera Sueciae, 66. " Trans. Nat. Hist. Northumb. &c. xiii, 240 (1898).
14 Cladocera Sueciae, 69. 15 Ibid. 104.
16 Trans. Nat. Hist. Northumb. xiii, 217-248, pis. 7-10.
IOI
A HISTORY OF LEICESTERSHIRE
earlier described by de Geer as bispinosa^ is now admitted to be only a variety
of M tiller's mucronata.
The typical form, Lilljeborg says, is in profile so peculiar that it can at once be
distinguished from all others; the body is short, almost oval, in front obtusely pointed, with
almost straight lower margin behind the head ; above, behind the head, there is a deep con-
striction ; the lower hinder corners of the shell are each provided with a more or less long
pointed process, the lower front corners having a more or less angular prominence.
The variety sometimes has the hinder processes much elongated, and the
frontal angle produced into a long, straight, acuminate horn, making the
general appearance very different from the normal, with which it is neverthe-
less connected by many intermediate gradations in different individuals. 17
Simosa vetula (O. F. M.) is recorded by Mr. Scourfield under the name
Simocepbalus vetu/us, which it long enjoyed, until Dr. Norman recently pointed
out that the generic part of the title was preoccupied. Flat-head, or snub-
nose, the meaning of the name, may allude either to the non-carinate
character of the head or to the bluntness of the rostrum. In this genus and
the next the ephippium, as the case for the winter eggs is called, contains
only one egg, whereas that of Daphnia has two. In Ceriodaphnia Mr. Garnar
records C. quadrangula (O. F. M.), for which Mr. Scourfield substitutes
C. pulchella, Sars, with the explanation that Mr. Garnar had relied on one
of Mr. Scourfield's own papers, in which the two titles were transposed.
Mr. Scourfield himself records C. mega/ops, Sars, and C. affinls^ Lilljeborg.
These four species are distinguished by the last-named author as follows :
C. mega/ops [of which the original and therefore correct name is C. megops\
has the hinder or upper margin of the tail near the apex abruptly notched or
angled, the other three species having no such abrupt notching. But in
C. quadrangula the margin in question within the spines is sinuate, while in
C. pulchella and C. affinis it is not sinuate. Lastly, the head in C. pulchella is
notably inflated, and sometimes angled, but it is not inflated in C. affinis.
This species Mr. Scourfield considers the best acquisition in his list ' from a
collector's point of view. 19
In the family Bosminidae both our authorities record Bosmina /ongirostris,
Mr. Scourfield adding that B. cornuta is included. Several varieties of the
species have been named. Between the two with which we are here con-
cerned the distinction is given that B. longirostris (O. F. M.) in the restricted
sense has the first antennae of the female little curved, and not hook-shaped,
but B. cornuta (Jurine) has them very much curved and more or less hook-
shaped, and after all there are intermediate forms connecting the two. As
this little species with rounded profile seldom exceeds and does not always
attain the length of -5 mm. that is, the fiftieth of an inch it will be under-
stood that the marks of variation are tolerably microscopic. It is gregarious
and widely distributed, being known not only from most parts of Europe,
but also from Siberia, Central Asia, and the United States of America. 20
The family Macrotrichidae is represented here by the three species
which Mr. Garnar obtained from Seddington Reservoir. The three genera
to which these species belong agree in having an unlooped intestine, which is
also without coecal appendages in front. They are distinguished one from
another by the circumstance that the outer branch of the second antennae has
"CfatoctraSueciaf,i$i,i5s. "Ibid. 185. "Inlitt. 22 July, 1906. lo ClaJoceraSueciae, 226, 235.
IO2
CRUSTACEANS
only three swimming setae in Ilyocryptus, Sars, but four in Macrothrix, Baird,
and five in Latbonura, Lilljeborg. 81 Further, Ilyocryptus has six pairs of feet,
with the last pair rudimentary, Macrothrix has only five pairs, with the last of
them not quite rudimentary, and Latbonura also has only five pairs, but here
it is not only the fifth pair that has dwindled, for the fourth also is so small
that its existence has often been overlooked. Ilyocryptus sordidus (Lievin)
owes its title of ' sordid mud-burrower ' to its habits. Lilljeborg states that
it occurs pretty frequently in lakes and slow-flowing rivers, where it lives
exclusively on the muddy floor. Back downward, the shell-valves open, the
feet in movement, it lies generally at rest on the bottom ; its second antennae
are used only for crawling and burrowing. 8 * In spite of its lethargic nature,
however, it has spread itself about Europe and Africa, and is known from
Australia and North America. Macrothrix laticornis (Jurine), which occurs
also in Mr. Scourfield's list, owes its specific name to the character of the first
antennae in the female. These, instead of narrowing towards the apex, are in
this species dilated. The generic name, meaning long-haired, refers in fact
to a single hair, or rather seta. In this genus the three-jointed branch of
the second antennae, which Lilljeborg calls the inner, and Baird the anterior,
has five natatory setae, three on the apical joint, and one seta apiece on the
other two. This seta, or filament, on the first joint is described by Baird
as ' much longer than any of the others.' 2S The superiority in length
does not appear to be constant, but the seta has other distinctive features
which still make it of importance. Latbonura rectirostris (O. F. M.) has the
hind-body small and thick, in the living animal generally concealed between
the feet, a * tail-hiding ' propensity of which the generic name is significant.
The pair of caudal setae in this species are very long. The ephippial females
are said to carry as many as from five to seven winter-eggs in the detachable
part of their organism, called the ephippium from its resemblance to a saddle. 24
Our remaining species of the Cladocera are all included in the extensive
family of the Chydoridae, Eurycercus lamellatus (O.F.M.) being distinguished
from the rest by having to the front of the intestine two short coeca of
which the others are devoid. Its hind-body is very large and broad, strongly
compressed, so that the hinder or upper part is thin and lamellar, and this is
fringed with a single row of little spines or teeth, amounting in old specimens
to more than a hundred. It has been taken both by Mr. Garnar and
Mr. Scourfield. There are still eight genera to be discriminated. In
only two of them, Camptocercus, Baird, and Acroperus, Baird, is the head
carinate above. Of the other six, two, Alona, Sars, and Leydigia, Kurz, have
the free hind margins of the valves little lower than the rest of their height,
while in the remaining four they are much lower. In Chydorus, Leach, the
body of the female is rounded in profile and more or less globose. In the
other three genera it is not rounded, and of these Alonella, Sars, has the
rostrum neither long nor very acute, in contrast to Peracantha, Baird, and
Pleuroxus, Baird, in which the rostral characters are just the opposite. The
female Camptocercus has a long slender tail, spined on the upper margin,
whereas in Acroperus this tail is of medium length and breadth, and on its
upper margin not spined. Camptocercus rectirostris, Schodler, is described as
11 Cladocera Sueciae, 210. " Ibid. 331.
n British Entomostraca (Ray Soc.), 103 (1850). " Cladocera Sueciae, 360.
I0 3
A HISTORY OF LEICESTERSHIRE
swimming with regular, sometimes tolerably rapid movements, back upwards,
repeatedly striking out behind with the hind-body. 86 It is probably to the
latter action that it owes its generic name, which Baird explains as meaning
flexible-tailed." It occurs only in Mr. Garnar's list, and Acroperus harpae,
Baird, only in Mr. Scourfields. The oblique striation or ribbing of the
valves in the latter species suggested the comparison with a harp. The
generic name signifying a pointed extremity does not seem especially appro-
priate, as the body is in profile more or less ovate, or even sometimes sub-
rectangular. Alona, Sars, which takes the place of the pre-occupied Lynceus,
is represented in Mr. Garnar's list by A, tenuicaudis ^ Sars, and A. rostrata
(Koch), in Mr. Scourfield's by A, affinis (Leydig), A. guttata, Sars, and
A. rectangula, Sars. The characters used by Lilljeborg for distinguishing
these species show that A. rostrata has only seven swimming setae on the
second antennae, while the other species have eight. Its specific name
alludes to the length and acuteness of the rostrum in the female. In that sex
the squamiform fascicles of fine spinules at the sides of the tail are well
developed, and the last of them overtopping the caudal margin in A. rect-
angula, but they are wanting or rudimentary and not overtopping the margin
in the other three species. The hind or upper margin of the female tail is
more or less angled in A. guttata, but rounded in A. affinis and A. tenuicaudis.
Finally, in A. affinis the terminal spines of the upper caudal margin are about
equal to those which precede them, but in A, tenuicaudis a few at the end are
much larger than the preceding. A. affinis was first recorded as British by
Mr. Scourfield in 1895, and the special marks distinguishing it from
A. quadr angular is (O.F.M.) will be found given by him in detail on that
occasion. 87 Leydigia quadr angular is (Leydig), first described by the celebrated
zoologist after whom its present genus is named, has features, the interest of
which is not diminished by the fact that some of them are common to all of
the few species at present comprised in the genus. There are five pairs of
feet, of which the fifth is the largest. The intestine forms almost a double
loop. The eye-spot, instead of being as usual much smaller than the eye, is
here considerably larger. This species belongs to Mr. Garnar's list. The
next two are from Mr. Scourfield's. Alone lla nanus (Baird), being little over a
hundredth of an inch or "2.6 mm. in length, may set up some claim to be a
champion dwarf among the Cladocera, in accord with its specific name
attached to a diminutive generic title. Small as it is, its residence is said to
be by preference in large pieces of water. Peracantha truncata (O.F.M.) is
named to suit the character of its valves which have a truncate hind margin
beset with spines. It is unnecessary to follow Lilljeborg in the refinement of
scholarship which leads him to lengthen the generic name into Peratacantha.
Two species are entered by Mr. Garnar as Lynceus uncinatus and Lynceus
denticulatus. Mr. Scourfield points out that the former should more properly
be called Pleuroxus uncinatus, Baird, and as to the latter says, ' It is very
unlikely that Mr. Garnar had Pleuroxus denticulatus ; P. denticulatus is too
close to P. trigonellus and P. aduncus, to allow us to accept this identification
without further evidence.' He subsequently wrote repeating his doubt as to
this one species in Mr. Garnar's list, but adding, 'It is a British species, however,
M Cladocera Sueciae, 409. M Brit. Ent. (Ray Soc.), 128.
17 Journ. Quekett Uicrosc. Club (Ser. 2), vi, 1 29.
104
CRUSTACEANS
as I found a single specimen, for the first time, last year in Devonshire, but
it has not yet been recorded.' ia Lilljeborg accepts his own trlgonellus as a
synonym of P. aduncus (Jurine), but distinguishes the latter from the original
P. trlgonellus (O.F.M.) and P. uncinatus, Baird, by the character that the tail
of the male is in profile narrower than that of the female and only moderately
narrowed apically, whereas in the other two species it is broader, although
apically strongly narrowed. In P. trigonellus the rostrum of the female points
downwards, but in P. uncmatus it has more or less of a forward direction, in
the typical form having its end in lateral view directed forward and sometimes
upward, so as to be almost hook-like. 89 Between Chydorus globosus, Baird,
mentioned only in Mr. Garnar's list, and C. sphaericus (O.F.M.), taken also
by Mr. Scourfield, there is the considerable difference of size, the former
being on the average nearly twice as long as the latter. Moreover the tail of
the female in Baird's species appears in profile elongate and rather narrow,
but in the other species it is short and broad. For those' who wish to make
a thorough study of these minute but widely distributed, often multitudinous,
and in many cases easily captured animals, the elaborate and copiously illus-
trated work by the veteran Swedish naturalist, Prof. Wilhelm Lilljeborg,
must be considered indispensable. Although by title it refers only to the
Cladocera of Sweden, the English student will find it a well-spring of infor-
mation as to those of his own country.
The Ostracoda agree with the previous group in being small and
numerous and diversified. They are also not difficult to capture. But they
are in some ways less attractive. Instead of a transparent test, which allows
the observer to see, as it were, the wheels of the watch in movement, here the
valves are, as a rule, opaque, enabling the animal to shut itself up as in a box,
within which all the working parts, head and tail and limbs, are lost to view.
Leicestershire has the distinction of having first supplied to science one
notable species of this order. It was in the canal at Fleckney that the
Rev. A. M. Norman fifty years ago, in August, 1856, discovered Limnicytbere
monstrifica. It is described as having the ' valves, as seen from the side,
oblong subquadrangular, strongly spinous and tuberculate, extremities boldly
rounded, the anterior bearing on each valve a marginal row of about twelve
sharp spines.' From Cypris, in which it was originally placed by Norman,
Brady transferred it to his Limnicy there , a freshwater genus of the Cytheridae,
nearly allied to Cytbere, O.F.M., which is principally marine. It is con-
sidered to be a character of the family at large that the animals are incapable
of swimming. In regard to this species in particular Dr. Brady remarks that
' the excessively rugged surface of the shell would, indeed, constitute a serious
impediment to any rapid movement through the water,' and cites Norman's
observation that it made no attempt to swim in the few days during which
he kept it alive. 30 In 1889 Brady and Norman record Cypria exsculpta
(Fischer), taken by Norman at Kibworth, Leicestershire, and Notodromas
monacha (O.F.M.), taken at Gumley. 81 These two, with the six species taken
by Mr. Scourfield in this county, belong to the family Cyprididae, which
are distinguished from the Cytheridae by several characters. Thus in the
former the shell is generally thin and horny, the eyes when present are simple,
** In litt. ii Sept. 1906. " Cladocera Sueciae, 539.
30 Trans. Linn. Soc. xxvi, pt. 2, 420 (1868). " Trans. Roy. Dublin Sue. Ser. z, iv, 69, 96.
I 105 14
A HISTORY OF LEICESTERSHIRE
usually confluent, the first antennae slender, the caudal rami usually well
developed, elongated, very mobile, and bearing two or three apical claws ; in
the latter the shell is mostly hard, calcareous, with an uneven surface, the
eyes when present more or less separated, the first antennae subpediform, the
caudal rami obsolete, forming two rounded setiferous lobes. 82 The species
named by Mr. Scourfield are Cypria opbthalmica (Jurine), Cyclocypris laevis
(O.F.M.), C. serena (Koch), Cypris fuscata (Jurine), Cypridopsis vidua
(O.F.M.), and Candona lactea, Baird. None of these are uncommon in
England. As is partly indicated by the generic names, they are rather
closely allied one to another, and to make intelligible the generic and specific
distinctions would overtax the space at command. In the monographs
already referred to as produced by Dr. Brady alone and by that author in col-
laboration with Dr. Norman, the reader will find his needs supplied. One
point, however, should here be noticed. In 1868 Cypridopsis mdua was given
by Brady as the primary species of Cypridopsis, and so retained by Brady and
Norman in 1889 ; but in 1896, when their second volume appeared, they
made it the type of a new genus, Pionocypris. Recognition of the transfer is
declined by Dr. Kaufmann and Mr. Scourfield. On the other hand,
Dr. Thomas Scott argues that its removal from Cypridopsis became necessary,
when it was made clear that the species did not possess the principal char-
acter on which that genus was founded. For, whereas the caudal rami were
described as 'being quite rudimentary, consisting of two slender setiform
processes springing from a common base,' which applied to two associated
species, on the contrary in C. vidua ' the caudal rami consist of four setiform
processes.' 33
For the remaining order, the Copepoda, Mr. Scourfield's manuscript
furnishes a record of fourteen species. The first is Diaptomus gracilis, Sars,
in the family Diaptomidae. This is followed by ten species and two varieties
of the genus Cyclops, which is not unfrequently spoken of as if it were a kind
of compendium of all the freshwater Copepoda. The names given are
C. strenuus, Fischer, C. leuckarti, Claus, C. dybowskii, Lande, C. bicuspidatus,
Claus, C. vernalis, Fischer, C. mridis (Jurine), C. fuscus (Jurine), C. albidus
(Jurine), C. prasinus (Jurine), C. serrulatus, Fischer; C. vicinus, Uljanin, being
given as a variety of C. strenuus, and C. varius, Lilljeborg, as a variety of
C. serrulatus. This last species is distinguished from the others by having
the first antennae only twelve-jointed instead of seventeen-jointed. Dr. Brady
adopts the name C. signatus, Koch, to include both C. albidus and C. fuscus,
regarding the latter as an earlier stage of growth than the former, marked by
its having a simple instead of a serrated rib on the last joint of the antennae. 84
In regard to C, leuckarti, Dr. Thomas Scott has quite recently observed that
specimens in the penultimate or antepenultimate stage of growth have the first
antennae furnished with only eleven articulations, an evidence that this useful
numerical character itself requires to be used with caution in the dis-
crimination of species. From the family Arpacticidae, Mr. Scourfield
records Canthocamptus minutus (= staphylinus), G.pygmaeus, Sars, and C. zschokkei,
Schmeil. The proper name of this genus is Canthocampus. The account of
"' Tram. Roy. Dublin Soc. (Ser. 2), iv, 65-7.
" Proc. Roy. Pbys. Soc. Edinburgh, xvi, 273 (1906).
" Trans. Nat. Hist. Northumb. vi, 71 (1891).
1 06
CRUSTACEANS
C.pygmaeus will be found in Brady's Monograph of British Copepoda under
the name of Attheyella cryptorum, and that of C. staphylinus (Jurine) under the
title of ' Canthocamptus minutus, Baird.' For authorities and other useful notices
about the Entomostraca in Mr. Scourfield's catalogue, his own paper on the
Entomostraca of Epping Forest should be consulted. 35 For certain species the
practice of washing wet mosses and wet liverworts is strongly commended.
Indeed, the relations subsisting between water plants in general and these
small crustaceans will be found replete with interest. Judging by recent
performance the waters of Leicestershire promise well for the researches of
future carcinologists. For land crustaceans they can have the glory of
opening up a territory entirely unexplored.
At least, when these words were first printed, such appeared to be a
reasonable inference from diligent but fruitless inquiry. Now, however, the
statement must be qualified in view of information, accidentally belated,
which Mr. A. R. Horwood, curator of the Leicester Museum, under date
30 March, 1907, has kindly supplied. Besides noting the occurrence of the
crayfish at Aylestone in the Soar, he mentions that Gammarus pulex, Oniscus
ase//us, Porcellio scaber, and Armadillidium vu/gare, are all widely distributed
in the county, and that he himself has found specimens of the first three
quite recently at different localities. Oniscus ase//us, Linn., and the two
following species, which owe their specific names to Latreille, are, among
small creatures outside the class of insects, about the most familiar objects in
the British fauna. Yet to the world in general it is far from familiar know-
ledge that they are Crustaceans. The zealous investigator will assuredly find
that of the same tribe many more species than those above named occur in
Leicestershire.
34 The Essex Naturalist, x, 313-34.
107
FISHES
The fishes of Leicestershire are those usually found in inland or midland
counties, and with the exception of the salmon, which is of accidental occur-
rence, would be those found in the adjoining counties, and call for no special
introduction.
TELEOSTEANS
ACANTHOPTERYGII
1. Perch. Perca fluvlatllis, Linn.
Commonly distributed. In the Leicester Museum
there is a cast of a specimen taken at Saddington in
1885 by Mr. J. Benskin, which weighed just under
3 Ib. Mr. J. Smith presented one to the Leicester
Museum, taken by Mr. Roche at Aylestone, 17 July,
1 886, which weighed 2 Ib. 2 oz. Mr. Keen, the fish-
ing tackle-maker of Church-gate, reported a fine perch
taken at Wistow, some years ago, by Mr. Blakiston,
which turned the scale at 5 Ib. In the early part of
1888, Thornton Reservoir, which absolutely swarmed
with perch, to the entire destruction of the trout-
fishing, was cleaned out and netted, when some fine
perch were taken, the late Dr. Macaulay reporting a
brace which weighed 9 Ib. ; and Pinchen showed me,
amongst others, one from there weighing 3f Ib. I
have taken at Thornton Reservoir several specimens
with blunt heads or rounded noses, evidently a mal-
formation, which appears, however, persistent.
2. Ruff", dcerina cernua, Linn.
Locally, Daddy Ruff, Jack Ruff, Pope.
According to Harley, it occurs in most of our
canals and small streams, especially in those which
take their rise in Charnwood Forest. It has been
taken from the Soar at Aylestone, and occurs in
other streams throughout the county.
3. Miller's Thumb. Cottus gpbio, Linn.
Locally, Bullhead, Tommy Logge.
Commonly distributed. Harley noted it as com-
mon in the stream which flows through Bradgate
Park.
ANACANTHINI
4. Burbot. Lota vulgaris, Cuv.
Locally, Burbolt, Eel-pout.
Harley recorded it as ' an irregular and uncertain
visitant to the rivers of the county, save the Trent,
where it occurs plentifully.' It has been occasionally
taken in the Soar about Kegworth, and Harley once
saw one caught in an eel-net at Zouch Mills, near
Loughborough.
HEMIBRANCHII
5. Three-spined Stickleback. Gastrosteus aculeatus,
Linn.
Locally, Tiddler, Jack Bannel, Robin, Soldier,
Stuttle, Stut, Tittle-bat.
Commonly distributed.
6. Four-spined
Linn.
Stickleback. Gastrosteus spinulosus,
I am enabled to add this to the county fauna, since
the publication of my Vertebrate Animals of Leicester-
shire and Rutland, on the authority of Mr. H. Butler
Johnson, B.A., of St. George's Lodge, Swannington,
who tells me that about 1883 he obtained a specimen
in a brook at Thringstone.
7. Nine-spined Stickleback. Gastrosteus fungitius,
Linn.
Locally, Tinker.
Generally distributed, but perhaps not so common
as the three-spined Stickleback.
HAPLOMI
8. Pike. Esox lucius, Linn.
Locally, Jack.
Commonly distributed, attaining a large size in
pools such as those of Bosworth and Saddington. In
1 8 1 1 Harley saw a brace of pike taken in a pond at
Dishley, the property of Mr. March Phillipps, each of
which weighed over 25 Ib. Keen told me that,
sometime about 1845-50 one of 33 Ib. (which he
saw) was netted at Barrow Mill-dam, after having
broken through three trammel-nets. I saw a mounted
specimen at Bosworth House, which was captured in
April, 1869, in Bosworth Pool, and weighed 26 Ib.
The Leicester Museum donation-book records, under
108
FISHES
date 20 August, 1872, the capture of one at Barrow-on-
Soar which weighed iyf lb., and measured 3 \ ft.
in length. It was presented to the museum by
Mr. Noble, of Barrow. Col. Palmer, writing in 1888,
said that some very large pike had been taken out of
the water at Withcote at different periods, one, a
diseased fish, caught some fifteen years before measured
42 in. in length, but only weighed about 1 3 lb. It
seemed to be invaded by a fungoid growth, and was
buried at once. The late Dr. Macaulay had a speci-
men which he caught at Wistow in October, 1872,
which weighed 20 lb. He also related that about
1870 he was fishing at Saddington with the Rev. H.
Matthews, when the latter hooked and lost a very
large fish which broke his line. A week after the fish
was found dead with the tackle in its throat. It
weighed 25 lb., and would have been much more if in
condition.
OSTARIOPHYSI
9. Carp. Cyfrinui carpio, Linn.
According to Harley it occurs in some parts of the
River Soar, and abounds in pools such as those of
Groby and Saddington. There are large carp, so
Col. Palmer informed me, at Owston, where there
appear to be remains of ancient monastic 'stews.'
The Leicester Daily Express of 21 October, 1893, con-
tained an account of the capture by Mr. C. Baugh, of
Leicester, of a remarkably fine carp which measured
2 ft. 4 in., and weighed 12 lb. 9^ oz. Amongst other
fish Mr. Baugh also caught another carp weighing
5% lb. These were, it now appears, taken at Coleorton,
and a cast was made from the larger for the Leicester
Museum.
10. Crucian Carp. Cyprinus carassius, Linn.
Locally, Prussian Carp (varieties or lean ex-
amples).
Occurs sparingly in some ponds of Leicestershire.
1 1 . Barbel. Barbus vulgaris, Flem.
According to Harley it occurred occasionally in the
Soar, near its junction with the Trent and Derwent,
and was frequently ought below Loughborough. I
have no recent note.
12. Gudgeon. GobioJluviatiHs,$\em..
Common in the Soar and in various parts of the
county. The largest I have seen have been taken at
Thornton Reservoir.
13. Rudd. Lcuciscuj erythrophthalmus, Linn.
Locally, Red-eye.
Harley stated that it occasionally occurred in the
Soar ; and according to the late Dr. Macaulay it
exists in a pool at Welham and attains a large size,
two having been taken, in 1888, over 2 lb. each, but
I have no confirmation of this.
14. Roach. Leuciscus rutilus, Linn.
Commonly distributed. The museum possesses a
cast of a specimen which turned the scale at 2 lb.
The fish was taken in Narborough waters 5 October,
1886, by Mr. J. Pole. In the Leicester Journal of
13 January, 1888, an account is given of an extra-
ordinary capture of large roach in Leicester waters,
when in two days no less than 200 lb. of fish were
caught by different anglers. These, many of which I
saw, were taken at the junction of the Soar with the
canal, just below the Aylestone Mill. Mr. B. G.
Broadhead caught a roach weighing 2 lb. 2 oz. in the
Aylestone Mill waters, on 15 December, 1888. The
late R. Rylott, the celebrated cricketer, took one of
I lb. 5 oz. weight, in Aylestone waters on I Novem-
ber, 1889, and one of I lb. 6 oz. at the same place
on 10 February, 1890, which he presented to the
Leicester Museum. The late Dr. Macaulay informed
me that in 1885 he and two friends caught at Sad-
dington Reservoir 550 roach in four hours, which
he believed to be the largest number on record for
the time occupied.
15. Chub. Leuciscus cephalus, Linn.
Generally distributed, attaining a good size. A
specimen taken at Aylestone 6 February, 1883, by
Mr. A. Smith, weighed 4^ lb. Mr. T. Lumb, of
Wharf Street, presented to the museum an exceed-
ingly fine specimen weighing 5 lb. 2 J oz., taken in the
River Soar at Narborough on 27 P'ebruary, 1883, and
also another weighing 5 lb. ^ oz., which he took in
the afternoon of 6 February, 1885, whilst ledgering
with fine tackle and cheese-paste. This fish afforded
capital sport, some difficulty being experienced in
landing it. The specimens were taken in the same
swim of water about 80 yards apart, and both were in
splendid condition. Mr. G. Lillingston Johnson,
however, reports that he once caught one weigh-
ing 6 lb. at Thornton Reservoir, which is now pre-
served and in his possession. The late Rev. C. H.
Wood informed me that about 1868 he took, out of
Croft Brook with a small spoon bait, a chub which
we'ghed 4lb. looz.
1 6. Dace. Leuciscus Joluta, Linn. (L. vulgaris, Day)
Generally distributed in sharp streams and back-
waters of the rivers. A specimen weighing 1 2 oz.
was taken by Mr. J. W. Benskin in the Srar near
Barrow, some years ago. The late Dr. Macaulay
informed me that it existed in the Smeeton, Wis-
tow, and Burton brooks.
IJ. Minnow. Leuciscus phoxinus, Linn.
Generally distributed in sharp streams throughout
the county.
1 8. Tench. Tinea vulgaris, Cuv.
Not very common, Harley stating that ' it does not
frequent our streams and rivers, prevailing only in
ponds, stagnant pools, reservoirs, and stews.' He also
referred to its well-known habit of smacking its lips
when near the surface in summer-time. Col. Palmer
informed me that, at Owston, large tench are found
with the carp in the ' stews ' previously referred to.
Dr. J. Young, of Narborough, sent me a specimen
caught at Enderby Mill 27 June, 1891. The Daily
Mail of 8 March, 1902, reports that during the
process of cleaning out Misterton Pond, near Lutter-
worth, a remarkable haul of fish was made, irc'ud-
ing sixty-five tench, weighing from 3 lb. upwards.
Mr. C. Baugh, of Leicester, took also a tench weigh-
ing 3 lb. \\ oz.
109
A HISTORY OF LEICESTERSHIRE
19. Common Bream. Abramls brama, Linn.
Locally, Yellow Bream.
Generally distributed in the Soar and Trent, and
Harley said : ' Abundant in the Soar at Aylestone,
also at Barrow.' Two bream were taken in Thrus-
sington Mill waters on 1 8 July, 1892, one of them,
caught by Mr. T. Condon, weighing 5 Ib. 5 oz., the
other, caught by Mr. W. Cross, weighing 4-lb. 3$ oz.
20. White Bream. Abramis blicca, Bloch.
Locally, Bream-flat.
Occurs .in the Soar and Trent, and Harley reported
it as abundant in the Soar at Aylestone, and also at
Barrow.
2 1 . Bleak. Alburnus lucldus, Hack, and Kner.
Widely diffused, according to Harley. The late
Rev. C. H. Wood told me that before the flood-works
altered the condition of things, there used to be un-
commonly fine bleak in the Leicester waters. He
used to whip for them, and took one once which
measured 7 in.
22. Loach. Ncmachilus barbatulus, Linn.
Locally, Bearded Loach, Stone-Loach, Tommy
Loach. 1
Generally distributed, and Harley recorded it from
the rivers Anker, Sence, Smite, Soar, Trent, and
Wreak. In the Gentleman's Magazine, December,
1798, an interesting and curious description is given
by J. Throsby, of what was evidently one of the pre-
sent species, which was taken from the mud left on
the bank of the River Soar at the Bath Gardens.
23. Spined Loach. Cobltls taenia, Linn.
Locally, Groundling.
Occurs sparingly in some few streams. Harley
wrote : ' Inhabits the Soar, Trent and Wreake.' I
took a specimen in a small stream at Aylestone on
14 April, 1883.
MALACOPTERYGII
24. Salmon. Salmo salar, Linn.
Harley stated that this species occurred in the
Soar about Kegworth and near Loughborough, and
also that it had been taken at Zouch Mills, near
Loughborough. At the present day, however, it
must be regarded as rare, although I heard of one
taken at RatclifFe Lock in 1883 which was said to
have weighed 26 Ib.
The Leicester Daily Post, of 21 February, 1884,
recorded under the heading ' Unseasonable Salmon,'
that some men were fined for taking a salmon on
19 January, 1884, which they explained they had
seen in the stream at Dishley pursued by a mob of
men and boys. The Rev. C. H. Wood reported that
a salmon had been taken from Mr. Farnham's brook
at Quorn, and the latter being written to for parti-
culars, replied on 19 January, 1891, saying that
the salmon in question, a female, was caught on
22 November, 1880, and weighed 22^ Ib. It had
been stuffed, and was in his possession. Mr. Farnham
1 Leicestinhirt Provirbi.
added that at the time there were e'.even others in
the same small pool, but he had only seen one that
winter. The late Dr. Macaulay afterwards reported
the above capture to me, but gave the date as
II December, 1880, and the weight as 23^ Ib.
25. Common Trout. Salmo fario, Linn.
Locally, Brook Trout.
Sparingly distributed in the county. At Bradgate,
where it is strictly preserved, it is abundant and attains
a fair size. Thornton Reservoir was, however, at one
time, so I am informed by Mr. G. Lillingston John-
son, of Ulverscroft, ' the best bit of still-water trout-
fishing in England,' a fact corroborated by Mr. J.
Garle Browne, of Leamington, who says : 'A
trout-lake, unrivalled for the great average weight of
the fish.' His diary (kindly forwarded to me)
records the taking by him of many trout of 3 Ib.
and 4 Ib. weight. One was taken on 1 1 August,
1859, of 4lb. 13 oz. ; and another on 16 August,
of 4 Ib. 9 oz. On I September, 1860, he took eight
fish, the total weight of which was 3olb. 4oz. On
I 3 May, 1 86 1 , he caught a fish of 4^ Ib. ; on 1 6 May,
one of 4 Ib. I o oz. ; and in five consecutive days
13 to 17 May, 1 86 1 he killed twenty-seven fish,
only eight of which were under 3 Ib., and only two of
these just under 2 Ib., the largest being 4lb. looz.,
and the whole twenty-seven fish making the remark-
able aggregate weight of 87 Ib. ! The finest fish,
however, ki'led by Mr. Browne was one, on 19 August,
1859, which weighed 6 Ib. I oz. The flesh of these
trout is reported to have been of an apricot colour,
and of a singular excellence in flavour. The glories
of Thornton have, however, departed probably for
ever. First came a fungoid growth of the nature of
Sapnlegnia ferax, and then by some means or another
perch were introduced.
Mr. W. J. Horn, writing in 1886, records a trout
of 5 Ib. taken by rod and line in the Eye Brook above
Allexton.
In 1887 some trout were introduced by the Ang-
ling Society into the River Soar near Aylestone, and
on 16 March, 1888, the second instalment of 530
yearling trout was introduced, being purchased from
the Marquis of Exeter's fishery, and Mr. W. T. Silk,
the manager, who has kindly given me much infor-
mation, writes that they ' were a cross between S.faiio
and S.ferox, and grow to a large size, and are very
game.' The late Rev. C. H. Wood mentioned having
seen trout taken by the late Rev. Ed. Smallwood at
Thornton Reservoir, sometime about 1868, which
scaled close upon 6 Ib., and the Leicester Daily
Mercury, of 20 June, 1890, reports the capture of a
trout by Mr. J. Norton, in the Anstey Brook,
which measured 24 in. and weighed 5 Ib. The
late Dr. Macaulay wrote to me in 1892 :
' Mr. C. E. de Trafford has introduced Loch Leven
trout at Hothorpe, and has set up hatching and breed-
ing ponds. In August, 1891, I saw thousands of
trout in these preserves, and by permission of Mr. de
Trafford I filled my creel with ten brace of beauties
from the brook.'
26. Grayling. Thymallas vexillifer, Linn.
Harley wrote : ' Appears to be limited to the
Soar and its confluence with the Trent,' but I
have no knowledge of it, and doubt its occurrence
IIO
FISHES
in the upper Soar, although it may occur at its 2 g. Broad-nosed Eel. Anguilla latirostris, Risso.
junction with the Trent, which is, I presume, what Locally, Grig.
Harley meant. May occur> but GUnther ' says this species prefers
the neighbourhood of the sea to distant inland waters ;
APODES t h e broad-nosed eel reported to me is probably, there-
27. Eel. Anguilla vulgaris, Turt. fore, only a variety of the preceding and not the true
Commonly distributed in the county. A. latirostris.
GANOIDS
29. Sturgeon. Acipenser sturio, Linn. Soar below Loughborough, but gave no date. The late
A rare and accidental straggler by way of the Mr. Ingram informed me that, many years ago, a small
Trent. Harley recorded a specimen taken in the one was taken in the River Smite near Belvoir.
CYCLOSTOMES
30. Lampern. Petromyzonjluviatilis, Linn. county, as is also its larval form, and perhaps the
T Fringe-lipped Lampern (Petromyzon branchlalis, Linn),
Locally, River Lamprey. know ; ,^ ag ^ Lamer or Pride .
know , y ag Lamper or Pride .
Sparingly found in some of the streams of the a introduction to the Study of Fishes, 673.
Ill
REPTILES
AND BATRACHIANS
Reptiles and batrachians are, as may be supposed, exceedingly few in the
county ; there is no record of the smooth snake, and the sand-lizard rests
on the authority of Harley only. The natterjack, so far as I am aware,
does not occur, nor have I discovered more than the two common species
of newts.
REPTILES
LACERTILIA
1. Common Lizard. Lactrta vivipara, Jacq.
Locally, Scaly Lizard, Viviparous Lizard.
Harley considered this species almost confined to
the district known as Charnwood Forest, and wrote
under date 1845 : 'December loth. "Para "Bates
informs me that he has occasionally seen, in his ento-
mological rambles in Charnwood Forest and the
neighbourhood around it, a species of lizard which
appears to affect the leaves of brambles and other
plants. He describes the creature's habits very
vividly as being like unto those of a chameleon,
especially so when observed basking in the beams of
the sun and intent on feeding.' It is well known,
however, that this is a common habit with L. vivipara,
and indeed with most lizards. It occurs commonly
in the ' Forest ' and in other places in the county.
2. Sand-Lizard. Lacerta agilis, Linn.
Rare, and I have no record of it save that furnished
by Harley, who describing it under Daudin's specific
name of stirpium, appears to have met with it, for he
wrote : ' If the vernal months be open and warm,
accompanied with soft breezy skies, the species comes
abroad towards the latter end of March and beginning
of the month following. During the spring of the
year 1 842 the author in his walks met with it,
2 2 April. In the following year it was recognized by
us on 19 April, two days earlier.' He further
remarked that it is liable to much variation in colour,
he having met with it of a pale greenish-yellow, with
the back of an umber-brown colour ; others of a
darker hue and others again variegated with black
spots down the centre of the back. Although I
have not met with it, I cannot think Harley could
have confused it with the preceding common species,
for he expressly stated (speaking of Lacerta vivipara) :
'The species appears in the spring much about the
same time as the sand lizard, but its reproduction is
very diverse from it, since it is ovo-viviparous, while
Lacerta stirpium is oviparous only,' which shows that
he recognized the characteristics of the two species,
and was net misled by considerations of colour or
habitat.
3. Blind- Worm or Slow- Worm. Anguis fragUis,
Linn.
Locally, Slow- Worm.
Resident, commonly distributed, and variable in
colour. There are specimens in the Leicester Museum
from Charnwood Forest, Bardon Hill, and other
places.
OPHIDIA
4. Common Snake. Tropidonotus ttatrix, Linn.
Locally, Grass-Snake, Ringed-Snake.
Resident and commonly distributed, especially
throughout Charnwood Forest ; and the Leicester
Museum possesses several from there and from other
parts of the county. Mr. G. Frisby writes on
29 May, 1906 : 'I saw three grass-snakes together
in Wood Lane, Quorn ; they were all three run over
by a milk-cart just previously. Shortly after I secured
a live one, and presented it to the schoolmaster.'
A year or so ago (circa 1905), a newspaper
recorded that during the course of some digging
operations at Eye Kettleby, an albino form of this
snake with eyes of a bright ruby red was unearthed.
Albinism has hitherto been entirely unknown in
connexion with reptiles.
5. Viper. Vipera berus, Linn.
Locally, Adder, Hether. 1
Resident and generally distributed, especially about
Charnwood Forest, but not so common, fortunately,
as its harmless relative. Harley remarked under date
1846 : ' Pelias berus and Coluber natrix came forth
abroad very early this season,' viz., during the first
and second week of March. On the 1 3th and 1 4th of
that month he noted both reptiles in Bradgate Park.
There are specimens in the Leicester Museum from
many localities in the county, but chiefly from the
' Forest,' all of the dark variety.
1 Leic, Proverbs, probably a corruption from Adder.
112
REPTILES AND BATRACHIANS
BATRACHIANS
ECAUDATA CAUDATA
1. Common Frog. Rana temporarla, Linn. 3. Great Crested or Warty Newt. Molge crlstata,
Resident and common. Laur.
2. Common Toad. Bufo vu'.garis, Laur. Locally, Warty Eft, EfFet.
Resident and generally distributed. Resident and generally distributed.
[Natterjack. Bufo calamita, Laur.
T j j r i j , , 4.. Common or Smooth Newt. Mo.'ee vulzans,
I introduced some of these toads procured from
Southport by Mr. G. H. Storer about the Leicester
Museum grounds, and insert this information, only Locally, Common Newt, EfFet, Asker, Smooth-
lest in the event of any surviving they should be skinned Eft.
discovered and claimed as local.] Resident and generally distributed.
as
ts
T
15
BIRDS
\
Untraversed by any river of importance and not containing any lakes nor
any sheets of water of great extent, Leicestershire is naturally deficient in a
number of birds found in more favoured counties, added to which it is also not in
the line of any of the routes taken by birds on migration. Hence it follows
that the coast and marine birds, together with the rarer birds, are merely
occasional stragglers during severe weather on the coasts or at the vernal and
autumnal equinoxes. The small and sluggish River Soar, running nearly north
and south, and canalized for nearly the whole of its short course, falls into the
Trent some considerable distance above Nottingham, at a point where the
larger river is of some width, therefore any stragglers from the sea by
that water-way naturally pass the restricted mouth of the canalized Soar in
following the course of the Trent into Staffordshire. Notwithstanding that
the only direct watercourse to the sea, the Welland, forms the south-eastern
boundary of the county, rising close to Sibbertoft below Husbands Bosworth
(exactly in the southern lobe) yet it is, as may be supposed, but a tiny rivulet,
hardly swelling to a brook until it forms the southern boundary of Rutland,
and it is in that county that the redshank merely a straggler to Leicester-
hire occurs commonly and breeds. Small streams such as the Anker, the
vivon, the Ise, the Mease, the Sence, the Swift, the Wreak, and others with
"taller brooks, together with the reservoirs of Cropston, Saddington, Swith-
hnd, Thornton, and the large ponds of Groby, Staunton Harold, and many
*thers, furnish their quota of duck, snipe, and so on, with an occasional rarity ;
Jut it is seldom that any large flocks of wild fowl or great quantities of snipe
occur. With regard to the latter one exception must be made, for at the
sewage farm situated on high ground within two miles of the centre of Leicester
more snipe congregate and can be seen in their season in favourable weather
than in all the rest of the county taken together. Here also may be seen
thousands of lapwings, often in ' stands ' of several hundreds, with a fair
amount of golden plover.
No hills of greater altitude than 912 ft. (Bardon Hill) occur in
the county, nor are there any moors, heaths, commons, or forests of
large extent, which are unintersected by public footpaths ; added to which
railways, collieries, and manufactories throughout the county are now so
numerous, and have so cut up the country districts that, taken in conjunction
with the enormous growth of the borough of Leicester within the last
thirty years, and the consequent increase of population, birds generally, and
especially those of any rarity, either cannot find suitable conditions or are so
disturbed that many species are not now found or do not remain to breed as
formerly. On the other hand, many species neglected by the sportsman,
poacher, bird-catcher or collector, such as the sparrow and starling, have in-
114
BIRDS
creased enormously, and in some cases are far too common and are doing
immense mischief to crops and fruit.
Amongst the Passeres to take the birds in the order adopted in this
volume the ring-ouzel, said formerly to breed in the Charnwood district and
at the present day regularly in the county of Derby, is now but a straggler,
and there is no authentic instance of its breeding for the last fifty or sixty
years. The nightingale appears to me to be of much commoner occurrence
within the last twenty years, which is probably due to protection. The black
redstart has occurred as a solitary specimen ; on the other hand the Dartford
warbler recorded by Yarrell, Macgillivray, Morris, Dresser, and others for the
county is founded upon error. No record exists of the occurrence of the
firecrest in the county. The reed-warbler, although it has been driven
from the precincts of Leicester by the diversion of the old Soar, is still
found along the streams of the county ; one specimen of the aquatic warbler
has, on the authority of Mr. J. E. Harting, occurred in the county. The
dipper or water-ouzel, quite common and breeding in Derbyshire, is merely
a rare straggler to this county. The bearded reedling has been said to
occur, but as it is now rare in its accredited haunts it is not likely to occur
here again. The grey or winter wagtail, although fairly common and breed-
ing in Derbyshire, is an occasional visitor, once only recorded as breeding.
The great grey shrike and its supposed ally Pallas's great grey shrike have
occurred as rare stragglers. The waxwing, of sporadic occurrence in Britain
in some winters, has occurred a few times.
The pied flycatcher has not occurred for years, and there is no record
of its nesting. The goldfinch has been always considered a scarce bird in
the county, but Mr. H. S. Davenport (1906) and Mr. H. Butler Johnson
(1907) believe it to be increasing in numbers. The siskin occasionally
occurs in winter, generally along the streams, but has not been recorded as
breeding. The hawfinch appears to be more common than formerly and nests
in some localities. The brambling occurs in some winters, but has never
bred ; the same remarks apply to the twite, whilst the snow-bunting is a rare
winter visitant. The starling has increased alarmingly of late years. The
rose-coloured pastor, one of the rarest British accidental visitants, has been
said to occur thrice in the county. The magpie appears to have become
more common of late years. A few specimens of the hooded crow occur most
years, but the raven, fairly common sixty or so years ago, has now disappeared
for ever. The wood-lark may occur, but I have never seen a local specimen.
Amongst the Picariae I have grave doubts as to the authenticity of the
record of the white-bellied, or Alpine swift, said to have once occurred ;
whilst the wryneck, fairly common in the south, appears to be a rare bird.
The hoopoe has occurred more than once.
About the Striges the most remarkable incident is the growing com-
monness, and the breeding especially, of the little owl, Athene noctua. I should
be disposed to attribute its occurrence in this and adjoining counties to the
fact that foreign specimens were turned loose in Northamptonshire by the
late Lord Lilford and perhaps by some other persons.
As throughout the whole of Britain, the Accipitres have suffered more
than most sub-orders of birds from the inroads of civilization, and species
quite common a century ago and others fairly common and nesting within the
"5
A HISTORY OF LEICESTERSHIRE
memory of man are now extinct as residents, and occur only as occasional
migrants from abroad. Among these may be mentioned the marsh-harrier, hen-
harrier, buzzard, goshawk, kite, honey-buzzard, peregrine falcon, hobby and
merlin. Some of the foregoing always of occasional occurrence, in spring or
autumn, are increasingly rare ; and no recent notes are to hand of the nesting
of the hobby and merlin, although a few specimens of both birds annually occur.
Of the Steganopodes, always of accidental occurrence inland, one, the
shag, is a recent addition to the county fauna.
Of the Herodiones the only resident now is the common heron.
In the Anseres all those recorded are accidental, save the wild duck and
the teal, which still breed in the county. Additions to the accidental list are
the Bernacle goose, Bewick's swan, the gadwall and velvet scoter.
Of the Gallinae the quail does not now occur, save as a very rare visitor,
and the black and red grouse are quite extinct.
In the Limicolae all are accidental visitants, save the lapwing and snipe,
which latter, though far more abundant than formerly owing to the institution
of large sewage works at Beaumont Leys, near Leicester rarely remains to
breed. On this farm are usually to be found thousands of green plover and
hundreds of snipe and golden plover, their numbers augmented very con-
siderably in severe weather, for here there are always runnels of warm water
which seldom freeze, and carry an abundance of food. Here also many
rarities occur, so that examples of the ruff (immature), sandpipers, and others
have been recorded.
Amongst the Gaviae all are, of course, of accidental occurrence, but the
little gull formerly of doubtful occurrence can now be added through a
specimen procured at Bradgate Reservoir in 1889, and now in the museum.
Of the remaining avi-fauna all are of accidental occurrence, save the
great crested grebe and little grebe, both of which breed and are fairly
common on all the great reservoirs of Cropston, Saddington, Swithland,
Thornton, and the larger pools throughout the county.
Until the publication of the Vertebrate Animals of Leicestershire and
Rutland, 1 late in 1889, no complete work upon the vertebrates of Leicester-
shire and Rutland had been attempted, although scattered notes had appeared
in various natural history journals, and a few lists more or less imperfect
had from time to time been published. Thus in 1840 Macgillivray, in his
British Birds, printed a ' Catalogue of the Land Birds of the County of
Leicester,' by James Harley. In 1842 Potter published in his History and
Antiquities of Charnwood Forest an appendix including the * Ornithology
of Charnwood Forest,' by Churchill Babington. It is probable that
this last was written, if not published, previously to Harley's ' Catalogue.'
In 1868 Alfred Ellis published (for private circulation only) Notes
about Birds. Nothing further I believe was published for many years, until
the late Dr. Macaulay contributed to the Midland Naturalist, for 1881-2
* A List of the Birds of Leicestershire,' to which I added a few notes, and a
few years later came my notes in the Zoologist for 1885-6-7.
In compiling the following list use has been made of the MSS. of the late
James Harley (1840-55), and thanks are due to correspondents and others
who have supplied me with details concerning the birds of their districts.
1 By Montagu Browne, F.Z.S.
116
BIRDS
In cases where the record of a bird's occurrence is open to doubt the
entry in the following list is placed within square brackets.
Brackets placed around the name of the original describer of a species
indicate that he did not employ the generic name which is now adopted.
Mistletoe Thrush or
viscivorus, Linn.
Mistle-Thrush. Turdus
Locally, Thrush or Thrice-Cock, Storm-Cock.
Resident and generally distributed ; breeding in
gardens close to or even within the town of Leicester.
Its fine bold song may be heard in open weather
quite early in the year, and sometimes even in Decem-
ber. Mr. G. Frisby of Quorn also records it as
being in full song on 7 Dec. 1905, and mentions
its singing at Woodthorpe on 30 Oct. 1906. It is
often seen in small (family) parties, but is not gre-
garious.
Regarding its nesting Mr. H. S. Davenport wrote *
that 'two missel-thrushes call them A and B
built nests at the same time in low trees within six
yards of each other, opposite the hall-door at Ash-
lands, in May, 1883, and successfully reared their
broods. A few days later both birds returned to B's
nest, in which they deposited nine eggs, of which I
took four away, and on the remainder A began to
sit ; meanwhile B constructed another nest a short
distance off and both birds reared their second broods
in safety. In the first instance the eggs in both nests
presented distinctive features.'
Mr. Frisby informs me that one day in the autumn
of 1906 he saw a company of fifteen to twenty
mistle- thrushes ' hawking' busily high up in the air.
Mr. W. J. Horn records its singing 15 Nov. 1896
and 26 Dec. 1894.
2. Song-Thrush. Turdus muslcus, Linn.
Locally, Mavis (often corrupted to Mavish),
Throstle.
Resident and common, its ranks are considerably
increased during the autumn by immigration, when
the note a single one of the arriving birds may be
heard during mild nights in October. It breeds
commonly on the verge of the town of Leicester.
Mr. G. Frisby records its song on 5 Oct. 1 906.
The most singular site for its nest was one selected
in April, 1895, in a garden on the ' Freemen's Com-
mon,' Leicester. This nest was built on an orna-
mental bracket, above the door of the 'summer-house,'
about 6 ft. from the ground, perfectly exposed, and
liable to be disturbed by anyone passing in or out,
whilst not 2 ft. distant was a growth of ivy covering
the roof and sides of the house, in which the nest
might have been well concealed. Notwithstanding
the exposed situation selected, the bird successfully
brought off her brood. Varieties of this species occa-
sionally occur, and Harley has recorded three albino
birds taken out of a nest at Aylestone.
3. Redwing. Turdus lliacus, Linn.
A winter migrant, generally distributed, but not
remaining to breed. It arrives about the middle of
October and remains sometimes until late in the spring.
In some years the redwing appears in greater
abundance than in others, as noted by the late Dr.
Macaulay. 1 A record of its supposed nesting in
Leicestershire appeared in the Field, 6 Aug. 1864,
contributed by the late Mr. Joseph H. Ellis, to
which, however, is appended the following editorial
note : ' We decline expressing an opinion as to the
supposed Redwing's egg, but we think the reasons for
arriving at the conclusion that it is so are hardly
sufficient.'
4. Fieldfare. Turdus pilaris, Linn.
Locally, Felt, Feltyfare, Pigeon-Felt.
A winter migrant, but not remaining to breed. It
appears about the middle of October and usually
leaves at the end of March or beginning of April,
or even later should the weather be severe. Harley
mentions in his notes that he had seen a few stragglers
in May, and even onward until June ; but no doubt
Harley, like others, mistook the mistle-thrush for the
fieldfare ; nevertheless, the late Dr. Macaulay reported
a large flock going north on 14 April, 1892, and
again, fieldfares passing on 17 April, and on I and
2 May ; Mr. Davenport also reported seeing five on
12 May, 1879. Mr. G. Frisby of Quorn reports
the first arrival there of this bird in 1906 to be on
1 8 Oct., but Mr. Davenport, if not mistaken, saw
one at Lowesby in 1877 as early as 2 Sept. One
appears to have been shot at Kirby Muxloe on
29 July, 1864 (J. H. Ellis, in Zool. 1864, p. 9248).
It occurs wherever berries of the hawthorn or moun-
tain ash remain, and hence may be seen quite close to
Leicester, or in gardens in other towns and villages
during severe weather. Mr. W. J. Horn saw a flock
at Saddington on 28 April, 1900.
5. Blackbird. Turdus merula, Linn.
Resident and common ; breeding early in the
spring in gardens close to and in Leicester. Harley
occasionally met with its nest upon the ground, and
in the spring of 1884 saw a nest containing five eggs
which had been found on the crest and within the
flower-stalks of a turnip, several yards from any fence
or hedge.
Varieties constantly occur, and several are preserved
in the Leicester Museum * ; one in particular, which
bred in the late Mr. A. Paget's garden in West
Street opposite the museum, was the same one
apparently, which was afterwards shot on the Freeman's
Common, I Dec. 1888. Its head and nape are
pure white, the remainder of the body much patched
with white, many of the primaries white, bill of
normal colour, but toes curiously barred with white
at every joint. Mr. George Chamberlain told the
writer of a pure white living blackbird which many
years ago, about 1860-5, was in the possession of a
a Browne, op. cit.
Mid. Kat. 13 Nov. 1881.
4 Will afterwards be abbreviated to museum only.
117
A HISTORY OF LEICESTERSHIRE
man named Saunders, living in High Street, Lough-
borough. He also remembered a white blackbird
taken out of a nest at Knighton Hall, fifty or sixty
years ago, by a boy named Norman, who kept it
alive.
Mr. W. J. Horn, writing to me in 1 906, says : ' On
II Feb. 1904 one was singing on the wing, and I
saw in a cage on a cottager's wall, a few days ago, a
blackbird with a white head this was bred in my
garden.'
6. Ring-Ouzel. Turdus torjuatus, Linn.
Of uncommon occurrence, rarely observed except
in late autumn and spring, and does not appear to
remain to breed now, as formerly. Nevertheless
the late Dr. Macaulay wrote that a nest and eggs of
this bird were taken in the parish of Mowsley by
Mr. C. C. Macaulay on 27 April, 1891, but I did not
see it, nor do I know of another instance. Harley
wrote that in his day this bird was sparingly met
with in the forest of Charnwood, affecting the un-
cultivated lands, intersected by rough stone walls,
near the village of Whitwick, where it bred, and that
as autumn drew on the old birds with their young
left the bleak hills and retired to the enclosures abut-
ting thereon, where they fed on the fruit of the wild
brier, elder, &c., shortly afterwards disappearing for
the winter. He was told by a friend that it occasion-
ally bred also in Market Bosworth Park. Some local
specimens are preserved in the museum, 5 of which
may be mentioned a female shot by Mr. H. S.
Davenport, at Ashlands, on 15 April, 1889 ; a fine
male specimen, shot by Mr. Charles Smith at Thed-
dingworth on 29 March, 1890, seen in company with
a number of lapwings ; and a female from Dunton
Bassett 23 Oct., 1891.
7. Wheatear. Saxicola oenantke (Linn.).
Locally, Fallow-chat, Gosshatch. 6
A summer migrant, sparingly distributed and occa-
sionally breeding, recorded by Harley, who met with
its nest and six eggs many years ago near Bardon.
Mr. H. S. Davenport found a nest with five eggs in a
drain-pipe on the road at Skeffington in May, 1875.
It is certainly rare, and the last one seen by
the writer was at Whetstone, about 1898. Mr.
W. J. Horn was informed that it nested at Barle-
stone in 1895 and 1896, and that the nest and eggs
were found. Mr. Horn has seen a few odd birds in
April and May, and again in August and September,
the earliest occurrence being one, 6 April, 1904, at
Lubenham.
8. Whinchat. Pratincola rubetra (Linn.).
Locally, Meadow-chat, Utick.
A summer migrant, generally distributed ; prob-
ably double-brooded and nesting in suitable positions
throughout the county and not far from the town of
Leicester.
The earliest date which Mr. W. J. Horn has of
its nesting is 13 May, 1895, when he found a nest
at Thornton Reservoir containing five eggs slightly
incubated. He states that it breeds freely on Bur-
bage Common, near Hinckley. Mr. Horn con-
siders furze-covered commons and railway embank-
* See Browne, op. cit.
' The female and young, according to Arthur B. Evans, D.D.
Ltictttenbire Proverbi.
ments its favourite nesting sites, but has also found
its nest in open grass fields and roadside banks.
9. Stonechat. Pratincola rubicola (Linn.).
Locally, Utick (Blackcap, by error).
Resident, but sparingly distributed, and indeed a
much rarer bird than the migratory whinchat, a fact
remarked upon by Harley, who considered it in his day
especially rare in winter, and stated that at that season
it left its ordinary habitat of ' the whin-covered moor
and wild for the cultivated field and hedgerow.' He
appears to have met with a brood of young with their
parents about Charnwood Forest in May, 1849. Mr.
W. J. Horn mentions the following occurrences :
On 9 March, 1 894, one seen at Stoke Golding ;
25 Nov., 1894, a pair on Burbage Common, and
1 6 Oct., 1895, one on Burbage Common.
10. Redstart. Ruticllla phoenlcurus (Linn.).
Locally, Firetail, Redtail.
A summer migrant, sparingly distributed and breed-
ing ; sometimes double-brooded. Probably not so
common as formerly, when, according to Harley, it
nested, amongst other places in Leicester, at the
castle and abbey. Local specimens are represented
in the museum, the last one a male presented by
Mr. John Choyce, of Marston Hall, Hinckley, which
he states was shot at Potters Marston, on 15 April,
1892. C. and T. Adcock record that in the spring
of 1887 they found a nest at Thurnby, in the far
corner of a barn, on a ledge under the roof, behind
a stone. It was about the size of an orange
and appeared to have been thrown there. They
secured the male bird, the young at that time
being in the down, and a few days later were sur-
prised to find another pair of redstarts helping the
female to rear her young ones. Mr. W. J. Horn has
noted its appearance every spring on the Upper
Welland, where two or three pairs nest in the
pollard willows, and where he has taken the eggs ; on
22 April, 1893, he heard one singing on the wing.
11. Black Redstart. Ruticilla tilys (Scopoli).
Locally, Blackstart.
A rare winter visitant, the only one recorded for
Leicestershire being an adult male in winter dress
caught by a bird-catcher (apparently near Belgrave)
on 19 Oct., 1888, and sold to Mr. F. F. How, of
Leicester, who presented it to the museum. 7
12. Redbreast. Erithactu rubecula (Linn.).
Locally, Robin.
Resident and common ; breeding in all sorts of
situations, usually very early, sometimes very late, and
being double or even treble-brooded. There prevails
an impression, not confined to Leicestershire, that the
female robin is brown ; needless to say it is the
young, which, until the moult takes place, is without
the red breast. Patched and white varieties occur,
and one was presented to the museum as a skin en
1 8 Jan., 1886, by Mr. E. Woodfield, having been
shot at Thurmaston some years previously. It was
wholly of a pure white except the wings, some few
primaries of which were of the normal colour. Mr.
W. J. Horn writes in 1906: 'Nesting operations
118
7 Browne, op. cit. p. 49.
BIRDS
were in full swing in my garden as early as 25 Feb.,
in 1901.'
13. Nightingale. DauRai luicinia (Linn.).
A summer migrant, sparingly distributed and breed-
ing. Mr. E. T. Loseby, of Leicester, has kindly
furnished me with the following account of a night-
ingale which frequented his garden on the ' Free-
men's Common,' immediately over the first tunnel,
close to the town on the Midland Railway : The
bird began to sing apparently on 29 April, 1889,
and sang up to 1 8 May, when it was reported
to have been shot by a man living close by. When
singing at night, the bird was quite fearless of its
surroundings, and usually sat upon a branch of an
elm on the railway embankment, often coming, how-
ever, into the apple and pear trees in Mr. Loseby's
garden, when it would sing within a few yards of his
party. Its song usually continued for an hour or
more, and neither trains, steam, nor whistles stopped
it for an instant. Mr. H. S. Davenport informs me
that on 14 June, 1889, a nightingale was nesting at
Ashlands, and the Rev. H. Parry, writing from Tugby
on 1 8 May, 1893, reported a nest with three eggs in
that vicinity.
In the spring of 1905 Mr. W. J. Horn noted
twenty-five males singing near Market Harborough,
where they had apparently taken up their quarters
for nesting. Mr. G. Frisby, of Quorn, mentions one
singing on 30 April, 1906. I heard one singing near
St. George's Lodge, Swannington, at 4 p.m. on
10 May, 1907.
14. Whitethroat. Sylvia cinerea (Bechstein).
Locally, Hay-jug, Nettle-creeper (both also ap-
plied to the following species), Peggy, Great
Peggy.
A summer migrant, commonly distributed and
breeding. The song of this bird has often been mis-
taken for that of the sedge-warbler, which is fre-
quently reported as ' occurring in great numbers this
year,' but in 1887, however, I was enabled to bring one
of my most positive informants and the so-called sedge-
warbler ' face to face,' and the songster turning out
to be the whitethroat, as I predicted, upset all the
theories based upon the 'abundance of the sedge-
warbler this year on dusty roads, far away from water.'
Mr. W. J. Horn found a nest with one egg on
30 April a very early date.
15. Lesser Whitethroat. Sylvia curruca (Linn.).
Locally, Little Peggy, White-breasted Fauvette
(obsolete).
A summer migrant, sparingly distributed and breed-
ing. Harley considered it very local. It has occurred
within two miles of the centre of Leicester, at Ayle-
stone Mill, and a specimen is now in the museum.
Mr. W. J. Horn writes : ' Arrives about the same
date as the common whitethroat, but commences
nesting operations earlier. On 24 May, 1892, I
found a nest of this species containing four abnormal
eggs smaller than the usual type almost round
and peculiarly marked ; these I took on 5 June. I
found about two hundred yards distant another nest
containing four eggs precisely similar to the above and
evidently laid by the same bird. Both clutches are in
my possession.' On 7 Sept., 1895, Mr. Horn heard
one singing.
1 6. Blackcap. Sylvia atricapilla (Linn.).
Locally, Black-headed Peggy.
A summer migrant, sparingly distributed and breed-
ing. Mr. H. S. Davenport writes : ' I was lucky
enough to get, on 24 May, 1888, a lovely clutch (four
in number) of the pink variety of the eggs of the
Blackcap Warbler.' The Rev. Hugh Parry found this
bird nesting at Tugby in 1893, and Mr, G. Frisby
saw it at Quorn on 23 April, 1906.
The earliest note Mr. W. J. Horn has of its
nesting is 9 April, 1 906. A nest and six eggs from
Tugby were presented to the museum by the Rev.
Hugh Parry, 31 May, 1893.
17. Garden-Warbler. Sylvia hortens'u (Bechstein).
Locally, Greater Pettychaps (obsolete).
A summer migrant, generally distributed, breeding,
and more common than the blackcap. Mr. H. S.
Davenport remarks that this bird was much less
common during the three years ending 1887 than in
1884, when he found as many as five nests in the
course of an hour about Keythorpe. He says it
is the latest builder of all the warblers known in
Leicestershire. Mr. W. J. Horn informs me that
it is much commoner than the blackcap, a late
breeder, and its eggs are not generally found before
the end of May or beginning of June. A nest and
five eggs from Tugby were presented to the museum
by the Rev. Hugh Parry, 31 May, 1893.
[Dartford-Warbler. Sylvia undata (Boddaert).
This bird does not occur in the county, and is only
now mentioned because it has, by error, been included
in local lists as having occurred at ' Melton Mowbray
in Leicestershire.' 8 Harley, however, who wrote a
long MS. article about it, contradicted this and said
that ' Mr. Yarrell's informant ' told him that the
example of Dartford-warbler, which he had described
as having been captured in the county of Leicester,
was brought to him by a countryman, who subse-
quently admitted having obtained it in Cambridge-
shire.']
1 8. Goldcrest. Regulus cristatus (Koch).
Resident, but sparingly distributed ; more common
in the winter months, when the native birds receive
large additions on migration. Mr. Stephen H. Pil-
grim writes that there was a flock of about fifty in
Burbage Woods one evening about the middle of
January, 1890.
Mr. G. Frisby, under date of 15 Jan., 1906, re-
ports a good number observed in Quorn and Wood-
house. Mr. W. J. Horn states that in 1900 three
pairs nested in Market Harborough, one pair in a
garden in the middle of the town.
[Fire-crest. Regului ignicapillus (Brehm).
The late Dr. Macaulay reported (Mid. Nat. 1882,
p. 63) a pair of these birds seen by Mr. Daven-
port at Skeffington in 1890, and relative to this,
8 See each edition of Yarrell, Brit. Birds, also Macgillivray,
Hist, of Brit. Birds, Morri, Brit. Birds, and Dresser, Birds of
Europe, quoting Yarrell.
9 No doubt the late Mr. R. Widdowson, who was well known
to both Harley and Yarrell.
A HISTORY OF LEICESTERSHIRE
Mr. Davenport subsequently informed me that he
shot a bird at Skeffington which may have given rise
to the above note, but although he thought at the
time that it was a fire-crest, he is now convinced that
he was mistaken.
To prevent similar mistakes in the future, I may
briefly state that this bird is very easily distinguishable
by the two black stripes on each side of the head
the lower one passing through the eye and a white
streak under each, giving the head a striped appear-
ance.]
1 9. Chiffchaff. Phylloscopus ruftis (Bechstein).
Locally, Bank-jug (as also the following species),
Lesser Pettychaps (obsolete).
A summer migrant, commonly distributed and
breeding. Harley remarked that two broods appear
to be reared during the season, he having seen the first
hatch on the wing early in June, the second in August.
Said by the late Dr. Macaulay (Mid. Nat. 1883, pp.
85-6) to have been seen at Langton, 21 Feb., 1882,
and also at Gumley, n Nov., 1882. The winter of
1 881-2 was the mildest ever known in the Mid-
lands, and it is possible consequently that the bird
may have arrived earlier than usual. I heard a chift-
chaff several times in a small spinney at Aylestone in
1 8 8 3 so late as 2 1 September, and on 2 2 Sept., 1897,
Dr. Macaulay and I heard it at Saddington Gorse.
Mr. G. Frisby of Quorn saw and heard one on
1 1 April, 1906.
Mr. W. J. Horn writes in 1905 : '22 March,
1896, is my earliest note of its arrival. Three or four
pairs breed in Market Harborough.' All nests he
has found have been placed from 3 in. to 3 ft. above
the ground. I heard it at Cotesbach, 3 April, 1907.
20. Willow-Warbler. Phylloscopus trochilus (Linn.).
Locally, Willow-Wren, Yellow Wren (almost
obsolete).
A summer migrant, commonly distributed and
breeding. I have received nests and eggs of this bird
from Aylestone, Belvoir, Bradgate, Knighton, and
other places in Leicestershire, much more frequently
than those of the chiffchaff. Apparently it is equally
common with that bird, and its nest is just as skilfully
concealed. Mr. G. Frisby of Quorn heard this bird
on 5 April, 1906, and the writer heard it in the
wooded part of Coleman Road, Leicester, 16 April,
1906.
Mr. W. J. Horn, writing in 1906, says : 'The
most abundant of our summer migrants quite six
times as numerous as the chiffchaff. Nests in Market
Harborough ; 26 April, 1896, singing on the wing ;
7 Sept., 1895, singing.'
21. Wood-Warbler. Phylloscopus slbilatrix (Bechstein).
Locally, Wood-Wren.
A summer migrant, said by Babington (Potter, op.
cit. App.) to be ' not uncommon.' Despite this the
writer, during a twenty-five years' residence in the
county, has not met with it, and the Leicester
Museum contains no local specimen.
Nevertheless it is but fair to state that the following
letters have been received : On 22 May, 1891, the
Rev. Hugh Parry wrote from Tugby : ' Several (at
least six) wood-warblers have lately settled here and I
am hoping ere long to find a nest, and if I am suc-
cessful will let you have it for the museum. There is
no mistake about them, as I have been watching them
carefully for the past three days, and I know their
note well, as they are common enough in my county,
Salop. I think I told you that I saw and heard a
pair in Knighton Spinney in May, 1889." Later on,
19 June, 1891:'! think you can hear a wood-warbler
any day at Stretton Hall, if you were to go over.
Yesterday I came here and was almost at once greeted
with its note,' and again on 2 May, 1892 : 'I heard
a pair of wood-wrens on Saturday here (Tugby) and
again yesterday. To-day they are quiet, I suppose on
account of cold.' Again, on 1 8 May, 1893 : 'I was
over at Belvoir Castle lately and heard and saw the
wood-warbler.'
Mr. H. S. Davenport, writing on 15 May, 1893,
says : ' I have found a wood-warbler at last,
although I have invariably said I have never before
met with this bird in this county. I detected him at
I o'clock on Saturday, and the best of it is that the
chiffchaff and willow-wren were singing simultane-
ously. I think it was a great season for warblers, and
he is a straggler to these parts.' Mr. Stephen H.
Pilgrim writes from Hinckley on 6 May, 1 898 : ' A
genuine and undoubted wood-wren has put in an
appearance at the garden of my father's house here,
the Castle Hill.'
Mr. W. J. Horn, writing from Market Harborough
on 27 April, 1899, says: 'You may be interested
to hear that I watched for some time and listened to
the song of the wood-wren this morning in some
trees at the top of the town. This is my first record
for Leicestershire.' He again records its occurrence
at Market Harborough on 2 May, 1903.
22. Reed- Warbler. Acncephalui streperus (Vieillot).
Locally, Reed-Wren.
A summer migrant, breeding, but unevenly dis-
tributed. Harley mentioned it as occurring on the
banks of the Soar and the reed-beds of Groby
Pool, Dishley Reservoir, and Garendon, &c., but
the late Dr. Macaulay, though living near Sad-
dington Reservoir, where it undoubtedly breeds in
small numbers every year, had no knowledge of
its existence save on the authority of the Rev. A.
Matthews, who said that it occurred in the northern
division of the county, until I came to Leicester, when
in September, 1880, I took a few short walks for
purposes of observation, and during one of them came
to a spot in which I should expect to find nesting the
sedge, and possibly the reed-warbler. This spot was a
reed-bed just under the castle, and was very difficult of
approach to pedestrians ; accordingly the following
May, I, with a young friend, launched my canoe and
paddled through the reeds until we could find a
landing-place. The season being very backward, the
new growth of reeds was but just springing, and we had
an almost uninterrupted view of any birds we might
flush. Soon I had the pleasure of seeing and hearing
both the birds we came in search of; and in about
half an hour we had found eleven nests of four species
of birds, three of which were those of Acrocephalus
streperus. They were not, however, so forward in
construction as the sedge-warblers' or the other birds',
all of which latter had eggs. On 9 June, 1 88 1, a beauti-
ful specimen of a reed-warbler's nest with five eggs was
obtained from this place for the museum, and further
nests, all containing eggs, were found there on 1 3 June,
1885, and 15 June, 1888.
120
BIRDS
On 13 June, 1889, I again visited the Castle reed-
bed, when numbers of men were at work cutting a
new watercourse which has since been made, entirely
destroying the reed-bed (subsequently built upon).
After searching for a considerable time without
success, I found two nests of the reed-warbler, one of
which, unlike any I had previously seen, was built
entirely of dry confervae or ' flannel-weed," from the
brook, and contained one egg (broken). A nest with
four eggs was found by Harry Throsby at the Roman
Bridge, Aylestone, on 25 June, 1889. Mr. W. J.
Horn writes in 1 906 : ' Several pairs nest every
year in a reedy portion of the Upper Welland ; on
9 June, 1904, a nest which I was able to examine
from the bank contained two eggs. This bird. also
nests in the reeds at Market Bosworth Park. In May,
before the reeds are grown up, this bird nests in the
upper branches of thorns, or in willows. I have a
clutch of eggs which I took from the fork of a small
tree 1 2 ft. to 15 ft. from the ground, and upon
another occasion I found in one morning five nests
fixed in the small twigs of the willow.'
23. Sedge- Warbler. Acncephalus phragmitis (Bech-
stein).
Locally, Reed-Fauvette (obsolete).
A summer migrant, generally distributed and breed-
ing. Harley wrote : ' The sedge-warbler haunts
hedges away from humid tracts and appears to associate
more with the whitethroat than with its congener, the
reed-warbler, the personal appearance of which it so
much resembles.' 10 He further stated that he pos-
sessed a nest beautifully and ingeniously attached to
three twigs of osier, suspended within a fork about
3 ft. from the ground. Mr. Davenport, in June,
1883, found a nest of this species built at the top of
a 'bullfinch hedge,' quite I oft. from the ground,
near Shangton Holt, containing four eggs. I have
found nests at the Castle reed-beds built as described
by Hailey, both in reeds and forks of osiers and also,
as on II June, 1 88 5, in the middle of a small isolated
whitethorn bush, by a ditch at Aylestone. This nest
was extremely well-constructed, and lined with the
tufts of the reed. Mr. W. J. Horn says : ' I have
found scores of nests of this bird, but never one on the
ground. 7 May, 1900, singing on the wing.'
24. Aquatic Warbler. Acncephalus ayuatlcus (J. F.
Gmelin).
This bird is noted as occurring in Leicestershire, on
the authority of Mr. J. E. Harting," who has a speci-
men in his collection which he received from the
neighbourhood of Loughborough in the summer of
1864. It was forwarded to Mr. Harting by a friend,
under the impression that it was a grasshopper-warbler,
but on examination it proved to be one of this
species, and the second discovered in Britain.
25. Grasshopper- Warbler. Locustella naevia (Bod-
daert).
A summer migrant, sparingly distributed and breed-
ing. Mentioned by Harley as being very locally dis-
tributed, and most numerous along the skirts of the
woods of Newtown Linford ; also plentifully distri-
10 See Browne, op. cit. p. 52.
11 Ibii (1867), 468-9 ; the ame specimen is also mentioned
in Zool. (1897), 946 ; in Handbook of Brit. Birds, 105 ; in Our
Summer Migrants, 91 ; and in Yarrell'i Hist. Brit. Birds (ed. 4),
381.
I 121
buted in the wooded districts of Beaumanor, Garendon,
and Swithland. I have not met with this bird around
Leicester.
The late Dr. Macaulay recorded (MM. Nat. 1881,
p. 255) a pair which built under a bush in the garden
at Gumley Rectory. Mr. Davenport found a nest in
May, 1879, in Skeffington Wood, with five eggs;
another in May, 1883, in a spinney near Ashlands,
containing six eggs, and a third on 21 May, 1884.
In 1886 it nested in Merevale Wood or Mirabel Hole
Wood, a fox-covert near Stockerston. On 4 June,
1887, the Rev. Hugh Parry, of Tugby, took from
under a brier-bush in Tugby Wood a nest and six
eggs, two of which and the nest are in the museum.
Mr. S. H. Pilgrim, writing on 5 June, 1891, says :
' The grasshopper-warbler may be heard almost any
day in Sheepy Wood (part of Burbage Wood) or
Burbage Common, and about three weeks ago I
watched through my glasses a pair within 10 yards of
me which seemed to be contemplating nesting ; the
cock bird, while I was watching, came on the top
spray of the bush they were in, and "reeled" out his
song in full view for about a minute.'
The Rev. Hugh Parry considers that during 1905
and 1906 this bird became very scarce in the
Tugby district. Mr. W. J. Horn, writing in 1906,
says: '8 May, 1896, one heard at Sutton Cheney.
Several pairs nest annually in the Burbage Woods near
Hinckley, and on 24 May, 1895, I was so fortunate
as to find a nest containing five eggs ; later in the
season I found another from which the birds had flown.
Both nests were placed in the heart of a large grass
tussock. Hearing one " reeling " on Burbage Com-
mon, I approached quietly and looked down upon the
furze bush from which the bird was singing.'
26. Hedge-Sparrow. Accentor modularls (Linn.).
Locally, Dunnock, Shuffle-wing.
Resident and common ; sometimes double-brooded.
Harley remarked that it is liable to a tubercular disease,
he having seen the eyelids, base of the bill, and a great
part of the occiput, covered with small tubercles and
warts, a peculiarity which I have frequently noticed
in this bird, whose feet are also liable to be similarly
affected. C. Adcock informs me that in the sum-
mer of 1886 he had a pretty variety, the wings and
back being of a cream colour.
The Rev. W. H. Marriott presented to the museum
a pied specimen (sex not ascertained) which was shot
on 27 Sept., 1889, in a field on the Glebe Farm,
close to the village of Thrussington.
27. Dipper. Cine/us aquaticus, Bechstein.
Locally, Water-Ouzel.
Formerly resident but now very rare. Mr. Bab-
bington wrote (Potter, op. cit. App. p. 66) : ' Seen
in the shallow pools of the rocky rivulet which runs
from Kite Hill to the reservoir, when the forest began
to be inclosed.' According to Harley it occurred on
the brook which flows down from the forest of Charn-
wood by way of Grace Dieu Priory, and was also
observed by him on the brook which rises near Copt
Oak and flows by Belton and Shepshed and into the
Soar. Adams shot an example (in Harley 's time) on
the stream which passes through Bradgate Park. The
late Dr. Macaulay recorded (Mid. Nat. 1882, p. 63)
one which was shot some years ago out of a brook
near Noseley, and then in Sir A. Hazlerigg's collection.
16
A HISTORY OF LEICESTERSHIRE
A specimen, said to have been shot near Syston or
Queniborough about 1880, is now in the museum.
The keeper of Thornton Reservoir told me in 1885
that he had procured specimens there more than
once during the past few years.
28. Bearded Reedling or Bearded Tit. Panurus
blarmlcus (Linn.).
Locally, Reed-pheasant.
Said to have formerly occurred, but not recorded for
many years. Those noted are the following : In
October, 1885, I purchased from Elkington a pair
of these birds, which he assured me were shot by
T. Freer, some ten or twelve years before, at the ' back-
water,' Bede House Meadows, Leicester; and on 3 Dec.,
1885, 1 succeeded in finding Freer, then a very old man,
living in a house next the 'Black Horse' atAylestone,
and he remembered the circumstance perfectly, telling
me that there were six or seven birds in the flock, to
which he was attracted by their peculiar note a piping
warble and that he shot three, one of them very
badly. This was on 10 Nov., 1870, and he had
never seen others before nor since. Of the three birds
shot two were males and one female. One male went
to the museum and the pair to Elkington. Mr. H. A.
Payne of Enville gave me a note of the occurrence of
this bird at Groby Pool in July, 1883. He informed
me there were about a dozen of them running up the
reeds and popping in and out the rushes. Many
observers, however, who see the long-tailed tit climbing
about reeds, mistake it for the bearded tit.
29. British Long-Tailed Tit. Acredula rosea (Blyth).
Locally, Bottle-jug, Bottle-tit, Mumruffin.
Resident, but sparingly distributed. Harley wrote :
' Pretty plentiful in thickly-wooded tracts, as, for
example, the vicinity of Newtown Linford, Groby,
and Anstey.' I have seen it at Whetstone of late
years, and it has been seen by Messrs. Stuart Maples
and Peter W. Druce, as lately as October, 1906, at
Aylestone Mill, whilst Mr. G. Frisby has found its
nest in a furze-bush at Quorn, on 16 April, 1906.
30. Great Tit. Parus major, Linn.
Locally, Blackcap (by error), Ox-eye Tit, Saw-
sharpener (in allusion to its note), Tom Tit.
Resident and generally distributed. In June, 1883,
I found in an apple tree at Aylestone Hall a nest of
this species close to one of the blue tit, both con-
taining young. It is well known what singular situa-
tions this bird and the blue tit will sometimes choose
for nesting, but never, perhaps, was a more extra-
ordinary spot selected than in the summer of 1887,
when a pair of these birds built their nest in an iron
post common to the gates of the front garden of two
houses on the Aylestone Road, Leicester, close to the
Lansdowne Road, and in an extremely exposed posi-
tion, not more than 2 ft. from the ground, abutting
on the causeway, and only, of course, a few yards from
the tram-lines, of a very public road. They apparently
brought off their brood safely, but so quick and secret
were these birds, that the people living in one of the
two houses with their children had no idea of their
existence.
31. British Coal Tit. Parus britannicus (Sharpe and
Dresser).
Resident, generally distributed, and commoner of
122
late years than the following species, from which it
may be readily distinguished by its possession of two
white alar bars and a whitish nape. According to
Harley, this species builds in hollow and decayed
timber-trees, and in crevices in old walls and buildings.
Mr. W. J. Horn, writing in 1 907, says : ' I found a
nest in a hole by the roadside in the town of Market
Harborough, and last year this bird nested in a hole
in an apple tree in my orchard. About 1906 I found
a nest (with eggs) in a mole-run in Burbage Woods ;
this I presented to the Leicester Museum. A pair
come every day, with great and blue tits, to my bird
table.' Mr. G. Frisby of Quorn found a nest with
eggs on 2 April, 1906.
32. Marsh-Tit. Parus palustris, Linn.
Resident, but sparingly distributed. Harley re-
marked that it is partial to the willow and alder, in the
decayed boles and branches of which it nests, and that
it also affects the Scotch fir and other coniferous trees
when decayed. Two, sent from Belvoir by Mr. Ingram,
were shot on 14 Jan., 1886, one of which (a female)
is now in the museum. Mr. Davenport wrote in
December, 1887: 'This bird nested at Keythorpe
in the summer of 1886 ; the eggs were taken, and
the old bird, I grieve to say, killed. The only other
instance of its nesting in the county coming under my
notice was three or four years back, when I found the
nest in a hole in a rotten branch of a tree in Skeffing-
ton Wood. The bird was then building, and went
on with its occupation entirely regardless of me.
Seven eggs were eventually laid.'
Mr. W. J. Horn writes in 1907 : ' I see this bird
from time to time near my house (but it has never
come to the bird table), and I have also found its nest
in the park, Market Harborough. Its favourite nest-
ing site is a hole in an ash " stub " in a wood. In
such a position I found one on 3 May, 1806, near
Hinckley.'
33. Blue Tit. Parus caerukus, Linn.
Locally, Bluecap, Tom Tit.
Resident and common. Regarding its nesting,
Dr. C. J. Bond wrote on 27 June, 1887: 'Walking
down Regent's Road yesterday, I saw a blue tit (torn
tit) perch on a lamp-post with a caterpillar in its beak
and then disappear inside the post, at the top, where
the gas-pipe comes out of the hollow iron post ; when
I distinctly heard the young birds close to the top.
I should hardly have thought the bird would have
had the hardihood to build within a few inches of a
flaring gas-jet and daily visited by the lamplighter
with his torch ; they must have had perpetual day.'
A nest containing six eggs was obtained from Croft.
It was built around the broken neck of a bottle, which
had been dropped into a post-hole at the top of a
stone pillar ; when found all the eggs but one had
fallen to the bottom of the bottle.
34. Nuthatch. Sitta caesia, Wolf.
Locally, Nut-jobber.
Resident and sparingly distributed in wooded dis-
tricts. According to Harley it has occurred at Bos-
worth, Bradgate, Croxton, Donington, and Garendon. '
I have found it so near to Leicester as at Knighton,
and at Kibworth and Wistow it is fairly common.
Mrs. Perry Herrick writing about Beaumanor on
9 April, 1889, says: ' They constantly take nuts from
BIRDS
little stone boxes which were originally put there for
squirrels.' The Rev. Hugh Parry saw many of this
species at Belvoir Castle in 1893 ; and Mr. F. Bous-
kell observed them on several occasions at Knighton,
in May and June, 1889. Mr. G. Frisby saw them
feeding from Mrs. Perry Herrick's ' bird-table ' as
lately as 1906, and thinks they appear to increase in
numbers year by year. He has seen them nesting in
woodpecker's holes. Several were shot at Glen Magna
in the autumn of 1906 and winter of 1907 by
Mr. Tom Goddard.
Mr. W. J. Horn writes in 1 907 : ' A pair are
generally to be found in the old elm trees in the Park,
Market Harborough, where they nest. I have occa-
sionally seen this bird in the woods near Hinckley.'
35. Wren. Troglodytes parvulus, Koch.
Locally, Jenny-Wren, Kitty- Wren.
Resident and common. Harley mentioned its
well-known habit of congregating of an evening, in
the winter months, and retiring to outhouses,
granaries, &c., &c., and said that at one time about a
dozen wrens were found, on a cold winter's evening,
secreted within the chimney of an outhouse near his
father's residence. It builds in all situations : holes
in walls, in ivy, in banks ; and the museum possesses
one built in an old hat, found in a garden on the
Hinckley Road, Leicester, in May, 1884, and another
built in a dog-muzzle from Long Clawson. Many
nests appear to be begun in the spring, and are finished
with the exception of the inner lining of feathers.
These, which are commonly called ' cock's nests,' are
popularly supposed to be built by the cock for amusement,
or through some exuberance of fancy. Mr. Dresser's
opinion is that they are used as houses of refuge in
cold or inclement weather an opinion shared, as he
says, by many other naturalists (see Birds of Europe).
Harley, however, believed that they were not built by
the wren at all, but by the dormouse.
36. Tree-Creeper. Certhla familiaris, Linn.
Resident and generally distributed. In the museum
donation-book I find the following entry : ' Remains
of nest of Creeper (Certhia familiaris), with ten eggs,
found embedded in the solid trunk of an old elm tree
containing nearly I 50 feet of timber, together with
the two slabs of wood, showing the cavity in which
they were deposited without any opening to the ex-
terior. Presented by Mr. Gimson, Saw Mills, Wei-
ford Road, 7 May, 1852.' Mr. Ingram showed me
a nest containing young in June, 1884, built behind
the loose bark of a tree at Belvoir. I saw a bird early
in February, 1892, on a tree on the New Walk
opposite the museum. Mr. W. J. Horn writing in
1 907 says that it nests every year in old pollard willows
on the banks of the Upper Welland where he has
found the nest.
37. Pied Wagtail. Motacilla lugubrls, Temminck.
Locally, Dish-washer, Peggy Wash-dish, Water-
Wagtail.
Resident and common. Mr. G. Lillingston John-
son, of Ulverscroft, sent me in June, 1888, the follow-
ing interesting note : ' For the last four years I have
remarked, about 20 March, a flight of wagtails on my
lawn ; they begin to come by twos and threes, and
show on the lawn most punctually at 6.30 every
evening, till they accumulate to the number of thirty.
They appear to be holding a matrimonial parliament.
After a few days they begin to lessen in numbers, and
to my knowledge only two pairs remain here to nest.'
Mr. G. L. Johnson writing again on 25 March, 1889,
said : ' Wagtails have come ; I counted eighteen last
night. They come punctually at 5.45 p.m."
It nests often in extraordinary situations, stacks of
coal being frequently chosen, and a pair built in such
a position on 'Gulson's Wharf' in 1885.
The Rev. Hugh Parry found a nest with five eggs,
on which the bird had been sitting for a week, at
Tugby on 1 8 April, 1894 quite an early date.
Mr. G. Frisby, writing in 1906, says : 'I have
put out about 300 pied wagtails, roosting in the bul-
rushes previous to their autumn migration southwards.'
Mr. W. J. Horn writes in 1907 : 'On 10 April,
1902, I saw a variety of this species with black cheeks
and forehead.'
[White Wagtail. Motacilla alba, Linn.
I am by no means satisfied as to the validity of this
' species ' or its occurrence in the county (see Browne,
op. cit. pp. 66, 67) ; and although Mr. W. J. Horn
writes in 1907, 'Most springs I see one or more,'
yet, bearing in mind that, at the best, it is merely a
sub-species or Continental form of the preceding, it
will be wise until specimens are procured to treat it as
non-existent, or doubtful.]
38. Grey Wagtail. Motacilla mclanofe, Pallas.
Locally, Winter-Wagtail.
A winter migrant, sparingly distributed and not
recorded until 1 89 3 as remaining to breed in the county.
I have frequently seen and shot it quite close to Leices-
ter, at the Aylestone Mill, and Mr. W. A. Evans saw
and shot some specimens at Leicester on the banks of
the Soar in 1885, 1886, and 1887. Mr. W. P.
Pycraft saw a grey wagtail in the County Ditch, Ayle-
stone Road, on 6 Oct., 1889, and I saw one on
the Aylestone Road on 12 Oct., 1889. Mr. W.
Pycraft also observed four in the Saffron Lane, near to
Underwood's brickyard, on 5 March, 1892, and Mr.
H. S. Davenport, writing from Skeffington on 1 5 May,
1893, reports for the first time the nesting of this species
in Leicestershire. One was seen at the Sewage Farm,
3 March, 1907, by Messrs. P. W. Druce and S. Maples.
Mr. W. J. Horn reports a pair which were running
about on the gravel in front of the ' Elms,' Market
Harborough, on 29 Jan., 1905, and says that during
the winter 19056 one of these birds was frequently
to be seen in his stable yard, and although it did not
come on to the bird table it ran about beneath it,
apparently picking up crumbs which had fallen
therefrom. He also gives the following records :
Seen near Hincldey 12 March, 1895 ; Medbourne
12 March, 1902 ; on the Welland 14 Oct., 1899 (3),
6 Oct., 1899, 22 Oct., 1899, and 26 Nov., 1899;
Lubenham 13 March, 1904; Market Harborough
25 Jan., 1907.
[Grey-Headed Yellow Wagtail. Motacilla borealis,
Sundevall.
In the Mid. Nat. (1881), p. 257, the late Dr.
Macaulay stated that he had seen this bird near Kib-
worth on 2 May, 1880, but in a previous note of his
which appeared in Mid. Nat. (1880), p. 145, with
reference to the same bird he attached the scientific
name M. flava to the vernacular. The occurrence
I2 3
A HISTORY OF LEICESTERSHIRE
must therefore remain open to doubt, but if it was a
specimen of M. flava which Dr. Macaulay ?aw, that
would constitute a new record for the county.]
39. Yellow Wagtail. Motacilla rait, Bonaparte.
A summer migrant, generally distributed and
breeding. Common in the meadows of the Soar
around Leicester. I procured one (a male) close to
the abbey on 8 April, 1886 the earliest date for
forty-three years, Harley having observed it, curiously
enough, in the abbey grounds one day earlier in 1843.
It usually stays with us well into September, my latest
date being 27 Sept. (1887), when I saw several in
the meadows at Kibworth.
Although the bird is abundant in the meadows
about Aylestone, and undoubtedly nests there every
season, it was not found until 1886, when Wilson,
haymaking in a field just off the road at Aylestone on
2 July, discovered a nest with six eggs, which I saw
in situ and secured for the museum. The nest, which
was built on the ground on the edge of a cart track,
was formed of grass-bents and lined with hair, and
contained six eggs, of a uniform drab-brown, suffused
with a darker shade toward the large end. Mr. W. J.
Horn writes in 1907 : 'This bird overlaps the grey
wagtail, for on 2 Oct., 1892, I saw about a dozen
grey wagtails and twice as many ray's wagtails, feeding
in the meadows near my house. In the early spring,
this bird is abundant in the meadows of the Welland
Valley, and on 19 April, 1 905, just below the Market
Harborough Sewage Farm, I saw scores, all males. I
have several times found its nest in this neighbourhood,
on railway embankments and, on 27 May, 1905,
with young by the canal side.'
40. Tree-Pipit. Anthus trivialis, Linn.
A summer migrant, generally distributed and breed-
ing. Mr. Babington (Potter, op. cit. App. p. 67)
wrote : ' Not very rare at Thringstone, and probably
found elsewhere near the forest.' Mr. Davenport
has found the nest near Billesdon. Mr. W. J. Horn
writes in 1907 : 'Favourite nesting sites are railway
embankments. The eggs vary very much and I
possess, probably, twenty varieties.'
41. Meadow-Pipit. Anthus pratensis (Linn.).
Locally, Moss-cheeper, Tit-Lark, Titling.
Resident and not uncommon near Leicester,
probably double -brooded. Mr. G. F. Frisby
records its song April, 1906. Mr. W. J. Horn
writes in 1907 : 'Resident, but much more numer-
ous in this district in spring and winter, when flocks
of fifty or sixty are occasionally seen. It does not
breed in this immediate neighbourhood, although it
breeds lower down the Welland Valley. In suitable
situations I have found them breeding in colonies.
Upon one occasion, this bird feigned injury, when I
disturbed it whilst incubating. I frequently see it on
the Little Bowden Recreation Ground.'
[Golden Oriole. Oriolus galbula, Linn.
Of very doubtful occurrence, for the only note I
have of it is by the late Mr. Widdowson, who wrote
that one was seen about the railway gardens (1 Melton
Mowbray) some years ago.]
42. Great Grey Shrike. Lanius excubitor, Linn.
Locally, Cinerous Shrike, Great Butcher-bird.
A rare winter visitant, not remaining to breed in
Britain. Harley recorded that he received a fine
specimen, wounded but alive, on 4 Dec., 1848.
Its discovery and capture were attributed to a flock of
sparrows and chaffinches drawn together by its ap-
pearance. Some days later (l I Dec.) he received
a second a fine male. Both were shot by the same
person at Knight Thorpe. Since then Mr. Widdow-
son informed me of a specimen picked up dead by
the gardener at Little Dalby Hall on 25 March,
1883. A specimen purchased for the museum,
apparently a female, is said to have been shot by a
keeper, between Syston and Queniborough, in the
autumn of 1882, and I am informed by Turner that
another was shot at Anstey some years since.
Mr. Ingram, who informed me that one was shot at
Knipton amongst fieldfares by Mr. Brewster, kindly
sent me a nice female specimen " in the flesh, shot at
Belvoir 8 February, 1885. Mr. W. A. Evans shot a
fine female specimen (nearly adult) in a market-
garden at New Parks, close to Leicester, on 23 Dec.,
1885, and he remarked that its jerky motions
and general shape and colour reminded him of a
wagtail. This bird was brought to me for exami-
nation. Mr. Joseph Young, of Leicester, had two
brought to him alive in 1891 by bird-catchers. The
first was caught at Eaton on I November, and the
other on some allotments in Gipsy Lane on
9 November. The former was exhibited at a local
bird show, and lived for three weeks ; the other suc-
cumbed in three days. Both were presented to the
museum, and were mentioned in the field of 21 Nov.,
1891. One shot in Park Lane, Loughborough, was
presented to the museum by Mr. W. Truman Tucker
on 13 Feb., 1891, who also presented one which
he shot on the wing close to his house in Park Lane,
Loughborough, on 1 1 Jan., 1892. (See Zoo/. 1892,
P- 76.)
43. Red-Backed Shrike. Lanius collurio, Linn.
Locally, Little Butcher-bird, Red-backed Butcher-
bird.
A summer migrant, sparingly distributed, and re-
maining to breed. I observed a fine male perched
upon the dead branch of a tree in Narborough Bogs
on 20 June, 1885, and on 15 July, 1886, I watched
one for some time at Barrow-on-Soar. In 1888 I
saw two specimens (male and female) in the possession
of Mr. H. C. Woodcock, of Rearsby, who informed
me that they were shot in this county many years
ago, and were sent in the flesh to the late Mr. Wid-
dowson. Mr. T. Howett, of Leicester, reported a
specimen killed near Syston in 1 886. At Belgrave
on 27 May, 1886, Thomas Adcock found a nest
containing one egg in a hawthorn bush. He considers
the species rare. Mr. Davenport, who also considers
it rare, found a nest on 3 June, 1888, close to
Ashlands, Billesdon, containing five eggs. Mr. G.
Frisby, writing on 7 Sept., 1906, says that a
nest was built in a hawthorn hedge close to the
la This specimen is undoubtedly the form known as Pallas' s
Great Grey Shrike, Laniut major, Pallas, and, according to most
authorities, should follow the present as another species. Hav-
ing, however, worked at this group, my examination of a
number of examples convinces me that L. major and L. bomcycri
the latter not yet recorded for Britain are practically indis-
tinguishable from L. excubitor, and not deserving of even tub-
specific rank. Since this was written, Mr. H. E. Dresser has
endorsed the writer's conclusions, and has stated that L. excubitor
and L. majar are one and the same species.
124
BIRDS
Great Central Station at Quorn. One egg was
laid and the larder was well stocked. On 1 2 July,
1894, Mr. W. J. Horn saw a male bird with
food in its mouth between Sibson and Shenton.
He says that in this district several pairs nest
annually at about the same spot all on the road-
side. Other records are on 6 July, 1896, a pair seen
on the roadside near Wolvey, and 25 May, 1905, one
seen at Great Bowden.
44. Waxwing. dmpelis garru/ui, Linn.
Locally, Bohemian Waxwing.
A rare winter visitant, but not remaining to breed
in Britain. Harley stated that it appeared in 1827
in small parties of three and four individuals in a
group, and again in the fall of 1835-6, when it
became partially dispersed over the county, especially
in the more wooded parts. During the winter of
1850 it was again fairly plentiful, and numbers
were shot in various parts of the county. He
particularly mentions one, probably fully adult, which
was shot at Swannington, and which he describes as
having ' the barbs of the tail-feathers literally termi-
nated with a wax-like substance of a bright vermilion
colour, the same in substance which we find attached
to the wing of this species.' He adds that it ap-
peared to feed chiefly on the fruit of the mountain-ash
(Pyrus aucuparia, Gaertn.), the berries of the elder,
and the fruit of the hawthorn.
In the Zoologist for 1850 (p. 2770), the following
are recorded as having occurred during January of
that year : One shot at Stoney Stanton, and in the
possession of Mr. Henry Townsend, of that place ;
another at Claybrook, three near Bagworth, and one
shot at Belgrave.
The late Dr. Macaulay wrote (Mid. Nat. 1882,
p. gj) : I am informed by Mr. Bickley, of Melton
Mowbray, whose late brother presented the collection
of birds bearing his name in the Leicester Museum,
that the specimen of this bird in that collection was
shot near Melton Mowbray,' and no doubt this is
the case, for the late Mr. R. Widdowson wrote to
me : 'I shot one myself some years ago near Melton,
and have had three or four since.' Mr. J. C. Bassett,
of Ullesthorpe, has one in his possession which was
shot at Arnesby about 1870 by Mr. S. Horton. One
was shot at Belgrave about 1878-9 (Turner). Mr.
H. A. Payne, of Enville, and a friend watched a pair
for a long time near Bradgate House in the summer
of 1883, and in connexion with this it is singular
that one was shot at Anstey (close to Bradgate), at
Christmas of the same year by Mr. Alfred Wm.
Matts. I saw in December, 1888, two beautiful
waxwings probably a pair mounted, and in the
possession of Mr. W. T. Tucker, who shot them in
the autumn of 1886, in some willow-trees close to his
house in Park Lane, Loughborough. The Rev. G. D.
Armitage saw one on the drive at Broughton Astley
Rectory, but cannot remember the date. A fine
specimen was shot at Loughborough by Mr.
W. T. Tucker on 12 Jan. 1895. Mr. W. J. Horn
reports the following : ' One shot at Arnesby in
1868 by a farmer, while feeding on a hawthorn bush
(Zool. 1 868, p. 1 2 1 2), and another shot near Laughton
on 13 Feb. 1895 (Zool. 1895).
45. Pied Flycatcher. Muscicapa atricapilla, Linn.
A rare summer migrant, but there is no record of
its breeding. Harley wrote : ' A young male was
shot by Chaplin on the banks of Groby Pool in the
autumn of 1840,' and under date 28 April, 1859 :
' Examined to-day, at Collins the birdstuffer's, a fine
male example shot at Markfield.' Collins also in-
formed him that he once had a pied flycatcher, said
to have been captured in Bradgate Park. The late
Dr. Macaulay's note-book records a specimen seen in
his garden at Kibworth, May, 1859, 'apparently
weak and exhausted after long flight.' The date
(1870) in Mid. 'Nat. i88l,p. 256, is therefore ap-
parently an error. He also saw one which was shot
at Illston by Mr. Newcomb about 1875. Turner
gave me a note that about 1880 a male bird of this
species was taken in a barn at Wanlip (Zool. 1885,
p. 461). Since then the Rev. W. H. Palmer has
ascertained that a pied flycatcher was caught, as stated,
but the man who caught it having left the village, no
further information could be gained. Mr. Davenport
informs me that a pair of these birds were seen by
Mr. Kestin in his father's garden at Twyford on
5 May, 1883, and that they remained about the
place, probably with the intention of nesting. The
late Mr. Widdowson had one which had been killed
at Melton. I received an immature male, shot at
Bardon Hill by Mr. Ward, on 12 May, 1883,
and Mr. A. K. Perkins shot a fine male at
Laughton on 29 April, I 898. Mr. Charles Marriott,
of Cotesbach Hall, on 19 April, 1901, observed a
pied flycatcher in a field in that parish. He says
that it differed from the one in the plate of Morris's
Birds in having dark grey feathers at the base of the
back in place of black throughout, but in the
description given it is stated that the winter plumage
of the male bird includes grey back feathers.
46. Spotted Flycatcher. Muscicapa griso/a, Linn.
Locally, Grey Flycatcher, Gnatcatcher.
A summer migrant, commonly distributed, and
breeding even in gardens close to Leicester. The
museum donation book records that Mr. W. Gimson
presented a portion of a nest and three eggs, found in
an old elm-tree, apparently without any external
opening, on 8 Jan. 1853. Mr. Davenport writes :
'A chaffinch had its nest with five eggs in a laurel
bush bordering on the lawn-tennis ground at Ash-
lands in May, 1883, but being unavoidably and so
frequently disturbed, forsook it. Three weeks later a
spotted flycatcher appropriated the nest, laid four
eggs, and successfully hatched off ; repairing again to
same nest she laid a second batch of eggs. I found
three eggs of a pale-blue colour, with no markings, in
May, 1879, at Skeffington.' Writing again he says :
'In 1886 and 1887 (just as in 1879) I found a
nest both years containing four eggs e.ich, of a beau-
tiful pale-blue colour, without a speck or spot on
them. This seems a rather favourite variety of the
egg.' Every year this bird haunts the New Walk
at Leicester, and nearly every year builds its nest
in the ornamental stonework on the summit of
the Hollings Memorial. In the summer of 1887
I noticed one or more pairs about there, and in
August they appeared to have nested. During 1 906
it built again about the museum, and haunted the
whole length of the New Walk. The Rev. Father
Bullen, writing from Ratcliffe in 1890, says that he
found a cup-shaped and well-made nest in that of a
house-sparrow. Mr. G. Frisby, in August 1905, says
that on 14 Aug. he noticed a number of flycatchers
125
A HISTORY OF LEICESTERSHIRE
had taken up their position in the trees and hedge at a
particular spot by the River Soar, and were so en-
grossed as almost to ignore his presence. Feeling it wa*
something unusual which had caused this, he soon
ascertained that hosts of winged ants were sur-
rounding the nests of these birds, which were making
full use of their opportunities. Mr. W. J. Horn,
writing in 1907, says: 'The eggs of this species
vary considerably, and I have many varieties.'
47. Swallow. Hirundo rustlca, Linn.
Locally, Chimney-Swallow.
A summer migrant, commonly distributed and
breeding. In 1887 I saw a solitary young bird so
late as 7 Nov. feebly flying over the houses near
Aylestone Church, crossing and re-crossing quite near
me several times, this being the latest date recorded
for the county since Harley's time. At Aylestone I
have found the swallow to be treble-brooded. Elking-
ton received a pure white specimen in 1880. In May,
1885, I saw a curious variety, a young bird, in the
possession of Mr. W. Whitaker, of Wistow, in which
the wings, tail, and back were greyish-white, the
throat faintly rufescent, the under parts almost of the
normal colour but paler, the head and nape faintly
tinged with dusky brown ; the oval spots on the tail-
feathers showed but dimly, and were of an isabelline
colour. Mr. J. B. Ellis presented to the museum
a variety almost precisely similar to that possessed by
Mr. Whitaker, which he shot at Bardon Hill
12 Aug., 1886. It was fully plumaged, without, of
course, the long outer tail-feathers of the adult, and
appeared on dissection to be a female. I think it is,
if anything, whiter than the Wistow specimen, but it
was not an albino, it having dark or greyish-brown
irides. Mr. Palmer, of Leicester, informed me that
on 15 Nov., 1891, he saw two swallows on the
Melbourne Road, and a fortnight previously he saw
a dozen in Spinney Hill Park. I saw a white or
isabelline specimen in the hands of Pinchin, who in-
formed me that it was shot at Wistow in the summer
of 1889 by Mr. W. Whitaker. Pinchin also stated
that a pure white variety was shot at Nailstone in the
summer of 1890 by Mr. Henfield.
Mr. G. Frisby, writing in 1906, gives the following
records : ' 1 5 April, 1 906, a few swallows over
Swithland Reservoir; 1 8 April, 1906, over 200 at
Swithland, bitterly cold wind ; 8 June, 1906, a
pair nested on a hair-broom at Beaumanor.' He adds
that they roost on the willows at the osier beds,
Mountsorrel. Mr. Frisby saw one at Quorn so late
as 4 Nov., 1906. Mr. W. J. Horn says that on
II Nov., 1905, after a rough night a swallow was
flying round his house, and at mid-day it was joined
by a house-martin.
48. House-Martin. Chelldon urbica (Linn.).
A summer migrant, commonly distributed, and
breeding. Being double, and sometimes even treble-
brooded, this species occasionally remains with us until
very late ; and Harley, writing in 1851, said that he
had known the house-martin to remain in Leices-
tershire until 23 Nov., and had met with its nest
containing young on one of the early days of that
month. The Leicester Daily Mercury of 15 July,
1887, records that a pair of martins having
built a nest on a house at Melton found that a
sparrow had taken possession of it. In revenge the
martin built the intruder in, only leaving a little hole
through which the sparrow could thrust its head.
The bird, unable to get out, died with its head out
of the small opening, and was used as a cushion on
which the eggs were deposited.
The latest date recorded by Mr. G. Frisby is
loOct., 1906. Mr. W. J. Horn reports two flying
about in Hinckley Market Place, and one flying round
his house, n Nov., 1905.
49. Sand-Martin. Cotile rifaria (Linn.).
Locaffy, Bank Martin.
A summer migrant, commonly distributed, and
breeding so close to Leicester as the Aylestone sand-
pits. The late Mr. R. Widdowson's diary records :
'Saw white variety sand-martin 1 8 July, 1869.'
50. Greenfinch. Ligurinus thhris (Linn.).
Locally, Green Linnet, Green Grosbeak.
Resident and common in gardens and fields close
to Leicester. I have noticed this bird to be so fond
of the seeds of the sunflower as to come into gardens
within a few yards of the house-door and take but
little notice of people close at hand. Few other birds
appear to care for these seeds. The eggs are very
variable in size, shape, and colour. Mr. Davenport
writes: 'In July, 1883, I obtained a tiny egg of
this species from a nest near Ashlands ; it was marked
with a wreath at the thin end, and was about the size
of a tree-creeper's egg. This species constantly lays six
eggs.' The late Sir Arthur Hazlerigg possessed a
canary-coloured variety which he shot at Noseley
about 1868.
51. Hawfinch. Coccothraustes vulgaris, Pallas.
Locally, Common Grosbeak.
Resident, generally distributed, more common
than formerly, and breeding occasionally. I
received three (two immature and one adult
female) from the Rev. G. D. Armitage, which were
caught at Broughton Astley, on 1 8 July, 1889.
Mr. Stephen H. Pilgrim, of Hinckley, shot one
there on 1 2 Dec., 1 889, and said that a man well
acquainted with birds told him a good many used to
frequent the yew-trees in Fenny Drayton church-
yard in winter. Mr. Ingram sent me a male speci-
men, shot at Belvoir on 3 Feb., 1890. The late Dr.
Macaulay reported a male bird shot at Gumley
in February, 1890. Mr. Thomas Barwell of Kirby
Muxloe sent me one which he picked up there on
13 Dec., 1889, and Mr. S. H. Pilgrim states, on
the authority of Puffer, that several were shot some
years ago whilst feeding on the fruit of a thorn-tree
near the gasworks at Hinckley. He further reports
one visiting Croft in the winter of 1 890. The late
Dr. Macaulay recorded one seen in the rectory garden,
Kibworth, on 15 Nov., 1891, by the Rev. C. E.
Crutwell. The late Major H. Jary writing from
Bitteswell on 17 July, 1894, said he had a young
bird which had become quite tame and was in good
plumage. He considered it rare in that stage, although
the adults were more common than suspected.
A pair was seen by Mr. O. Murray-Dixon at
Swithland Reservoir on 22 March, 1903, and he
considers them fairly common.
It appears to have nested at Bardon Hill, Coleorton,
near Loughborough, and in the grounds of Castle HilL
126
BIRDS
Hinckley, where the bird was sitting on five eggs,
2 June, 1891. Mr. G. H. Frisby writes 25 July,
1 906 : ' I saw two young birds (two others escaped)
caged, the old bird had nested in an apple tree at
Col. Curzon's, Woodhouse.'
Mr. W. J. Horn, writing in 1907, says also that he
had heard on good authority that two or three pairs
nested in an orchard at Lubenham in 1905. He
gives the following records : 14 March, 1895, three
birds seen at Croft ; I Jan., 1897, one seen at Market
Harborough ; 12 April, 1895, one seen near Bur-
bage ; 4 March, 1902, a pair seen in the Park,
Market Harborough ; 21 March, 1896, one seen at
Monk's Kirby; 10 March, 1902, a pair seen in the
park, Market Harborough.
52. Goldfinch. Carduelis elegans, Stephens.
Locally, Draw-water, Proud Tailer, or Tailor,
Thistle-Finch.
Resident, but sparingly distributed. Mr. Ingram
wrote that it ' builds in apple-trees ; two or three pairs
generally in the gardens of Belvoir Castle." Mr. T. B.
Ellis of 'The Gynsils' writes : 'In one or two apple-
orchards I know it builds regularly.' Mr. J. S. Ellis tells
me that up to 1863, when he left Glenfield Lodge,
a nest or two were found every year in the orchard,
and always built in a fork at the top of an apple-tree.
A specimen was shot by Mr. G. R. Brook at Whet-
stone in 1898. Mr. W. J. Horn, writing in 1907,
says : ' Nests in Market Harborough. I found the
nest in the hedge of our cricket ground.' He adds the
following records : 12 March, 1904, three specimens
seen on canal bank ; 26 June, 1 904, seen at Lubenham ;
14 April, 1905, seen at Nevill Holt and a dozen
other places. By this it appears that the bird is
commoner in some parts of the county than others,
and Mr. H. S. Davenport, writing from Melton
Mowbray in 1906, considers it much more common
than formerly, as also does Mr. H. Butler Johnson, in
the vicinity of Swannington.
53. Siskin. Carduelis spinus (Linn.).
Locally, Aberdevine.
An uncommon winter visitant, not breeding in the
Midlands. Mr. Babington mentioned it (Potter, op.
cit. App. p. 67) as having been observed in flocks at
Thringstone and Rothley Temple, among alders,
during 1837. Harley once met with a vast com-
pany of siskins (some 400 or 500), in the northern
division of the county, among large alder-trees beside
a stream at the lower end of Oakley Wood. In the
autumn of 1 849 the species was frequently met
with, but has not appeared since in such numbers in
any part of the county. The late Dr. Macaulay
(Mid. Nat. 1883, p. 86) saw a flock of about twenty
in a lane near Gumley on 15 Nov., 1882. Of the
specimens in the museum, one was taken at Thur-
caston in 1881, two (male and female) were taken
at Kirby Muxloe, 1 1 Dec., 1885, and three (two
males and one female) were shot at Belvoir on 14 Jan.,
1886.
54. House-Sparrow. Passer domestlcus (Linn.).
Locally, Thack (or Thatch)-Sparrow.
Resident and far too common, breeding every-
where ; variable as to plumage, colour and size of
eggs
The Mid. Nat. of Aug., 1881, contains an account
of some sparrows which were seen at Overseal feed-
ing a canary that had escaped from its cage.
On 6 Jan., 1890, I shot on the Aylestone Road,
Leicester, a female variety, chestnut and white, and
another, presented to the museum, was shot at East-
field, Stoneygate, 30 Sept., 1890. As showing the
extreme variability of the eggs of this pest, the
writer has procured from the ivy covering his house
at Whetstone, clutches of five fours, three threes,
five twos and one, all taken in one day, 15 June,
1903, and no two clutches were alike in colour
varying from reddish brown to almost white. A
curious grey variety shot on the New Estate at
Cosby was presented to the museum by Mr. McCart-
ney on 15 June, 1903.
55. Tree-Sparrow. Passer montanus (Linn.).
Locally, Mountain-Sparrow, Wood Sparrow.
Resident, but sparingly distributed over the wood-
lands. Mr. Davenport shot one at Skeffington in
Dec., 1876. Mr. H. Ellis shot one at Glenfield on
29 Dec., 1 88 1. The late Mr. R. Widdowson sent
me one from Melton Mowbray. I killed one (a
female) at Blaby, 25 March, 1884, and others con-
sorting with chaffinches and greenfinches in snowy
weather at Knighton, 14 Jan., 1885.
A male shot at Melton Mowbray was presented to
the museum on 10 Feb., 1894, and two males and
one female shot at Whetstone were presented by
Mr. L. E. Gill in 1899.
Mr. W. J. Horn writes in 1 907 : ' Several pairs
nest in the pollard willows where I have found the
nest, 10 March, 1894. I saw a flock of over fifty
feeding in Mr. Kendall's stackyard close to Croft
Quarry, 17 April, 1900."
56. Chaffinch. Fringilla caekbs, Linn.
Locally, Pink or Spink, Pye-Finch, Pie-Finch.
Resident and common, breeding in gardens and
plantations close to Leicester. With regard to the
flocking of hen chaffinches in the autumn, as narrated
by Gilbert White, Harley believed that writer to be in
error, as the birds might be immature individuals of the
year and not females. In confirmation of this theory
I have shot many, and found the apparent females to
be, as suspected, immature specimens of both sexes.
Mr. Ingram wrote from Belvoir that they flock there
' in thousands, and are useful in destroying the seeds
of weeds." The eggs vary : Mr. Davenport notes
' an extraordinary pale-green, elongated egg, taken at
Skeffington in May, 1 879,' also a clutch of five, shaped
like a snipe's and of the colour of a starling's eggs, and
two clutches of a delicate pale-blue entirely unspotted;
and Mr. W. A. Vice presented to the museum on
9 May, 1885, a nest containing five eggs of this de-
scription, taken by him at Blaby. The Rev. G. T.
Armitage wrote on 21 Nov., 1892 : 'About a fort-
night ago one of our farmers shot a white chaffinch,
which I am having stuffed.' A female variety, appa-
rently a hybrid with a (?) greenfinch, from Tugby,
was given to the museum by the Rev. Hugh Parry on
4 Jan., 1895. Mr. G. Frisby writes, 26 July, 1906:
' A chaffinch was sitting on eggs, using the same nest
the second time ; both broods were reared.'
57. Brambling. Fringilla montifringilla, Linn.
Locally, Mountain Finch, French Pye or Pie.
A winter visitant, sparingly distributed, and though
often found in flocks, does not remain to breed in
127
A HISTORY OF LEICESTERSHIRE
Britain. Mr. Babbington wrote in 1842 (Potter, op.
cit. App. 67) : ' Several shot twenty years ago at
Swannington by Mr. Grundy, who kept a wounded
bird for some time in a cage. It lost all its yellow
and red plumage and turned brown, after being fed
on hemp-seed.' He further stated that the species
had since been killed near Glenfield, and that in
Jan., 1841, during a long snow, several were shot
at Castle Donington ; also that in the winter of
1843-4 it was very abundant, and great numbers
were shot in various parts of the county. It appeared
again in the winter of 1854-5. The museum dona-
tion-book records one presented on 29 March, 1860,
from Barkby Thorpe. Mr. Davenport obtained one
at Skeffington in December, 1880. In the winter of
1884 they were unusually numerous in Leicestershire,
and I received specimens in February and March from
Thornton Reservoir, Saddington, and from a field on
the Groby Road where corn was being winnowed.
Mr. W. J. Evans shot five (three males and two
females) at New Parks on I March, 1886 ; they were
consorting with greenfinches and chaffinches. Mr. A.
K. Perkins shot one at Laughton on 10 Jan., 1887.
Mr. S. H. Pilgrim informs me that Puffer reports
one shot in a farm-yard at Aston Flamville and taken
to him by Mr. Goude, a veterinary surgeon at Hinck-
ley, some years ago. Mr. Ingram wrote on I 5 April,
1891 : ' There are large numbers of brambling feed-
ing in the Beech Avenue, about a mile from the
Castle ; they are in beautiful plumage. These birds
resort to roost to the evergreen shrubs in the woods.'
The Rev. G. D. Armitage reported two, shot in the
vicinity of Broughton Astley on 24 Jan., 1891, and
the late Dr. Macaulay stated that a male specimen
had been seen at Gumley on 25 Nov., 1891. Among
the museum specimens are one caught near Leicester,
presented by Mr. Oakeyon I 5 May, 1900, and two from
near Broughton Astley, presented by the Rev. G. D.
Armitage, 24 Jan., 1891. Mr. W. J. Horn writes
in 1907 : ' Gener.illy to be found where beech trees
abound. On 21 Jan., 1894, I saw one at Burbage.
In March last a pair was caught in the nursery
gardens, Market Harborough, by a bird-catcher.
About 1903 a pair shot in this neighbourhood was
brought to me for identification.'
58. Linnet. Linota cannabina (Linn.).
Locally, Brown-Linnet, Goss (i.e. Gorse)-Linnet.
Resident and generally distributed. Harley occa-
sionally found a nest on the lateral branch of an elm,
some 6 or 8 ft. from the ground. I found a nest
on 13 June, 1884, containing five eggs (now in the
museum), built in a magnolia on the walls of Belvoir
Castle. A nest and four eggs were taken at Nar-
borough by Dr. Montague Gunning in or about
1900. Mr. G. Frisby writes on 26 April, 1906 :
'Over 100 still in flock, and singing in an ash tree
most beautifully.'
59. Lesser Redpoll. Linota rufescens (Vieillot).
Locally, Pea-Linnet, Redcap.
Resident, and sparingly distributed. Harley met
with its nest and eggs in North Leicestershire, in a
rough place known at that time by the name of
' Leake Lings." The nest was fixed in a thick gorse-
bush 5 or 6 ft. from the ground ; it was more com-
pact than the nest of the common linnet, smaller and
more elegantly woven. He also met with its nest at
Bardon. Mr. Davenport found a nest with three eggs
in May, 1883, at Ashlands, and wrote Dec., 1887 :
' Has built at Ashlands, in July, three years run-
ning.' According to the late Mr. R. Widdowson,
it often breeds about Melton. In June, 1883, a nest
containing three eggs was found at Kibworth, by
Mr. Stuart Macaulay, built on the end of a branch of
an elm tree. Mr.W. J. Horn writes in 1 907 : ' More
frequently seen in winter and early spring ; one or two
pairs remain to breed.' He gives the following re-
cords: 8 Jan., 1897, one seen at Market Harborough;
19 April, 1905, several feeding in large trees, Market
Harborough ; 21 May, 1905, a pair at Lubenham.
60. Twite. Linota flavirostris (Linn.).
Locally. Mountain-Linnet.
A winter visitant, apparently of rare occurrence,
although Harley wrote: 'The Mountain-Linnet
appears here at times, at the close of the autumn. The
little migrant seems partial to wild tracts in which the
thistle prevails. We occasionally meet with it in
small flocks, its associates being the brown linnet and
goldfinch. We think it does not nestle with us, but
merely performs an annual, irregular inland migration.'
I have no other note of this bird, save that the
bird-stuffers, Elkington and Turner, say they have
received a few specimens ; however, I cannot vouch
for their accuracy and should consider it a rare bird.
I have no report of its breeding in the county.
Mr. Pilgrim informs me that one was killed near
Hinckley, in the autumn of 1889, by some boys who
took it to Puffer.
61. Bullfinch. Pyrrhula europaea, Vieillot.
Resident, but unevenly distributed. Harley re-
marked that, although the nest of the bullfinch is said
by many writers to be built generally in hawthorn
hedgerows, thick bushes, and similar places, he had
met with it in some of our coniferous shrubs. He
also found a nest placed upon a lateral branch of a
silver spruce fir in one of the groups of plantations in
Charnwood Forest, and several times since 1825 he
had met with it in like situations. I have seen its
nest in rhododendrons at Belvoir, where this bird is
common. Harley appears to have considered that it
fed, at times, on the berries of the nightshade (Solatium
dulcamara). Mr. Davenport finds its nest and eggs
every year, and says that it occasionally lays six eggs.
Two clutches of eggs taken from Belvoir are very dis-
similar in shape, one being long, pointed, and spotted
at the large end only ; the other short, obtuse, and
blotched irregularly over the whole surface, but prin-
cipally at the larger end.
The museum contains two melanic specimens, one
of which was caught in a net at Knighton. A nest
and five eggs were taken at Narborough by Dr.
Montague Gunning circa 1900. Mr. W. J. Horn
writes in 1907 : ' I have found the nest in laurels,
in ivy on the " elm-tree bole," and dozens in its
favourite nesting site a hawthorn hedge. I have
never seen more than five in a party.'
62. Crossbill. Loxia curviroslra, Linn.
An irregular and uncertain visitant from autumn to
early spring, but has bred in the county. Mr. Bab-
ington (Potter, op. cit. App. p. 67) said : ' In great
flocks in the winter of 1839, splitting the fir-cones at
" The Oaks," near Charnwood Heath ; and in some
128
BIRDS
tall firs at Swannington.' Harley recorded that
' during the winter months of 1839-40 the crossbill
came to Leicestershire in large flocks.' In February,
1854, it visited us in small flocks, and Harley exam-
ined a specimen which had its bill and feet daubed
over with a substance resembling Venice turpentine in
appearance, and probably derived from the cones of
the fir. The late Mr. Widdowson's diary records :
Crossbill killed, Mr. Gillett, u April, 1868.' And
the late Dr. Macaulay reported having seen one at
Gumley, in 1881, on 1 1 August, an unusual date.
Harley recorded for the first time its nidification in
Leicestershire in the summer of 1839. A pair of
crossbills made their nest in a fir plantation surround-
ing the northernmost part of Bradgate Park, not far
from a farm-house known as 'Hall Gates.' It 'was
fixed on the branch of a thick fir, some 12 or 1 4 ft.
from the ground. The young were fledged and dis-
appeared with their parents. Mr. O. Murray-Dixon
watched a pair for some time feeding on the young
shoots of oak trees in Swithland Hall coverts in or
about May, 1903. The Rev. Hugh Parry, writing
on 30 October, 1906, says he has several times seen
small flocks of this bird in autumn. Mr. W. J. Horn
writes in 1907 : 'On 15 March, 1895, a male and
two females were killed near Market Harborough' (see
Zool. 1895, p. 233). Of the large race, with heavier
bill, known as the Parrot Crossbill, Loxia pityopsittacus,
Bechstein, Harley stated, on the authority of Mr.
Bickley, Melton Mowbray, that this form appeared to
have made a visit to Leicestershire in 1849. With
reference to this statement the late Mr. R. Widdowson
wrote to me : 'A pair of parrot crossbills, killed
close to Melton, are in the Bickley collection.' Un-
fortunately, however, with two' exceptions mentioned
hereafter, the specimens in the Bickley collection are
unlabelled, and in any event the ' Parrot Crossbill ' is
not entitled to specific rank.
63. Corn-Bunting. Emberiza miliarla, Linn.
Locally, Common Bunting, Bunting-Lark, Writ-
ing-Lark.
Resident, but sparingly distributed. More often
seen perhaps in the winter months, especially near
farm buildings, consorting with sparrows and other
birds. The Rev. H. Parry obtained a nest and two
eggs at Tugby, on 2 June, 1888. Turner informed
me of a pied variety which he saw, caught in
this county about 1 8 80- 1. The late Dr. Macaulay
wrote, in 1892: 'Corn-buntings (very rare) seen
here on 30 April.'
64. Yellow Hammer. 13 Emberiza citrinella, Linn.
Locally, Yellow Bunting, Writing-Lark, ' Gold-
finch,' this latter name applied about Thring-
stone (Potter, op. cit. App. p. 67).
Resident and common. Mr. G. Frisby writes :
' Largest flight I ever saw was on 1 2 February, 1 906.'
65. Girl-Bunting. Emberiza cirlus, Linn.
Rare. Has occurred but once, on the authority of
Harley, who writing between 1 840 and 1855 said
that he had met with it in company with the yellow
bunting, at Thurmaston.
66. Ortolan-Bunting. Emberiza hortulana, Linn.
A rare winter visitant. I insert this on the authority
of the late Mr. R. Widdowson, who knew of two
18 More correctly Yellow ' Ammer,' ammer meaning Bunting.
' killed with larks ; both young ' (presumably near
Melton Mowbray).
67. Reed-Bunting. 14 Emberiza schoeniclus, Linn.
Locally, Black-cap (Leicestershire Proverbs), Reed-
Sparrow.
Resident and generally distributed ; much scarcer,
however, in winter than in spring, when its numbers
are increased by immigrants. I have found it breed-
ing in the Castle reed-bed, Leicester, as well as at Ayle-
stone, and have seen flights of immature birds at
Saddington, Bosworth, &c. This bird occasionally
breeds away from water. Mr. Davenport records a
nest of five eggs, built in a spinney at Ashlands,
24 May, 1883 ; and on 2 June, 1885, I had one
brought to me containing four eggs, from a roadside
hedge at Aylestone. Mr. W. J. Horn, writing in
1907, says : ' Five is invariably the number of eggs
in the first clutch. Nine out of every ten nests are
built on the ground, but I have found them at an
elevation of from 5 in. to 5 ft., the latter on 8 May,
1905, in a hedge by the side of the railway.'
68. Snow-Bunting. Plectropbeitax nivalii (Linn.).
Locally, Snow-Lark.
A rare winter visitant. Mr. Babington wrote in
1842 (Potter, op. cit. App. p. 67) : 'A specimen
shot on the rocks near Whitwick four or five years
ago, in the transition from the white to the tawny
plumage.' Mr. J. S. Ellis tells me that a small party
of four or five were seen at Glenrield Lodge, probably
about 1854 or 1855. Turner states that a large flock
was seen by Mr. W. Bond at the Abbey Meadow
some time in 1870. The late Dr. Macaulay recorded
(Mid. Naf. 1882, p. 10) that a specimen was killed at
Laughton (probably about 1865), and was then in
the possession of the Rev. A. Matthews, and that four
others were shot at Burton Overy, during severe
weather, in February 1 88 1 . I saw a beautiful specimen
in the hands of a bird-stuffer, shot in Braunstone
Lane by Mr. T. H. Ashby, 7 Nov., 1885.
Mr. Stephen H. Pilgrim, writing from Hinckley on
27 Nov., 1894, informed me of the capture of an
undoubted snow-bunting at Croft on 4 or 1 1 Nov.
the latter, he believed. He saw the bird alive in a
cage at W. Judd's, in Leicester, on 1 9 November. He
also informed me that Puffer reported having shot one,
about 1 88 1-2, in a field near the Wolvey Road, Hinck-
ley, about three-quarters of a mile from the town,
opposite Sketchley Spinneys. It was feeding with
yellow hammers on some fodder put down for cattle,
the snow being on the ground. Mr. W. J. Horn,
on 28 Nov., 1894, saw a snow-bunting with yellow
hammers near Market Bosworth.
69. Starling. Sturnus vulgaris, Linn.
Locally, Shepster, Stare, Starnel.
Resident and common ; breeding even in Leicester.
It is subject to much variety. Mr. Davenport records
a white one seen by him at Skeffington in September,
1878. That varieties will mate with normally-
plumaged specimens was proved at Kibworth, from
whence the late Dr. Macaulay procured and forwarded
to me, on 4 June, 1887, a family party of male,
female, and three young, taken from a nest built under
This bird is often called the ' black-headed bunting,' a
term properly applied to E. melanoccpbala, a very rare visitant
to Great Britain, and yellow-breasted with a black head.
129
A HISTORY OF LEICESTERSHIRE
the eaves of a cottage in the village. The young and
the male bird were of the normal type, but the female
was a curious variety. The wings and tail were of a
light brownish-drab, showing in certain lights some-
what of an isabelline tint but all the head, breast, and
back were of a dusky greyish-brown, the ochreous
tips of the mantle and wing-covert feathers showing
dimly through the all-pervading grey not at all a
pretty bird, and irresistibly reminding one of an
ancient and faded stuffed specimen, one which had
been exposed for a number of years to a strong light.
I saw the birds when alive, and the contrast between
the almost black male and the female, which looked
nearly white or cream-coloured when flying to and
from the nest, was very marked. Pinchen told me
that a cream-coloured starling had been repeatedly
observed close to the Spinney Hill Park during the
summer of 1887. It had also been noticed in a flock
the previous autumn.
In The Zoo/ogist for December, 1846, Mr. Wm.
Turner, of Uppingham, reports the occurrence of a
white starling at Blaby. It was found in a nest con-
taining other young ones of the ordinary colour.
Mr. H. S. Davenport saw a cinnamon-coloured
variety at Potter's of Billesdon in 1 888. Dr.
Macaulay reported four starling's eggs taken from
a disused magpie's nest on 5 May, 1892, at
Carlton Curlieu. Three eggs of different types
from the same nest from Stoughton were presented
to the museum by Mr. B. Turner, on 8 May, 1896.
Mr. G. Frisby writes, 3 I May, 1 906 : ' I saw a flight
of young starlings, and this before some of the old
birds had mated and were still in flock." Mr. W. J.
Horn writing in 1907 says that the strangest place he
has known for a nest was a disused pump. The bird
entered where the spout used to be, and the nest was
not more than a foot from the ground.
70. Rose-coloured Pastor. Pastor roseus (Linn.).
This species is inserted on the authority of the late
Dr. Macaulay, who stated {Mid. Nat. 1882, p. 63)
that one was seen near Foxton, about 1870, by the
late Rev. H. Matthews. It was in the company of a
flock of starlings. Since then Turner has told me
that a man named Collins, now deceased, received a
specimen in the flesh from Enderby, about 1870-5.
Mr. G. Pullen ls records a specimen as occurring near
Castle Donington.
71. Jay. Garruhs glandarius (Linn.).
Resident and generally distributed. Mr. Daven-
port finds their nests and eggs every year, and on
27 May, 1887, he found a nest containing four eggs of
a beautiful pink variety, which he considers a great
rarity.
Mr. W. J. Horn writes in 1907 : ' I have taken
the nest and eggs in Burbage Woods."
72. Magpie. Pica rustica (Scopoli).
Resident and generally distributed. A snuff-
coloured variety, purchased by Mr. J. W. Whitaker in
1882, was said by the man who sold it to have been
taken at Stoughton. Mr. Davenport reports that a
pure white magpie frequented the neighbourhood of
Shearsby for a long time in the winter of 1881-2.
Mr. W. J. Horn writes in 1 907 : ' On an
average three pairs breed in the town of Market
Harborough. In this immediate neighbourhood there
" r.C.H. Dtrb. i, 132.
are just about as many. Early one morning last May
I was aroused by the alarm notes of a pair of black-
birds. Looking from my bedroom window I found
a magpie was the cause of the excitement, and no
wonder, for he was hopping backwards and forwards
from a tree to their nest, and at every visit he brought
out a nestling, which he gobbled up as one would an
oyster.'
73. Jackdaw. Corvus moneJula, Linn.
Resident and common, breeding in old steeples, &c.,
in Leicester. I have especially noticed them at
St. Margaret's Church, where the sexton informed me
that they deposited their sticks in such numbers upon
the upper steps of the belfry as to completely block up
the passage and necessitate their being carted away.
Mr. Davenport reports a variety of the eggs taken by
him in Launde Wood in 1 88 1.
The late Dr. Macaulay brought me a curious variety,
shot by the keeper at Bradgate Park on 25 May,
1888. The lower parts of the primaries of each
wing were umber-brown, becoming lighter, or more
drab-like, towards the tips. The lower parts of the
secondaries were similar, as also that part which
corresponds with the alar bar in most birds. Five,
possibly six feathers one being shot away in the
tail were deep umber-brown. The outer edges of
each feather were in every case the lightest, the re-
mainder being of the normal type. The scheme was,
however, by no means regular in either wings or tail,
although the pattern of each wing was almost exactly
like its fellow, and it was rather oddly than well or
regularly marked. The gradual fading off from the
glossy greenish-blue tint to brown was curious, and
gave to the brown somewhat of a purple hue. Mr. W.
J. Horn, writing in 1907, says that ' Many pairs breed
in the steeple of Market Harborough Church.' He
states that a pair of rooks began to build in a large
plane tree in the bank garden (quite in the centre of
the town), but this tree being the favourite perching
place of the jackdaws nesting in the church spire, they
promptly pulled the rooks' nest to pieces and carried
the sticks away.
74. Raven. Corvus corax, Linn.
Has not occurred for years. Mr. Babington, writ-
ing in 1842 (Potter, op. cit. App. p. 67), said:
' Generally to be seen on Sharpley a few years since,
still in Bradgate Park, as I learn from Mr. Bloxham,'
but Harley stated that the late Mr. Adams assured
him that the raven had entirely deserted Bradgate Park,
and that the last date of its occurrence at Sharpley
Rocks was 26 Oct., 1848. The late Dr. Macaulay
reported one (Mid. Nat. 1882, p. 64) shot at Sadding-
ton, many years since, by Mr. Johnson, whilst it was
feeding on a portion of a sheep that had been hung
up in a plantation. C. and T. Adcock informed me
in 1888 that their grandfather, George Evans, told
them that this bird used to breed regularly in Brad-
gate Park and that when he was a boy (sixty-five
years ago) he took the young and reared them and on
one occasion sold one to the old Three Crowns
Inn at the corner of Horsefair Street. Harley stated
that a raven reared its young at Garendon in 1825,
which would be about the same date.
75. Carrion-crow. Corvus coront, Linn.
Resident, generally distributed, but not so common
as formerly. Harley stated that, on the large grass-
BIRDS
lands in the south of the county, where game was
much less cared for than in other districts, the carrion-
crow was certainly more abundant. Mr. S. Shackel-
ford wrote to me: ' I was driving in May, 1884,
along the highway in Knaptoft Parish, when I saw a
crow about two hundred yards in front on the road-
side, which seemed to me, at that distance, to be fight-
ing with another, but as I drove within fifteen yards
of it I was astonished to find it trying to kill a mole,
and on my stopping it collared the animal with its
beak, flew over the hedge with it, and then com-
menced again.'
Mr. Davenport obtained a very small dark-green
egg from a nest containing one other, near Rolleston,
in April, l88z ; a precisely similar egg in every
respect was taken at the same place in April, 1883,
from a nest containing four others. Both eggs are in
his collection. The old birds had frequented the
neighbourhood during the intervening winter. He
further records a third, also similar, taken on 1 3 April,
1885. Mr. Otto Murray-Dixon reports this bird as
nesting commonly at Swithland in 1906.
Mr. W. J. Horn, writing in 1907, says that
there are many nests in the neighbourhood of Market
Harborough,and half a dozen about a quarter of a mile
apart on the Welland between Market Harborough
and Lubenham.
76. Hooded Crow. Corf us corn'tx, Linn.
Locally, Grey Crow, Grey-backed Crow, Royston
Crow, Saddle-backed Crow.
A regular winter visitant, sparingly distributed and
not remaining to breed. Mentioned by Mr. Babing-
ton (Potter, op. cit. App. p. 68) as having been seen
near Charnwood Heath, and he himself had seen
specimens said to have been killed near Leicester.
Harley noted its first appearance at various dates,
commencing z 5 October, and extending over a period of
fourteen days, and remarked that from then until
about 21 March it might be observed on our uplands
and wilds, its range being chiefly limited to the forest
of Charnwood and the surrounding district. Mr. In-
gram wrote : ' Five or six pairs generally visit
Belvoir every November, remaining until spring ;
often near the kennels, the smell of flesh attracting
them.' The late Mr. Widdowson noted the
appearance of this bird close to Melton nearly every
winter. Turner reports one shot in the Abbey
meadow about 1870 ; and a specimen which I saw
in the possession of the once celebrated prize-fighter,
Joseph (' Mickey ') Bent, was said to have been shot
near Melton Mowbray, somewhere about the year
1873. The late Dr. Macaulay recorded one (Mid.
Nat. 1882, p. 64) obtained at Skeffington in 1875,
and saw one at Saddington Reservoir on 7 Jan.,
1885. One in the museum was obtained from
Rothley Plain on 2 Feb., 1881, and another was
shot on 3 Jan., 1882, close to Leicester. Mr. Ellis
has seen a pair or two nearly every winter ; and I
saw two on 24 Feb., 1882, near Bradgate, sitting on
an old tree. C. Adcock informs me that he
mounted one which had been caught in a trap at
Bradgate in 1883, and Elkington has, in past
years, received several from Swithland. The Leicester
Chronicle and Mercury of 24 Oct., 1885, records that
a Mr. Bevin, of Dunton Bassett, found a wounded
bird there on 1 6 Oct., 1885. Since then it appears
to have been unusually common. I purchased a
male, shot on the Cropston Road, 31 Oct., 1885, the
stomach of which contained large quantities of the
elytra of various beetles and some few uninjured
small snails. Another (a female) was shot at Cos-
sington on 6 Nov., 1885, and five others had been
seen there the day before. One was shot at Nar-
borough by Mr. Everard about the same time. Mr.
Davenport shot one at Skeffington Vale in Decem-
ber, 1880, and reports three seen at SkefRngton on
5 Dec., 1885. The Rev. A. Matthews reports hav-
ing seen two at Gumley. Mr. W. A. Evans saw one
at Kirby Muxloe on 28 Nov., 1885. One was seen
by Mr. H. W. Roberts at Sheet Hedges, Bradgate,
on 2 Feb., 1887, and another by the Rev. G. D.
Armitage at Broughton Astley in 1887. Among the
museum specimens is a female killed at Kimcote on
31 Oct., 1890.
Mr. C. R. Smith writing from Loddington on
5 Nov., 1905, recorded one he had shot there.
Mr. G. Frisby writes 5 Oct., 1906 : ' First appear-
ance this season.'
Two were seen by Messrs. P. Druce and S. Maples
on 3 March, 1907, at the sewage farm, Beaumont
Leys.
Mr. W. J. Horn writes in 1907 : 'In ten years
I have seen but two in this district ; 8 March, 1902,
one seen in Welland Valley near Rockingham.'
77. Rook. Corvus frugi/egtis, Linn.
Resident and common, breeding in rookeries at
Stoneygate and Knighton, and .it Westcotes until its
demolition in 1887. Harley appears to have con-
sidered that most of the rooks bred immediately
around Leicester congregated and rested for the night,
during the autumn and winter, in Sheet Hedges
Wood, opposite the village of Anstey. He also re-
marked upon the hardships to which this species is
exposed during seasons of continued drought, such as
the summer of 1826, when numbers perished in the
fields for want of food. The eggs vary considerably
in size. Two taken out of a nest at Stoughton were
presented to the museum on 24 April, 1886, one of
them being of normal size, the other about the size
of a sparrow's egg. This bird is subject to much
variety. The museum donation-book records under
date 13 June, 1850, a rather uncommon variety,
' of a pale brown colour, shot at Stoneyg.ite ' ; and
under date 25 May, 1885, a pied specimen from
Gopsall ; and one with white wings from Belvoir
was presented on 24 June, 1880, by Mr. Theodore
Walker. I saw an immature bird shot at Wistow
Park 20 May, 1885, the beak of which was yellowish-
white, claws white, several of the toes barred with
white, part of the head and chin white, as also several
of the primaries and secondaries. Mr. W. A. Evans
sent me an immature female specimen shot by him at
Ingarsby on 3 June, 1889, which has the basal half
of the setiform feathers of the nares pure white, as
are also many of the vibrissae, the setiform feathers
at the base of the lower mandible, the sides of the
face, the chin, throat, fore part of the neck with the
exception of five small black feathers in the region of
the chin the major covert of the ninth primary, the
distal third of the eighth primary, and the two inner
claws of the right foot.
Mr. W. J. Horn writes in 1907: 'There are
two rookeries in this town (Market Harborough).'
fl
A HISTORY OF LEICESTERSHIRE
78. Sky-lark. jflauJa arvensis, Linn.
Resident and common, breeding in fields close to
Leicester. Packs in flocks of many hundreds in
winter, but in severe seasons appears to leave the
Midlands, probably withdrawing farther south. Mr.
Davenport states that it nests as early as the middle
of March. The museum donation-book records a
black variety from Belgrave, 31 March, 1860 (prob-
ably fed on hemp seed). Mr. G. Frisby writes that
on 24 June, 1906, he heard one singing sitting upon
a wild plum tree.
79. Wood-lark. Aiauda arborea, Linn.
I have no knowledge of this bird save that
furnished by Harley, who said that ' it appears to be a
permanent resident, but is seldom met with except
in the more retired woodlands. Around Newton,
Linford, Groby, and neighbouring districts the wood-
lark occurs, but even in such places it is not abundant.'
He further wrote : ' It nestles with us and builds on
the ground in corn-fields and rough places near the
sides of thick woods and plantations. Never congre-
gates in the winter months, like the sky-lark, but re-
mains solitary.'
80. Swift. Cypsclus opus (Linn.).
Locally, Develin, Jack Squealer.
A summer migrant nearly the last to arrive and
the first to leave commonly distributed and breed-
ing. Harley recorded that in 1842 the swift appeared
on 6 May and left on 8 September, and that on
1 6 Aug., 1848, during cold and stormy weather, it
withdrew, leaving not a single individual of the
species where, only a few days before, they were
abundant ; but on 24, 25, and 26 August numbers
returned to his own parish and to a small village hard
by. During the cold spring of 1886 a correspondent
wrote to one of the Leicester papers, under date
1 5 May, stating that a man had been seen to pick up
a swift in the street one day that week, and the
writer had picked up another in a factory yard
himself the following day, both birds being in an ex-
hausted condition from cold and want of food.
An immature male specimen was killed against the
electric tram wires on London Road, Leicester, and
was brought to the museum on 25 June, 1906, by
Mr. J. Matthews.
8 1. White-bellied Swift or Alpine Swift. Cypselus
melba (Linn.).
This rare summer visitor has been quoted in
nearly every work since 1839 as having occurred in
Leicestershire, on what appears to me insufficient
evidence. Harley was responsible for its insertion
in the Leicester fauna, his exact words being :
' The author in his remarks on the fauna of the county
of Leicestershire has this note affixed to a fly-leaf
attached to Jenyn's manual of British vertebrated
animals: "1839. September 23. Evening serene.
Wind southwest. Time half-past-five. Observed a
white-bellied swift cross my path, overhead near to
the Fosse Lane toll gate. The bird was gliding gently
through the soft air in a southerly direction and at a
height of 20 yards from the ground, thus enabling me
to identify it very correctly." '
82. Nightjar. Caprimulgus eunpaeus, Linn.
Locally, Fern Owl, Goatsucker.
A summer migrant sparingly distributed and doubt-
less breeding occasionally. Mr. Babington (Potter,
op. cit. App. 66) reported it from rocky heaths
about Sharpley, Kite Hill, &c. Harley recorded it
from Bardon, Gopsall, Grace Dieu, Martinshaw, and
Oakley, and stated that he had known examples shot so
late as October and November. The late Mr. Wid-
dowson wrote from Melton : ' Very few about here.'
Mr. Ingram writes : ' Found every summer in Bel-
voir Woods, but less numerous than formerly ; have
not found its eggs.' Mr. T. B. Ellis writes : ' Rare,
one or two generally at the " Brand." ' The museum
donation-book records one from Ashby-de-la-Zouch,
shot by Mr. H. T. Everard on 2 Sept., 1874,
one from Birstall, 3 Sept., 1876, and one from Bel-
grave, 26 May, 1877, the last two shot by Mr. G.
Hall. One was killed by Harry Throsby with a
catapult, in an orchard at Aylestone, 31 May, 1887.
The late Dr. Macaulay saw one in the flesh which
was shot at Laughton Hills about 1 876, and the Rev. A.
Matthews saw one hawking outside Gumley Wood in
the dusk on 10 May, 1882 ; he also stated that one
was shot at Quorn on I Oct., 1889, by Mr. Farn-
ham and was preserved. Mr. W. B. Farnham, writing
from Quorn on 31 Aug., 1890, says : 'During the
last three afternoons I have seen a pair of nightjars here
on the railings of the park.'
Mr. W. J. Horn reports one near his house at
Market Harborough on 12 Aug., 1905.
83. Wryneck. Ijnx torj ullla, Linn.
Locally, Cuckoo's Mate, Snake-bird.
A summer migrant, sparingly distributed and less
common than formerly. Harley wrote : ' It appears
nowhere more common than around Foxton. The
ash prevails there and, moreover, ant-hillocks abound to
a much greater extent than in any other district known
to us.' He further remarked that it nested in the
county, breeding in holes in orchard and forest trees.
According to the late Dr. Macaulay (MiJ.Nat. 1881,
p. 255), a pair built in 1 88 1 in a garden at Kibworth
and were not disturbed. Mr. F. Bouskell informs me
that he saw this bird several times at Knighton, in May
and June, 1889. The Rev. H. Parry writes that
he found a nest at Kibworth containing six eggs
which were hatched in due course, and the pair of birds
returned in 1882, but one of them was shot before
laying ; he further reports having found a nest with
seven eggs at Horninghold in June, 1890. Mr. W.
J. Horn writes in 1907 : 'In 1903 a pair nested
in Market Harborough. 21 April, 1905, I saw one
at Lubenham.'
84. Green Woodpecker. Gecinus viridis (Linn.).
Locally, Rain-bird, Rind-tabberer or tapper,
Wood-spite, Yaffle.
Resident and generally distributed. I have pro-
cured specimens from Anstey, Bradgate, Cropston, Kib-
worth, &c., and a young male was shot so near to
Leicester as Wigston Fields, on 17 Oct., 1887, by
Mr. J. Waterfield.
Mr. Davenport wrote that on 13 May, 1885, he
found a green woodpecker's nest at Keythorpe, in a small
hole in a tree not 3 ft. from the ground. On enlarging
it he found nothing in it, but passing by five days later
to his amazement the bird flew out again ; this time
there were five eggs, on 2 2 May four more were laid,
on the 27th two, and on 3 June three, making a total
of fourteen. Writing again on 8 May, 1886, he says
I 3 2
BIRDS
that this bird laid one more egg after 3 June. Accord-
ing to Harley, a cream-coloured specimen, now or
formerly in the Leverian Museum, was shot at Belvoir
Chase, or rather Croxton Park, the seat of the Duke of
Rutland (Latham, General Synopsis (Suppl. i), 110).
Mr. J. T. Hincks shot a female specimen at Brunt-
ingthorpe, I Jan., 1891. Mr. W. J. Horn writes in
1907 : 'Occasionally in the Park, Market Har-
borough. Last year (1906) it nested near my house,
and I frequently see it in my orchard."
85. Great Spotted Woodpecker. Dendrocopus major
(Linn.).
Locally, French Magpie.
Resident, but not common. Mr. Babington (Potter,
op. cit. App. 68) stated that it ' is found in' old
woods all round the Forest, but it is not very common.'
Harley remarked that in his day the species was
seldom seen, except in the vicinity of the parks of
Beaumanor, Bosworth, Donington, Garendon, and
Gopsall.
Mr. H. S. Davenport records one in Staunton Wood
on 30 March, 1889, and the late Dr. Macaulay in-
formed me that on 28 April, 1886, he saw at Elking-
ton's a male specimen which had been shot at Stanton.
Mr. G. Frisby writes on 12 April, 1906, that he
watched a pair preparing a nesting-hole.
Mr. W. J. Horn writes in 1 907 : ' On 4 May,
1896, I heard and saw one in the Burbage Woods,
near Hinckley, and on I April, 1905, 1 saw and heard
one (calling as it flew) at Saddington Reservoir. I
heard and saw another on 21 April, 1905, at Luben-
ham. This bird was at work on a hard dead tree and
the blows sounded like pistol shots. It has nested in
this district.'
The Rev. Hugh Parry has found its nest and eggs
within the last few years in the vicinity of Tugby.
86. Lesser Spotted Woodpecker. Dendrocopus minor
(Linn.).
Resident, but sparingly distributed ; probably rarer
than the preceding species. Mentioned by Mr. Bab-
ington (Potter, op. cit. App. 68) as having occurred
near Groby. Harley observed that near Leicester it
affected the elms standing on the grounds at Dannett's
Hall and Westcotes, and near Loughborough was
known to haunt the trees at Burleigh Fields ; it was
also met with at Beaumanor, Croxton, Donington.
Garendon, Gopsall, and Market Bosworth. He
remarked that this bird descends trees tail foremost in
a spiral manner, performing this reversed motion
quickly and easily, without jerks.
The Rev. Hugh Parry has found its nest and eggs
within the last few years near Tugby.
The late Dr. Macaulay reported one taken at East
Langton in October, 1889, by Mr. Oliver. He also
wrote that a female specimen was shot at Kibworth on
25 Feb., 1890, by Mr. Peberdy. Mr. F. Bouskell
saw one on an ash tree at Knighton, on 13 Oct., 1889.
Mr. W. J. Horn writing in 1907 mentions the fol-
lowing : On 29 April, 1894, a female near Huncote
Mill ; another on 10 March, 1894, near Burbage
Wood ; on 1 6 Feb., 1896, two males at Burbage
Woods ; and on 7 April, 1896, a male and two females
at the same place. He saw a pair in the spring ot
1896 in Market Bosworth Park, which nested in
* King Dick's Clump.'
Mr. Horn also records the following : One, 10
July, 1896,3! Bosworth Park ; one, 1 6 Feb., 1898, at
Market Harborough ; one, 5 May, 1 900, at Luben-
ham ; and three pairs nesting in Market Harborough
in 1905.
Mr. Otto Murray-Dixon shot one at Swithland
26 Feb., 1904, and Mr. E. Frisby reports seeing a
pair at the 'bird-table' in Beaumanor Park from
November, 1904, to March, 1905, and states that a
nesting-hole of this bird was completed 8 April, 1906.
87. Kingfisher. Akedo ispida, Linn.
Resident, but sparingly distributed. Harley once
caught one in a severe winter almost unable to fly,
from the fact that ' its tiny red feet were encased with
ice, some pieces of which hung like ear-drops to its
claws.' Mr. Ingram wrote : ' Occasionally seen near
the little River Devon and by the Lake. Two birds
dashed against the Rectory window at Bottesford and
were captured, and afterwards liberated.' Elking-
ton reported several from the vicinity of Leicester
during the winter of 1884-5. I have repeatedly
observed specimens on the brook at Knighton and on
the Soar at Aylestone, near which a nest, with nine
eggs, was found 22 May, 1885. It has, I believe, bred
at Blaby, Bosworth, Bradgate, Desford, Stapleford
Park, &c.
The Rev. Father Sullen, writing from Ratcliffe in
January, 1891, says: 'In the first week of last April
I discovered a nest (consisting entirely of small fish
bones and on which were deposited seven eggs) at the
far end of an old rat hole in a bank by the river. The
narrow hole which led to the nest was lined with a
mixture of fish bones and broken shells, clay and the
excrements of the bird. This composition was phos-
phorescent and emitted a most unpleasant smell.'
Mr. G. Frisby says this bird is a frequent visitor to
the brook in the centre of the village of Quorn, and
on 7 April, 1906, he saw one sitting on its eggs.
Mr. W. J. Horn, writing in 1907, reports it as
occasionally to be seen flying along the Welland at
Market Harborough, and mentions that two or three
pairs breed in that neighbourhood.
88. Hoopoe. Upupa cfofs, Linn.
A rare spring and autumn visitant. The first notice
I can find of this bird is contained in a letter from
Mr. Sebastian Evans, of South Kensington, to the
late Rev. Churchill Babington, who handed it to
me. He wrote : ' The hoopoe which was in the
possession of T. Cope, esq., at Osbaston Hall, was shot
in 1828, at I think Nailstone, which comes just within
your district.' Harley wrote : ' This species has
occurred in the county in immature plumage, a fine
example having been shot in the lordship of Stapleton
on 15 September, 1851.' This was presented by him
to the museum, where it is still preserved (1907).
He further recorded : ' It is said to have occurred
also at Bradgate Park and near Lutterworth.' The
museum donation-book records the presentation on
26 June, 1867, by Mr. C. Burdett, of another
example 'shot in the county of Leicester.' I saw at
Elkington's a very fine one, apparently a male, of a deep
buff-pink colour and pure white and black, resembling
the most richly-coloured South European specimens.
It had only been that day set up and was shot at Great
Peatling on n May, 1883. Mr. W. A. Vice, M.B.,
has told me since then that another was in its company.
Mr. W. T. Tucker, writing on 23 Oct., 1905,
says : ' We have had presented to our museum a
good specimen of the hoopoe, which was shot some
133
A HISTORY OF LEICESTERSHIRE
years ago near Lockington ; the man who stuffed it is
alive, but getting old and infirm.'
89. Cuckoo. Cuculus canorus, Linn.
A summer migrant, generally distributed and laying
its eggs in other birds' nests so close to Leicester as at
Aylestone and Knighton. On 6 Aug., 1886, I saw a
young cuckoo which had been reared by pied wagtails
(Af. lugubris), in the grounds of the Borough Asylum.
A young one in a hedge-sparrow's nest, built in a
privet-hedge in a garden off the Saffron Lane, was
brought to me by C. Johnson on 24 June, 1889. It
was savage at first, hissing and ruffling its feathers, and
raising itself repeatedly with a swaying motion in the
nest, with other threatening gestures. When hungry
it made a note like that of the hedge-sparrow, and
although at first it would not take food, it soon learned
to eat slugs, which had to be forced down its throat.
In about two days it became quite tame, and opened
its mouth, uttering a little sibilant, pleasing note, and
fluttering its wings to be fed. It died, however, in
about ten days. On 25 June, 1889, another young
one of a more hepatic cast of plumage, and with white
frontal feathers, was sent to me by one Thomas Garrett,
who found it in a wagtail's nest built in a wagon
under a hovel at Knighton. This one was never
tame, and was most spiteful, darting out its head like
a snake, and pecking savagely at the hand. Some
few slugs were forced down its throat, but it refused
all, and gradually becoming tame through weakness,
died on the fifth day. This bird was a male by
dissection.
Mr. G. Frisby says that he heard the cuckoo on
3 April, 1906. Mr. W. J. Horn, writing in 1907,
states that in 1905 two young cuckoos spent about a
month in the paddock adjoining his house, and it was
not until 1 3 September that the last one departed.
In the spring of 1906 a cuckoo roosted in a chestnut
tree in Mr. Horn's garden, within a few yards of the
house.
90. White or Barn-Owl. Strlx flammea, Linn.
Locally, Screech-Owl.
Resident and generally distributed. This bird has
more than once visited the portico of the museum at
night. In the spring of 1885 I found that it fre-
quented Aylestone Church.
Mr. W. J. Horn writes in 1907 : " It used to nest
every year in Market Harborough in an old elm tree,
but the lead which was put on to prevent decay also
excluded the owls. In ten years I have seen two
alive, one dead in a gamekeeper's museum and
heard one screech."
91. Long-eared Owl. Aslo otus (Linn.).
Locally, Horned Owl.
Resident, but rarer than the short-eared owl. It
was included by Mr. Babington amongst the birds of
Charnwood Forest as 'not very common.' Harley
noted that it occurred at Gopsall Woods, and that it
affected well-wooded tracts, especially where coniferous
trees and evergreens prevailed, but was not so frequently
met with as the ' Brown ' or ' Ivy ' owl. He wrote :
' The long-eared owl is, of all our nocturnal birds of
prey, the most solitary,' and remarked that it did not
limit itself to small mammalia, but attacked the young
pheasant, and made havoc of the partridge, as he had
more than once witnessed.
The late Dr. Macaulay reported one shot by the
keeper on the Laughton Hills, 2 May, 1890. Mr.
G. Frisby reports it as occurring in the vicinity of
Quorn.
92. Short-eared Owl. Aslo accipttrinus (Pallas).
Locally, Woodcock-Owl.
A winter migrant, generally distributed, but not
common, and remaining to breed. Mr. Babington
(Potter, op. cit. App. p. 66) mentioned it as occur-
ring ' in the wilder parts of the moors, and in turnip-
fields.' This species, unlike any other owl, is frequently
seen in the daytime, often falling to the gun of the
sportsman in the autumn, and Harley justly remarked
that its flight is ' performed in an awkward, vacillating
manner, reeling, as it were, from side to side.'
Mr. Ingram wrote : ' Occurs amongst gorse bushes
and low shrubs, generally two or three together.'
The late Mr. Widdowson, from whom I received
several specimens, considered them fairly common
near Melton. One procured at Leicester Abbey on
20 Sept., 1882, was given to the museum. Mr.
Davenport shot one at Ashlands in September, 1882,
and the late Dr. Macaulay reported one shot at
Smeeton Hills, 15 Nov., 1882. Mr. G. Frisby,
writing on 27 Nov., 1905, says: 'This bird was
searching for food over the " allotments." I had a good
view of it, and soon after it or another one was shot.'
He saw one also at the same place 28 Nov. 1906.
93. Tawny Owl. Syrnlum aluco (Linn.).
Locally, Brown Owl, Grey Owl, Ivy Owl, Wood
Owl.
Resident, but not very common. I received two
nestlings (a male and a female by dissection) taken at
Bradgate 15 May, 1885, and an adult pair procured
at Newtown Linford on 19 Dec., 1885. The gizzard
of the male contained the beak of a sparrow or green-
finch, a few feathers and bones, and a quantity of fur
of mice, including a lower jaw of the bank-vole. The
gizzard of the female contained a little fur and some
remains of the bank-vole, a quantity of feathers and
two beaks of sparrows. The late Dr. Macaulay reported
it as breeding at Kibworth.
Mr. G. Frisby wrote on 17 July, 1905 : 'This
night I spent round Swithland and Quorn Woods,
and listened to the tawny or wood owl. Its notes are
very loud and clear, resembling, hoo-hoo-hoo, o-o-o,
and hi-hi-hi. The other note was much like that
the huntsman gives out with his horn.'
94. Little Owl. Athene noctua (Scopoli).
A new record for the county and noteworthy not
only for its increasing commonness in Britain but for
the fact that it has nested in the county.
Mr. G. Gough established a new record for the
county when he shot a little owl near Glooston Wood,
on 12 Jan., 1900.
Mr. W. J. Horn saw one in Market Harborough
on 24 Sept., 1901, and another on I April, 1905, at
Saddington Reservoir. He had also seen several others
in the immediate neighbourhood.
A female specimen (immature) was shot at Kibworth
on 28 July, 1906, by Mr. C. D. Price, who presented
it in the flesh to the museum.
The Rev. Hugh Parry, writing on 7 Nov., 1 906,
reports a nest of this owl in a pollard ash tree close to
Tugby village, on 4 May, 1906, and on 1 8 May
another nest at Loddington by Launde, with four
eggs, which were hatched off.
'34
BIRDS
95. Marsh-Harrier. Circus aeruginosus (Linn.).
Locally, Moor-Buzzard.
Mr. Babington (Potter, op. cit. App.) recorded one
seen and another killed at Buddon Wood in 1841, by
the keeper of Mr. G. J. D. Butler Danvers. Harley
said Adams told him that he used to take it in his
vermin traps very frequently before the inclosure of
Charnwood Forest (1811), and the species used to be
met with more recently about the wild, gorsy land
lying above Whitwick, called the ' Waste,' whence
he had seen specimens brought, but even in his time
it was growing rarer.
96. Hen-Harrier. Circus cyantus (Linn.).
Locally, Blue Hawk.
Mr. Babington (Potter, op. cit. App. 66) recorded
one seen at Thringstone in 1841, and Harley said
that he once winged a partridge in barley-stubble, and
on the dog attempting to retrieve it the ' blue hawk '
carried it away, notwithstanding the discharge of the
gun and the shouts of the bystanders. He further
stated on the authority of Adams, the keeper, that it
used to nest in Charnwood Forest regularly before the
inclosure, as also in other parts of the county.
97. Montagu's Harrier. Circus cineraceus (Montagu).
This is a new record for the county, and is founded
on a stuffed specimen I purchased from Pinchen for
the museum in 1893, which he stated had been shot
at Heath Farm, Earl Shilion, some years ago.
98. Buzzard. Buteo vulgaris, Leach.
Of accidental occurrence, but formerly resident.
According to Mr. Babington (Potter, op. cit. App. 65),
two were shot near Charnwood Heath in 1839, one
of which came into the possession of Mr. Thomas
Gisborne, the other of Mr. Kirby Fenton. One was
killed in Dalby Wood in 1879 (Widdowson). Har-
ley appears to have taken its eggs in the outwoods
skirting Charnwood, probably in the exact spot where,
as he wrote, ' the species used to nestle in some lofty
Scottish fir-trees situated on a rising knoll or rounded
eminence in the lower parts of the outwoods near to
the brook which passes thereby, and flows onward
through the town of Loughborough.' According to
Harley it appeared to breed also at Bardon, Belvoir,
Donington, Gopsall, Martinshaw, and at Oakley and
Piper Woods, but was increasingly rare. Mr. W. T.
Everard wrote on 15 Aug., 1899: 'I believe the
buzzard was shot in the winter of 1 876. I am writing
from memory, as I have no note of the date. I re-
member quite well that the snow was on the ground,
when my father's groom, Edwin Middleton, came and
told me that a rare bird was feeding at some bullock
troughs in a field adjoining Bardon Hill House (the
field where the new church is built) and thinking it
would make a nice addition to any collection of
birds, we took our guns and stalked him. I believe
that Edwin Middleton fired the actual shot.'
99. Rough-Legged Buzzard. Buteo lagofus (J. F.
Gmelin).
A winter visitant of accidental occurrence. Harley
recorded that in the autumn and winter of 1 8 3 9-40
no less than thirty were procured in this county and
Nottinghamshire. Of these, five were captured in
Charnwood Forest, and three others in Bradgate
Park. One of the latter a female shot on 1 2 Nov.,
1839 was examined by Harley. In its crop were
found rabbits' fur, pieces of flesh, small bones, and the
feet of what appeared to be the field-mouse. In the
stomach were rabbits' fur and small bones mixed with
animal matter. Another (a male) captured by Adams
in the grounds at Bradgate two days afterwards was
found on examination to contain some elytra of beetles.
Probably the third is the one in the ' Bickley collec-
tion,' Leicester Museum, which was shot in Bradgate
Park, 15 Nov., 1839. There is another in the Bickley
collection which the late Mr. Widdowson believed to
have Jseen shot at Stathern Hills. Mr. N. C. Curzon,
Lockington Hall, writes : 'A rough-legged buzzard
was shot here in November, 1 876.' One was reported
in the Field of 21 Feb., 1880, thus : ' It may
interest some of your readers to know that I shot a
rough-legged buzzard last night, while waiting for
wood-pigeons in a small covert near Ashby-de-la-
Zouch. H. G.' Mr. T. Andrew of King's Stand,
Leicester Forest East, informs me that he shot a
rough-legged buzzard at that place in November,
1888. Mr. W. Whitaker shot one at Thornton on
2 Nov. 1891, and the late Dr. Macaulay stated that
Pinchen, who skinned it, said it was a female.
Mr. G. Frisby writing in November, 1906, says :
' Two independent witnesses claim to have seen this
bird, although unfortunately I have missed it. Mr.
W. Moss twice at Loughborough, and a good observer
once at Quorn.'
100. Golden Eagle. Aqulla chrysaetus (Linn.).
Recorded in the field of 16 November, 1895, by
Mr. H. S. Davenport, as having been seen at Skef-
fington, 24 Oct., 1895.
101. White-tailed Eagle. Hallaetus alblcllla (Linn.).
Locally, Cinerous Eagle (the young).
Of rare and accidental occurrence. H.irley, in
his fair-copied MS., wrote : ' A fine example was
captured by Mr. Adams in Bradgate Park on
26 December, 1840.'
In Babington's list of birds (see Potter upon the
occurrence of the golden eagle) Harley states that this
refers to the present species, and further, that the speci-
men was in the possession of the late Lord Stamford.
Probably Potter is incorrect as to date also, and the late
Rev. Churchill Babington told me he was not re-
sponsible for its insertion. The latter recorded a
specimen killed at Swannington by Mr. William
Burton (Potter, op. cit. App. 65). The late Dr.
Macaulay saw one which was shot by Sir G. Beau-
mont's keeper at Coleorton, 6 Nov., 1879 (Mid.
Nat. 1882, p. 62). It was seen some days before it
was killed, feeding on a rabbit. The same authority
also recorded that in the autumn of 1 88 1 Sir G. Beau-
mont observed an eagle soaring over his grounds, but
at too great a distance to distinguish the species. The
late Mr. Widdowson reported one taken at Stapleford
Park, but I have no particulars, and so cannot vouch
for its accuracy.
loz. Gos-Hawk. Astur falumbarlus (Linn.).
Now extinct in the county and very rarely visits
Britain. Harley wrote : 'As regards the distribution
of the Gos-hawk in Leicestershire, I may remark that
it used to occur not unfrequently in our woodlands
and forest wilds, but of late years it has become ex-
ceedingly rare.' He stated that it had been captured
'35
A HISTORY OF LEICESTERSHIRE
at Oakley and the woods at Gopsall, and further added
that he had seen one, shot in Oakley Wood by a game-
keeper named Monk. IntheMM/anJNatura/ist(l8$2,
p. 62, the late Dr. Macaulay reported one seen in Allex-
ton Wood in 1 88 1 ; but his informant, Mr. Davenport,
replying to my inquiries, stated that this was a mis-
conception of a verbal communication, and that so far
as he could recollect 'the taxidermist at Billesdon
(Potter by name) had in his shop for six or seven
years (if not more) a bird shot at Allexton by a
Mr. Brewster who once lived at Allexton Hall ; this
bird was said to be a gos-hawk.' Potter, on being
written to, confirmed this, but having since then seen
him, he informed me that the gentleman was in
America, therefore I am still in doubt whether a large
female sparrow-hawk has not done duty in this, as in
many similar cases, for the gos-hawk.
103. Sparrow-Hawk. Acclpiter nisus (Linn.).
Resident and generally distributed. Twice I have
seen this bold hawk dash over Museum Square, Leices-
ter ; the last time in the spring of 1887, so low as to
show the barred chest quite plainly ; just topping the
houses as it flew over the town.
This species breeds at Knighton, whence I procured
a nest and five eggs in July, 1883. Mr. Davenport,
who found a sparrow-hawk nesting in Skeffington
Wood in March, 1884, wrote : ' She laid her first egg
oti 30 April, and continued laying in the same nest by
fits and starts until the first week in June, making four-
teen eggs in all from this nest ! This bird laid forty-
five eggs in five years : fourteen in 1879, four in 1880,
nine in 1881, four in 1882 (in 1883 I was in Corn-
wall), and fourteen in 1884. All the forty-five eggs
were very similar, and the five nests were all within a
radius of a hundred yards. In 1885 she disappeared.'
On my writing for confirmation, Mr. Davenport
replied : ' I am positive the birds are the same in each
instance. E.ich egg betokens a likeness to its neigh-
bour, and each year the brown markings on the eggs
were fewer and less defined. Sparrow-hawks I have
found patch up, flatten, clean, and enlarge the old
nests of magpies and carrion-crows, but I doubt their
ever building a new nest, as some authors assert they
do. At Keythorpe, from a nest in a fir-plantation, I
took fifteen eggs consecutively. After the fifteenth
egg I molested her no more. For three consecutive
years this bird adapted an old pigeon's nest for use in
one of the trees.' Mr. W. J. Horn writes in 1907 :
' A neighbour brought me a male sparrow-hawk alive
and uninjured which he had caught in his garden.'
104. Kite. Milvus ictinus, Savigny.
Now extinct in the county. Mr. Babington
(Potter, op. cit. App. 66) wrote : ' One was
shot from a window at Longcliff, in the act of
watching tame young pigeons ' ; and Harley re-
marked that when he ' was a boy, the kite was
common and very widely known in the county,'
it not being an unusual sight to witness one glide
overhead towards the forest of Charnwood and its
bleak lone hills. He also stated that even in his day
it occasionally frequented Martinshaw, Groby Woods,
and the extensive belts of plantations flanking the
forest, and that in the wooded domains of Gopsall
and Donington the kite was not unknown. Further,
' the species occurred at Belvoir Woods in the autumn
of 1850.' This is the last authentic dated record I
have of the occurrence of this species, and only Kite
Hill, in the Forest of Charnwood, remains to remind
us that it was once sufficiently numerous to give its
name to this place, where no doubt it formerly nested.
The late Mr. Widdowson informed me, in 1886, that
he had received three or four during the last twenty-
five years.
Colonel F. Palmer, of Withcote Hall, writing in
February, 1 888, said: 'We used many years ago, say fifty,
to have the kite in Owston Wood.' C. and T. Adcock,
writing in February, 1888, said : 'A regular visitor,
sixty-five years ago, to Bradgate Park. Our grandfather,
George Evans, told us that he had taken its nest
there.'
105. Honey-Buzzard. Pernis aplvorus (Linn.).
A rare summer visitant. Harley recorded that a
beautiful though immature example was shot by
Chaplin, the gamekeeper, at Martinshaw Wood, on
28 Oct., 1841. It was flushed from the ground,
where it was feeding on the larvae of the common
wasp. Its cry on being surprised resembled that
emitted by the barn-owl. A second example wa,
according to Harley, shot shortly afterwards in Lea
Wood, near Ulverscroft, and for want of a little
knowledge of its rarity and value was consigned to
the ferrets. I saw at Noseley Hall a specimen in
ordinary dark plumage, shot by Sir Arthur Hazlerigg
about 1872. I purchased a female specimen (in the
immature brown plumage), shot at Theddington,
1 8 June, 1879, by Mr. W. Hart, jun. This speci-
men is now in the possession of Mr. R. W. Chase, of
Edgbaston, Birmingham. I examined a dark specimen
in the possession of the late Mr. Widdowson, which
was procured nearTwyford Mill in September, 1881,
by a Mr. Greasley, who for several mornings had seen
it about and had attempted to shoot it, when, after
losing sight of it for two days, he was attracted to the
spot where it lay dead by a crowd of little birds sur-
rounding it. Apparently it had been killed by flying
against the telegraph-wires. The museum possesses
an immature male specimen in light snuff-coloured
plumage, taken at Croxton Park on 13 June, 1884.
A fine female specimen was shot whilst perching in
a tree at Arnesby on 19 Sept., 1890, and was pre-
sented to the museum by Mr. J. Chamberlain.
106. Peregrine Falcon. Fako peregrinus, Tunstall.
Of rare occurrence and does not breed in the
county. Mr. Babington (Potter, op. cit. App. p. 66),
under date 1842, mentioned that 'a very fine female
specimen was shot five or six years ago, near the
Loughborough outwoods ' ; also that ' two, a male
and female, were killed at Gopsall about two years
ago.' These are without doubt the same recorded
by Harley, who was informed by Mr. Bloxam that
a pair were shot during the summer of 1838. He
further stated that Chaplin had met with it occasion-
ally at Bradgate, and it had been captured by Monk
in Oakley and Piper Woods. Harley also recorded it
from Donington, whilst the late Mr. R. Widdowson
appears to have known it to occur at Stapleford Park.
Turner reports a female shot by Mr. Berkeley at the
North Bridge, Leicester, some years since, while chas-
ing pigeons. In October, 1886, an immature female
specimen was obtained for the museum, said to have
been shot some eight years previously at Woodgate,
near the North Bridge, out of some high poplar-trees,
but I am rather doubtful as to the genuineness of this
statement. In May, 1886, the museum acquired an
136
BIRDS
adult female peregrine, shot by Mr. Owen West at
Tur Langton about five years previously.
The late Mr. Ingram sent me an immature female
on 19 Dec., 1889, captured in Birkstone Wood,
about which he gave me the following interesting
particulars : ' I have seen Mr. Sharp to-day and
learnt the following particulars concerning the hawk
and its capture. It was first seen by one of the
under-keepers at Belvoir near Birkstone Wood, pur-
suing a heron ; from the description the man gives it
must have been a fine sight ; the heron took higher
and higher flights, the swoops of the hawk causing it
to scream fearfully ; the end of the fray was not seen,
as a portion of the wood intercepted the view. The
day following this the hawk struck a wood-pigeon ;
this being observed by the keeper, he set a trap baited
with the bird and caught the hawk by one of its talons.'
Mr. W. Whitaker informed me of a specimen in
his possession which was shot at Newbold Verdon on
30 Oct., 1891. Mr. W. J. Horn, writing on 15 Oct.,
1897, stated that a large hawk (? peregrine) had
for the past three days taken up its quarters on
St. Martin's Church, Leicester, and had already
' done to death eight pigeons.' In the ' Bickley col-
lection,' in the museum, is a fine female specimen
which was shot at Melton Mowbray in 1 849.
107. Hobby. Falco subbuteo, Linn.
An uncommon summer visitant, but has bred in
the county. According to Harley, it usually breeds
in the deserted nest of a carrion-crow or magpie, which
it repairs. In the summer of 1840 a pair of hobbys
took possession of the deserted nest of a magpie on a
large elm standing in a hedgerow at Houghton.
Chaplin of Groby met with this species in Martin-
shaw Wood in September, 1841. Mr. Babington
(Potter, op. cit. App. p. 65) recorded one specimen as
having occurred near Thringstone. Sir George Beau-
mont reported one which was killed at Coleorton in
1874. The late Dr. Macaulay recorded its occurrence
at Gumley Wood on several occasions on the authority
of the Rev. A. Matthews. He further reported hav-
ing seen a male hobby, shot at Smeeton in January,
1888, by Mr. John Peberdy. Mr. Davenport writes :
' A pair were shot by the keeper at Stockerston Wood
in the summer of 1881. One was chasing the other
and both were killed by one discharge and hung on a
tree with other vermin.' The late Mr. Widdowson
reported three during 1880, and Elkington had
received several before his death, reporting the last
one, a male, caught by nets in 1882. Some years
ago a male, killed at Hinckley, and another at Bosworth
Park were purchased for the museum. I saw in 1888
a specimen in the collection of Mr. H. C. Woodcock
of Rearsby, which he informed me was shot at
Brentingby many years ago.
1 08. Merlin. Falco ttesalon, Tunstall.
Locally, Blue Hawk, Pigeon-Hawk, Stone-Falcon.
An uncommon winter visitant, not remaining to
breed. According to Mr. Babington (Potter, op. cit.
App. p. 65) it has occurred near Shepshed, and Harley
stated that it comes to our woodlands in autumn,
remaining during the winter months only. I saw in
the possession of Mr. H. C. Woodcock an adult male
specimen which he shot on a tree in his garden at
Rearsby, about 1868. In Zool. for May, 1 868, p. 1 2 1 2,
is the following note : ' A specimen in immature
I 37
plumage was killed a few days since by dashing at the
windows of a house in Leicester. An adult bird
was shot on the farm of Messrs. Spencer in this
county.' Mr. J. B. Ellis presented to the museum
on 30 Jan., 1882, an adult female merlin in the flesh,
shot at Bardon Hill, and has informed me of two
others since then, one of which was shot. Mr. Ingram
wrote : ' Taken occasionally at Belvoir.' The late
Mr. Widdowson reported several during the last few
years of his life. I saw at Elkington's a female shot
at Dunton Bassett on 1 1 Dec., 1886.
Mr. Stephen H. Pilgrim informed me that some
time in 1892 Mr. Thomas Powers shot one at
Barwell.
109. Red-footed Falcon. Falco vespertinus, Linn.
The Leicester Museum donation-book records the
presentation, by the Leicester Literary and Philo-
sophical Society, on 22 Feb., 1866, of an 'orange-
legged hobby, shot near the Machine-house, Bel-
grave Road, I July, 1866,' with a note in the
margin, ' first recorded specimen in this county,'
and in the Field of 10 March, 1866, is the fol-
lowing note : ' I saw a few days ago a very fine
specimen of the red-footed falcon, a young male, killed
two or three miles from Leicester about two months
ago. It is now in the museum of that town. The
curator bought it for a trifle from the person who had
it in the flesh. It was shot by a young man who lives
at Belgrave, a suburb of Leicester ROBERT WIDDOW-
SON (Melton Mowbray).' The identical specimen is
still in the museum, and it was shot by Thomas
Adcock. I am pleased to verify this note, about which
I now have little doubt, and therefore cancel my
previous remarks (see Zool. 1886, p. 166).
110. Kestrel. FaL'o tinnunculus, Linn.
Locally, Stannel (i.e. ? Stand-Gale), Windhover.
Resident and generally distributed. Harley stated
that he had seen it attack the starling and bear off the
black thrush and its congener, but that it appeared to
feed much on the smaller kinds of mammals and
various coleoptera, especially the cockchafer. The
late Dr. Macaulay considered that since the passing of
the Wild Birds Protection Act this species had become
commoner, which tallies with my own observation.
In the stomachs of kestrels I have dissected I have
never found anything but remains of beetles and mice.
Mr. G. H. Storer informs me that whilst snipe-shoot-
ing with some friends at Arnesby in December, 1882,
a lark was seen flying towards them, hotly pursued by
a kestrel. The bird flew into a barn which they were
entering and dropped trembling with fright into
the straw at the feet of one of the party, just as
its swift pursuer reached the door. Seeing the group,
the kestrel veered off, and a few seconds later the lark
recovered and left also. (Tram. Leic. Lit. and Phil. Soc.,
Jan., 1889, p. 26.) This species builds quite close to
Leicester, at Knighton, where I procured, on 3 July,
1883,3 nest of five young. Mr. Davenport writes :
' My experience of kestrels is that they are more sen-
sitive than the sparrow-hawk, forsaking their nest if
tampered with. If I find a nest with three eggs and
take one only, it is almost a certainty the bird will not
only forsake, but will cast away the remaining eggs as
well. I found a white egg at Billesdon Coplow in
May, 1882." This bird builds early in some seasons,
and Mr. Davenport records that in 1885 he took a
18
A HISTORY OF LEICESTERSHIRE
nest on 1 8 April, containing six eggs, at Slawston
Gorse. Mr. W. J. Horn writes in 1907: 'I saw
one a few days since perched on a tree in my orchard.'
111. Osprey. Pandlon hallditus (Linn.).
A rare autumn visitant. Babington recorded
(Potter, op. cit. App. p. 65) one shot by the Marquis
of Hastings at Donington Park, October, 1841.
According to Harley one was shot in Sileby Field in
1 840, while sitting on the shafts of an agricultural
roller. A third example was obtained by Adams at
Groby Pool; and in 1841, during the autumnal
months, Sir Oswald Moseley recorded that a fourth
was shot at Overseal. The late Mr. Widdowson in-
formed me of one, a male, fired at by George Hack,
of Edmondthorpe, to whom I wrote, and who said
that it was killed on 13 Nov., 1858. Mr. Widdow-
son told me subsequently that after the shot was
fired the bird flew about fifty yards, and Mr. Hack
thought he had killed it, but on skinning it there
was not a single fresh shot in it, but an old one
through the breast bone, in the cavity of the stomach,
and much coagulated blood. Mr. Widdowson re-
marked that he had ' no doubt the exertion killed
it, and that it received this wound at Stapleford
Park, where it was previously shot at.' I received
one shot at the reservoir, Bradgate Park, on 1 8 Sept.,
1879, by C. Overton, keeper to Lord Stamford. It
was a fine female specimen. Overton, who had
several opportunities of observing it feed, saw it take
several fishes with hardly a miss. This specimen was
mounted for the late Earl of Stamford and Warrington,
and is, I believe, now at Enville. Wesley, keeper at
Bradgate, informed me that in March, 1887, he saw
a fine example at the reservoir in Bradgate Park, and
repeatedly saw it catch fishes. The Mid. Nat., Nov.,
1882, records the following : One seen at Saddington
Reservoir on 1 3 Oct., one over Gumley Wood and
Pool on 1 8 Oct., and another seen by the Rev. A.
Matthews flying over his garden at Gumley on
22 Oct.
1 1 2. Cormorant. Phalacrocorax carbo (Linn.).
An accidental straggler from the coast, and the
first record was that furnished by the late Dr.
Macaulay, who took me to see an immature bird
in the possession of Mr. J. Potter, station-master of
East Langton, who told me that it was caught alive
in a grass-field near Langton Hall on 6 Sept., 1883,
after a strong gale the previous day from the south-
west.
The Rev. Father Bullen, of Ratcliffe College, wrote
in January, 1891 : 'A member of the community
assures me that he saw three young birds fly over the
square wood on the college property, in a southerly
direction, and this was in the first week of last August.'
The late Dr. Macaulay wrote : 'On 7 April, 1891,
I saw a cormorant at Saddington Reservoir. I had
my field glasses with me, and watched it for some
time on the wing. It came within fifty yards of me,
and I could see the colour of the head, neck, and
crest, and most clearly the white patch above the leg.'
The Leicester Chronicle and Mercury of 2 1 Oct., 1893,
reported the capture of a cormorant in the grounds
of Belvoir Castle by a man named Thomas Holmes
about the middle of August.
Mr. Otto Murray-Dixon saw one on 17 April,
1904, and another 7 Sept., 1905, whilst on 10 Oct.,
1906, he saw two others, all at Swithland Reservoir.
Mr. G. Frisby wrote on 1 6 Oct., 1906: 'I saw
them settle on Mr. Farnham's fishpond ; two days
later (18 October) one was shot. The man who
picked it up was followed for a long distance by the
bird's mate, ' croaking.' '
113. Shag, or Green Cormorant. Phalacrocorax
graculus (Linn.).
This, a new record for the county, is founded upon
the head and neck of an immature specimen presented
to the museum in 1890 by the Rev. Father Bullen,
about which he gave me the following particulars :
' About thirty years ago, Mr. Goodman, the RatclifFe
miller, caught an immature bird (the head of which
you have) in a meadow by the side of the river
Wreake, near Ratcliffe village. He says it was wing-
tired. It only lived a few days in confinement. The
plumage was dark-brown above, and dull-white, mot-
tled with pale wood-brown below.'
Mr. T. A. Macaulay reports that a shag was shot
at Saddington Reservoir on 20 Aug., 1892.
114. Gannet, or Solan Goose. Su/a bassana (Linn.).
An accidental straggler from the coast. Harley re-
corded that a young male of the year was picked up
in a dying condition on the borders of Buddon Wood,
near Quorndon, date unfortunately not noted. Mr.
Babington (Potter, op. cit. App. p. 70) supplemented
this by saying that it was in the possession of Miss
Watkinson, of Woodhouse. Potter of Billesdon
records a specimen caught alive at Houghton-on-the-
Hill, in September, 1869. The late Dr. Macaulay
recorded (Mid. Nat. 1882, p. 79) that an immature
bird of this species, which had been wounded, was
picked up half dead at Shangton in 1878, and that
he saw it, after it was set up, in the possession
of Mr. Ward, farm-bailiff, Wistow. Mr. Ingram
wrote : ' A young bird shot between Bottesford and
Scarrington, near the River Smite, is in the possession
of Mr. H. V. Fowler of Scarrington.' The late
Mr. Widdowson wrote : ' One killed at Somerby
near here ' (N.D.). Mr. A. Dalby, of Castle Don-
ington which is on the border of the county and
near the Trent has been very careful to distinguish
the birds shot in Leicestershire from those of Derby-
shire, and amongst other valuable notes gives the
following, under date 26 Jan., 1896 : 'An immature
specimen in its first year's plumage was found alive
in Tonge Brook, near here, and brought to me in
September, 1892. It died, and I had it set up, and
it is still in my possession.'
115. Heron. Ardea cinerea, Linn.
Locally, Crane (by error), Frank (in allusion to
its note), Hernshaw.
Resident, sparingly distributed and breeding in a
few localities. A young male shot at St. Mary's
Mills, 7 Sept., 1 88 1, is now in the museum. Harley
recorded that it used formerly to build at Mere
Hill Wood near Cotes, placing its nest on the lateral
branches of the Scotch fir, from whence he had taken
its eggs. It also built in Martinshaw Wood, where in
the spring of 1 840 the birds were shot down and de-
stroyed. After that date he stated that the species had
but one habitat in the county where it nested, viz. at
Stapleford, the residence of Lord Harborough, and
even there it was not very abundant, only about half
'38
BIRDS
a dozen nests being built there annually. I am in-
formed by Henry Long, keeper at Bosworth Park,
that some years ago a single pair of herons built a nest
there. Mr. G. H. Storer records a solitary nest
built in Buddon Wood in 1885, and Mr. R. Groves
another in May the same year at Bradgate. Mr.
Ingram writes : 'Occurs winter and summer, and a
pair have nested for several seasons in a wood at
Belvoir.' On 6 May, 1884, I went over to Staple-
ford Park, by permission of the late Rev. B. Sherard
Kennedy, to see the heronry. I found the heronry
had increased since Harley's time, from forty to fifty
nests being built in high elms and firs on an island in
the lake, to which the keeper rowed me. Nests and
old and young birds were procured and are now in
the museum.
Harley wrote at p. 423 of his Synopsis: 'The
most noteworthy and remarkable bird that appears to
have visited Groby Pool of late years was a white
heron shot by Chaplin a few years ago. It was
purely white with black legs and a yellow bill, having
also an elongated occipital crest like that of the grey
species. The bird when surprised attempted to escape
and rose on the wing with several other birds of the
cinereous species ; but the albinism of its plumage,
according to Chaplin, caused it to be singled out and
shot. The bird must have been an albino variety of
the grey heron or a white egret ; but the elongated
crest and occipital plumes which Chaplin affirms the
example possessed, denote, I conjecture, a close
affinity to the former species, rather than to the white
egret.' Whilst at p. 266 we find: 'The albino
example of heron shot by Chaplin on the banks of
Groby Pool, some few years since, and which he
described to me very carefully, could not be Ardea
alba, as I am assured by Professor MacGillivray, to
whom I took occasion to communicate the notice of
its occurrence. The "elongated crest and occipital
plumes denote," observes the Professor, " its true
affinity to ardea cinerea." ' Harley's opinion therefore
appears to have been confirmed by Professor Mac-
Gillivray solely on these grounds ; but as the size of the
bird is not stated it might have been a specimen of
Ardea garzetta but for the colour of the bill. Mr.
Harting, who commented upon this in the Zoo!. 1886,
p. 197, thinks it 'more likely to have been a spoon-
bill,' but surely Chaplin, who appears to have been a
fairly competent observer, would have noted the
extraordinary bill of the spoonbill so utterly unlike
that of any other bird and have described this pecu-
liarity to Harley. Mr. G. Frisby writes, 30 Jan.,
1906 : ' Herons are seen occasionally at Beaumanor
Park, about half a dozen regularly at Swithland
Reservoir.' He further writes, in 1906 : ' It is not
unusual to see the heron mobbed by the rooks, and
once this summer I saw one mobbed by swallows.'
Mr. W. J. Horn writes, in 1907 : 'Frequently seen
on the Welland.'
1 1 6. Night Heron. Nycticorax grlseus (Linn.).
A very rare visitant, about which Harley, writing
1850-5, said: 'A fine example was shot by a
countryman a few years since in the lordship of
Ansty as it was sitting on the top of a pollard wil-
low by a pool.' Harley examined it shortly after
capture. He also mentions another bird which was
shot in 1846, at Donington, and recorded by the
Rev. A. Evans.
1 1 7. Little Bittern. Ardetta minuta (Linn.).
An accidental summer visitant, which according to
Harley ' has once occurred, namely on the banks of
Groby Pool, at the close of the summer of 1863, as I
learn from Chaplin.' Mr. Davenport wrote, in
January, 1886: 'One was shot some dozen years
ago by a Mr. Allen of Glen, sold by him to Potter
and re-sold by Potter to the Rev. J. S epherd, the then
curate of Billesden.' Potter of Billesdon remark-
ing upon this, gives the date as November, 1867, and
seems to be quite sure of the species ; but as the bird
cannot be traced, the record must stand upon its merits.
Since then Mr. W. J. Horn has called my attention
to the following note in the Zool. of 1868, p. 1212,
contributed by Mr. Theodore Walker : ' Little
bittern, one shot at Billesdon Coplow in January
of this year.' This he considers is the bird already
referred to.
1 1 8. Bittern. Botaurus ttellaris (Linn.).
A rarer visitant to Britain than formerly. Mr.
Babington (Potter, op. cit. App. 68) said: 'One
was shot near Ashby, in 1834, by the late Mr.
Joseph Cantrell ; another, killed at Wanlip, is in the
possession of C. Winstanley esq., of Braunstone Hall.'
Harley wrote : ' The species occurred during the
winter months of the year 1844 at Croft, and it has
since been met with on the marshy part of Bosworth
pool or " Big River." It has been met with also
at Swithland. It occurred in the winter of 18545
at Carlton Curlieu.' He further recorded that it
occurred in December, 1855. A notice appeared in
the Leicester Journal of 29 Jan. 1847, of the occurrence
of a bittern at Swithland a few days before. Mr. W.
Brookes of Croft informs me that a friend of his shot
one at Elmesthorpe somewhere about 1848. The late
Mr. Widdowson informed me that he had known
about six killed in his neighbourhood in about twenty-
five years. Mr. Theodore Walker, writing in the
May number of the Zool. for 1868, p. 1212,
recorded that a splendid specimen was shot in the snipe
grounds of Groby Pool in March. The museum
contains a fine example (probably a male) shot at
Enderby, and presented by Mr. William Simpson,
21 Dec., 1871. I saw a fine specimen in the posses-
sion of C. Adcock, who told me that it was shot
at Thurmaston on 28 Dec., 1878. A female bittern,
presented to the museum by Mr. E. Willars on
4 March, 1885, was shot at Cropston Reservoir. The
late Mr. Thomas Woodcock informed me that Mr.
H. C. Woodcock, of Rearsby House, saw a bittern on
the Wreak between Rearsby and RatclifFe Mill, on
26 Jan., 1892.
119. White Stork. Ciconia alba, Bechstein.
Of accidental occurrence in Britain. Harley re-
corded that one was obtained near Melton Mowbray
in 1849, and the narrative of its capture was related
to him by a resident of that place, Mr. Widdowson,
who had the bird in his possession. One in the
possession of Mr. T. Morris of Wycombe, near
Melton Mowbray, was shot by his brother early one
morning as it sat on one of his farm-buildings at
Scalford Lodge in 1 8 5 1 . I believe this to be the one
alluded to by Harley. Another specimen of this bird
was shot in the Narborough Road, Leicester, on
6 March, 1873, and is in the museum.
139
A HISTORY OF LEICESTERSHIRE
[Glossy Ibis. Plegadis falcinellus (Linn.).
Locally, Black Curlew.
This rare bird is now but an accidental visitant to
Britain, but was formerly common enough to be men-
tioned in the old doggerel distich :
' A Curlew, be she white or be she black,
She carries twelvepence on her back.'
The ' Bickley collection ' in the museum contains
a fine specimen of this bird, for which the late Mr.
Widdowson told me } 31. was paid by Mr. Bickley
to the fortunate sportsman who brought it to him.
The late Dr. Macaulay stated (Mid. Nat. 1882, p. 77),
in reference to this specimen : ' I have been recently
informed by the donor's brother that it was killed on
the border of the county and within it.' This, how-
ever, is an error, and Leicestershire cannot claim this
rara avis, for on the back of the case it is thus
labelled : 'This rare and valuable specimen was
shot near the Derby Railway Station in February,
1842, H. B.' Also, 'Killed near Derby, February,
1842.']
i 20. Spoonbill. Plataka leucorodia, Linn.
This is a new record for the county, founded upon
a mounted specimen purchased for the museum and
said by the taxidermist to have been shot by Gervasse
Reckless at Cropston Reservoir on 6 July, 1892.
121. Grey Lag Goose. Anser cinereus, Meyer.
Locally, Wild Goose.
An uncommon winter visitant. According to
Harley, this species was shot in the county during the
hard frost of the winter of 1842, and the late
Dr. Macaulay (Mid. Nat. 1883, p. 86) stated that one
was shot at Shangton on 10 Dec., 1882.
122. White-fronted Goose. Anstr albifrons (Scopoli).
An uncommon winter visitant. I have seen a fine
specimen which was shot at Tur Langton on 1 8 Dec.
1879, by Mr. Owen West (Mid. Nat. 1882, p. 2).
The late Dr. Macaulay stated that the specimen shot
by Mr. O. West was one of three, and that Mr. J.
Brown shot another and they ate it. Mr. G. Frisby
writes on 28 Dec., 1906 : 'Half a dozen of these
were at some little distance from the Canada geese,
but did not mix with them.'
123. Bean-Goose. Anser segetum (J. F. Gmelin).
An uncommon winter visitant. Harley observed :
' The narrow-billed grey goose occasionally visits us,
and appeared in the county during the month of
October, 1842, making its transit by large flocks in a
north-westerly direction.' Mr. Davenport records a
specimen which was shot at Noseley by Mr. A. M.
Hazlerigg in December, 1880. The late Dr. Macaulay
obtained a specimen (immature), shot at Smeeton, 1 1
Dec. 1890, by Mr. John Peberdy. The Report of the
Rugby School Nat. Hist. Soc. (1884) contains the
following note by E.E.A. : ' Wild goose, probably
Anser segetum : I saw a flock of about fifteen or twenty
in flight near North Kilworth, 22 January, 1885 ; a
fanner near there told me that he had seen six separate
flocks pass over his house one morning a short time
before.'
1 24. Bernacle Goose. Bernicla leucopsis (Bechstein)
Locally, Barnacle.
A very rare straggler from the coast. This, a new
record for the county, rests on one I saw in the hands
of a taxidermist, and which Mr. W. Whitaker tells me
was shot at Thornton Reservoir during the first week
of April, 1891.
125. Brent Goose. Bernicla brenta (Pallas).
Locally, Black Goose.
An uncommon winter visitant, the occurrence of
this species inland at a distance from the sea being
very unusual. Harley, however, stated that several
were shot at Kirkby Mallory on 3 1 Dec., 1 844. The
museum donation-book records one shot at Syston
and presented by the Literary and Philosophical
Society, 28 Jan., 1854.
[Egyptian Goose. Cbenalopex aegyptiacus (Linn.).
This species is so often kept in a state of semi-
domestication on private waters and so often contrives
to effect its escape, that it is very doubtful if any of
the specimens which are from time to time shot in a
state of freedom are really wild birds. Nevertheless,
although not so common as the Canada goose, it may
in time, like that, become semi-feral, or feral. Harley
stated that one was shot close to Leicester, 4 March,
1843. It bore no sign of captivity, and had three
companions, which went away in a southerly direction.
This is probably the specimen in the museum, re-
corded in the donation book as 'shot on the river
Soar, 1843,' by Mr. H. S. Hamel. Mr. W. J.
Horn records that five of these birds visited the
'Ballast Hole' at Welham, on 27 Aug., 1898 ; one
was shot by Mr. George Thwaites, of Market Har-
borough, and is now in his possession.]
[Canada Goose. Bernicla canadensis (Linn.).
An introduced species often found at large, con-
gregating in large bodies especially in winter, and
flying so far afield as to give rise to the conviction
that, if not now, it will soon become feral. Mr.
Wilfrid Moss, of Loughborough, reported three
Canada geese shot on the Soar in April, 1891, and at
first supposed to be either brent or bernacle geese.
The late Dr. Macaulay informed me that there
were three Canada geese on Saddington Reservoir on
29 March, 1892. Both Mr. Otto Murray-Dixon and
Mr. Frisby report it from Swithland Reservoir ; the
latter gives the following note : ' At a fishpond near
Woodhouse a pair of Canada geese rear their young
every year, returning in the breeding season. No
sooner, however, have they settled in their old quarters,
their young accompanying them, than there arises a
great commotion, and the parent birds are seen driving
off their young with great noise, excitement, and per-
sistency, which ends in the young birds having to
depart and the old ones settling down once more to
their all-important duties.' On 1 8 Sept., 1906, he
saw thirty fly over Quorn in one flock, and on 28
Dec., 1 906, over a dozen were on Swithland Reservoir.
Mr. W. J. Horn writes in 1907 : 'On 7 May, 1895,
a bird of this species flew over my head when I was
in the Burbage Woods.]
126. Whooper Swan. Cygnus musicus, Bechstein.
Locally, Elk, Whistling Swan, Wild Swan.
An uncommon winter visitant. Mr. Babington
(Potter, op. cit. App. p. 69) recorded this swan as
140
BIRDS
having been seen at Bardon by Mr. Grundy ; one
vras killed near Wanlip Hall and was added by the
Dowager Lady Palmer, to Mr. Gisborne's extensive
collection at Yoxall Lodge, and another was killed at
Groby. Harley wrote : ' It has occurred on the Soar
at Loughborough and also at Groby Pool, as I learn
from Mr. Chaplin.' Mr. W. Brookes, of Croft, reports
that, in the winter of 1 870-1, ten wild swans came on
to the flooded meadow below Narborough, where one
or two of them were shot.
127. Bewick's Swan. Cygnus bewuki, Yarrell.
The addition of this rarity to the county fauna
rests on the authority of Mr. Otto Murray-Dixon,
who told me and recorded in the Field that thirty
arrived on Swithland Reservoir 27 Feb., 1904,- and
departed, flying N.E., 7 March, 1904. None was
shot, but Mr. Murray Dixon observed them closely
several times through powerful field glasses and says
he could not have been mistaken. They appeared
again in 19056, and on 28 Dec., 1906, Mr. G.
Frisby observed them and writes : ' I was sure of six,
but I believe eight of these birds were on the Reser-
voir on this date, not far from the mute swans (about
80 or 100 yds.). It is three years since this swan was
here. To identify the last two mentioned, I had to
tramp through 8 to 10 in. of snow and deep drifts,
but I was repaid.'
128. Mute Swan. Cygntu olor (J. F. Gmelin).
Locally, Tame Swan.
An introduced species and now domesticated. It
breeds at the Abbey Park, Leicester, Thornton Reser-
voir, and other places in the county. As this swan is
truly feral in some parts of northern Europe, it may
be that some of those reported as being shot with
whoopers &c., in hard winters, are not escaped tame
birds as usually supposed.
129. Common Sheldrake. Tadorna cornuta (S. G.
Gmelin).
Locally, Bar-Gander, Burrow-Duck, Shield-Duck,
Shell-Duck.
Of accidental occurrence. The late Dr. Macaulay
recorded (Mid. Nat. 1882, p. 78) : 'Three were shot
at Barkby in 1880, and I saw one of them, a male,
in the possession of a bird-stufter named Donnell.'
The date, however, should be February, 1 88 1, when I
saw the bird in question, which was a young male.
Mr. A. Dalby, of Castle Donington, reports seeing
a pair in the spring of 1892, also in January, 1893,
and on 19 Jan., 1895. Mr. O. Murray-Dixon saw
four on Swithland Reservoir, some time in June,
1903.
Mr. W. J. Horn saw a pair on 28 Feb., 1900,
on the flooded waters of the Welland, on the Leices-
tershire side, below Rockingham.
130. Mallard or Wild Duck. Anas boscas, Linn.
Resident and generally distributed. I shot one (a
female) within two fields of the tram line, at Ayle-
stone, 23 Jan., 1886. Harley records that in his
youth he saw a nest built in the crown of a pollard
willow, in a small marshy meadow by the brook
which falls into the Soar near Loughborough. After
the young were hatched, the female was observed to
induce them to leave the tree by emitting a shrill cry,
and reaching the ground in safety the little ones were
then led away by the mother to the adjacent brook.
Mr. T. Groves reported that he saw a duck sitting on
a clutch of eleven eggs deposited in an oak tree, at a
height of 10 ft. from the ground, in Bradgate Park in
1 88 1. In the spring of 1887 a female bird (appar-
ently, as I am informed, of this speJes) joined some
tame ' Aylesburys ' belonging to Mr. Kellett, on the
Soar which flows past his house on the Aylestone
Road, and after some time became sufficiently tame
to go with them into the fowl-house each night. It
never, however, availed itself of the ladder up which
the other ducks waddled from the water, but always
flew from the water into the garden. It went away
several times, but ultimately made a nest in a willow-
tree on the river, close to the main tram-road, and
laid eggs ; but as unfortunately both bird and eggs
disappeared one night it was thought to have been
killed or stolen. The wild duck is seldom absent
from the Belvoir lake or reservoir, where it breeds
regularly, as it does also at Rolleston and Saddington.
Harley wrote : ' I have also to record the capture of
an exceedingly beautiful mallard, met with at Ulles-
thorpe in this county in a wild state, which bore all
the marks of hybridity,' but he did not describe its
appearance. From what he had previously written,
however, I should assume he intended to convey the
idea that it was a hybrid between the wild duck and
the muscovy duck.
131. Gadwall. Anas strepera, Linn.
This rare straggler, a new record for the county,
fell to the gun of the late Major Jary, J.P., F.Z.S., of
Bitteswell Hall, Lutterworth, who informed me that he
had shot it, a female, at that place on 25 Oct., 1890,
and had forwarded it to the Rev. H. T. Frere, of
Burston, Norfolk, who recorded it in the Zool. of Dec.
1890, p. 464. It is now in the museum.
132. Shoveler. Spatula clyfeata (Linn.).
A rare winter visitant. Mr. Babington (Potter,
op. cit. App. p. 69) wrote : ' Killed near Charnwood
Heath. In the collection at Yoxall Lodge.' Harley
remarked that in his day, the shoveler occurred on
most of our large pools and waters, as for example
Groby and Barratt, usually during severe weather ;
and further added : ' Shot on Groby Pool by Chaplin.'
Col. Palmer, of Withcote Hall, possesses a mounted
specimen, shot on the pool there in the winter of
1860. The late Dr. Macau'ay recorded (Mid. Nat.
1882, p. 79) that the 'Rev. A. Matthews, some
years since, got two at one shot, at Gumley.' The
late Mr. Widdowson's diary records one killed at
Syston, 29 Sept., 1868. Mr. W. Whitaker, of Wis-
tow Grange, killed one on Thornton Reservoir, in
August, 1878. Mr. W. A. Vice showed me a fine
female specimen shot on the mill-stream, Blaby, about
1879. This duck has been observed at Swithland
Reservoir by Mr. O. Murray-Dixon, who saw five (two
drakes and three ducks) on I Feb., 1904 ; two drakes
and several ducks, 24 Dec., 1905 ; and one duck on
25 Dec., 1905. Mr. G. Frisby also saw some,
10 Dec., 1906, at the same place. Mr. W. J. Horn
observed one, a male, on 20 April, 1903, on Sad-
dington Reservoir.
133. Pintail. Dajila acuta (Linn.).
An uncommon winter visitant. Harley recorded
that Chaplin shot a fine pair in female plumage, on the
141
A HISTORY OF LEICESTERSHIRE
banks of Groby Pool, in November, 1845, and that
during the year several other examples were shot in
various parts of the county. Mr. John Hunt, for-
merly of Leicester, informed me that some time about
1880 he shot one at Kilby Bridge. Early in 1902
Dr. E. Young shot a fine male in Narborough Bogs,
which he presented to the museum.
134. Common Teal. Nation crecca (Linn.).
Resident, but sparingly distributed. The late
Dr. Macaulay recorded (Mid. Nat. 1882, p. ll) that
he had shot this species on Saddington Reservoir and out
of the River Welland. Mr. Ingram writes : 'Visits
the Knipton Reservoir and the lakes at Belvoir.'
Mr. W. A. Vice, M.B., of Blaby Mills, showed me a
specimen shot on the mill-stream, and I have also
seen a fine male, shot by Mr. Bevans some years ago
at the Abbey Meadow. In the spring of 1825
Hurley came across a brood in a pond choked with
rushes and sedges near Dishley Mill. The nest,
composed of rushes and grass and lined with down,
was carefully concealed beneath a small shrub which
overhung the pond. Both parents assisted in the
care of the young. In 1844 there was another nest
of this species on the banks of Groby Pool, where
the young, seven in number, came abroad early in
the month of June. Mr. G. Frisby, under date
24 Dec., 1906, reports 'a good number at Swith-
land Reservoir.' Mr. W. J. Horn writes in 1907 :
' I have seen this bird on Saddington Reservoir
and the Upper Welland. I March, 1902, I saw one
at Ashley. I have no record of its having nested
in this district, but on 10 June, 1901, I flushed two
males from the Welland adjoining the Market Har-
borough Sewage Farm.' Mr. H. S. Davenport shot
a male at Billesdon 12 Dec., 1890.
135. Garganey. Querjuedula circia (Linn.).
Locally, Summer Teal.
A rare summer visitant. It is here included on
the authority of the late Dr. Macaulay, who (Mid.
Nat. 1 88 1, p. 256) shot four (at one shot) at Sad-
dington Reservoir, in July, 1 868. Unfortunately so
little interest attached to these specimens that they
were all eaten.
136. Wigeon. Mareca penelope (Linn.).
Locally, Smee, Whew Duck.
A winter visitant. Not uncommon on the rivers
Soar and Trent, as well as on large sheets of water,
such as Saddington and Knipton Reservoirs. On
28 April, 1886, two were procured at Belvoir ; both
were males one a beautiful adult, the other imma-
ture and are now in the museum. Mr. O. Murray-
Dixon saw a flock of twenty on Swithland Reservoir
1 6 Dec., 1903, and Mr. G. Frisby observed it there
so late in the spring as 12 May, 1906, and four
returned on 20 Sept., 1906. Mr. W. J. Horn
writes in 1 907 : ' I have seen several on Saddington
Reservoir. On I March, 1902, I saw three on the
Welland, near Ashley Station.'
137. Pochard. Fuligula fenna (Linn.).
Locally, Dunbird, Poker-Duck (a corruption).
A winter visitant, occurring occasionally. Harley
observed that the species was met with on Groby
Pool and other waters in different parts of the county,
in the winter of 1841-2. He also stated that Mr.
Babington's MS. notes contain a record of the
occurrence of this bird at Kegworth. The late Mr.
Widdowson's diary records one killed at Leesthorpe
on 29 June, 1 867. The late Dr. Macaulay reported
one shot at Thornton Reservoir in 1883. The Rev.
G. D. Armitage informed me that on 8 Feb., 1884,
' seven came to the mill-dam at Broughton Astley and
five were shot by Mr. C. W. Berridge, who has one
male bird now stuffed.' A male pochard was
obtained at Saddington Reservoir, 15 Jan., 1886, by
Mr. A. K. Perkins. Mr. W. A. Evans shot one on
Saddington Reservoir on 23 Feb., 1889. Both speci-
mens are now in the museum. Mr. S. H. Pilgrim
received from the Rev. A. F. Aylward, of Enderby, a
fine male specimen which had been shot by him at
that place on 3 Jan., 1893. Mr. O. Murray-Dixon
shot two drakes and a duck on Swithland Reservoir
on 8 Oct., 1906, and Mr. G. Frisby reports it there
on 1 6 Oct., 1906, and as being 'fairly abundant
recently,' under date 24 Dec., 1906. Mr. W. J.
Horn writes in 1907: 'On 1 8 March, 1899, I
saw seven on Saddington Reservoir, and on 20 April,
1903, I saw a male and a female at the same place.
On 7 June, 1902, I visited Saddington Reservoir, and
Stafford, the keeper, informed me that a pair of pochards
had that year nested on the island. The female was
sitting on seven eggs on Whit Sunday, but Mr.
Evans camped on the island for two or three days,
causing her to desert. Stafford placed the eggs under
a hen, but without result. I did not see the birds,
but Stafford said they were still on the reservoir, he
having seen them that morning. I saw the nest, it
was composed of dead leaves, but unfortunately there
was no down.'
Mr. A. Dalby, of Castle Donington, had a male
brought to him 12 Jan., 1895, which is preserved
and is now in his possession.
138. Tufted Duck. Fufigula cristata (Leach).
Locally, Crested Pochard, Tufted Pochard, Tufted
Scaup.
Not uncommon in winter, but does not appear to
remain to breed. Mr. Babington (Potter, op. cit.
App.) stated that it had been shot at Groby by Lord
Stamford's keeper. Harley recorded that it had been
killed frequently on the River Soar, as well as upon
several large pools in the county, and that in the
winter of 1840 it appeared in small flocks. On
Groby Pool Chaplin shot many examples, and Harley
was assured it was found no less abundantly in other
localities. Again, in March, 1845, several were seen
on the Soar and other streams. The thermometer
on the I ithand 1 2th of that month fell to 10 degrees
Fahrenheit, and in some localities to 3 degrees below
zero a degree of cold not experienced, he remarked,
since 1838. At Groby Pool the wild-fowl tarried
late, but on the break up of the frost, on the 1 4th of
the month, they disappeared entirely. Mr. C. Mar-
riott informs me that a male was shot at Cotesbach
by the keeper, John Freer, circa 1860. Sir George
Beaumont wrote to the late Dr. Macaulay that one
was killed at Coleorton Hall in 1865. Dr. Macaulay
shot one at Saddington Reservoir on 2 Dec., 1880,
and recorded (Mid. Nat. 1883, p. 85) that one was
killed by Lord Boyle at the Reservoir on 1 1 Jan.,
1882. Mr. Ingram wrote: 'Specimen shot on
the Belvoir Lake in winter,' and one (a male) was
sent by him to the museum, shot by the keeper,
142
BIRDS
19 June, 1884. The late Mr. Widdowson wrote :
' Plentiful some years ago. Several shot at Little
Dalby.' I saw a mounted specimen (male) in 1888,
in the possession of Mr. H. C. Woodcock, who in-
formed me that it was shot on the Wreak at Syston,
many years ago, by his keeper. A female in the flesh
was presented to the museum by Mr. John Burgess,
who shot it at Saddington Reservoir, on 31 Oct.,
1887. Mr. G. H. Storer saw a small flock on
21 May, 1888, at Cropston Reservoir. In 1904 it
appeared in numbers on Swithland Reservoir, where
on I February Mr. O. Murray-Dixon estimated
there were fifty pairs to be seen, and on 24 Dec.,
1 906, Mr. G. Frisby reported that ' a large flock
remained during the week.' Mr. W. J. Horn writes
in 1907 : ' I am inclined to think that a few pairs
remain to breed ; I saw a pair on Blatherwyck Lake
(Northants) on 25 May, 1905.'
139. Scaup-Duck. Fuligula mania (Linn.).
A winter visitant, rarer than the last-named. One
was shot at Saddington Reservoir in 1874 by the late
Dr. Macaulay (Mid. Nat. 1882, p. 79). I saw a
mounted specimen (male) in 1888 in the collection of
Mr. H. C. Woodcock, which was shot on the Wreak,
at Rearsby, many years ago by his keeper. Dr.
Macaulay had a iemale specimen, shot at Thornton
Reservoir, 4 Dec., 1890, and further reported a male
specimen shot at Saddington Reservoir by Mr. L. C.
Ha ward on 24 Nov., 1891.
Mr. A. Dalby, of Castle Donington, shot a
female, 6 Jan., 1894, which he had preserved, and
he saw a pair killed 26 Dec., 1894.
Mr. O. Murray-Dixon shot one (a drake) on
Swithland Reservoir on 6 Oct., 1903, and Mr. G.
Frisby observed it there 10 Dec., 1906.
140. Goldeneye. Clangula glaucion (Linn.).
An uncommon winter visitant. Mr. Babington
(Potter, op. cit. App.) wrote : ' Killed at Groby by
the keeper of the Earl of Stamford and also in
Loughborough Meadows.' Harley recorded that
during the severe winter of 1845 it appeared in the
county in fairly large numbers, several examples being
obtained at Groby Pool. He was informed that it
also occurred rather numerously in many other dis-
tricts, and stated that it was found at Groby Pool,
Bosworth, Saddington, and elsewhere during the
winter months. I have seen a fine female specimen
in the possession of T. W. Tebbs, of the Union Inn,
Blaby, shot by him at the ' Big Brook,' Blaby, in the
winter of 1880. John Ryder sent to the museum a
beautiful adult male specimen, shot on the lake at
Belvoir, 28 Oct., 1885. Mr. Thomas Woodcock
reported having seen a goldeneye on the Wreak in
the winter of 1889-90. The late Dr. Macaulay
informed me that the Rev. A. Matthews had a
specimen which he shot out of three on Gumley Hall
Pond (N.D.). Mr. A. Dalby, of Castle Donington,
reported a female, shot in Feb., 1895, which is pre-
served and in his possession. Mr. G. Frisby saw one
on Swithland Reservoir, 1 6 Oct., 1906. Mr. W. J.
Horn writes in 1907 : 'One was shot at Ulverscroft
Priory in January, 1868, and reported in the Zoo/, of
that year (p. 121 2) by Mr. Theodore Walker.'
[Harlequin Duck. Cosmonetta histrionica (Linn.).
Of this very rare straggler to the British Isles,
Harley wrote: '1845. The appearance of this
rare bird in the county of Leicester I record with
much satisfaction, and I am enabled to do so on the
authority of Mr. Chaplin, 15 of Groby, who shot a
pair of harlequin ducks on the pool during the in-
clement season of the early months of the year which
we have so recently experienced. These two rare
visitors were associated with scoters, tufted ducks,
teals, and widgeons, and it must be observed that the
manifest difference in the plumage of the birds, so
remarkably diverse from their companions, led to their
capture as I have already intimated.' 1 have ere this
heard several ducks styled ' Harlequin,' the last time
the term being applied to the by-no-means-common
long-tailed duck.]
141. Common Scoter. Oedemia nlgra (Linn.).
Locally, Black Duck.
A not uncommon winter visitant. Harley wrote :
' Chaplin has met with the species on Groby Pool.'
The late Mr. Widdowson wrote : ' I shot one at
Melton, now in the " Bickley collection." ' It has
also occurred more than once at Bosworth Park, as I
am informed by Henry Long, the keeper. Mr. J.
Whitaker possesses two adult males, shot out of a
flock at Thornton Reservoir, 18 Sept., 1879, by the
late Dr. John Wright, of Markfield (Zoo/. 1879,
p. 459).
The late Dr. Macaulay stated (MM. Nat. 1882,
p. 79) : ' Not unfrequently driven in by the easterly
gales.' During August and September, 1881, three
were obtained at Saddington, one of which (a male)
he shot on 3 September out of a flock of twenty and
presented to the museum. One in the museum, is said
to have been shot near the Abbey Meadow, Lei-
cester, on 9 Feb., 1882. Mr. G. Frisby saw two on
Swithland Reservoir, 1 6 Oct., 1906.
142. Velvet Scoter. Oedemia fusca (Linn.).
The only occurrence in the county, and a new one,
is that recorded by the late Rev. A. Matthews, of
Gumley, who informed me that on either 1 1 or 12
Nov., 1889, one was shot on Saddington Reservoir
by Mr. John Burgess, and was in the hands of Turner,
the rural postman, ' who had skinned it remarkably
well.' The specimen is now in the museum. See
also Zoo/. 1889, p. 455.
143. Goosander. Mergus merganser, Linn.
A rare winter visitant. Mr. Babington (Potter, op.
cit. App. 70) noticed one shot near Langley Priory
in the possession of Mr. R. Cheslyn, and the late
Dr. Macaulay recorded (Mid. Nat. 1882, p. 79) that
a female specimen was killed on the Smeeton Canal
in 1862, by Mr. A. Hildebrand. Later he stated
that it was in the possession of the Rev. A. Matthews,
and was a young male : further that another specimen
in the same collection was shot on Saddington
Reservoir.
The museum contains a fine male in adult plumage,
shot near Blaby, 17 Dec. 1875.
Mr. A. Dalby of Castle Donington shot a female
7 Jan. 1894, which was preserved and in his posses-
sion. He also saw a pair 1 1 Jan., 1895.
15 Chaplin was the keeper at Groby then, and appears to
have been a man of discernment ; still, to those who know
how few keepers there are who properly discriminate between
closely-allied forms, it is probable that he mistook the species,
only three specimens said to have been killed in Britain being
known (see Mr. Howard Saunders, F.L.S., F.Z.S., Proc. Zool.
Soc. (1887) 319-20).
'43
A HISTORY OF LEICESTERSHIRE
One was shot in 1902 by Mr. E. S. Pink on
Thornton Reservoir, and is in the museum.
Mr. O. Mumy-Dixon observed one on Swithland
Reservoir 29 Nov. 1903, where it remained until
i Feb., 1904.
144. Red-Breasted Merganser. Mergus serrator, Linn.
Locally, Sawbill.
A rare winter visitant. One shot on the pool at
Coleorton Hall about 1860 was recorded by the late
Dr. Macaulay (Mid. Nat. 1882, p. 79). It is pre-
served in the collection of Sir G. Beaumont.
145. Smew. Mergus albellus, Linn.
A rare winter visitant. Harley reported it as of
occasional occurrence. The species occurred in the
county during the severe weather of February and
March, 1845, and was frequently met with in the
society of scoters, pochards, and wigeon. He further
added that it occurred at Groby Pool and also on the
Trent. Mr. H. C. Woodcock of Rearsby showed me
a fine male smew, in fully adult plumage, which he
shot on the River Eye, in or near Wyfordby, in
March, 1 846. At the same time he showed me a
female, which the late David North had shot at Syston
shortly afterwards. Mr. J. Whitaker of Rainworth
Lodge, Mansfield, has an adult male, shot at Thornton
Reservoir in 1877 (Zoo/. 1884, p. 52).
Mr. A. Dalby of Castle Donington possesses a
female specimen of this variety which he shot 6 Jan.,
1894.
146. Ring-Dove or Wood-Pigeon. Columba palum-
bus, Linn.
Locally, Quest, Cushat.
Resident, and generally distributed. In the crop of
a wood-pigeon presented to the museum by Mr. J. S.
Ellis on 3 Jan., 1882, sixty-one acorns were found.
Mr. W. J. Horn writes in 1907: 'A pair return
every year to breed in a chestnut tree in my garden,
the old nest being utilized. The second clutch is laid
in an adjoining chestnut tree.'
147. Stock-Dove. Columba oenas, Linn.
Locally, Blue Rock (by error).
Resident, but not so common as the wood-pigeon.
Mr. Babington (Potter, op. cit. App. 68) wrote :
' Mr. Grundy has shot ' rock-doves ' at Bardon many
years back, which he thought came from the Vale of
Belvoir. This would probably not be C. fivia, but
C. oenas, which is still common in Bradgate Park, as I
learn from Bloxham.' Mr. H. L. Powys-Keck
informed me that it is common at Cotesbach. I have
seen it nesting in hollow trees at Knighton, whence
two young birds were procured for the museum on
6 Sept., 1882. Mr. G. Frisby writes in 1905 :
' Immense flocks of these birds were all over the
Charnwood Forest, after the acorns which were so
abundant.' Mr. W. J. Horn writes in 1907 :
' Resident and breeding in the park, Market Har-
borough, in tubs placed in trees. I have several times
found the nest placed on old thrushes' nests and
many times in rabbit burrows, as well as in holes
in trees. In March, 1894, when driving from
Hinckley to Market Harborough, I saw a flock of not
less than three to four hundred stock-doves in one
field of clover, and in another part of the same field
quite as many ring-doves.'
148. Turtle Dove. Turtur communls, Selby.
Locally, Wickin Dove.
A summer visitant, sparingly distributed and
remaining to breed. Harley remarked upon its
comparative rarity in the county, and appeared to
think it had not bred. In May, 1881, I saw a pair
several times in the Rectory garden at Aylestone, and
concluded from their actions that they had a nest in
the vicinity. Since then I have seen single birds in
various parts of the county, and have more than once
heard the peculiar ' purring ' coo so characteristic of
the species. Mr. Davenport found a nest in June,
1878, in a spinney near Tilton, and another at Ash-
lands in June, 1884. Mr. G. H. Storer, who saw a
pair near Arnesby in 1888, was informed that it bred
there.
Mr. W. J. Horn writes in 1907 : 'Not com-
mon immediately around Market Harborough not
sufficient arable land but I have seen as many as
fifty in one ploughed field.'
[Passenger Pigeon. Ectoplstes migratorius (Linn.).
A very rare straggler from the Nearctic Region.
The late Mr. Widdowson wrote : ' One killed in
Scalford village street some years ago. The same year
I saw accounts of several killed near Liverpool.' As
there seems little doubt that the latter examples had
escaped from confinement, it is highly probable that
the Leicestershire specimen may have been one of the
same company.]
149. Pallas's Sand -Grouse. Syrrhaptes paradoxus
(Pallas).
A very rare and irregular visitant, but unusually
common in this county during 1888. The late Dr.
Macaulay thought he saw a covey of these birds, whilst
driving between Saddington and Mowsley, on 23
May, 1888, and Mr. G. H. Storer has communicated
the following information : Whilst visiting Mr. F. F.
How at Swithland, in June, 1888, he heard of cer-
tain birds which had been seen in the neighbourhood
and which, after careful inquiry, he felt convinced must
have been Pallas's sand-grouse. On 3 June Mr. How
was walking in a field belonging to Mr. Bates of
Swithland when he saw a small covey of birds rise from
a field of young barley. From the great length of
wing and strength of the birds Mr. How judged them
to be some kind of sea-bird allied to the terns, which
might have strayed from Cropston, where such birds
are not unfrequently seen. The birds flew over into
fields belonging to Mr. Pepper. This covey was also
seen by a wagoner to Mr. Bates, who said that on
5 June, whilst ploughing, a covey of twelve birds had
alighted in the field and come within a few yards of
him at his work without evincing the least alarm.
They appeared to be searching for grubs or worms.
He described them as of a light brown colour, with
very long wings, feet feathered to the toes, and a black
patch above the legs. On 6 June they appeared on
Kinchley Hill Farm, belonging to Mr. Bates, near
Buddon Wood, where they were fired at, and one
was wounded, but not fatally. The covey flew away,
and although a keen look-out was kept for it subse-
quently, it never reappeared. The land on which all
the observers noticed them lies between the village of
Swithland and Buddon Wood, and although Mr. How
and Mr. Storer carefully worked the whole district on
8 June their search was unsuccessful. From the
144
BIRDS
evidence collected Mr. Storer is convinced that
the birds could have been nothing else but Syrrhaptes
paradoxus.
150. Black Grouse. Tetrao tetrix, Linn.
Locally, Blackcock (male), Grey Hen (female).
No longer met with in this county. Mr. Babington,
writing in 1842 (Potter, op. cit. App. p. 68), said :
' Near Charnwood Heath, Sharpley, &c., in tolerable
numbers till the last two years. They are now nearly
extinct.' Harley records its occurrence in Charnwood
Forest and at Whitwick. Harley appears to have last met
with the species in the spring of 1850. Mr. J. B. Ellis
writes : ' Now extinct ; used to live in large woods by
BensclifF.' Sir G. Beaumont informed the late Dr. Mac-
aulay that he remembered killing black game in Charn-
wood Forest about 1847 or 1848, and during the next
ten years he shot several ' grey hens ' in South Wood,
near Coleorton. The late Mr. Alfred Ellis, in his
Notes about Birds, published for private circulation in
1868, wrote: 'Some years since I had the great
pleasure of a day's shooting with the late Mr. Gisborne,
and as we strolled over the heathery waste we flushed
several of these birds, and one grand old cock got up
so close under the walls of the monastery that we
could not shoot him, if we had wished, without
danger to the windows.'
151. Red Grouse. Lagopus scoticus (Latham).
Formerly occurring but now extinct in the county.
Mr. Babington wrote in 1 842 (Potter, op. cit. App.
p. 68) : 'A brood at Tin Meadows, twenty years
ago, some of which were shot by Mr. Grundy, when
in search of black game. Since then Mr. Gisborne
attempted to introduce the bird from Scotland and
the Derbyshire moors, but without success, it being
unable to bear the dust of the journey, as the game-
keeper thought.' Harley wrote : 'Well-nigh become
extinct,' and again : 'The red ptarmigan occurs in
the county in much about the same ratio, as regards
its distribution and its numerical diffusion, as its
congener the black grouse. This species of ptarmigan,
moreover, appears to affect alike the same locality
Charnwood Forest a situation as yet the only one
known to the author where it occurs in the county.'
One was shot by the Rev. J. C. Davenport at Skeffing-
ton, in the winter of 1860, whilst it was feeding on
some hips on a hedge. I saw, circa 1885, a mounted
specimen at Noseley, which had been shot there by
Sir Arthur Hazlerigg, some years before, whilst it was
sitting on a whitethorn eating the haws. It had been
previously observed sitting on the top of a large ash
tree.
152. Pheasant. Phasianus cokhicus, Linn.
Locally, Old English Pheasant, Bohemian Pheasant
(variety), Ring-necked or Chinese Pheasant.
Resident and commonly distributed. The late
Major Gregory Knight informed me that he had a
pheasant sitting on ten eggs on 12 Sept., 1888.
This would, no doubt, be owing to the extraordinarily
inclement and late season. It is subject to much
variation, owing to the crossing of the original stock
with various foreign species, especially with the
Chinese ring-necked pheasant, Phasianus torquatus
(Gmelin), originally introduced from China some
hundred or so years ago, and which has interbred with
the collarless or 'Old English' pheasant to such an
extent that it is now impossible to find either pure,
except in China and Asia Minor respectively. What
we must now term the ring-necked variety is un-
doubtedly the most common. Lord Ferrers has, at
Staunton, two hybrids between pheasant and grey hen ;
they were bred in South Wood and strayed into one
of the Staunton Woods, where the keeper shot them.
Sir Arthur Hazlerigg shot at Noseley, some years
since, a pure white variety, which I have by his per-
mission examined. I saw in the possession of Mr. C.
Marriott, ofCotesbach Hall, a mounted hen-pheasant
shot at Cotesbach, circa 1898, in complete cock's
plumage with the exception of the feathers of the
head and the absence of wattles and spurs. Its tail
is quite as long as that of a cock.
153. Partridge. Perdix cinerea (Latham).
Resident and common. The Leicester Daily Post
recorded that just after the great storm of 18 and
19 Jan., 1 88 1, a bricklayer captured a partridge in
a hole of the damaged roof of a house in Lower
Bond Street, Leicester. A still more curious circum-
stance is recorded by Mr. Davenport, who wrote on
II Dec., 1885 : 'I know of a covey of seven cocks
and one hen reared this summer under a hen fowl on
Mr. G. V. Braithwaite's estate at Stackley, which now
come out of the fields to a whistle and are so tame as
to feed out of the hand and perch on the shoulder of
the lady of the house.' Writing again on I Feb.,
1886, he said: 'Those partridges, reduced by one
cock, come every morning to be fed, just as they did
in September a marvellous sight.' The Leicester
'Journal, 27 Jan., 1888, reported that a partridge was
observed on the Humberstone Road, near the London
and North-Western goods depot, having apparently
come over the railway from the direction of Evington.
It ran off towards Brunswick Street, where it was
caught by Mr. Andrew Birtlcs, of Upper Charnwood
Street, who succeeded in throwing his hat over it.
The bird was a fine one and in good condition.
Mr. Birtles kept it alive for three months, but as it
was very wild he had it killed and preserved. Mr. T.
Woodcock, of Ratcliffe-on-the-Wreak, informed me
on 3 Sept., 1886, that there were three white part-
ridges, in a covey of nine or ten, on the Garthorpe
estate, near Melton Mowbray ; and Mr. James T.
Hincks told me in November, 1887, that there was
still an old white one lef^ which was extremely shy
and had until then escaped. I saw a curious light
sandy variety in the possession of Sir Arthur Hazlerigg,
shot at Noseley many years ago.
An unusual variety was shot at Garthorpe on
8 Oct., 1890, and presented to the museum by Mr. T.
Crick. The specimen is a female whose general
coloration is a dull greyish-white, in which the
normal markings can be traced, though faintly. The
'horse-shoe' barrings on the breast and flanks are of a
faint buff-colour.
Very small immature specimens are sometimes
confounded with the quail, and I shot at Melton
Mowbray in September, 1893, a specimen which was
at first sight remarkably like one.
1 54. Red-Legged Partridge. Caccabis rufa (Linn.).
Resident, but sparingly distributed. The call of
this bird is quite different from that of the common
partridge.
145
A HISTORY OF LEICESTERSHIRE
[Barbary Partridge. Caccabls petrosa (J. F. Gmelin).
In April, 1842, a specimen of this partridge was
picked up dead at Edmondthorpe, near Melton Mow-
bray (Yarrell, Hist. Brit. Birds, ed. 4, in, 121).
The late Mr. Widdowson informed me that he had
this very specimen in his possession, and it was from
this bird that Yarrell's figure of the species was taken.
As these birds are often imported it may have been
an escaped one.]
155. Quail. Coturntx communis, Bonnaterre.
A rare summer visitant. Mr. Babington, writing
in 1842 (Potter, op. cit. App. p. 68), said : 'Several
killed one season between Whitwick and Bardon,
some years ago, by Mr. Grundy, who kept a wounded
bird alive for some time.' Harley wrote : ' Its visits
are only irregular and uncertain and appear confined
to meadow-lands and fields lying contiguous to our
streams. On the banks of the Soar and the meadows
abutting thereupon the quail is annually no stranger.
It breeds there in small numbers.' He records its
occurrence at Cossington, Barrow, Sileby, Thurcaston,
and some other villages having low wet meadows, also
one captured in the Market-place, Leicester, on
i 5 Nov., 1 846, and an example shot on Mr. Win-
stanley's estate at Braunstone on 20 Nov. of the
s.ime year. Mr. J. Garle Browne, of Leamington,
in 1845 killed five quails out of a bevy of nine, which
he flushed and marked down close to Husbands Bos-
worth, and on 24 Dec., 1856, he flushed one at
Edmondthorpe. Mr. H. C. Woodcock, of Rearsby, had
a quail which was killed on the railway by the telegraph
wires ; he believed the date to have been about 1865.
Mr. Davenport mentions that his father shot quail at
Tilton in September, 1 867. The late Dr. Macaulay
informed me that Mr. R. Symington, of Market Har-
borough, shot a quail at Great Bowden in September,
1872, which was unfortunately not preserved. Mr.
Ingram thought it occasionally bred in the Vale of
Belvoir, as he had shot immature birds there with
others. According to the late Mr. Widdowson it has
often been found and has bred near Melton Mowbray,
and I saw, in 1 885, in the Melton Mowbray Museum,
a case containing a pair of quails, a chick, and eggs,
labelled : ' Presented by Plumpton Wilson, January,
1847.'
Mr. Stephen H. Pilgrim, of Hinckley, informed me
that Mr. B. H. C. Fox, of Lutterworth and a party,
when shooting over a farm at Gilmorton on 7 Sept.,
1885, bagged three quails, and further writes: 'There
was, I believe, only one bevy. The value of the note is,
I am afraid, a good deal detracted from by the addition
Mr. Fox makes, viz. : " I have always accounted for the
quail being there by reason that they either escaped
from or were turned out from Bitteswell Hall." I saw
him the other day and he told me that Major Jary, of
Bitteswell Hall, said that two or three had been
turned out or escaped from there, but there is no
doubt that the young birds of the bevy were bred on
the farm at Gilmorton, which would, I think, be about
l miles from Bitteswell.' The late Dr. Macaulay
reported having seen in the possession of Mr. John
Capell a quail which he shot at Mowsley, on 17 July,
1891. Mr. S. H. Pilgrim reported one shot at
Harwell on I Sept., 1893, by Mr. P. Evershed.
A fine male caught on the Cosby Road near Whet-
stone was brought to me in 1902 and is in the
museum.
146
156. Corn-Crake or Land-Rail. Crex pratensis,
Bechstein.
Locally, Daker-Hen.
A summer migrant, generally distributed and
breeding ; remaining sometimes throughout the winter.
A nest containing nine eggs was found in July, 1883,
in a field close to the main thoroughfare by Aylestone
Mill and was purchased for the museum. Mr. W. J.
Horn writing in 1907 states that this species is less
common in the Market Harborough district than
formerly.
157. Spotted Crake. Porzana maruetta (Leach).
Sparingly distributed ; probably breeding. Mr. F.
Bouskell has a specimen which he obtained at Knighton
in July, 1883. Mr. C. H. Gadsby, of Loughborough,
has two which were found on the Midland Railway
half way between Barrow and Loughborough, near
the river, having been killed by the telegraph wires
in the early part of September, 1889. Mr. G. Frisby
writes from Quorn: ' I saw one that had been shot in
the autumn of 1906 in the meadows near the River
Soar.'
[Little Crake. Porzana farv a (Scopoli).
Very rare, and the only record I have is that
furnished by Harley, who states that one was shot
near the town of Leicester in January, 1841, and
was afterwards eaten.]
158. Water- Rail. Rallus aquaticus, Linn.
Locally, Velvet Runner.
Resident, but sparingly distributed, and from its
skulking habits, is thought to be much rarer than it
really is. Specimens have been received from Nar-
borough, Lutterworth,Wymeswold, and near Leicester
within the past few years. The late Dr. Macaulay
informed me that Mr. Farnham shot one out of
a turnip-field at Quorn on 7 Nov., 1889. The
Rev. G. D. Armitage received a water-rail on 21 Nov.,
1892, which had been killed by flying against the
telegraph wires near Broughton Astley. It occurs
now and then at the Leicester Sewage Farm, where
Mr. G. Collins shot one in 1894, which he gave to
the museum. Mr. O. Murray-Dixon writes from
Swithland, under date 18 Nov., 1906. : 'A short
time ago I had one that was taken from a cat.'
Mr. W. J. Horn, writing in 1907, records the follow-
ing: Several shot on the Welland in November, 1 900,
by the Rev. C. J. Cartwright, of Weston-by- Welland;
in November, 1900, several seen and one shot by
himself near Ashley ; on 2 Dec., 1906, he saw one on
a small brook near his house.
159. Moor-Hen. Gallinula chkropus (Linn.).
Locally, Water-Hen.
Resident and common ; breeding quite close to
Leicester. Mr. G. Frisby writes that on 19 June,
1906, he found a nest containing thirteen eggs at
Beaumanor Park. Mr. W. J. Horn writes in
1907: 'It breeds on the Folly Pond in Market
Harborough.'
1 60. Coot. Fulica atra, Linn.
Locally, Bald Coot.
Resident, but unevenly distributed. Mr. Babing-
ton (Potter, op. cit. App. p. 69) reports it from Groby
Pool and Barret Pool. One was shot by Mr. J
BIRDS
Grewcock, at Belgrave, close to Leicester, during a
snowstorm on 23 Jan., 1886. It breeds at Bos-
worth, ' Frog-hollow ' Pond at Belvoir, Groby Pool,
Saddington Reservoir, and other places in the county.
The museum contains a nest and five eggs taken at
Saddington in June, 1885, and another nest with ten
eggs which I obtained at the same place on 25 May,
1886. The Rev. John B. Reynardson, ofCareby
Rectory, Stamford, writing upon the habits of this
bird, gives me the following note: 'I suppose you
know when the water is rising from flood both birds
will work hard with leaves and grass to raise the nest
and save their eggs from being flooded. This interest-
ing sight I have seen.' I am not sure if it has ever
been recorded that the male often, during the breeding
season, arches his wings and ploughs through the water
in exactly the same manner as the swan. I am also
uncertain whether this singular habit is due to his
wishing to ingratiate himself with his partner, or as
a mark of defiance to other males. Mr. W. J. Horn
writes in 1907: 'Breeding at Market Bosworth
Park, Saddington Reservoir, and other places in the
county. I have never seen this bird on running
water.'
[Crane. Grits communis, Bechstein.
Harley recorded, of this very rare straggler, that
' Mr. Chaplin of Groby shot an example on the
banks of the pool in the year 1822.' I have no cor-
roboration of this, and it must be rememberel that
many keepers and some few sportsmen are in the
habit of calling the heron a ' crane,' and as Harley
did not state that he actually saw this specimen, the
record must rest upon its merits.]
161. Stone-Curlew. Qedicnemus scolopax (S. G.
Gmelin).
Locally, Great Plover, Norfolk Plover, Thick-
knee.
Formerly occurring as a summer migrant, but has
not been observed for many years. Harley, who
considered its visits rare and localized, stated that it
haunted the heath-lands at Saltby and prevailed
also on the open park-lands of Croxton Kerrial and
Waltham, and he appeared to think that its range
was limited to such spots by the presence of certain
food which it could not obtain elsewhere. The late
Mr. Widdowson noted it as having bred annually,
many years ago, at Stonesby Heath, but none had
been observed there of late.
[Collared Pratincole. Glareola pratincole, Linn.
The only authority I have for including this bird
in the present list is that in the MS. catalogue of the
contents of the museum when handed over to the
Corporation on 19 June, 1849, one is mentioned
with the remark, ' shot near Leicester.']
162. Cream-Coloured Courser. Cursorius gallicus
(J. F. Gmelin).
Locally, Cream-Coloured Swiftfoot.
A very rare autumnal straggler. Mr. Babington
writing of this species says that the third and last
specimen found in Britain was killed near Timber-
wood Hill, October, 16 1827. It is in the col-
lection of the Rev. Thomas Gisborne, of Yoxall
Lodge. Anxious, if possible, to obtain some
1* The exact date was 1 5 October.
particulars of so rare a bird Harley wrote to the late
Mr. Gisborne, and received the following reply:
'Yoxall Lodge, Needwood Forest, 4 July, 1840.
The example of Cursorius isabellinus respecting which
you inquire was shot in Charnwood Forest, near
Timberwood Hill, in October, 1827, by a tenant of
my eldest son. The tenant met my son incidentally
directly afterwards and showed and gave the bird to
him as an unknown curiosity ; and my son, who was
on his way to this neighbourhood, brought it forward
to me. Thomas Gisborne.'
Mr. Dresser (Birds of Europe) mentions the Leicester-
shire specimen as being the fourth obtained in Britain.
According to Yarrell (ed. 4, iii, 240) the present
example was the sixth recorded for Britain, but the
mistake has been made of placing the year 1828
before 1827. However, Mr. Harting's Handbook of
British Birds, and a letter from Mr. Howard Saunders
to me, show it to be the fifth noted as occurring in
Britain.
163. Dotterel. Eudnmias morinettus (Linn.).
Formerly occurring in the county as a spring and
autumn migrant. Mr. Babington stated that five
were brought down at a shot by Mr. Tomlinson, jun.,
at Charnwood Heath, and that Miss Watkinson, of
Woodhouse, had one, taken near Buddon Wood.
The Rev. C. H. Wood wrote to me with reference to
this specimen : ' That dotterel is still at Woodhouse
Hall (as they now call it).' The late Dr. Macaulay
reported (Mid. Nat. 1882, p. 65) a specimen at
Coleorton in the possession of Sir George Beaumont ;
and Potter, of Billesdon, reports two shot at Illston
by Mr. J. Allen, of Frisby Lodge, but no dates are
given, and the bird has not visited Leicestershire for
many years. Dr. Macaulay informed me that he saw
three on a fallow field in the parish of Tur Langton,
29 March, 1879.
164. Ringed Plover. Aegialitis hiaticula (Linn.).
Locally, Oxbird, Ring-Dotterel.
An accidental straggler from the coast, usually in
spring and autumn. Mr. Babington stated that it
had been killed at Groby by the keeper of the Earl of
Stamford. Harley recorded its occurrence in the
meadows at Belgrave, and elsewhere in the county,
early in the spring of 1841. The museum donation-
book records the presentation on 24 March, 1 869, of
one shot in the Abbey Meadow. Mr. Bevans showed
me one which he shot there somewhere about the
year 1875, and I saw one in the hands of Turner,
said to have been shot, in 1881, also in the same
locality, where the latter informs me that it was fre-
quently met with some years ago. I shot a speci-
men (an immature female) at Thornton Reservoir, on
25 Sept., 1884, and an adult and an immature bird
were shot in Stretton Fields near Leicester, in 1899,
by Captain Robertson-Aitman, all of which are in the
museum.
Mr. W. J. Horn saw one at Saddington Reservoir
on 20 Sept. 1902.
Mr. O. Murray-Dixon shot a ringed plover at
Swithland Reservoir on 2 Sept., 1905.
[Little Ringed Plover. Aegialitis curonica (J. F.
Gmelin).
A very much rarer bird than the preceding, and
Mr. O. Murray-Dixon would have created a new
record for the county when he shot what he supposed
'47
A HISTORY OF LEICESTERSHIRE
to be one, at Swithland Reservoir, 24 Aug., 1904.
Bearing in mind, however, the extreme rarity of the
real At, curmica, I am disposed to think he shot a
specimen of the small Continental form of Ae.
hiaticuh, which often occurs in Britain. Two
mounted specimens of the foregoing species in the
museum, said to have been shot at Belgrave, are
erroneously attributed to Ae. curonka.]
165. Golden Plover. Charadrius pluviaRs, Linn.
A winter visitant and not common. Harley re-
marked that its appearance in this county was chiefly
confined to Charnwood Forest and the wild hills
around. Occasionally, however, it was found on the
meadow-lands which fringe the River Soar, such as
the meadows about Loughborough and Barrow.
T. W. Tebbs of the Union Inn, Blaby, showed me
one which he shot at Wigston in 1854. Turner
informs me that some time in 1865 he shot a golden
plover in winter plumage, in the Abbey Meadow.
I have seen in the possession of Mr. J. S. Bevins, of
Ingarsby Old Hall, a fine specimen which was shot
by his father at Wellsborough about 186570. The
late Dr. Macaulay recorded (Mid. Nat. 1882, p. 65)
its occurrence at Coleorton, Smeeton, and Gumley
some years since. Mr. Standbridge tells me that
about 1880 he saw and shot the golden plover at
Aston Firs. Mr. Davenport shot one at Skeffington
on 26 Dec., 1 88 1, and saw a flock of about fifty on
15 March, 1883. He also reports one killed at
Foxton in October, 1884. Mr. Ingram wrote:
' In flocks in the winter season, in the Vale of
Belvoir.' Mr. W. G. Adams shot three specimens
on 30 Dec., 1885, in a field just oft' Saffron Lane,
Aylestone, and says there were sixty or more in the
flock. Mr. W. Brookes, writing from Croft in April,
1888, says : 'Golden plovers are common here in
winter, in times of floods ; I have shot them fre-
quently in the meadows. There was a flock of about
twenty flying over the floods when the snow melted a
month since.' Dr. Macaulay wrote on 29 Nov., 1889 :
' To-day when snipe-shooting with my son (Tom) we
came across a small flock, fifteen in number, of golden
plover in Smeeton parish. They were in the company
of green plovers, were wild, and got up out of shot.'
It occurs every year in small parties, and more
commonly and in larger flocks in hard weather at the
Sewage Farm, Beaumont Leys, where I have seen it.
Mr. W. J. Horn saw and shot at one in the
Welland Valley, near Rockingham, on 28 Feb., 1900.
1 66. Grey Plover. Squatarola helvetica (Linn.).
A splendid male specimen of the grey plover a
species hitherto unrecorded for the county was pre-
sented to the museum by Mr. Seville, who found it
on the morning of 5 Dec., 1892, the bird having
been killed by flying against telegraph wires, near the
Twelve Bridges, on the canalized Soar, by Leicester.
167. Lapwing or Peewit. Vanellus vulgaris, Bech-
stein.
Locally, Green Plover.
Resident and generally distributed ; in severe
winters, however, it withdraws until the early spring,
when it is often met with in large flocks. On 4 Nov.,
1885, lapwings were reported to be flocking in
meadows by the Aylestone Road Gas Works, and the
next day floods being out I saw several 'stands' of
148
some six or seven hundred or more congregated in
meadows opposite the Aylestone Mill. Mr. Daven-
port wrote: "In April, 1884, I remarked a cock
and two hen lapwings frequenting a ploughed field for
some little time ; eventually I found the two nests on
the same morning within ten yards of each other,
each nest containing four fresh eggs. I am sure there
was only one male bird with the two hens.' It is
very numerous at the Sewage Farm, Beaumont Leys.
Mr. W. J. Horn writes that large numbers are to be
seen in autumn and in mild winters in the Welland
Valley. On 28 Feb., 1900, he saw a ' stand ' of from
three to four thousand.
1 68. Turnstone. Strff si/as interpres (Linn.).
An accidental visitant from the coast. Mr. Turner
received a male and female, said to have been shot at
the Abbey Meadow about 1 8 80 or 1881, and I saw
a young one, said to have been shot in the Abbey
Meadow in the spring of 1 883. It appears an old one
was shot at the same time and place.
1 69. Oyster-Catcher. Haematofus ostralegus, Linn.
Locally, Olive, Sea-pie.
A rare and accidental straggler from the coast,
chiefly in spring and autumn. Harley recorded the
occurrence of one at Loughborough in the year 1840.
On 26 Sept., 1887, Mr. J. E. Hodding shot a fine
and nearly adult specimen of this bird in a water-
meadow next to the Gas Works on the Aylestone
Road, Leicester, which he gave to the museum.
[Avocet. Recurvtrostra avocetta, Linn.
Locally, Cobbler's Awl.
Now a rare straggler to this country, and the only
authority we have for its admission into the local
list is that of Mr. Wolley of Beeston, who saw a
specimen of this rare visitant while fishing near the
confluence of the Soar with the Trent in June, 1856.
It passed over his head 'giving a distinct view of its
upturned bill' (Zoo/. 1856, p. 5280).]
170. Grey Phalarope. Phalanpus fulicarius (Linn.).
Of irregular occurrence in autumn. Harley stated
that during the autumn of 1841 and the following
winter many birds were captured throughout the
county. The species occurred again in the autumn of
1846, and also in December, 1853, when a fine speci-
men was shot by Mr. Bloxam at Twycross. More-
over, towards the close of 1854 it appeared at Foxton,
where one was shot on the canal which passes through
that village. The late Dr. Macaulay recorded (Mid.
Nat. 1 882, p. 10) one, killed by the late Rev. H. Mat-
thews at Foxton, in the winter of 1860-1, and then
in the possession of the Rev. A. Matthews. The late
Mr. Widdowson told me that he had received two or
three specimens killed near Melton Mowbray. In
1887 I saw, in the possession of Mr. J. S. Bevins, of
Ingarsby Old Hall, an example shot by his father at
Wellsborough, fifteen or twenty years previously ; and
Mr. Richard Naylor, Thrussington, found one dead
in May, 1864, on some plough-land near Cressington
Fox-covert, on the Old Fosse Road, which he gave
to the museum. ' In 1 868 one was killed near Leices-
ter by striking telegraph wires ' (T. Walker in Zool.
1868, p. 1212). The late Rev. A. Matthews in-
formed me that a grey phalarope in winter plumage
was shot by Mr. E. T. Turner near Saddington
BIRDS
Reservoir, on 1 6 Oct., 1891. The Rev. H. Parry
presented to the museum a phalarope which was
killed one wing being cut off by flying against
the telegraph wires at East Norton in Tugby, on or
about 17 Oct., 1891. I saw three mounted speci-
mens in the hands of T. Adcock, one of which
he had imagined to be the red-necked, owing to its
having some trace of the summer plumage upon It, all
of which were said to have been shot in the district
during the stormy week in October, 1891.
On 1 5 Oct., 1 906, Pinchen of Leicester showed
me a bird of this species, said to have been killed in
that neighbourhood and sent to him to be set up. 17
[Red-Necked Phalarope. Phalaropus hyperboreus (Linn.).
A mounted specimen, said to have been shot at
Birstall, near Leicester, was purchased for the museum
early in 1904. from a taxidermist. If correct, it
establishes a new record.]
171. Woodcock. Scolopax rustlcula (Linn.).
A winter migrant, sparingly distributed. Harley
remarked that it had bred in Martinshaw and also
in the woods at Donington Park, in the northern
division of the county. A nest found by Chaplin
in Martinshaw Wood contained four young ones
which were reared off. Sir George Beaumont wrote
to the late Dr. Macaulay that woodcocks bred some
years ago at Coleorton, and Dr. Macaulay stated (Mid.
Nat. 1882, p. 10) that 'a nest was found in Owston
Wood a few years ago.' Mr. Davenport shot a
very light-coloured example in Cold Overton Wood,
in December, 1884, and I shot at Aston Firs, on
29 Nov., 1887, a large dark-coloured female bird.
A notion prevails amongst sportsmen that the light-
coloured birds are males and the dark-plumaged
ones, on the contrary, females ; but such I do not
think is the case, no author having as yet differentiated
the sex by plumage, although it is well known that the
female is the larger bird.
Mr. H. S. Davenport informed me that when
hunting on 5 April, 1889, at Rolleston, the hounds
flushed a woodcock. The Rev. C. H. Wood reports
one shot at Leicester by Mr. John Buck by the ceme-
tery gates in the old ' Occupation ' road (now Vic-
toria) a year or two previous to 1871. The Rev.
G. D. Armitage writes that he shot one in a turnip-
field of the Glebe at Broughton Astley on 29 Oct.,
1890.
Mr. W. T. Everard informed me that it bred at
Breedon Cloud in 1894, and on 20 April, 1905, the
Rev. Hugh Parry flushed a bird in Stockerston Wood
which was sitting on four incubated eggs in a nest
made under a small blackberry bush.
Mr. W. J. Horn writes in 1907 : ' It was reported
to me that woodcocks were breeding at Noseley
Lodge Farm, and I interviewed Bottrill the tenant.
He said he had seen a pair of woodcocks in the early
morning twice recently feeding in a wet bottom by
the osier bed. It is possible these birds may have
nested in the Langton Woods a mile or so distant.
V A specimen of Wilson's Phalarope, Sieganofui Wihoni
(Sabine), is said to have been obtained at Sutton Ambien near
Market Bosworth, and the occurrence was mentioned in the
Proc. Zool. Soc. (1886), pt. 3, p.'297, and in the Zoo!. (1886),
p. z;6, but the authenticity of the record has not been fully
established.
A man named Tooms reported to me in 1904 that
he had heard and seen several woodcocks during July
and August flying to or from the Langton Woods
when he was fishing in the canal.'
172. Great Snipe. Gallinago major (J. F. Gmelin).
Locally, Double Snipe, Solitary Snipe.
A rare autumn visitant. According to Harley,
Chaplin of Groby shot one in Martinshaw Wood
during the winter of 1838. Mr. Davenport says his
father shot oneatTilton in December, 1861 and ate
it ! The late Mr. Widdowson's diary contains a note of
one killed at Little Dalby on 28 Sept., 1868. The
late Dr. Macaulay recorded (Mid. Nat. 1882, p. 10)
one killed near Lutterworth some years ago by Mr.
Sansome of that town and in his possession ; another
obtained at Noseley a few years since ; a third 18 which
was killed in 1879 near Smeeton by Mr. Elliott,
and a fourth picked up dead in 1881 at Billesdon
Coplow, which appeared to have died from starva-
tion. On 2 Sept., 1885, Mr. A. Ross of Leicester,
whilst shooting over the Garthorpe Estate near
Melton Mowbray, killed a great snipe, which his
dog pointed in a clover field, and, as is usual with
this species, at some considerable distance from water.
The specimen, a fine dark-plumaged one, was pre-
sented by Mr. Ross to the museum (Field, 12 Sept.,
1885). I saw in the hand of Ludlam, a bird-stuffer,
a great snipe which had been shot by Mr. J. C. A.
Richards, in a field at Blaby, during the first week in
September, 1885.
173. Common Snipe. Gallinago caekstis (Frenzel).
Locally, Full snipe.
Generally distributed, but not so common as for-
merly, except at the Sewage Farms of Leicester and
other places, and although seen for the greater part of
the year, it is doubtful if it now remains to breed except
occasionally ; nevertheless, Mr. Robert Groves found
a nest and one egg which latter he presented to the
museum on 24 April, 1889. Mr. E. L. Ferrall
saw a snipe near Market Harborough on 1 8 May, and
at Rearsby in June, 1906. Mr. W. J. Horn writes
in 1907 : 'Nearly always to be found in the Wei-
land Valley in winter, where it has also bred just
beyond our borders. I have no note of its nesting in
the county, but on 12 June, 1904, I flushed a single
bird on the Upper Welland. It topped the hedge
and alighted on the far side, where from a distance of
but a few yards I had a good look at it through the
glasses.' On IO April, 1907, I flushed two snipe
near Bransford Bridge, Cotesbach, but I could not
gather that they had ever bred near there.
174. Jack Snipe. Gallinago gallinula (Linn.).
Locally, Half Snipe, Judcock.
An autumn visitant, sparingly distributed, and leav-
ing us early in the spring. I have seen some mounted
specimens which were shot by Mr. Samuel Bevans in
the Abbey Meadow, some time about the year 1877.
A specimen in the museum was caught in the ' allot-
ment gardens,' close to Lancaster Street, Leicester, on
20 Oct., 1884. Mr. Davenport informed me that
in 1885 he ' shot one out of some thistles at
Lowesby on 1 6 Sept., a very early date.' The late
18 Dr. Macaulay did not see this specimen, but as he was
informed that it weighed J lb., he thought it must have been of
this species.
149
A HISTORY OF LEICESTERSHIRE
Dr. Macaulay remarked upon the increasing rarity
of the 'Jack,' but in the winter of 1885-6, it
was unusually abundant, so close to Leicester as
Knighton and Rowley Fields, where I shot and
procured several examples. On 13 April, 1888, I
saw a small snipe get up quite silently from the old
river at Aylestone and believe it to have been a
'Jack,' and if so, it would be a late date for this bird
to be with us. A male specimen was killed by flying
against the telegraph wires at Cosby and presented in
the flesh to the museum on 3 April, 1906, by Mr.
Joseph Johnson. Mr. W. J. Horn writes in 1907 :
' A few are nearly always to be found in the Welland
Valley in winter, where I have occasionally shot
them.'
175. Dunlin. Tringa alpina, Linn.
Locally, Plover's Page, Purre, Sea-Snipe, Stint.
An uncommon autumn and winter visitant from
the coast. Harley recorded it for Bosworth and
Loughborough, and also noted several examples killed
near the disused reservoir of Charnwood Forest.
Mr. Sebastian Evans, writing to the late Rev. C.
Babington, who kindly furnished me with the note,
quoted from his brother, the late Rev. Arthur Evans's
miscellaneous bird notes : ' Dunlin shot at Gopsall,
Jan., 184.7.' The late Dr. Macaulay (Mid. Nat.
1882, p. 78) said that it occasionally occurred at
Saddington Reservoir, and he had noticed a flock of
fourteen there during the winter of 1881. I saw
four specimens in the possession of Mr. S. Bevans,
shot by him in the Abbey Meadow, about 1878-9 ;
one in the possession of T. W. Tebbs, shot by him at
Blaby, about the same time ; and two in the flesh in
winter plumage shot at Fleckney, by Mr. C. Allsop,
20 Oct., 1885. Harry Throsby shot one with a cata-
pult, on the canal near the gas-works, Aylestone Road,
Leicester, 2 Feb., 1888, which he brought to me in
the flesh. Mr. A. Dalby of Castle Donington shot
two 6 Jan., 1894. Mr. J. T. Hincks shot one at
the Sewage Farm in 1899, which he presented to the
museum. Mr. O. Murray-Dixon shot one in 1904,
and a female on I Sept., 1905, both of which are
in the museum, and another 6 Sept., 1905, all at
Svvithland Reservoir. Mr. W. J. Horn writes in
1907: '20 Aug., 1902, two seen at Saddington
Reservoir.'
176. Little Stint. Tringa minuta, Leisler.
A rare autumnal migrant. A Mr. Thos. Goatley,
writing in The Zoologist for 1867, p. 991, is the
first recorder of this species for the county, men-
tioning one shot in the Abbey Meadow in January,
1 867, which he had seen, but whether in the posses-
sion of Elkington, who preserved it, or in that of Mans-
field, who purchased it, is not clear. 19 Two were shot
out of a party of three, on 22 Sept., 1885,31 Sadding-
ton Reservoir, by the late Dr. Macaulay, who pre-
sented them to the museum. The Rev. W. H. Mar-
riott shot one at Saddington Reservoir, which was
unfortunately recorded as being Temminck's Stint
(see following species).
Dr. Macaulay informed me that a specimen was
shot on the brick-yard ponds, Kibworth, in March,
1893. Mr. O. Murray-Dixon reports that he shot
a little stint with plumage approximating to the
See also Little Gull (192), for both of which notee I am
indebted to Mr. W. J. Horn.
summer dress on 22 Sept., 1904, at Swithland
Reservoir.
[Temminck's Stint. Tringa temmincki, Leisler.
The late Dr. Macaulay recorded (Mid. Nat. 1882,
p. 78) that a specimen of this bird was shot at Sad-
dington Reservoir in 1860 by Rev. H. Marriott, and
was seen and identified by Rev. A. Matthews. This
statement, after being copied into many publications,
unfortunately proves to be an error ; for, suspecting the
bird might be referable to the previous species, I
wrote to the Rev. Henry Marriott, who, replying on
2 Jan., 1888, most kindly sent me the identical
specimen to examine. The first glance showed me
that it was a little stint in immature plumage ; and,
indeed, Mr. Marriott himself wrote : ' I have al-
ways been under the impression that the bird in
question is only the Little Stint,' and again : ' I am
not, myself, in any way responsible for the error.'
Temminck's Stint must therefore be erased from the
Leicestershire fauna. To prevent similar mistakes I
may, without giving all the points of difference, point
out one unerring test by which the two closely-allied
species may be distinguished in any stage of plumage ;
Temminck's Stint has the outer tail-feathers pure
white, the Little Stint has those feathers ashy brown.]
[Curlew Sandpiper. Tringa subarquata (Gtlldenstadt).
Locally, Curlew-billed Sandpiper, Pigmy Curlew.
A spring and autumn visitant. Its occurrence in
the county rests upon the vague statement of Harley,
who wrote : ' The appearance of this species of
Tringa in the county I am enabled to record on the
testimony of a sportsman resident at Loughborough,
who shot one on the banks of the Soar.']
[Purple Sandpiper. Tringa striata, Linn.
Five skins were purchased for the museum in 1904,
said to have been shot at Belgrave Sewage Farm, which,
if correct, would establish another new record. The
condition of the skins, however, with other hypotheses,
suggests that at present the verdict should be 'not
proven.']
177. Sanderling. Calidris arenaria (Linn.).
A rare straggler from the coast, where it is common
in winter. Some years since, according to Harley,
who examined them, three or four birds of this species
were shot near the reservoir in Charnwood Forest.
Mr. W. J. Horn writes in 1907 : 'One shot three
or four years ago near Callow Hill, Great Bowden,
and now in the possession of Turner, a postman in
Market Harborough. This bird has been seen and
identified by the Rev. H. H. Slater.'
178. Ruff. (2 Reeve.) Machetes pugnax (Linn.).
A spring and autumn migrant. The first specimen
recorded for the county is one shot by Mr. A. K.
Perkins, at Saddington Reservoir, on 19 Aug., 1887.
It proved on dissection to be a female. A second
and much larger example, an immature male, was shot
at the Beaumont Leys Sewage Farm on 14 Dec.,
1899, b y Mr. J. T. Hincks. Both specimen are in
the museum.
179. Common Sandpiper. Tetanus hypoleucus (Linn.).
Locally, Summer Snipe.
^ A summer visitant, sparingly distributed, remaining
with us, in ordinary seasons, from the middle of
150
BIRDS
April to the middle of September and occasionally
breeding. Mr. Babington mentioned Grace Dieu and
Groby Pool as localities for it, and Mr. Bevans reports
it as commonly occurring years ago, in spring, in the
Abbey Meadow. I have obtained specimens from
Aylestone, Belgrave, Saddington, and Thornton Reser-
voirs, and Wistow. One which I shot at Aylestone
was merely wounded and thereupon swam and dived
with ease a little-known habit of this bird. Mr.
W. A. Evans reported that in August, 1885, he saw
six common sandpipers fly up the new flood-works
cutting into Leicester, but of course they turned back
immediately. I saw three at the Flood Works, Ayles-
stone, 30 July, 1888. Harley recorded that it bred
on the banks of Groby Pool, as he learned from
Chaplin who found it there. The late Dr. Macaulay
stated that it bred at Saddington Reservoir (Mi d.' Nat,
1 88 1, p. 256), but his only ground for this assertion
was the fact of his having seen immature birds there
during late summer. Mr. H. A. Payne, of Elm
House, Enville, wrote in August, 1888 : 'About
three years ago I found a sandpiper's nest in the old
walled garden adjoining the brook in Bradgate Park.
The bird is what is called about there a summer
snipe. Another nest was found the same year at
Bradgate, the eggs of which I have.'
One was shot at Potters Marston in 1892 by
Mr. J. Choyce, who presented it to the museum.
The Rev. Hugh Parry found a nest containing four
fresh eggs on a bank of the Eye Brook near Skef-
fington, 26 May, 1906. Mr. W. J. Horn, writing
in 1907, gives the following records: 2 May, 1896,
two seen near Hinckley ; 20 Sept., 1902, two seen
at Saddington Reservoir; 4 May, 1904, one seen
on canal, Market Harborough ; 1 7 May, 1 904, one
seen on canal, Market Harborough ; 2 May, 1905,
one seen on canal, Market Harborough.
1 80. Wood-Sandpiper. Totanus glareo!a(]. F. Gmelin).
A rare straggler on migration. Harley characterized
this species as more rare and shy than its congener,
T. ocfiropus, and stated that it was met with at Groby
Pool in 1 840, and also occurred during the winter of
1852-3.
181. Green Sandpiper. Totanus ochnfus (Linn.).
A spring and autumn visitant, not common, but
sometimes remaining during winter. Mr. Babington
(Potter, op. cit. App. 69) recorded its occurrence
at Groby Pool. A mounted specimen was presented
to the museum, 7 April, 1851, by Mr. Job Glover,
* killed in Leicestershire,' presumably at Bagworth.
This species was noticed by Harley on the Wreak,
who also reported that ' it had also been shot on the
banks of the Soar and Trent, and had occurred in
several instances during the autumn and winter of
1853.' I saw in the possession of Mr. J. S. Bevins,
of Ingarsby Old Hall, a specimen shot by his father
at Wellesborough, sometime about 186570. The
Rev. G. D. Armitage shot one at Broughton Astley on
6 Sept., 1878. The late Dr. Macaulay showed me a
specimen shot by Mr. John Peberdy at Smeeton Brook
about 1882. He also informed me of two shot by
Mr. A. K. Perkins at Saddington, August, 1883, and
now in the possession of Mr. Douglass, of Market
Harborough. A fine female in the museum was
shot at Saddington Reservoir on 19 Aug., 1887, by
Mr. A. K. Perkins. Dr. Macaulay also informed me
that his son, Mr. T. A. Macaulay, shot one out of
the Smeeton Brook on 1 6 Dec., 1889, and there was
another with it. Mr. O. Murray-Dixon shot one
at Swithland Reservoir at the end of October, 1901.
The late Dr. Ogle shot one on the Swift near Lutter-
worth in 1902, which he presented to the museum.
Mr. G. Frisby saw five on I Aug., 1906, and some every
week until I November, at Swithland Reservoir. Mr.
W. J. Horn writes in 1907 : 'I have seen this bird
on the Welland in every month of the year except June
and July. It wintered on the Welland near the Market
Harborough Sewage Farm in 1899, 1900, 1901, and
1902. On 27 Aug., 1898, Mr. W. H. Symington
shot one at Ashley which he presented to me. I shot
a young bird in the autumn of 1902 ; two were seen
on the Welland, near Market Harborough Sewage
Farm, on 6, and five on 14 October, 1899; whilst
up to 14 April, 1904, I saw eighteen others.'
182. Common Redshank. Totanus calidris (Linn.).
This new record for the county I am able to add
on the testimony of several competent observers,
viz., Mr. A. Dalby of Castle Donington, writing
26 Jan., 1891, says: 'The redshank breeds every
year near the Trent, generally several pairs. I have
seen a nest and young birds, the latter several times.
They come here at the beginning of April and leave
in August. One spent several days in our garden
three springs ago, feeding on the worms and insects
on the grass plots.' Mr. E. L. Ferrall observed it
near Market Harborough, 18 May, 1906 ; whilst its
nesting is placed beyond dispute by the Rev. Hugh
Parry, who found a nest with four incubated eggs
in a tuft of grass in a meadow in the Welland Valley
between Great Easton and Medbourne, 17 May, 1906.
Mr. W. J. Horn writes in 1907 : ' On 21 April
one was seen at Wclham. The Rev. A. W. Pulteney
reports it having bred on two occasions in the Welland
Valley near Ashley (it certainly breeds several pairs
a few miles lower down the valley at Seaton).'
183. Spotted Redshank. Totanus fuscus (Linn.).
A rare straggler on migration. Inserted in this
list on the authority of Mr. J. Whitaker, of Mansfield,
Notts., who informed me that he had a spotted red-
shank, shot by Mr. W. Whitaker, in 1880, on the
side of Thornton Reservoir.
184. Greenshank. Totanus canescens (J. F. Gmelin).
A rare spring and autumn visitant. Harley wrote :
' It has been shot on the banks of Groby Pool and
also at Swithland. Yarrell, on the authority of a
resident at Melton Mowbray, 10 stated that 'it is not
uncommon in the more eastern parts of the county.'
I saw a specimen in the hands of Elkington, said to
have been shot at Enderby. Writing to Mr. Joseph
Burchnall of the Cottage Farm, Enderby, for confirm-
ation, he replied : ' I shot the Greenshank some time
in August, 1885, in Shenton Meadow, parish of
Enderby.'
Mr. W. J. Horn writes in 1907 : 'On 29 August,
1898, T. Turner, the postman, and a good naturalist,
reported to me that he had seen the Greenshank at
Saddington Reservoir (I. think this very probable, as I
have seen the bird at the neighbouring reservoir of
Naseby, and in the fishing cottage there, a pair is set
up which was shot on that water).'
50 Probably the late Mr. Widdowson, who wa often in com-
munication with Yarrell.
A HISTORY OF LEICESTERSHIRE
[Bar-tuled Godwit. Limosa lapponica (Linn.).
Finding this bird recorded by Mr. Babington as
having been shot near Swarkeston, I, thinking that
this place was in the county, included the note in my
list, published in the Zoologist, 1886, p. 331. As
Swarkeston is, however, in Derbyshire, it is the latter
county which must lay claim to this record. The
late Dr. Macaulay, writing under date 19 Feb.,
1 892, reported one taken in a snare on the Sewage
Farm, Beaumont Leys, on whose authority cannot
now be discovered, hence this must ever remain a
doubtful record.]
185. Black-tailed Godwit. Limosa belgica (]. F.
Gmelin).
A rare spring and autumn visitant. On the
authority of Mr. (the Rev. Arthur ?) Evans, of
Market Bosworth, Harley recorded a specimen shot
near Market Bosworth, and a second at Osbaston.
He said further that it was erroneously described by
Mr. Evans, in one of our oldest local papers, as the
' red-breasted snipe,' or ' brown snipe ' of Jenyns and
Y.irrell, and I record the fact lest this note of the
' red-breasted snipe ' should crop up at some future
time and cause it to be added to the Leicestershire
fauna. There is a specimen in the museum, in sum-
mer plumage, marked 'Leicestershire, 1869,' but I
am by no means sure that it is a local example. A
specimen, in nearly adult summer dress, was shot by
Mr. Thomas Beck, of Newtown Linford, at the
reservoir, Bradgate Park, in August, 1887, which he
has since presented to the museum.
1 86. Curlew. Numenius arjuata (Linn.).
An accidental straggler from the coast. Mr. Bab-
ington (Potter, op. cit. App. 69) said : ' Shot at
Ben's Cliff; now at Rothley Temple.' Harley
wrote : ' Before the Forest of Charnwood was en-
closed this wader was very plentifully diffused over its
uneven surface.' The museum donation-book re-
cords the gift, on 2 Oct., 1865, by Mr. H. B. Cham-
berlain, of a curlew shot at Desford. On 16 Aug.,
1887, the late Dr. Macaulay saw one at Saddington
Reservoir. A fine young male was shot out of a
ditch by a small spinney at Arncsby, on I Nov., 1887,
by Mr. A. Langton, and presented to the museum,
being the only authentic local specimen, the 1865 one
having disappeared. Mr. A. Dalby saw a curlew at
Castle Donington in July, 1894, and as this is the last
note appearing by him, it should be known that he
particularly stated, ' All birds mentioned are from the
Leicestershire side of the Trent.'
Mr. C. Marriott told me in 1907 that he had seen
specimens more than once during the past twenty
years in the meadows bordering the Swift at Cotes-
bach.
187. Whimbrel. Numenius phaeofus (Linn.).
An accidental straggler from the coast. ' One shot
near Charnwood Heath ' (Potter, op. cit. App. 69).
Harley wrote : ' The whimbrel occurs occasionally
in sparing numbers, as for instance in the meadows
about Loughborough, at Bosworth, and elsewhere in
the county. Killed near Leicester 23 April, 1856.'
1 88. Black Tem. Hydrochelidon nigra (Linn.).
An occasional straggler from the coast, chiefly in
spring ind autumn. Mr. Babington (Potter, op. cit.
App. 70) wrote : ' The black tern frequently
occurs in the vicinity of our rivers and pools during
the summer months.' The late Dr. Macaulay re-
corded (Mid. Nat. 1882, p. 80) that one was shot at
Saddington Reservoir in December, 1865, by Rev. A.
Matthews, and was in his collection. A black tern
was shot by Mr. W. A. Heap, of Melton Mowbray,
on 4 Aug., 1884, as it was flying about a ballast-hole
filled with water, about two acres in extent, close to
Melton. Mr. Heap said it kept darting at the water
as swallows do, and every time it brought out a small
fish (stickleback or minnow). Mr. Edward Bidwell,
of East Twickenham, informed me that he bought a
specimen in Leicester, which was said to have been
killed in the Abbey Meadow many years ago. Among
the museum specimens are two adult mounted ex-
amples which were shot near Belgrave, 24 April,
1886, out of a flock of over forty. Dr. Macaulay
reported two adult black terns on Saddington Reser-
voir on 2 June, 1887, which were seen and identified
by the Rev. A. Matthews, who watched them for
over an hour. A most interesting example, an adult
in change to winter dress having a white forehead,
face, and throat, a partially black head, and a grey
breast thinly barred with white was shot by Mr. R.
Henfield on a flooded meadow at Nailstone, in Sep-
tember, 1888, and presented to the museum. A
young bird in the plumage of immaturity i.e. with
forehead, face, throat, and remaining underparts pure
white ; head and hind-neck black ; and with wing-
coverts and some of the secondaries broadly marked
with light-brown was shot in the Abbey Meadow
during the first week of October, 1888, and passed
into the possession of Mr. F. F. How, of Evington
Street, Leicester.
Mr. O. Murray-Dixon shot an immature bird in
September, 1904, and Mr. G. Frisby saw one, also at
Swithland Reservoir, 4 April, 1906, and writes that
they are rare but regular visitants to the reservoir
during the spring and autumn migrations. Mr. W. J.
Horn writes in 1907 : ' On 3 May, 1903, I watched
for some time through my glasses a single bird of this
species in a flooded meadow near Lubenham.'
[White-winged Black Tern. Hydnchelidon leucoptera
(Schinz).
A rare straggler, in spring, summer, and sometimes
in autumn. Harley related that on 24 May, 1852,
while driving close to Groby Pool, he observed a
pied-coloured tern skimming over the surface of the
water in pursuit of Tipuiidae and small dragon-flies.
He was of opinion that the specimen referred to was
either 5. leucoptera or S. fuliginosa, and not S. nigra,
especially as S. fuliginosa had occurred on the Trent in
May, 1852, coincident in point of time with his pied
tern. The late Dr. Macaulay told me that Stafford,
the water-keeper at Saddington Reservoir, described
to him a white and black bird evidently a tern
which he saw there on 13 June, 1883, and Dr.
Macaulay thought this must have been H. leucoptera,
because one shot three days before on one of the
Norfolk Broads was in company with another. I
would remark, however, that both observers may have
been correct in seeing a white and black tern, and yet
it need not follow that it was the white-winged black
tern in either case, the immature black tern being
pied, as is also the adult in winter. Again, I should
be chary of claiming this rare bird for the county.]
152
BIRDS
[Roseate Tern. Sterna dougalli, Montagu.
This rare summer visitant is included in the Leices-
tershire list on the authority of Harley, who wrote :
'The author has an opportunity afforded him of re-
cording its visit to his native county, the bird having
been shot by Chaplin on Groby Pool in the year
1836. The example was examined by us, and was
correctly described shortly after its capture. The
pectoral feathers down to the vent were of a roseate
hue, denoting its distinctive race. Moreover, there
were some other peculiarities equally as obvious be-
longing to the example, which we were careful to
examine, and which could not be mistaken by us we
refer to its bright orange feet. The bird was shot
about the period of the summer solstice. It was pre-
served, but was suffered to go to decay in consequence
of the ignorance of the artist who prepared the skin,
making use of improper ingredients for that purpose.'
I cannot but think some mistake has been made,
Harley probably not being aware that most of the
white-breasted terns have, when in breeding plumage
and alive, or a short time after death, the breast
suffused with a roseate tinge. The ' bright orange '
feet depend upon how far the orange was translated
by Harley in the direction of red, the feet of Sterna
dougalli being described by Dresser as ' reddish orange,'
and by other authors as 'red.']
189. Common Tern. Sterna jluviatilis, Naumann.
Of accidental occurrence on spring and autumn
migration. Harley wrote : ' I recollect seeing several
birds of this species a few years since hovering over
the River Soar close to the town of Leicester, immedi-
ately below the castle, busily engaged in taking small
fish. It has been shot in most parts of the county,
but especially in the vicinity of the Soar and Trent.'
A specimen is recorded in the museum donation-
book as having been shot at Leicester on 1 3 Nov.,
1858 ; another (a female) at Saddington Reservoir on
15 Oct., 1881, by the late Dr. Macaulay ; a third at
Aylestone, on 29 Oct., 1881, by Mr. E. Batten, and
a fourth a female, and, like the last, in immature
plumage at Saddington Reservoir, on 1 6 Oct., 1886,
by Mr. A. K. Perkins. The three last examples are
now in the museum. Mr. Ingram informed me that
it visits the Belvoir Lake occasionally, generally after
strong easterly gales. An immature specimen was
shot on Saddington Reservoir in 1895. Mr. O.
Murray-Dixon saw one 12 May, 1903, at Swithl.ind
Reservoir, and Mr. G. Frisby reports that four of these
birds were very busy taking small fish from the surface
of the water on 20 Sept. 1906.
190. Arctic Tern. Sterna macrura, Naumann.
Locally, Sea Swallow (applied to all Terns).
Of accidental occurrence on vernal and autumnal
migration. Harley recorded that in the spring of
1842, during the prevalence of north-west gales, this
species was unusually abundant in the county, especially
from 7 to to May, when they might be seen ' in
small groups, varying in number from a single bird
up to ten, fifteen, and even twenty individuals ' on the
streams and pools, and he saw numbers along the
Rivers Soar and Trent. I procured a beautiful adult
male in perfect plumage at Saddington Reservoir on
25 May, 1886, and saw at Kibworth a mounted
specimen which had been shot at Thornton some
years previously. Mr. O. Murray-Dixon saw one at
Swithland Reservoir, 3 May, 1904. The late
Dr. Macaulay reported one shot at Saddington
Reservoir on 17 Aug. 1888, by Mr. A. Perkins.
Dr. J. Young of Narborough presented to the
museum a male specimen which was killed by flying
against the telegraph wires on 14 Aug. 1890.
191. Little Tern. Sterna minuta, Linn.
A new record for the county was created by
Mr. Alick Duncan of Knossington Grange, who wrote
under date 2 Oct., 1901, that he had seen a strange
bird like a tern, but smaller, flying over a small pond
in front of the house : ' The tail was quite short and
not forked, the back was a very light slatish grey
colour, looking in the distance a greyish white ; the
breast was white, the head seemed to have a black
spot between the eye and some black in front, a little
white showing also ; the beak was a little over an inch
long and quite black. The bird kept very close to
the water, flew quickly, but with a floppy motion,
rather like a bat, and picked the flies off the surface of
the water, leaving a little ring where its beak touched
the water. It had a very silent flight and was quite
tame, often coming within six yards of where I stood.
I watched it for nearly two hours before it settled,
which it did on the edge of the water ; it was too
dark to see whether it really settled or only stood in
it; it then flapped its wings about in the water and
flew to the bank, where I left it. I was not able to
see its legs.' The next day it was shot and proved to
be, as may be supposed, the little tern in immature
plumage.
192. Little Gull. Larus minuttis, Pallas.
A very rare straggler from the coast. Elkington
recorded a specimen which was shot between Old
Belgrave Locks and Lady Bridge. In support of this
Mr. W. J. Horn has called my attention to the
following, contributed by a Mr. Thomas Goatley to
the Zoo/, for 1867, p. 991 : ' I have just seen two
birds which I believe are of very rare occurrence in
this country, namely, the little stint, Trixga minuta,
and the little gull, Larus minutus. They were both
shot in the Abbey Meadow, close to the town of
Leicester, in January last, and stuffed by Mr. Elking-
ton of that place, who sold them to Mr. Mansfield of
Birmingham, birds'-eye maker, and in whose possession
they are now. I have a letter from Mr. Elkington
containing the names of the two gentlemen who shot
the birds and describing the Abbey Meadow as a very
large field of grassland, bounded on one side by the
canal and on the other by the " old Soar," and in
winter time often overflowed with water.' [See also
Little Stint, 1 76 ante.] An immature specimen shot by
Wesley, late gamekeeper, at Bradgate Reservoir in the
winter of 1889 is now in the museum and is probably
the only authentic local specimen.
193. Black-headed Gull. Larus ridibundus, Linn.
Locally, Peewit Gull, Red-legged Gull.
An accidental straggler in spring and autumn.
Mr. Bloxam in his MS. notes says : ' Peewit gull is
not uncommon about Ashby Wolds ; I had a young
one shot this summer there.' An immature bird in
the possession of Mr. T. Stevenson, of Kibworth, was
shot some years ago at Thornton Reservoir. The
museum possesses a pair in immature plumage, said
to have been shot at Belgrave on 3 Nov. 1881.
153
20
A HISTORY OF LEICESTERSHIRE
The late Dr. Macaulay shot an immature specimen
at Saddington Reservoir on 9 Aug., 1887, and a female
in winter plumage was shot at the same place on
IJ Oct., 1887, by Mr. A. K. Perkins, who presented
it to the museum. When driving with a party of
friends near Groby Pool on 16 May, 1889, our
attention was attracted by a gull flying over the water.
Watching its flight for some time, it repeatedly came
quite near to us, giving us all a very good view of its
dark head, and I had not the slightest hesitation in
pronouncing it to be a black-headed gull in summer
plumage. Mr. W. J. Horn writes in 1907 : ' On
5 May, 1903, I saw eleven of these gulls in breeding
plumage on floods in Welland Valley below Med-
bourne.'
1 94. Common Gull. Larui canus, Linn.
Of accidental occurrence, especially after stormy
weather on the east coast. Mr. Babington (Potter,
op. cit. App. p. 70) said : ' Often seen and shot ; flocks of
gulls, probably L. rissa as well as this, frequently fly
over Thringstone after violent storms. None except
the common gull have fallen into my hands.'
I am sorry I cannot endorse this statement, very
few but kittiwakes having come under my observation.
I saw at Pinchen's a fully mature specimen which
was shot at Wigston on 1 6 Aug., 1889, and two days
later I saw five gulls of some kind fly over Wigston.
Mr. How informs me that he saw at Pinchen's a
specimen said to have been shot at Frisby early in
December, 1892. Mr. G. Frisby writes on 27 July,
1906 : 'A young common gull was shot upon the
Fishpond here and brought to me for identification.'
Mr. W. J. Horn writes in 1907 : 'Three gulls of
this species were seen by me on 5 May, 1903, on
floods below Medbourne, in the Welland Valley.'
195. Herring Gull. Larus argentatus, J. F. Gmelin.
Potter, the taxidermist of Billesdon, reported a
specimen caught alive by Mr. W. Hart, of Rolleston,
in September, 1869, and if this be correct it creates
a new record, whilst it is highly probable that some
of the large gulls which I and others have seen every
spring flying over Leicester are of this species.
Mr. W. J. Horn writes in 1907 : 'In April, 1901,
numerous in the flooded meadows near Rockingham,
in fact they are nearly always to be seen in the valley
when the Welland is in flood. In the last week of
February, 1902, it was reported to me, " Scores of
gulls in the Welland Valley. They were probably of
this species." '
196. Lesser Black-backed Gull. Larus fuscus, Linn.
A rare straggler from the coast. The late Rev. A.
Evans recorded in his notes the occurrence of a
specimen on Groby Pool in 1850. In the autumn of
1880 I saw an adult specimen, said to be from
Bradgate, in the hands of a man named Donnell.
Three immature specimens, one shot at Somerby in
1880, one at Melton in 1881, and another obtained
at Claybrook in 1900, are in the museum.
197. Greater Black-backed Gull. Larus marinus,
Linn.
Locally, Cob.
Mr. O. Murray-Dixon again creates a new record
for the county, having shot one of this species on
4 Sept., 1905, at Swithland Reservoir. Mr. W. J.
Horn writes in 1907: 'On 16 April, 1894, two
seen by me soaring over the canal near Hinckley.'
198. Kittiwake. Rissa tridactyla (Linn.).
Of accidental occurrence in spring and autumn.
Mr. Babington (Potter, op. cit. App.) recorded its
occurrence at Bardon, and Harley wrote : ' Occurred
on the Soar, 1854,3)80 on Groby Pool and elsewhere
in the county.' A mounted specimen presented to
the museum by Mr. H. J. Bellairs on 7 June, 1852,
is noted in the donation-book as having been found
dead at Evington ; another is noted under date
9 March, 1 86 1 , as having been ' shot at Upton.' The
Midland Naturalist (1880, p. 43) recorded that one
was shot by Mr. Warner's keeper in a field near the
Sewage Works on 1 9 January, a fourth was found dead
in the Abbey Meadow on 7 Feb., 1881, and a fifth was
obtained at Melton Mowbray in 1 88 1. The late
Dr. Macaulay mentioned one shot at Gumley on
3 Jan., 1880, and another an adult female in
winter dress which is now in the museum, shot
by Mr. Thomas Aulay Macaulay on Saddington
Reservoir, 15 Sept., 1 88 1. Mr. Davenport says two
immature specimens were shot at Ashlands in Sep-
tember, 1 88 1, and he shot another, fully mature,
flying over the house at Ashlands some time in 1886.
I saw an adult specimen in the hands of Pinchen,
which was shot at Braunstoneon 14 April, 1888. Mr.
W. T. Tucker shot one on a pit at the brickworks,
Loughborough, on 1 8 Nov., 1889. He had the bird
set up, and then took a rough photograph of it, which
he sent to me together with a description and measure-
ments of the specimen, and from these I have no
doubt it is a kittiwake in change of plumage.
Dr. Macaulay reported an immature specimen shot at
Carlton Curlieu, 1 1 Dec., 1891. Mr. W. J. Horn
writes in 1907: ' In Zoo/. 1868, p. 1213, Mr.
Theodore Walker writes: " A specimen was shot at
the West Bridge in Leicester, during March."'
[Common Skua. Stercorarius catarrhactcs (Linn.).
An autumn and spring visitant, but of rare and acci-
dental occurrence inland. Mr. Babington (Potter, op.
cit. App. p. 70), said : ' One shot near Wymeswold,
December, 1841. Communicated by Mr. Potter,'
and Harley wrote : ' This species of Lcstris has been
captured in the county, but the visit of the creature
must ever be considered unusual and irregular. The
bird appeared in the month of October, 1846, during
the prevalence of a heavy gale from the N.W.' The
occurrence in the county of Leicester of the ' common '
skua, probably one of the rarest of the skuas, must
stand or fall upon Mr. Babington's note, as in October,
1846, Harley evidently could not discriminate
between this bird and the pomatorhine skua, from the
fact that in November, 1 846, he admitted that he
had misnamed the one recorded by him (see follow-
ing species), which he had wrongly pronounced to be
the common skua.]
199. Pomatorhine Skua. Stercorarius pomatorblnut
(Temminck).
Locally, Pomarine skua (by error).
A rare straggler from the coast. Harley related
that one was shot near Leicester, in November, 1846,
and being merely wounded was kept some time in a
154
BIRDS
state of captivity.* 1 Another, an immature bird, killed
near Hinckley in the autumn of 1879 and secured
for the collection of Mr. R. W. Chase, of Birmingham,
has since been presented by him to the museum, for
which also has been purchased an immature speci-
men (mounted) almost identical in plumage with
that last mentioned, said to have been shot at Somerby
m November, 1 88 1. I saw at Pinchen's on z Feb.,
1891, a specimen which had been picked up by
Mr. Sharp at Bradgate Reservoir, in October or No-
vember, 1 890, and which, until I saw it, Mr. Pinchen
had believed to be the great skua and had sold as such,
at a high price to the late Dr. Macaulay, in whose
possession it was, and who considered it to be the
common skua. A bird of this species was found
exhausted in a pigstye, at Wigston, after a great storm
(area 1 900) ; and though slightly injured, was kept alive
by three different persons until 1906. It would
come for food if called by its name ' Jacob,' but was
rather timid and afraid of dogs and fowls.
zoo. Arctic or Richardson's Skua. Stercoraritu crept-
datus (F. Gmelin).
Also a rare straggler from the coast. In the autumn
of 1880 I saw in the possession of a man named
Donnell a nearly adult specimen said to have been
shot at Enderby.
zoi. Razorbill. Aka torda, Linn.
Of very unusual occurrence inland. I saw an adult
specimen in 1888 in the collection of Mr. H. C.
Woodcock, who assures me that it was shot on the
Wreak, at Rearsby, many years ago by his keeper.
zoz. Common Guillemot. Uria troile (Linn.).
Locally, Willock.
A very rare and accidental straggler from the coast.
The late Dr. Macaulay stated (Mid. Nat. p. 79) that
he had a specimen shot many years since on the
River Soar, at Cossington, by the miller who then re-
sided there. This specimen I have seen. Elkington
showed me one in the skin said to have been killed at
Husbands Bosworth, 1883. One was reported to have
been shot at Belgrave, Leicester, on the water,
21 July, 1893.
203. Little Auk. Mergulus alle (Linn.).
Locally, Rotche.
A rare straggler from the coast, driven inland by
severe weather. According to Mr. Babington
(Potter, op. cit. App.) a pair of these sea-birds were
taken alive at Nanpantan, 6 Nov., 1837, in a
turnip field, by Mr. J. Cartwright, of Loughborough,
who endeavoured, without success, to keep them alive
on fish and insects. Writing, probably, of the same
pair, Harley stated that during the autumn of 1838
a pair in a semi-exhausted state was picked up
among the hills of Charnwood Forest ; and further
that in the autumn of 1 840 this species again occurred
in the county and adjoining districts. The late Mr.
Widdowson wrote to me, circa 1885, from Melton :
' Several have been picked up at different times near
here.'
The late Dr. Macaulay presented to the museum a
specimen in the flesh which had been found alive at
Smeeton Westerby 18 Nov., 1893, and Pinchen
21 Mentioned also in the late Rev. A. Evans's Miscellaneous
Bird Notes, in the possession of Mr. S. Evans.
received one in the flesh which had been shot near
Belgrave, Leicester, 20 Oct., 1894. One was
picked up alive by either Mr. B. or Mr. W. L. Fosse
in the former's garden at Barkby, 4 June, 1903 (an
unusual date), and I saw the specimen.
[Great Northern Diver. Colymbus glatialis, Linn.
The only authority I have for including this species
in the present list is a statement by the late
Mr. Widdowson that it ' has been killed here in im-
mature plumage ' ; but as both of the following
species, especially C. seftentrionaRs, so often do duty for
this much rarer bird, I am inclined to think that, in this
case as in many others, the species have become con-
fused one with another.]
204. Black-throated Diver. Colymbus arctkus, Linn.
A rare straggler from the coast, and seldom found
inland in mature plumage. Mr. Babington (Potter,
op. cit. App.) reported its occurrence at Donington
Park, communicated by the Rev. Thomas Gisborne.
Upon this Harley remarked that a second was re-
ported to have been killed at Mountsorrel ; " that
another a male in mature plumage was procured in
a meadow below Leicester Castle on 4 Jan., 1854,
but although shot was alive when seen by Harley ;
and another ' a female in the plumage of the lesser
imber of Bewick ' was shot in the Abbey Meadow on
the same day ; the two last examples, he considered,
being probably driven inland by the gale which pre-
vailed on 4 January, and the severity of the north-
east wind, whith brought a hurricane of snow.
The museum donation-book contains an entry under
date 4 Jan., 1854, to the effect that an immature
male was shot at a mill near the Abbey Meadow ; and
that another also immature (sex not stated) was
shot at Aylestone on 10 Jan., 1854, and presented
by Mr. N. C. Stone. The late Dr. Macaulay stated
(Mid. Nat. 1 882, p. 7z) that one was shot at Sadding-
ton Reservoir in February, 1874.
205. Red-throated Diver. Colymbus septentnonaRs,
Linn.
A straggler inland, chiefly in winter, and nearly
always in immature plumage, According to Mr.
Babington (Potter, op. cit. App.), one in immature
plumage was killed at Groby, by the keeper of the
Earl of Stamford. Harley wrote : ' Captured dur-
ing the storm which prevailed on 4 Jan., 1854,
in several parts of the county ; but in no instance, I
believe, in its perfect state of plumage." It has
been frequently met with on the Soar, about Lough-
borough, and also on the Trent. It has likewise been
shot on the Wreake, and on such pools as those of
Groby, Saddington, and Dishley.' T. Freer, of
Aylestone, showed me a fully adult specimen (red-
throated) which he shot in 1869 (10 Sept.) in
the canal between the 'West' and 'Mill Lane'
Bridges, Leicester. In October, 1885, at Carlton
Curlieu Hall, I saw an immature specimen obtained
at Saddington Reservoir 1 6 Dec., 1840, shot by
Mr. Hayes Marriott. Mr. G. H. Storer informs me
that two (probably a pair) in winter plumage, shot
w Harley's informant appears to have been the late Rev. A.
Evans, in whose Miscellaneous Bird Notei the date 1850 is
given.
23 Probably Harley did not know that in winter its plumage is
similar to that of the immature bird, the ted throat persisting
only in rare cases.
155
A HISTORY OF LEICESTERSHIRE
on Cropston Reservoir, are preserved at the Reservoir
Hotel, but he did not know the date and I cannot
obtain any further information. Mr. Davenport
informed me that on 2 March, 1889, 'as the wife of
a man named William King, living at Burton Overy,
went out at the back door to feed her ducks and
chickens she found amongst them a strange bird,
which she succeeded in capturing by throwing her
apron over it. It was kept for a few days, fed
fairly well on such food as could be procured for it,
did not appear to be at all shy, and although helpless
on the ground, when put into a tub of water its
motions were very graceful, and it swam and dived
with freedom.' Before it died, however, Mr. Daven-
port rode over to see it and kindly notified me of the
occurrence, thus putting me into communication with
the possessor, and enabling me to acquire for the
museum a fine male specimen of the red-throated
diver in winter plumage.
A fine specimen an immature male was shot on
Swithland Reservoir on 10 Jan., 1907, by Mr. O.
Murray-Dixon, who kindly presented it to the
writer.
206. Great Crested Grebe. Podicipes cristatus (Linn.).
Locally, Tufted Grebe, often called Eared Grebe
by error.
A spring visitant, sometimes remaining until winter.
The late Dr. Macaulay was the first to record its
breeding in the county at SaJdington Reservoir
whence he received, in 1874, a ma ' e an d female and
one young in the down. On 7 May, 1883, he
showed me a pair nesting at Saddington Reservoir,
which brought oft" their young. In the spring of
1884 a pair nested there and brought off four young,
which remained until late in the summer, but finally
left owing to the dry weather. In 1885 the same or
another pair nested again and laid five eggs, but three
of thorn being taken on 23 May the birds deserted
the nest and left the water entirely. In 1886 several
pairs nested at Saddington, and on i June a nest of
four eggs and a male bird were procured for the
museum. Mr. H. A. Payne informs me that he has
taken several nests on the Bradgate Reservoir, the last
being in 1 8 79. Mr. G. Frisby writes in 1906 : ' I have
seen eight pairs at one time on our reservoir, and one
day watched one land. No sooner was it out of the
water than it squatted down, being apparently unable to
walk, and stayed there until ready to take to the water
again. Young ones were successfully reared this year.
Always with us except in hardest frosts. Two families
of young grebes seen this year. On 2 May, 1 906,
eight pairs were seen at Swithland.'
Mr. W. J. Horn writes in 1907 : 'Breeding on
all the lakes and reservoirs in the neighbourhood. It
appears to be greatly increasing in numbers. In one
week in May, 1905, I saw twenty-six of these birds.
13 May, 1895, one seen on Thornton Reservoir;
2 1 March, 1 900, five seen on Saddington Reservoir ;
7 June, 1902, two seen on Saddington Reservoir; and
I April, 1905, two were seen on Saddington Reservoir.'
207. Red-necked Grebe. Podicipes griseigena (Bod-
daert).
According to the late Dr. Macaulay {Mid. Nat.
1882, p. 79), one was shot on Saddington Reservoir
in 1874, and it appeared from his MS. notes that it
was shot by Mr. F. Kemp in March. Thinking
I 5 6
there was probably some mistake and that the bird
might have been the little grebe in spring plumage, I
wrote to Mr. Kemp to ask if he were certain about the
bird, and was confirmed in my supposition by the fact
that he was unable to answer my query, merely saying
that he thought the date was 1876. After some
trouble Mr. Kemp having removed to Great Yar-
mouth he fortunately visited the museum in January,
1888. On looking around at the specimens, he could
not see one like his own, and said it certainly was not
the red-necked grebe, but seemed to think it might
be the Slavonian. Nevertheless, Mr. W. J. Horn
writes : ' I saw a red-necked grebe so recently as
Saturday, 18 March, 1899, floating upon the waters
of Saddington Reservoir. This is, I think, the first
record for the county.'
208. Slavonian or Horned Grebe. Podlclpes auritus
(Linn.).
A rare winter visitant. Harley recorded that it
visited us ' in the severe winter months of 18445,
when a fine example was shot by Chaplin on the
waters of Groby Pool. The species has also been
met with by gunners and sportsmen on the waters of
the Soar, Trent, and Wreake.' The late Mr. Widdow-
son reported the occurrence of one, in immature
plumage, at Melton, but the claim of this species to
have a place in the county fauna rests upon an imma-
ture female specimen shot by Mr. W. A. Evans in
December, 1896, at Saddington Reservoir, and pre-
sented by him to the museum.
209. Black-necked or Eared Grebe. Podicipes nigri-
collis (Brehm).
A rare visitant, usually in spring, and probably
Harley was mistaken when he wrote of this species :
' Formerly more abundant and pretty well distributed
over the county. Occurs on the Soar and Trent ; '
he most likely having been told of the ' eared grebe,'
which in gamekeepers' language means the great
crested grebe. Later, however, he recorded : ' 1 844,
December. This species of grebe has occurred this
winter on Groby Pool, since Chaplin has carried me
an example for private examination.'
210. Little Grebe or Dabchick. Podicipes fuviatilis
(Tunstall).
Locally, Didopper.
Resident, but sparingly distributed. Mr. Babing-
ton (Potter, op. cit. App. 70) said : ' Rothley, Groby,
&c. ; but not abundant.' Harley, however, appears
to have considered it common in his day, on the
Soar, Trent, Wreak, and other streams, as well as on
most large waters, as Saddington, Groby, and Bos-
worth Pools ; and remarked, under date 14 July,
1842, that 'young grebes have a shrill call-note,
which they almost incessantly keep up when they first
come abroad on the surface of the water.' I saw
one on Bosworth Pool, on 6 Dec., 1884, and shot
one a male at Belgrave, by the sewage weir, on
10 Feb., 1886. Mr. G. H. Storer informs me that
he saw a pair on the fish-pond at Ulverscroft Priory
on 28 June, 1888. The late Mr. Ingram wrote that
it ' breeds in Frog Hollow Pond, near Belvoir,' and
Mr. W. A. Evans presented to the museum a nest
and three eggs, taken by him at Thornton Reservoir
on 9 June, 1 88 1, when he found as many as five
nests in one day that were all placed on the roots or
BIRDS
on the branches of small willows near the shore. He
also remarks that this species covers its eggs with wet,
green weed when leaving the nest, as recorded of the
great-crested grebe. With regard to this habit of
both grebes I would remark that although various
authors assert that this is done to assist the maturing
of the eggs, as a kind of hot-bed, yet 1 would suggest
that, taking into consideration the fact that the eggs
of both birds when first laid are of a dazzling white,
it is much more probable that instinct has taught the
birds to cover up such conspicuous objects from the
prying eyes of carrion crows and other birds which,
as is well known, harry the nests. Very soon, by this
covering-up process, the eggs become of the same
ground colour as those of the moorhen and coot, a
colour not so likely to attract the keen eyes of
marauders. Mr. W. J. Horn writes in 1907 :
' Breeds at Saddington Reservoir. I Jan., 1897, one
seen on the floods at Narborough ; 28 April, 1900,
one seen on Saddington Reservoir; 7 June, 1902,
several seen on Saddington Reservoir ; I April,
1905, one seen on Saddington Reservoir.
A pair of these birds had placed their nest in such
a position that I could come upon the sitting bird
suddenly. This I did time after time. It was but
the work of a second for the sitting bird to tear up
part of the nest and cover, or partially cover, the
eggs and to glide into the water.'
211. Storm Petrel. Procellaria pebgica, Linn.
Locally, Mother Carey's Chicken."
A rare and accidental straggler from the coast.
Harley noted one shot on 23 Oct., 1846, close to
Leicester, on the River Soar, a few yards below the
West Bridge. The late Dr. Macaulay stated (Mid.
Nat. 1882, p. 80) that in 1862 another was found
dead at Gumley and was in the possession of the
Rev. A. Matthews. The late Mr. Widdowson wrote:
' Several have been picked up dead near Melton.'
Mr. G. H. Storer informs me that he has seen a nice
specimen (mounted), which was picked up dead in a
field near Anstey, after very stormy weather, in 1875 ;
and Mr. G. H. Nevinson had one that was caught
in Dover Street, Leicester, about 1882, having
flown against a wall. Dr. Macaulay presented to
the museum a beautiful female specimen, shot by
Mr. Graye Hardy at Earl Shilton 24 Nov., 1892.
Mr. W. J. Horn, writing in 1907, refers to a report
in the Field, 30 Sept., 1899, of one shot at Whet-
stone, a few days before the above date, by Mr. Norman
Brown.
2 1 2. Leach's Fork-tailed Petrel. Oceanodroma leucor-
rkoa (Vieillot).
A very rare straggler from the coast. This bird is
recorded in Mr. Babington's list (Potter, op.cit. App. 70)
** A popular name for all petrels.
under the name of ' Thalassidroma Bul.'ockii, fork-tailed
storm-petrel,' as thus : ' One found in Gopsall Park
is in the possession of the Earl Howe. Communi-
cated by Dr. Kennedy.' Harley stated that one,
collected by the Leicester Literary and Philosophical
Society, was obtained in the county, but the precise
locality is unknown. I am enabled to definitely add
a more recent example one caught in a hedge at
Cosby on 1 8 Nov., 1899, during very foggy weather
with a heavy raugh frost, by one William Johnson,
who brought it to me alive, and from whom I pur-
chased it for the museum.
213. Manx Shearwater. Puffinus anghrum (Tem-
minck).
A rare straggler, sometimes driven inland by gales
on the coast. According to Harley, who called this
bird the ' Cinerous shearwater,' one was captured by
a shepherd-dog in a turnip-field near the River Soar
at Cossington in 1840. For several days it was con-
fined to a grass-plot by the foot, and during its cap-
tivity it was observed to grow less sociable, especially
on the appearance of a dog or cat, or indeed any
domestic creature, for no sooner did one venture near
than it rushed at it with fury, and with its sharp bill
drove it away. The late Dr. Macaulay reported
(Mid. Nat. 1882, p. 80) one picked up nearly dead
at Gumley in November, 1867, and in the collection
of the Rev. A. Matthews ; and another found dead
at Billesdon in 1879. With reference to this last I am
informed that the date is 1877, and that two others
which I reported (Zoo!. 1886, p. 412) as being taken
at Billesdon are referable to this single specimen,
which was, it appears, caught in a hedge by a retriever
belonging to the late Mr. T. Tomblin of the Coplow
Farm. Turner told m:, in Ojtobsr, 1885, of
one caught in a pi^stye, some seven or eight years
previously. The late Mr. Widdowson informed
Dr. Macaulay that one was caught alive at Nether
Broughton by Mr. Greaves on 2 Sept., 1879.
Dr. Macaulay told me of a specimen which was
in his possession which I have seen since it was set
up found in the Newarke, in the middle of Leicester,
on 30 Aug., 1888, by a Mr. Harrison. It had evi-
dently been killed by striking against something in
its flight. Sex was, unfortunately, not ascertained.
Mr. Stephen H. Pilgrim informed me that one was
found in a grass field (High Close) adjoining Barwell
Church on I Sept., 1891, by some boys, who brought
it to the Rev. R. Titley. Mr. Pilgrim suggests that
the bird may have been blown in by a gale the pre-
vious night. Dr. Macaulay reported one taken at
Smeeton Westerby on 7 Sept., 1891, and in answer
to an inquiry from me, he replied : ' Caught alive by
a dog. I saw it in the possession of Mr. William
Matlock of Smeeton, who has it now.'
One was purchased for the museum in 1904, found
at Bagworth Park.
'57
MAMMALS
From its inland position and the absence of large tracts of moorland or
forest, Leicestershire is naturally deficient in the larger mammals which occur
in seaboard or wilder districts of Britain ; for although the red deer is found
in the county it is in no sense fera naturae, but is confined in a few parks
notably at Bradgate where it is of course quite tame.
No trace of the wild cat has yet been discovered, although records of
tame cats which are leading a wild life and have become savage are constantly
occurring.
The pine-marten has been extinct for forty or fifty years, and the pole-
cat is no longer found. Badgers are, however, fairly common, and the otter
is to be found occasionally in the Soar and other streams.
Only seven of the British bats have occurred in the county, so that all
specimens procured should be carefully examined for new or allied species.
No authenticated record of the black rat exists, nor of the wild boar, which
probably occurred here up to mediaeval times.
CHEIROPTERA
1 . Long-eared Bat. Pkcotut auritus, Linn.
Locally, Horned Bat.
Resident, but unevenly distributed, therefore not
common. Several have reached the Leicester Museum
from various parts of the county, the last one in 1903,
from the Victoria Road Church, Leicester.
2. Barbastelle. Barbastella barbastellus, Schreber.
Bell Barbastellus daubentonn.
Rare. The late Rev. A. Matthews showed me a
specimen which I recognized as this curious little
bat, procured at Gumley about 1876 ; this is the only
record.
3. Noctule. Plpistreltus noctula, Schreber.
'Qe.ViScotophilus noctula. White FesfertiRo alti-
volans.
Locally, Great Bat, High-flier, Rat Bat.
Resident and generally distributed. Harley re-
marked that this species appeared to be most common
in the vicinity of the town of Leicester, and was
often observed on still summer evenings. The Rev. A.
Matthews told me in March, 1885, that one broil-
ing hot day in July, some years before, at mid-day,
when the air was perfectly bright and clear, he
observed swallows circling at an immense altitude, and
above them, at a much higher elevation, four large
bats, which he supposed to be of this species. 1
1 Although Gilbert White named thi bat alti-volaas, from thil
very habit of feeding high in the air (see Letter 36 to Pennant),
yet hi remarks did not apply to its doing this before the even-
ing, and the observations of the late Rev. A. Matthews are, I
believe, unparalleled in the history of this species.
On 8 July, 1885, I shot one flying over the canal
by St. Mary's mills, Aylestone, which fell into the
water, and on examination I found it to be a female
containing a naked foetus. I have seen it so late as
October, but on I November, 1886, a fine specimen
was brought to me, which had been shot by the canal
at Aylestone, this being a very late date for its appear-
ance, only paralleled, I believe, by Mr. Harting's
date.' In June, 1887, I shot a male and a female by
the mill at Aylestone. The latter specimen appearing
gravid, I carefully opened it, and discovered two well-
developed but naked foetus. I cannot find in any
notice of this species that it is credited with having
more than one young at a birth.
4. Pipistrelle. Pipistrellus pipistrellus, Schreber.
Bell Scotophilus pipistrellus.
Locally, Common Bat, Flitter-Mouse, Hat Bat.
Resident and commonly distributed. Harley noticed
that this species is often observed on the wing during
the day, and remarked that in this it differs from the
'Great Bat.' I received twelve from Belvoir on
1 3 July, 1885, and have procured several at Aylestone,
Kibworth, Broughton Astley, and various parts of the
county, this species appearing indeed to be par excel-
lence the ' common ' bat. Its strange name of ' hat '
bat, which is commonly applied, appears to be
founded upon the childish rhyming invitation to
come under the would-be captor's hat and be feasted
upon bacon !
t Zool. 1887, p. 169.
I 5 8
MAMMALS
5. Natterer's Bat. Myolit nattereri, Kuhl.
Bell fespertiKo nattereri.
Locally, Reddish-grey Bat.
Rare. I was first enabled to add this species, which
is rather rare in Britain, from having determined a
specimen which I saw in the possession of the late
Rev. A. Matthews, who informed me that it was caught
in his house at Gumley many years ago he could not
recall the exact date. Since then, Clarke, the sexton
at Aylestone Church, brought me a specimen which he
found dead in the church on 3 1 July, 1887, and which
was the first ever acquired by the Leicester Museum.
Being quite sure there were more of them in the
church, I purchased a 'bat-fowling' net, and went there
on the evening of 12 August, 1887. There were
numbers of bats flying inside and outside of the
church ; but choosing the inside, I stationed myself
by one of the windows of the chancel, between which
and a stove-pipe the bats were flitting. After two
hours' work and several misses, I managed to catch
three pipistrelles and one natterer's bat. The flight
of the two species varied much, the pipistrelles flying
quicker, and constantly changing the direction of their
flight, in a zig-zag kind of manner, whereas the flight
of the natterer's bat was more fully sustained and much
more direct, though somewhat slower. The specimen,
which was a male, was very amiable in captivity, and
we fed it two or three times with pieces of raw meat
soaked in water, which it greedily seized when hungry,
making, however, very little progress, a small piece the
size of a barleycorn lasting it a quarter of an hour.
Cold weather supervening, it finally died after nine
days.
I purchased another alive from Clarke, the sexton,
on 20 July, 1889, caught at Aylestone Church, and
one, also from Aylestone, on 8 August, 1889
both males.
6. Daubenton's Bat. Myotis daubentml, Leisler.
Bell Vespertine Jaubentonii.
Rare. An adult female of this species was brought
to me, whilst still alive, on 19 June, 1885, having
been shot with a catapult on the evening of the 1 7th
whilst flying over water at Aylestone, by Mr. George
Snoad, who kindly presented it to the museum.
7. Whiskered Bat. Myotis mystacinus, Leisler.
Bell VespertlRo mystacinus.
After considerable search, extending over many
years, aided also by a large number of observers, and
getting a great many pipistrelles, this rare little bat
has been found in the county, through the exertions
of Mr. G. Kirby, of Lubenham Lodge, who kindly
forwarded to the Leicester Museum a young male speci-
men, taken in his garden on 17 September, 1888.
The writer received another (a female) from Mr.
Ernest Neale, caught on Manor Road, West Leigh,
Leicester, on 24 April, 1889. A male specimen,
caught in the drawing-room at Broughton Astley
rectory on 19 July, 1889, was sent to me the follow-
ing day, dead, by the Rev. G. D. Armitage, who
sent me another, also a male, on 24 July, from the
same place.
INSECTIVORA
8. Hedgehog. Erinaceus europaeus, Linn.
Resident and generally distributed. I have received
several from Knighton, close to the town of Leicester,
where it breeds. On 13 September, 1883, an old
female hedgehog and four young ones were brought
to me from there. Another, caught also at Knighton,
we endeavoured to keep. It remained for some time
in the workroom at the Leicester Museum, hiding itself
during the day under the box of a step leading from
one room into another. It, however, refused all food,
though apparently very hungry, and soon died.
9. Mole. Talpa europaea, Linn.
Resident and common, though seldom seen above
ground. Harley wrote : ' Buff and white, or parti-
coloured individuals occasionally occur,' although a
mole-catcher of more than fifty years' experience once
told him that he had never met with any such varieties.
One in the Leicester Museum is labelled 'From
Belvoir. Mr. Jno. Ryder.' This specimen I find
noted in the old MS. donation-book as being pre-
sented on 25 April, 1862. It is of a uniform cream-
colour, inclining to ferruginous on the limbs. The
late Rev. A. Matthews, of Gumley, showed me one
precisely similar, caught by a mole-catcher in an adjoin-
ing parish during the first week of June, 1884, the
man stating at the time that he had met with several
other examples during the course of his trapping. 1
Zoo/. (1884), p. 271.
Curiously enough, Mr. Matthews procured another
on 20 March, 1885, which had been caught in a
trap at Laughton Hills. He described it as being
the handsomest he ever saw, a large male of an amber
colour, with the nose white nearly to the eyes, cheeks
and back of the head and neck bright orange. Mr.
Ingram sent one to the museum, caught in Barkcstone
Wood, Belvoir, on 10 June, 1887, and precisely
similar to the one sent from the same locality twenty-
five years previously. I saw in the hands of Pinchen,
the taxidermist, a similar variety, taken at Anstey in
December, 1887; and Mr. John Burgess, of Sad-
dington, presented to the museum a very fine one
which was caught there on 10 March, 1888. This
specimen was also like the others, but rather more
reddish-orange on its ventral aspect ; again, on
12 December, 1890, he presented another, a male,
from the same place, and a third in 1893, both
precisely similar. It would thus appear that there
is a constant variety of the mole in which part of
the head and the joints of the limbs are ferruginous,
and the remainder of the body cream-coloured.
Mr. H. B. Oldham, of Saxby, presented to the
museum a female variety caught by a mole-catcher at
Saxby, amongst a number of normal specimens, on
8 February, 1890. The upper su Ace was of a warm,
silver-grey, owing to the tips of thF hairs being that
colour. The front of the head was of a greyish rufous;
chin and throat bright golden rufous, this colour ex-
tending to the manus. A light rufous line ran along
the abdominal region, broadening out about the centre
159
A HISTORY OF LEICESTERSHIRE
to a bright patch. The tail was distinctly tipped with
white. Another buff-coloured variety, from Wanlip
Lane, reached the museum through Mr. A. Merrall
in 1 86 1. One, of a curious pale silver-grey colour,
the first observed in the county, from South
Croxton, was presented to the museum in 1902 by
the Rev. F. E. Horwood. The latest record is a
' perfectly white mole ' 4 captured at Hathern.
i o. Common Shrew. Sorex araneus, Linn.
Resident and generally distributed. Harley re-
marked upon the great numbers found dead every
autumn, in pathways near farms and outbuildings a
fact well known, but which has not yet, I believe,
been satisfactorily explained. Mr. W. Whitaker, of
Wistow Grange, informed me in September, 1885,
that a man named Storer had a white shrew, killed
at Market Bosworth.
Mr. Horn, writing in 1906, said that two had
been found dead in his house recently, which he
assumed had been killed and brought in by the cats.
1 1 . Water-Shrew. Neomysfodiens, Pallas.
Bell Crossopus fodlens.
Harley wrote : ' Not common. Occasionally
met with on the banks of water-courses and drains in
the meadow-lands near LoughboroV The late
Mr. Widdowson wrote in February, 1885 : 'I know
one locality they frequented a few years ago namely,
Sysonby, about a mile from Melton.' Mr. F. Bates
told me in 1885 that he had found them some years
before at Narborough. Mr. J. S. Ellis informed me
in 1885 that some five-and-twenty years previously,
when he lived at Glenfield Lodge, he remembered
one day seeing a water-shrew swimming and diving
in a small pond, endeavouring to capture a frog, but
although successful in bringing it to the bank half a
dozen times, was unable to drag it out. Mr. W. H.
Thomson has noticed the water-shrew in a brook
which runs past Stoughton Grange, close to Leicester.
He appears to know the animal well, as he says :
' It had its habitat in a small hole in the bank. They
were called water-mice by us.'
CARNIVORA
12. Fox. Vulfes vu/pes, Linn.
Bell Vulpes vulgari.'.
Resident and generally distributed. The following
incident, related by my friend the late Dr. Macaulay,
of Kibworth, occurred on the farm of Mr. J. Perkins
at Laughton, who vouches for the facts : A labourer
at work in a ploughed field saw a fox come
through the hedge with a rabbit in his mouth, pro-
ceeding some distance into the field he laid the rabbit
down, and scratching a hole placed the rabbit therein,
covered it over, and then departed. When the fox
was gone the man went to the place and took up
the rabbit. About an hour afterwards he saw two
foxes come into the field and go straight to the spot
where the rabbit had been buried. One of them
began to search for it, being joined in this
operation by the other. After a few minutes had
thus been spent in fruitless search, the two foxes fell
upon each other and a fierce battle ensued until the
spectator approached the combatants and separated
them. Probably the first fox had invited his friend
to dine, and the latter, thinking himself the victim of
a hoax, endeavoured to be revenged on his friend by
thrashing him. The late Mr. R. Widdowson, a
well-known taxidermist of Melton Mowbray, writing
to me in February, 1885, said that he had lately
set up a fox shot in his neighbourhood whilst
attempting to carry away three large fowls at once.
That the fox and badger will live on terms of
amity one with the other is borne out by the late
Mr. Alfred Ellis, who recorded this as occurring at
' The Brand ' for at least six years. 5 This also occurs
at Hungerton ' Foxholes,' near Ingarsby.
I saw at Pinchen's in February, 1891, a mounted
specimen in which all the under parts, which are
usually white, were of a sooty black.
Mr. W. J. Horn, writing to me at the beginning of
1907, says : ' A vixen not long since laid up her cubs
in a stick-heap in the town of Market Harborough.
4 Daily Mail, 18 Jan. 1907.
5 Zoo/. (1880), pp. 5-9.
In August last I was present when a field of wheat
was being cut five foxes were put out.'
1 3. Pine-Marten. Mustela martes, Linn.
Bell Martes abietum.
Locally, Marten-Cat.
Now quite extinct. Harley wrote of this
species (which he called Mustela foina 6 ) : ' Annually
becoming rare. Occurred a few years since in the
woods at Gopsall. The writer had an opportunity
afforded him some years since of examining a female
and young of this species of mustela, which had been
captured on Earl Howe's estate, situate on the western
side of the county. The occurrence of the marten
in any district around Leicester must be considered
rare and unusual. Affects decayed and hollow trees
in which it brings forth its young. Preys much on
young birds and small Mammalia.' I can find no
recent notices of its capture in Leicestershire ; there
is, however, an old specimen in the Leicester Museum,
supposed to be from Wellesborough, and another I
had an opportunity of examining at Bradgate House
is reported by Mr. H. A. Payne, of Enville, to have
been killed at Bradgate about 1868 by Thomas
Mennell. The late Mr. R. Widdowson wrote :
' When I first came to reside in Melton, I went over
to Leicester several times and used to call on a
Mr. Pickard, a hairdresser who lived in the little lane
leading out of the market-place, just above the
White Swan Inn. He was a taxidermist also, and
I well remember seeing some martens which he had
just stuffed, an adult female and two young ones
which he told me were killed a few miles away, I
believe at Bradgate. He had the adult a long time
and used to exhibit it in his window, and was very
fond of talking about it, declaring that it was brought
to him alive. I also remember hearing that one was
6 M. foina, of Linnaeus, Gmelin, Erxleben, Jenyns, &c., is,
however, the continental beech-marten, and, despite the records
of the older British naturalists, has never occurred in Britain,
but has been confused with the pine-marten, which was at one
time considered the rarer animal. (See R. Alston, in Prof.
Zoo/. Soc. 1879 ; also Zoo/. 1879, pp. 441 8.)
I 60
MAMMALS
killed at Stapleford, but I did not see it, as it was
years before I was employed by Lord Harborough.'
Col. F. Palmer, of Withcote Hall, writing to me
in 1888, said that about fifty years previously the
marten cat occurred in Owston Wood.
14. Polecat. Putorius putorius, Linn.
Bell Mustek putorius.
Locally, Foumart (i.e. Foul Mart or Marten, to
distinguish it from the Pine-Marten, which
was anciently called Sweet Mart), Fitchet.
Increasingly rare, and, if not now, will soon become
extinct. Harley wrote : ' Commonly diffused over
the county. Met with most frequently in the more
densely-wooded parts of it. Occurs not seldom in
the vicinage of such woods as those of Oakley,
Piper, Grace Dieu, and Gopsall.' The MS. dona-
tion-book of the Leicester Museum records one
presented on 26 October, 1850, by Mr. Joseph
Knight, of Aylestone, which Major Gregory Knight
told me was trapped at Blaby by a gamekeeper in the
employ of his late father. The late Mr. R. Widdow-
son wrote in 1885 : 'Not heard of any here for many
years.' Elkington, a bird-stuffer, told me in 1885
that he had not received one for five-and-twenty
years. Johnson, keeper at Laughton Lodge, wrote in
1885 that he had not trapped a polecat for years.
Mr. Thomas Woodcock of Ratcliffe-on-the-Wreak,
informed me in 1885, that although he had not seen
one, he believed he had traced them in that vicinity
in snowy weather. Mr. W. Ingram of Belvoir wrote
in 1885 : 'I cannot hear that a polecat has been
seen or destroyed of late years in our woods ' ; and
John Ryder, Belvoir Castle, wrote, in 1885 : 'I have
not heard of any caught of late, but about twenty-
five years ago, Jno. Gibson, one of the duke's keepers,
trapped one in the " Frog Hollow," near the pond. I
saw and handled it ; and a very fine one it was, much
larger than any ferret I have seen.' Writing again on
I July, 1885, he said that two polecats had recently
been trapped there. In September, 1885,! saw a speci-
men in the possession of Messrs. Warner, Sheppard
and Wade, and was referred to Mr. W. Brooks, B.A.,
J.P., of Croft, who informed me that it was trapped in a
rabbit-warren on his estate about thirty years before
and was stuffed by T. Bull, his groom. Finding that
the specimen was a desideratum, Mr. Sheppard kindly
presented it to the museum on 21 October, 1885.
I am indebted to Mr. W. H. Thompson, of
Beckenham, Kent, for a note of one possessed by
Mr. Thomas Rowe, of Evington, which the latter
informs me was caught in a trap in Swadborough
Spinney in the winter of 1856-7, and is still in his
possession. Mr. H. C. Woodcock, of Rearsby, told
me of five killed out of one drain at Brentingby by
the keeper in 1 847, and showed me three mounted
specimens which he believes to have formed part of
this company. Colonel F. Palmer, writing to me in
1888, said that fifty years previously the polecat was
seen in Owston Wood. The late Dr. Macaulay in-
formed me that Mr. John Cheney, of Laughton, had
two polecats which were killed some years ago (date
unknown) from under a haystack.
15. Stoat. Putorius ermineus, Linn.
Bell Mustela ermtnea.
Locally, Ermine.
Resident and generally distributed, breeding close
to the town of Leicester. Harley recounted how he
once saw, in the northern part of the county, a
stoat chase a squirrel, the latter with great agility
ascending some steps leading over the wall into a
park ; leaping thence to a branch of an oak-tree
it thus escaped from its pursuer, which could
follow it no farther than the top of the wall.
The late Dr. Macaulay described to me a most
exciting chase which he witnessed, and which ended
in a singular manner. I give it in his own words :
' On 1 6 February, 1 8 84, 1 was driving from Stonton to
Tur Langton, in company with Mr. Miles J. Walker,
when our attention was attracted by the scream of a
rabbit, a sound which like the cry of a hare is
never heard except the animal is in fear. Looking
into the adjoining field we saw a rabbit being coursed
by a stoat. The rabbit was screaming with terror all
the while it ran and the stoat was rapidly gaining
ground. After going about a hundred and fifty yards
the stoat was within a yard of the rabbit, when the
latter suddenly stopped and squatted and at the same
time ceased to scream. The stoat stopped also, but
instead of attacking the rabbit, squatted also in front of,
and face to face with it about a foot off and there they
remained motionless, the rabbit apparently paralysed
with fear. The occupier of the farm, who happened
to be on the road, went into the field, and on his
approach the stoat ran off, whilst the rabbit allowed
him to pick it up, and he brought it to us and placed
it in my carriage. The animal's eyes were closed,
the heart was palpitating most violently, and the
breathing very rapid. It lay on its side for some
minutes motionless, and I thought it would die. A
careful examination failed to detect any injury what-
ever. After a time it slowly recovered, and we
turned it loose again.' Several examples of the stoat
have occurred in the county, in partial ' ermine ' or
winter dress, and the Leicester Museum donation-book
records : ' Stoat in its winter dress, 13 January, 1851,'
and another also, ' in winter dress, 30 January, 1851 ;
both presented by Joseph Knight, Esq.' the late Maj.
Gregory Knight informed me that they were killed at
Blaby by a gamekeeper in the employ of his late
father. Mr. Thomas Woodcock, writing from Rat-
cliffe-on-the-Wreak, in 1885, said: 'One obtained
near here pure white. Col. F. Palmer also has one
or two in winter dress.' An absolutely white speci-
men (ermine) from Saddington was presented to the
Leicester Museum early in 1891. Mr. W. J. Horn
reports that on 1 8 March, 1894, a stoat of its own
accord swam across the canal at Market Harborough,
and on 15 May, 1905, he saw a pair by the canal
side the male chasing the female and uttering a
barking noise.
1 6. Weasel. Putorius niva/ii, Linn.
Bell Mustela vulgaris.
Locally Cane.
Resident and generally distributed. Harley re-
marked : 'This species hunts down the grey rat
with wonderful daring and spirit. It also preys on
the water rat and traces out the runs of that quiet,,
harmless animal with much address and great cunning,
surpassing even the adroitness and agility of the
ferret.' One, presented by Mr. Thomas Greaves to
the Leicester Museum on 14 November, 1851,
was killed in Princess Street, close to the museum.
During the early part of December, 1856, according
to a MS. note dated 5 December, 1856, by Harley,
161
21
A HISTORY OF LEICESTERSHIRE
who examined the specimen, a weasel, pure white
even to the extremity of the tail, was captured near
Leicester. Bell, in his British Quadrupeds, remarks on
the rarity of such variation in the weasel ; and Harley
states that the white specimen above noticed is the
only one of the kind he ever met with. It might be
supposed that Harley had possibly mistaken a small
stoat for a weasel, but he adds that 'the stoat its
congener becomes white in the dreary season of the
winter, throughout, save the tip of its tail, the hair of
which generally remains black. The change of dress
and the variegated exterior of the weasel is certainly
of less common occurrence, if not very rare.' I pur-
chased from Ludlam, a bird-stuffer, a purely white
specimen, said by him to have been killed at Tooley
Park, Earl Shilton, in August, 1870, by a Mr. Jacques.
I cannot, however, get confirmation of this, so give
the note for what it is worth. One a male was
killed by a dog at a rick at Aylestone Mill on z Octo-
ber, 1885, and was purchased for the museum on
account of a slight variation, the upper surface of the
left paw being white. Mr. W. Whitaker, of Wistow,
informed me, in January, 1886, of a light yellow
variety killed by a cat at Market Bosworth, and in the
hands of the bird-stuffer there, to whom I wrote for
details, only, unfortunately, to find that he had died.
Pinchen received a white one on 14 December,
1889, procured, he believes, at Cropston. Mr. Horn
wrote to me that on 22 May, 1905, he saw a weasel
carrying something in its mouth ; and upon chase being
given, it promptly went to ground in a mole-run,
dropping its burden, which proved to be one of its
young, naked and blind.
1 7. Badger. Mela meles, Linn.
Bell Meles taxus.
Locally Brock.
Resident and generally distributed ; apparently
more common than formerly, for writing of this
animal (1840-50) Harley appears to have found it
rare. He wrote : ' Formerly well distributed over
the county, abounding in most large woods, especially
those verging on the forest of Charnwood. The
woods of Gopsdl and Oakley also bore marks of its
retreat, even till a very recent date. Used also to
occur at Mere Hill Wood, near Loughborough. Not
common.' His opinion as to its scarcity is shared up
to the present by most observers, but probably the
animal is more common than generally supposed,
owing to its retiring, nocturnal habits. The Leicester
Museum possessed two specimens marked ' Leicester-
shire,' presumably those recorded in the donation-
book, one as having been presented by Sir A. S.
Hazlerigg, bart., on 22 August, 1849, and the other
shot at Keythorpe Hall, and presented by Lord Berners
on 2 April, 1 860. The Rev. Andrew Matthews, M.A.,
rector of Gumley, forwarded a half-grown living speci-
men a male to the Leicester Museum on 28 June,
1884. It was taken alive by a farm servant in the parish,
who found it asleep, and cleverly contrived to get its neck
between the prongs of a fork, pinning it to the ground
whilst he tied its legs together, when he carried it
home in triumph.' Mr. H. S. Davenport wrote in
1885 : 'Badgers are bred in Owston Wood ; Ram's
Head at Keythorpe ; and Sir F. Fowke's spinneys at
Tilton-on-the-Hill, most years.' The late Mr. R.
Widdowson wrote in 1885 : 'A great many instances
Zool. (1884), p. 271.
of badgers being killed within a few miles of us within
the last year or two : have had two from Hoby. A
friend residing at Eaton, near Waltham-on-the- Wolds,
had about four months ago three within a week ; two
were young.' Mr. W. Ingram, writ ng in 1885,
says : ' Badgers breed in our woods, but are rarely
found away from their earths. I have known of but
two instances of badgers being found above ground
by the foxhounds and killed. Keepers tell me that
they occasionally see a family of badgers returning to
their lair, trotting in a line behind a leader just before
daybreak!' Mr. John Hunt informed me, in 1885, that
badgers formerly bred or were found at Scraptoft, and
Mr. J. A. Gill afterwards corroborated this by telling
me that twenty or more years ago they bred in the
' Hall Gardens,' Scraptoft, and he remembered two
being caught one moonlight night by men posted in
yew-trees over their burrows. The badgers having
been watched out, their holes were 'bagged,' the
animals being afterwards driven out of the adjacent
spinneys into these traps. Col. F. Palmer told me that
there was generally one laid up in Owston Wood, or
in the plantation near Launde, and a young one, dug
out about 1886, is now mounted and in his posses-
sion. A male badger was presented to the Leicester
Museum on 1 8 June, 1886, by Mr. C. E. Bassett, of
Ullesthorpe, who gave the following details : ' The
badger was captured in a dry brick culvert on Whit-
Thursday ; it had been lying in a sand-pit for some
time, and finding it had moved, we tried to draw it
with terriers, but although they faced it well, it
repeatedly drove them out. It was shot at last whilst
passing by a hole in the top. The female and, I
believe, young ones are still about.'
Mr. Geoffrey Ellis recorded one taken at 'The
Brand,' near Leicester, at the end of March, 1887.
The Leicester Journal, dated 22 April, 1887, men-
tions the capture of a badger at Marston. Jelley,
bailiff to the Rev. F. Buttanshaw, informed me that a
large male was killed at Gumley, on I 5 September,
1887. Mr. H. L. Powys-Keck, of Stoughton Grange,
informed me in 1888 that badgers had been caught
twice in Swadborough Spinney, on his estate, but not
of late years. The late Dr. Macaulay told me that he
was sure they bred or were found at the Laughton
Hills, and his assertions were afterwards proved correct
by Johnson, the keeper, sending me on 30 August,
1885, a very fine female, which I purchased for the
museum. Soon after this I saw, in the sale-rooms of
Messrs. Warner, Sheppard and Wade, a stuffed badger
in a case, on the back of which was inscribed : ' This
Badger caught at Laughton, 1849, Jno. Moxon.'
Since then I have purchased for the museum a male
badger, which was killed in Mr. J. Perkins' plantation
at Laughton Hills, 9 May, 1887 ; and three female
specimens, also killed at Laughton, on 27 and 28 May,
1887, and 23 May, 1888, respectively, the first of these
being much younger than the others. One was shot at
Illston, near Burton Overy, in 1889, and was preserved,
and in the possession of a Mr. Bowles of Oadby in 1889.
It was reported in the Daily Mercury of 8 February,
1892, that Mr. Mammatt, of Prior Park, Ashby, had
killed a fine young badger in Staunton Park, which
had been sent to a taxidermist to be stuffed and
mounted. On being written to, Mr. Mammatt re-
plied that he saw the badger, which was a female,
drawn on 3 February, but that he did not kill it
himself. In the Leicester Chronicle and Mercury of
162
MAMMALS
7 February, 1891, an account is given of the capture
of a badger in a wood-yard in Thornton Lane ; and the
Saturday Herald of 30 May, 1891, reports the capture
of another specimen of 40 Ib. weight by Mr. C. J.
Isaac, at Loughborough, on 27 May. The late
Mr. T. Spencer informed me on 28 August, 1891,
of four badgers being caught at Norton by Galby
(Norton Gorse), two old and two young ; three were
killed, the other, an old one, escaped. Mr. W. J.
Horn, writing to me in 1 906, says : ' There is a
badger-earth at Thorpe Langton, and there must be
others in the fox-coverts, as one reads occasionally of
a badger being killed by the fox-hounds so recently
as in November, 1906, in Sheepthorns, a fox-cover
near Kibworth.'
Mr. H. Butler Johnson informs me that a badger
was caught in the autumn of 1906 in a drain on the
Belton Road near Grace Dieu.
That badgers will live in amity with foxes is
vouched for by Col. J. M. Fawcett, who told me
(January, 1907) that many inhabit Hungerton Fox-
holes, and their hoarse cries may often be heard at
night.
1 8. Otter. Lutra lutra, Linn.
Bell Lutra vulgaris.
Resident, but rare. Harley recorded that, in his
day, it was occasionally found on the banks of the
Rivers Soar, Trent, and Wreak. He was present at
the capture of a female otter and four young ones in
the spring of 1817. The young otters were taken
from a rude lair, matted with rushes and flags, which
the dam had carefully conveyed through a hole and
concealed within a decayed pollard willow on the
banks of the River Soar near to the upper mills in
the parish of Loughborough. On being surprised,
the old otter fought the dogs furiously, and was with
difficulty overcome. The young, which had attained
to the size of a large water-rat, were still blind.
'J. B.', writing in the Leicester Chronicle and Mercury,
28 February, 1885, mentioned that a large otter,
stuffed and in a case, had been at the Narborough Inn
for many years past, and was believed to have been shot
by the late Mr. W. Sansome. In 1885 I called at
the Narborough Inn, when the late Miss Sansome
kindly showed me the above-mentioned specimen
large, but wretchedly mounted ; it was shot between
fifty and sixty years before. The Leicester Museum
formerly possessed one killed near Enderby, on
28 September, 1849. Mr. N. C. Curzon, of Lock-
ington Hall, informed me that a large female otter
was killed there in October, 1877. Loughborough
seems to have kept up its breed of otters since Harley's
time ; for seeing a notice in the local papers as to the
shooting by the water-keeper of two young otters in
the River Soar, near the ' Big Meadow,' Lough-
borough, one evening in March, 1884, I sent a
telegram on the 22nd to Mr. Dakin, a fishmonger of
that town, hoping to get the specimens for the
museum, and received a reply : ' Two were killed,
but only one obtained. There are more about.'
The late Mr. R. Widdowson, writing on 6 February,
1885, said ; ' I heard last week of one being seen at
Brentingby ; I had one some years ago from the same
locality.' Mr. H. Smith, of Burton Street, Melton
Mowbray, informed me, in November, 1885, that
there were a good many otters in that neighbourhood,
both above and below Bishop's Mill.' The late
Dr. Macaulay sent me a note given by the Rev. H.
Parry, of Tugby Vicarage, of a fine dog otter killed
19 December, 1888, in the Eye Brook, between Lod-
dington Redditch and 'Tugby Bushes.' Lucas, the
keeper at Stapleford Park, appears to have seen several
there, and reports that in 1887 he shot a female, and
saw as many as five at one time during that year. He
also caught one on 8 March, 1889, and saw a very
fine one on 7 April of the same year. On 25 April,
1 889, a female and two cubs were killed at Narborough
Bogs, and were chronicled in the Leicester papers. A
female specimen in the Leicester Museum was killed
whilst coming from its lair on land belonging to
Mr. Hill, on the banks of the Soar, 'Old Nook,'
Syston, on 12 August, 1891. Mr. H. Smith, of
Mill Lane, Melton Mowbray, obtained a young
specimen, about one stone in weight, on 28 January,
1892, Mr. F. Bouskell informed me that he saw an
otter in the canalized River Soar, halfway between
Barrow and Loughborough, on 10 April, 1892,
when in company with Messrs. S. and W. Harris.
Mr. W. Hubbard, grazier, of Brentingby, shot a
very fine otter on the River Eye, near Burbage's new
covert, in October, 1892."
The late Dr. Macaulay informed me that there was
an otter in the brook at Kibworth on 27 December,
1893, and the brook being in flood, he thought the
animal had probably come up from the Welland, some
eight miles below. In 1892 a male otter, and in 1894
a female, were shot in the Narborough Bogs, and
presented to the Leicester Museum by Mr. J. Taylor.
The Rev. Hugh Parry told me that the keeper,
Charles Spencer, killed a fine dog otter on 23 April,
1 894, at Tugby. Mr. T. B. Cartwright, writing
circa 1895 from the Mill House, Loughborough,
informed me that he had secured two otters shot in
the Soar at Loughborough. Mr. F. Crick records a
dog otter caught in 1897 by a shepherd and his dog
in the small brook running by the golf-links, Cosby.
It had killed fourteen young ducks.
RODENTIA
1 9. Squirrel. Sciurui leucourus, Kerr.
Bell Sciurus vulgaris.
Resident and generally distributed, and has been
seen so near Leicester as in a field close to Aylestone
Mill on 24 October, 1885. A curious, though not
very uncommon, example, exhibiting malformation
of the teeth in this animal, was presented to the
Leicester Museum by Mr. R. Wingate, on 18 April,
163
1876. In this specimen the upper incisors have
become prolonged and curved into a half-circle.
No locality is given with the specimen, and I there-
fore assume it to have been a caged animal, fed,
doubtless, upon food too soft to allow the natural
grinding of the teeth necessary to prevent such malfor-
mation. A young squirrel caught near Narborough was
kept in captivity for about six years, in the family of
* Daily Mercury, 12 Oct. 1892.
A HISTORY OF LEICESTERSHIRE
Mr. Lees, of Castle Street, Hinckley, being fed on
sopped bread and other soft food. Towards the end
of its life, so I am informed, an extra claw or two
appeared on one of its fore-feet (the left one my infor-
mant believes), and this grew to about three times as
large as any of the others. I addressed Mr. Lingham
Lees on the subject, and he replied : ' The growth
on the squirrel's foot was a perfect toe with an abnor-
mally large claw. All who saw it will agree with me
that this was the case.' Mrs. Perry Herrick, writing
in April, 1889, informed me that squirrels used to
come for some years to take nuts from little stone
boxes which had been placed for them outside the
windows at Beaumanor, but they had then left off
coming for some years. The last one I saw ran across
the road, when I was driving between St. George's,
Swannington and Staunton Harold, in October, 1906.
It afterwards returned to a large ash-tree overhanging
the road, and watched my progress from his coign of
vantage. Mr. W. J. Horn, writing to me in 1906,
mentions having once watched a squirrel searching the
ivy of a dwelling-house. When it found a house-
sparrow's nest it apparently searched the interior for
eggs. The late Dr. Macaulay reported 'a pure white
squirrel, with pink eyes (albino), in the possession of
the Rev. A. Matthews, which was caught by a spaniel
in Gumley Wood on 25 November, 1891.'
20. Dormouse. Muscardinus avellanariut, Linn.
Bell Myoxus avellanarius.
Locally, Hazel-Mouse, Tufted-tail Mouse.
Rare. Harley wrote : ' Not common. Met
with in a small wood which lies against Ravenstone
and Normanton-on-Heath,' but in no other woods of
the county did he discover it. The late Mr. Wid-
dowson wrote, in 1885 : 'Not heard of for a
certainty, save one brought in a load of oak-bark.'
The late Mr. Ingram informed me in 1885 'that he
had never met with it.'
21. Brown Rat. Mul decu-nanus, Pallas.
Locally, Common Rat.
Its distribution in the county is unfortunately too
general. Varieties occasionally occur. Mr. H. A. Payne
informed me that a very light cream-coloured rat was
killed in Martinshaw Wood, in 1876, and was in the
late Lady Stamford's possession. The late Mr. A.
Paget presented to the museum a white example,
which was captured in his garden in West Street,
on 6 November, 1886. The specimen was a female.
Varieties such as these must not, however, be con-
founded with the white rats so often kept as pets ;
these singularly enough so Mr. Oldfield Thomas
tells me being albinos of the black rat.
Relative to the latter species, Mr. F. T. Mott
recorded a rather interesting young, dark variety of
the common rat caught at ' New Parks,' in the early
part of 1886 as a bona-fide example of Mus rattus?
This he exhibited to section ' D ' of the Society on
15 September, 1886. The specimen, which by the
kindness of the owner, C. Adcock, I have been enabled
to examine, is dark brown above and light brown
underneath, and except in size of body, does not
resemble the black rat, the length of the ears being
3% in. as opposed to ^ in. occurring in two of the
latter species which I received in the flesh from
London ; the less breadth of the ears is also very
marked, and the length of the tail is only 5^ in. as
opposed to 83- in.
An enormous male specimen shot with a bullet
from a '410 walking-stick gun at Blaby Villa on
7 March, 1889, by Mr. W. A. Vice, was presented
by him to the Leicester Museum.
Mr. W. J. Horn, writing at the end of 1906, said
that he had recently seen a rat running about the
upper branches of a high oak tree with the agility of
a squirrel, and when his terriers surprised one in a
hedge-bottom, it ran to the topmost twigs of the thorn
fence. He adds : ' Rats also dive well, keeping under
water even longer than a water-vole, in fact till quite
exhausted.'
[Black Rat. Mus rattus, Linn.
Not mentioned by Potter, and probably long
extinct in the county, despite the assertion of its
having been ' seen in some old cellars in Leicester
within the last twenty years.' 10 The late Rev. Andrew
Matthews, who resided in Leicestershire thirty-
four years, had never heard of its occurrence, and the
late Mr. Widdowson and Mr. Ingram, writing
in February, 1885, were likewise agreed as to its
extinction in this county. Indeed, anyone acquainted
with the history of the black rat in this country must
know how unlikely it is to occur, except in ancient
seaports. Vide note on the preceding species.]
22. House-Mouse. Mus muiculus, Linn.
Far too common. Several specimens of a curious
variety were caught at Kibworth on 23 March, 1885,
in taking down a cornstack belonging to Mr. Buzzard.
One of them was of a dingy white, with the exception
of the back, which retained faint traces of original
mouse-colour, caused by the tips of the hairs being of a
dusky whity-brown. As the specimen was placed in
spirits I was unable to judge if the eyes were pink or
black, but they appeared to be of the latter colour
and indeed this has since been stated to be the case.
Whether a cross between escaped albino mice and
the common mouse, or merely an accidental variety,
it is hard to say, but as the owners of the house do not
appear to have ever kept 'white mice,' the presump-
tion is in favour of the latter supposition. Mr. W. J.
Horn writes in 1906: 'These also climb well.
Many people who have creepers trained all over a
house wonder how it is mice are found in the bed-
rooms.' Two curious nests made from tow and string
and built in poppy-heads, were presented in 1 899, to
the Leicester Museum, by Mr. E. W. Squires of that
place.
23. Long-tailed Field-Mouse. Mus sylvaticus, Linn.
Locally, Wood-Mouse.
Resident and generally distributed. Harley recorded
that, in 1846, he examined the winter retreat of one
of these mice near Bradgate Park, and was astonished
at the quantity of stores which had been carried in,
and which he computed at the fourth part of an
imperial bushel. I received one from Belvoir on
4 July, 1885, and since then I found one dead on a
small grass plot at a house, so near to the town as
the Aylestone Road, and another on 1 1 December,
1 888. Mr. J. Whitaker records a pale cream-coloured
' Trans. Liic. Lit. and Phil. Sac. Jan. 1887, p. 39.
164
10 Mid. Nat. 1884, p. 302.
MAMMALS
specimen, killed in one of his hayfields at Wistow
Grange, in August, 1890."
24. Harvest-Mouse. Mus minutus, Pallas.
Rare. Harley appears to have been uncertain
whether this species was found throughout the
county, he having met with it in only one or two
parishes in the southern division as, for instance, at
Cosby and Whetstone. He stated, however, that it
had also occurred in the eastern portion of the
county namely, in the parish of Woolsthorpe, on the
estate of the Duke of Rutland. Mr. Ingram, writing
from Belvoir, does not mention it, but the late
Mr. Widdowson wrote, on 6 February, 1885 :
'A few not many have come into my hands.'
Writing again on the 1 2th, he said : ' The last
harvest-mouse I had was from Burton Lazars. Dis-
tributed thinly, I think near here.' Fortunately the
record of the harvest-mouse does not rest at this, for
Mr. R. Groves brought me a pretty little nest, built
between three cornstalks, found in a field about a mile
from Billesdon, towards Uppingham, on 1 2 September,
1888. Mr. Stephen Pilgrim, of the Borough House,
Hinckley, gave me the following note : 'On
1 8 January, 1889, Mr. Ludlow gave me two dead
harvest-mice obtained from a barn on Mr. Freeman's
farm at Dadlington. They weighed half an ounce
the pair, fawn colour, white under parts, narrow
heads, feet pale or flesh colour." These mice were
killed when some corn in a barn was being thrashed,
and there were said to be several of them.
25. Water- Vole. Microtus amphibius, Linn.
Bell Arvicola amphibius.
Locally, Water Rat.
Resident and generally distributed. I was witness
to a curious trait in the character of this animal on
II April, 1885. Walking in the meadows at Ayle-
stone with my dogs, I observed some rat-catchers at
work on an old hollow willow-tree, whence they
dislodged, with the help of their ferrets and dogs,
several common rats and three water-voles, two of
which evaded them by swimming. The third one
was, however, caged with three of the common brown
rats. The latter appeared abjectly terrified at our
approach, and at that of the dogs, and huddled
together with their heads tucked under their bodies.
It was otherwise, however, with the water-vole,
which upon our approach reared itself upon its
haunches, bared its teeth and snapped them, squeaked
and shook its paws at us with the most threatening
gestures, and would have flown at us outright had it
not been for the protection of the bars. Its conduct
regarding the other rats was antagonistic in the
extreme, for it bit them in the most severe and
impartial manner whenever they approached. Indeed,
one rat nearly 'left his tail behind him,' under the
quick strokes of the plucky water-vole's formidable
incisors. One was brought to the Leicester Museum
early in 1903, caught in a sewer in Tower Street,
hard by, a most unusual position and locality.
Harley observed that it is ' liable to variety.'
Regarding the last statement, I was always of opinion
that this species, with the exception of the black
variety mentioned by Bell, was most constant in its
coloration, having had the opportunity of examining
some hundreds from all parts of England since
11 Zaol. Sept. 1890, p. 348.
boyhood, but the late Mr. R. Widdowson assured me
that he could, any season, procure near Melton a
constant, light-red variety, and in proof of his asser-
tion, he sent me in 1883 a mounted specimen
which, though apparently sun-faded on the one side,
appeared to be of a very light-red, almost yellowish-
rufous, on the other. Soon after his death I was at
Melton, when his widow showed me a beautiful
variety of a light, golden-yellow colour, caught or
shot in the vicinity of Melton on 6 March, 1885.
Mr. W. Whitaker informed me that, whilst fishing at
Desford, in August, 1879, he saw 'a light yellow
water-vole ' ; and Mr. T. Aulay Macaulay, whilst
fishing at Beaumanor on 3 April, 1888, saw another,
which came and sat within five yards of him, and
which he described as being of a pale-fawn or cinna-
mon colour. Mr. F. Bouskell informed me that he
obtained two specimens of the ' cinnamon ' variety at
Knighton Brook, in June and July, 1884. Mr. J.
Whitaker mentions that one, a pale sandy variety, was
shot during August, 1 890, on the brook at Wistow
Grange, and says that varieties of this species are rare."
Specimens of the ' yellow vole ' were seen in the
Blackbrook near Shepshed in 1 904-5 by Mr. H. Butler
Johnson, B.A., of St. George's Lodge, Swannington.
It would appear, therefore, that we have in
Leicestershire a constant though rare variety, pro-
bably peculiar to the district.
26. Field-Vole. Microtus agrtstis, Linn.
Bell Arvicola agrestis.
Locally, Short-tailed Field-Mouse.
Resident and common. Mr. J. Whitaker, F.L.S.,
F.Z.S., of Mansfield, Nottinghamshire, informs me
of a light buff or cream-coloured variety of this species,
procured at Wistow Grange, in 1884. The Leicester
Museum possesses a group consisting of the male,
female, and five young, taken at Aylestone on 7 July,
1885.
27. Bank- Vole. Evotomys glareolus, Schreber
Bell Arvicola amfhibius.
Locally, Red Field- Vole.
Since the publication of my Notes on the Vertebrate
Animals of Leicestershire this animal has turned up
quite commonly at Belvoir, whence I have re-
ceived, through the kindness of John Ryder, several
specimens. Out of nine field-voles sent to me on
2 and 3 July, 1885, four were of the rarer species,
which, with others, were exhibited at a meeting of
the Zoological Section, ' E,' of the Leicester Literary
and Philosophical Society, and upon which I made
certain remarks, afterwards. 14
28. Common Hare. Lepus europaeus, Pallas.
Bell Lepus timidus.
Resident and commonly distributed. Some winters
ago (circa 1884) the local papers recorded the fact of
a hare running through the principal streets of the
town of Leicester, and being ultimately caught in
Lancaster Street ; and the Leicester Daily Post of
12 October, 1886, mentions the occurrence of a hare
in Belvoir Street. The late Rev. Charles Hentin Wood,
chaplain to the Leicestershire and Rutland Lunatic
"Ibid. Ibid. 1885, p. 219.
14 Tram. Leic. Lit. and Phil. Soc. Oct. 1886, p. 27. 'On the
Occurrence of a Mammal, hitherto unknown aa inhabiting
Leicestershire.' By Montagu Browne, F.Z.S. also Zool. 1888,
pp. 65-6.
A HISTORY OF LEICESTERSHIRE
Asylum, wrote : ' On 20 January, 1889, coming from
Granville Road to my daily service here by the path
on the north-west side of the old racecourse about
10.30 a.m., I saw a hare coming from Knighton way
at top speed. She crossed my path within easy shot,
and went down away to the allotments by the railway
in the direction of the Gaol.' Mr. W. J. Horn con-
siders them rare near Market Harborough, as he says
that during a residence of ten years in that district he
does not remember having seen more than ten hares
in the immediate neighbourhood.
29. Common Rabbit. Lepus cunlculus, Linn.
Resident and common. Introduced by some means
into the Abbey Park, Leicester, these pests became so
numerous in 1887, that it was necessary to extermi-
nate them, and hence resulted the novel spectacle of
small shooting parties in the heart of Leicester ; and
as, through the existence of brushwood and the
presence of onlookers chiefly street arabs the
rabbits were not very easy to hit, the unsuccessful
gunners were considerably cheered and refreshed by the
running fire of criticisms indulged in by the spectators.
Malformations and varieties constantly occur, and
the museum donation-book records the presentation,
on 18 October, 1851, by Mr. J. Knight, of Ayle-
stone, of the head of a wild rabbit killed at Blaby,
showing a remarkable development of the incisors.
Harley mentioned that in Bradgate Park, ' where it
abounds, black and parti-coloured varieties are met
with.' I received a white one in the autumn of
1 88 1 from there, and in the spring of 1884 I saw a
black one run out from a little spinney at Knighton,
on land farmed by Mr. Lander. On 17 April, 1885,
I was with Mr. John Hunt, at Thurnby, on land in
his possession, and amongst a great number of rabbits
which were feeding out, we saw several white and
parti-coloured ones, no less than five being seen at
one time. So near were they, that we were able to
see that two or three had sandy patches on their ears
and other parts of their bodies, whilst others were
pure white. Being in close proximity to dwelling-
houses, it is, of course, possible, nay probable, that
these varieties may have been produced by crossing
with tame ones. A specimen with the incisor teeth
abnormally prolonged was presented to the Leicester
Museum in 1902 by Mr. J. H. Cave. Mr. Horn,
writing from Market Harborough in 1907, tells me
that black, white and parti-coloured ones are numerous
in that vicinity ; he saw a young rabbit leave an island
in a small pond, swim to the side and commence to
feed. Upon his approach it swam back again.
UNGULATA
30. Red Deer. Cervus eiaphus, Linn.
Locally, Stag, Hart (male), Hind (female), Calf
(young).
Of early Pleistocene Age, and has survived as a
species until the present time, being semi-domesticated
in a few parks in the county ; nowhere more
numerous than at Bradgate Park, where it breeds.
Nothing apparently is known of its introduction, and
it is extremely probable that the deer now to be seen
there may be the descendants of ancient herds.
Some interesting figures of these deer are given
in a book written about 1 840 by a Mr. John
Martin of Steward's Hay. 15 A fine specimen of a
'Royal Stag' was shot at Bradgate in 1881, expressly
for the Leicester Museum, for which it was subse-
quently mounted.
31. Fallow-Deer. Cerviu Jama, Linn.
Locally, Buck (male), Doe (female), Fawn
(young).
Resident and breeding in semi-confinement in the
15 Sketches of Deer in Bradgate Park, by an Amateur .
deer-parks of Beaumanor, Bosworth, Bradgate, Crox-
ton, Gopsall, Staunton Harold, &c. The dark race,
common at Bradgate and Gopsall Parks, is stated by
Bell 16 to have been introduced from Norway by
James I ; but Mr. Harting has shown" that this
statement, which has been repeatedly copied, is with-
out foundation, and that a dark race of fallow-deer
existed in England long before, and was, in fact, noted
as early as 1465. An old deed, dated 1247, quoted
by Potter (pp. 117-19), relates to the hunting and
taking of deer in Bradgate Forest, and is interesting as
being the earliest known hunting agreement in existence.
A young buck or brocket with budding snags was
shot close to Leicester, at Knighton, on 1 1 Novem-
ber, 1887. It was of the dark race, and Mr. Thomas
Lander, who presented the skull to the Leicester
Museum for the Index Collection, thinks it had probably
strayed from Bradgate or Bosworth Park. Col. F. Palmer
wrote from Withcote : ' Occasionally one has been
seen in the neighbourhood ; probably escaped from
some park.'
16 British Quadrupeds.
W Essays on Sport and Natural History,
166
PREHISTORIC MAP
LEICESTERSHIRE
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Neolithic ImplefnentatMisceil&rteous
objects auth&s Personal ornaments coins &
Bronze Implement* and Weapons And
Bronze 4ge Pottery- also Late
Celtic Ant i a u it it: a
EARLY MAN
CONSIDERING its size, and other circumstances which one might
imagine would be favourable to an early population, Leicestershire
must be described as poor in the remains of the different periods
into which archaeologists divide the prehistoric age.
The absence of palaeolithic implements is not remarkable in a midland
county, especially one which lies to the north-west of a line drawn between
the Wash and the Severn, a division which, as Sir John Evans has pointed
out, 1 separates with considerable accuracy the south-eastern part of England,
in which remains of the palaeolithic period are found in some abundance,
from the north-western part, from which they are conspicuously absent.
Whether they may be discovered in the course of further search in Leicester-
shire and other midland counties is a question which cannot at present
be answered ; but at any rate such a discovery does not appear at all
unlikely, especially in view of the fact that the bones of animals known to
have been contemporary with palaeolithic man have been found in the
districts referred to.
As will presently be pointed out, the prehistoric antiquities found in
Leicestershire comprise remains which may be referred to the Neolithic Age,
the Bronze Age, and the early Iron Age, the last-named group including
certain specimens which are of particular interest. If the materials for con-
structing an account of prehistoric Leicestershire are somewhat scanty, they
are correspondingly of greater value on account of the light they throw upon
a period which otherwise would be particularly dark and uninteresting.
THE NEOLITHIC AGE
When we arrive at the Neolithic Age we find ourselves on sure ground.
A long gap in time and great physical changes are believed to have occurred
between the end of the Palaeolithic Age and the commencement of the
Neolithic era ; and although there are those who hold that an intermediate or
transitional stage can be recognized, yet the general consensus of opinion and
the vast preponderance of evidence are both favourable to the theory of a
very important gap or break in the continuity of the human population of
what is now known as the British Isles.
The antiquities belonging to this age found in Leicestershire are by no
means numerous, but so far as they go they indicate a late rather than an early
stage or period of Neolithic culture.
A perforated axe made of hard sandstone, and measuring 9^ in. in length,
found at Barrow-on-Soar, and a like perforated axe found in the cemetery at
1 Stone Implements.
A HISTORY OF LEICESTERSHIRE
Leicester, are both suggestive of the latter end of the Stone Age, or even the
early part of the Bronze period. The polished flint celt, with flat sides and
measuring 5J in. in length, found near Loughborough, is perhaps more nearly
related to the Neolithic than to the Bronze Age. But it is difficult to
pronounce positively upon separate antiquities found at different parts of the
county, and without data as to their environments. At Leicester, however,
we have the important record of a discovery which indicates the survival of
an object of the Stone Age through many centuries. A fragment of a flint celt
was there found buried in the earth at a depth of 1 2 ft., but it occurred in
association with objects of the Roman, and perhaps even Saxon, period.
Sir John Evans discovered at Osbaston a muller for crushing corn, which,
perhaps, may be attributed to the Neolithic Age, but it might equally well
belong to the same period as the quern-stone of bee-hive shape found at
Breedon, whose period is sufficiently indicated by the iron pins which were
found in association with it.
Arrow-heads of flint, and presumably of the latter part of the Neolithic
period, or the earlier part of the Bronze Age, have been found at Spinney
Hill, near Leicester, and at Mountsorrel ; the former being leaf -shaped, the
latter barbed.
Various other forms of flint and stone implements, of regular Neolithic
type, have been found at Aylestone, South Croxton, Kirby Muxloe, Noseley,
Shackerstone, Stoney Stanton, Swithland, Witherley, and elsewhere, and par-
ticulars of them will be found in the topographical list at the end of the present
article.
The only trace of megalithic remains in Leicestershire, apparently, is, or
rather was, the monolith standing 7 ft. high and 3 ft. in the ground, which
formerly existed near the ruins of Leicester Abbey. It was popularly known
as St. John's Stone, and local topographers 2 were inclined to regard it as an
object in some way connected with Druidical rites.
THE BRONZE AGE
The Bronze Age is a convenient term now generally used to distinguish
the stage in advancing culture when man employed metal tools, implements,
and weapons in his various pursuits. It must be regarded as one of the
progressive steps by which man advanced from ignorance to an early stage
of civilization. Although various suggestions have been made as to the period
which is covered by the Bronze Age, it is at once safer and more convenient
for our purpose to treat it as a phase of civilization rather than a definite
period of time.
The following are particulars of some of the more important objects of
this period found in Leicestershire :
In the monumental History of Leicestershire, by John Nichols, F.S.A.,
(vol. iii, pt. 2), there is a folio plate on which are engraved illustrations of
twelve bronze objects, all of which apparently were found at Husbands Bos-
worth. They comprise four looped and socketed celts ; two socketed celts
without loops ; three socketed gouges ; two spear-heads ; and a curiously-
shaped object of bronze which may have been the flat ferrule of a spear-
' Mrs. T. F. Johnson, GRmfses of Anct. Leu. (1891), p. 5.
168
EARLY MAN
handle. Generally speaking the forms are elegant and rather more elongated
than one usually finds in articles of this period found in England. It is
possible, of course, that the drawing may be somewhat inaccurate. There is
little known about these bronze objects beyond the fact that they were dis-
covered on 23 December, 1801, by Matthew Grocock and James Allam, of
Husbands Bosworth, about 6 ft. below the surface, in a piece of land belonging
to Mr. F. F. Turvile, called Gravel Pit Close. Recent inquiries of the
present representatives of the family have tended to show that they are not
now preserved in Leicestershire.
A flanged bronze celt of small size and quite early type is figured in
Nichols's Leicestershire? and is therein stated (p. 605) to have been found
near the Foss Road in Croft parish. The engraving, like so many in this
book which represent early antiquities, is by no means accurately executed,
but it offers so many points of resemblance to a bronze celt now in Leicester
Museum, and of unknown provenance, that one feels little hesitation in
regarding it as having been intended as a picture of that implement.
Nichols* also figures two typical spear-heads of the Bronze Age, each
socketed and furnished with two loops, found on Bosworth Field.
Another discovery of a Bronze Age object worthy of being recorded
is the palstave found at Bardon Hill, 6 in or about 1875, and now preserved
in the Leicester Museum. It is 6j in. in length, and weighs three-quarters
of a pound.
A bronze dagger of unusual interest was found in Leicester some years
since, and is now preserved in the museum of that town. 6 The pommel
consists of two pieces of bone riveted on either side of a bronze plate, which,
however, does not appear to have been continuous with the blade. Nine
rivets remain attached to the base of the blade, and they are of different
lengths, indicating that the handle was made thicker in the middle than at
the sides, a very natural and convenient arrangement. Of nine rivets in the
bronze plate near the pommel eight remain. The handle was probably made
of wood, but it has entirely perished.
A palstave of the common form, with curved stop-ridge and a loop
which had been worn or broken about the middle, is figured in Potter's
Charnwood Forest. 1 It was found in 1818, during planting operations, at
Benscliffe. The writer in describing the implement remarks that it is
supposed to belong to an era much anterior to that of those having sockets.
The most important discovery of Bronze Age remains in Leicestershire
was the hoard found in 1858 at Beacon Hill, Charnwood Forest. The objects,
which comprised two spear-heads, one celt, one gouge, and an armlet, all of
bronze, were found by workmen engaged in cutting a drive through the
encampment on Beacon Hill. The antiquities were exhibited at a meeting
of the Society of Antiquaries of London 8 in May, 1859, when it was
* Vol. iv, pt. 2, plate opposite p. 606.
4 Op. cit. iv, pt. 2, plate opposite p. 557. To his brief mention of the discovery Nichols adds a footnote
on the use of bows and arrows in warfare, from which it is evident that he considers the spear- head to be of
mediaeval date.
5 Trans. Leu. Phil, and Lit. Sac. pt. 9, p. 29 (1888). ' Evans, Bronze Imp. 231.
' Plate opposite p. 42. He adds : ' My own opinion, from a close examination of the peculiarity of
form and the small size (5 Jin. long) ... is, that it was inserted in a long cleft shaft, and used by the
Druids for cutting off the mistletoe growing on branches too high to be reached from the ground.'
8 Proc. (ser. i), iv, 322-3.
I 169 22
A HISTORY OF LEICESTERSHIRE
explained that the spear-heads and celts were found within a space measuring
6 ft. by 3 ft., and occupied by earth which differed from the surrounding
soil. On examination it was found to contain bone, pottery of well-burnt
clay, and charcoal.
The two spear-heads were socketed and pierced with rivet-holes through
the socket. One, j\ in. long, was perfect, and the other, which was broken,
had apparently measured about 6j in. in length. A gouge, also socketed and
measuring 3 J in. long, was found with the spear-heads. The celt was of
the socketed variety, narrow and tapering in the waist, with an almost semi-
circular cutting edge, and provided with a single loop.
The armlet referred to was unornamented and of small size, being only
3 in. in diameter. It was found outside the inclosure, at a distance of about
fifty yards from the other objects. Its shape is what is known as penannular,
and the two terminations have been considerably thickened so as to form
irregular knobs. According to an account published in 1842*11 appears
that ' an ancient battle-axe ' was found in ploughing a field at the foot of
Beacon Hill, and that it passed into the possession of Miss Watkinson, of
Woodhouse. Subsequently this object was brought to London and exhibited
at a meeting of the Society of Antiquaries. It was then found to be a bronze
celt of plain, flat, early type, measuring little more than 5 in. in length. 10 It
doubtless belongs to an early period of the Bronze Age, whilst the other
implements provided with sockets must be placed at the latter end of that
age. The armlet, or bracelet, may belong perhaps to the early Iron Age.
Roman coins and other remains have also been found in the immediate
vicinity, so there is good reason to believe that this naturally strong and
easily defended site may have been continuously inhabited by successive tribes
from the Bronze Age down to the historic period ; and, indeed, judging from
the character of the earthworks, it is not improbable that it was inhabited
and artificially defended in the Neolithic Age. 11
The site now known as Beacon Hill must always have been one of con-
siderable importance when defence against foes was a consideration, and it is
unlikely that the Neolithic people would have ignored such an eminently
desirable situation.
In the Bronze Age it was certainly a place of importance, and from the
evidence of bronze casting in prehistoric times which the local discoveries
have furnished, there seems no reason why Beacon Hill should not be added
to the curiously limited number of Bronze Age settlements or villages known
in the kingdom.
The particular discovery referred to is a portion of a bronze celt mould
containing traces of lead, and now preserved in the museum at Leicester. 18
The lead was doubtless part of a model used in the making of clay moulds in
which bronze celts were cast, the lead having first been heated and then
poured off. It is clear that work such as this implies a very considerable
amount of skill and knowledge of metallurgical processes, and indicates that
the craftsmen were persons of advanced culture. Some of the best castings
of the Bronze Age, especially castings in the form of socketed spear-heads,
9 T. R. Potter, The Hist, and Antlq. of CkarnteooJ Forest, 49.
10 Proc. Soc. Antiq. (ser. ii), i, 44 ; Evans, Bronze Imp.
11 A plan is given in Potter's book just quoted, p. 49, and in the article on ' Earthworks ' in this volume.
11 Proc. Soc. Antiq. (ser. ii, xx), 258.
170
PKRFORATEI> AXE-HAMMER, BARROW-ON-SOAR
PERFORATED AXE-HAMMKK, L KICKS IKK (.'KMETKRY
PART OF A STONE CELT,
LEICESTER
FLAKED AND POLISHED FLINT CELT,
CLIFF HILL
POLISHED CELT FOUND IN
LEICESTERSHIRE
CELT, BELGRAVE GRAVEL PIT,
LEICESTER
NEOLITHIC AND EARLY BRONZE-AGE ANTIQUITIES OF STONE FOUND IN LEICESTERSHIRE
EARLY MAN
are so well made that it would be impossible to improve upon them in these
days, with all our modern appliances for working in metal.
Market Bosworth has furnished one interesting relic of the Bronze Age
which has since unfortunately been allowed to fall to decay and is now lost.
This was an earthen pot with well-developed lip or rim ornamented with
parallel horizontal lines, a somewhat deeply depressed waist, and a rather
small body. In general character it closely resembled the regular Bronze
Age cinerary urn, although the proportionate sizes of its various parts would
cause it to be regarded as a somewhat clumsy and ill-shaped vessel. The
drawing upon which these remarks are based, however, may be not quite
accurate. Another feature which strikes one as somewhat unusual is the
series of punctures at regular intervals on the waist and at the top and
bottom edge of the rim. Here again, however, the artist may have added
details in a somewhat different way from the original.
The pot or urn was discovered in the year 1849 in the grounds of the
rectory house at Market Bosworth during the work of grubbing up a hedge.
It was broken into a number of pieces, and afterwards deposited by the
Rev. N. P. Small in the museum at Leicester. In 1854, when the urn was
figured in the publications of the Anastatic Drawing Society, the fragments
could not be found. No particulars are forthcoming as to the size of the
urn, but the general form, as shown in the drawing, suggests a cinerary urn
of about lain, or 15 in. high.
Pottery of the Bronze Age is not particularly abundant in Leicestershire.
It is probable that some has shared the fate of that found at Market Bosworth;
but there are a few interesting pieces in Leicester Museum. These include
a cinerary urn nearly 6 in. high, found at Aylestone Park ; an urn of red
earth, 4! in. high, probably a vessel belonging to the class known as incense-
cups, found at Mountsorrel ; a cinerary urn of the regular Bronze Age
type, i6jiti. high, found at the same place, and now in the museum at
Leicester ; and a cinerary urn 13 in. high, found at a barrow called Round
Hill, at Syston. In addition to these there were two vessels of pottery,
presumably of the Bronze Age, found at Noseley, and exhibited at a meeting
of the Leicestershire Archaeological Society in i863. 13
THE EARLY IRON AGE
This period, which may be said to commence with the introduction of
iron implements, utensils, and weapons in England, and to end with the
Roman invasion and occupation, is at once the latest and the most interesting
of the archaeological divisions of the prehistoric period. No definite date
can be ascribed to the beginning of the early Iron Age, because although it
is known to have commenced in central and western Europe at about the
same time, and possibly about five centuries before the Christian era, there
are no certain data upon which a precise opinion on the subject can be
formulated. In Britain, separated as it is from the European continent, it is
extremely likely that the knowledge of iron may have arrived somewhat
later than in other regions of western Europe.
u See Trans, ii, 275.
171
A HISTORY OF LEICESTERSHIRE
There is reason to believe that the art of working iron, and the know-
ledge of its immense superiority over bronze, were brought hither by a tribe
or division of the great Celtic family, known as the Brythons, a name which
is perpetuated in that of the people who still flourish in these islands.
Gaulish and other continental influences are clearly shown in the arts
and industries of the people of the early Iron Age in Britain, and it is this
interesting fact, perhaps, which gives the chief importance to the discoveries
in Leicestershire now to be described.
In this county there have been found several objects characteristic of the
late Celtic period, and of the greatest archaeological importance. The first
to be recorded, both on account of rarity and interest, are the remains of the
bronze mounts of a wooden bucket found at Mountsorrel' in what has been
considered a Roman well. Articles of this class and period are so very rare
that only two had been previously known as having been found in England, 1 *
namely, one found at Marlborough, and one found in the late Celtic cemetery
at Aylesford. Both of these are considered by Dr. Arthur Evans to be
foreign productions, and in both we find ornamentation of anthromorphic
and zoomorphic character. In the case of the Aylesford bucket the terminals
of the handle by which it is attached to the bucket are human heads. In
the Marlborough bucket there are also human heads- arranged in pairs. In
the Mountsorrel example, however, and also in that next to be described, the
handle attachments are in the form of bulls' heads. Zoomorphic forms of
this character are rare, but a bull's head cast in solid bronze was found at
Ham Hill, Somerset, 15 in which is displayed great artistic skill, although
convention is carried almost to the verge of caricature.
The vertical bronze straps of the Mountsorrel bucket are decorated with
a debased form of spiral scroll-work in relief, interrupted at intervals by
raised rings. The main portion of the bucket, which has been restored, was
of course composed of wooden staves. The handle is of particularly good
workmanship, and consists of elegant bead and reel moulding.
Another bucket, or rather the broken remains of the bronze mounts and
some fragments of the wooden staves of one, were found between Twyford
and Burrough Hill, Leicestershire, in association, it is said, with a socketed
spear-head of iron. The fragments of wooden staves are fairly well preserved,
and amongst the various pieces of metal is the bronze head of a bull from
which project the ears and horns of the animal. This was manifestly a part of
the attachment of the handle to the bucket, and it furnishes an interesting
parallel to the similar, if not quite identical, form on the Mountsorrel
specimen just described.
In general character the Leicestershire buckets are clearly of later date,
and of more debased art, than the examples found in Kent and Wiltshire ;
and there is good reason to believe that they may be of native British work r
manship.
The curious bronze object found at High Cross is another characteristic
relic of the late Celtic or early Iron Age. It consists of two disks of metal
connected by a tube, and may possibly have served as the ornamental boss of
the nave of a chariot wheel. Examples of these objects have been found
14 J. Romilly Allen, F.S.A., Celtic Art in Pagan and Christian Times, 1 16.
15 Free. Soc. Antiq. xxi, 133.
172
CINERARY UKN, MotJNTBORREI.
(16^ inches in height)
CINERARY URV, ROUND HILL, SVSTON
(i } inches in height)
PART OF MOUNT FROM A BUCKET FOUND BETWEEN
TWVFORD AND BuR ROUGH HlLL, LEICESTER
BUCKET WITH ORNAMENTAL BRONZE MOUNTS FOUND AT
MOUNTSORREL
BRONZE-AGE AND EARLY IRON-AGE ANTIQUITIES FOUND IN LEICESTERSHIRE
EARLY MAN
elsewhere, notably in the East Riding of Yorkshire, at Ham Hill, Somerset,
in Cambridgeshire, and at Putney, in Middlesex, and the general belief is
that they were in some way attached to chariots, although it must be confessed
that the precise method of attachment and the exact purpose equally require
fuller explanation.
A horse's bit of bronze, somewhat similar to the example found near
Hull, was obtained during excavations in Bath Lane, Leicester, in the year
1876. It is of late Celtic character, and possesses three conical points on
the central neck, arranged triangularly.
Part of a snaffle-bit of bronze, likewise of the late Celtic period, was
found at Great Easton. It was at one time regarded as the guard of a sword,
but the late Sir A. Wollaston Franks identified it as similar to several objects
found in association with horse trappings at Polden Hill, Somerset.
It is a noteworthy fact that a large proportion of the metallic antiquities
of the early Iron Age are parts of the harness of horses or of the fittings and
mountings of chariots.
The British Museum possesses one of the bronze harness-fittings known
as terrets, the purpose of which was both to serve as a guide-ring for the
reins, and to add some kind of ornamental enrichment to the harness.
Whether they actually served the purpose of the terrets of modern times in
acting as guides or supports of the reins affixed to the collar or saddle of a
horse in shafts is, however, somewhat doubtful. Generally they were loose
rings of bronze, ornamental in character, sometimes enamelled, attached to
and possibly depending from some part of the leather gear of the horse.
They may, indeed, have been purely ornamental accessories of the harness,
similar in some respects to the
brass ornaments with which modern
carters and wagoners delight to
bedeck the harness of their horses ;
but there is no reason to doubt that
they formed parts of horse furniture,
as they are usually found in associa-
tion with interments which con-
tain other clear proofs of chariot
burials, &c.
Some examples, such as those
from Bapchild 18 and Westhall, Suf-
folk," are, or have been, enamelled.
The example in the British Museum
which was found at Leicester, how-
ever, has never been enriched in
this way, and in general character represents a rather late development, or
perhaps degradation, in late Celtic art.
Of the characteristic forms of pottery of the early Iron Age Leicester-
shire has furnished but few examples. Nichols, however, in his history of
the county, 18 figures a vessel of somewhat peculiar form, which in its general
appearance, and from the cordons or raised bands, and very small base, is
BRONZE TERRET FOUND IN LEICESTERSHIRE (NOW IN
THE BRITISH MUSEUM)
16 Proe. Soc. Antiq. xx, 5 7-9.
18 Vol. vi, pt. i, pi. Ix.
" Arch, xxxvi, 454-6.
173
A HISTORY OF LEICESTERSHIRE
certainly suggestive of the late Celtic pottery of the Aylesford and
Essex type.
There are one or two vessels in Leicester Museum of rather coarse
manufacture, which may also be of this period.
MISCELLANEOUS ANTIQUITIES
A few miscellaneous antiquities remain to be described.
A cist burial, probably of the prehistoric age, was discovered at Stonton
Wyville 19 in the year 1869. The grave consisted of slabs of stone set
up in the form of a stone cist, and contained the skeleton of an adult
person, with the leg-bones gathered up, lying on the side, whilst some
charcoal and ashes were found near it. The size of the cist was 3 ft. 6 in.
in length, and i ft. 10 in. in greatest width ; at the east end it narrowed to
a width of about i ft., whilst the west end terminated in the form of the
bow of a boat. Three slabs of ironstone, ingeniously put together, inclosed
the north side of the grave ; another slab of stone was placed across the
eastern end, and the south part was built up of small stones, making a kind
of rubble wall.
The cist was found at a depth of 6 ft. below the surface of the church-
yard, and on the spot where the south aisle of the Norman church formerly
stood a situation which suggests the possibility of the burial being of
Norman or mediaeval date. The circumstances of the burial, however, the
crouched-up position of the skeleton, the associated ashes and charcoal, and
the method in which the cist was constructed, all point with conclusive
unanimity to a prehistoric origin.
ANCIENT BRITISH COINS
Of the few ancient British coins found in Leicestershire one or two are
of considerable interest.
An uninscribed gold coin found at Hallaton belongs to a type which is
particularly worthy of note from the fact that it proves the derivation of the
cruciform ornament which occurs on the coins of Tasciovanus and Andro-
comius from the laureate busts of the early coins. Sir John Evans points out
that the obverse (consisting of cruciform ornament of two wreaths with two
open crescents back to back, and locks of hair in the angle spaces) resembles
the coins found at Wonersh ; whilst the reverse (comprising a fairly well-
shaped horse, a radiated pellet, perhaps the sun, and a wheel below the horse)
is more nearly connected with the Whaddon Chase coins of Buckingham-
shire.
A coin found near Leicester, much like the type inscribed TAXCI, but
without other inscription, is probably one of the coins of Tasciovanus. Above
the usual figure of a horse is the representation of a bull's head, a curious and
significant coincidence, in view of the two representations of bulls' heads on
the mounts of late Celtic buckets in this county. It points, perhaps, to the
existence of some kind of cult of the bull in this district, and probably forms
19 Trans. Lac. Arcbit. and Arch. Sue. iv, 7-10.
174
EARLY MAN
a parallel to the small bronze pigs of the late Celtic period which have been
found in Middlesex and Sussex.
Loughborough has furnished a distinctly curious gold coin, uninscribed,
but bearing some singularly disjointed ornament comprising a debased
figure of a horse and a barbarous representation of a wreath, &c. It belongs
to a class of coins produced in Britain before the influence of the Romans
made its appearance in our native currency.
TOPOGRAPHICAL LIST OF PREHISTORIC ANTIQUITIES
In the following list an attempt is made to give a concise record of the various prehistoric
remains in Leicestershire, and the writer's obligations are due to Mr. Montagu Browne, F.Z.S.,
whose paper on the ' Evidences of the Antiquity of Man in Leicestershire,' printed in the Trans-
actions of the Leicester Literary and Philosophical Society (October, 1885), has been of great use, and
is frequently quoted as being the only authority for some of the following facts.
In giving reference to the various printed authorities, the following abbreviations have been
employed :
Arch. jfourn.= Archaeological "Journal.
Arch.=Archaeologia.
Evans, Bronze I mp.-= Ancient Bronze Implements, &c. By Sir Tohn Evans.
Evans, Brit. Coins. = Ancient British Coins. By Sir John Evans.
Evans, Stone Imp. =. Ancient Stone Implements (and ed.) By Sir John Evans.
AYLESTONE. A few neolithic implements found here. [M. Browne, op. cit. 34-5.]
AYLESTONE PARK. Bronze Age cinerary urn, now in Leicester Museum. It is of rather small
size, being only 5$- in. in height, and was found at Aylestone Park, near Leicester, at a depth
of 4 ft. [M. Browne, op. cit. 23.]
BARDON HILL. Bronze palstave, 6 in. long, now in Leicester Museum. [M. Browne,
op. cit. 29.]
BARROW-ON-SoAR. Ring of burnt clay, 4 in. in diameter, of unknown age and use, now in the
museum at Leicester. It is rather too large for a spindle-wheel, and not heavy enough for a
loom weight. It may have been used as a sinker in fishing. [M. Browne, op. cit. 23.]
Perforated axe of hard sandstone, in Leicester Museum. [Evans, Stone Imp. 200.]
BEACON HILL, in Charnwood Forest. Flat bronze celt. \_Proc. Sac. Antiq. (ser. 2), i, 44 ;
Evans, Bronze Imp. 43.]
Armlet of bronze found within the encampment. [Evans, Bronze Imp. 174.]
Leaf-shaped spear-head, with rivet-hole through socket. [Evans, Bronze Imp. 321.]
Hoard of bronze objects. [Proc. Soc. Antiq. iv, 323 ; Gent. Mag. July, 1858, p. 6 1 ;
M. Browne, op. cit. 28-9.]
BENSCLIFFE, in Charnwood Forest. A bronze palstave was found here in 1818. From a published
engraving it appears that the loop had been worn through by use or decay. [Potter, Hist, and
Antiq. of Charnwood Forest, 42.]
BOSWORTH FIELD. Two bronze spear-heads, each furnished with two loops. [Nicholls, Hist.
Leic.iv, pt. 2, 558.]
BREEDON. Quern-stone and iron pins, possibly not prehistoric. [Evans, Stone Imp. 259.]
BURROUGH HILL. Neolithic flint arrow-head found in association with human remains. [M. Browne,
op. cit. 34].
Remains of late Celtic bucket, now in Leicester Museum.
CLIFF HILL. Ground flint celt, 7 in. long, with expanding edges and partially ground all over,
found in 1858; now in Leicester Museum. [Evans, Stone Imp. 103.]
Limestone pestle, 12 in. long and 2 Jin. in diameter, now in Leicester Museum. [Evans,
Stone Imp. 254.]
CROFT. Early form of flat bronze celt ; possibly the same as one now in Leicester Museum.
[Nichols, Hist. Leic. iv, pt. 2, p. 606.]
CROXTON (SOUTH). Small Neolithic scraper of flint of curious and unusual form, and partly shaped
by natural forces. Now in Leicester Museum.
GREAT EASTON. Bronze check-piece of a bridle-bit, 3jin. long, fin. across in the centre, and about
in. at the small end (resembling other examples found at Polden Hill, Somerset, now in
British Museum) ; was found here some years ago, and is now in the Leicester Museum.
175
A HISTORY OF LEICESTERSHIRE
HALLATON. An uninscribed gold coin of the type given in Evans, Brit, Coins (pp. 75-6), as pi. C.
No. 9, was found at Hallaton. [Arch. Journ. vi, 403.]
HIGH CROSS. Bronze object, consisting of two disks of metal connected by a tube, of the kind
sometimes described as ornaments for the naves of chariot wheels. The larger disk is 3^ in.
in diameter, and the smaller, which is 3^ in. in diameter, is made to revolve upon the spindle
by the hammered flange of the latter coming through the orifice of the disk. It is of
late Celtic workmanship, and is in Leicester Museum.
HUSBANDS BOSWORTH. Hoard of bronze objects, including socketed celts, socketed gouges, &c.
Figured and briefly described. [Nichols, Hist. Leic. iii, pt. 2, p. 1126.]
KIRBY MUXLOE. Ground flint celt, now in Leicester Museum.
LEICESTER. Stone celt, 6 in. long and 3 in. wide at the cutting edge, found in the Abbey Meadow,
Leicester. [M. Browne, op. cit. 33.]
Fragment of flint celt found buried 1 2 ft. deep accompanied by objects of Roman or even
Anglo-Saxon age. [Proc. Soc. Antlq. (ser. 2) i, 249 ; Evans, Stone Imp. 144.]
Perforated axe 7 in. long, found in the cemetery at Leicester. [Evans, Stone Imp. 200.]
Arrow-heads, both leaf-shaped and barbed, have been found in the neighbourhood of
Leicester. [Evans, Stone Imp. 389.]
Bronze dagger, with pommel composed of two pieces of bone riveted on either side of a
bronze plate. This specimen belongs to the early part of the Bronze Age. [Evans, Bronze
Imp. 231.]
Bronze dagger, 12^ in. in length, found 12 ft. deep in the Abbey Meadow, Leicester.
Now in Leicester Museum. It is chiefly remarkable for the large size of its rivets.
Part of a horse-bit of late Celtic workmanship (resembling the fine example found at Rise,
near Hull), found about 1876 in Bath Lane, Leicester. [Trans. Leic. Archlt. and Arch. Soc.
v, 41.]
Ring of burnt clay similar to that found at Barrow-on-Soar, but rather more oval in form.
Possibly a sinker for fishing.
A coin of Tasciovanus, uninscribed, but otherwise resembling those inscribed TAXCI,
found at Leicester. [Evans, Brit. Coins, 229, 535.]
DORNE HILLS. Flint scraper found here. [M. Browne, op. cit. 34.]
SPINNEY HILL. Flint arrow-head, of leaf shape, and flint scrapers found here.
[M. Browne, op. cit. 34.]
LOUGHBOROUGH. Ground flint celt, with flat sides, 5^ in. long. [Evans, Stone Imp. in.]
Broken stone celt of oval sections found near Loughborough. [Evans, Stone Imp, 129.]
An ancient British gold coin of the type pi. A, No. n, of Evans, Brit. Coins, was found
here in 1844. [Evans, Brit. Coins, 56.]
MARKET BOSWORTH. Bronze Age vessel, probably a cinerary urn, now lost. [Anastatic Drawing
Soc. Publication for 1854.]
MOUNTSORREL. Barbed flint arrow-head, of rather heavy type, was found here, 7 or 8 ft. [M.
Browne, op. cit. 34.]
Bronze Age vessel of red earth 2\ in. high, and 4^ in. external diameter, probably an
incense-cup. It has ornamental incisions on the outside of the regular herring-bone type, so
characteristic of the Bronze Age. It is now in the museum at Leicester. [M. Browne,
op. cit. 23.]
In an excavation here, generally known as a Roman well, were found a fine Bronze Age
urn i6j in. high, and fragments of two very important late Celtic buckets, consisting of bronze
hoops, straps, and a well-shaped handle, with ornaments in the form of a bull's head at the
points where the handles were attached to the buckets. These articles are now in Leicester
Museum.
NOSELEY. Flint celt and two vessels of pottery found here, drawings of which were exhibited at a
meeting of the Leicester Architectural and Archaeological Society, 30 November, 1863.
The objects were at that time in the possession of Sir A. G. Hazlerigg, bart. The pottery
apparently was of the Bronze Age, the ornament being in the form of zigzags and parallel
lines. [Trans. Leic. Soc. ii, 275.]
OSBASTON. Stone muller for crushing corn, &c., found by Sir John Evans. [Evans, Stone
Imp. 251.]
RATCLIFFE (near Old Fosse Road). Greenstone celt found here in 1859, now in Leicester
Museum.
SHACKERSTONE. Ground stone celt, formerly in the possession of Mr. S. E.S.Perkins. [Nichols, Hist.
Leic. iv, pt. 2, p. 909.]
STONEY STANTON. Stone celt found 2^ ft. below the surface of the ground. [M. Browne,
op. cit. 33.]
176
EARLY MAN
STONTON WYVILLE. Prehistoric cist-burial, probably of the Bronze Age. [Trans. Leic. Archit. and
Arch. Sac. iv, 7-10.]
BUTTON CHENEY. Bone pin found in a disturbed barrow opened by Sir John Evans, in 1851.
[Evans, Stone Imp. 432.]
SWITHLAND. A fairly good flint core of the Neolithic Age found at Swithland Reservoir, now in
Leicester Museum.
SYSTON. Part of a bronze spear-head found 19 ft. deep in the bed of the River Wreak. Now in
Leicester Museum.
Bronze age cinerary urn, 13 in. high, and 9^ in. in diameter. It was found in a tumulus
known as ' Round Hill,' and contained, when discovered, a number of charred bones. It is
now in Leicester Museum. [M. Browne, in Trans. Leic. Lit. and Philo. Sue. pt. 9, October,
!888, P . 23.]
WILLOUGHBY WATERLESS. Late Celtic urn. [Nichols, Hist. Leic. iv, pt. i, pi. Ix, 400.]
WITHERLEY HASTWELL COMMON. Chipped and ground flint celt, and perforated stone axe.
[Nichols, Hist. Leic. iv, pt. 2, p. 1031.]
WYMESWOLD. Witch stone, a natural pebble, perforated by a natural hole, now preserved in
Leicester Museum. [Evans, Stone Imp. 470.]
177 23
ROMANO-BRITISH
LEICESTERSHIRE
IT is, perhaps, needless to say that the division of the country known as
Leicestershire had no existence during the Romano-British period. 1
At the time of the Roman invasion probably the whole of this district
was inhabited by the Coritani, a British tribe whose chief towns we
learn from Ptolemy, writing about A.D. 120, were Lincoln (Lindutri) and
Leicester (Rbage or Ratae)* The boundaries of the land occupied by this
tribe are uncertain, but their territory probably extended into the counties of
Lincoln, Northampton, Leicester, Rutland, Nottingham, and Derby.
The Roman occupation under the Emperor Claudius began in A.D. 43 ;
at first the subjugation of the country was comparatively easy. A strong
foothold was obtained in Kent and Essex, and then the army was formed into
three divisions, the Second Legion going south-west towards Somerset and
Devon, the Fourteenth and Twentieth Legions north-west towards Shrews-
bury and Chester, and the Ninth Legion north towards Lincoln. 3 Possibly
some evidence of the presence of the Ninth Legion may be traced at Leicester,
as will be noted hereafter. By A.D. 47 or 48 the whole of the eastern part
of Britain up to the Humber, including the district now known as Leicester-
shire, was occupied ; and in A.D. 48, or shortly afterwards, the subjugation
of the more hilly country northwards began, which latter enterprise, however,
does not concern our present inquiry.
Professor Haverfield divides Britain into two districts; 4 the eastern,
southern, and south-western district or the lowlands he describes as civilian,
whilst the northern and western district or the uplands he describes as
military. Leicestershire falls within the former category, and was a part of
the midland area which may be termed undistinguished. With the excep-
tion of Leicester it contained no great town. The villas in the county
are few, its mineral wealth was unknown to the Romans, and on the whole
it was not so well suited for agriculture and pasture as other parts of the
country. It was wanting in that marked Romano-British life which was to
be found in the surrounding district, such as at Colchester, Verulam, Sil-
chester, Gloucester, Wroxeter, and elsewhere. It is clear that Leicestershire
showed the peaceful and simple characteristics of the rest of the midlands,
and the population must have been sparse. Probably the western side was
1 Much of the information contained in this article has been taken from Professor Haverfield's contri-
butions to the History of Roman Britain in the volumes of this series.
8 Ptolemy, Geographia, i, 99 (ed. Firmin-Didot, 1883). 3 V.C.H. Northants, i, 215.
4 V.C.H. Derb. \, 192.
I 79
A HISTORY OF LEICESTERSHIRE
forest land, and beyond the valley of the Soar we have evidence of nothing
denoting occupation during the Roman era but the hoards of coins buried in
Charnwood Forest, and small miscellaneous finds such as spear-heads and odd
coins, which do not denote any settlement. Along the course of the Roman
roads, however, remains are naturally to be found. On the Watling Street,
which forms the south-western boundary of the county, are the stations of
Tripontium, Venonae, and Manduessedum, which, lying on both sides of the
road, are each partly in this county and partly in Warwickshire. On the
Fosse Way, which also passes through Venonae or High Cross, there is the
town of Ratae or Leicester, and along the valley of the Soar, west and north
of Leicester, there were probably villas of some importance at Danett's Hall,
Westcotes, Rothley, Mountsorrel, and Barrow-upon-Soar. The eastern side
of the county is almost as equally devoid of remains of the Roman period as
the western. There are traces of villas at Market Harborough and Med-
bourne, in the valley of the Welland, and at Wymondham. With the
exception of Wymondham all the villas mentioned lay in the valleys of the
Soar and the Welland, sites selected no doubt in order that the produce of the
lands might be distributed by water. These villas were the properties of large
landowners, sometimes Romans, but more often probably Romanized Britons,
who lived in the houses, caused the lands immediately round them to be
cultivated by their slaves, and let the rest to the half serf coloni. The houses
were of types suitable to this climate, and only to be found in Britain and
northern Gaul. The simpler, and generally the smaller, of these was the
corridor house, which consisted of a row of rooms with a passage or corridor
running along one side of it. The other type was the courtyard house, con-
sisting of three rows of similar rooms, and passages forming three sides of a
square, with an open courtyard in the middle. Both types were seldom, if
ever, carried higher than the ground floor.
No less than ten hoards of coins have been found in the county ; of these
the dates of the coins have not been recorded for two, Kibworth and Market
Bosworth ; that at Hinckley cannot have been hidden earlier than A.D. 1 80 ;
one at Edmondthorpe possibly as late as A.D. 383, and one at Leicester
A.D. 423 ; one at Lutterworth not earlier than A.D. 138, and another one at
Leicester not later than A.D. 337. The remaining three, those found at Ashby-
de-la-Zouch, Loughborough, and Lutterworth, comprise coins dating between
A.D. 257 and 275.
It is perhaps worthy of remark that hoards, of which the date of the
latest coins is approximately the same as that of those last referred to, are not
infrequent. 5 The natural reason to be assigned for the depositing of hoards is
that they were hidden as treasure, to avoid loss by plunder during a disturbed
condition of the country. A systematic investigation of the evidence of
;such hoards would probably throw considerable light upon the history of
the times to which they refer. Those, however, now under consideration
4 In Derbyshire, at Crick, two such hoards have been found, the covering dates being respectively
250-70 and 265-8 ; at Eyam one hoard, 253-82 ; at Langworth, 253-75 ; and at Wirksworth, B.C.
29-A.D. 275 ; V.C.H. Derb. i, 256-62. In Warwickshire, at Knowle, 253-73 ; at Chalveston, 253-83 ;
and at Nuneaton, 70-267 ; V.C.H. Warw. i, 247. In Northants, at Hardingstone, 250-80 ; and at
Wootton, 253-68; V.C.H. Northants, 1,217,222. In Bedfordshire, at Flitwick, 268-73, and at Luton,
196-270; V.C.H. Beds. ii. In Yorkshire, at Nunburnholme, 3,000 small brass, 253-75 ; and in Sussex,
at Eastbourne, near Beachy Head, 253-75 ; Suss. Arch. Coll. xxxi, 201.
1 80
ROMANO-BRITISH LEICESTERSHIRE
refer to deposits which must have been made about A.D. 270 to 275, during
the time of the Emperor Aurelian, whose coins are the latest found in them.
Britain, we know, was at the beginning of the reign of Aurelian under the
weak rule of the usurper Tetricus, ' the slave and sovereign of a licentious army,
whom he dreaded and by whom he was despised.' 6 During the victorious
advance through Gaul by Aurelian against Tetricus in A.D. 2723, it can
well be imagined that the want of authority caused by the withdrawal of
available troops and the rapacity of those who remained would take away
all security of property in Britain, and create a period of disturbance such
as that to which hidden hoards of coins may be expected to belong.
Several camps with earthen defences exist in the county and are attri-
buted to the Roman period because of their shape or for some other reason ; in
some cases, however, they are probably of an earlier date, and were utilized
perhaps by the natives as habitations, or possibly only as cattle shelters ;
among these may be mentioned Burro w-on-the-Hill, Hallaton, Hungerton,
and Market Harborough, which, from the remains found in them, seem to
have been inhabited.
The history of Romano-British Leicestershire, however, centres round
the chief town Ratae or Leicester, of which a detailed account will here be
given.
LEICESTER
The position of Leicester is well adapted for the site of a Roman town,
being situated on the great Roman track known as the Fosse Way, and
protected and supplied with water by the Soar on the north and west sides.
Its identity with the Roman city of Ratae seems to have been universally
acknowledged since the discovery of a milestone at Thurmaston in this
county. 1 There seems to be little evidence of any permanent settlement at
Leicester before the time of the Roman occupation, although it is probable
that such a settlement existed, as the Romans generally built their towns on
sites previously occupied by the Britons, and Lindum (Lincoln) and Rhage or
Ratae (Leicester), according to Ptolemy, as before mentioned, were the two
towns of the Coritani or Coritavi, a British tribe. A portion of what is
probably a boundary bank of the late Celtic period, known as Row or Raw
Dykes, exists to the south of the town, but nothing has been discovered which
would indicate more than a general occupation of the district before the
Romano-British period. 9 We may dismiss the fabulous story of the city of
King Lear built in B.C. 800, as having no surer foundation than the fertile
imagination of the twelfth-century chronicler, Geoffrey of Monmouth.
What evidence we possess seems to point to the Roman settlement having
been of an early date. It may perhaps be conjectured that such a settlement
existed before the middle of the first century from an inscription on a roof
tile found at Leicester in 1854, which has roughly scratched upon it the
letters L. VIII, for Legio VIII. Herr Hiibner suggests that the inscription
should be read L. VIIII, as there is no evidence that the Eighth Legion was
ever in Britain, but the Ninth Legion (Hispana) was at Lincoln under Ostorius
6 Gibbon, Roman Empire, cap. xi.
1 See under ' Thurmaston ' in Topographical Index at the end of this article.
1 Flint implements have been found, but not in sufficient quantities to indicate more than this.
181
A HISTORY OF LEICESTERSHIRE
in A.D. 48," and a portion of it may well have been at Leicester about the
same time. The evidence of this legionary tile, such as it is, does not imply
that Ratae was a permanent military station. Being on the road from the
south to Lincoln, it is quite probable that a small party of soldiers was
left there, and that this tile made by the legionary tile-makers was
utilized in some building for the accommodation of the soldiery. This
military occupation, however, was apparently only for a short period in the
early years of the conquest, and did not affect the later history of the town,
which was administrative and commercial.
Ratae had not the privileges of the municipium of Verulam or the coloniae
of Colchester, Lincoln, Gloucester, and York, but it had a municipal organi-
zation of a lower kind, and was governed probably by the senate and
magistrates of the tribe.* No doubt it had a forum with a basilica for the
accommodation of magistrates, traders, and others, and possibly also baths ;
and in the fourth century the town was protected by a wall. In size it was
perhaps one of the smaller towns of its type, being about half the size of
Silchester and much smaller than Wroxeter and Cirencester, but almost twice
as large as Bath. Of its inhabitants we are practically without information.
From the remains hitherto found there is nothing to indicate particular
wealth or poverty, if anything they would point to prosperity without great
wealth. The only indications of the occupation of the townsmen are three
crucibles and bone-work which refer to trades which are common to all
towns.
The references to Ratae by Ptolemy, and that on the milestone at Thur-
maston, show that the town was in existence in A.D. 1201 and this is
corroborated by the evidence of the archaeological and architectural remains.
The series of Roman coins begins with those of Caligula (A.D. 3741), but
coins are not found in any quantities till we reach those of the late part of
the first and the early part of the second centuries. The potters' marks on
the Samian ware, which have been recorded, show a predominance of
recognized marks of the first century (thirty-eight in number), but there are
also a considerable quantity of the second century (thirty in number). The
architectural details show more surely that probably by the time of Hadrian
(A.D. 11738) Ratae had buildings of some architectural pretensions. The
prosperity of the town apparently continued, and reached its height about
the time of Constantine (A.D. 30637), for it is to this period that the
greatest number of the coins and the greater but not the better part of the
architectural details belong.
Plan and Architectural Remains. Ratae appears to have been rectangular
in shape, measuring from north to south 2, 780 ft. and from east to west
i, 740 ft., the area being between forty and fifty acres, and the circumference
nearly two miles. The mediaeval walls of Leicester ran along Soar Lane and
Sanvy Gate on the north, Church Gate and Gallow-tree Gate on the east,
Millstone Lane and Horsefair Street on the south, and there seems no reason
to doubt that they were built on the foundations of the Roman walls, if
indeed the Roman walls were not themselves utilized. Dr. Stukeley, writing
in 1772, states that the line of the Roman walls and ditch were easily to be
3 Hflbner, Ephtm. Epfr. iv, 206.
4 Haverfield, 'The Romanization of Roman Britain,' Proc. of Brit. Acad, ii, 23.
182
PLAN OF
ROMAN LEICESTER,
based upon Plan made by
. E. Fox F. S.aj3ublished in
flrchaeological Journal XL VI.64
NOTE
The broad black line shows the limits of the Roman city.
The dotted line indicates the supposed west wall.
Letters and Numerals indicate as nearly as possible the sites of remains which are set out in List on p. 205.
A HISTORY OF LEICESTERSHIRE
traced, especially at Sanvy Gate, where the ditch outside the wall could be
seen in the gardens thereabouts, 6 and in his plan of the town he marks the
site of the Roman walls along the streets above mentioned. With regard to the
site of the west wall there has been some doubt, but the general consensus of
expert opinion is that it ran in line north and south with the great mass of
Roman masonry called the Jewry Wall still existing, and traces of foundations
which are supposed to have been continuations of the same to the north and
south have been found, but unfortunately have been insufficiently recorded. 4
The sites of the Roman gates on the north, east, and south sides are
uncertain, but it is probable that the gates of the mediaeval town, namely,
North Gate, East Gate or Humberstone Gate, and South Gate, corresponded
in position with those of the Roman era. The Western Gate of the mediaeval
town is shown in Speed's map of 1 660 to be standing at the Jewry Wall, and
there can be little doubt that this Roman building, still in existence, was the
West Gate of the Roman town. ' As this has a plan 7 quite unlike that of
the usual type of city gates, and is also the only existing relic in situ above
ground of Roman Ratae, it may be well to give some little detail of it.
' It must be understood that the town wall ran for its length in a con-
tinuous line from north to south, but in the centre of that line for a space of
74 ft. it was carried on at a less thickness than usual, viz. about 4 ft.
Against this length of 74 ft. an arcade of four arches was built, either butting
against the diminished wall or bonded into it. These arches are about 5 ft. in
depth ; s the southern is 14 ft. 6 in. in width, the next two 12 ft. each, and the
northern is only 6 ft. 3 in. wide. Between the two middle ones the pier
dividing them is of considerable size, showing a face 1 1 ft. wide in which is a
niche probably intended for the statue of some divinity, possibly of Minerva,
the protectress of the gates of cities. 9
' In the back wall of these two middle arches are the two gateways. They
are of small size, only about 7 ft. 6 in. wide, and are very singularly placed,
for instead of piercing the back wall in the centre of each arch, in the south
arch the gateway is jammed against the south angle, while in the north it is
similarly butted against the north angle. The reason for this arrangement
may be found perhaps in the necessity for providing sufficient room for the
doors of these gateways when they were thrown open to lie back against the
masonry. One fact seems to confirm this view, which is that the plinth or
base, having a general projection of i ft. 2 in., which ran at the foot of the
arcade, is cut off at the north and south angles of the middle arches respec-
tively. Had it been continued without these breaks it would have blocked
the gateways. How the doors of the gateways were hung it is now
impossible to say from the injuries the structure has received. Of the two
outer arches little can be said. The southern is somewhat wider than the
others, but does not differ from them except in depth. It has been supposed
* Stukeley, Ifia. Cur. i, 103.
' In 1876, whilst making a tunnel from Messrs. Rust's yard, St. Nicholas Street, to the River Soar, it is
said that the ancient ditch or fosse was pierced which marked the western boundary of Ratae. A massive
stone wall was, it is said, cut through at a depth of 33 ft. from the surface, and was thought to be part of the west
wall ; Leic. drtb. Stc. v, 41 *.
' The following account of the Jewry Wall or West Gate has been contributed by Mr. G. E. Fox,
Hon. M.A. Oxon. F.S.A.
With the exception of the southernmost, which is 7 ft. 6 in. deep.
Such a niche may be seen at the Sea Gate of Pompeii ; it originally held a statue of Minerva.
184
ROMANO-BRITISH LEICESTERSHIRE
that it served as a guard-house, but it is too shallow for any wall to have
inclosed it for this purpose. The northern arch is much narrower than the
others. The back wall is pierced by two loops, evidently intended for the
purpose of watching the approaches. The height of the arches is 19 ft.,
the wall above them another 6ft., making altogether 25ft. to the rampart-
walk about the usual height of Roman city-walls in this country. To this
must be added 4 ft. for the height of the parapet walls and embrasures.
'The wall is of the usual construction, viz. the body composed of rubble
having a facing of small squared stones banded at short intervals by wide
bonding or lacing courses of tiles. All the arches are turned with tile. No
doubt a ditch ran in front of it, access to the gateway being obtained by
wooden trestle-bridges on to each portal. Similar arrangements have been
noted at the two posterns of the town wall at Silchester (Ca//eva Attrebatuni) ,
and the gate in the Roman wall of London, known in mediaeval times as
Aldersgate, was reached across the moat in the same way. A road led up
to the gate of Ratae from the direction of Watts Causeway, which connected
the town with the Fosse Way.
' The date of this gate cannot be fixed with certainty, but perhaps it may
have been erected under Constantine. The late Mr. J. H. Parker judged it of
that period, being guided to his opinion by the size of the tiles and thickness
of the mortar joints of the bonding courses ; but Roman construction in
Rome, on which he based his judgement, does not always give the rule for
similar work in Britain. Possibly a safer guide to date may be found in the
narrowness of the gateways only 7 ft. 6 in. and their distance apart, for
the later in date a fortified inclosure may be, the narrower are the entrances.
In fact, the two portals in the Jewry Wall have more the appearance of a
couple of posterns side by side than one of the main entrances to a city.
The best idea of what this gateway was like is to be obtained from the views
in Stukeley's Itinerarium Curiosum. The elaborate drawing to scale made by
Mr. A. Hall in 1870, in the possession of the Leicester Architectural and
Archaeological Society, shows all that we are likely to know of this relic of
Roman Leicester. It has been reproduced in vol. viii of the Transactions of
the society, and from it the plan and elevation here given has been made. It
is a satisfaction that so excellent a record has been made of one of the few
remains of Roman antiquity standing above ground, as to whose ultimate
fate it would be hazardous to venture a prediction. Wrecked, not by time
but by the hand of man, with blocked portals and its western side covered
by workshops, while the eastern is more than half hidden by a pathway,
it is no wonder that it has proved a puzzle to antiquaries until excavations
and more careful research than was formerly possible had revealed the true
character of the remains.'
Judging by the structural details of the Jewry Wall, already referred to,
the town walls of Ratae were probably erected at a late date of the Roman
occupation. Mr. Haverfield has pointed out that in the western provinces of
the empire, town walls seem to have been principally erected after A.D. 250,
when the barbarian invasions grew formidable, 10 but this would not probably
have affected Britain till a later date, as the reason for the building of walls
here was as a protection against the attacks caused by local disturbances in
10 V.C.H. Somers. 1,228.
I 185 24
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1 86
ROMANO-BRITISH LEICESTERSHIRE
the province. It is considered, as above mentioned, that the Jewry Wall
was erected about the time of Constantine (A.D. 306-37), which, it may be
assumed, was the date of the erection of the whole of the walls round the
town, and this agrees with the evidence as to the date of the circumvallation
of other Romano-British towns. The town would most likely have been
surrounded by earthen defences from the time of its foundation, but it
is curious that, according to the evidence of the architectural details and
tesselated pavements, the extension westward (including the important and
prosperous suburb towards the River Soar) must have been made before the
town was walled. As in a parallel case at Bath, there was no attempt to
include the suburb within the protection of the walls.
For the construction of a plan of Roman Leicester we have very little
material. Perhaps the existing High Cross Street and Southgate Street,
running north and south from the North Gate to the South Gate, and High
Street and St. Nicholas Street, running east and west from the East Gate to
the Jewry Wall or West Gate, may approximately follow the lines of the
principal Roman streets. Of the other Roman streets there is no evidence,
for it is evident that the plan of the mediaeval town did not follow that of
the Roman, as was usual when mediaeval towns rose on Roman sites. 11
It seems clear that the principal buildings of the Roman town stood at
the junction of High Cross Street and St. Nicholas Street. Burton, in 1622,
called attention to the quantity of Roman remains found there. 12 In 1861 the
base and plinth of a column were found close to the north-east corner of
St. Nicholas Street (Nos. 8-8< in Museum). 13 In a direct line with the
above and close to them there were discovered in 1866 two bases of columns
with shafts and plinth, standing erect from 14 ft. to i 5 ft. below the present
surface (Nos. 47^ in Museum). The plinth of wrought stone was i ft.
thick on a sleeper wall of rubble. The two columns with their bases
complete stood loft. lof in. from centre to centre. They were i ft. 11 in.
in diameter. The height of one, as found, including base, was 4 ft. 4 in., of
the other 6 ft. 2! in. u Mr. G. E. Fox, in his paper on the architectural
remains at Leicester, points out that these bases ' follow pretty closely the
usual type of Attic base, though these are somewhat clumsy,' and therefore
may be taken to belong to one of the earliest buildings in Leicester, dating
possibly from the period of Hadrian. 15 He adds that it is not impossible
that these remains supported the portico of the basilica, although such a
conjecture is mere guess-work. 16 In the same way it may be suggested that
the forum, of which the basilica would probably form a part, stood here also.
In the Leicester Museum are also fragments of the shaft of a column found at
the south-west corner of the Methodist chapel in St. Nicholas Street (Nos. i,
la in Museum) ; 17 and bases, plinth, and capitals of columns found between the
Methodist chapel and the corner of 'Holy Bones' (Nos. 2a to 3, 9, qa, 10,
loa in Museum) 18 belong to a building of probably the same period
as the remains previously mentioned. 18 In 1885 two columns found in the
street called ' Holy Bones ' were placed in the churchyard of St. Nicholas ; 19
11 Fox, ' Roman Arch. Fragments in the Leic. Museum,' Arch. Journ. xlvi, 47.
11 Descrip. Leic. 146. 13 Leic. Arch. Sac. iii, 334.
14 Ibid, iii, 334 ; Fox, Arch. Journ. xlvi, 63. 15 Ibid. 58, 59.
16 Ibid. 60. " " Ord. Surv. xxxi, 10.
u Leic. Arch. Soc. iii, 334 ; Fox, Arch. Jnurn. xlvi, 63. 19 Assoc. Arch. Sue. xviii, Ix, 24.
187
A HISTORY OF LEICESTERSHIRE
fragments of a moulded capital and base of a smaller column, and a large
weather-worn stone, circular moulded in one part, are also to be seen there.
In 1888 the remains of two walls were discovered in the churchyard of
St. Nicholas. One ran at right-angles north and south, about 8 ft. from the
buttress supporting the tower at the east end of the north aisle of the church,
and about 4 ft. 4 in. below the surface. The bottom of the wall was not
reached at 8 ft. to 1 2 ft. from the surface. The other block of masonry,
3 ft. 4 in. away, lay edgewise, and had apparently fallen. The coins found
at this time were a second brass of Licinius (A.D. 30724) and a third brass
of Delmatius (A.D. 335). Both wall and roof tiles were among the debris. 30
In 1898 an interesting discovery was made in digging some cellars in
St. Nicholas Street, about fifty yards from St. Nicholas' Church, of two
pavements. These have fortunately been preserved and remain in situ.
The larger appears to be a square of about 14 ft. Its great peculiarity is
that as far as the main divisions go it is a duplicate in design of the pavement
in Jewry Wall Street (plate I), being composed of nine octagonal panels
with, it seems, a border similar in design to that of the floor just named.
The centre panel, instead of geometrical ornaments as in the others, has the
image of a peacock, within a circle of elaborate braidwork, standing with
tail displayed, a rare representation of this bird. The head, neck, and legs
are of blue-grey tesserae, the tail is red, dark brown, and yellow, with blue-
grey eyes. The other panels, as mentioned, are filled with bold geometrical
forms which are coarser than those of the Jewry Wall Street example. Both
floors may well be the work of the same hand (plate III.) The smaller pave-
ment near this elaborate one has a simple diagonal pattern in white on a grey
ground with white and grey borders, beyond which are traces of red tesserae.
Another portion has a grey ground diapered with white crosses and apparently
with bounding lines of brick tesserae. All these fragments are perhaps part
of the pavement of a corridor. 21 At the same time were found some Roman
coins, principally bronze, in bad condition, with small pieces of tiles, and
potsherds of various wares, mixed with bones, oyster shells, and various
other refuse. Part of a silver denarius of Severus Alexander (A.D. 227235)
and a small brass of Victorinus (A.D. 265-7) were a ^ so found on the same
site. 33
Nichols 33 mentions 'a plain Roman pavement' found at the Recruiting
Sergeant Inn, St. Nicholas Street, at a depth of 8 ft. from the surface, ' of a
lightish close grain, friable, and by the side of it a thick wall built with very
hard stone like that of the Jewry wall, and in a direct line with it.' About
forty yards off in the same direction this wall was apparently used for the foun-
dation of a house by the churchyard side on the south-west of the church.
Another wall ran towards the west at right-angles with the first. 84 In 1839 a
pavement was found in the street leading from St. Nicholas Street to Talbot
Lane, 26 and further foundations of buildings were said to have been discovered
near the church. 28 In 1889 a fragment of tesselated floor was found, but
was covered up before it could be inspected. 27
" Leic. Arch. Soc. vii, 17. " Ibid, viii, 375 ; Journ. Brit. Arch. Soc. (new ser.), iv, 289.
" Leic. Arch. Soc. viii, 375 ; Assoc. Arch. Soc. xxiv, xcix ; Haverfield, Antij. xxxiv, 234.
" Hist. Leic. i, 12. * Nichols, Hist. Leic. i, 12.
K O. S. xxxi ; Fox, Arch. Journ. xlvi, 62. ** Leic. Arch. Soc. ii, 207.
" Journ. Brit. Arch. Assoc. vii, 285 (1900).
188
--.
ROMANO-BRITISH LEICESTERSHIRE
The next most important group of remains discovered was at St. Martin's
Church. In 1 86 1, while excavations were being made for the new north
transept, close to the fence dividing the churchyard from Townhall Lane a
sleeper wall of rubble covered on the top with dressed stone was found, upon
which stood the bases of two massive Doric columns each about 2 ft. in
diameter. It has been suggested that these columns, which are now in the
Leicester Museum (Nos. 13, 14), formed part of a colonnade, which, judging
from their size and from the space intervening between them about i o ft.
would be of considerable length. The earth inside the wall contained
coins, numerous fragments of pottery, and the bones of birds and animals.
Mr. Fox conjectures that the columns
are of the time of Constantine, and were
possibly a portion of a temple. 28
In 1773 about a foot of pavement
was discovered under the south aisle
of St. Martin's Church, and in 1784
' several scuttlesful ' of bones, horns, and
jaw-bones of cattle were found under
the tower 5 ft. from the surface, and
nearly a foot in thickness, with an
appearance of a lateral continuation.
A few yards to the south of these, a foot
from the surface, a vast quantity of very
large pebbles, wedged or heaped to-
gether without mortar, were discovered.
Foundations well set in mortar have also
been seen by the sexton when opening
graves within the precincts of the
church. 89
An arched cellar under an old house
in Townhall Lane was discovered in
1845 which was supposed to be Roman,
but it is more likely to have been later
work in which Roman material was
used. 30 In 1902, opposite St. Martin's
Church, 14 ft. below the surface, two
pieces of tesselated pavement were dis-
covered, which were unfortunately de-
stroyed. The larger was 3 ft. by 4 ft.
in size, the pattern being worked out in
white, red, and blue tesserae. It resembled a pavement found at the corner
of High Street and High Cross Street in igoi. 31 In the Leicester Museum
(No. AA.) is a portion of a small figure in a niche which came from this
street. Only the head and the arm and hand holding a spear are preserved.
CHMHCCL.
Seal* of fttr.
o 10 to 30
PLAN SHOWING ROMAN WALLS UNDER THE NEW
TOWER OF ST. MARTIN'S CHURCH, LEICESTER
32
16 Arch. Journ. i, 39O,xlvi, 59 ; Assoc. Arch. Sue. vi, 274 ; Journ. Brit. Arch. Assoc. xix, 1 13-14 ; ibid,
(new ser.), vii, 159. To demonstrate the similarity of the mouldings with those of the time of Constantine,
Mr. Fox shows a section of a base of a pier in the Basilica of Constantine at Rome, which is reproduced
on the accompanying plate.
" Bickerstafte in Nichols, Hist. Leic. i, 8, 12.
30 Arch. Journ. i, 390. " Mr. Freer, Assoc. Arch. Soc. xxvi, 462. s> Guide to Leic. Mus.; Fox, op. cit.
189
A HISTORY OF LEICESTERSHIRE
Nichols 88 describes a coloured tesselated pavement found in 1794 at the
Grey Friars, on the south side of St. Martin's Churchyard, at a depth of 6 ft.
below the surface. No design, he says, could be seen on it.
Near to St. Martin's Church, on the site of Wyggeston's Hospital, a
small column was found in 1875, which is now in the Leicester Museum
(No. 15). Mr. Fox mentions that this 'looks very like the column of a
colonnade of the upper storey of some buildings which had a hand-rail from
shaft to shaft. The hole for the tenon of the rail cut as small as possible so
as not to weaken the shaft and the little bracket worked on the shaft under
it to carry the greater width of the rail are noteworthy.' 8 *
A portion of a coarse tesselated pavement was discovered in Southgate
Street in 1866, with the fragment of a column, thought to be No. 20 in the
Museum. Lower down the street, near to Bakehouse Lane, fragments of
painted wall-plaster were found at a depth of 1 8 ft. below the present
surface. 86
In 1871, 3ft. or 4ft. below the surface, several square feet of concrete,
from which tesserae had evidently been removed, were discovered on the
south side of Silver Street, and a little later an extensive portion of tesselated
pavement in good condition was revealed within 2 \ ft. of the present street
level ; it was described as being of the guilloche pattern, within a square
border all of black, white, and red tesserae. The peculiarity of the find was
its nearness to the present surface, most of the Roman discoveries in Leicester
being from 8 ft. to 1 2 ft. below the street level.
Near to this discovery, in the same street, on the site of the new Opera
House and about 1 2 ft. below the present level, a tesselated pavement was
found in 1876 about 20 ft. by 14 ft. in size. The tesserae were of a rough
make, and strewn about on the floor were several pieces of pottery, fragments
of Samian ware, and a few coins much corroded. Other remains of the
foundations of this building had been uncovered some years before. Relics
have frequently been discovered between this spot and St. Martin's Church. 86
During 1889 some excavations made for new buildings between High
Street and Silver Street disclosed the existence of a Roman wall running due
east and west for a considerable distance, but it was unfortunately destroyed
before it could be properly inspected. 37 Later (in 1902) a wall was again
found under High Street, which was thought to be part of that discovered
in 1 86 1 in St. Martin's and Townhall Lane. 88
Turning now to the remains of buildings in the northern part of the
Roman town, if the evidence of Carte can be relied upon, it would appear
that High Cross Street very closely followed the line of one of the main
Roman streets. He mentions that during excavations for waterworks in
1685, a wall of stone and Roman tiles was discovered, which extended from
Redcross Street to the elm trees near the North Gate and followed the line
of the street, 6 ft. or 7 ft. from the houses on the west side, ' many loads of
stone' being carted away from it. In 1716, 'at the second house beyond
Blue Boar Lane,' a little out in the street in front of the house, a similar wall
was found, standing upright to within 3 ft. of the surface. The height of
" Hist. Leic. \, 619. " Arch. Journ. xlvi, 49. " Leic. Arch. Sue. ii, 22 ; Fox, Arch. Journ. xlvi, 62.
36 Assoc. Arch. Sof. xiii, p. cii ; Leic. Arch. Sue. iv, 106 ; v, 49, 55.
37 Assoc. Arch. Soc. xx, p. Ix (Rep.) ; Leic. Arch. Soc. vii, 207. M Assoc. Arch. Sac. xxvi, 461.
190
,
CORINTHIAN CAPITAL, FOUND IN TALBOT
LANE, LEICESTER
COI.LMN, FOUND j N 1907 IN BLUE BOAR LANK,
LEICESTER
STONE TANK, FOUND IN HIGH CROSS STREKT, LKICISTFR
IMPOST MOULDING, FOUND IN BLUE BOAR LANE, LEICESTER
3NI1NV1SNOJ
JO UDnisvg [ni/s HI]
V3IJ JO 3St/g NOU13S
PQ
d
A HISTORY OF LEICESTERSHIRE
the wall was uncertain, as the workmen did not reach the foundations. It
was 4ft. thick, and the upper part had fallen. Carte concluded from the
depth of the previous excavation that it would have been 1 2 ft. high, and
was certainly part of the wall found in 1685. On the east side of it in the
street the made earth was 2 ft. thick, and ' below it was a pavement of stone
like a street.' This wall apparently extended almost the whole length of
High Cross Street. 89 A granite and sandstone ' walk ' is said to have been
discovered running down the middle of the street from near All Saints'
Church to the gaol. 40 A tesselated pavement and hypocausts were found
under what is now No. 18, High Cross Street, and also under another house
in the possession of Mr. King, afterwards of Mr. Collier. 41 At the corner of
High Cross Street and High Street, when excavating for cellars under the
new High Cross Coffee House in 1901, three pieces of pavement (now in
the Leicester Museum), a portion of a stone column, and part of a wall of
masonry about a foot high were found. 42 The pavement shows a border of
elaborately twisted braidwork within which, on a white field, are closely set
knots of braidwork in lines perpendicular to the border. The colours and
materials are, apparently, for white a limestone, brown an ironstone, grey or
slate colour lias limestone, and red, as always, a brick. The sizes of the
tesserae range from in. to ij in. square (plate VII). The pavement is
one of a class in which the field is covered by a geometrical diaper. Other
specimens have been found at the Blackfriars. Another tesselated pavement
was also found on the site of the county gaol, where Free School Lane turns
from High Cross Street. 48
Some carved impost mouldings and other carved fragments, perhaps from
an arch, were found at the junction of Blue Boar Lane and High Cross Street
(Nos. 21 26 in Leicester Museum) (plate II). Also a stone fountain (No. 12
in Museum), found at No. 52, High Cross Street, at a depth of 10 ft., which
may, as Mr. Fox says, have been a street fountain, or perhaps, if considered too
small for that purpose, may have stood in the peristyle of an important house.
Traces of a lining of pink cement were found in it (plate II). 44 A wall with
bases and shafts of columns was discovered in 1859 in Blue Boar Lane, not
far from the place where the carved mouldings were found. 46 Another base of
a column was discovered in June, 1907, in Blue Boar Lane, 12 ft. from the
surface, and is now in the Leicester Museum. The base is 2 ft. square and the
diameter of the column 18 in. ; the mouldings are of an early type (plate II).
In making the cellar of a house (which belonged then to Mr. Worth-
ington) opposite the elm trees near All Saints' church, about 1675," a piece
of tesselated pavement, a little over a yard square, was discovered about 5 ft.
below the surface. It is interesting as being the only figure subject yet found
in Leicester, and is now in the Leicester Museum (No. i). It was dis-
covered at a time when few thought or cared for such things, otherwise it is
Nichols, Hist. Leic. i, pt. i, 1 1 ; Thompson, Hist. Leic. App. p. 447 ; Fox, Arch. Journ. xlvi, 61.
10 Leic. Arch. Sue. ii, 23 ; Fox, op. cit. " Throsby, Hist. Leic. 20 ; Arch. Journ. xlvi, 62.
41 Assoc. Arch. Sof. xxvi, 459. " Throsby, Hist. Leic. 383.
44 Fox, Arch. Journ. xlvi, 51. Mr. Fox had made out the finely-moulded outline of the tank which is
shown on plate II.
44 Leic. Arch. Sac. ii, 23, 24 (1866). Information of the discovery of 1907 has been kindly supplied by
Mr. H. Pickering.
46 Carte in Nichols, Hist. Leic. i, 9 ; Leic. and Rutl. N. and Q. iii, i 36.
192
PAVEMENT FOLND IN JEWRY WALL STREET, LEICESTER
PAVEMENT FOUND IN HIGH CROSS STREET, LEICESTER
(From Fowler's Pavements)
PLATE 111
ROMANO-BRITISH LEICESTERSHIRE
*
possible that more of the pavement might have been recovered and other
panels with figures might have been brought to light. The fragment is an
octagonal panel, evidently one of a set, perhaps nine in number, so arranged
as to cover a square floor, the panels possibly containing alternately figure-
subjects and ornaments (plate III). Such a disposition is suggested by the com-
position of other pavements found in Leicester. The bands which formed the
octagons are designed as a braidwork of two strands of quite simple character.
This pattern is found as a universally dividing band between panels or as a
border, not only in this country but almost wherever Roman mosaic pave-
ments exist. The subject, however, is more important than its setting. It
represents a youth leaning against a stag. He is nude but for a scrap of
drapery depending from his shoulders and neck and partly upheld by his left
arm, which is raised. His right arm is outstretched, and with his right
hand he is caressing the neck of the stag, the animal returning the caress by
bending its head towards him. In front of this group is a figure of Cupid,
nude like the principal figure save for some drapery over the left arm. He
stands with bow bent and arrow raised against the youth and his stag. The
interpretation of the group has been a puzzle for many years, and strange
have been the conjectures respecting it. One has it that it represents Diana
and Actaeon, but it would be difficult to find either of these two personages
within the bounds of the panel. Other conjectures made in 1782, when a
drawing of the pavement was shown to the Society of Antiquaries, were that
the subject was Hercules and the Idumean stag ; a ' fable of Venus ' who caused
someone who had offended her to fall in love with a monster ; and, most
fanciful of all, that it was Joab laying hold of the horns of the altar. Set-
ting aside these absurdities it is not difficult to see that the group has to do
with the myth of Cyparissus, which, as related by Ovid in the Metamor-
phoses, was as follows : Cyparissus, a youth of Cea, had a tame stag of
which he was inordinately fond. One day, he inadvertently wounded it,
from which wound it died. The youth became so frenzied with grief for
the loss of his favourite that Apollo, who loved the boy, in compassion for
his unhappy condition changed him into the tree which bears his name, viz.
the cypress, which became henceforth an emblem of sorrow and death. The
figure of Cupid may have been introduced into the group to explain by his
action the immoderate affection of the youth for his four-footed companion.
It is much to be regretted that there is no adequate representation of this
panel. The best, perhaps, is that in colours in Fowler's Pavements, dated
1 80 1, but the colouring is unsatisfactory. The late Mr. John Paul, F.G.S. of
Leicester, made a useful identification of the materials of the tesserae employed
in the mosaic. He says that in his opinion
the white, grey, creamy white, the black, and a few pieces of liver colour in the horns of
the stag, are all fragments of marble. The bluish grey is a limestone, probably from the
coal measures, the tesserae of reddish brown and others of a yellowish brown are both
limestone, whilst a brown and dull citron are both fine-grained sandstones. I am unable
to determine from what locality these materials have been procured, but I think the prob-
ability is in favour of Derbyshire for the marbles and limestones ; and the sandstones must
I think have been from a distance. . . . The red tesserae are pottery, and . . . this is the
only artificial material used.
The art displayed by the composition is poor enough, but is neither better
nor worse than that of many other examples of figure mosaic in this country
i 193 2 5
A HISTORY OF LEICESTERSHIRE
or abroad. A certain amount of interest lies in the fact of the unusual
number of differently coloured marble tesserae worked up, for the employ-
ment of marble is quite exceptional in Romano-British mosaics. 47
In 16678, near the ' Water House,' being the corner house, where the
street grows narrower, next to the west end of ' The Friars ' (the site of 'John-
son's Buildings'), 12 ft. below the surface, was discovered a floor of lime
mortar 6 in. or 7 in. thick, 16 ft. long and about 14 ft. wide, and some
remains of the walls of a house. On the north side of this room, about 4 yds.
apart, stood what Nichols calls 'two chimnies, as high as to the mantel tree';
which may be traces of a hypocaust. Throsby mentions ' a tesselated floor,
a hypocaust and painted walls 'found in 1667, which were probably the
same.* 8
Under the south side of the room below some gravel a vast quantity of
oyster-shells was disinterred, and in the cellar of the same house, underneath
gravel ijft. deep, was a large foundation of a wall of forest stone laid dry,
without mortar. On the west side of the street 1 2 ft. deep in loose earth
many shoe-soles of large size and a quantity of refuse leather were found.* 9
Nichols, in his History and Antiquities of Leicestershire, gives an account
of two fine tesselated pavements and a fragment of a third, found in 1754
in ' the Black Friars about 35 yards from the river Soar,' under a stable, the
property of Roger Ruding, who wrote an account of the discoveries to the
Society of Antiquaries in 1766, and further declared that 'the Pavements
had been entirely destroyed, and all the Materials taken away, so that no
remains of them were left.' 60 These three pavements were all of the class
mentioned in the note on that found on the site of the High Cross coffee-
house in 1901. In the minutes of the Society of Antiquaries under date
17 November, 1766, is the following note, which explains these floors and
their disposition with sufficient accuracy. The note says that the first pave-
ment (plate IV) was found in 1754.
The most elegant square of this pavement consists of a corded line enclosing an area of
curved and regular figures somewhat resembling crossed S.S. with a true-lovers' knot in the
centre of them. The second pavement consists of a corded line enclosing an area divided
into double Frets, with Five small Squares in the Quincunx border containing each a true-
lovers' knot within them. The third pavement consists wholly of plain circles intersecting
each other, with small squares lozenge fashion in the centre. The colours of the first two
are composed of a deep mazareene blue (probably a slaty blue nearly black), red, yellow,
and white ; of the other of white, slate colour, and a muddy red (plate V).
Each pavement was 9 ft. square and there were some traces of others in con-
tinuation. They appeared to be laid in line with each other, and probably
formed the floor of the principal corridor of some important mansion. In
1885 a large piece of pavement was discovered near the river in Black-
friars Street, which probably belonged to the same house and is thought
to be a part of the building of which 61 a tesselated pavement was dis-
covered in 1830 at the corner where Friars' Causeway formerly met Jewry
" Fox, Arch. Journ. xlvi, 53 ; Phil. Trans. (1711), xxvii, 325 ; Soc. Antiq. MS. Min. (1782), xviii, 271.
* Nichols, Hist. Leic. i, 1 1 ; Throsby, Hist. Leu. 19 ; Fox, Arch. Journ. xlvi, 61.
9 Fox, Arch. Journ. xlvi, 61 ; Thompson, Hist. Leic. 448 ; Nichols, Hist. Leic. i, n.
40 Nichols, Hist. Leic. i, II, 12 ; MS. Mins. Soc. Antiq. vii, 163 ; viii, 170 ; x, 196 ; Arch. Iv, 247,
note a ; Thompson, Hist. Leic. 445.
" Leic. Arch. Soc. vi, 208 ; Ante. Arch. Soc. xviii, lix.
194
XV**XX'< < <VV<V^^
^^o^p^^^
s
ROMANO-BRITISH LEICESTERSHIRE
Wall Street 62 (now in situ under the Great Central Railway Station).
The town council improved this district in 1882, and further discoveries
were made. It was found that the pavement continued under the adjoin-
ing house and under the street. Fragments of painted wall plaster were
also discovered, but the walls appear to have been removed, probably
for building purposes. 63 The pavement is a square of 23 ft., the design of
the mosaic consisting of nine panels divided from each other by bands of
braidwork. The panels are rilled with elaborate geometrical compositions,
and the whole is framed by two bands, one of simple braidwork, the outer
and larger of a frieze of flowers and leaves in flattened circles. The design
is evidently a translation into mosaic of a coffered ceiling, the outer bands
taking the place of frieze and cornice. The materials and colours of the
tesserae are as follows : Black, perhaps slate ; blue grey, lias ; green grey,
possibly limestone ; yellow in two shades, perhaps brick from its crude colour,
or it may be an oolite. The white ground is either a limestone, or perhaps
from its clearness, from the beds of the lower chalk. The reds in three
shades are all brick. The use of the grey green (sage green) tesserae in the
floor gives it a much softer look than most pavements, and offers a marked
contrast to the mosaics of the southern counties. As for the tesserae the
size is pretty constant everywhere in this country, the larger being ij in.
more or less and the smaller in. or less. In this instance the larger are
only f in. square. They always approximate to a square in shape, but are
cut to fit a space if required. The larger sizes are only used as grounds for
finer work, for borders, or for the pavement of corridors. This pavement
is one of the finest of its kind in England (plate III).
In 1885 a tesselated pavement was found in excavating under the
premises of Messrs. Kimpson and Howell in Sarah Street, Old Bath Lane.
It measured about 12 ft. or 14 ft. by 3ft. or 4ft., and was in good preserva-
tion, the pattern distinct, the tesserae rather coarse. A small piece was
exhibited at a meeting of the Leicestershire Archaeological Society by Mr.
Freer in 1886. The level was below the surface of the river and considerably
lower than the pavement discovered in Jewry Wall Street. Two columns in
the Leicester Museum (Nos. 18-19) are sa ^ to have been found in this place."
About ten years before, in the same street, while some drainage works
were being carried out, a bed of concrete composed of lime and finely broken
tiles was disclosed, 9 ft. from the surface. In some places the concrete was a
foot thick and extended for 20 ft. in length, it was not explored in any
other direction ; the surface was quite smooth, and rested on a bed of black
mould from 4 ft. to 5 ft. in depth, below which were marl and gravel. The
flooring was intersected by a rough foundation, apparently the angle of a
building, one side being curved. Some thick walls of coarse masonry were
also found, one running parallel to the street, north and south, and two others
crossing it at right angles. Beneath the floor a passage or conduit was
discovered leading to the river."
" Thompson, Hist. Lite. App. A. 445.
" Assoc. Arch. Sue. xviii, lix ; Thompson, Hist. Lelc. App. A. 445 ; Fox, Arch. Journ. xlvi, 62 ; MS.
Min. Soc. Antiq. x, 196.
** Guide to Lelc. Museum ; Antiq. xii, 228 ; Lelc. Arch. Soc. vi, 210 ; ix, 175; Fox, Arch. Journ. xlvi, 62.
15 Lelc. Arch. Soc. ii, 22 ; v, 41 ; Fox, Arch. Journ. xlvi, 62.
195
A HISTORY OF LEICESTERSHIRE
Nichols mentioned some tesselated pavements found at Vauxhall Wharf
in 1747, ' in a bathing-room near the river, which now rises over and damages
them.' "
In 1839 the traces of a small pavement about u ft. square were dis-
covered in Vine Street at a depth of 6 ft. 6 in. below the level of the street.
A drawing of it was presented to the museum by Mr. J. Horsepool. The
pavement consisted of a central circular panel with semicircular ones joining
it on each side, with a quarter of a circle filling each corner, the dividing
lines being the usual braidwork bands. In each angle panel was a vase, and
three heart-shaped leaves filled each of the semicircular ones. The central
arrangement was lost. The colours were the usual black, red and yellows, all
on a white ground. Other pavements very like this have been found else-
where. For example, one was found at Lincoln, another at Silchester. The
design, however, is cheap and poor, and the execution distinctly bad (plate V).
The remains of a large villa were discovered at Danett's Hall in 1782,
in a field called the Cherry Orchard, about three-quarters of a mile west of
the old town, on the opposite side of the Soar. It was probably connected
with the town by a lane called Watt's Causeway, now King Richard's Road,
the site of the villa being 25 ft. from the road, opposite the Newfound
Pool Inn. It was re-opened in 1851, and again in 1868. According to
Nichols's account the cherry-trees which gave the site its name were planted
early in the eighteenth century. In 1782, when digging up one of the
trees, part of the floor of a corridor was discovered, and a continuation of it
in a northerly direction was traced. In 1851, and again in 1868, the Literary
and Philosophical Society of Leicester, conjointly with the Architectural and
Archaeological Society, undertook further explorations, before the site was
built over and all traces of the original building destroyed. A plan of the villa
was made and preserved in the Leicester Museum, which indicates the disposi-
tion and colouring of the floors, as well as the supposed lines of the walls." It
seems to have been a house of the courtyard type, a series of rooms placed
round an open court, and connected by corridors looking into the open
space. The fragments discovered in 1851 were the floor of a room about
1 5 ft. square, the tesserae being of red brick and a greyish drab stone, each
about i in. square. The pattern consisted of interlaced circles of red on the
grey ground. To the north of this another room was found, measuring
28 ft. by 1 8 ft.
A semi-circular pattern was disclosed at the western end of this room, executed in very
small tessellae of four colours : blue, red, brown-pink (or yellow), and white ; representing
in the centre a shell pattern, in the two divisions of which, next the line of the diameter of
the semicircle, are dolphins swimming towards the centre. The shell pattern is bounded
by the guilloche ornament, outside of which is a Vandyke of black and white, surrounded
by strips of grey and red tessellae about I in. square.
A fragment of a guilloche border at the eastern end of the room marked the
extent of this apartment. (This pattern is No. V in the Leicester Museum.)
On the south-western side of this pavement a pedestal and short column of
** Hist. Lett, i, 1 1 ; Throsby, Hist. Leu. 19 ; Fox, Arch. Journ. xlvi, 62.
* Nichols, Hist. Leic. i, pi. ix ; Gent. Mag. Oct. 1786 ; Journ. Brit. Arch. Ante, vi, 439, 442 ; Assoc.
Arch. Sat. ix, pp. cxviii, 2 ; Proc. Sot. Antiy. iv, 183, 185 ; Leic. Arch. Sot. iii, 387.
196
h
CO
1 1
1-J
h"
^ fj
o- O
h CJ
_I
w
H
CHERRY ORCHARD
LEICESTER ~
ROMANO-BRITISH LEICESTERSHIRE
Ketton stone was found, laid down carefully on the tesserae which were un-
injured beneath it (No. 27 in Leicester Museum) (plate VI). Still further
north in the same direction another floor about 14 ft. square was found, of a
chess-board pattern in grey and red. The pavement of a corridor was then
disclosed at right angles to the set of rooms already discovered. This was
56 ft. in length and 7 ft. 8i in. in width, consisting of alternate squares of grey
and red tesserae each tessera being an inch square. At the upper end of this
the corridor floor illustrated by Nichols was found. It ran beside the range of
rooms already described, and at right angles to the corridor just mentioned,
with which it probably communicated. This last discovery was upwards of
1 20 ft. long by over 1 1 ft. wide, and showed the same red and grey tesserae
as the other rooms, arranged in three distinct patterns. No foundations of
the walls were dis-
covered, and no hypo- ^^ of
causts appeared, though found jn thc
flue -tiles were turned
up, and one filled with
concrete to serve as a
support to a floor was
discovered apparently in
situ.
Fragments of wall
plaster and wall tiles,
some bearing the im-
press of reeds, and pieces
of common pottery were
plentiful. No Samian
ware seems to have been
found in i85i, 88 but
in 1865 two fragments
were discovered, one
plain with a potter's
mark, and one with an
embossed pattern. 69 In
1868 another pavement
was disclosed, 1 5 ft. by
9 ft. 6 in., with a pat-
tern of intersecting circles in coarse black and white tesserae. A bronze
statuette was also discovered, said to be ' of Apollo or Jupiter,' the feet
roughly encased in a lump of lead which was evidently intended as a stand.
Four coins found in 1851 were of the lower Empire (A.D. 268-364,) and
one was of Vespasian (A.D. 70-79)." In 1863 a coin of Trajan, first brass
(A.D. 98-117), one of Nero (A.D. 54-68), and a third brass of one of
the Constantines (A.D. 306-40), were picked up near the site. 81
" This account is mainly taken from Mr. Fox's paper in Arch. Journ. xlvi, 56, but see : also Assoc. Arch.
: ix, p. cxviii ; Proc. Soc. Antiq. (Ser. 2), iv, 183 ; Leu. Arch. Soc. ii, 200 ; 111, 15, 3*7 ; 1"- **
Sac.
Arch. Assoc. vi, 439, 442.
" Fox, Arch. Journ. xlvi, 56.
69 Leu. Arch. Soc. iii, 15.
A VSAy -/.I / */ I l/**> Ai * Ay ^ VJ * . .
G. Thompson, Proc. Soc. Anllq. (Ser. 2), iv, 183 ; Fox, Arch. Journ. xlvi, 56.
" Leu. Arch. Soc. ii, 200.
197
A HISTORY OF LEICESTERSHIRE
A sewer or cloaca is supposed to have run from the east gate of Ratae,
where a piece of it has been found, 88 across the town to the west gate through
the Jewry Wall, then in a due westerly direction almost to Talbot Lane, where
it is thought to have turned in a north-westerly direction to the River Soar.
Remains of it were discovered in Talbot Lane in 1793 at a depth of
5 ft. from the surface. Some very large blocks of freestone, half a ton in
weight, having been removed, a kind of tunnel, 2 ft. across and 4 ft. deep, was
found. It was made of the same materials as the Jewry Wall, the bottom of
the tunnel being also of freestone. Throsby stated that the commencement,
as far as could be discovered at the time, was in the cellar of a house near the
south end of the Jewry Wall, and continued with a considerable descent north-
westwardly to the river. This house stood in St. Nicholas Square, where
the south-east end of Messrs. Rust's factory now is, but later discoveries
tend to prove that the sewer turned slightly towards the centre of the wall.
The contents of this passage seem to have been earth, light on the surface,
heavier lower, and gravelly at the bot-
tom, mixed with broken pottery, some
Samian ware with potter's marks, a
few bones of animals, a fragment or
two of glass vessels, and a coin of the
Augustine age (B.C. ag-A.D. 14), the
earliest coin yet found in Leicester.
A yard from the sewer (at the end
near the Jewry Wall) lay the columns
already described in St. Nicholas Street. 83
In 1887 the sewer was again opened
and found to be entirely filled with
earth. The direction towards the river,
if carried straight, would show that it
emptied itself where the old Soar joins
the present canal, which increases the
doubt whether the stream now used as
a canal existed in the time of the
Roman occupation. Throsby thought
that it was a new cut made by the
Romans themselves. It seems more
probable that it was mediaeval, con-
temporary with the mill and the castle,
the space between the bottom of the
hill (from Talbot Lane) to the old Soar
being probably a swamp. By sinking
shafts to ascertain the upward direction,
it appeared that the sewer bent towards
the Jewry Wall, and apparently passed
through it. 8 *
In 1890, at a different part of Tal-
bot Lane, the sewer was again opened,
SECTION OF ROMAN WELL FOUND AT LEICESTER,
SHOWING BASKET
1 Thompson, Hist. Leu. App. A 447.
84 Leic. Arch. Soc. vi, 312.
198
Throsby, Hist. Leic. 388.
FRAGMFNT OF SAMIAN WARE FROM
BATH LANE, LEICESTER
HEXAGONAL GLASS CINERARY
URN, g IN. HH.H, FROM OX-
FORD STREET, LEICESTER
FRAGMENT OF GREEN GLASS CUP FROM BATH LANE,
LEICESTER
ROHAN MILESTONE I ROM
THURMASTON
COLUMN FOUND AT DANETT'S HALL IN 1851
nT. 1 1 T f
BONE OBJECTS FOUND IN ROMAN WELL AT LEICESTER
ROMANO-BRITISH LEICESTERSHIRE
and was left as it was found, except that part was filled with concrete and
used as the foundation of a new building. The excavations showed that
there was no continuation of the sewer beyond the centre of the Jewry Wall,
and it seems certain that
it turned at an angle and
went through or under-
neath the wall into the
town." Throsby said that
it entered the town at the
south end of the wall
by way of St. Nicholas
Street."
Outside the angle,
formed by the meeting of
the northern and eastern
walls of Ratae, opposite
to where St. Margaret's
Church now stands, Roman coins have often been found, and in a spot
close to the angle thus made two wells or pits containing Roman relics,
chiefly pottery, were discovered. In a third pit, about 14 ft. below the
present surface, a basket, formed of wood and wicker, evidently sunk as a
means of collecting water in a bed of gravel, was disinterred. It was 5 ft.
6 in. in height, and measured 5 ft. 6 in. by 3 ft. 6 in. at the bottorr,
/ft. 6 in. by 5ft. 6 in. at the top. About aft. above the rim of the basket
were visible indications of a ground line, on which were found part of a flint
celt 4 in. long, and various bone articles. The basket itself was choked with
rubbish pieces of stone, fragments of horns, and teeth of various animals,
including the tusks of a boar, portions of skulls of two goats, two whetstones,
two pointed pieces of iron, &c. The lower part contained a mass of weed,
rushes, hay, and snail shells, blanched with age. Four feet above this line
another level was visible. On this a pair of Roman shears, a rude crucible,
and other things of the same date were seen. This level was 6 ft. above the
basket. About 4ft. higher fragments of Roman pottery, small and coarse,
were discovered. On the supposed Roman levels streaks of charred material
were distinctly visible. In the upper crust of the bank of sand or gravel in
which these things were found, small bits of Roman pottery were plentiful.
From the general appearance of the bone articles found, and their similarity
to antiquities discovered at Settle, in Yorkshire, it has been concluded that
they were of a late Roman date." The bone articles found were : i, a
circular ring, pierced with holes, 2! in. in diameter ; 2, a hexagonal handle,
2j in. long ; 3, a whistle, 3! in. long ; 4, a piece of bone pierced in the
centre, i&in. long ; 5, a cylindrical object, 3! in. long, with wide oval slit ;
6, a tooth, perhaps of a dog, ijin. long, pierced for suspension ; 7, a boar's
tusk, 3 1 in. long, two holes pierced at the broad end.
Cemeteries. The principal cemetery of Ratae was outside the south-
west corner of the Roman town. In the Abbey Meadow a number of
cinerary urns containing bones have from time to time been discovered,
Bellairs, Leu. jirch. Sac. viii, 40.
" F. Thompson, Proc. Sac. Antlj. (Ser. 2), i, 243 (1860).
199
66 Ibid. ; and vii, 311-12.
A HISTORY OF LEICESTERSHIRE
among them a good specimen of an indented Castor-ware pot about 7 in. in
height, and it is said that some black and white tesserae were found here
in 1885. Adjoining the Abbey Meadow in Oxford Street, some distance
outside the line of the south wall, a large glass jug was found in 1865
covering a deposit of burnt bones. It contained a solution of salts of lime,
and its mouth was closed by a leaden cap firmly fixed with hard cement, and
a piece of syenite had been placed upon this covering. The vessel was of
an unusual hexagonal shape, and had the ordinary handle on one side. A
similar glass vessel 88 was found in the grounds of the abbey in 1830. Both
vessels are now in the Leicester Museum. 69 In Newarke Street in the same
district many burials have been found. In 1840, whilst excavating for the
foundations of a warehouse, there was discovered an urn of coarse, dark ware
4 in. high and 7 in. diameter, with a crimped border below the rim. 70
Later, six skeletons were found, each with a large stone over it, and round
the neck of one was a brass chain. Some 2 ft. or 3 ft. below the skeletons,
which may have been of a later date, a Roman pot was discovered. Other
skeletons and urns have been found, notably a cinerary urn containing bones
and ashes, 9 in. high by 10 in. in diameter, covered with a broken tile, under
the Drill Hall, 7 ft. from the surface. But what is perhaps of more interest is
a series of Roman lead coffins found here and in Millstone Lane at different
times. In 1873 tnree f these coffins were discovered just outside the site
of the south wall, under 15, Newarke Street, about 7 ft. from the surface.
The first was empty, and Mr. C. Roach Smith, who examined it, was
doubtful, but probably without sufficient cause, as to its being Roman.
Two others discovered later on the same spot contained skeletons, and were
associated with fragments of Roman pottery and glass. 71 Other similar
coffins are said to have been found on this site at different times, and in July,
1899, one was found at the corner of Marble Street in Millstone Lane
containing a skeleton and associated with Samian, Castor, and other kinds of
Roman pottery and a small brass of Hadrian (A.D. 117 38). 73 These coffins
were formed out of a large sheet of lead J in. thick, which was cut to the
required shape, and the sides and ends bent up and hammered together,
apparently without the use of solder. The lid, which was supported by
three iron bars, was bent down over this about 2 in. all round. One coffin
at least had been inclosed in a wooden chest. 73
Burials have been disinterred outside the East Gate, and it has been
suggested that there was another Roman cemetery on this site. Skeletons
were discovered lying north and south associated with brass fibulae, and an
armlet and sword blades which may have been Saxon, though the pottery
which was found at the same time was undoubtedly Roman. 74 Some coins
were also found, one of which was of the time of Domitian (A.D. 8196).
A cinerary urn and other pottery were discovered with a leaden coffin
containing a skeleton at Humberstone Gate in 1783." Also urns with
68 Glass vessels of a similar shape have been found at Barnwell, near Cambridge (now in the Brit. Mus.),
and in St. Stephen's Churchyard, St. Albans.
* Arch. Journ. xxiii, 70 ; AUK. Arch. See. viii, ad ; Leu. Arch. Sac. iii, 1 1 2.
70 Lite. Arch. Soc. vi, 113.
71 Ibid, iv, 246 ; Illui. Land. Netct, Ixiii, 326 ; Assoc. Arch. Soc. xii, xli.
" Leu. Arch. Soc. is, 15, 16. n Ibid.
" Bickerstaffe, in Nichols, Hist. Leu. i, 5. " Ibid, and i, pt. ii, 619.
200
ROMANO-BRITISH LEICESTERSHIRE
several skeletons were found there in 1846, and another urn containing
burnt bones in a gravel pit in i886. 78 A skeleton was exposed in 1872
about 8 ft. or 9 ft. from the surface in Sanvy Gate, outside the north
wall. At the head was a pot of Castor ware ornamented with a pattern,
and the word VITA in white slip, and at the feet was another pot
of ordinary Romano-British ware which appeared to have been subject
to the action of fire on the inside. Both pots are now in the Leicester
Museum. 77
In the town itself, among others, a cinerary urn covered with a piece
of slate, containing burnt bones, was found in Horsefair Street, near the line
of the south wall in i876. 78 In Butt Close Lane, near the east wall, a
cinerary urn was discovered in 1854 5. 79 In Church Gate, also near the
east wall, an urn containing human bones, covered with what appeared to be
the iron boss of a shield, and two skeletons were found in 1866. The
remains of Saxon burials have also appeared in this part. 80
Pottery. As is to be expected on the site of a Romano-British town,
great quantities of pottery and other miscellaneous articles have been from
time to time discovered over the whole area. It would serve no purpose to
record here exactly all the finds which have been made, but it will be well
to call attention to the important features of the discoveries of this nature.
With regard to the Samian ware a considerable quantity has been found, to
some extent indicating the wealth of the inhabitants. The Samian pottery
has the usual embossed designs of hunting scenes, figures, &c. One fragment
of a patera, with a hole in it probably for suspension, now in the Leicester
Museum, has scratched upon it VERECUNDA LYDIA LUCIUS GLADIATOR.
It was found in Bath Lane in 1854, and may be a love token from
Lucius the gladiator to the blushing Lydia (plate VI). Another piece was
found, which is also in the Leicester Museum, with VIIR or VER scratched
on it. The potters' marks, however, are of considerable interest as they
cover a wide area.
The following names 81 are of the first century (La Graufesenque
fabric) :
ABITI. LOGIRNI. M. OF. RUFINI.
ALBINI. M. ) OF. LUCCE(l.) OF. SABl(N)l.
ALBINVS. F. j MACRINVS. SECUN. F.
OF. APRI. OF. MAPOMI. (?) SECUNDI. M.
APRO. F. MARCI. M. L. TER. SECu(NDUS-)
AVITI. M. MARTI. M. OF. SEVERI.l
CARILLI. OF. M(A)TUG(EN)I. SEVERI M. j
OF. CEN (SORIS)J METHILLVS. OF. SEVER(l) PUD(ENTIS.)
OF. CENS. J OF. MODESTI. SILVAN1.
OF. CRESI (? CRES(T)I.) OF. MONTANI. SILVI. OF.
DONTI. OFFIC. OF. PASSIENI. SILVINVS.
GERM. ) PATRICI. MA. SILVI. PATRICI.
GERM(A)NI.J OF. PONTI. VITALIS. M.
JUCUNDI. OF. PRIM(I.)
' Rep. Com. Leie. Mtu. " Leic. Arch. Sx. iv, 185.
78 Rep. Com. Leic. Mus. " Ibid.
80 Post, ' Angl.-Sax. Remains ' ; Rep. Com. Leic. Mus.
" The marks in this list have been identified by Mr. H. B. Walters, M.A., F.S.A., of the British
Museum.
I 201 26
A HISTORY OF LEICESTERSHIRE
The following names are of the second century (Lezoux fabric) :
ALBUCI.
APOLAUST.
ARICI. MA.
ATILIANI. M.
BORILLI.
BUTRIO (circa 150)
CARATILLI.
CELSIANI. F.
CINNAMUS. F. (circa 1 20)
CRACIS(A).
CRECIRO. OF.
CRICIRONIS.
DAGOMA(RUS.)
DOCCUS. F.
DONNANCOS.
GEMINUS.
GENITOR.
JVLLINI.
MATERTI.
MEDETVS.
{MOSSI. MAN.
MOXI(N)I. (MOXII?)
NAMILIANI. MA.
PATERCLINI. M.
PATERNI.'
TITURO.
VERECU(NDUS.)
The following are German potters (of Rheinzabern, and century) :
AUGUSTINUS.
MERCATOR.
BUCCUS.
MATERNINUS.
The following names are
AETERNI. M.
ALBI. M.
unidentified :
DOMI(T)ATAN.
DOMINCI.
AMICUS.
DOMITVS.
ANAILL.
DOMS . . .
ANNIOS.
DONV . .
ARDU.
DUPPIUS. F.
ASURIV.
EPPN . .
AVIF.
BACCATU
BALELAS (? BATELAS.)
BIGA. FEC.
ESCUSI. M.
ELVILLI (? ILVILLI.)
GIPPI. M.
HABILIS. F.
BISSV . . .
HABIT
BITVRIX.
IBERI. M.
BONOXUS. F.
INCOLVA.
CA . . . . M.
IRNI.
CAMPANIO.
IMPRITO.
CANTOMALLI. M.
IVCANIA. M.
CAP ....
IVLI.
CAPELLINAI.
IVLI. LALLISSA.
CAPILLIO.
LOLLI. M.
CAPJIR. O.
CARU(s)SA. F.
CATILLVS.
LVPPA.
LVLVPA.
MACRINI.
OF. CATUS.
MALLIACI.
OFF. CE . . .
CICVR . .
CINT. . VGE . .
MALLVR.
MAN VS. (?)
MAR . .
CIPPI. M.
MARCILLIANI.
CLEMENS.
(MAR . ... HI.
CLEMENTI.
CNATOS.
CON . . .
CONDOLLUS. F.
(MARTINI.
MARPNH.
MATII(?E)RNINVS.
MAXIM. IN.
CORIN . .
MED1TI. M.
CRASSIACUS. F.
MIMANNIO.
CROBISO'. F.
MINVLI. M.
CUCILI. M.
DANVJLLI. M. (? SANUILLI.)
DIV ....
DIVICATVS.
OF. MODE.
MUXTULLI. M.
OF. NIGR. (? OF. FIGR.)
NIGRI. AND.
DIVICI. M.
NOM . .
DOCCALI. M.
PA . .
DOCCI. M.
PANIC. M.
DOMETOS.
PASSIE.
202
REGINUS. F.
OF. PASSIEN.
PATE . .
PATERNI. M.
PATERATI. OF.
PATERCLO(S. FE.)
PATRI.
PATRICI. M.
PA . T . RI . CI . MA.
PAULI. M.
PEPP ....
OF. PISSIA.
OF. PONTI.
FOR. P. M. H.
PORP . . S.
POTITINI. M.
POT-TACUS.
PRIMANI. M.
PRIMVLI.
PRISCI. M.
PRISCUS.
QUADRA.
QUINTILIANI. M.
REGINUS. F.
RICCI. (? BRICCI.)
RISPI. M.
ROPPUS. FE.
OF. RVFINI.
RVFIVS. FE.
RUFIANI. M.
SABIA. MA.
SABINI. M.
SACCERO. M.
SACERO.
SACR ....
SACROT. M. S.
SARRI . .
SAXA.
SENNIUS, F.
OJF. SEVERPVD.
SEVERIAN. M.
SEXTUS. F.
SIIXTI. MA.
SIIXTIN.
SVOBNI. M.
ROMANO-BRITISH LEICESTERSHIRE
SUOBNI. O. TITTICI. O. VIDUCUS. F.
SVRDILLUS. F. TITURONIS. C. VIDA.
TEDDI. Of TEDEDEI. TITURONIS. OF. OF. VITAL.
TIBERI. M. TITVS. FEC. VITALIS. M. S. F.
TITI. M.
Some fragments of a rare black glazed pottery occasionally found on
Romano-British sites are recorded ; 88 one piece is said to have been ornamented
with a trellis pattern with bosses at the intersections in relief.
Probably in consequence of the nearness of the kilns, Castor ware is
found in considerable quantities. Among other pieces is a good specimen
discovered under 45, High Street, ornamented with a scroll in white slip and
having the following six letters : M E x r . . . v i. 83 A piece of Castor ware
was found on the site of the Three Crowns Hotel, being of an unusual dull
brick-red colour and having the usual scroll pattern in white slip. 84
Very little New Forest ware has been recorded as found on the site of
Ratae, but the ordinary black Upchurch ware is of frequent occurrence. A
portion of a lamp said to be of this kind was found on the site of Lloyds
Bank in High Street, 86 and two feet, part of a child's toy, at the Jewry Wall. 86
A bowl found in Horsefair Street has the letters OVIN scratched on it. 87
Some few pieces of painted Salopian ware as it is called, covered with
the usual red pigment and ornamented with a female mask or face have been
found in South Bond Street, West Bond Street, and Pocklington's Walk, and
are now in the Leicester Museum. 88 As in all Roman sites, great quantities
of the common Romano-British ware have appeared, much of which was
probably made in local kilns. These consist of the usual household patterns,
urns, vessels for liquids of all kinds, mortars, bowls, lamps, etc. Attention
may be called to one ornamented with a head in a medallion found near
Wyggeston School in i893, 89 to a mortar bearing the stamp of the potter
CEMNi.F, 90 and to a large amphora with the mark FOR. p. M. H. on the handle. 91
Some elaborately ornamented wall tiles have been found, which probably
decorated the walls of the bathrooms of some building. These are stamped
with reed-like lines forming patterns of diamond and other shaped diapers ;
a rarer type has a design imprinted in very low relief. 92 A hollow flue tile
1 7 in. long by 7 in. wide, having scratched upon it the words PRIMUS FECIT,
was found in the grounds of Wyggeston School, which may be evidence of
the Latin language having been commonly in use in Britain. 93
Glass. Fragments of Roman glass are not uncommon ; the most inter-
esting is that of a cup of bluish green glass 3 in. in diameter bearing military
figures roughly modelled and an inscription in relief. The figures are about i in.
in height, and resemble the designs on Samian ware. Two are entire, and
show the Roman soldier's equipment of helmet, shield, and short sword. The
inscription seems to read . . . vs SPICVLVS COLVMBVS CALM . . which it has
been suggested may be the names of gladiators represented below (plate VI). 94
Two other specimens of bluish green glass, ribbed, were found in North
M Lett. Arch. Sue. viii, 29 ; Throsby, Hist. Leu.
" Leie. Arch. Soc. iv, 2. 84 Ibid, iv, 185.
85 Assoc. Arch. Sac. xxvi, 461. " Leu, Arch. Soc. v, 185.
87 Catakgue Leic. Mut. 1874. M Leie. Arch. Soc. vi, 113 ; Antiy. xxx, 214, 220.
89 Leie. Arch. Soc. viii, 29. * Ibid, vi, 96. " Ibid, vii, 131.
81 Fox, Arch. Journ. xlvi, 51. * Leie, Arch. Soc. vi, 96. " Ibid iv, 308.
203
A HISTORY OF LEICESTERSHIRE
Bond Street. 96 In the Leicester Museum there are also an octagonal glass
vessel with two handles containing human bones, a hexagonal one (plate IX)
and a square one ; the two latter closed with leaden caps, and were associated
with burials.
Miscellaneous Antiquities. Opposite the Arcade in High Street there was
found in 1904 a ring with a gold bezel representing Rome as a female figure,
which is said to be of the first century. 98 In 1873 a silver ring set with an
engraved cornelian stone was found in Silver Street, and is now in the
Leicester Museum. The bronze articles which have been found from
time to time in Leicester consist of a considerable quantity of fibulae,
bracelets, pins, toilet implements, rings, spoons, sty/i, and steelyards. Occa-
sionally ornaments or pendants with traces of enamel have been discovered.
In 1858 a bust of bronze 3 in. high and somewhat corroded was found ; it
probably represents a faun or young satyr, the features being semi-African,
with flat nose and round face. 97 With it was a bulla, also in bronze, the
shape of a heart, attached to a chain with long narrow links. In 1898
a bronze boss or ornament in the shape of a grotesque mask was found at
Newarke Bridge. 98 (These are all in the Leicester Museum.) The figure
of ' Apollo or Jupiter ' found on the site of the villa at the Cherry Orchard is
noted elsewhere. 99 An eagle's head in bronze was found on the site of the
Royal Arcade in High Street, 100 and a small bronze cross 2 in. long with a coin
of Valens (A.D. 36478) in Belgrave Gate. 101 A finger-ring of bronze of the
key type was discovered in Blackfriars Street. 103 The iron framework and
chain of a large bucket, said to be Roman, were found at a depth of 25 ft.
when sinking a well in Southgate Street. 103 A bone spoon, now in the
Leicester Museum, was found in Causeway Lane, 104 some bone discs in
St. Nicholas Street, 106 and many bone pins have been found in different parts
of the town. A quern of pudding stone was found in Butt Close Lane in
i862. 106 A seal or stamp of blue lias was found in High Cross Street bearing
a grotesque face and the inscription in two lines, c. PAL. GRACiLis, 107 which
Hubner reads C[AIVS] PAL[FORIOS] GRAcius. 108
Coins have been found in considerable quantities in the town, separately
and in hoards. 109 Burton records isolated finds made as early as 1622, dating
from Vespasian (A.D. 70-9) to Antonine (A.D. 138 6 1). 110 In 1718 a
hoard was discovered near the North Gate, in an earthenware pot capable of
holding 3 pints or 2 quarts, and containing a considerable number of coins,
first and third brass, dating from Titus (A.D. 7981) to Honorius (A.D. 395
423). U1 In 1730 600 brass coins were found, presumably together, ' near
the town,' dating from Diocletian (A.D. 284-305) to Constantine Maximus
(A.D. 3o6~37). lls In 1797 the Gentleman's Magazine records the find of
many consular coins in the ploughed lands north-west of the town, 118
apparently all silver. A great number of coins were found near Bow Bridge
95 C. Roach Smith, llltu. Rom. Land. " Leu. Arch. Soc. ix, 225, 238.
97 Ibid, i, 2 14. M Rep. Com. Lelc. Mus.
99 Assoc. Arch. Sue. ix, p. cxviii ; Prof. Soc. Antiq. (Ser. 2), iv, 183-5.
100 Lelc. Arch. Soe. v, 169 ; vi, 1 13-14. "" Ibid, ii, 247. " Ibid, iv, 328.
01 Asset. Arch. Soe. xii, p. xli. M Lett. Arch. Soc. ii, 92. 1<s Ibid, ix, 175.
106 Leu. Arch. So:, ii, 178 ; v, 59. I07 Ibid, vi, 96. loe Hflbner, Corpus Inscrip.
09 Hollings, Lelc. Lit. and Phil. Soc. 364. uo Descr. of Lelc. '" Nichols, Hist. Lett, i, 4.
111 Camden, Brit, ii, 209 (ed. Gough) ; MS. Min. Soc. Antiq. ii, 200 ; Nichols, Hut. Lett, i, 4.
1U Gent. Mag. 1797, i, 203 ; Arch, liv, 494.
204
ROMANO-BRITISH LEICESTERSHIRE
in the same garden, but at different times up to 1855, including coins of
almost all the emperors from Caligula (A.D. 37-41) to Valens (A.D. 364 78),"*
with the exception of a break of about sixty years between Albinus (A.D.
193-7) an d Posthumus (A.D. 258-68), for which period there are no
representative coins. Scattered in various parts of the town at different times
have been found coins, chiefly first and third brass, dating from Claudius
(A.D. 41-54) to Gratianus (A.D. 375-8 3). 1U Coins of the earlier Caesars are
rare, but those of Hadrian (A.D. 117-38) and Antoninus (A.D. 138-61)
are sometimes found in considerable numbers. Silver denarii of Nero (A.D.
54-68) and of Domitian (A.D. 8196) have occasionally been brought to
light. Silver coins have also been found of Vespasian (A.D. 70-9), Hadrian
(A.D. 117-38), Antoninus Pius (A.D. 138-61), Severus Alexander (A.D.
22235), an d Aurelian (A.D. 2705). The coins of Constantine (A.D.
30637) constitute perhaps half the total number of those found. 116 The
only gold coins that have been recorded are one of Trajan (A.D. 98 1 17) and
one of Honorius (A.D. 395-42 3). 117
ROMAN ARCHITECTURAL REMAINS IN LEICESTER
The letters and numerals on the Plan indicate remains the site of whose discovery has been
ascertained as nearly as possible. This list is compiled, with a few additions, from a similar
list by Mr. G. E. Fox, in Arch. jfourn. xlvi, 61.
A. Floor of mortar, walls and traces of a
hypocaust (?) and large foundations of a
wall of Forest stone, laid dry. Near
Water House, High Cross Street, next
west end of the Friars (site of Johnson's
Buildings). Found 1667-8. [Carte in
Nichols, Hist. Leic. i, n.] A tesselated
floor, a hypocaust and painted walls, site
of Johnson's Buildings. Found 1667.
[Throsby, Hist. Leic. 19.]
B. Large Sewer from East Gate, found at end
of seventeenth century. [Thompson, Hist.
Leic. App. A. 447.]
C. Wall and pavement of stone like a street.
Found 1716. [Carte in Nichols, Hist.
Leic. i, II.]
D. Tesselated floor, White Lion Inn. Found
1723. [Carte in Nichols, Hist. Leic.
i, ii.]
E. Tesselated pavements on site known as
Vauxhall, close to the River Soar. Found
in 1747. [Throsby, Hist. Leic. 19 ;
Nichols, Hist. Leic. i, 1 1 .]
F. Tesselated pavement found under south aisle
of St. Martin's Church, 1773. [Nichols,
Hist. Leic. i, 12.]
G. Tesselated pavement found on site of
County Gaol. [Throsby, Hist. Leic. 383.]
H. Tesselated pavement and hypocausts, under
Mr. Stephen's house, now No. 18, High
Cross Street. [Throsby, Hist. Leic. 20.]
I. Tesselated pavement under Mr. King's
house, afterwards in possession of Mr.
Collier. [Throsby, Hist. Leic. 20.]
KK. Concrete floor, large foundations, columns,
and large drain. Found 1793. [Throsby,
Hist. Leic. 388 et seq.] And foundations
at the Talbot Inn. Found 1793.
[Throsby, Hist. Leic. 2.]
L. Concrete floor, and massive wall in line
with the Jewry Wall, at Recruiting Ser-
geant Inn. [Nichols, Hist. Leic. i, 12.]
M. Tesselated pavement, in situ, found 1 830.
Jewry Wall Street, now under Great Cen-
tral Railway. [Thompson, Hist. Leic.
App. A. 445. Leic. Arch. Sac. ii, 22.]
N. Pavement found in 1839, St. Nicholas
Square. [O. S. xxxi, 10. Thompson, Hist.
Leic. App. 445.]
O. Wall and bases and shafts of columns.
Found 1859. [Leic. Arch. Soc. ii, 23,
24-]
P. Painted walls of a room. Found 1866, in
the street, Southgate Street, near Mr.
Warren's premises. [Leic. Arch. Soc. ii,
22.]
114 Rollings, Leu. Lit. and Phil. Soc. 364.
111 Nichols, Hiit. Leic. i, 4 ; Thompson, Hist. Leic. App. 446-7 ; Leu. Arch. Soe. i-ix.
"* Rollings, Leic. Lit. and Phil. Soc. 364 ct seq.
117 Thompson, Journ. Brit. Arch. Assoc. vii, 151; Rollings, Leic. Lit. and Phil. Soe. 364 et seq. A con-
siderable list is given in the Reports of the Museum Committee, p. cclxii, of coins found in St. Nicholas Street
in 1 899, but it is stated that ' there is every reason to believe that the site was " salted " with intention to
deceive.'
205
A HISTORY OF LEICESTERSHIRE
Q. Coarse pavement and fragment of column.
Found 1866, in Southgate Street, in street,
between Mr. Johnson's malt offices and
Mr. Collier's house. [Leic. Arch, Sac.
ii, 22.]
R. Rough tesselated pavement. Found 1876.
Site of Opera House, Silver Street. [Leic.
Arch, Sac. iv, 106 ; v, 55.]
S. Concrete floor, foundations, and drain.
Found 1859 an d I ^76, in Bath Lane.
[Leic. Arch. Sac. ii, 22 ; v, 41.]
T. Inscribed tile, Primus fecit, Wyggeston's
Hospital. [Leic. Arch. Sac. vi, 96.]
VV. Columns found in 1885, now placed in
St. Nicholas Churchyard. [Leic. Arch. Sac.
vi, 1 6 1.]
W. Tesselated pavement, Blackfriars Street.
Found 1885. [Leic. Arch. Soc. vi, 208.]
X. Tesselated pavement, Sarah Street. Found
1885. [Leic. Arch. Soc. vi, 210.]
Y. Foundation of wall, roof tile, and frag-
ments of ornamented, stamped flue tiles.
Found 1888, in St. Nicholas Church-
yard in digging foundations for new north
transept to church. [Leic. Arch. Soc. vii, 1 7.]
Z. Large drain to west of Jewry Wall,
mentioned by Throsby [Hist. Leic. 388],
re-discovered and its direction traced to-
wards the Jewry Wall. [Leic. Arch. Soc.
vi, 312.]
(In Museum, but not numbered. a a to f f
inclusive, except b b)
a a. Fragment of stone carved with a niche,
containing a portion of a rude figure in
relief, Townhall Lane.
b b. Two tesselated pavements from St.
Nicholas Street, found in 1898, preserved
in situ. [jfourn. Brit. Arch. Assoc. (New Ser.),
iv, 289 ; Assoc. Arch. Soc. xxiv, p. xcix ;
Antiq. xxiv, 234 ; Reliq. Jan. 1899;] Leic.
Arch. Soc. ix, 6.]
c c. Part of a column, found 7 ft. deep, in
Freeschool Lane turning out of High Cross
Street. Found 1882-4. [Cat. Arch.
Specimens in Leic. Mus.~\
d d. A piece of carved stone moulding from
the Flood Works opposite the castle.
Found in 1889. [Rep. Mus. Com.']
ee. Inscribed stone column, found 3 ft. deep
between St. Nicholas' Church and the
Jewry Wall. Inscription very much
defaced, but as far as can be deciphered,
MER - c (?)
PRO - P
Found in 1897. [Cat. Arch. Specimens in
Leic. Mus.]
f f. Part of a stone column from the corner
of High Street and High Cross Street,
found in 1901. [Assoc. Arch. Soc. xxvi,
459-]
Remains of a stone wall about I ft. high
(with column and pavements). Found in
1901. [Assoc. Arch. Soc. xxvi, 459.]
h h. From about Red Cross Street down to
the Elm Trees (near All Saints' Church),
6 ft. or 7 ft. from the houses on west side
of street, an old stone wall, fallen down
towards the houses. Found in 1685.
[Carte in Nichols, Hist. Leic. i, II.]
Found next the ' King's Arms ' (formerly in
High Street), a stone wall running to the
street, 1710. [Carte in Nichols, Hist. Leic.
i, n.]
Found, a wall in the cellars of Mr. Carter's
house, and, in next house, a drain of stone,
1717. [Carte in Nichols, Hist. Leic. i, 1 1 .]
1 1. Fragment of tesselated pavement, found
on site of Grey Friars. [Throsby, Hist.
Leic. 396.]
Foundations and remains of floors, near the
Peacock Inn, High Cross Street, 1858. (?)
[Leic. Arch. Soc. i, 215.]
m m. Foundations south and west of Jewry
Wall. Found in 1864. [Leic. Arch. Soc.
i> 35-]
Granite and Sandstone Walk, from near
All Saints' Church to near gaol, running in
middle of High Cross Street. Found in
1866. [Leic. Arch. Soc. ii, 23.]
nn. Foundations on Mr. Sarson's premises,
near St. Nicholas Street. Found in 1869.
[Leic. Arch. Soc. ii, 207.]
o o. Sites of excavations along the east front of
Jewry Wall in 1867 and 1875. [Leic.
Arch. Soc. ii, 2O2 et seq.; iv, 54, 79.]
p p. Foundations and town ditch. (?) Messrs.
Rust's yard, near Jewry Wall. [Leic. Arch.
Soc. v, 41.]
q q. A wall running east and west between
High Street and Silver Street, with a tesse-
lated pavement. Found in 1889. [Leic.
Arch. Soc. ii, 23, 24. Assoc. Arch. Soc.
xx, Ix.] Foundation of a wall, from the
same place. Found in 1902. [Assoc. Arch.
Soc. xxvi, 461.]
r r. Continuation of tesselated pavement found
at the corner of Jewry Wall Street and
St. Nicholas Street in 1830. Found in
1843. [Thompson, Hist. Leic. 445.]
Some masonry also found in St. Nicholas'
Street in 1902. [Proc. Soc. Antiq. (Ser. 2),
xix, 245.]
ss. Tesselated pavement in St. Nicholas
Square. Found in 1853. [R*p. Com.
Leic. Mus.]
Fragment of pavement in St. Nicholas Street.
Found in 1 889. [Leic. Arch. Soc. vii. 207.]
tt. Part of a paved road in Talbot Lane,
of considerable width, leading to the Jewry
Wall. [Leic. Arch. Soc. ii, 202.]
206
ROMANO-BRITISH LEICESTERSHIRE
v v. Three mosaic pavements, found in 1754, in
Blackfriars, on property belonging to Roger
Ruding, esq. [Nichols, Hist. Leic. i, 1 1 , 12.]
w w. Tesselated pavement, Silver Street,
2^ ft. from surface. Found in 1871.
[Leic. Arch. Sac. iv, 106.]
x x. Foundations of walls and two wells ; corner
of Church Gate and Sanvy Gate. Found
in 1860. [Proc. Soc. Antiq. (Ser. 2), i, 243.]
yy. Two pieces of tesselated pavement in
Town hall Lane. Found in 1902. [Assoc.
Arch. Soc. xxvi, 462.]
zz. Fragments of walls and columns near
St. Martin's Church. Found in 1874.
[Leic. Arch. Soc. iv, 273.]
a a a. Inscribed tile L VIII. Bath Lane (Sarah
Street). Found in 1854. [Journ. Brit.
Arch. Assoc. xix, 46 ; Arch. Journ. xxxiv,
141.]
b b b. Wall and roof of granite and tiles.
Townhall Lane. Found in 1902. [Assoc.
Arch. Soc. xxvi, 462.] Portion of pave-
ment from same place. Found in 1884.
[Rep. Mus. Com.']
c c c. Pavement from Horsefair Street. Found
in 1875. [Rep. Mus. Com.]
d d d. Drain of hewn stone at entrance to lane
leading to castle, running from the Friars
to the river. Found in 1685. [Carte in
Nichols, Hist. Leic. i, n.]
ARCHITECTURAL FRAGMENTS IN TOWN MUSEUM
(The fragments are numbered as in the Museum)
No. I. Octagonal panel from a pavement.
Subject, Cyparissus and the Stag. (?) Found
in 1675. [Carte in Nichols, Hist. Leic.
i, 9 ; MS. Min. Soc. Antiq. xviii, 271-95 ;
Philos. Trans, xxvii, 325 ; Arch, xxvi, 36 ;
Reliq. xiii, 224 ; Leic. and Rut/. N. and Q.
iii, 136, &c.]
Nos. II. in. iv. Portions of a pavement of
geometrical design. Found in 1839 in
Vine Street. [Thompson, Hist. Leic.
445 ; Fox, Arch. Journ. xcvi, 53.]
Nos. v. vi. vn. vin. Portions of pavements
found in the ' Cherry Orchard,' Danett's
Hall, to the west of the River Soar.
[Nichols, Hist. Leic. i, 19. Thompson,
Hist. Leic. 445.]
Nos. ix. x. xi. Three pieces of tesselated pave-
ment, from the corner of High-Street and
High Cross Street. Found in 1901. [Assoc.
Arch. Soc. xxvi, 459 ; Leic. Arch. Soc. ix, 169.]
Nos. I and IA. Parts of shaft of column found
at south-west corner of Methodist chapel,
St. Nicholas Street. [O. S.]
Nos. 2 A. to 3, 9 and 9 A. and 10 and IDA.
Bases, plinths, and capital of column. All
found in 1861 in St. Nicholas Street, be-
tween Methodist chapel and corner of
Holy Bones. [Leic. Arch. Soc. iii, 334.]
Nos. 4 to 73. Two bases of columns, with
shafts and plinth, &c. Found in situ at
north-east corner of St. Nicholas Street in
1867. [Leic. Arch. Soc. iii, 334.]
Nos. 8 to SB. Base and plinth of column,
found in St. Nicholas Street, matching the
above and close to them, 1861. [Leic.
Arch. Soc. iii, 334.]
No. 12. Fountain tank. Found at No. 52
High Cross Street, in 1862.
Nos. 13, 14. Two bases of columns found in
situ when excavations were made for new
north transept of St. Martin's Church,
1 86 1. [Leic. Arch. Soc. ii, 90.]
No. 15. Small base and shaft, with bracket
worked on the shaft. Found 1875, on site
of Wyggeston's Hospital.
No. 16. Small base and shaft. Found in 1850
in Cank Street (called in O.S. 'an altar
stone ').
No. 17. Corinthian capital, found in 1844 in
Talbot Lane. [Leic. Arch. Soc. ii, 24.] (Plate
V ') .
No. 19. Portion of capital, found in Sarah
Street, i875.(?)
No. 20. Portion of column, found in South-
gate Street, 1859. [Leic. Arch. Soc. ii, 22.]
Nos. 21 to 26. Carved impost mouldings and
carved fragments, perhaps from an arch, at
junction of Blue Boar Lane and High
Cross Street. Found in 1859. (?) [Leic.
Arch. Soc. ii, 23.] (Plate II.)
Nos. 3425-8. Fragments of ornamental,
stamped flue tiles in Case No. 4, archaeo-
logical room. Found in 1879. [Leic.
Arch. Soc. v, 41.]
Much-worn base and fragment of a capital.
Found under house, west side of Southgate
Street, about 1 2 yds. south of Bakehouse
Lane. Lying in grounds of Museum,
outside conservatory.
See Nos. 21, 26. Column, Blue Boar Lane.
Found in 1907. [Inf. from Mr. Horwood
and Mr. Pickering.] (Plate II.)
207
A HISTORY OF LEICESTERSHIRE
ROADS
One of the first duties of the Romans in the occupation of this country
was to provide for easy communication to all parts of it by the construction
of roads. In doing this they connected the principal tribal towns they found
already established, and formed posting stations at convenient distances
between them. With regard to the roads of the Romano-British period, the
sources of information available are of two kinds, written and archaeological.
The archaeological evidence is supplied by actual remains such as Roman
milestones or ancient metalling, and occasionally by the persistent straightness
with which a still existing track runs from one Roman site to another.
The chief written evidence is the Itinerarium Antonini^ a Roman road-book
which gives the distances and ' stations ' along various routes in the empire.
Its exact age is uncertain, though it is supposed to have been written about
A.D. 320. Its accuracy is by no means unfailing, and it is more useful in
showing that a road proceeded in a particular direction than in testifying its
precise course and the exact sites of the stations along it. Two of the
Itinerary routes (Itin. vi and viii) passed through Leicestershire, on the same
road from north to south, and one (Iter ii) along the south-western border
of the county. These follow the line of two well-known and indisputably
Roman roads the Wading Street and the Fosse Way.
1. Watling Street is the name in use since Saxon times to describe the
Roman road which ran north-west from London, past Verulam (St. Albans)
to Viroconium (Wroxeter) (part of Iter ii of Antonine). The course of the
Watling Street in general is certain, and not least in Leicestershire, where it
forms the boundary between this county and Warwickshire. 1 It enters from
the south, crosses the Avon at the place called Tripontium in the Itinerary
(Shawell and Cave's Inn), proceeds from there to Venonae (High Cross),
where it is crossed by the Fosse Way. Thence it continues to Manduessedum
(Witherley and Mancetter), where it crosses the River Anker and leaves the
county.
2. The Fosse is the name used since Saxon times for the roads or series
of roads which ran from Lincoln through Leicester, Cirencester, and Bath
into the west. Its general course is no less certain than that of Watling
Street. 2 The Fosse enters Leicestershire from the south-west, out of War-
wickshire, at Venonae (High Cross), where it crosses Watling Street, and
proceeds north-east to Ratae (Leicester), passing Narborough and Whetstone,
where Roman remains have been found, and crosses the River Soar at Lang-
ham Bridge. It is once or twice lost in fields, though traces of the road are
generally visible, and merges into the present Leicester and Narborough road
3^ miles from Leicester. It is conjectured that the Fosse crossed the Soar
again at Bow Bridge, continued by the causeway now known as King
Richard's Road, entered the city by the West Gate 8 (Jewry Wall), passed
along what is now High Street, and left by the East Gate (Humberstone
Gate), following the course of the present road to Melton Mowbray, as far as
1 Haverfield, in V.C.H. Wane, i, 242-3. ' Ibid, i, 243.
* Codrington, Raman Roads in Britain, 252 ; Journ. Brit. Jrcb. dssoc. vii. 269-74.
208
ROMANO- BRITISH LEICESTERSHIRE
Thurmaston, where a Roman milestone was discovered,* whence it proceeds
for 6J miles to Six Hills, where it leaves the county.
3. The Gartree Road or Via Devana does not appear in the Itinerary
of Antonine. It has been laid down by many English antiquaries on their
maps or in their books as running more or less directly from Colchester by
Cambridge and Huntingdon to Leicester, and finally to Deva (Chester).
There is no evidence for the existence of the whole of this road, and the
name Via Devana is a modern invention. Parts of the route, however, may
be accepted as independent roads of Roman origin, and in particular it is
credible that a Roman road connected Leicester and Huntingdon. It enters
the county at Medbourne on the .boundary of Northamptonshire, 6 and can be
traced for 1 5 miles to Leicester, which it enters by the South Gate, here
probably to be identified with the existing Southgate Street and High Cross
Street. It leaves Leicester by the North Gate, 8 from whence its course is
uncertain but probable, and ran it would seem through Markfield and Coal-
ville to Ashby de la Zouch and Blackfordby, where it would leave the county.
From thence it continued to Burton on Trent, where it joined the 'Rycknield
Street ' on its route from Lichfield to Derby. 7
The other roads in the county are less certain, and in some cases are
based upon very slight evidence. A straight road which leaves Watling
Street at Mancetter, pointing for 5 miles to Leicester, and continuing in the
same line by other roads, represents, it has been suggested, a possible Roman
route to Leicester. 8 In the north of the county there is a suggestion that
the road from Little Chester (Derby) to Sawley crossed the river at the point
where the Derwent and Soar join the Trent, and proceeded to join the Fosse
Way either at Willoughby in Nottinghamshire, which is perhaps the more
probable, or at Six Hills in Leicestershire, but the evidence either way is not
conclusive. 9 An equally uncertain route sometimes called the Salt Way is
supposed to have started at Six Hills and to have branched off to the north-
east to join Erming Street, near Ponton, in Rutland. 10 In evidence of this it
is said that from Six Hills a straight road is followed by a parish boundary
for 3 miles to the high ground near Dalby Tunnel, continuing with a slight
turn to the line of highways on the north of Croxton Park, which it
followed, and leaving Leicestershire at Croxton Kerrial. 11
A route has also been suggested which would join the Rycknield Street
at Derby to the Erming Street at Stamford, in Northamptonshire, passing
through Sawley and Willoughby (Verometum).
4 See Thurmaston, in Tofog. Index.
4 Existing roads and boundaries tend to prove that this road ran on in the same straight line from Med-
bourne to Stanion in Northants, where its traces are lost, but are thought to be re-discovered on the eastern
side of that county, and to join the Roman road at Alconbury, in Huntingdonshire ; Haverfield, in V.C.H*
Northants, i, 206.
6 Journ. Brit. 4rch. A 'ssoc. vii, 274.
' Haverfield, in V.C.H. Northants, i, 206 ; in V.C.H. Derb. i, 251.
8 Codrington, op. cit. 75.
Haverfield, V.C.H. Derb. i, 246 ; Stukeley, Iter Boreal. 25.
10 Nichols, Hist. Lew. cxlviii.
11 Codrington, op. cit. 250 ; Journ. Brit. Arch. Assoc. vii, 274 ; this road is also supposed to have pro-
ceeded in the direction of Barrow on Soar to the south-west of Six Hills.
209
A HISTORY OF LEICESTERSHIRE
INDEX
ASHBY DE LA ZOUCH. In 1 8 1 8, a mile north-east of Ashby de la Zouch, on a high point of ground
on the Lawn Hills, two urns filled with third brass coins were found by labourers ploughing.
Some of the coins were of Gallienus (A.D. 253-68), Victorinus (A.D. 265-7), an< ^ Tetricus
(A.D. 268-73) ['* Arch. Sac. i, 81, 382]. A circular vessel of unglazed light-coloured clay,
7 in. in diameter at the top, ijin. at the opening in the bottom, perhaps used as a funnel,
was found near Ashby de la Zouch in 1866 [Leic. Arch. Sac. iii, 179].
BARROW UPON SOAR. The remains of a Roman cemetery, containing a considerable number of
skeletons, urns, and other relics of burial, were opened in 1867, and again in 1874. The site
is about 7 miles north of Leicester, not far from the river Soar on the west, and about 3 miles
from the Fosse road on the east ; the lane from Sileby to Barrow passes the spot. It is thought
that a barrow formerly existed, since levelled, as the present elevation is not more than 2 ft. or
3 ft., and the remains were found 2^ ft. below the surface. A floor of rubble of Mountsorrel
granite was disclosed, measuring 10 ft. by 6ft., near the road, by labourers digging for limestone
in 1867 ; it is conjectured that this may have been the site of the funeral pyre. On all sides
of this, except where the road passes, remains were discovered of burials of different dates
(vide plan) five skeletons, five glass vessels containing calcined bones, or, according to another
account, at least eight vessels and remains of from ten to twelve persons [Proc. Sac. Antiq. iii,
44861] ; also a large amphora full of ashes mixed with iron nails and another clay cinerary
urn were found. Two of the skeletons and some of the glass vessels were in rough vaults or
cists made of stone and tiles. Two iron lamps suspended from long jointed handles were also
discovered. The jars had apparently been buried in separate small pits, in two rows at even
distances from each other. Three of the glass vessels, the large amphora, and the lamps are in
the Leicester Town Museum. In the following list the numbers given correspond with those
on the accompanying plan and show the positions where the objects were found.
(i) Hexagonal green glass vessel, loin, high, with ribbed handle, the mouth covered with
sheet lead. (2) Square green glass vessel, the mouth also secured with lead. (3) Two iron
lamps, suspended from handles 20 in. and 14 in. long respectively, evidently intended to swing
from a beam or holdfast. (4) Another square glass vessel, found in a cist of limestone.
(5) Hexagonal glass vessel, long shape, with two handles (nearly complete). (6) Square glass
vessel. (7) Amphora, containing ashes and iron nails, 2 ft. 6 in. in height, 2 ft. in diameter,
capacity 15 gallons. (8, 9, 10) Human skeletons, (n, 12) Skeletons in cist. (13) Rubble
floor. (14) Cay cinerary urn. (15) Fragment of Samian bowl. No personal ornaments of
any kind were discovered except part of a bronze fibula found later, now in the Leicester
Museum, but some large bones of oxen and horses were dug up and several bone implements,
pins, &c., which are also in the museum [Proc. Sac. Antiq. (Ser. 2), iii, 44861; Reliq. xiii, 17;
Antiq. 214, 22O ; lllui. Land. News, April, 1867, 1, 380 ; Leic. Arch. Soc. iii, 221-332].
In 1874 a further discovery was made in close proximity to those found in 1867, consisting
of another large amphora, now in the Leicester Museum, also containing charred wood and
nails ; four ampullae of light-coloured ware ; three lamps of the same ware, and another large
glass vessel similar to
-ROAD rRQM BARROW TO siLEBV t h ose f oun d before. The
whole were inclosed in
a cist about 2 ft. by I ft.
which occupied the cen-
tre of a space inclosed
within a low circular
wall of rubble of Mount-
sorrel granite, about
15 ft. by 12 ft. The
relics were not more
than 2 ft. from the
surface, the smaller
vessels protected sepa-
rately by rude cists
formed of thin limestone
slabs. Several human
skeletons were also
found, much decayed
PLAN SHOWING EXCAVATIONS AT BARROW UPON SOAR [Leic. Arch. Soc. iv, 321].
210
ROMANO-BRITISH LEICESTERSHIRE
A painted vase of Salopian ware, now in the Leicester Museum, was found in 1877 ; a
coin of Vespasian (A.D. 70-9), and a stone hammer found in 1870, near the site of the other
things, are also in the Leicester Museum [Rep. Mus. Committee']. These finds indicate the exist-
ence of a Roman cemetery,
and consequently of a
neighbouring settlement,
probably a villa of some
importance, judging by
the remains found.
BARKBY. At a place on the
Fosse Way called ' Round
Hill,' the site of a tumu-
lus now levelled, between
Thurmaston and Barkby,
an urn was found, which
is now in the Leicester
Museum. [Leic. Arch.
Soc. vii, 360].
BEACON HILL (Charnwood
Forest). A bronze celt
of the ordinary flat form,
a little more than 5 in. in
length, and two large brass
coins, were found on the
north-west side of the
Beacon Hill, about 1839.
One coin was of Vespa-
sian (A.D. 70-9), and
was remarkable for having
in front of the bust the
figures Ixxxiii, very deeply
incised. It is suggested
that it may have been
used as a military tessera. The other coin was a sestertius of Marcus Aurelius (A.D. 161-80)
[ante, 'Early Man;' Proc. Soc. Antiq. (Ser. 2), i, 44].
BELVOIR PRIORY. During excavations in 1900 on the site of the priory, among other antiquities,
fragments of late Celtic or Roman pottery, part of a bronze stylus, &c., were found
[Journ. Brit. Arch. Assoc. vii, 321].
BITTESBY, near High Cross (Venonae). An urn and coins were turned up by the plough at an
early date ; Burton is said to have had some of the coins [Throsby, Views of Leic. ii, 301].
BURROUGH ON THE HILL. Five miles north of Melton Mowbray, and nearly a mile north of the
village, is Burrough Camp, a fortified position of great strength, of which the circumvallation
is irregular in shape, governed by the natural features of its position [/w/, 'Ancient Earth-
works' ; Leic. Lit. Soc. 328]. Leland and Stukeley \_Iter. Cur. i, 132] speak decisively of the
existence of walls, but no traces of masonry have lately been discovered, though in 1774 an
article in Archtsologia mentioned the manner in which the Romans ' laid the foundations of the
walls at the town of Burrough-field in Leicestershire, where the stones were set edge-wise in
clay, but the superstructure was laid with lime mortar ' \_Arch. iv, 76]. Some excavations
were made in 1853, and signs of Celtic occupation were thought to have been discovered, i.e.
rude potsherds, flint arrow-heads, and the remains of a skeleton, buried in a crouched position,
but Roman coins have also been unearthed, and a dagger and spearhead thought to be Roman
[Leic. Arch. Soc. vii, 23].
BREEDON. A tall jug of red ware was dug up in Breedon churchyard in 1863. It is now in the
museum at Ashby de la Zouch [Leic. Arch. Soc. i, 137].
BURBAGE. A large heap of animals' horns, said to be of the Roman period, were found here in
1864 [Leic. Arch. Soc. ii, 313].
CLAYBROOKE. (See High Cross.)
COSTON (3 miles from Saxby). A quern was found here 9 in. in diameter, 2 in. deep, with the
piece of iron on which the upper stone revolved still remaining [Leic. Arch. Soc. vii, 131].
GRANGE. A small Roman coin was found here in 1864 [Leic. Arch. Soc. ii, 352].
CROFT. Croft Hill looks down on the ' Langham Bridges ' as they are called, which cross the
Soar to the south of Narborough on the Fosse Way ; they are a series of arches, built of
211
AMPHORA, GLASS VESSELS, AND LAMT, FOUND AT BARROW UPON SOAR
A HISTORY OF LEICESTERSHIRE
forest stone, 'joined with admirable mortar ' ; very narrow, without a parapet of any kind,
and much overgrown with moss and weeds. Throsby considered that they were undoubtedly
Roman [Views of Leu. ii, 519-20].
CROXTON KERRIAL. One or two small Roman coins (bronze) were found here with a British
arrow-head, &c., in a field called 'Egypt' [Leic. Arch. Soc. iii, 423].
EASTON MAGNA. Roman pottery was exhibited to the Leicestershire Archaeological Society in
1858, which was thought to come from here [Information from Mr. Freer; Leic. Arch.
Soc. i, 176].
EDMONDTHORPE. A great variety of potsherds have been found here, and in the neighbouring
villages of Cottesmore and Barrow (Rutland) [Proc. Soc. Antiq. (Ser. 2), xix, 194]. Between the
villages of Edmondthorpe and Teign a hoard of Roman coins was found in 1797, in a square
hole formed in the rock, 3 ft. below the surface. The coins were of Marcus Antoninus
(B.C. 44-30), Trajan (A.D. 98-117), Constantius (A.D. 291-306), Constantine II (A.D. 317-40),
Magnentius (A.D. 350-3), Valentinian (A.D. 364-75), Valens (A.D. 364-78), Gratian
(A.D. 375-83) [Gent. Mag. 1797, i, 95].
ELMESTHORPE. A stone coffin with a lid was found near the infirmary, Elmesthope, and is now
in the Leicester Museum [Rep. Com. Leic. Mus.}.
GLEN PARVA. Several specimens of pottery, including a small Roman mortarium and part of a
square flue tile, were found here [Leic. Arch. Soc. iv, 187].
GOADBY. A piece of gold, a gold ring, a fibula, and various coins found in a mound in Goadby
Park were exhibited in the temporary museum at Melton Mowbray in 1865. It is also said
that numerous coins and human bones have been discovered in the locality [Leic. Arch. Soc. iii, 39].
HALLATON. There are two so-called ' camps ' at Hallaton (post, ' Ancient Earthworks '). ' Castle
Hill Camp,' to the west of the village, is a large conical mound, 630 ft. in circumference at
the base, 118 ft. in diameter at the top. Evidences of Roman
occupation have been found, fragments of cinerary urns and other
pottery, crucibles, smelted iron ore, &c., but it has not afforded
decided tokens of earlier occupation, though the generally received
opinion has been that it was British [Proc. Soc. Antiq. (Ser. 2),
vii, 317 ; Leic. Arch. Soc. v, 75]. On the Ordnance Survey map
it is marked 'Saxon'; a considerable quantity of pottery and other
remains, Danish, Saxon, and Norman, have been found [Leic. Arch.
Soc. v. 75 ; Hill, History oj Gartree, 284 ; Leic. and. Rutl. N. and
Q- ' I 73] < Excavations were made in 1878 without any very
striking results being obtained. No traces of building or building
material were discovered, no weapons, coins, or human bones [Proc.
Soc. Antiq. (Ser. 2), vii, 316-21]. There is a smaller rectangular
camp, about 1,600 ft., to the west of 'Castle Hill,' which measures
300 ft. by 220 ft. An uninscribed gold coin of early date was
found in 1848, about 500 yds. from the place [ante, ' Early Man' ;
Arch. Journ. vi, 403 ; Evans, Anct. Brit. Coins, 75-6].
In 1856, on the property of Lord Berners, on a spot where
it appears that two ancient roads crossed (indications of these roads
can be seen), remains, probably sepulchral, were found. They
occupied a space of about 5 ft. by 2 ft. 6 in. There were no
indications of a barrow, but they had evidently been inclosed in a
wooden cist, and were found encrusted together in a mass, with
some bones [Midi. Hist. Coll. ii, 66, 154]. The articles found
were : four green glass vessels or lachrymatories, one perfect, the
others in fragments ; fragments of a ribbed green glass bowl, and of
a long-necked dark blue glass bottle ; several pieces of Samian bowls
and paterae of different shapes, without potters' marks, in a much broken condition ; a bronze
patella, the only entire vessel found ; portions of a jug with a foliated ornament round the neck;
a bronze ladle, and several handles, one representing a youth dancing, and one terminating in a
ram's head, like those found at Sheffbrd in Bedfordshire, and at Bartlow and Topesfield in
Essex [Arch. Journ. xiii, 409 ; Leic. Arch. Soc. i, 75 ; Brayley, Graphic and Hist. Illustrator,
344 ; Arch, xvi, 24]. There are said to be traces of a Roman encampment on an adjacent
hill called ' The Ram's Head,' in the parish of Keythorpe [Arch. Journ. xiii, 409].
HICHAM ON THE HILL. A find was made in 1607 on the Watling Street, which passes through
Higham ; a large square stone was lifted, and under it lay two or three silver coins of Trajan
(A.D. 98-117), with coins and other relics of a later date. Burton suggests that this was
an altar stone, dedicated to Trajan' [Burton, Descr. Leic. 131-2; Thompson, Assoc. Arch.
PATELLA OF BRONZE, FOUND AT
HALLATON
GLASS BOWL, FOUND AT
HALLATON
BRONZE HANDLE, FOUND AT
HALLATON
212
ROMANO-BRITISH LEICESTERSHIRE
Sac. xi, 181]. In 1873 a small urn was found containing silver coins [Proc. Sac. Antiq.
(Ser. 2), vi, 73].
HIGH CROSS (Venonae). High Cross is a hamlet situated on a small hill on the borders of War-
wickshire and Leicestershire. The Fosse Way and Wading Street intersect one another at
this point, and as ' the Antonine Itinerary places Venonae at the spot where these roads cross,
and also assigns to Venonae distances from other places known to us Manduessedum and Banna-
venta which agree satisfactorily with the actual mileage, it is natural that there should have
been general agreement among archaeologists, since Camden, to identify Venonae and High
Cross' [Haverfield, F.C.H. Warw. i, 232]. No traces of Roman camp or town are now to be
seen, but Camden mentions that numerous coins were found, and that foundations of hewn
stone lay under the furrows on both sides of the road [Brit, ii, 297, ed. Gough, 1806].
Burton in 1622 spoke of ' many ancient coins, great square stones and brickes and other rubbish
of ancient Roman building' ; and added that the coins dated from Caligula (A.D. 3741) to
Constantine the Great (A.D. 306-37) [Descr. Lek. 67]. Dugdale described 'large stones,
Roman brick, with ovens and wells, and coins of silver and brass,' and stated that the earth of
the site was darker and richer than elsewhere \JVarw. i, 71]. Elias Ashmole in 1657 saw a
foundation measuring i8ft. by 12 ft. which he thought was the site of a temple [Nichols,
Hist. Leic. i, p. cli ; Bibl. Topog. Brit, vii, 287]. Stukeley, Horsley, and Nichols mention further
discoveries of a few coins only, a denarius of Mark Antony (B.C. 44-30), another of Domitian
(A.D. 81-96), and copper coins of the late third and fourth centuries, down to Gratian (A.D.
375-83) [Stukeley, Itin. Cur. I IO (ed. 2) ; Horsley, Brit. Rom. 385, 420 ; Nichols, Hist. Leic, iv,
125]. Mr. Haverfield considers that it is now impossible to decide the precise position, the size,
or the character of the Roman station, it may have been a village, or a posting station [P.C.H.
Warw. i, 232]. Venonae being on the edge of several parishes, Claybrooke, Wibtoft, Copston,
and Wigston, has been variously described as being in one or other of them, and this has led
to some confusion, and a mistaken idea that the site is uncertain or disputed \_V.C.H. Warw.
i, 233 ; O.S. xlviii, 2].
HINCKLEY. Thirteen miles south-west from Leicester, near to the Watling Street, and about half-
way between Venonae (High Cross) and Manduessedum (Witherley and Mancetter), there are
remains of a rampart and fosse, and Roman relics have been found near the site, chiefly a hoard
of coins found in 1871 ; but the earliest evidence concerning this 'Castle Hill,' as it is called,
is of a mediaeval castle [post, 1 Ancient Earthworks'; Leic. Arch. Sac. ii, 305; vi, 325].
In a cutting on the Hinckley branch of the Nuneaton and Ashby Railway, about i8in.
below the surface, a Roman vessel of brownish ware, holding rather more than a quart, full of
small silver coins, was discovered by some labourers who unfortunately dispersed the contents
before they could be examined. Some of these coins were seen by Mr. Thompson, the
historian of Leicester, who estimated that the jar must have held several hundreds [Assoc. Arch.
Soc. xi, 178]. They were described as being in good preservation, dating from Otho (A.D.
69) to Marcus Aurelius and Lucius Verus (A.D. 161-80), the most numerous being those of
Trajan (A.D. 98-1 17) and Hadrian (A.D. 117-38). The following is a list of the numbers
of each type, as far as they could be ascertained : Otho (A.D. 69), two ; Vespasian (A.D. 70-
79), seven ; Domitian (A.D. 81-96), three ; Nerva (A.D. 967), three ; Trajan (A.D. 98-117),
fourteen ; Hadrian (A.D. 117-38), twelve ; Antoninus Pius (A.D. 138-61), eight ; Faustina the
Elder (A.D. 13841), three; Faustina the Younger (A.D. 161-75), three; Lucius Verus (A.D.
161-8), two; Marcus Aurelius (A.D. 161-83), one. Total fifty-eight [Proc. Soc. Antiq.
(Ser. 2), v, 282-4 > Leic. ^rch. Soc. vi, 325 ; O.S. xlii, 7].
HOLYOKE (Stockerston). In October, 1799, an urn was found in a ditch, in Holyoke Wood,
containing 250 silver coins of Julian (A.D. 355-62), Gratian (A.D. 375-83), Theodosius (A.D.
379-95), and Arcadius (A.D. 395-408). Many of them were said to be in good preser-
vation [Nichols, Hist. Leic. iii, 535].
HUNGERTON. There seems to be no doubt that a manorial defence, known as ' Old Ingarsby Moat,'
is an adaptation of a strong rectangular camp of an early period. Its proximity to Billesdon,
and the discovery of spearheads and other implements and Roman coins, lead to the same con-
clusion [post, 'Ancient Earthworks' ; O.S. xxxii, 6-n].
KIBWORTH HARCOURT. A large bell-shaped barrow surrounded by a ditch is in Hall Field,
north-west of the village and east of the Gartree Road or Via Devana. It was opened early
in the last century, and again in 1863, when fragments of bone and of Samian pottery were
found. The mound was cut through from north to south, the depth of the cutting being
from 8 ft. to 9 ft. About 5 ft. deep a layer of black soil, ashes, and pieces of burnt wood were
found, with bones and teeth, and one or two pieces of Roman pottery. On the same level a
pavement of large stones 4 ft. by 2 ft. was discovered, probably part of a cist, and with it a
bone bodkin and an iron implement (or lamp). At a depth of 8 ft. to 9 ft. there was
213
A HISTORY OF LEICESTERSHIRE
a regular layer of black soil, which appeared to be the natural level of the ground [Leic. Arch,
Sac. ii, 230, 1863 ; post, 'Ancient Earthworks.'] A hoard of coins is said to have been found
at Kibworth, but there is no recorded description of it, and it was removed from the county
[Assoc. Arch. Sue. ii, 310]. An inscribed stone is said to have been found here, but has been
since lost [Reynolds, Itin. Brit. 448; Arch. Journ. xxxiv, 146]. In 1723 a gold coin of
Julian (A.D. 355-62), found at Kibworth, not in the barrow, was exhibited to the Society
of Antiquaries [MS. Min. Soc. Antiq. i, 12 ; O.S. xlv, 6].
KNAPTOFT. A Roman vase was found in a gravel pit at Knaptoft [Nichols, Hist. Leic.
i, pt. ii, 136],
LEICESTER. See separate account.
LOUGHBOROUGH. In the part of Charnwood Forest which now forms the little estate of Mount
St. Bernard, near Loughborough, was found in 1840 a Roman urn containing a great number
of coins. It was turned out of the ground and broken by the plough, at a depth of from
loin, to 1 2 in. from the surface. The land had never been previously cultivated, as far as is
known. The urn measured 22 in. in circumference, and weighed I2lb. The coins dated
from circa A.D. 254 to circa A.D. 273 : Gallienus (A.D. 253-68), four coins, with different
reverses ; Postumus (A.D. 258-68), eleven coins, seven different reverses ; Claudius Gothicus,
(A.D. 268-70), four coins, three different reverses ; Victorinus (A.D. 265-7), seven coins, five
different reverses ; Tetricus (A.D. 268-73), fifteen coins, seven or eight different reverses.
Specimens also of the following other emperors' coins are said to have been among
them : Salonina (A.D. 254-8) ; Saloninus (A.D. 254-8) ; Victorinus (A.D. 265-7) 5 Marius
(A.D. 267) ; Tetricus, junr. (A.D. 268-73) ; Quintillus (A.D. 279) ; Aurelianus (A.D.
270-5) ; Probus (A.D. 276-82) ; but a particular exam'nation was made only of the
coins previously mentioned \Journ. Brit. Arch. Assoc. (Ser. i), vii, 1-5 ; Num. Chron.
iii, 674]. Some upper and lower stones of querns found here are in the Leicester Museum
[Rep. Mus. Com.],
LUTTERWORTH. At this place, which is situated near the Watling Street, and not far from High
Cross, quantities of Roman coins have been discovered at different times. In 1725 Stukeley
saw a number, found between Bensford Bridge and Lutterworth, dating from Vespasian
(A.D. 70-9) to Hadrian (A.D. 117-38), 'all well cut, indicating that they were hidden early'
[Nichols, Hiit. Leic. i, 4 ; Stukeley, Itin. Cur. i, 112]. In 1869 a large hoard of coins was
found, of which only 254 came under examination. The numbers of each type were as
follows: Vitius Volusianus (A.D. 2514), one coin ; Valerianus (A.D. 253-60), three coins;
Gallienus (A.D. 253-68), three coins ; Salonina (A.D. 254-8), one coin ; Saloninus (A.D. 253-9),
one coin ; Postumus (A.D. 258-68), thirty-seven coins ; Victorinus (A.D. 265-7), one hundred
and thirty coins ; Marius (A.D. 267), one coin ; Tetricus, senr. (A.D. 268-73), one co ' n 5
Tetricus, junr. (A.D. 268-73), three coins ; Claudius Gothicus (A.D. 268-70), thirty-three
coins ; Quintillus (A.D. 279), seven coins ; total, two hundred and fifty-four. There is reason
to suppose that more than these were discovered [Assoc. Arch. Soc. xi, 2OO ; Leic. Arch. Soc. iv,
36 ; Num. Chron. (new ser.), xi, 169, 181]. In the Lutterworth Museum are a sword,
said to be Roman, dug up in Watling Street Road, and some of the coins mentioned above
[Leic. Arch. Soc. ii, 66].
MARKET BOSWORTH (13 miles west from Leicester). In 1871 Roman coins were found here, but
were unfortunately dispersed before they could be examined. In 1890, on the site of Bosworth
House, 2 ft. 6 in. below the surface, a spearhead and a gold coin were discovered [Leic. Arch.
Soc. iv, 197 ; ix, 243].
MARKET HARBOROUGH. Until the site was recently built over the remains of a camp were visible
in a field to the east of the town, sloping upwards from the River Welland. Roman pottery
and other relics were found there [post 'Ancient Earthworks']. In 1873 what was thought
to be a cemetery used by both Romans and Saxons was discovered, indicating the probable
existence of a villa near it. A large collection of pottery and glass, several fibulae of
different shapes, and an iron pot-hook were preserved. Some of them are in the Market
Harborough Museum [Pub. Camb. Antiq. Soc. viii, 133 ; Arch. Journ. xxxi, 86; Assoc. Arch.
Soc. viii, 386-401 ; Leic. Arch. Soc. iii, 15369].
MEDBOURNE. A tesselated pavement was found in 1721, in a square entrenchment on high ground
near a stream, about ^ mile north-west from the village, to the north of the Gartree Road (or
Via Devana), which passes through the parish on its way from Cottingham to Leicester [MS.
Min. Soc. Antiq. 1721]. The pavement, which probably formed part of a villa, was re-
opened in 1793, and in 1877 was again disclosed, and the tesserae removed to the South
Kensington Museum (plate VII) [Nichols, Hist. Leic. ii, 717; Camden, Brit, ii, 301 (ed. Gough,
1806); Stukeley, Itin. Cur. f, 109 ; Proc. Soc. Antiq. (Ser. 2), vii, 315 ; Leic. Arch. Soc. i, 209;
v, 70, 170]. It measured 42 ft. by 22 ft., and was laid due north and south, at a depth of
214
PAVEMENT AT MEIJROURNE
(From ;i Drawing in Leicester Museum)
PAVEMENT AT THE CORNER OP H.CH STREET AND H.CH CROSS STREET, LE.CESTER
PLATE VII
ROMANO-BRITISH LEICESTERSHIRE
about 4 ft. from the surface. The pattern was geometrical, the inner tesserae being in. square,
the outer ones double that size. It was thought to be of late date, about the beginning of the
fourth century, and probably the atrium of a Roman villa. The materials used were whin-
stone (blue), brick (red), oolitic stone (drab), and composition (white) on a bed of ordinary
mortar about 2 in. thick, laid on the ground, which gave no indication of being otherwise
disturbed. The pavement showed signs of having been destroyed by fire. Numerous coins,
bones, pieces of pottery and wall-plaster, and a stone quern were also discovered. Silver coins
of Vespasian (A.D. 70-79), Domitian (A.D. 81-96), Antoninus (A.D. 138-61), Honorius
(A.D. 395-423), and Arcadius (A.D. 395-408) were identified [Leic. Arch. Soc. i, 209 ; v, 70, 1 70 ;
vi, 42 ; Assoc. Arch. Soc. xiv, Ixii ; Leic. and Rut 1. N. and Q. ii, 209 ; Proc. Soc. Antiq. (Ser. 2), vii,
196, 197, 315]. Between Medbourne and Port Hill, a few hundred yards to the west of the
village, were three tumuli. Two of these have been removed, the third is now surmounted by
a mill [post, ' Ancient Earthworks ' ; Leic. Arch. Soc. v, 70]. Coins have also been found in
other parts of the village. A small silver one of Arcadius, found on the Gartree Road
(A.D. 395-408) [Leic. Arch. Soc. ii, 290], a coin of Constantine (A.D. 306-37), found at
Ashley on the Medbourne boundary [Leic. Arch. Soc. vi, 42], and two third brass Consular
coins, found near the Manor House [Leic. Arch. Soc. i, 295].
MELTON MOWBRAY. Near Melton Mowbray, in 1863, a gold coin of Valentinianus I (A.D.
364-75), and two brass coins, the larger of Allectus (A.D. 293-96), the smaller undecipherable,
were discovered [Leic. Arch. Soc. ii, 185]. Two gold coins of Valens (A.D. 364-78) were
also found in the neighbourhood in good preservation [Leic. Arch. Soc. ii, 207 ; O.S. xx, 5],
MOIRA. The remains of a paved roadway, thought to be Roman, were discovered here [Reliq.
ii, 209].
MOUNTSORREL. In June, 1881, in clearing away soil to find granite, a Roman sepulchral chamber,
about I ft. below the surface, was unearthed. It was nearly a parallelogram in shape, fhe
largest side being 8 ft. 3 in., the shorter side 7 ft., the ends 3 ft. 7 in. and 2 ft. 7 in. The walls
averaged 4 ft. in height, and about I ft. 4 in. in thickness. They were coated inside with
plaster from I in. to 2^ in. thick, divided into panels of unequal size by bands of red 2 in. wide,
with a dado of the same colour 8 in. from the ground. Within the panels a wide pattern in
colours could be discerned, made by brush markings in red, black, and amber. One of the
panels on the shorter side was ornamented with a figure resembling the letter A.
Outside the chamber, and independent of it, about I ft. below the present surface, a band
of mortar, 3 in. to 7 in. thick, was to be observed. Two years before, another chamber had
been opened about 12 yds. away. It was of rude construction, and not plastered. The
floor was of rough Swithland slates, laid in clay or very bad lime concrete. Inside it were
found bones, probably of deer, a stag's antlers showing saw-marks, some pieces of dark pottery
and tiles, and fragments of coloured wall-plaster. A small iron arrow-head was also discovered
[Leic. Arch. Soc. v, 345]. Near this spot were found a small bronze gouge, a stone quern,
and some pieces of pottery [Camb. Antiq. Soc. viii, 133 ; Leic. Arch. Soc. ii, 1 06]. A well was
opened at Mountsorrel in 1898, containing Celtic and Roman remains ; a mass of concrete
with pebbles, portions of roof and flue tiles and tesserae were considered Roman ; a bronze
bucket and other utensils of the late Celtic period [ante, ' Early Man']. Several of these things
are in the Leicester Museum [Camb. Antiq. Sec. viii, 133 ; Rep. Com. Leic. Mus. 1891-1902].
These remains point to the existence of a Roman villa in the neighbourhood.
NARBOROUGH. A coin (third brass) of Antoninus (A.D. 138-61) was found near the Fosse Way
in 1862 [Leic. Arch. Soc. i, 82].
NETHER BROUGHTON. The Fosse Way passes between Upper and Nether Broughton and
Willoughby-on-the-Wold in Nottinghamshire, and Nichols states that many mosaic pavements
were found in Broughton, ' sometimes for as much as five yards together,' also pot-hooks,
other utensils, and a great quantity of brass coins. ' Broad stones ' and foundations were also
found by the side of the Fosse, Stukeley decided that this was the Roman station of Mar-
gidunum (on the west side of the Fofse Way), but more recent opinion has decided that
Verometum and Willoughby are the same [Nichols, Hist. Leic. ii, pt i, 121 ; Stukeley, I tin.
Cur. i, 107; Haverfield in V.C.H. IVarw. i, 243].
ORTON-ON-THE-HILL. Coins were found here in laying the foundations of a house at the west
end of the village [Nichols, Hist. Leic. iv, 852].
OWESTON. Pottery was discovered here, some of it said to be cinerary urns [Throsby, Views of
Leic. ii, 390.]
RATBY. Five miles north-west of Leicester is a rectangular camp of single vallum and fosse, known
as ' Ratby Burrow,' or ' Bury ' Camp ; it lies a mile west of the village of Ratby, and occupies
an area of over nine acres [post, ' Ancient Earthworks ' ; Journ. Brit. Arch. Assoc. (new ser.), vii,
24 ; Leic. Arch. Soc. i, 62 ; Gent. Mag. 1773, p. 76].
215
A HISTORY OF LEICESTERSHIRE
ROTHLEY. The remains of a Roman villa were discovered in 1901 near Rothley Temple,
5 miles north of Leicester, about 50 yds. from the Great Central Railway station, at
the junction of the roads leading to Swithland and Rothley. The walls, so far as they were
traced, inclosed an area of 45 ft. by 30 ft. ; the floor was composed of concrete, still sound and
hard, from 4 in. to 6 in. thick, and lay from 3 ft. to 4 ft. below the present surface. The
walls, 2 ft. thick, were of large-sized granite rammel made solid with mortar, from i ft. 6 in. to
2 ft. in height. On the floor were hypocaust piers of red tiles embedded in mortar, varying
from 3 in. to 3 ft. 6 in. in height. The tiles showed clay of the sandy nature common in the
locality, and were from n^in. square and 2 in. thick, to Sin. square 3fin. thick. The
inside of the building to the level of the walls was filled with d6bris, including granite, stones,
clay, mortar, and red clay tiles which were thought to be roof and floor tiles ; fragments of
pottery, bone, and horn were also found. A well was discovered at the north-east corner ; it
was roughly circular, 3 ft. in diameter, and lined for a distance of 3 ft. from the top with
limestone slabs 3 in. thick, and for the remainder with granite rammel, no jointing material
being used. The well was also filled with rubbish, containing fragments of bone, and was
FEET TO ft INCH*
PLAN OF VILLA AT ROTHLEY
covered with stone slabs to the same level as the walls (vide plan). Mr. Haverfield considered
that 'the plan showed a furnace-room, hypocaust, and the adjacent walling of a Roman villa,
but the area uncovered is only a small part of the whole building ; there is much more to be
discovered ' [Assoc. Arch. Soc. xxvi, 458]. At a later date, not far from the east side of the
portion uncovered, a coffin made of limestone slabs was disinterred, but was considerably broken
in digging it up. The bones inside it were collected as far as possible. It was lying east and
west, 2 ft. below the surface. Pieces of many different kinds of pottery, a quern, and fragments
of tesserae were found, also an iron knife, probably Roman, and a Saxon spearhead (both now
with other things from this place in the Leicester Museum) [post, ' Anglo-Saxon Remains ' ;
Assoc. Arch. Soc. xxvi, 458 ; Leic. Arch. Soc. ix, 157 ; Antiq. xxxviii, 1 08]. In 1904 an urn
containing bones and ashei was found in a sandpit, not far from the stone coffin [Leic. Arch.
Soc. ix, 239]. Nichols reported the discovery in 1722 of a pavement of small red and white
tesserae with some human bones and roof tiles, which were found 'near a hedge,' at Rothley
[Hist. Leic. iii, 956], In 17845 a small piece of pavement, about 4 ft. square, made of lime-
stone cubes, a cross 'plated with silver and gilt,' with a hook behind it, some coins of
216
ROMANO-BRITISH LEICESTERSHIRE
Constantine (A.D. 306-37), a coin (first brass) of Julius Caesar (circa B.C. 62-44), an d a circular
piece of metal, perhaps part of a fibula, were found about I ft. from the surface, among
fragments of stone and lime, possibly the foundations of a building [Arch, ix, 370 ; MS. Min.
Soc. Antiq. xxii, 434 ; O.S. xxv, 6.]
SALTBY. Near Saltby, in 1 8 1 1 , a pavement of large pebbles said to bear the marks of wheels was
discovered [MS. Min. Soc. Antiq., xxxiii, 15]. Close to the south side of the long line of
entrenchments known as ' King Lud's Entrenchments ' are three tumuli, 8 ft., 5 ft., and 2 ft.
high respectively [post, ' Ancient Earthworks ' ; Leu. and Rut/. N. and Q. ii, 41],
SAPCOTE. In 1770, on a piece of ground called 'Black Piece,' was discovered a tesselated pave-
ment, said to be like one found near the cathedral at Lincoln. The tesserae were kept by
different people, and two small brass coins, one of Germanicus (A.D. circa 56 ?) and one of
Constantine (A.D. 306-37), were also discovered. Foundations, tiles, pottery, and large
covering slates were disinterred at various times. On Mill Hill, in this parish, towards Stoney
Stanton, a stone coffin and some pieces of pottery were found [Nichols, Hist. Leic. iv, 898 ;
Throsby, Views of Leic. ii, 231]. Some querns were found 3 ft. deep, and are now in the
Leicester Museum [Rep. Com. Leic. Mus. 1860].
SAXBY. Some Roman urns containing human remains were found in this parish in 1890, on the
estate of Mr. J. Hornby, during the construction of the Saxby and Bourn Railway [post,
1 Anglo-Saxon Remains ' ; Kelly, Leic. Directory, 329 ; Assoc. Arch. Soc. xx, xcvii ; O.S. xx, 8].
SHAWELL. A large bell-shaped barrow lies in a field south of the church. It has a fosse partly
round it. By Cave's Inn Farm are the remains of the supposed Roman Station of Tripontium,
which stood on the west side of Wading Street, which here divides Warwickshire from
Leicestershire. Pottery and bricks have, however, been found on both sides of the road
[O. S. lii, 12 ; Haverfield in F.C.H. Wariv. i, 230 ; post, 'Ancient Earthworks '].
Six HILLS. This place has sometimes been identified with Verometum in the Itinerary, but
Willoughby is now more generally accepted as the site of this station. The pavement of the
Fosse Way still exists about a mile to the north of the village, and is described as being of
'red flints laid with the smoothest side upwards on a bed of gravel' [Codrington, Rom. Roads
in Brit. 250; Stukeley, Itin. Cur. i, 136]. A road is said to have branched off from the
Fosse Way at Six Hills, to join the Erming Street near Ponton [Nichols, Hist. Leic. cxlviii].
A milestone found here is now in the Leicester Museum, but the only part of the inscription
which can now be deciphered is IMP [Arch. Journ. xxxi, 353 ; xxxiv, 396-400].
SKEFFINGTON. The head of a bronze spear, 5 in. in length, thought to be Roman, was discovered
in 1862 [Leic. Arch. Soc. i, 73],
SKETCHLEY. A coin of Tetricus (A.D. 268-73) was f un d ' n a garden here [Nichols, Hist. Leic.
iv, 468].
SPROXTON. In 181 1 an urn containing 100 silver coins, and the broken pieces of a larger urn, were
found. It was thought that there had been a tumulus on the spot. The coins were
presented to the Duke of Rutland [Nichols, Hist. Leic. i, 619 ; MS. Min. Soc. Antiq. xxiii, 15;
Num. Chron. (Ser. 3), x, 30].
STANFORD. Roman coins have been found here [Reliq. and III. Arch, i, 113].
STONEY STANTON. A coin of Sabina, the wife of Hadrian (A.D. 1 17-37), was found near Soar Mill
in 1860 [Leic. Arch. Soc. i, 395].
SYSTON. A quern was found here about 1862, and is now in the Leicester Maseum [Rep. Com.
Leic. Mus.~\.
THURMASTON. About 3 miles north of Leicester, on the Fosse Way, a Roman milestone or
milliary was found in 1771. It was a short column, 3ft. 6 in. high, and i ft. gin. in
diameter, made of millstone grit, from Derbyshire, and apparently stood formerly on a square
base near to where it was found. It had been used for many years as a sort of stepping block,
and was claimed by the parish authorities to mend the road, but the inscription on it having
attracted notice it was set up in 1773 in Belgrave Gate, Leicester, as 'the centre of a neat
obelisk surmounted with a lamp.' It was thence removed to the Leicester Museum in 1 844,
where it now is (plate VI). The inscription commemorates the progress of the Emperor Hadrian
through Britain in the fourth year of his reign, and third of his consulate, A.D. 120-1. It is
considered the most perfect milliary and the earliest inscribed stone yet found in Britain. It
also decides the distance to Ratae, and finally settles the identity of Leicester with the Roman
town. The inscription is as follows:
IMP. CA.S
DV TRAIAN PARTH FD EP
AIAN HADRIAN B
POT IV COS III A RATIS
II
I 217 28
A HISTORY OF LEICESTERSHIRE
Mr. Haverfield has given the following expanded reading Imp[eratore] Caes[are], div[i]
Traian[i] Parth[ici] f[ilio], d[ivi Nervae] [N]ep[ote Tr]ajan[o] Hadrian[o Augusto patre patriae
tribunicia] pot[estate] iv, cons[ule] iii. A. Ratis [rnillia passuum] ii.
[Bib. Top. Brit, viii, 723 ; Thompson, Hist. Leic. 5 ; Rollings, Leic. Lit. Soc. 327 ;
Nichols, Hist. Leic. i, 5 ; Arch. Journ. xxxi, 353 ; xxxiv, 400 ; Arch, vii, 84 ; Gent. Mag.
1773, p. 16 ; Codrington, Rom. Roads in Brit. 2501 ; MS. Min. Soc. Antiq. xviii, 3.]
' The date given by the Emperor's titles is, of course, the date when the stone was
erected, A.D. 120-1.' Mr. Haverfield considered that the stone had been to some extent
erroneously recut [Guide to the Leic. Mus. 1899].
TILTON ON THE HILL. There are said to have been some earthworks on Houbank Hill, and two
small entrenchments further south. Coins have been found here in considerable quantities.
[Nichols, Hist. Leic. i, 330].
TUR LANGTON. A small brass of Arcadius (A.D. 395-408) was found here in 1865 [Leic. Arch.
Soc. iii, 15].
WALTHAM ON THE WOLDS. Two stone coffins were found here in 1860 [Leic. Arch. Soc. i, 397].
Dra
MANDUESSEDUM
WANLIP. It has been stated that the remains of a Roman villa were found at Wanlip, but the only
evidence forthcoming is Nichols's reference to many coins of Constantine (A.D. 306-37), with
broken urns, a human skull, &c., having been found ' on the other side of the Soar, near
Wanlip' [Hist. Leic. i, 4 ; Jewitt, Reliq. xiii, 1 8].
WHETSTONE. During excavations for the railway in 1864 a large quern was found [Leic. Arch.
Soc. ii, 312].
WESTCOTES. On the east side of the Fosse Way, near Leicester, traces of a cemetery, containing
both Roman and Saxon remains, were found in 1887. Several skeletons, lying nearly north
and south, and with them some fibulae^ an armlet, sword-blades, fragments of coarse pottery,
two vases of Castor ware, and some coins were preserved. Two of the fibulae were large,
brass, of the ' fiddle ' pattern, two were smaller, the same shape, one had traces of enamel and
pieces of glass set in it [post, f Anglo-Saxon Remains'], The five brass coins were undecipherable
except one of Domitian (A.D. 81-96) [Bellairs, Leic. Arch. Soc. vi, 339]. A fragment of a
stone inscribed
IS. T. R. A.
A. N.
was found near the Old House, Westcotes, and is now in the Leicester Museum [Rep. Com.
Leic. Mus.].
2l8
ROMANO-BRITISH LEICESTERSHIRE
WITHERLEY. Eleven miles north-west of High Cross, the remains of a rectangular earthwork lie
half on each side of Wading Street, in the parishes of Witherley (Leicestershire) and Mancetter
(Warwickshire). The name of Mancetter and the mileage of the Antonine Itinerary justify the
identification of the site as that of Manduessedum. The northern or Leicestershire part is
called the ' Old Field,' or ' Oufort Bank,' the Warwickshire side ' Castle Bank.' The earth-
work measures about 600 ft. by 450 ft., and encloses an area of nearly 7 acres, but it is not clear
whether it comprises the whole or part only of the Roman settlement. Burton, in 1622,
thought that it extended as far as half a mile to the west near Mancetter church, where he
stated that foundations were discovered [Burton's MS. quoted by Nichols, Hist. Leic. iv, 1027].
He also mentioned coins found in different parts, a bronze of Nero (A.D. 54-68), and one of
the elder Faustina (A.D. 138-41) from Oufort Bank, Witherley ; a Carausius (A.D. 287-93)
also from Witherley ; and others from Mancetter and towards Atherstone. Stukeley, who
visited the place in 1725, heard of 'great stones and mortar-work Roman brick, iron, and
great numbers of coins, brass and silver, and some gold ' [I tin. Cur. i, 20]. More recent
writers only mention coins [Dugdale, Warw. 1076 ; Horsley, Magna Brit. 420 ;
Nichols, Hist. Leic. iv, 1027]. The character and extent of the permanent occupation of the
site is therefore uncertain, but it was probably a village or posting-station [Haverfield in V.C.H.,
War-iv. i, 233-4 ; post, 'Ancient Earthworks'].
WYMONDHAM. A few yards of tesselated pavement, the tesserae being J in. square, and smaller,
discovered in a field adjoining Wymondham House, about 4 ft. from the surface, probably
indicated the existence of a villa at this spot. Portions of pavement and pieces of painted
wall-plaster have been discovered from time to time, also human bones \_Assoc. Arch. Soc. viii,
Ixiii ; MS. Min. Soc. Antiq. xxxiii, 15 ; Gent. Mag. 1797, i, 75 ; O. S. xxi, 9].
219
of
LEICESTERSHIRE
Scale of Miles
S-
/rtterments.
Miscellaneous finds.
ANGLO-SAXON
REMAINS
BETWEEN Ratae of the Romans and Leicester of the English lies a
gap in our knowledge that may some day be filled by archaeo-
logical research and discovery ; but at present there is little or
nothing to show what happened in the district between the forests
of Charnwood and Rockingham, between Arden and the vale of Belvoir, after
the Roman withdrawal, till the latter part of the sixth century, when it was
evidently in Teutonic hands. Such is, in short, the result of an examination
of the interesting but not too copious remains from the county that are dealt
with in this chapter ; but it is important also to consider what is conspicuously
absent, and so to give light and shade to what would otherwise be the
slightest of sketches.
Several of the surrounding counties have been already treated in this
series, and comparison with contemporary relics in Derbyshire, Nottingham-
shire, Northamptonshire, and Warwickshire may help to elucidate discoveries
in the soil of Leicestershire, as now represented in public and private
collections. But a consideration of the county's physical features, in so far
as they could direct or influence the advance and settlement of the Anglo-
Saxon invader, will guide us in the search for parallel finds and give them
additional significance.
The western half of the county in ancient times was woodland and
practically uninhabited, its geological formation rendering it unattractive to
Anglo-Saxon settlers who preferred grazing and agricultural country. Deduc-
tions from the map of their settlements may be fallacious, as discoveries have
been accidental and imperfectly recorded ; but it is evident that the centre of
the eastern half was occupied in some force during the sixth century, and no
doubt the south-east district would have attracted a thicker population had it
been better watered. The Red Sandstone of the Soar valley, and especially
the Lias Clay of the eastern half of the county, rendered this a desirable home
for the Middle English, whose wealth in the sixth century consisted almost
exclusively of crops and cattle. It is possible that they displaced the previous
Romano-British population, which may have retired to the forest west of the
Soar ; and it is significant that a considerable amount of nigrescence, indicat-
ing non-Teutonic blood, has been noticed in the county. 1
Next in importance to the physical features of the district later known
as Leicestershire is the Roman road system that the newcomers found in
existence, if not in perfect working order, on their arrival. The Watling
1 Beddoe, Races of Britain, xxiv, 253.
221
A HISTORY OF LEICESTERSHIRE
Street which borders the county on the south-west for a distance of twenty-
one miles might have afforded access from the lower Thames, while to the
north-west it passed through territory that remained in British hands at
least till the seventh century, and was therefore not available for Teutonic
immigration. Right through the heart of the county runs the Fosse Way,
from its junction with Watling at High Cross through the county town to
its exit on the high ground on the north side of the Wreak valley, forming
the county boundary there for nearly three miles. A third road, evidently
of Roman origin, can be traced
from Leicester south-east to the
Welland,nearMedbourne; after
passing through Rockingham
Forest to Titchmarsh it turns
eastward and joins the Ermine
Street north of Godmanchester.
Another link was thus formed
with London, but even with
these facilities progress into the
interior does not seem to have
been at all rapid. The splendid
directness of these highways is
a standing testimony to the skill
of the Roman surveyor and the
energy he could command, but
it must not blind us to the real
difficulties of travel and trans-
port off the beaten track at that
early period.
A discovery of interest in
this connexion may here be
noticed. In 1824 the Watling
Street was under repair between
Bensford (Bransford or Beres-
ford) Bridge and the turnpike
road leading from Rugby to
Lutterworth ; and at a point
about one mile from Cesters-
over the labourers excavated
a number of human skeletons
which lay buried in the centre
and on both sides of the high-
way, at a distance of 18 in. or 2 ft. below the surface. 1 * With them were
found weapons, shield-bosses, and spear-heads varying from 6 in. to 1 5 in.
in length and retaining traces of the wooden shaft in the socket ; also
knives and iron buckles, clasps, rings, tweezers, and feminine ornaments,
but above all in interest a series of brooches well illustrated in colours
by Akerman. 8 They comprise two ' long ' specimens which are charac-
teristic of this country in having had at least the side-knobs not cast in
'" V.C.H. Warwickshire, i, 253. ' Pag. Sax. pi. xviii.
BRONZE BROOCHES, FOUND NEAR BENSFORD BRIDGE
222
ANGLO-SAXON
ANTIQUITIES
FROM
LEICESTERSHIRE
ANGLO-SAXON REMAINS
one piece with the body of the brooch, but furnished with split shanks
into which fitted the sharpened edges of the head-plate. Originally these
side-knobs served as terminals of the spiral coil of the spring, and were
kept in place by it, but in Norway especially they soon ceased to be
functional, and became an ornamental part of the head-plate. In Denmark
and England they remained separate for some time longer, and are con-
sequently often wanting on extant specimens. The result of casting knobs
and head-plate together is seen in one of this group (top right), where the
cruciform design is apparent. The two long brooches have lost their side-
knobs, and two others have semicircular terminals to the foot that seem to
have been derived from the Baltic provinces, and have been termed Prus-
sian. There are also annular and penannular brooches, the latter being not
far removed from the Roman prototype often found in Britain, while the
other is evidently the common form of such exceptional specimens as that
from Husbands Bosworth (coloured plate, fig. 4), or from Sarre, Kent. 3 Other
simple examples have been found in the
neighbouring counties of Lincoln 8S and
Northants. 4
Only one urn was discovered on this
site : it was well fired, had been turned on
the lathe, and highly ornamented. Close
to the urn lay an iron sword, and across
the mouth an iron spear-head, distinguished
from the rest by a narrow bronze ring round
the socket. Other pottery was found of a
distinct character, comprising several cups
capable of containing about half a pint each,
imperfectly baked and in crumbling con-
dition. 4 * These may have been similar to
those found elsewhere in the county, at Saxby
and Rothley Temple.
Of the objects illustrated from this
site by Roach Smith, two call for special
mention, being of rare occurrence in Anglo-Saxon graves. One is a
metal fragment described as ' an article of brass supposed to have been
attached to a sword-belt,' but its original breadth of 2i in. leaves little room
for doubt that it was the chape of a sword-scabbard, the longitudinal ribs on
both sides having clearly been attached to the leather sheath, which has
perished. Whether this fragment originally belonged to the weapon found
near the urn just mentioned is, perhaps, impossible to decide, but it is in
itself a rare specimen, and is sufficient evidence that a sword was once
deposited with it in the grave.
The other piece of special interest is a circular brooch of bronze, from
which the settings have disappeared. No detailed description is given, but
the form is enough to refer it to a type common in the late Roman period,
1 V.C.H. Kent, \. 3a Castle Bytham, Arch. Journ. x, 81.
4 Badby, Journ. Brit. Arch. Assoc. i, 61.
* Roach Smith, Coll. Antiq. i, 41 and pi. xviii, 3 ; Proc. Sac. Antiq. iii, 55 ; Bloxam, Fragmenta
Sepulchralia, 52, 53, 57, and Monumental Archit. and Sculpture of Great Britain, 34, 44, 52.
223
CINERARY URN, FOUND NEAR BENSFORD
BRIDGE
A HISTORY OF LEICESTERSHIRE
and frequently found in localities yielding Anglo-Saxon relics. The original
setting of the centre may have been a carbuncle or glass paste, and it should
here be mentioned that an oval specimen of the same type, set with marbled
glass, was found on the site of the London Road railway station at Leicester,
and is now preserved in the Municipal Museum there. This kind of brooch
has been found at Canterbury 5 in association with ornaments richly enamelled
in the Roman manner, and the national collection includes both round and
oval examples from Roman and Anglo-Saxon sites. 8
A similar discovery has been made on the other principal Roman road
of Leicestershire. 7 On the eastern side of the Fosse Way opposite West
Cotes, near the county town, a burying-place was found in 1897, and
attributed to the late Roman and Saxon periods. Some Roman vases were
found and several skeletons, lying nearly north and south (position of the
head not stated), with brooches, armlet,
swords, and coarse pottery, the last being
fragments of an urn (possibly cinerary).
Whether the Roman vases were found in
these graves is uncertain, but there can be
no doubt as to the Anglo-Saxon character
of three brooches, nor of the swords, as
the Romans did not bury weapons with
their dead. Two of the brooches are
figured, one belonging to the common
' long ' type, the comparatively broad head
betokening a late date and the form of the
foot proclaiming its home manufacture, as
the nostrils of the horse were greatly ex-
aggerated in many English examples. The
other illustration, though peculiar, bears
some resemblance to two of the Bensford
Bridge group, and both may be assigned
to the late sixth century.
Ten miles south of the county border,
at Norton in Northamptonshire, a very
similar burial-place came to light about
1844, during the excavation of a mound two or three yards wide and about
a yard high, which ran by the hedge along this same Watling Street. The
level at which the bodies had been deposited was about 6 ft. below the
crown of the Roman road, and about 25 ft. from its centre, just outside the
original embankment. The graves were in a single line, and contained,
besides the skeletons which, it is believed, lay with the heads to the south
some formless pieces of metal, and one rude bead of amber. 8
While burials by the side of a great Roman highway may have been due
to the same motives that lined the Via Appia near Rome with monuments of
a more pretentious kind, burials in the centre of the road show that the
traffic along it had declined at the time of the interments, or had perhaps
' Coll. An&q. vii, 202, pi. XT, fig. 3.
' Long Wittenham {V.C.H. Berks, i, 222) and East Shefford, Berks. ; and Haslingfield, Cambs.
' Leu. Tram, vi, 339. " Arch, xli, 479 ; V.C.H. Northants, i, 234.
224
LONG SQUARX-HEADEO BROOCHES,
WEST COTES, LEICESTER (|)
ANGLO-SAXON REMAINS
ceased altogether. Such a disturbance of the road-metal would not of course
impede an advance from the south by this route, but burials with brooches of
the sixth century below the crown of the road illustrate in a graphic manner
the changes that had taken place during the century and a half since the
Roman officials withdrew from Britain and left the province to its own
resources in face of Teutonic invasion.
The Trent is known to have passed through Mercia just as the Thames
passed through Wessex of the sixth century, the river no doubt affording the
easiest means of access and communication in both cases. Though in Saxon
times the lower valley of the Trent was practically one vast morass, access to
its course above Newark was rendered easy by the existence of the Fosse
Way from Lincoln, which was itself readily approached by river from the
coast. What slight indications there are of the manner in which this area
became English ground, suggest that the main body passed up the river past
the future Nottingham to the junction with the Soar, and there divided, part
going westward towards the site of Burton and burying their dead at Mel-
bourne, Foremark, and Stapenhill, 9 and others passing up the tributary and
leaving traces of their occupation in such burial-grounds as that adjoining
Kingston Hall. 10 Little more than ten miles southward along the valley is the
site of the first Anglo-Saxon discoveries recorded in Leicestershire.
The value of discoveries at Rothley Temple has been much impaired
by careless excavation ; but there can be no doubt that the site was occupied
in early Anglo-Saxon times. As long ago as 1784 a number of Roman coins,
chiefly of the Emperor Constantine (306 37), and a circular piece of bronze,
being perhaps part of a brooch, were found by a labourer digging a ditch in a
field near Rothley Temple. A few yards distant, remains of a building and the
cruciform brooch here illustrated (coloured plate, fig. 3) were met with at a
depth of 2 ft. ; and 60 yards from the spot was a tesselated pavement about
4 ft. square, lying about i ft. from the surface and consisting of limestone and
burnt clay cubes, this latter of several colours. These discoveries were re-
ported to the Society of Antiquaries of London u by the occupant of Rothley
Temple, Thomas Babington, the uncle of Lord Macaulay, and the brooch
was presented by him in 1788 to the society, by whose permission it is
reproduced.
This unwieldy and barbaric ornament is practically the final form in
England of the ' long ' brooch common in the Scandinavian countries and in
parts of England, but its parentage could hardly be divined, so extensive are
the changes introduced both in outline and decoration. The three limbs of
the head represent the knobs attached to the edges of the square or oblong
plate of the Scandinavian brooch, which was of stout bronze with faceted
foot terminating in a * horse's head,' and with the head sometimes raised
across the centre and lightly stamped with rings or other simple patterns.
The tendency in England was to flatten the knobs and the bow, and to
broaden the extremities. For the plain surface of the bronze was substituted
gilding, engraving, and silver plates or discs attached to the terminals and
' V.C.H. Derb. i, 272-5. 10 V.C.H. Notts, i, 201.
11 MS. Minutes, vol. xxii, 433 ; Arch, ix, 370 ; Nichols, Hist, of Leie. iii, 956, pi. 129 ; Akerman, Pagan
SaxonJom, pi. xx, fig. 2 (brooch), 40. For further Roman discoveries, see Leic. Trans, ix, 157, 239 (1901) ;
Proc. Soc. Antiq. xix, 245.
i 225 29
A HISTORY OF LEICESTERSHIRE
salient points. The engraved animal patterns were in this country inferior
to those of earlier date, while abroad a renaissance was setting in and
Teutonic art approaching its zenith. The eye-like points with surrounding
lines may be intended to represent a human face, but they are possibly all that
survive of the crouching animal that is usually portrayed. Flanking this
motive on the three limbs are animal heads with the muzzle curved like
an elephant's trunk ; while at the end of the foot are, on either side, the
exaggerated nostrils of the so-called horse's head, now transformed into spiral
coils.
Another brooch, from almost the same spot, was found in 1791 and
engraved in Nichols's history u of the county. From comparison with the
cruciform specimen mentioned above, the length should be about 7*4 in. ;
and though no doubt contemporary and derived from the same prototype, it
presents some interesting peculiarities. While the other is truly cruciform,
this has a square head with projections at the angles that betray its com-
paratively late date ; and the essential features of the brooch are again those
of the ' long ' brooch of Scandinavia. In the present case the somewhat
severe outline and ornamentation of that type have been modified through the
influence of the English square-headed brooch which is if anything over-
decorated, and the result is without a parallel on the Continent. As the
wings below the bow do not appear on the original Scandinavian ' long '
brooch till the sixth century, there can be little hesitation in assigning both
these brooches to the seventh century and regarding them as among the latest
developments of pagan Teutonic art in England.
The neighbourhood was further investigated in 1896 by Mr. W.
Trueman Tucker, who presented an illustrated report to the Leicester Literary
and Philosophical Society. 18 The Manchester, Sheffield, and Lincolnshire
line to London (now known as the Great Central Railway) was then being
constructed at the cross-roads five miles both from Leicester and Lough-
borough at the meeting-point of roads from those towns and Charnwood
Forest. At this spot many human skeletons were disinterred, but most were
removed with the excavated earth to form the embankment. Some of the
burials were more closely observed, and probably all were not more than 2 ft.
deep, the floor being lined with Charnwood Forest slates and the bodies laid
at full length, though the direction is not stated. Several of the graves
contained a large quantity of charcoal which was taken to indicate cremation
of the body in some cases, but this is not in itself conclusive evidence. Nor
is it certain that the pottery fragments also found in these graves belonged to
cinerary urns, as there is no mention of burnt bones. At Frilford, Berk-
shire, for instance, graves of Romans or Romanized natives frequently
contained, in addition to the skeletons, bones and teeth of animals, oyster
shells and potsherds, all perhaps the refuse of funeral feasts ; and here as well
as at Long Wittenham charcoal was also noticed in many of the interments. 1 *
It is probable that most, if not all, the sherds of Roman ware mentioned
from the site came from the Roman villa of which the tesselated floor was
u Vol. iii, pi. 129, fig. 1 6 a, b ; for other finds, see figs. 17-20 (round brooch with central stud, and
rings of metal). A similar brooch with stud from Offchurch, Warwickshire, is figured (in section only) Journ.
Brit. Arch. Assoc. xxxii, 466, fig. 3 ; and another has recently been found in Rutland.
13 Paper read 18 May, 1896.
14 V.C.H. Berks, i, 236 ; Arch, xlii, 426 ; Greenwell, Brit. Barrows, p. 28.
226
I*IG. 2. Bowl. ESCUTCHEONS AND ANNULAR
BROOOIIS, TwvmKii (!j)
FlG. I. -SQUARE-HEADED BuoN/K GlI.T BROOCH,
ROTIII.KY TKMI'I.K (!;)
Fin. 3. LONO BROOCH,
SiAPLhFORi) PARK
FIG. 4. BRONZE PENANNULAR BROOCH, LEICESTER (y)
PLATE I
ANGLO-SAXON REMAINS
again revealed but was reduced to half the size mentioned by Mr. Babington.
Mortaria of heavy yellowish pottery, for instance, are not likely to have been
deposited with the dead, though the other wares mentioned are frequently
found in Roman graves. The Anglo-Saxon pottery is not described
accurately, but some of the incised patterns can be recognized in the Leicester
Museum, which also contains a few plain vases from this site. There can,
however, be no hesitation in assigning two brooches 1B to that period ; one,
measuring 5} in. in length, is of the large square-headed variety with gilt
and engraved front (plate I, fig. i,) common in the midlands and East
Anglia, and probably dates from about A.D. 600 ; the other is of Scandi-
navian type with stout bronze stem and square head-plate, the latter having
a knob at the top moulded in one piece with it, the other two knobs,
originally attached to the edges, having disappeared.
According to the workmen, the skull was in each case lying at some
considerable distance from the remainder of the skeleton, but in the absence
of precise details it is not necessary to suppose that the bodies had been
decapitated before burial. Some of the skulls, though fragmentary, were
investigated by Mr. Inchly at Cambridge, and the longitudinal indices of
three determined as 8o'8, 79-82, and 73. The third is the only one likely
to have been Anglo-Saxon " ; and comparison with the Frilford and Reading
series 17 suggests that the others belonged to Roman or Celtic subjects.
It should be noted that two complete querns or hand-mills for grain
were found during the railway excavations. They might be as early
as the Bronze Age or as late as the Anglo-Saxon period, but it may
be remarked that a large number were found in the Late-Celtic camp
at Hunsbury, Northamptonshire ; and examples have been found in a grave
of somewhat uncertain date at Reading, 18 and in Anglo-Saxon interments on
three sites in Derbyshire and at Holme Pierrepont, Nottinghamshire.
Five miles further up the valley we arrive at the centre of the county
town, where several isolated discoveries have been made, though no cemeteries
have hitherto been brought to light. The antiquities now in the Municipal
Museum include two urns from the town : one of rather graceful form
(plate II, fig. 3), found in 1866, 3 ft. deep, at the back of Court A, Church-
gate, 18 * contains burnt human bones and is of grey ware with four incised lines
round the shoulder. The height and diameter are both 8 in., and the vessel
is said to have been covered by an iron shield-boss of the usual Saxon pattern,
and to have stood between the heads of two skeletons buried at the same
depth. It is quite distinct in character from the other, which was found on
the site of Messrs. Stead & Simpson's factory, Belgrave Gate. It has a wide
mouth and rounded body, the ornament consisting of lines round the neck and
incised chevrons of triple lines on the shoulder. Both these urns point to the
practice of cremation in post-Roman times.
Another object worthy of notice is of black glass, resembling a large
unpierced bead, with red and white circular spots irregularly placed. It was
found near Jewry Wall, and resembles somewhat closely a specimen in the
" Plates i & iii accompanying Mr. Tucker's paper.
16 This is illustrated by Mr. Tucker, pi. ii.
" V.C.H. Berks, i, 237.
18 Ibid, with references ; V. C.H.Notts, i, 195.
18i Leic. Trans, iii, 122, fig. 4, is another from the same site.
227
A HISTORY OF LEICESTERSHIRE
British Museum from a Prankish cemetery at Herpes, Dept. Charente,
France, probably of the sixth or seventh century.
A set of toilet articles attached to a ring, in a manner reminiscent of
the Roman period, has been found near Butt Close Lane and is here illus-
trated. 19 Annular or quoit-shaped brooches are common in the county, and
examples have been found both in High Cross Street and Butt Close ; but a
penannular specimen (plate I, fig. 4) from the town is somewhat of % a rarity.
This well-defined type is seldom found with any objects that enable us
to date it with certainty, but it is somewhat widely distributed, and the ter-
minals suggest a transition between the Roman and Anglo-Saxon styles of
ornament that is also observable on certain Irish antiquities. Indeed, it is
commonest on the further side of St. George's Channel ; but two are known
from Wales, and single specimens have come from Derbyshire, Berkshire, and
Kent, the last-named county furnishing an indication of date, as the bifrons
specimen 193 was associated with a spoon and brooch
dating from about A .D. 500.
The date of another brooch found in Leicester is
not quite clear, though several specimens are extant.
It consists of a heavy bronze ring of circular section,
to which is attached a ring-headed pin, likewise of
solid workmanship, with characteristic transverse lines
just below the head. Four were found at Nottingham,
and the available evidence has been detailed in connexion
with them, 20 the probability being that they all belong
to the latest Anglo-Saxon, or possibly to the Norman,
period. With this may be classed an engraved girdle-
end of bone, found in 1864 at a depth of 7 ft. in High
Cross Street. The illustration (plate II, fig. z) will ren-
der a description unnecessary, and shows the holes at
one end by which it was attached to a belt. A very
similar piece from London is preserved in the Guild-
hall Museum, and both exhibit the intertwined animals
and foliage introduced at the time of the Carlovingian Renaissance, though
there is little to distinguish it from early Norman work.
Three miles further up the Soar Valley, but a little east of the main stream,
are the sites of Anglo-Saxon interments, which are of special interest and
importance in a county that is rather better known for its isolated finds of
brooches. In close proximity to Great Wigston and Glen Parva were
evidently Teutonic settlers who in their personal ornaments perpetuated a
Norwegian tradition, though all the grave furniture was evidently manufac-
tured in this country. The use of large stones as a covering for the grave on
both sites should also be remarked, as the same was observed at Medbourne.
In the parish of Great Wigston about twenty skeletons of the Anglo-Saxon
period were discovered in 1795 and recorded by Nichols, who fortunately
gave illustrations of the grave furniture. 81 The interments had been made on
sloping ground resting on gravel within a square of 10 yds. in different
Lelc. Trans, ii, 112. 19a Arch. Cant, x, 303, grave 6. * V.C.H. Notts, i, 204.
11 Hist, of Lelc. iv, 377, pi. Iv. ; the figures are also given in Collectanea Antiqua,\\, 167, pi. xlii. The
site is near Wigston Hall Chapel, and is marked on the 2;-in. O.S. Map, xxxvii, n.
228
TOILET ARTICLES, LEICESTER
(t)
Fin. i. BRONZE Bo\vr, FROM LUU.INGSTONE, KINT (.',)
Flc;. 3. ClNKRARY URN, CfU'RCH
GATK, LI-ICKSTKR (])
FIG. 2. BONK GIRDLK-END, LKICKSTER (1)
PLATE II
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229
A HISTORY OF LEICESTERSHIRE
directions and at various depths. Under a pile of some half-hundredweight
of heavy stones, four skeletons were found side by side 3 ft. below the top of
the gravel ; near one lay part of a horse's skeleton with bridle-bit, but the
latter is not further described nor is it illustrated with the other finds. These
comprise girdle-hangers or chatelaines of bronze (one with animal-head
terminals), a bronze pin with mouldings and loop to which spangles may have
been attached, a knobbed ring, and various fragments. But two complete
brooches survived to indicate the approximate date of the burials. One is
evidently of the type called in Scandinavian ' cruciform,' but better known in
England as the ' long ' brooch, as cruciform better describes a later stage of
development peculiar to England. It is impossible to decide from the draw-
ing whether the bosses attached to the head-plate were round or flattened and
cast in one piece with the brooch, but the head-plate is of native form and
the date is almost certainly sixth century. The other is gilt and more elaborate
but based on the ' long ' brooch, which accounts for the spreading foot, the
square plate below the bow, and the plain central portion of the head. Other
parts of the surface are covered with decoration borrowed from the native
square-headed type on which the animal natives of the sixth century were freely
employed, and even the rough drawing that survives shows clearly enough
beaked animal heads and the device that is sometimes considered to represent
the human face. This blend of the two styles seems to date from the latter
part of the sixth century, and no doubt continued into the next, while the
wings below the bow appear in the latest stages of the Scandinavian cruciform
brooches.
In 1866 Major Joseph Knight exhibited to the Leicestershire Architec-
tural and Archaeological Society a series of Anglo-Saxon antiquities found at
Glen Parva on a property of his called Rye Hill Close in February of that year.
His account 22 showed that they had been discovered by workmen digging for
gravel on the summit of a low sand-hill, about 200 yards from the fourth
milestone on the east side of the road from Leicester to Lutterworth. About
two feet from the surface some stones were found forming a rude arch, which
had served to protect a skeleton lying with the head to the south and in
excellent preservation. The teeth were as usual perfect, and the skull was
that of a woman of about thirty years of age. The grave furniture was com-
paratively rich, consisting of personal ornaments and utensils of recognized
types. A conical glass cup about 6 in. in height and aj in. across the mouth,
with horizontal ribs below the lip, was found near the head. Though broken
in removal from the grave, it was evidently of the tumbler variety, not being
made to stand alone. The colour is pale green, like those from Baggrave and
High Down, Sussex ; ss twenty-eight beads strung as a necklace are also of
glass, the central specimen being of the Roman ' melon ' shape, made of a
turquoise-coloured frit ; an animal's claw was also worn on the necklace. A
piece of crystal regularly faceted and perforated, 3^ oz. in weight, was per-
haps used as a spindle-whorl, but such crystals may have been occasionally
worn as beads or pendants. Specimens may be cited from Worcestershire, 8 *
Warwickshire, Gloucestershire, Northamptonshire, and Cambridgeshire, while
" Leu. Trans, iii, 123 ; Proc. Sac. Antlq. (Ser. 2) iii, 344 (not Lyehill Close). The site is marked on
the 25 in. O.S. Map, xxxvii, 10.
13 r.C.H. Sussex, \, 342 (fig. 8, 9). " V.C.H. Wore, i, 228 (fig. 4, 5).
230
ANGLO-SAXON REMAINS
at Brighthampton, 25 Oxfordshire, one was found as at Glen Parva, with
portions of an ivory armlet.
The grave also contained two plain bronze rings originally gilt, a pair of
bronze girdle-hangers or chatelaines ornamented with stamped rings, two flat
pieces of bone with corresponding rivet holes and evidently belonging to a
knife-handle, and lastly three bronze brooches of the ' long ' variety with
oblong head-plates originally bearing each three bronze knobs. Except for
the pin, one is complete with its three knobs in position on the top and side
edges of the head. The second has the remains of the iron spring behind
the head, through the coils of which passed an axis kept in place by
the two side knobs now missing as on the third example. This has the
foot in the form of an animal's head and is slightly ornamented on the
bow with engraved zigzags : further the wings of the head-plate are separated
by incisions which suggest an origin for the cruciform pattern found at
Rothley Temple and Stapleford Park in this county. By comparison with
Norwegian examples, 86 which are more numerous and more easily dated, the
three brooches may be used to date the Glen Parva burials between A.D. 500 and
550. The animal head is more common than the splayed terminals of the
other two brooches, the latter feature being possibly derived from the Baltic
area through Norway.
Subsequent discoveries on the site, in March, 1871, were reported by
Major Knight." In close proximity to the burial just described was found
the grave of a warrior buried in the usual manner with his weapons. The
double-edged iron sword measured 34 in. in length and retained considerable
portions of its wooden scabbard, and a spear-head, 1 1 in. long, was in a good
state of preservation ; but no remains of a shield were found, and as the iron
boss is generally the only portion surviving in such graves, it is unlikely that
the warrior in question carried a shield. In the following year ' part of a
Saxon urn, found in a Saxon interment ' in the Kirkdale Close at Glen
Parva, was exhibited, but there is nothing to show whether this was a cinerary
urn or an accessory vessel placed in the grave with an unburnt body.
Further details of discoveries on this site were given in i877, 2?a a skeleton
having been found near the last. It was that of a man lying on the right
side, and having near the skull a vessel or urn of black pottery. The bones
were very little decayed, but neither weapons nor ornaments were found. A
fourth burial contained the remains of a skeleton much broken, but with the
skull tolerably perfect ; and another yielded a well-preserved male skeleton
about 5 ft. 8 in. in height, the bones fairly preserved, but the left side turned
downwards and much damaged.
About a mile south-east of this site, in Kirkdale Close, 28 adjoining the
canal, another Saxon burial was found, but the only record is that part of an
urn from it was exhibited by Colonel Knight in i 872.
It will now be convenient to approach, along the valley of the Wreak,
the district that contains the largest group of Anglo-Saxon sites in the
county. Two spear-heads, probably from one or more interments in a
" Proc. Soc. Antlq. (Ser. i) iv, 231.
"Haakon Schetelig, Cruciform Brooches of Norway (Bergen, 1906), fig. 62, 30.
" Leic. Trans, iv, 113, 187. 27a Leu. Trans, v, 73.
The field is No. 167 on Ordnance Map xxxvii, 10, f m. E. of Blaby church, on north side of canal,
and about J mile S.W. of Glen Parva station.
2 3 I
A HISTORY OF LEICESTERSHIRE
ridge of sand adjoining Barkby Field, are illustrated by Nichols, 28 * who also
gives sketches of a series from the neighbouring Queniborough Field, at a
point west of the village and 500 yards from the junction of the roads. One
urn, ornamented like those used to contain human ashes, is included, and it is
said to hold about ^ quarts, the maximum diameter being 8 in. and the mouth
6| in. across, but nothing is stated as to the contents. Another of coarse
ware, with rounded base and vertical sides, is similar to specimens from Rothley
already noticed : it held a quarter of a pint only. There were also three bronze
bowls much damaged, one with bosses round the flat rim and another with
triangular ears projecting from the top, pierced for attaching a handle ; both
are well-known Anglo-Saxon forms, but the presence of a small glass jug,
possibly of Roman manufacture, is quite unusual. A shield-boss of common
form, portion of a long broad sword-blade, lance-head, buckles, and a frag-
ment of cloth complete the list, and all came from a bed of dry sand below
the surface at a spot on (or near) which there once existed a long rampart
running north and south, possibly the side of a camp.
Nearly four miles up the same valley is Sysonby, where in 1859 some
human bones, with spear-heads and shield-boss, bronze ring and buckle, were
found by labourers on the ground of Mr. Wright, near Melton Mowbray.
These remains were presented in 1859 to the Bede House Museum at Melton
Mowbray, but there is nothing further known of the discovery, except that
there were no grave-mounds marking the site. 29 A lance-head from this
find measures about 13 in., and has a split socket of unusual length in
proportion to the blade, which is leaf-shaped.
Interesting discoveries have been made from time to time upon high
ground to the north of Melton Mowbray, where gravel is dug and the under-
lying clay used in brick-making. In 1860 a number of human skeletons
were met with at a depth of 2 to 3 ft. resting on the gravel, some with stones
placed as pillows under the heads. The bodies had been placed in rows
3 to 4 ft. apart, and one at least had the head at the west end of the grave.
Spear-heads, beads, a knife, and some pottery were found, indicating burials
of both sexes, and one skull was isolated a not unfrequent occurrence in
cemeteries of the period. Two years later seven skeletons were carefully
uncovered on this site, and were observed to be 2 ft. from the surface, with
the head to the west ; but no relics were discovered on this occasion. In
1866 more productive discoveries were made by Mr. Fetch's workmen, and
Mr. Ingram's report 30 supplemented by a paper 81 by Mr. North. The
skeletons lay as before, and one was that of a warrior who had been buried
with a spear at his right side, the blade and socket measuring together 22| in.
A knife was found close by the ribs on the right side, and upon the middle
of the body had been laid a shield, the iron rivets, brace, and boss of which
alone remained. In other graves, not specified precisely, were found a second
shield-boss and spear-heads of various lengths, also two urns, the larger of
which was 5! in. high with a maximum diameter of 6j in. This was found
within a grave, and cannot therefore be regarded as a cinerary urn. One
181 Hist, of Leu. i, App. p. 136, pi. 50. " Journ. Brit. Arch. Assoc. xvi, 311; Lac. Trans, iii, 39.
30 Leu. Trans. ii, 94.
31 Ibid, iii, 118 ; see also pp. 245, 333, 344, 392 ; and Arch. Journ. xxiii, 301 ; Proc. So(. Antiq.
(New Ser.), iii, 346.
232
ANGLO-SAXON REMAINS
sword was found, of the usual Anglo-Saxon type, straight and double-edged,
measuring 341 in. in length and 2& in. at the widest part of the blade, and
retaining traces of its wooden scabbard. Another specimen was recovered
later in 1866, with a length of 39 in., and again traces of the scabbard were
found with it in the grave, but no skeleton. On the middle of this sword
lay the shield-boss ; and two spear-heads, of which one measured no less than
2J ft., were on the right of the sword. The remains of a bucket are also
recorded from this site ; the staves had perished, but enough metal remained
to give a clear idea of its original appearance. The two upper hoops were
of bronze, the lip being turned over an iron rod and having a depth of I J in.,
while the band below was Jin. wider. Towards the bottom of the bucket
were four hoops of iron, fin. wide and placed at intervals of ijin. Eight
bronze rivets with circular heads more than an inch across were arranged in
the space between the bronze and iron hoops ; and the vessel had been
carried not as usual by a semicircular handle, but by two stout iron rings,
nearly 5 in. in diameter, attached at the rim, the whole being strengthened
by iron uprights. The mean diameter was 20 in., and its capacity was cal-
culated at about 4 to 5 gallons. These dimensions much exceed those of the
ordinary sepulchral bucket of the period, but correspond fairly well to that
found in the well-known Taplow barrow, 82 which dates from about A.D. 620.
In the Leicester Museum, presented in 1870, are four double glass beads,
of a type sometimes found, as at Ipswich recently : a few of amethyst and some
small disks of shell, all apparently belonging to a necklace or bracelet, but
found with swords and other weapons at Beck Mill, Melton Mowbray.
This seems to be all that remains of several interments.
Two miles to the east is the site of the largest Anglo-Saxon cemetery
as yet discovered in the county, close to the Rutland border. In 1857
Mr. James Thompson described certain Anglo-Saxon antiquities discovered
in 1823 on ground afterwards thrown into Stapleford Park, the seat of
Lord Harborough. 33 They were found about 3 ft. below the surface, having
at one time been covered by a low mound ; and consisted of pottery, orna-
ments, and weapons. The four urns were evidently of the kind usual in
cremated interments, two having bosses round the body, and all containing
bones and earth. The brooches retained traces of gilding, 8 * and were two
in number, belonging to different types, generally known as the square-headed
and cruciform. Without going into detail it may be stated that the former
is allied to a South German type, and though in a damaged condition, shows
the degenerate animal ornament of the Teutonic world, dating from about
the year 600 ; while the cruciform brooch is a native development or carica-
ture of the Norwegian ' long ' brooch, and belongs to the same period. It is,
like the other, of bronze, and measures j\ in. The beads were as usual of
glass or glass-paste, inlaid with various colours in striped patterns, and one
half of a hollow metal globular bead like one found at Sleaford, Lincolnshire, 86
was included among them. Tweezers and other toilet articles were found, as
well as portions of two iron shield-bosses, spear-heads and lance-heads, a
buckle, and what looks like the pommel of a sword: 86 the knife was for every-
M V.C.H. Bucks, i, 203. a Leu. Trans, i, 159 ; Proc. Soe. Antlq. xiii, 331, puts this discovery in 1833.
** These are illustrated in Anastatic Society's vol. for 1858, plates xxvi, xxvii, and indifferently in Leie.
Trans, iii, 39. K Arch. 1, pi. xxiii, fig. 8. M Anastatic Soc. 1858, plates xxv, xxvi ; see p. 5.
I 233 30
A HISTORY OF LEICESTERSHIRE
day use, and occurs frequently in graves of both sexes. These remains are
now preserved in the Bede House Museum at Melton Mowbray, which also
contains four annular brooches and a bronze pin with faceted head and ring
from this site.
In the national collection is a patinated bronze brooch (plate I, fig. 3),
which recalls the ' long ' brooch of Scandinavia, but has the head bordered
in the same style as a larger specimen from the same site just described, and
has a spreading foot that is common among English examples of this period,
and may have been derived from a Baltic source.
More extensive discoveries were made in 1890-1 during the construc-
tion of the railway from Saxby to Bourne, in Lincolnshire. The site of what
was evidently a mixed cemetery is close to a small pond to the south of the
railway line, about 250 yards east of the road that crosses the railway at
the new Saxby station. It was visited by Dr. J. C. Cox, who questioned
the workmen, and furnished an account, without illustrations or full details
of the objects, to the Society of Antiquaries. 37 He exhibited and described
the finds of April, 1891, which included six tolerably perfect cinerary urns
(plate III), one being of unusually large size, iijin. high. Many others
had been broken by the navvies, but the majority of these rough hand-made
vessels contained calcined human bones in small pieces closely packed together,
and thus agree with a large number found in the Anglian districts of England.
Several specimens were decorated with vertical bosses formed by pressure
from the inside, and by the impressions of stamps bearing different geometrical
designs of simple character ; and all were of coarse dark-coloured paste inter-
spersed with particles of white flint and spar. They range between 9 in. and
4 in. in height, and the smaller ones are plain and roughly made in bowl-form,
like specimens from Rothley Temple. They were in most cases heaped
round with large-sized pebbles at Saxby.
The site was one of many north of the Thames in which burnt and
unburnt bodies had been buried side by side ; and was a small plot of ground
about 30 yards long, situated a few yards north of the find in 1833 already
mentioned. A considerable number of skeletons were exposed, lying within
a few feet of the urns and at about the same level 15 to 3 6 in. in a light
soil resting on a harder gravel ; the males having knives, daggers, and spear-
heads or the remains of shields by their side, and the females, brooches, beads,
or other ornaments. Several smaller urns, not of cinerary character, were
uncovered near the skeletons, apparently at the head, and the bodies had been
placed in the graves with the head at the east end. This position is very
unusual, the opposite being the rule, but exceptions occur even in Kent,
where the burials are uniformly by way of inhumation.
The weapons included a fine spear-head of iron and several smaller
lance-heads, all but one having the split socket characteristic of the Anglo-
Saxon period. One complete shield-boss of iron, 6 in. in diameter, and some
fragments of others were found. There were two pierced Roman coins used
as pendants, a pair of tweezers, various beads of glass and amber, and a fine series
of ' long ' brooches (plate IV), some of which are damaged. Two ornamented
fragments belonged to the feet of larger specimens of the same general
character. An iron rod 7! in. long with double hook at one end, generally
" Proc. Soc. Antiq. xiii, 331 ; repeated in Leu. Tram, viii, 74.
234
PLATE III
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235
A HISTORY OF LEICESTERSHIRE
known as a girdle-hanger, but of uncertain use (unless to work a primitive
bolt), completes the list of discoveries at Saxby, most of which are in the
possession of the Midland Railway Company at Derby. Access to the
collection and permission to photograph specimens for reproduction were
readily accorded by the engineer-in-chief, Mr. W. B. Worthington.
Between Saxby and the county town lies the district that seems to have
most attracted the earliest English inhabitants of the county, and there are traces
at Twyford of British influence. Two trefoil escutcheons (plate I, fig. 2) of
bronze with hooks at the top are in the museum at Leicester, with the base of
a bronze bowl, perforated apparently for the rivet that attached a disc to the
outside or inside of the vessel. The mounts are not a pair and are of unusual
form, but their peculiar hooks indicate their use, for attaching chains to the
rim which had a hollow moulding. Such attachments are generally circular
in this country and enamelled with red and other sunk enamels in the peculiar
eccentric patterns of Late Celtic art, and the recent find of a very early bowl
so fitted confirms their British origin. The exact use of such elaborate
bowls is still a mystery, but that the majority belong to the post-Roman
period is evident, and two moulded annular brooches and part of a bucket of
regular Anglo-Saxon manufacture come from the same site, though there is
no record of the discovery. The two civilizations are again represented by
objects found between Twyford and Burrough Hill and now at Leicester ;
the bronze mounts of a bucket, of somewhat fragile make, are preserved along
with a necklace of amber beads and two silver bars between 5 in. and 6 in.
long, together forming a clasp, which may be of Anglo-Saxon origin ; some-
what similar fastenings are seen on long chains found in Prankish graves of
the eighth century. 374 Anglian settlement on this site is further indicated by
a pair of silver-wire loops with the ends spirally coiled, like specimens from
Beeby in this county and from Kenninghall, Norfolk. 88 They were doubtless
attached to the dress and used for fastening it, like the modern hook-and-eye.
Similar fastenings, but of bronze, were in use at least a thousand years earlier,
as several have been found on Late Bronze Age sites in Switzerland and
France.
There is a bare record S9 of another discovery in the same neighbour-
hood. In 1852 or earlier a skeleton was found in digging for gravel near
Lowesby Hall, the residence of Sir Frederick Fowke. With it was a sword
of ordinary type, a spear-head of unusual length, and an iron arrow-head. This
last is of rare occurrence in this country, but if properly described may be
compared with specimens from the Isle of Wight, 40 now in the armoury of
the Tower of London. The bow was more frequently used by the Franks
and Alemanni of Bavaria. Perhaps the only record of a find near Hungerton
is to be found on the Ordnance map. 40 * The site is just north of the road
from Keyham (which is | mile to the west), at the south-east corner of
Foxholes Spinney. A spear-head and clasp were found, and probably
belonged to an interment, but details are wanting.
An iron spear and shield-boss found on the estate of Dr. Burnaby (of
Greenwich) at Baggrave, with other fragments of iron and sepulchral relics,
apparently from the same barrow, were presented to Rev. James Douglas,
"* Boulanger, Le mobiller funeraire, pi. 45, fig. i. V.CH. Norfolk, i, 340, fig. I.
" Proc. Sot. Antiq. (Ser. i), ii, 255. V.C.H. Hants, i, 388. 40 > 25-in. O.S. xxxii, 6.
236
I
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PLATE IV
ANGLO-SAXON REMAINS
who illustrated some of them in his Nenia Britannica* 1 The boss had five
rivets in the rim and wood on the under part, showing the material of the
shield. The interment had apparently been made in stiff marly soil, and
from the same range of grave-mounds was recovered a bead of spindle-whorl
form, made on the lathe from the epiphysis of some large animal (probably
the ox) and ornamented with the ring-and-dot pattern. Plain specimens of
the same material are known from such British sites as Glastonbury, but the
present example may have been worn like those of glass, crystal, or amber,
BROOCHES, CLASP, AND NECKLET OF BEADS, FROM BEEBY
frequently found in Anglo-Saxon graves. Nichols 43 was further informed
by Douglas that there were probably two graves on this site, one with the
spear and shield-boss, the other containing two iron hoops, 9 in. in diameter,
bronze rims, bracers, and rivets attached to a wooden bucket, of which the
diameter is given as 6 in., but it probably tapered towards the mouth.
41 Published in 1793 : pp. 27, 88, pi. 7, figs. 2, 4 and pi. xxi, 9.
a Hist. ofLe'tc. iii, pi. 42, p. 289.
237
A HISTORY OF LEICESTERSHIRE
In the winter of 1844 an interment, evidently of a woman, was found
during drainage operations 2 J ft. below the surface in a field known as ' The
Gorse Close,' fifty yards from the highway, in the parish of Beeby.** Only
a few teeth remained of the skeleton, but the grave-goods comprised seventy-
one beads of various shapes and materials, including amber and glass, the
latter of translucent blue and opaque colours, while at the centre of the
necklace was a large faceted bead of crystal, of the kind often found in
graves of this period, as at Glen Parva, in the same county, and St. Nicholas,
Warwick. 44 Found apart, this would naturally be taken for a spindle-whorl,
more for ornament than use, but specimens of similar dimensions are known
to have belonged to necklaces, and have the perforation worn by friction
with the thread. The grave further contained three hooks-and-eyes of stout
silver wire, evidently for fastening the dress, as at Twyford. But the chief
feature of the grave was a trio of brooches, all of the same Scandinavian type,
but with minor differences of outline and ornament. Of these the central
specimen is the purest in style and corresponds best of all to the Norwegian
pattern, while the other two, which constitute a pair, but are in part defec-
tive, show insular workmanship. One of the knobs still remains in position
on the square head-plate, and, as on the majority of English specimens, was
fastened by clasping the thin edge of the plate. The side pair as well as all
those on the other brooch are wanting but were evidently affixed in the same
way, serving originally to hold the ends of the spiral spring-coil of the pin
behind the head. The third specimen shows the method common at the
time in Norway and Sweden, as opposed to Denmark and England, whereby
the knobs were reduced to a purely ornamental feature and cast in one piece
with the head. The extravagant development of the so-called horse's head
at the foot probably marks a stage beyond any represented in Scandinavia,
where this type of brooch (there known as cruciform) went out of fashion in
the latter part of the sixth century. The Beeby burial may therefore date
from the last quarter of that century, but in view of further developments
in this part of the country, the type probably did not survive into the
succeeding century.
The Ingarsby brooch 45 (coloured plate, fig. i) has been well published
and is remarkable not only for its unusual size but also for its settings of
garnets and blue glass. When perfect it must have been about 6J in. in
length and the width of the head is 3*8 in. It belongs to the square-headed
type common to this country, Scandinavia, and South Germany, but bears
unmistakable signs of English manufacture. The appearance of jewels on
this kind of brooch is itself an indication of a comparatively late date, and
while the Billesdon specimen (coloured plate, fig. 2) presents the type in an
early and almost pure form, the brooch under discussion must mark an advanced
stage of decadence, and dates probably from the early part of the seventh century.
The animal forms characteristic of Teutonic art in the sixth century are barely
represented on the earlier brooch, while on the Ingarsby fragment they are so
dismembered and distorted as to be beyond recognition, and mark a time when
mere hugeness of form had become the aim of the bronze-worker in place of
43 Anastatic Society's vol. for 1858, p. 10, pi. lii ; Leic. Trans. \, 42, 64.
44 V.C.U. Warw. i, 258.
45 Akerman, Pag. Sax. pi. xvi ; Coll. Antlq. ii, 1 68, pi. xliii.
ANGLO-SAXON REMAINS
artistic excellence. Unhappily little is known with regard to the discovery
at Ingarsby : this was the only object preserved when several skeletons and
some relics were turned up about 1830, in planting trees on a mound or
tumulus of sand on the estate of Lord Maynard, ten miles east of Leicester.
A more perfect specimen was found about a mile distant to the south-
east. One of the chief treasures of the Leicester Museum is a large bronze-
gilt square-headed brooch dug up near Billesdon Coplow ** (coloured plate,
fig. 2). It was presented by the joint lords of the manor, and has silver discs
attached to the angles of the head as well as the lobes of the foot or stem. The
absence of the debased animal forms seen on certain specimens from the county
is noticeable and indicates a slightly earlier date than that of the majority of
brooches here described ; but in view of the late settlement of this part of the
country, it should probably be placed about the middle of the sixth century.
A discovery of considerable interest, but inadequately recorded, was made
in May, 1860, with a skeleton in a flower-garden at Keythorpe Hall, Tugby.* 7
The objects found included portions of a bronze bowl, a large double-toothed
bone comb measuring 7 in. by 2 J in., an object ornamented with silver (perhaps
a knife-handle), a pair of bone dice, forty-six bone draughtsmen, and also one
made of a horse's tooth. The last-named piece resembles specimens found at
Taplow (Bucks) and Faversham (Kent),* 8 while the others were all of one
pattern, without any distinguishing marks. These were evidently made on
the lathe and, with the dice,
are probably of Roman
manufacture. The bowl
seems originally to have
measured 8 in. in diameter
and 4 in. in height, and
belongs to a series of which
the most elaborate specimen
was found in Lullingstone Park, Kent (plate II, fig. i). Like that better pre-
served specimen, Lord Berners' bowl was apparently suspended by three
chains attached to hooks which were fastened to the outside of the rim by
escutcheons usually enamelled in Celtic patterns ; and the Keythorpe dis-
covery confirms the view taken of the odd fragments found at Twyford.
Another find of some importance, as indicating one route followed by
the invading Teuton, was made in 1794 near some rubbish-pits of the
Roman period in Medbourne Field, north-west of the village. 483 Three feet
below the surface several skeletons were found in fragments, but one skull
was nearly entire and the teeth almost perfect. On each skeleton had been
heaped a large quantity of stones (as at Wigston and Glen Parva), many
bearing evident traces of fire. With the best-preserved skull was an iron
spear-head 13 in. long, including about 3 in. of socket, which was defective ;
and about 2 in. of the point was lost. It was much rusted, but the midrib
could be distinguished, and there can belittle doubt of its Anglo-Saxon origin,
though pottery fragments found on the same site are as certainly Roman.
These skeletons in the neighbourhood of the Roman road from Godman-
46 Akerman, Pag. Sax. pi. xvi, p. 29 : no further details of discovery recorded.
" Arch. Journ. xviii, 76. *" Both now in the British Museum.
48i Nichols, Hist. ofLeic. ii (2), 717 ; spear figured, pi. cxi, p. 657, fig. 15.
239
DIE AND DRAUGHTSMEN, FROM KEYTHORPE (?-)
A HISTORY OF LEICESTERSHIRE
Chester to Derby may be those of the earliest Anglo-Saxons to enter the
district, but unfortunately there is nothing to suggest a more precise date ;
and while some of the Roman remains may possibly date from the fifth
century, it should be pointed out that nothing distinctively Anglo-Saxon
has been found in Leicestershire older than the sixth.
Two small but costly relics from the southern border of the county
remain to be described. A jewelled brooch of considerable interest was found
with human bones at the end of the eighteenth century in gravel-digging at
some point between Husbands Bosworth in Leicestershire and Welford,
Northants, which are two miles apart. As the county boundary runs nearer
the latter, the discovery probably took place to the north, and is so indicated
on the map. The jewel (coloured plate, fig. 4) has been illustrated twice in the
Gentleman 's Magazine** and worthily presented in colours by Akerman. 60 The
late Sir Henry Dryden made a drawing of it now among his papers at
Northampton, and called it ' the Naseby brooch ' ; but no particulars of
the discovery are given in the sale catalogue of the Baker collec-
tion (1842) to which he refers, and the name may be a simple
error, as Naseby occurs on the line above. An alternative
explanation is suggested by the following quotation from the
magazine already mentioned (1800, p. 121): 'it seems to have
been found in or very near the route of retreat of part of
Charles I's army to Leicester after the defeat in Naseby Field,
14 June, 1645.' When found the pin was evidently in place,
lying across the opening in the centre, and the brooch belongs
STUD, WIBTOFT to the annular type generally made of bronze, but an elaborately
(1) engraved specimen in silver is preserved from Sarre, Kent. 61
The front is of gold ornamented with filigree and four pearl
bosses each set with a slab of garnet, and is fastened with gold wire to a
thin plate of silver forming the base.
The other piece of jewellery referred to was formerly in the collection
of Mr. Bloxam of Rugby and is now preserved in the School Art Museum.
It was said to have been found near the town and has therefore been described
under Warwickshire ; 6S but when exhibited to the Archaeological Institute
at Worcester in 1862, it was catalogued" as coming from Wibtoft, on the
Watling Street, which there divides the two counties. It consists of a
gold stud now somewhat damaged, with the centre ornamented in quad-
rants, and garnets inlaid in imbricated and step patterns, while the edge
has oblong pieces of the same stones. This jewelled boss was probably
intended to ornament a circular brooch, a buckle, or even a cup," and may
have been subsequently attached as a pommel to a sword-hilt, as rough holes
at the bottom and at two opposite points on the rim show that an unskilled
hand had fastened it by means of a wire or metal band.
As immovable objects, such as stone carvings or details of architecture,
are reserved for treatment elsewhere, the list of Anglo-Saxon finds in the
county is now completed, and tells a fairly consistent story. Tentative dates
49 1800, p. 121, pi. iii, fig. i, and 1815, p. 209, pi. ii, fig. 4 ; see also de Baye, Industrial Arts, pi. ix,
fig. 5 ; Arch. Journ. xi, 59 ; and V.C.H. 'Northants, \, 254. 60 Pagan Saxondom, pi. xxxii, fig. 2.
" V.C.H. Kent, i. V.C.H. War*,. \, 254. " Arch. Journ. xix. 279.
64 Compare the Kentish jewellery, the Taplow buckle, and the Ardagh chalice.
240
ANGLO-SAXON REMAINS
have been given to several of the finds, which for the sake of convenience
have been described in geographical order ; but a few lines may now be
devoted to the task of arranging them in chronological sequence. Before
doing so it may be remarked that cremation seems to have been the common
practice in Britain from the time of the Roman conquest till about 250 A.D.,
and in the south-east even before the time of Claudius. After the middle of
the third century, many years before the official recognition of Christianity as
the religion of the empire, the dead were buried unburnt, usually in stone
cists or coffins, and it seems necessary therefore to assign cremated burials in
mixed cemeteries, even when Roman cinerary urns were used, to Teutonic
immigrants and not to the Romanized natives. There were probably
numerous exceptions to all these rules, but in Leicestershire the above theory
finds some confirmation. Thus Rothley was evidently occupied in Roman
times and yielded brooches of the sixth and seventh centuries. Some of the
pottery is Roman, some Anglo-Saxon (as at West Cotes), and may have been
used to hold the ashes of the dead. From Leicester there is a well-made
cinerary urn with narrow mouth, incised round the shoulder in Anglo-Saxon
style, and again near Bensford Bridge was found a well-made vessel of similar
form, highly ornamented, that may have been a cinerary urn, a spear-head
being found across the mouth. On this site, however, there were certainly
several skeletons, and with the important exception of Saxby, inhumation
seems to have been the rule in the county, at least during the sixth and early
seventh centuries. Only a few graves of women have been distinguished, but
the shield and spear are present in nearly all the graves of men, and the other
grave furniture is remarkably uniform. As to the orientation of the graves
little can be said, and the presence of arms negatives the idea of Christian
burial, even when the head lay at the west end, as at Melton Mowbray.
The opposite was the case at Saxby, and north-and-south burials are recorded
at West Cotes and Glen Parva. It may therefore be concluded that all the
burials described in this chapter were of the heathen period, and this is also
clearly indicated by the history of the time.
Christianity was introduced, or perhaps re-introduced, after a wave of
barbarism had swept the country, in the year 597, and reached Leicestershire
in 653, on the marriage of Peada, ruler of the Middle Angles, with the
daughter of Oswy, king of Northumbria. Wulfhere, who succeeded after a
short interval (658) to the throne of Mercia, was supported by the pagan
population, but Christianity was again encouraged by his successor Ethelred,
who came to the throne in 675. Further than this it is unnecessary to follow
the course of events, as the practice of burying weapons, ornaments, and
utensils with the dead would soon cease under the influence of the new religion,
and burial in the open country soon went out of favour as cemeteries under
the protection of the Church were provided adjoining the sacred buildings ;
and the bones of converts are therefore not so liable to disturbance and
discovery in the course of agricultural or building operations.
The antiquities described above may therefore be considered as the
relics of an Anglian population dominated early in the seventh century by
Northumbria before being welded into a kingdom by Penda (626-55), anc ^
possibly forming part of the East Anglian kingdom under Redwald before the
rise of Northumbria. Still earlier the Middle-English who settled in the
i 241 31
A HISTORY OF LEICESTERSHIRE
neighbourhood of Ratae may have submitted to Ethelbert of Kent (560-616),
whose empire extended to the Humber, but before his time there were
probably but few Anglian settlers in the Soar valley, and the Romano-British
population was probably unconscious of the coming invasion or helpless to
resist it. There are no relics from the county that can be definitely traced
to Kentish workshops, and so far not a single specimen of the typical West-
Saxon brooch of saucer shape is recorded. As this type occurs frequently in
the valley of the Warwickshire Avon, in Northants, and the counties to the
south, we may assume that Cuthwulf's conquests did not extend north of
Buckingham, which was overrun from the south in 571.
In the matter of dialect, the whole of Leicestershire belongs to what is
known as the eastern south-midland district, including Shropshire east of
Wem and the Severn, Staffordshire south of Stone, a slip on the north of
Worcestershire, most of Warwickshire, and the south point of Derbyshire, all
these being just to the north of a line beyond which the southern pronun-
ciation of the test-word 'some,' sum, is not heard. 66 Philological evidence is
therefore in striking agreement with what can be deduced from the archaeo-
logical material in the county.
Though less important from the ethnological point of view, mention
must be made in conclusion of the Leicester mint, which seems to have been
founded by Edgar (95975). Though not mentioned in Athelstan's Regu-
lation of Mints, A.D. 929, it was evidently maintained by Canute and his
successors down to the Norman Conquest. It is a question whether certain
coins of Athelstan should be attributed to Leicester or Chester ; and the
probability that many of the doubtful pieces belong to Leicester is increased
by the fact that Derby and Nottingham, belonging to the same confederation
of the Five Burghs, were privileged to strike coins in his reign. 66
55 A. J. Ellis, English dialects, their sounds and homes, p. 101 and map.
56 Numismatic Chron. (Ser. 3), xi, 1 6 ; B.M. Cal. of Eng. Coins, ii, Iv. Local moneyers represented in the
Chancton hoard are given in Assoc. Arch. Soc. Rff. xii, 140.
2 4 2
ANCIENT EARTHWORKS
The configuration of Leicestershire does not lend itself to the construc-
tion of great hill fortresses such as were erected by the early inhabitants
of many other districts. Some heights, however, were crowned with earth-
works which were probably links in the chain of strongholds, found in the
adjacent counties, which commanded the valley of the Trent.
That the Romans spread over this part of their province of F/avia
Caesariensis is evident from the numerous relics of that people, other than
earthworks, which have been found ; but their camps, if at any time numerous,
have succumbed to the plough ; Leicestershire being essentially pastoral and
agricultural. Their principal settlement Ratae (Leicester) will be referred to
in the following pages together with other more or less rectangular works,
some of which may safely be attributed to the Roman period.
We know but little as to the fortifications constructed by Saxons or
Danes, but may be sure that earthworks were used in 1013, when Sweyn sailed
up the Trent and subdued the Five Boroughs and all the Saxon army north of
the Watling Street, the boundary of this county on the south-west. It is
possible that the traditional name ' Dane Hills ' preserves the memory of
his invasion.
Around Leicester are remains of various earthworks, ' Dane Hills ' and
' Raw Dykes,' and others at Belgrave, Humberstone, Evington, and Anstey
Pastures. At what period these military works were thrown up it is imposs-
ible to determine ; but doubtless they were made or utilized at various times
as outworks, or in opposition, to the great stronghold of Leicester.
Norman lords have left definite evidences of their domination in extant
earthworks ; but the most numerous works of this character in Leicestershire
were for the defence and requirements of the inhabitants of the manor houses
the surrounding moat, the division banks of the adjacent offices and fish
ponds.
The paucity of prehistoric earthworks is paralleled by the rarity of
tumuli, common in that age ; they would alike perish in so arable a district,
and this destruction unfortunately has occurred during a period when no
consideration of historic landmarks prompted the making of a record, or a
scientific exploration, before the pitiless march of necessity consigned them to
oblivion.
In the classification of these various works of the spade we follow the
scheme formulated by the Congress of Archaeological Societies :
A. Fortresses partly inaccessible, by reason of precipices, cliffs, or water, additionally
defended by artificial works, usually known as promontory fortresses.
B. Fortresses on hill-tops with artificial defences, following the natural line of the hill; or,
though usually on high ground, less dependent on natural slopes for protection.
243
A HISTORY OF LEICESTERSHIRE
C. Rectangular or other simple inclosures, including forts and towns of the Romano-British
period.
D. Forts consisting only of a mount with encircling ditch or fosse.
E. Fortified mounts, either artificial or partly natural, with traces of an attached court or
bailey, or of two or more such courts.
F. Homestead moats, such as abound in some lowland districts, consisting of simple inclosures
formed into artificial islands by water moats.
G. Inclosures, mostly rectangular, partaking of the form of F, but protected by stronger
defensive works, ramparted and fossed, and in some instances provided with outworks.
H. Ancient village sites protected by walls, ramparts or fosses.
X. Defensive works which fall under none of these headings.
Two examples only exist of Class A and both are greatly mutilated.
Agriculture and quarrying have been fatal to Billesdon, and the Castle Hill
of Mountsorrel has been subjected to the rough usage of a common play-
ground.
Class B is represented by four good fortresses in a fair state of preserva-
tion. The great height and carefully guarded entrances of Breedon on the
Hill ; and the massiveness of the vallum at Burrough on the Hill, are
particular features ; while the peculiar position of Sanvey Castle is note-
worthy. The defences of Beacon Hill are not so perfect, but the position
is unsurpassed for the purpose indicated by its name.
In the examples of Class C, that at Ratby demands special attention ,
whilst in that at Hungerton the adaptation of early entrenchments to
mediaeval defences is dealt with more fully under Class G.
Among the five mounts of Class D, the great variation in height and
strength call for attention. Belvoir Castle is the most imposing, and it is still
a subject for discussion as to how far the mount is natural or artificial.
Of the mounts with baileys, under Class E, Hallaton stands pre-eminent;
but that at Whitwick is interesting in so far as both the mount and court are
upon the summit of a natural hill.
Class F contains the most numerous examples. These homestead moats
are scattered over the whole area of the county ; while some are in a perfect
state, the major part have been partially destroyed.
In Class G the defended moats are not generally of great strength, that
at Hungerton owes its massiveness to an earlier age ; at Kirby Muxloe the
revetment has gone and the moat is now being obliterated ; and except at the
last-named the moats of this class have been drained of water. There is, how-
ever, at Kirkby Mallory one of great strength and regularity, unique of its
kind, sufficiently unknown to be open to wide conjecture. With many, how-
ever, there remain extensive low ditches and banks, surrounding rectangular
plots of ground, which have doubtless been reduced in depth and height by
agriculture. At Kirby Bellars these are most extensively seen and present an
example of works which must be considered as more or less defensive in their
origin. Another feature in the earthworks attached to many manor houses
and religious establishments is the fishponds ; these are most noticeable at
the Leper Hospital of Burton Lazars, and they were no doubt provided to
stock fresh fish for food for the afflicted. Possibly as a preventive from the
same disease similar provision was made by the lords of manors ; while at
religious houses these ponds would contain part of the diet allowed to the
professed on certain occasions, and for the guesten hall. Where these fish-
244
ANCIENT EARTHWORKS
ponds are connected with homestead moats they are mentioned in Classes F
and G, but where independent of such domestic defences they are included
in Class X.
Class H is not represented in this county except so far as the great hill
fortresses of Breedon and Burrough were inhabited by the ancient population.
Entrenched lines of which ' King Lud's Entrenchment ' is the best
example not included in either of the above divisions, come within Class X,
as also a list of fragmentary earthworks which have been destroyed beyond
classification by the working of the land or other levelling forces. This is
the case with the camps of the opposing troops of King Richard and Rich-
mond on the Red Moor and the White Moor respectively at the opposite
sides of Bosworth Field, which have been so effectively erased that the name
of the king's camp, 'The Bradshaws,' is variously located by the inhabitants.
Appended to Class X is a list of the tumuli ; but few, however, remain,
and a certain number of those extant are of comparatively late date, covering
the bones of those who fell in the rise of the Tudor dynasty, or in the engage-
ments between the Royalists and Parliamentarians.
In concluding this introduction, mention should be made of the informa-
tion to be derived from the pages of Nichol's Hist, and Ant. of the County
of Leicester, while thanks must be tendered to Mr. I. Chalkley Gould, F.S.A.,
for many notes, suggestions, and references.
The numbers in Roman and Arabic figures after the name of each earth-
work refer to the 25 in. Ordnance Map in
which the earthwork appears.
PROMONTORY FORTRESSES
(CLASS A)
BILLESDON (xxxii, 12 and 16). Eight
and a half miles east by south from Leicester,
on a bold spur jutting towards the south
from a range of hills, is a large promontory
stronghold on a plateau. This camp was
formerly described as fortified with a deep
ditch and high rampart ; but the area is
largely under cultivation, and the high ram-
part is now sought for in vain.
The works are only traceable on the
western part and follow the line of the
heights, the northern defences alone giving
it a claim to a place in this class.
In plan the remaining portion forms
part of an irregular rectangle on the brink
of a great natural height, with no extant
crest or rampart. At the south-west corner
a path leads obliquely down to a spring,
and is defended in its course by two out-
works, semicircular platforms, on the slope
245
THE CAMP, BILLESDON
A HISTORY OF LEICESTERSHIRE
of the hill, which is here 176 ft. in height. At the north-west another
path gives access to a narrow terrace three parts of the distance down the
hill-side, and thence to the lower ground. The main entrance was on
the north, and curves inwards towards the east between two rocky heights
which have been fortified, but the quarrying for sandstone has cut the
defences almost beyond recognition. The natural fall of the ground on
the north of the camp with the sentinels of rock, and the rise of the ground
as it joins the chain of hills on which is the high road from Houghton
to Tilton, formed a well-nigh impregnable position.
MOUNTSORREL 'CASTLE HILL ' (xxv. 2). About 5 miles south-east of
Lough borough there rises a precipitous rock, described as 'a steep and craggy
hill,' high above the River Soar, dominating the town and surrounding
country.
The castle of Robert le Bossu which formerly crowned this eminence
was razed in the early days of Henry III, but a fragment of the earthen
defences is still discernible.
Across the neck of land from which the natural rock arose stretched a
wide fosse with an escarpment of 1 3 ft. and a counterscarp of 1 5 ft., with a
revetment nearly 3 ft. high. On the fortress side of the fosse are two berms
with an intermediate scarp of 1 2 ft. ; from the higher of these the rock
ascends to its greatest altitude at the north ; but the most precipitous part is
on the east side.
A winding ascent from the
east, around the south, is prob-
ably on the original path to this
almost inaccessible' stronghold.
Upon the summit it is impossible
to trace the position formerly
occupied by the castle keep, al-
though doubtless it was situated
on the high rock to the north.
Youthful sports and the amateur
quarryman have obliterated most
of its early features.
HILL FORTS
(CLASS B)
BREEDON ON THE HILL (ix.
15) ' THE BULWARKS.' Five
and a half miles north-east by
north from Ashby de la Zouch,
on the summit of a lofty lime-
stone rock, with the natural line
of the height as its boundary,
is the strongest hill fortress in
the county. The table-land is
pear-shaped, the apex towards the
THE BULWARKS, BREEDON ON THE HILL
246
ANCIENT EARTHWORKS
north, and the broad part at the south, on which side the quarries have
destroyed the fortifications. The artificial defences consist generally of a
double vallum and fosse of great strength.
The eastern entrance is reached by a steep curved path which is com-
manded by a bold vallum, a curved agger where the former meets the natural
slope, and a berm with a mound contained within the sickle-shaped curve of
the path, making a disputed entry a formidable undertaking. On the north
of this path the vallum rises 1 7 ft. from the interior, and is 1 8 ft. wide, but
the escarpment is now only i6ft., this and the outer vallum having been
partly destroyed by quarrying. Beyond the quarry, however, the earthworks
are complete ; the inner vallum has a scarp of 22ft. into a wide fosse 3 ft.
deep, whilst the outer vallum descends a long distance before it is merged in
the hillside.
After a straight course of 230 ft., a semicircular hollow, possibly the site
of a guard room, screened by a bank, lies at the base of the first vallum ; the
fosse emerges upon the angle of a path to the interior, with another small
chamber space in the thickness of the second vallum. This path, hugging
the escarpment, ascends from the north to the south, and at the above-
mentioned angle turns to the north, at which point the original scheme of
defence is lost by the erection of a building. On the north side of the
building the vallum incurves towards the south-west, with a wide platform
at the angle ; the principal entrance is here, and the road is thus dominated
by the direction of the vallum, which, rising 9 ft. from the interior, has a
scarp of 28 ft., a counterscarp 1 2 ft. high, an outer scarp of 7 ft., and the
remains of a third vallum now but a foot in height.
The other side of the entrance road falls away to the depths below, with
stages at various levels, but this also is commanded by a vallum and a yet
higher platform which branch off from the main defences on the western side.
Interesting as this approach may be at the present time, other details of
engineering skill are evidently
lost by the displacement of the
ground in testing the quality
of the limestone at this side.
At the north-west is a
single vallum of great strength ;
but at the south-west the double
vallum and fosse are again in
evidence on the verge of a pre-
cipitous descent.
BURROUGH, or BURROW ON
THE HILL (xxvii, 9 and 10), is
5 miles south of Melton Mow-
bray, and nearly a mile north
of the village.
Burrough Camp, on a com-
manding hill of limestone and
ironstone, is a fortified position
of great strength, and the notice
accorded tO it by the earlier BURROUGH CAMP, BURROUGH ON THE HILL
247
Burrow
Human Rtmains.FUnt
Arrowhead . Roman 0/18
Dagger, Sftarhtaa.t" fauna
e
at
666-
A HISTORY OF LEICESTERSHIRE
antiquaries demands our thoughtful attention, as the results of recent investi-
gation may appear antagonistic to their conclusions.
Camden thought Burrough Hill to be the Roman station Vernometum^
while Rollings inclined to the opinion that it was a British stronghold and
the scene of the defeat of the Iceni by Ostorius, 'so closely does its admirable
position appear to coincide in its precipitous escarpment on three sides, its
vallum of piled stones, its one accessible face, and its single entrance.'
Leland describes it as
double diched and containeth within the dich to my estimation 9 acres, the soile of it beareth
very good corn. First I took hit for a camp of menne of warre, but after I plaine perceived
that hit had been worked about with stone, and to be sure pulled out some stones at the
entering of hit, where hath been a great gate, and then found lyme betwixt the stone.
Tailby, in a letter to Nichols, says :
It is an encampment in a great measure formed by nature and shaped by art. The
hill consists of a loose open-jointed rock of soft reddish stone, covered with a shallow soil.
In the rock some fossil shells appear, some indented, some plain, but mostly of the cockle
kind. The joints of the rock appear at first sight as if formed by art, as a wall is, for
between the joints is a white substance which resembles lime. The figure of the entrench-
ment is irregular, though nearly square, and at the base of the hill are numerous springs.
This area is now under grass, which facilitates an examination, and it is
surprising that its former arable period has not proved more destructive. The
earthworks are in a good state, but show no indications of ever having been
' double ditched,' nor that the stronghold has been ' worked about with
stone.' The stones employed in the works formed the core of the earthen
vallum upon the natural rock ; and the lime which Leland thought to
indicate a structure of masonry is the disintegration and drift of the limestone.
Natural features governed the irregular circumvallation of this fortress.
The principal entrance is at the south-east, between two inturned aggers,
which penetrate the camp 120 ft., and rise i8ft. above the path at the angles
of the vallum. At the base of this path a mound lies on the right hand and
a curved bank inclosing a hollow on the left.
Following the line of defence towards the north, at the section A B,
the rampart rises 26 ft. from the interior, and has an escarpment of 34ft. to
a berm 26ft. wide, and a further scarp of 27 ft. The vallum at C is broken
away, but this is no part of the original scheme ; the single escarpment
immediately to the north of it is 63 ft. Some 300 ft. from this point the
fosse, with an outer bank, becomes more pronounced ; and at D a winding
path severs the vallum, but its inimical use is prevented or hindered by an
agger containing a sunken site for a guard. Turning towards the south this
path descends between the vallum and a mound.
At the base of the second scarp on the north is a wide but shallow
mound upon a platform ; and due north the natural escarpment has been
altered so far as to provide a berm ; while at a lower level is another position
for a band of warriors.
On the eastern side the vallum which for a space has been destroyed
is again in evidence, rising 10 ft. from the interior it has a 26ft. scarp on to a
berm with the precipitous hill-side beyond. An indication of a postern here
gives access to the platform, and a little to the south-west the vallum is 42 ft.
on the scarp.
248
ANCIENT EARTHWORKS
At the south-west corner a sunk path, well covered by the ramparts,
leads down to the neighbourhood of a spring ; and in the middle of the south
side another postern is provided with its individual defence of an elliptical
chamber open only to the path. Again drawing near to the south-east a
depression lies at the end of the berm ; the work immediately below this
angle is a modern cutting for a road. The platforms, or berms, which at
present surround the north-west and south, were no doubt originally protected
by ramparts.
The surmises of Rollings and Camden as to its ancient occupants
having been mentioned, we may observe that in 1853 were found a flint
SCALE OF FEET
IOO 7OO iOO
^^^^B^_A^^_W^^L^_M^^MJ
SANVEY CASTLE, NEAR WITHCOTR
arrow-head, fragments of rude British earthenware, and a human skeleton
buried in a crouching position ; also Roman coins, a dagger, and a
spear head.
WITHCOTE 'SANVEY CASTLE' (xxxiii, n). 'Castle Hill,' which is
situated less than a mile to the south-west of the village, is one hill amongst
many, but low in comparison with those surrounding it, which overlook and
command the interior of the stronghold. Seldom is a fortress found in such
a position, and the thought is suggested that possibly it served as a camp of
refuge, partially hidden amid its surroundings.
i 249 32
A HISTORY OF LEICESTERSHIRE
Sanvey Castle is oblong in plan, with an open area around three
sides, almost a courtyard, so broad and level is the space between the
escarpment and the foot of the neighbouring hills. On the fourth, 01
western side the most vulnerable a wide fosse is at the base of an escarp-
ment of 68 ft. with a counterscarp of 28 ft., a strong rampart also defends
this side and its angles. At the section C D the rampart is less pro-
nounced, but the escarpment is 74 ft. ; and the former is lost on the north
and south sides.
The entrance is on the north-east ; ascending between two strong
aggers, it continues as a passage through the whole width of the camp to
the southern edge, where a mound defends a path to the flat court and
leads to a water supply. On the west of this passage is the entry into
the larger interior area, commanded by a mound above a sunken space,
which appears to have been a fictitious entrance, or cut de sac, within
which to entice an invading enemy.
On the east of the passage a smaller area is well defended by a rampart
and scarp, the latter varying from 48 ft. to 70 ft. Within this area despite
the ages which have passed and the rank growth of vegetation is an arrange-
ment of banks, nearly 4 ft. in height, which point to the provision of primitive
dwellings.
A gap in the encircling hills, through which flows a brook, is guarded
by two aggers, between which an oblique path provides egress. On the
outer side of this barrier a cutting supplies a steep path by which the
precipitous hill beyond is ascended.
WOODHOUSE. ' BEACON HILL ' (xxiv, 3) is a rocky height towering
above its neighbours and commanding an extensive view of the country. Its
name betokens the use that it served in mediaeval and more modern times,
and from its formation and position there can be little doubt that it was
utilized for the same purpose in prehistoric ages.
A double line of entrenchments surrounded its crest, and although now
badly mutilated, enough is extant to indicate the outer line with certainty.
The lower cincture, of an irregular elliptical form, consists of a double vallum
and fosse ; the inner vallum rises but little more than a foot and descends into
a fosse 24ft. wide by a scarp of 10 ft. ; the counterscarp is of the same height,
the fosse being 4 ft. deep, perpendicular measurement. The value of the
second vallum is greatly enhanced by the natural decline of the precipitous
hill-side. This is at the most perfect part towards the east, at other points
the defences are almost obliterated, and the western side of the hill is not
nearly so invulnerable ; but it is here strengthened by a quarried steep for a
length of about 500 ft.
The other vallum, of no great strength, apparently surrounded the
stony summit at a higher level ; but very little of it can be traced.
Celts, spear-heads, and a battle-axe, which have been found here, testify to
its early use.
250
ANCIENT EARTHWORKS
SCALE OF FtET
100 200 300
THE CAMP, BELTON
SIMPLE DEFENSIVE INCLOSURES
(CLASS C)
BELTON (xvii, 5). Four miles north from Whitwick, on the gentle
slope of a hill, near the highest part, and facing north, is a circular camp.
It is now a simple plateau with no
breastwork, but surrounded by a fosse
1 5 ft. wide and 3 ft. deep, except on
the west, where the counterscarp has
been destroyed. To the west of the
camp flows the Grace Dieu Brook.
BURTON OVERY (xxxviii, 10).
Seven and a half miles south-east from
Leicester. In a field south-west of the
church, on gravel soil sloping down
to a rivulet on the west, are the val-
lum and fosse of a square camp. The
eastern and western sides are clearly
defined for about 300 ft., the vallum
on the west is 5 ft. high and 12 ft.
wide, that on the east is 4 ft. high and 1 2 ft. wide, the latter being
strengthened by a fosse 20 ft. wide and 4 ft. 6 in. deep at its most perfect
point. The southern vallum, 10 ft. wide and 2 ft. high from the interior,
with a shallow external fosse, is most pronounced at the south-west corner,
where apparently the main entrance was situated. The northern vallum
has almost gone, but enough remains to show what appears to have been
a minor entrance at the north-west angle, although it is now too indistinct
for definite decision.
From the north-east angle an agger, 4 ft. in height, runs parallel to the
interior of the eastern vallum for a distance of 80 ft., looking towards the
higher ground from which the camp was most easily assailed.
HALLATON (xxxix, 14). About i, 600 ft.
south-west from ' Castle Hill Camp ' (see
Class E), upon the height of a gently un-
dulating hill is a rectangular camp with a
long axis of 300 ft. and a short axis of
220 ft. It has been surrounded by a vallum
rising 2 ft. from the interior, with an es-
carpment of 5 ft. 6 in. ; the rampart, how-
ever, has been destroyed in the middle of
the two long sides. The entrance at the
eastern angle is defended by the vallum
rising a foot above the general height,
and is situated at the point nearest to the
Castle Hill.
HUNGERTON (xxxii, 10). The remains of a strong Roman camp north-
west of the British stronghold at Billesdon have been utilized as a manor-house
defence, and are therefore described in Class G.
251
THE CAMP, HALLATON
A HISTORY OF LEICESTERSHIRE
KNAPTOFT (xlix, 4). In Nichol's Leicestershire 1 two widely divergent
plans are given of a supposed camp with extensive defences. The plan of the
outer trench takes the form of an irregular isosceles triangle with sides about
750 ft., containing a mound 8 ft. high in the rounded apex at the north.
Towards the southern base of the area is a quadrangular camp or 'principal
entrenchment and fortress' 108 ft. square internally, surrounded with a
vallum and fosse, the former with an escarpment of 9 ft., and the latter 10 ft.
wide at its base. A tumulus is also depicted north-west of the camp.
This site became the property of the Knights Hospitallers of St. John,
to whom the outer trench may be assigned. The domestic defences (see
Class G) and modern disturbances of the ground have left but a fragment of
the original entrenchments.
LEICESTER (xxxi, 10). Town walls. The site occupied by the county
town is such as would be selected for a fortified position ; the irregular course of
the River Soar, with the marsh lands beyond, protected the north and west,
and from the east the Willow Brook passes to its confluence with the Soar on
the north. We are told that the ' Raw Dykes ' are the remains of the
oppidum of ' King Leir,' but the first reliable knowledge of its habitation is
of the period of the Roman occupation.
Ratae, by which name Leicester was known to the Romans, appears to
have been a parallelogram in plan, and distinct traces are still left of the
ancient boundaries in Millstone Lane and Horsefair Street on the south,
Gallowtree Gate and Church Gate on the east, and Sanvey Gate and Soar
Lane on the north. It is now considered that there was a western wall
extending from Soar Lane on the north to South Gate Street, and that the
Jewry Wall is composed mainly of the remains of the West Gate. 8 These
boundaries represent the lines of the earliest earthen vallum.
Under the Saxons the ancient defences of Leicester must have been
frequently manned, and probably strengthened, for this town was repeatedly
the scene of strife with the Danes.
LUBENHAM (1, 7). Two miles west from Market Harborough. To the
north-east of the village, on the crest of a hill are the fragments of an
irregular camp. A broad but shallow agger may be traced, but utilitarianism
has conquered antiquities, so mutilating it that no definite description is
possible. The entrance was apparently on the slope towards the village.
It has been suggested that this camp, with that at Farndon in North-
amptonshire, were outworks to the camp at Market Harborough.
MANCETTER. See Witherley.
MARKET HARBOROUGH (1, 8). In a field on the east of the town, rising
gently from the River Welland, vestiges of a camp were visible until
the recent growth of the town. Roman pottery and other antiquities have
been found here.
RATBY (xxx, 7) . Five miles west by north from Leicester. * Ratby
Burrow,' or ' Bury Camp,' by both of which names it is known, is within a
mile west of the village. It is a rectangular camp of single vallum and fosse,
situated on ground somewhat high and undulating, but not much higher
than its surroundings, the north only having a declivity approaching steep-
ness. The area occupied by the camp is over 9 acres ; on the north side the
1 Vol. iv, i, p. 219. " Roman Leicester,' by G. E. Fox, F.S.A., in the Arch. Journ. vol. xlvi.
252
ANCIENT EARTHWORKS
rampart rises 3 ft. in height, and it has an obtuse escarpment of 38 ft. into a
fosse with a counterscarp of 9 ft. The east side has a wider fosse and a
small bank on the height of the counterscarp. At the north-east and south-
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SCALEOF FEET
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BURY CAMP, RATBY
west angles the vallum rises to a greater height and at the former is a
fragment of a slightly raised circular platform.
There are a number of gaps in the circumvallation ; four of them, one in
each side, are no doubt entrances ; so apparently are two other openings
near the eastern angles, that at the northern looked down upon by the afore-
said platform, and that on the south defended by a rise in the vallum to 8 ft.
perpendicular measurement. At point C is
a modern opening.
SAPCOTE (xliii, 6). Three and a half
miles east from Hinckley. The site of Sap-
cote Castle on the west side of the village is
a square area with a vallum and fosse on the
north, west, and south sides. The vallum is
4 ft. high, perpendicular measurement, and
the fosse is broad but shallow. The eastern
side is bounded by a plateau of higher
ground, descending on to the castle site by
a bank 25 ft. on the scarp. This higher
area would appear to have been a part of
the original works, and contains three de-
pressions in the ground ; but the invasion
of buildings and other rearrangements have altered the former features.
Thoresby mentions that the works were being filled up in his time.
TILTON (xxxiii, 14). Eleven miles north of Market Harborough. On
Howbank Hill, west of the railway, is a plateau from which an escarpment
253
SITE OF SAPCOTE CASTLE, SAPCOTE
A HISTORY OF LEICESTERSHIRE
of 26 ft., facing towards the north, descends to another plateau with a scarp
of 65 ft. to a stream, a very precipitous descent. At the north-east of the
lower plateau a platform rises 4 ft. in height, protected by a shallow rampart.
A bank, or rampart, also flanks each side of a descent to the river, thus
forming a sunk road 100 ft. long. The railway has cut away the eastern
boundary, and on the south no defence is visible.
WITHERLEY (xxxiv, 1 6). Six miles west by north from Hinckley.
Immediately south of the village, situated upon the Watling Street which
here divides
Leicestershire
from the county
o f Wa r w i c k
i s a camp
which has been
identified with
the Roman sta-
tion of Man-
duessedum, one
half of which is
in the parish
of Mancetter,
Warwickshire.
It is rectangular
in plan with an
area of nearly
7 acres. The
ancient road
passes through
the middle of it
on the line of
its longer axis ;
the half which is in Leicestershire is called ' The Old Field,' and the other
moiety in the adjacent county is known as ' Castle Bank.'
Dr. Stukeley, about 1724, described both ditches and banks as in a good
state of preservation ' ; and Nichols tells us that the vallum was perfect in
the year i8n. 2 At the present time no vallum is extant on the north, a
scarp 7 ft., perpendicular measurement, only remains, and that a feeble
defence, for it is 19 ft. on the slope. On the other three sides is a very low
bank, unworthy the name of vallum, which, indeed, is scarcely visible on the
south. The strongest part is on the east, facing the long stretch of road as it
gradually declines to the former station at High Cross.
The River Anker flows about 850 ft. distant on the north-west side, and
turning to the north-east a short distance from the camp it provided an
additional protection to this its weakest side ; a spring rises outside the
northern boundary.
Memorials of the early inhabitants have been found in celts and flint
weapons, and Roman coins have been unearthed in the camp.
MANDUESSEDUM CAMP, NEAR WITHERBY
Itinerarium Curiosum, 761.
* Leicestershire, 
