IDtctotia Ifotetor^ of the
Counties of
EDITED BY H. ARTHUR DOUBLEDAY
AND WILLIAM PAGE F.S.A.
A HISTORY OF
WARWICKSHIRE
VOLUME I
A HISTORY OF WARWICKSHIRE
IN FOUR VOLUMES EDITED
BY H. ARTHUR DOUBLEDAY
AND WILLIAM PAGE F.S.A.
I THE
VICTORIA HISTORY
OF THE COUNTIES;
OF ENGLAND
WARWICKSHIRE
LONDON
ARCHIBALD CONSTABLE
AND COMPANY LIMITED
^-
I ,
Thu History is issued to Subscribers only
By Archibald Constable is" Company Limited
ami printed by Butler 5 Tanner of
Promt and 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 DUKE OF SIR FREDERICK POLLOCK, BART., COL. DUNCAN A. JOHNSTON
BEDFORD, K.G. LL.D., F.S.A., ETC. Director General of the Ordnance Survey
President of the Zoological Society c-t T- r /- n /-i T TI T-. r. r IA
SIR JOHN EVANS, K.C.B., D.C.L., PROF. E. RAY LANKESTER, M.A.,
His GRACE THE DUKE OF DEVON- LL.D. F.R.S., ETC.
SHIRE, K.Cr. Director of the Natural History
Chancellor of the University of Can,- SIR EDWARD MAUNDE THOMPSON, -
bridge K.C.B.,D.C.L.,LL.D., F.S.A.,
His GRACE THE DUKE OF t.rc. Director of the British Museum REGINALD L. POOLE, ESQ., M.A.
RUTLAND, K.G. SIR CLEMENTS R. MARKHAM, University L j'J I*f'>"",
His GRACE THE DUKE OF K.C.B., F.R.S., F.S.A.
PORTLAND KG President of the Royal Geographical ) "ORACE KoUND, t,SQ., M.A.
S "'* WALTER RYE, ESQ.
His GRACE THE DUKE OF g Q MAXVVELL-LYTE, w tr , , w
ARGYLL, K.T. K.C.B., M.A., F.S.A., ETC. W. H. ST. JOHN HOPE ESQ., M.A.
T- T> TI T" r> Assistant Secretary of the Society of
I HE RT. HON. THE EARL OF Keeper of the Public Records Antiquaries
ROSEBERY, K.G., K.T. COL SIR }> FARQUHARSON> K . C . B .
THE RT. HON. THE EARL OF SIR Jos. HOOKER, G.C.S.I., M.D.,
COVENTRY D.C.L. F.R.S. ETC.
President of tbe Royal Agricultural Among the original members of
Society SIR ARCHIBALD GEIKIE, LL.D., the Council were
THE RT. HON. THE VISCOUNT F.R.S., ETC. _ .
~ THE LATE MARQUESS OF SALISBURY
DILLON n i /- /~~ T r T~>
._.,,, ... REV. 1. CHARLES Cox, LL.D., _ ,,
Late President of the Society of Ann- p ,, J . TlIE LATE DR. MANDELL CREIGH-
1" ari " TON, BISHOP OF LONDON
THE RT. HON. THE LORD LISTER LIONEL CtMT, ESQ., M.V.O..M.A., T n o p
T n t i~ i , T 1 c ^ ^ ** k LAI t, I 'K. Ol Unnb. iJlsMOr Or
Late President of the Royal Society f.o.A., ETC.
r r T T ^T' T Dire c tor of the National Portrait Galle ry
THE RT. HON. THE LORD THE LATE LORD ACTON
ALVERSTONE, G.C.M.G. ALBERT C. L. G. GUNTHER, M.A. ,
Lord Chief Justice F.R.S., M.D., PH.D. THE LATE SIR WILLIAM FLOWER
THE HON. WALTER ROTHSCHILD, Late President of the Lmnean Society THE LATE PROFESSOR YoRK
M.P. F. HAVERFI ELD, Esq., M.A. , F.S.A. POWELL
/-. i r i- /-ir- ( H. ARTHUR DOUBLEDAY
General Editors of the Series < ,,. c .
( 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 all are now out of date. Moreover they were
the work of one or two isolated scholars, who, however able, 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
several hundred, for 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 SCOPE OF THE WORK
The history of each county will be complete in itself, and its story will be told from the
earliest times, commencing witli the natural features and the flora and fauna. Thereafter will
follow the antiquities, pre-Roman, Roman and post-Roman ; a new translation and critical
study of the Domesday Survey ; articles on political, ecclesiastical, social and economic history ;
architecture, arts, industries, biography, folk-lore and sport. The greater part of each history
will be 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 will
be compiled from original documents in the national collections and from private papers. A
special feature will be the wealth of illustrations afforded, for not only will all buildings of
interest be pictured, but the coats of arms of past and present landowners will be given.
HISTORICAL RESEARCH
It has always been, and still is, a reproach to us 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. But this again is
directly attributable to the absence in this country of any endowment for historical research
such as is to be found among other cultured nations. The government of this country has
always left to private enterprise work which our continental 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 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
is engaged at the Public Record Office in calendaring those classes of records which are most
fruitful in material for local history, and by a system of interchange of communication among
local editors each county gains a mass of information which otherwise would be lost.
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.
VV. J. HARDY, F.S.A. S. R. SCARGILL-BIRD, F.S.A.
F. MADAN, M.A. W. H. STEVENSON, M.A.
F. MAITLAND, M.A., F.S.A. G. F. WARNER, M.A., F.S.A.
Many archaeological, historical and other societies are assisting in the compilation of this
work ; and local supervision and aid are secured by the formation in each county of a County
Committee, the president of which is in nearly all cases the Lord Lieutenant.
The names of the distinguished men who have joined the Advisory Council arc a
guarantee that the work will represent the results of the latest discoveries in every department
of research. It will be observed that among them are representatives of science ; for the
whole trend of modern thought, as influenced by the theory of evolution, favours the intelli-
gent 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.
via
Family History will, both in the Histories and in the supplemental volumes of chart
pedigrees, be dealt with by genealogical experts and in the modern spirit. Every effort will be
made to secure accuracy of statement, and to avoid the insertion of those legendary pedigrees
which have in the past brought discredit on the whole 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 England,' and that it can render the historian useful service.
Heraldry will also in this Series occupy a prominent position, and the splendours of the
coat-armour borne in the Middle Ages will be illustrated in colours on a scale that has never
been attempted before.
The general plan of Contents, and the names of the Sectional Editors (who will
co-operate with local workers in every case) are as follows :
Natural History.
Palaeontology. Edited by R. LYDIICKER, F.R.S., etc.
/Contributions by G. A. BOULENGER, F.R.S., F. O. PICKARD-CAMBKIDGE, M.A., H. N. DIXON, F.L.S.,
Flora I G. C. DRUCE, M.A., F.L.S., WALTER GARSTANG, M.A., F.L.S., HERBERT Goss, F.L.S., F.E.S.,
Fauna | R - ' P ">C K > &* T.R. R. STUBBING, M.A., F.R.S., etc., 15. B. WOODWARD, F.G.S., F.R.M.S.,
V etc., and other Specialists
Prehistoric Remains. Edited by W. BOVD DAWKINS, D.Sc., LL.D., F.R.S., F.S.A.
Roman Remains. Edited by F. HAVERFIELD, M.A., F.S.A.
Anglo-Saxon Remains. Edited by C. HERCULES READ, F.S.A., and REGINALD A. SMITH, B.A., F.S.A.
Ethnography. Edited by G. LAURENCE GOMME, F.S.A.
Dialect. Edited by JOSEPH WRIGHT, M.A., Ph.D.
Place Names "|
Folklore V Contributed by Various Authorities
Physical Types J
Domesday Book and other kindred Record;. Edited by J. HORACE Rotsn, M.A.
Architecture. By Various Authorities. The Sections on the Cathedrals and Monastic Remains Edited by
W. H. ST. JOHN HOPE, M.A.
Ecclesiastical History. Edited by R. L. POOLE, M.A.
Political History. Edited by W. H. STEVENSON, M.A., J. HORACE ROUND, M.A., Peer. T. F. TOUT, !\!.A.,
JAMES TAIT, M.A., and C. H. FIRTH, M.A.
History of Schools. Edited by A. F. LEACH, M.A., F.S.A.
Maritime History of Coast Counties. Edited by J. K. LAUGHTON, M.A., and M. OrrtNHEiM
Topographical Accounts of Parishes and Manors. By Various Authorities
History of the Feudal Baronage. Edited by J. HORACE ROUND, M.A., and OSWALD BARRON, F.S.A.
Family History and Heraldry. Edited by OSWALD BARRON, F.S.A.
Agriculture. Edited by SIR ERNEST CCARKF., M.A., Sec. to the Royal Agricultural Society
Forestry. Edited by JOHN NISBET, D.Otc.
Industries, Arts and Manufactures "|
Social and Economic History .- By Various Authorities
Persons Eminent in Art, Literature, Science J
Ancient and Modern Sport. Edited by the L)ukt or BEAUFORT and E. D. CUMINS
Hunting }
Shooting J- By Various Authorities
Fishing, etc. J
Cricket. Edited by HOME GORDON
Football. Edited by C. W. ALCOCJ
Bibliographies
Indexes
Names of the Subscribers
ILLUSTRATIONS
Among the many thousands of subjects illustrated will be castles, cathedrals and churches,
mansions and manor houses, moot halls and market halls, family portraits, etc. Particular
attention will be given to the beautiful and quaint examples of architecture which, through
decay or from other causes, are in danger of disappearing. The best examples of church
brasses, coloured glass, and monumental effigies will be depicted. The Series will also contain
1 60 pictures in photogravure, showing the characteristic scenery of the counties.
I ix b
CARTOGRAPHY
Each History will contain Archaeological, Domesday, and Geological maps ; maps show-
ing the Orography, and the Parliamentary and Ecclesiastical divisions ; and the map done by
Speed in 1610. The Series will contain about four hundred maps in all.
FAMILY HISTORY AND HERALDRY
The Histories will contain, in the Topographical Section, manorial pedigrees, and
accounts of the noble and gentle families connected with the local history ; and it is proposed
to trace, wherever possible, their descendants in the Colonies and the United States of
America. The Editors will be glad to receive information which may be of service to them
in this branch of the work. The chart family pedigrees and the arms of the families
mentioned in the Heralds' Visitations will be issued in a supplemental volume for each county.
The Rolls of Arms are being completely collated for this work, and all the feudal coats
will be given in colours. The arms of the local families will also be represented in connection
with the Topographical Section.
In order to secure the greatest possible accuracy in the descriptions of the Architecture,
ecclesiastic, military and domestic, a committee has been formed of the following students of
architectural history, who will supervise this department of the work :
ARCHITECTURAL COMMITTEE
J. BII.SON, F.S.A., F.R.I.B.A. W. H. ST. JOHN HOPE, M.A.
R. BLOMHEI.U W. H. KNOWLES, F.S.A., F.R.I.B.A.
HAROLD BRAKSPEAR, A.R.I.B.A. J. T. MICKLETHWAITE, F.S.A.
PROF. BALDWIN BROWN, M.A. ROLAND PAUL
ARTHUR S. FLOWER, F.S.A. , A.R.I.B.A. J. HORACE ROUND, M.A.
GEORGE E. Fox, M.A., F.S.A. PERCY G. STONE, F.S.A., F.R.I.B.A.
J. A. GOTCH, F.S.A., F.R.I.B.A. THACKERAY TURNER
A special feature in connection with the Architecture will be a series of coloured ground
plans showing the architectural history of castles, cathedrals and other monastic foundations.
Plans of the most important country mansions will also be included.
The issue of this work is limited to udariben anfy, iv/jost names will be printed at the end of
each History.
THE
VICTORIA HISTORY
OF THE COUNTY OF
WARWICK
VOLUME ONE
JAMES STREET
HAYMARKET
1904
DA
70
County Committee for Wlarwfcftsbire.
THE RT. HON. THE LORD LEIGH, P.C.
Lord Lieutenant t Chairman
THE MOST HON. THE MARQUESS OF W. TANKERVILLE CHAMBERLAYNE, ESQ.,
HERTFORD D.L., J.r.
THE MOST HON. THE MARQUESS OF JETHRO A. COSSINS, ESQ.
NORTHAMPTON WILLIAM PARK DICKINS, ESQ., D.L., J.P.
THE RT. HON. THE EARL OF DENBIGH j K WINGFIELD DIGBV, ESQ., M.P.
THE RT. HON. THE EARL OF AYLESFORD J OHN s DUGDALE, ESQ., K.C., D.L., J.P.
THE RT. HON. THE EARL OF WARWICK FIELD, ESQ.
THE RT. HON. THE LORD ERNEST SEY- C ORRIE GRANT, ESQ., M.P.
PHILIP J. CANNING HOWARD, ESQ., J.P.
THE RT. REV. THE LORD BISHOP OF
GEORGE CAPF.WF.I.L HUGHES, ESQ., J.P.
WORCESTER
THOMAS KEMP, ESQ., J.P.
THE RT. HON. ALFRED LYTTLETON, P.C.,
M.P. BOLTON KING, ESQ.
THE HON. H. ARDEN ADDERLEY, D.L., H. R. FAIRFAX-LUCY, ESQ.
T P
CHARLES MURRAY, ESQ., M.P.
SIR SPENCER P. MARYON-WILSON, BART.
FRANCIS A. NF.WDIGATE, ,SQ., M.P., D.L.,
SIR T. G. BIDDULPH, BART. j p
THE RT. REV. THE BISHOP OF COVENTRY j. w. RYLAND, ESQ., F.S.A., J.P.
THE RT. REV. DR. PEROWNE (LATE BISHOP R FITZ-JAMES SAWYER, ESQ.
OF WORCESTER)
FREDERICK TOWNSEND, ESQ., F.L.S., D.L.,
SIR BENJAMIN STONE, M.P. j.p.
THE REV. J. HARVEY BLOOM, M.A. C. A. VINCE, ESQ.
W. SALT BRASSINGTON, ESQ., F.S.A. BENJAMIN WALKER, ESQ., A.R.I.B.A.
W. F. CARTER, ESQ. PROF. B. C. A. WINDLE
W. F. S. DUGDALE, ESQ., Hon. Sec. to the County Committee
CONTENTS OF VOLUME ONE
PAGE
fisory Council of the Victoria History .......
vii
. vii
rwickshire County Committee .......
xiii
[lustrations ............
" Abbreviations .
XX
Dedication
The Adi
General
The Wa
Contents
List of
Preface
Table
Natural History
Geology .....
Palaeontology ....
Botany .....
Zoology
Mollusca (Snails, etc.)
Insecta (Insects)
Odonata ....
Hymenoptera (Bees, etc.)
Coleoptera (Beetles)
Lepidoptera (Moths).
Diptera (Flies)
Hcmiptera Heteroptera (Bugs,
tic.) . .
Arachnids (Spiders) , ,
Crustacea (Crabs, etc.)
Pisces (Fishes) ....
Reptilia (Reptiles) and
Batrachia (Batrachians) .
Aves (Birds) ....
Mammalia (Mammals) . .
Early Man .....
Romano-British Remains . . .
Anglo-Saxon Remains
Introduction to the Warwickshire
Domesday ....
Text of the Warwickshire Domesday .
Ancient Earthworks.
Index to the Warwickshire Domesday
By T. C. CANTRILL ...... i
By RICHARD LYDEKKER, F.R.S. .... 29
By J. E. BACNALL, A.L.S. ... -33
By B. B. WOODWARD, F.G.S., F.R.M.S. . . 67
Edited by COLBRAN J. WAINWRIGHT, F.E.S. . . 69
By R. C. BRADLEY and COLBRAN J. WAINWRIGHT,
F.E.S. . . 73
By A. H. MARTINEAU, F.E.S. .... 73
By H. WILLOUGHBY ELLIS, F.E.S. .... 77
By COLBRAN J. WAINWRIGHT, F.E.S. . . .124
... 150
By H. WILLOUGHBY ELLIS, F.E.S 165
By F. O. PICKARD-CAMBRIDGE, M.A. . . .167
By the Rev. T. R. R. STEBBINC, M.A., F.R.S., F.L.S. 171
By R. F. TOMES, F.G.S., Corr. Mem. Z.S. . .184
187
189
208
By GEORGE CLINXH, F.G.S. .
By F. HAVERKIELD, M.A., F.S.A. .
By REGINALD A. SMITH, B.A., F.S.A.
By J. HORACE ROUND, M.A.
By W. F. CARTER, B.A.
By WILLOUGHBY GARDNER, F.L.S. .
xv
223
251
269
299
345
47
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS
PAGE
Warwick Castle. By WILLIAM HYDE ......... frontispiece
Palaeolithic Implement from Saltley . . \
Perforated Hammerstone from Sutton Coldfield !-.... full-page plate, facing 2 1 4
Bronze Dagger from New Bilton . . 1
Celt of White Flint found at Long Compton . . . . . . . . .216
Pottery found in a barrow near Oldbury Camp . . . . . . . .219
at Brandon . .219
Bronze Discs from Chesterton-on-Fossway . . . . . . . . . .220
Late Celtic Ornament illustrating the 'returning spiral' .... 22 5
Romano-British Pottery (Rugby School Museum) . . . full-page plate, facing 230
Plan of Manduessedum and surroundings . . .233
Chesterton Camp .... 2 35
Fragment of Romano-British Sculpture (Alcester Rectory) . . . full-page plate, facing 236
Cinerary Urn, Cestersover (Churchover) . . 2 53
Jewel found near Rugby. .... 2 54
Cinerary Urn, Brinklow ..... .256
Anglo-Saxon Remains from Warwickshire coloured plate, facing 258
Ancient Earthworks
Beaudesert ... 35 6
Beausale ... -357
Brailes .... 35
Brandon -359
Brinklow .... .360
Brownsover .... 33
Castle Bromwich ... 3 6 5
Chesterton .... 3"?
Churchover. . . 3 68
Claverdon .... -369
Corley . . 37'
Coughton . . ... 372
Edgbaston . . -373
Fillongley ... -375
Hartshill -37<5
Ilmington . . ... . . 377
Ipsley -378
Kenilworth .380
Kineton ..... 3 8 3
Ladbroke -383
Lapworth 3 8 5
I xvii <'
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS
Ancient Earthworks (continued) PACK
Loiley . . .......... 387
Mancetter ....... 387
Ratley .... 389
Seckington ............... 391
Sheldon 392
Solihull, Bury Mound 393
Solihull, Hob's Moat 395
Tachbrook ............... 396
Tanworth ............... 399
Wappenbury ............ . . 401
Warwick ............... 403
Wolford, Great . . ......... 405
LIST OF MAPS
Geological Map ... . . .... between xxiv, I
Orographical Map ........... ., 24, 25
Botanical Map . . . . . . . . . . . 32, 33
Pre-Historical Map . . . . 212, 213
Romano-British Map ........ 222, 223
Anglo-Saxon Map 250, 251
Domesday Map . . . . . 298, 299
Earthworks Map f ac ; ng ^
xviti
PREFACE
WARWICKSHIRE enjoys the distinction of being the first
county whose antiquities formed the subject of an exhaustive
County History. Although Stow with his Survey of London
and Norden with his design for a complete series of county histories, and
a few others, were Sir William Dugdale's predecessors by half a century,
their work is not quite on the same plane with the latter's Antiquities of
Warwickshire, which saw the light in 1656. On this publication was
brought to bear not only the intimate local knowledge of a native of the
county, but the genius and industry which made its author perhaps the
greatest antiquary England has produced.
Although it is possible after a lapse of two and a half centuries to
supplement and correct Dugdale's work, it will be evident from the
frequent references to him in these pages how much the modern historian
is indebted to his predecessor's researches.
The present undertaking differs in many respects from Dugdale's
history, and for details as to its scope the reader is referred to the General
Advertisement on p. vii.
The Editors have to thank the Rev. J. Harvey Bloom for reading
the proofs of some of the articles in this volume and for his courtesy and
assistance in various directions. They are also under special obligations
to Mr. Benjamin Walker, A.R.I.B.A., for compiling the Domesday map,
and for many useful suggestions made by him in the course of reading
the proofs of the text of the Survey. For the use of some of the illustra-
tions in this volume the editors are indebted to Sir John Evans, K.C.B.,
and the Society of Antiquaries.
XIX
TABLE OF ABBREVIATIONS
Abbrev. Plac. (Rec.
Com.)
Acts of P.C. . .
Add ......
Add. Chart. . .
Admir .....
Agarde ....
Anct. Corrcsp. .
Anct. D. (P.R.O.)
A 2420
Antiq .....
Arch
Arch. Cant.
Archd. Rcc.
Archit
Assize R.
Aud. Off. .
Aug. Off. .
Ayloffe . .
Bed. . .
Beds . .
Berks .
Bdle. .
B.M. .
Bodl. Lib.
Boro.
Brev. Reg.
Brit.
Buck. .
Bucks
Cal. .
Camb.
Cambr.
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
Chartul.
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
Antiquarian or Antiquaries
Appendix
Archaeologia or Archsological
Archzologia Cantiana
Archdeacon's 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.
Canterbury
Chapter
Carlisle
Cartx Antiquae Rolls
Corpus Christ! 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
Chartulary
Chas
Ches
Chest
Ch. Gds. (Exch.
K.R.)
Chich
Chron
Close . . . .
Co
Colch
Coll
Com
Com. Picas .
Conf. R. . . .
Co. Plac. . . .
Cornw
Corp
Cott
Ct. R
Ct. of Wards . .
Cumb
Cur. Reg. .
D. and C. . . .
De Bane. R. . .
Dec. and Ord.
Dep. Keeper's Rep.
Derb
Devon ....
Doc
Dods. MSS. . .
Dom. Bk. . . .
Dors
Duchy of Lane.
Dur
East
Eccl
Eccl. Com. . .
Edw
Eliz
Engl
Engl. Hist. Rev. .
Epis. Reg. .
Esch. Enr. Accts. .
Excerpta e Rot. Fin.
(Rec. Com.)
Exch. Dep. . .
Exch. K.B. . .
Exch. K.R. . .
Exch. L.T.R. . .
Exch. of Pleas, Plea
R.
Exch. of Receipt .
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
Dean and Chapter
De Banco Rolls
Decrees and Orders
Deputy Keeper's Reports
Derbyshire or Derby
Devonshire
Documents
Dodsworth MSS.
Domesday Book
Dorsetshire
Duchy of Lancaster
Durham
Easter Term
Ecclesiastical
Ecclesiastical Commission
Edward
Elizabeth
England or English
English Historical Review
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
Exchequer of Pleas, Plea Roll
Exchequer of Receipt
TABLE OF ABBREVIATIONS
Exch. Spec. Com. Exchequer Special Commis-
Feet of F. . . .
Feod. Accts. (Ct.
of Wards)
Feod. Surv. (Ct. of
Wards)
Feud. Aids . . .
fol
Foreign R. . .
Forest Proc. . .
Gen
Geo
Glouc
Guild Certif.
(Chan.) Ric. II.
Hants ....
Harl
Hen
Heref. ....
Hertf. ....
Herts ....
Hil
Hist.
Hist. MSS. Com.
Hosp .....
Hund. R. . . .
Hunt. . . * . .
Hunts . . . .
Inq. a.q.d. .
Inq. p.m. .
Inst ......
Invent .....
Itin
Jas. .
Journ.
Lamb. Lib.
Lane
L. and P. Hen.
VIII.
Lansd
Ld. Rev. Rec. . .
Leic
Le Neve's Ind.
Lib
Lich
Line
Lond. . .
m. . . .
Mem. . .
Memo. R. .
Mich. . .
Midd. . .
Mins. Accts.
Feet of Fines
Feodaries Accounts (Court of
Wards)
Feodaries Surveys (Court of
Wards)
Feudal Aids
Folio
Foreign Rolls
Forest Proceedings
Genealogical, Genealogica,
etc.
George
Gloucestershire or Gloucester
Guild Certificates (Chancery)
Richard II.
Hampshire
Harley 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 dam
num
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
Memoranda Rolls
Michaelmas Term
Middlesex
Ministers' Accounts
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. . .
Off. . .
Orig. R.
Oxf. .
Palmer's Ind. .
Pal. of Chest. . .
Pal. ofDur. . .
Pal. of Lane. . .
Par
Parl
Parl. R
Parl. Surv. .
Partic. for Gts.
Pat
P.C.C
Peterb
Phil
PipeR
Plea R
Pope Nich. Tax.
(Rec. Com.)
P.R.O
Proc
Proc. Soc. Antiq. .
Pt
Pub. .
R
Rec. . . .
Recov. R. . .
Rentals and Surv.
Rep
Rev
Ric
Roff. . . .
Rot. Cur. Reg.
Rut. .
Sarum
Ser. .
Sess. R.
Shrews.
Miscellaneous Book (Ex-
chequer King's Remem-
brancer, Exchequer Trea-
sury of Receipt or Aug-
mentation Office)
Monastery, Monasticon
Monmouth
Muniments or Munimcnta
Museum
Notes and Queries
Norfolk
Northampton
Northamptonshire
Northumberland
Norwich
Nottinghamshire or Notting-
ham
New Style
Office
Originalia Rolls
Oxfordshire or Oxford
Page
Palmer's Indices
Palatinate of Chester
Palatinate of Durham
Palatinate of Lancaster
Parish, Parochial, etc.
Parliament or Parliamentary
Parliament Rolls
Parliamentary Surveys
Particulars for Grants
Patent Roll or Letters Patent
Prerogative Court of Canter-
bury
Peterborough
Philip
Pipe Roll
Plea Rolls
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
Rochester diocese
Rotuli Curia: Regis
Rutland
Salisbury diocese
Series
Sessions Rolls
Shrewsbury
TABLE OF ABBREVIATIONS
Shrops . . . .
Soc
Soc. Antiq. . .
Somers
Somcrs. Ho. . .
S.P. Dom. . . .
Staff. . . . .
Star Chamb. Proc.
Sut
Steph
Subs. R. . . .
Suff.
Surr
Suss
Surv. of Ch. Liv-
ings (Lamb.) or
(Chan.)
Topog
Trans. .
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)
Topography or Topographi-
cal
Transactions
Transl Translation
Treas Treasury or Treasurer
Trin Trinity Term
Univ University
Valor Eccl. (Rec. Valor Ecclesiasticus (Record
Com.) Commission)
Vet. Mon. . . . Vetusta Monumenta
V.C.H Victoria County History
Vic Victoria
vol Volume
Warw. ,
Westm. ,
Will. .
Wilts .
Winton.
Wore.
Yorks
Warwickshire or Warwick
Westminster
William
Wiltshire
Winchester diocese
Worcestershire or Worcester
Yorkshire
zzu
A HISTORY OF
WARWICKSHIRE
GEOLOGY
I
beginnings of the history of our county are to be found
written on the stony tablets of the rocks, in records by the side
of which the Saxon chronicle, the Roman epitaph, are nothing
but the closing passages of a many-chaptered story.
Through a study of the various operations by which to-day the
materials of the land are everywhere being worn down, carried away by
streams, and redeposited in seas and lakes as beds of gravel, as sandbanks,
or as mudflats, it is possible in some measure not only to realize the
physical conditions which prevailed in our district in those far-off ages,
but also to people again those ancient waters with their shelly denizens,
and to form some idea of the animal and vegetable inhabitants of those
long since vanished lands.
For the beds of sandstone, clay, and limestone which make up the
bulk of our Warwickshire rocks are comparable in all respects with
accumulations forming at the present day ; they were for the most part
laid down in estuaries, seas and lakes ; and many of the inhabitants of the
waters, and not a few of the animals, insects, and plants from the adjacent
land became entombed in the gathering sediments. In the course of
ages these areas of deposition by slow upheaval have been more than
once converted into land ; and it is clear that these new lands would
consist of layers of hardened sediments (' stratified' rocks), and that the
entombed organic remains would be the ' fossils ' of succeeding times.
And so long as any particular part of our area stood up as a land-tract
above the waters, there the continuity of deposit would be broken ;
certain beds would be missing. Subsequent submergence of the whole
area would result in the burying of everything under newer sheets
of sediment which, while resting unconformably on the worn-down
ruins of the old land-mass, would have a closer parallelism to the
deposits immediately preceding themselves. In the sequel we shall
meet with several instances of these great gaps in the geological suc-
cession.
Further, by a knowledge of the physical and climatic conditions
specially favourable to certain forms of life of to-day, we arrive at some
idea of the state of things prevalent in our area during the formation of
many of these fossiliferous rocks, and can distinguish marine from
lacustrine deposits, and deep-water formations from those laid down
along a shore. As we examine in succession the ascending series
of sediments it is found too that there has been a steady change in
A HISTORY OF WARWICKSHIRE
the character of the dominant faunas and floras ; whole groups of
animals and plants once abundant in our district now occupy a very
subordinate position or are even extinct in Britain, and indeed in many
cases have entirely ceased to exist.
We arrive then at this important principle that different strata
are characterized by fossils peculiar to each ; and in accordance with
this rule the stratified rocks of the earth-crust have been classified into
some ten or twelve distinct divisions or systems, each marked by a
peculiar assemblage of fossils by means of which far-distant exposures of
rocks of the same system can be identified. The great divisions are
still further divided into groups and stages, the smallest of which are
however of purely local value.
The rocks of Warwickshire belong some to the oldest, some to the
newest of these systems ; but there are great gaps in the series the
rocks elsewhere present either were not deposited in our area, or, if laid
down, were afterwards wholly removed.
The table on page 3 shows in descending order the various systems
of rocks represented in Warwickshire.
An examination of the geological map will show that these rocks
are by no means equally important so far as the constitution of the
surface of our county is concerned ; in this respect the red rocks of the
Trias have the pre-eminence. These occupy the greater part of the
surface, while the succeeding Jurassic beds form a smaller fringe on the
south and south-east borders. Projecting through an extensive aperture
in the red Triassic coverlet are the so-called Permians and the Coal
Measures of the Warwickshire coalfield, while from below the latter
emerge the Cambrian and still older Archaean rocks of Nuneaton.
Irregularly spread over the uneven surface formed by the edges or
outcrops of all these ' solid ' rocks are the superficial Pleistocene deposits,
while the most recent of all are the still-forming alluvial tracts bordering
the present rivers.
The surface-relief of the district is nowhere very bold ; the county
forms part of an undulating plain bordered along its south-eastern and
southern sides by the higher ridges and plateaux near Daventry, Edge
Hill, and Chipping Norton. This same elevated tract circles round the
Vale of Moreton and at Chipping Campden merges into the northern
Cotteswolds ; it is formed by the tattered edge of the great sheet of
Jurassic deposits which occupies much of the adjacent country to the
south-east. That this edge or escarpment is gradually retreating in that
direction is shown by its having left several isolated patches or ' outliers '
some miles in its rear, as for instance at Ebrington Hill, at Brailes, and
at Knowle.
These Jurassic limestones and sandstones overlook the less elevated
grounds of the Lower Lias and Trias, not only because they were super-
posed on them originally, but also by reason of their own greater
durability, not being so easily washed away by rain and streams.
Indeed it may be laid down as an axiom that the harder rocks will be
GEOLOGY
Period
Formation
Character of the strata
Approximate
thickness
in feet
Recent
Alluvium
Gravel, sand, loam, clay, and
peat, along present streams . up to 2O ?
Pleistocene
Brickearth, Valley Gravel
Glacial Drift .
Loam, sand, and gravel of old
river-courses up to 2O ?
Sand, gravel, stony clay ;
boulders of distant rocks . up to i oo ?
Jurassic
Great Oolite Series .
Inferior Oolite Series.
f Upper . . .
Lias ] Middle. . .
V Lower .
Oolitic limestones and clays,
with sandstones . . . . 80 to 100
Oolitic limestones, with sands
and calcareous sandstone . 80 to 1 50
Clay and shale, with limestones
and calcareous sandstones . 120
Hard ferruginous limestone,
sands and shales .... 280
Clays and shales, with clayey
limestones in lower part . up to 960
Rhaetic
Marl
Keuper
Triassic
Bunter -
Sandstone
Upper .
Middle.
? Lower
White and grey limestones, dark
shales, and yellow sandstone
Red marl, mottled green ;
green and buff (20 to 30
feet) at summit ....
Red and brown sandstones and
marls
Fine red sandstone, without
pebbles
Pebbly red sandstone, with
pebble-beds
Yellow sandstone, without
pebbles
' Permian ' of Salopian type .
Car-
boniferous
Coal Measures-
Newer (barren)
measures .
Older (produc-
tive) measures
Red sandstones and marls, with
limestone-conglomerate .
Sandstones and shales, with
brick-clays and Spirorbis
limestones
Sandstones and shales, with
seams of coal, ironstone, and
30 to 40
600 to 700
150 to 200
200
250 to 350
2,000
I,OOO
fireclay ,
Cambrian
Upper : Stockingford Shales
Lower : Hartshill Quartzite
Grey, black, and purple shales 2,000
Grey quartzites and sandstones,
with purple and grey shales
and a thin limestone. . . 600
Archaean
Uriconian and Upper Long-
myndian. Caldecote series .
Volcanic breccias, tuffs, and ~\ ? several
grits ) hundred
/Diorites(Camptonites) ;
Intrusive post -Cambrian but
Igneous ! pre-Carboniferous
Rocks Porphyritic Basalt ; of
V. pre-Cambrian age .
Of -various
ages
[Crystalline igneous rocks
A HISTORY OF WARWICKSHIRE
found to form elevations, just as the knots in the planking of an old
floor always stand up above the general surface. We accordingly find
that the hard quartzites and diorites of the Cambrian rocks occupy the
ridge extending from Nuneaton to Atherstone ; the durable pebble-beds
of the so-called Permian rocks produce a well-marked feature at Corley
(625 feet above sea-level) ; while the Bunter pebble-beds and Keuper
building-stones generally give rise to picturesque wooded scarps.
We shall now proceed to a consideration of the various sheets of
rock which have built up the earth-crust of our district, commencing
with the lowest and oldest visible layer. 1
ARCH^AN
On the north-eastern borders of the county, in the neighbourhood
of Nuneaton, occurs a narrow strip of volcanic rocks, the Caldecote
Series, which have been shown within the last few years to be of
Archasan (i.e. pre-Cambrian) age. In the Geological Survey map 2 and
accompanying memoir 3 the rocks in question were called * greenstone '
and were regarded as probably intrusive, like the diorites in the over-
lying Cambrian rocks, and were not assigned to any definite age. The
discovery by Professor Lapworth in 1882 of Upper Cambrian fossils in
the black shales of Stockingford restricted the age of the Caldecote rocks
to the Cambrian and pre-Cambrian periods. These discoveries were
embodied by Mr. A. Strahan in a revised issue of the Survey map in
1886, in which the Caldecote Series tuffs, quartz-porphyry, and
diabase were separately distinguished, but were classed as ' igneous '
without being assigned to any definite period.
The recent determination of a Lower Cambrian fauna in the Harts-
hill Quartzite itself (see Table, p. 3), together with the lapse of time
suggested firstly by the contrast between the general lithological character
of the quartzite and that of the underlying Caldecote Series, and
secondly by the occurrence of abundant detritus of the latter in the
basement beds of the quartzite, make it practically incontestable that the
Caldecote rocks are pre-Cambrian in age.
The outcrop, less than a quarter of a mile wide, commences near
the Midland Railway station at Nuneaton, and can be traced by small
occasional exposures in a north-westerly direction for nearly two miles.
The beds pass unconformably under the Cambrian rocks on the west,
and are faulted against and unconformably covered by the Trias on the
north-east. As was first recognized by Professor Lapworth, 4 they con-
1 For the chief publications relating to the geology of Warwickshire the reader is referred to a
List of Works on the Geology, Mineralogy, and Paleontology of Staffordshire, Worcestershire, and
Warwickshire, by W. Whitaker, in the Report of the British Association for 1885 ; to the Geological
Record, edited by W. Whitaker, for 1874-84; and to Professor Blake's Annals of British Geology
for 1890-3. Some later papers will be found in the 'Geological Literature added to the Geological
Society s Library, published annually, also in 'A Sketch of the Geology of the Birmingham District,'
by Professors Lapworth and Watts and Mr. W. J. Harrison, Pne. Geol. Assoc. xv. (1898), pp. 313-416.
Old Sen* 63 S.W. (,8 SS ). Howell, The Warwickshire Coalfield (i^, 1 7. '
Geol. Mag. (1882), p. 563 ; (1886), p. 3,9 ; and Proc. Geol. Assoc. xv. (1898); 330.
4
GEOLOGY
sist of sheets of volcanic breccia, tuffs, and volcanic grits, with a few
intrusive dykes of basic rock.
The lowest beds of the series are some coarse breccias met with in
a disused road near the Anchor Inn. The more compact tuffs with the
aspect of brecciated quartz-felsites are exposed in Mr. Abel's Long
Quarry immediately south of Hartshill Grange, and remarkably fine-
grained tuffs are to be seen in the sides of an old tunnel 100 yards west
of Caldecote Hill House, where, according to Mr. Strahan, the bedding
planes dip at 25 to 30 in the same direction as those of the overlying
quartzite, that is, about south-west.
An intrusive basic rock, a porphyritic basalt according to Professor
Watts, 1 takes the form of a dyke which intrudes upon and partly over-
lies the ashes, and is exposed in an old paving-cube quarry known as the
Blue Hole, about a quarter of a mile east of Caldecote Windmill. The
rock into which it intrudes has the appearance of a quartz-porphyry,
but Professor Watts, who describes it as the ' quartz-felspar rock,' is
inclined to regard it as a tuff.* A similar and possibly the same dyke
of porphyritic basalt traverses the ' quartz-felspar rock ' at the entrance
to Mr. Abel's quarry near Hartshill Grange.
Professor Lapworth is of opinion that the Caldecote rocks are
theoretically paralleled with the Upper Longmyndian and Uriconian
groups of Shropshire. 3
From the foregoing details it will be seen that the earliest and
lowest Warwickshire deposits were produced by the agency of volcanoes.
Exactly where these were situated it is as yet impossible to say, but in
the Charnwood district, a few miles to the north-east, there are con-
siderable masses of somewhat similar volcanic materials, though it is
thought that these are of an earlier date ; here, according to Professor
Bonney, we have the site of a volcanic cone or group of cones which
threw out dust and fragmentary materials into adjacent shallow lakes
or lagoons. 4 It seems likely that at this time the area which is now
Britain was occupied by an archipelago of small volcanic islands. Such
conditions were not perhaps highly favourable to the existence of
living beings in the surrounding waters ; nevertheless life was not
entirely absent, for a few fossil worm-burrows have been discovered
in some of the Charnwood rocks, though none has yet been met with
in the Caldecote beds.
CAMBRIAN
After a while this low-lying tract of volcanic islands subsided
beneath the waters and was in part covered by several thousand feet of
Cambrian sands and muds. These, the lowest rocks in which fossils
occur in any abundance, are found to overlie the Archaean rocks in the
1 Pnc. Geol. AIIOC. xv. (1898), 391.
* Watts, op. cit. p. 392. See also Rutley, Geol. Mag. (1886), p. 557 ; and Waller, ibid. p. 322.
8 Lapworth, Pnc. Geol. dsioc. xv. (1898), 327.
* A. J. Jukes-Browne, The Building of the British Isles, ed. 2 (1892), pp. 29-32.
5
A HISTORY OF WARWICKSHIRE
neighbourhood of Nuneaton. They consist of a lower sandy division,
the Hartshill Quartzite, and an upper shaly division known as the
Stockingford Shales.
In 1829 they were classed by Yates ' as of Silurian age, on account
of the resemblance of the quartzite to that of the Lickey Hills near
Bromsgrove. Subsequently however they were put into the Carboni-
ferous system; 1 the Stockingford Shales, which seemed to be perfectly
conformable with the overlying Coal Measures, were thought to be an
unproductive group of that formation, while the Hartshill Quartzite
was held to be a metamorphosed representative of the Millstone Grit.
No fossils had then been obtained from either of the two divisions,
and some of the shales have a decided coal-measure aspect. It is
evident however that Jukes 3 recognized their Silurian or even pre-
Silurian age.
But the discovery in 1882 by Professor Lapworth * of a number of
fossils in the Stockingford Shales characteristic of the Lingula Flags of
the Upper Cambrian (then classed as Lower Silurian by the Geological
Survey) finally settled the age of the higher of the two sub-divisions ;
and in confirmation of these discoveries the revised issue of the Survey
map in 1886 represented the Shales and with them the Quartzite as
Lower Silurian.
It still remained desirable to determine on independent evidence
the age of the Quartzite. This has since been rendered clear by the
recent discovery in its higher beds of a fauna highly suggestive of the
O/ene//us-zone of the Lower Cambrian of other regions ; and as Professor
Lapworth points out, ' it now appears exceedingly probable that the
whole of the Cambrian system is represented here in an attenuated
form.' 6
The Cambrian outcrop of Nuneaton extends from near Bedworth
on the south-east to Merevale on the north-west, a distance of about
eight miles, the greatest width being about a mile. The beds dip
generally in a south-west direction at angles varying from 20 to 45,
having been tilted up by crumpling of the earth-crust at some time
subsequent to their deposition. The upper beds pass unconformably
under the Coal Measures of the adjacent coalfield, while the lowest beds
rest unconformably on the Archaean rocks already described.
From base to summit the beds are pierced by dykes and sills of
intrusive diorite (camptonite), and the whole outcrop on account of the
relative durability of the rocks forms a low ridge of picturesque and
wooded country.
The rocks are divisible in the following manner, in descending
order:
1 Tram. Geol. Soc. ser. t, ii. 237.
* Geol Survey map, 63 S.W. (1855); also Howell, The Warwickshire Coalfield,' Mem. Geol.
Surrey (1859), p. 8.
'The South Staffordshire Coalfield,' Mem. Geol. Survey, ed. 2 (1850), p. 134..
* Geol. Mag. (1882), p. 563.
8 Pnc. Geol. Atioc. xv. (1898), 338.
6
Stockingford Shales -
Hartshill Quartzite
GEOLOGY
Merevale Shales.
Oldbury Shales.
Purley Shales.
Camp Hill Quartzite with Hyolite Limestone.
Tuttle Hill Quartzite.
Park Hill Quartzite.
The Hartshill Quartzite consists of well bedded highly siliceous
sandstones, usually of a pale pinkish colour ; the rock is very hard, and
according to Mr. Strahan 1 a prepared cubic inch crushes at a pressure
of 24,000 Ib. The beds vary in thickness from a few inches to four or
five feet. Frequent thin seams of shales occur ; a double band marks
the summit of the Park Hill Quartzite, and another separates the middle
and upper sub-divisions. ' Worm-burrows ' are the only fossils found
in the two lower sub-divisions, but the Camp Hill Quartzite has yielded
a small but interesting fauna.
The Lower or Park Hill Quartzite is opened up in numerous large
quarries, the rock being extensively wrought for roadstone. The lowest
layers are best seen at the entrance to Mr. Abel's new quarry near Harts-
hill Grange. In this cutting ' the Caldecote tuffs rise in a low anticlinal
form, and are visibly overlain to the westwards by the basement bands
of the quartzite.' 2 At the entrance to Mr. Boon's quarry the quartzite
for some distance upwards from its base ' contains large rounded blocks
of Caldecote volcanic rocks, while the matrix is mainly composed of the
rounded wash of similar material.' s
The Middle or Tuttle Hill Quartzites are being worked in only
two quarries, one at Tuttle Hill opposite the Midland Railway station
at Nuneaton, and another near Caldecote Windmill. The rocks resemble
those of the lower sub-division.
The Upper or Camp Hill Quartzite is exposed in the Camp Hill
Grange quarry belonging to Messrs. Trye. The base of the sub-
division is formed by a shaly band some 50 feet thick, at the top of
which occurs a seam, 2 feet thick, of red-coloured hard and tough lime-
stone, the Hyolite Limestone, above which the sub-division is completed
by 50 feet of hard quartzose and glauconitic sandstone.
The fossils of the Hyolite Limestone and its associated shales include
several species of Hyo/it&us, Orthotbeca, and Stenotheca, and the brachiopod
Kutorgina cingulata. This fauna corresponds in part to that of the Ole-
nellus-zone. of other regions ; and Professor Lapworth therefore considers
that the Camp Hill Quartzite is probably equivalent to the Comley
Sandstone of Shropshire and the Hollybush Sandstone of Malvern.
The Stockingford Shales succeed to the uppermost beds of the
quartzite. Their outcrop attains its greatest width at Merevale, the
highest beds there coming to the surface from beneath the unconform-
able Coal Measures. They consist throughout of fine-grained shales and
mudstones.
1 Geol. Mag. (1886), p. 544. * Lapworth, Pnc. Geol. Assoc. xv. (1898), 340.
8 Lapworth, op. cit. p. 332. See also Strahan, Geol. Mag. (1886), p. 543.
7
A HISTORY OF WARWICKSHIRE
The Lower or Purley Shales are exposed in Purley Park Lane and
in the cutting on the Midland Railway near Nuneaton. The beds are
generally reddish-purple and contain manganese ores which were worked
by pits at various points along the outcrop. Fossils have been obtained
from the Purley Park Lane sections, and include among others minute
forms of the brachiopods Lingu/a, Obolella sagittalis, and Acrothele granu-
lata ; the sponge Protospongia fenestrata, and the trilobite Conocoryphe
exulans.
The Middle or Oldbury Shales are best seen in the Midland Rail-
way cutting at Stockingford, and in quarries and cuttings at Chapel End.
The beds are characterized by black carbonaceous bands. They have
yielded remains of the trilobites Agnostus pisiformis var. soda/is, Olenus
nuneatonensis, Sphczrophthalmus a/atus, and Ctenopyge pecten ; together with
Beyricbia angelini.
The Upper or Merevale Shales are exposed in an old quarry 200
yards west of Merevale Abbey. They consist of greenish-grey shales
and have yielded numerous examples of the hydrozoan Dictyonema
socials.
A small inlier of the Stockingford Shales was detected at Dosthill,
south of Tamworth, by Mr. W. J. Harrison ' in 1882. The rocks are
pierced by a mass of diorite. Sections in the shales have been recorded*
as occurring in the side of the high road a quarter of a mile south of
Dosthill, and in a small pit near Stockall Barn. The beds dip south-
west at 20 to 40, and consist of highly-altered grey and olive-coloured
sandstones.
The following table shows the probable relationships of the Nun-
eaton Cambrian beds to those of other districts :
Nuneaton. Wales, etc.
Merevale Shales Upper Dolgelly (Dictyonema-beds) ) TT T .
Oldbury/ upper Lower Dolgelly ..... . / U PP er L" 1 ^ FIa g
Shales I lower)
II
ga
j| ~ [
g
,.
Purley t upper/ Ffestmlo g and Maentwrog beds . Lower Lingula Flags
Shales! lower ........... Menevian
(Paradoxides--zone)
Camp Hill Quartzite and Limestone . . 0/enel/us-zone
Tuttle Hill Quartzite
(Park Hill Quartzite
The Cambrian rocks of Nuneaton afford evidence of having been
deposited in a shallow sea whose floor was gradually undergoing subsi-
dence. The quartzites and sandstones were perhaps to some extent shore
deposits laid down at no great distance from a tract of land. This must
have consisted in part of the Archzan volcanic ashes, for we have seen
that much ground-down volcanic material was incorporated in the lower
beds of the Hartshill Quartzite. As the sea bottom sank, the land,
wherever this was situated, was gradually submerged, and the coarse
' Lapworth, Gtol. Mag. (,882) p. 563 ; Harrison, Mid. Nat. vol. viii. (.885) and vol. i*. (.886).
' Strahan, Geol. Mag. (1886), p. 551.
8
GEOLOGY
sand deposits were succeeded by the finer mud of the Stockingford
Shales, although the waters must have become sufficiently clear and
calm at one time to have allowed of the formation of the Hyolite
Limestone from the remains of various mollusca. The only fossils in
the lower two divisions of the Quartzite are a few worm-burrows, sug-
gestive of the sands having been deposited along a shore ; the Shales
however as we have seen contain abundant evidence that the Cambrian
seas were peopled with a considerable fauna.
Intrusive Igneous Rocks. The volcanic activity which is evidenced
by the igneous origin of the Caldecote rocks probably continued or
was reopened probably in immediately post-Cambrian time ; for both
the Hartshill Quartzite and especially the Stockingford Shales are
traversed by many sills and dykes of diorite (camptonite), which are
evidently solidified masses of molten rock forced up from below into the
Cambrian sediments. There is no evidence whatever to show that these
ever reached the surface and produced volcanoes, terrestrial or submarine.
The sills and dykes generally follow the bedding, but frequently cut
through the strata, baking and altering them. Yates perceived their
intrusive character in 1824. Allport 1 gave a figure of a section showing
this at Chilvers Colon railway cutting. Mr. Fox-Strangways 2 mentions
that in the quarry south of Merevale church the Stockingford Shales
dip at 1 5 to the south-west, while the igneous rock inclines at an angle
of 35 in the same direction.
The sheets of diorite vary from mere threads less than a foot thick
to masses over a hundred feet through. They attain a great develop-
ment in Merevale Park and at Chilvers Coton. They have been
wrought for paving-cubes. One of the sills is well exposed in the
Midland Railway Company's quarry at Nuneaton station ; the jointing
of the rock is at right angles to the quartzite beds between which it was
intruded and cooled. At the entrance to Messrs. Tyre's quarry a thin
sheet of diorite intruded into the lower layers of the quartzite has segre-
gated on cooling into basic clots and acid veins.
The microscopic structure and composition of these igneous rocks
have been described by Allport, Waller, Teall, and Watts ; it was
Allport's recognition of the fact that these rocks differed from the Car-
boniferous dolerites which gave an early hint that the Stockingford
Shales were no part of the Coal Measures. They consist essentially
of a triclinic felspar and hornblende, with some magnetite and apatite.
Augite and olivine are sometimes present ; "and Professor Watts 3 remarks
that the rocks would be appropriately called hornblendic, augitic, or
olivine-bearing camptonites. That the intrusions are of pre-Coal-
measure age might justly be inferred by their entire absence from
those rocks ; but this was placed beyond doubt by the careful mapping
of the Coal Measure base by Mr. Strahan, 4 who found that at Maw-
1 Quart. Journ. Geol. Sue. rxxv. (1879), 637.
2 'Geology of Atherstone, etc.,' Mem. Geol. Survey, (1900), p. n.
3 Proc. Geol. Assoc. TV. (1898), 395. 4 Geol. Mag. (1886), pp. 550, 551.
9
A HISTORY OF WARWICKSHIRE
bournes, south-west of Atherstone, this rests on the edges of the
Stockingford Shales, including two sheets of diorite. As these latter
have not affected the Coal Measures they must have been intruded in
pre-Coalmeasure times ; and Professor Watts seems disposed by general
considerations to think that the intrusions are of immediately post-
Cambrian age.
CARBONIFEROUS
Between the period of the Cambrian rocks of Nuneaton and that of
the Coal Measures which overlie them there is a great gap, unfilled in
our district by any known formation. We know that during this
enormous interval thousands of feet of muds and volcanic ashes the
Ordovician rocks were deposited over what is now Wales and the west
and north of England ; but none of these is known to occur eastwards
of the Malvern district, and it therefore seems probable that what is
now central England was occupied by an extensive island formed of
the upraised Cambrian sediments which stood up above the waters of
the Ordovician Sea. This land tract however slowly sank and contracted
in area, for the Silurian deposits, which immediately followed the
Ordovician, extend farther eastwards over the subsiding area ; but the
higher parts of the district seem still to have kept their heads above
water during this and the succeeding Devonian period, for these vast
accumulations of mudstones, limestones and red sandstones are unrepre-
sented in our county ; and it is practically certain that parts of the old
island were still in existence as such while the Carboniferous or Moun-
tain Limestone and Millstone Grit of Derbyshire and Yorkshire, Wales
and Ireland were accumulating. This Lower Carboniferous sea lay to
the north, east, and south of our area ; we even obtain a glimpse of its
coast-line at Grace Dieu in Charnwood Forest, but nearer than that it
appears not to have approached. By the time that the higher ridges
of Cambrian rocks at the north of the county had sunk to the water
level the physical aspect of the midlands had changed. The sea had
become shallowed, land-locked areas developed, and ultimately com-
munication with the open ocean was cut off. The district became
converted into ' an immense delta or fenland, including many large
lagoons and wide channels, surrounded by swamps which were never
much above the level of the sea.' * These delta deposits are our Coal
Measures.
Thus the Millstone Grit and Carboniferous Limestone are alike
unrepresented, and the only Carboniferous rocks present on the surface
in the county are the Coal Measures of the Warwickshire coalfield.
The Coal Measures form a narrow belt of country extending for
about fifteen miles from Bedworth on the south-east, past Nuneaton and
Atherstone, to Tamworth on the north-west, where the outcrop attains
its greatest breadth of about four miles. They rest unconformably on
the Cambrian, and are succeeded with every appearance of perfect
1 A. J. Jukes-Browne, The Building of the British Isles, ed. 2 (1892), p. 133.
10
GEOLOGY
conformity by the so-called Lower Permian rocks. The Coal Measures
lie in a syncline or trough, the axis of which extends in a north and
south direction, and on all sides the beds dip towards this line. The
northern part of the coalfield is bounded by faults or lines of fracture,
along which the rocks on either side have been relatively shifted, so that
here various newer rocks, the ' Permian ' and Trias, abut against the
Coal Measures. Mr. Fox-Strangways thinks it unlikely that the Coal
Measures will be found to extend continuously under the Trias into the
Leicestershire coalfield. In the other direction however they extend
southwards under the ' Permian ' of Baxterley, and come to light again
as a small ' inlier ' at Arley. South of Bedworth both the Coal
Measures and ' Permian ' are covered unconformably by the Trias,
and the seams have been worked through this last as far south as the
Craven Colliery, three miles north-east of Coventry. Beyond this the
outcrops are said to curve round towards the south-west. 1
It becomes an interesting and important question as to whether or
not these coals extend continuously under the Trias towards South
Staffordshire. There is no reason to doubt that the Coal Measures of
the Warwickshire coalfield and those of South Staffordshire were
originally deposited in one and the same basin, for in both districts the
measures thicken towards the north-north-west, and in the opposite
direction the coals approach each other by the thinning out of the
intermediate beds, and tend to combine into one or two seams of
abnormal thickness. It thus, in Professor Lapworth's 2 words, ' becomes
a matter of high probability that the Thick Coal of South Staffordshire
extends more or less continuously under the Red rocks of North
Warwickshire, possibly from Hawkesbury to Smethwick.' At the same
time it must be borne in mind that land apparently lay to the south and
south-east during Coal Measure times, and in that direction the coals
may be expected to die out ; again, it is always possible that there may
be local unconformities and ' wash-outs ' within the Coal Measures
themselves, and it is just possible that areas of post-Carboniferous folding
and denudation may lurk concealed and unsuspected under the unriven
cloak of Trias.
According to Professor Lapworth 3 the Warwickshire Coal Meas-
ures may be grouped in descending order as follows :
4. Grey and red sandstones and shales, with one or more bands of Spirorbis
limestone.
3. White and yellow sandstones and shales.
2. Red and green brick-clays and marls.
i. Grey sandstones and dark shales with five workable coal seams, and
beds of fireclay and ironstone.
The base of the series was first worked out in detail in 1886 by
Mr. Strahan. 4 He found the lowest beds to consist locally of buff or
1 Howell, 'The Warwickshire Coalfield,' Mem. Geol. Survey, p. 22.
2 Proc. Geol. Assoc. xv. (1898), 369. 3 Ibid. p. 368.
* Geol. Mag. (1886), p. 540 et seqq. ; also Geol. Survey map, sheet 63 S.W. new ed. (1886).
II
A HISTORY OF WARWICKSHIRE
white sandstones, coarse, false-bedded, and ferruginous, and containing
numerous quartzose pebbles ; the beds resting unconformably on the
Cambrian rocks. At Dosthill this unconformity is most marked, the
dip of the Cambrian shales being south-west at 20 to 40, while the
Coal Measures dip eastwards at angles of 50 to 80. Mr. Fox-
Strangways 1 describes the basement sandstone as being well exposed
along the lane and in some old quarries on the east side of Monk's
Park Wood, south-west of Atherstone ; the sandstone resting nearly
horizontally on the Cambrian shales which dip at 38.
The workable coals are confined to the lower part of the series ;
in descending order the chief seams are the Four-foot ; the Two-yard,
Rider, and Bare, worked as one seam ; the Slate ; the Seven-foot ; and
the Bench. The lowest seams sometimes rest almost directly on the
Cambrian shales, but are locally separated from them by sandstones
which vary rapidly in thickness, apparently filling up hollows on the
old surface.
In the northern part of the coalfield the Four-foot and the Slate
coals are separated by over a hundred feet of measures ; but when
followed southwards they approach each other by the thinning out of
the intermediate beds, so that at the Hawkesbury Colliery south of
Bedworth the upper four coals come together to form a single seam
which, with thin partings, amounts to about 34 feet in thickness.
The principal seams have all been worked along their outcrops.
According to Mr. Fox-Strangways the Seven-foot coal is the one now
generally mined. At Amington and Glascote the underclay of this
seam is used for fire-bricks. Ironstone from the same horizon was
formerly raised at Monk's Park and smelted on the spot by means of
charcoal ; and Mr. Howell mentions 2 that ironstone was being worked
at Bedworth, Hawkesbury, and Wyken. Irregular beds of sandstone
are prevalent immediately above the Four-foot coal, and have been
quarried here and there between Merevale and Polesworth.
About 150 feet below the top of these Coal Measures occurs a
well marked band of limestone, from 2 to 3 feet thick ; from the
presence of the small coiled annelid shell Spirorbis pusillus it is known as
the Spirorbis Limestone. Its outcrop, marked by numerous old work-
ings, has been traced with little interruption from Sybil Hill near
Kingsbury to Bedworth. It has been seen also in the stream in Monk's
Park Wood, south-west of Atherstone, and it appears in its proper
position in the outcrop of Coal Measures at Arley. The rock varies in
colour from buff or light grey to a dark slaty blue.
Besides this band, long since recognized and mapped, Mr. Fox-
Strangways 3 has lately obtained evidence of the existence of a second
between Baddesley and Baxterley.
The Coal Measures generally yield abundant fossil evidence of plant
1 'Geology of Atherstone, etc.' Mem. Geol. Survey (IQOO), p i c
'Warwickshire Coalfield,' ibid. (1859), p. Io ,.
* 'Geology of Atherstone, etc.' ibid. (1900), p. jo.
12
GEOLOGY
life. The vegetation of the period consisted largely of giant species of
cryptogamic plants allied to our modern tree ferns, horsetails, and club
mosses. To the first class belong the various Coal Measure ferns, such
as Spbenopteris, Neuropteris and Pecopteris ; to the second belongs the
genus Catamites, with jointed and finely-fluted stems. To the third
class belongs the Lepidodendron, the stems of which are covered with
scale-like markings. To this is closely allied the Sigi//aria, with seal-
like impressions on the broadly fluted trunk. Stigmaria is a root common
in the underclays of coal seams, and is so called on account of its pitted
and tuberculate surface. Specimens of all these plant remains may be
looked for in the beds of sandstone, shale and fireclay associated with
the coals, which themselves are made up of compressed beds of this
ancient vegetable growth.
Of animal life specimens of bivalve shells, Anthracomya and Carboni-
co/a, the latter resembling our freshwater mussels, and also fish remains,
may be looked for in the same beds ; while the Spirorbis pusillus is
generally abundant in the limestones near the summit of the Coal
Measures. It is likely too that the limestones and some of the shale
bands may on careful search be found to contain small bivalved entomo-
straca such as Carbonia and Estberia.
Permian. The so-called Lower Permian rocks occupy a broad
tract of country extending from Baxterley on the north to Kenilworth
on the south ; their eastern limit is formed by the ordinary Coal Meas-
ures which rise conformably from beneath them ; on the west, south,
and south-east the tract is bounded by Triassic rocks.
The beds consist of about 2,000 feet of alternations of red, brown,
and purple sandstones and red marls, with impersistent bands of breccia
and conglomerate. According to Mr. Fox-Strangways, 1 sandstones are
conspicuous towards the base, and form a marked feature in the northern
part of the district, where they have been quarried at numerous local-
ities about Baddesley Ensor and Baxterley.
The breccias and conglomerates are generally found in the lower
part of the series ; one band particularly well-marked occurs at about
the middle, and forms a bold escarpment at Corley. z They are made
up largely of pebbles of Carboniferous limestone and chert, among
which some of Silurian sandstone have been noted at Exhall. So rich
are they in limestone pebbles that they have been extensively quarried
and burnt for lime between Fillongley and Over Whitacre.
The higher beds of the series occur between Coventry, Kenilworth,
and Warwick, and the sandstones may be seen in various quarries. The
beds hereabouts however appear to be largely composed of marls, for
near Warwick a boring passed through 700 feet of rock consisting
chiefly of marls and thin beds of sandstone. 8
More recently a boring has been put down at Kenilworth for the
1 'Geology of Atherstone,' Mem. Geol. Survey (1900), p. 28.
* For breccias near Polesworth see H. T. Brown, Quart. Jount. Geol. Sue. xlv. (1889), i.
8 Howell, 'Warwickshire Coalfield,' ibid. (1859), p. 31.
13
A HISTORY OF WARWICKSHIRE
town water supply ; it passed through 226 feet 6 inches of these beds,
the upper of which were chiefly marls. 1
These so-called Lower Permian rocks have yielded very few fossils ;
fragments of the cryptogamic plants Lepidodendrqn and Catamites have
been recorded from a quarry near Exhall, and silicified trees at Allesley
and Meriden. Obscure casts of a shell supposed to be Stropbalosia
occurred at the Exhall quarry, and remains of a labyrinthodont reptile,
Dasyceps bucklandi (Huxley), were discovered in a quarry at Kenilworth.
Some of these are preserved in the Warwick Museum.
There is some reason to think that Spirorbis limestone bands may
occur in these rocks at Whitacre Hall (near Nether Whitacre), for
Mr. Howell * records that such limestone was formerly burnt there.
Of late years evidence has been accumulating tending to show
that similar rocks in other districts are very closely related to the Coal
Measures. In the Wyre Forest coalfield 3 district in Shropshire, and also
in the North Staffordshire coalfield, 4 rocks in all respects similar to these
of Warwickshire contain Spirorbis limestones and thin coals. Nor is
there in Warwickshire any evidence of a lapse of time or of abrupt
changes of any sort at the base of these rocks : the Spirorbis limestone
band in the ordinary Coal Measures is everywhere present at about the
same distance below these ' Permian ' beds. The occurrence west of
Polesworth of what seemed a small isolated tract or outlier of these
rocks apparently situated on lower beds of the Coal Measure series gave
colour to the supposition that here the ' Permian ' rocks are unconform-
able to the beds below ; but this has been lately disproved by Mr. Fox-
Strangways, who finds that the supposed ' Permian ' here is a band of
red-coloured sandstone in the ordinary Coal Measures themselves.
It thus becomes evident that the so-called Permian rocks of Salopian
type named thus from their typical development in Shropshire are
linked on to the Coal Measures both stratigraphically and palasontolo-
gically, and should therefore be included in the Carboniferous system.
TRIASSIC
The rocks we have been hitherto describing form an isolated area
surrounded on all sides by a great spread of red sandstones and marls
which constitute the Trias. The delta and lagoons and jungle swamps
of the Coal Measures had passed away ; the red ' Permian ' beds had
succeeded, deposited it would seem in a slowly sinking area of land-
locked lakes or almost wholly enclosed lagoons, the waters of which
were highly charged with iron salts and unfavourable to animal life. At
the close of this ' Permian ' period great movements took place which
resulted in the raising up of large areas of land, which were forthwith
subjected to erosion. There seems to have ensued a state of things in
t Kenilworth>> Proc - Warwick. Vat. and Archil.
* 'Warwickshire Coalfield,' Mem. Geol. Survey (1859), pp 28 29
T. C. Cantrill, Quart. Journ. Geol. Sot. li. (,895), 528. W.' Gibson, ibid. Ivii. (1901), 251.
GEOLOGY
northern Europe similar to that of central Asia at the present day.
The Triassic deposits were then laid down, the Bunter apparently in
desert lakes subject to desiccation, into which periodical streams swept
sand and pebbles from the neighbouring uplands ; the Keuper in a
much more extensive lake or inland sea, into which the ocean at last
broke and introduced the marine fauna of the Rha;tic.
In Warwickshire the following subdivisions of the Triassic rocks
occur :
Rhaetic
j,. f Keuper Marls with Upper Keuper Sandstone.
I Lower Keuper Sandstone.
(Upper Sandstone.
Pebble Beds.
(Lower Sandstone ?)
The Lower Bunter Sandstone which to the west of our district is
so well developed in the Severn valley dies out when followed thence to
the east, and has generally been thought to be absent east of the South
Staffordshire coalfield ; but in 1890 Mr. J. Landon l called attention to
the occurrence of beds of yellow sandstone below the Pebble Beds near
Barr Beacon, and concluded that the Lower Bunter Sandstone is there
present in force.
The Pebble Beds are well developed at Sutton Park and west of
Birmingham, while a small area occurs to the east of Polesworth. The
rocks consist of pebbly red coarse sandstone and impersistent beds of
pebbles. These are well rounded by water action, and are chiefly of
yellow, brown, and liver-coloured quartzite, white quartz, and grey
crinoidal Carboniferous limestone and chert. Where two or more
pebbles are in contact they have generally pressed into each other and
produced a characteristic crush-mark. The source and mode of origin
of these pebbles is still a matter of dispute, but the opinion of those
most familiar with them is that they were derived from rocky ridges of
high land which stood as islands in or formed the margins of the Triassic
lake basins. Of parts of these old ridges we see the worn-down relics
in the Wrekin and Caradoc districts of Shropshire, the Malvern-Abberley
and Lickey ranges in Worcestershire, and the Nuneaton and Charnwood
hills in Warwickshire and Leicestershire. Buckland long ago recognized
that the Bunter pebbles are in many instances agreeable in substance
with the quartz rock of the Lickey, and was of opinion that an exten-
sive outcrop of this latter rock was the source of much of the Bunter
material.
Exposures of the Bunter pebble beds may be seen in Sutton Park,
notably in a gravel pit near Blackroot Pool. They are to be seen also
on the east of the Warwickshire coalfield in a railway cutting east of
Polesworth. The rock being more resistent to the weather than those
above and below, generally forms a well-marked escarpment, as at
Barr Beacon ; the soil is generally poor and exceedingly pebbly, and is
1 Proc. Birm. Phil. Soc. vii. 113.
15
A HISTORY OF WARWICKSHIRE
often left as uncultivated heathland, as for instance in the case of Sutton
Park.
The Upper Sandstone overlies the Pebble Beds and extends through
Birmingham towards Lichfield. It is excellently exposed in some large
excavations near the Great Western railway near Hockley station; it
consists of soft, fine-grained, bright-red sandstone, without pebbles, and is
extensively dug for moulding-sand. East of the Birmingham district
this subdivision is unknown.
The Lower Keuper Sandstone forms an elevated ridge of ground
extending from Birmingham through Erdington to Sutton Coldfield. It
reappears around the north of the Warwickshire coalfield at Tamworth
and Warton, and extends north-eastwards thence past Newton Regis
towards Leicestershire. Farther south it forms an almost continuous
fringe to the Carboniferous and ' Permian ' rocks from Nuneaton to
Warwick, and thence past Berkswell to Maxtoke. The rocks consist of
red, brown and white sandstone with bands of red marl. A dull-red
pebbly sandstone is exposed by the canal side at Gravelly Hill, north-
east of Birmingham ; and the upper beds occur at Reddicap Hill near
Sutton Coldfield. Calcareous breccias are recorded by Mr. Howell l as
occurring near Tamworth. White sandstone is found at Maxtoke and
Meriden Hall and is traceable towards Kenilworth. Mr. Fox-Strangways *
observes that near Merevale some of the beds are soft and unconsolidated
and are dug for sand. Sandstones have been quarried at Warton and
Seckington, and in the village of Newton Regis they are exposed near
the church. Sections at Austrey show the upward passage of the
highest sandstones into the lowest beds of the Keuper Marl subdivision.
South of Nuneaton the unconformable relation of the Keuper to the
Cambrian was well shown in a large quarry at Marston Jabet red marl
and white sandstones with a conglomeratic base resting horizontally on
the Stockingford Shales with intruded diorite, dipping east at 1 5. Near
Warwick the beds have been quarried for building stone and have
yielded a number of footprints, bones, and teeth of the extinct amphibia
Labyrinthodon and Mastodonsaurus ; their footprints are five-toed. Lizard-
like reptiles are represented by Hyperodapedon ; dinosaurs by Thecodonto-
saurus, the footprints of which are three-toed. A fine collection of these
fossils is to be seen in the Warwick Museum. 3
The Lower Keuper Sandstones above described pass upwards, with-
out any break, into the Keuper Marls, which attain a great thickness
and spread over the greater part of central Warwickshire. The beds
consist of red marls and shales frequently mottled and banded of a green
colour. Thin seams of gypsum are occasionally met with ; one has been
worked at Spernall north of Alcester. Salt beds in the marls have long
yielded the brine springs of Droitwich (in Worcestershire).
One or more well marked bands of grey sandstone, the Upper
1 ' Warwickshire Coalfield,' p. 38. * ' Geol. of Atherstone,' p. 34.
1 See Huxley, Quart. Joum. Geol. See. xxv. (1869), 13 8 f and xxvi. (1870), 32; also Miall, ibid.
xxx. (1874), 4'7-
16
GEOLOGY
Keuper Sandstone, occur within the Marls, but they are somewhat
impersistent. They are well developed in the neighbourhood of Henley-
in-Arden, where they form some picturesque escarpments. These beds
received much attention from the late Mr. Brodie of Rowington ; there
they have yielded some few fossils, including the heterocercal fish Dictyo-
pyge (Palaoniscus) superstes. 1 The bivalved phyllopod crustacean Estberia
minuta, with remains of fishes (e.g. Acrodus], Labyrinthodon^ reptilian
footprints, and plants were found at Shrewley by Mr. Brodie; 2 and more
recently at the latter place some molluscs, probably marine according to
Mr. R. B. Newton, 3 were found by Messrs. Brodie and E. P. Richards
in some green gritty marls associated with the Upper Keuper Sandstone.
The highest beds of the Marl are pale green in colour, the iron
oxides not being in a state of complete oxidation. They are generally
known as the Tea-green Marls and have in some localities been grouped
with the Rhastic beds; but in other districts they are more closely
associated with the Keuper.
The highest beds of these green marls are succeeded by a thin series
of fossiliferous black shales, grey marls, and limestones of marine origin
which constitute the Rhastic beds; they form a passage group into the
Lias, and generally show a two-fold subdivision :
P. . ( White Lias group; grey shales and limestones.
\ Avicula contorta shales; black paper-shales with one or more
bone beds and thin seams of yellow sandstone.
The whole of the beds are richly fossiliferous ; the characteristic
species of the lower part are the lamellibranchs Avicula contorta, Pecten
valoniensis, and Pullastra arenicola. The higher beds or White Lias con-
tain Cardium rbceticum, with Ostrea liassica and Modiola minima, allied
respectively to our modern oyster and mussel. The bone beds are bands,
one or more inches thick, abounding in rolled and broken teeth and
bones of fish.
In Warwickshire the Rhastic beds are probably present between
the Keuper Marls and the Lias from one end of the county to the other ;
but the amount of information concerning them is small. At Binton,
west of Stratford-on-Avon, they have been described by Dr. Wright *
and also by Mr. R. F. Tomes; 6 according to the latter the uppermost
beds consist of greenish-grey clay, 6 succeeded by the Guinea Bed, a hard
crystalline limestone one foot thick, deriving its name from its property
of ringing under the hammer. This limestone is highly fossiliferous
and contains a mixture of Liassic and Rhastic forms, the latter probably
incorporated with Liassic forms in their present position by the breaking
down of a previously deposited Rhastic bed. On this account Mr. H. B.
Woodward would regard the Guinea Bed as the lowest bed of the Lias.
Rhaetic beds are known to occur at Wootton Park near Alcester, and at
1 Egerton, Quart. Journ. Geol. Sx. xiv. (1858), 164.
2 Quart. Journ. Geol. Sac. xii. (1856), 374. 3 Journ. Conchology, vii. (1894), 408.
4 Quart. Journ. Geol. Soc. xvi. (1860), 374. 6 Ibid, xxxiv. (1878), 179.
6 See section in H. B. Woodward's ' The Jurassic Rocks of Britain,' Mem. Geol. Survey, iii. 151.
i 17 3
A HISTORY OF WARWICKSHIRE
Wilmcote they were excellently exposed in quarries as described by
Wright ; the White Lias consisting of hard crystalline limestone, below
which follow marls and blackish shales with Estheria minuta and the
characteristic Avicula contorta and Pecten -valoniensis. A bone bed has
been noted at Temple Grafton. Strickland recorded the presence of
black shales and yellow sandstone at Bidford, and Brodie 1 has given
details of the sections exposed on the Stratford and Fenny Compton
railway. The railway section of the Rhstics and Lower Lias at Har-
bury, south-east of Leamington, has long been famous ; the yellow
sandstone with Estheria minuta is present below the White Lias. Still
farther along the base of the Lias the Rhastic beds have been exposed
on the London and North- Western railway west of Church Lawford
near Rugby ; according to Mr. Woodward 2 they consist of 5 or 6 feet
of buff limestones overlying 5 to 8 feet of greenish-grey marl ; the
Avicula contorta shales appear to be unrepresented.
Brodie 3 described two interesting outliers or small isolated patches
of Lower Lias and Rhastic beds south-west of Henley-in-Arden, and
another, still farther away from the main tract, at Knowle. The Rha;tic
beds of these outliers have yielded some of the usual characteristic fos-
sils. The Knowle outlier which is situated some 10 miles to the north
of the main Liassic tract is interesting as showing the former extension
of these beds in a northerly direction ; Dr. Lloyd of Leamington seems
to have been the first to detect its existence. The Lias limestones were
formerly wrought by shafts. The Rhstic shales contain a band of yellow
micaceous sandstone with the fossil bivalve Pullastra arenico/a, and were
noted by Brodie as exposed in the banks of the canal.
From the foregoing details of the Warwickshire Rhaetic beds it
would appear that they do not present anything like the full develop-
ment as exhibited in the classic sections of Penarth or Aust on the shores
of the Bristol Channel ; as Mr. Woodward * points out, ' there is a
development of sandy beds, the black shales are very thin in places, and
near Church Lawford they are absent; again, the White Lias north of
Harbury is somewhat sandy, it shows current-bedding and ripple-marks,
and is itself occasionally nodular,' and he concludes that the beds of our
district were laid down not far from a local margin of the deposit. By
the end of the Keuper Marl period the general subsidence of the whole
British area which had been going on from the close of the Bunter
epoch had resulted in the submergence of the barriers which had
hitherto kept out the sea; this now gained access to our district,
and with it the period of the desert and lacustrine Red Rocks came
to an end; and henceforward marine deposits alone were laid down
over the site of the future Warwickshire. As we have seen, the first
of these consists of the Rhatic limestones and shales which serve merely
as an introduction to the Lias.
' Quart. Journ. Gtol. Soc. XH. (1874), 746. Op. cit. p. 162.
Quart. -Journ. Geol. Soc. xxi. (1865), 159. < Op. cit. p. 151.
18
GEOLOGY
JURASSIC
The Lower Lias succeeds the Rhastic without any marked inter-
ruption ; locally there may have been some little breaking up of pre-
viously formed beds, brought about perhaps by changes of current, but
on the whole the Lias came in quietly. The formation occupies much
of the southern part of the county. The basement beds consist usually
of even-bedded blue limestones and dark shales in thin alternating bands ;
certain of the limestones and others which belong to the underlying
White Lias contain numerous remains of insects and have long been
known through the researches of Brodie as the Insect Beds. Throughout
the Warwickshire area the beds are especially rich in species of the
lamellibranchs Cardinia and Hippopodium, and the lowest layers abound
in the small oyster Osfrea liassica. But it has been found that the
ammonites more than any other fossil exhibit a succession of species
each of which characterizes a certain part of the formation ; and we
thus are enabled to subdivide the Lias into a number of ' zones," of
which the lowest is that of Ammonites planorbis. In the district between
Evesham and Stratford-on-Avon many sections of the A. planorbis beds
have been described, notably by Mr. R. F. Tomes, the Rev. P. B. Brodie
and Dr. Wright. At Binton the lowest layer, known as the Guinea
Bed (see p. 17), by its peculiar character seems to imply some amount of
local interruption in the processes which deposited the lowest limestones
and clays of the Lias, which usually follow the Rhastic without any
break. At Wilmcote the lowest beds have been extensively quarried
and have yielded A. planorbis, A. jo&nsfoni, the crustaceans Glyphea and
Eryon and also bones of saurians.
The Lower Lias limestones are exposed in the railway cuttings
between Stratford-on-Avon and Eatington and were described by Brodie. 1
Near the station north of Upper Eatington, beds characterized by abun-
dant specimens of Lima are exposed in a cutting some 60 feet deep ;
and at Kineton the cuttings show limestones and shales containing among
other fossils A . angu/atus, Gryphaa arcuata and several species of Lima ;
the beds here evidently belong to the zone of A. angu/atus, which
succeeds that of A. planorbis.
At Harbury are extensive lime and cement works in the same zone.
In the adjacent railway cutting it appears that the zone of A. planorbis^
usually rich in limestone bands, is represented by about 30 feet of blue
clays and shales; 2 the overlying limestones have yielded remains of the
saurians Ichthyosaurus and P/esiosaurus, the fish Acrodus, several species of
ammonites, including A. bucklandi^ together with lamellibranch shells and
crinoids. Beyond Harbury the limestones of the zones of A. angu/atus
and A. bucklandi have been wrought at numerous localities towards
Rugby.
The highest beds of the Lower Lias were formerly well exposed in
the railway cutting south of Fenny Compton station, and have been
> Quart. Jout-n. Gtol. SK. xxx. (1874), 746. Woodward, op. cit. pp. 159, 160.
19
A HISTORY OF WARWICKSHIRE
described by Beesley. 1 They consist of shales with bands and nodules
of limestone, and contain the zone ammonites A. armatus, A. jamesoni
and A. ibex, as well as numerous belemnites, the dart-like internal hard
part of a cuttle-fish.
Near Rugby the lowest beds of the Lower Lias were cut through
by the Birmingham railway west of Church Lawford, and appear to
consist of paper-shales instead of the usual limestones. But an excellent
section of some 70 feet of the overlying limestones and clays belong-
ing to the zones of A. angulatus and A. bucklandi is afforded by the
Victoria quarry about a mile north-west of Rugby ; the beds which are
worked for blue lias lime and cement have yielded remains of saurians,
with ammonites, lamellibranch shells and crinoids. 2 In a pit north of
Newbold Grange the beds are folded up into a sharp saddle or anticline.
Several brickyards about Rugby and Hill Moreton afford sections of
higher divisions with A. semicostatus, A. brevispina, etc. ; and a deep
well south-east of Rugby proved 458 feet of Lower Lias beds.
The two outlying patches of Rhaetic and Lias beds south-west of
Henley-in-Arden and also that at Knowle have yielded various character-
istic fossils, and the limestones were formerly worked. Insect limestones
are present, and Brodie 3 records that at Knowle the ' firestones ' and
' guinea bed ' were formerly quarried by a shaft and yielded the usual
fossils, of which may be mentioned A . planorbis, Ostrea tiassica, and bones
of Ichthyosaurus.
By the close of the Lower Lias period the sea had become shallower,
and we find that much sandy matter was deposited ; this forms in part
the Middle Lias. These beds consist of a lower series of bluish-grey
micaceous marls and clays and laminated calcareous sands and clays with
layers of limestone and calcareous sandstone ; these softer beds are over-
lain by a rocky band of tough iron-shot and earthy limestone known as
the Marlstone. 4 The latter especially is rich in fossils, and Ammonites
spinatus and A. margaritatus characterize the rock, the former being
restricted to the higher beds. In addition to these ammonites there are
several species of belemnites, a number of lamellibranchs, and the star-
fish-like Ophioderma egertoni and O. milleri.
The Middle Lias enters the south-western edge of the county near
Chipping Campden, where the Marlstone has been quarried at various
points round Ebrington Hill ; the whole group there attains a thickness
of about 150 feet. In the direction of Stow-on-the-Wold however this
becomes reduced, and the bold escarpment gradually disappears. 6 It
reappears however at Little Compton in the extreme south of the county,
and thence can be followed north-eastwards towards Edge Hill. Sections
in the Middle Lias were opened up during the construction of the
tunnel on the Banbury and Cheltenham railway north of Chipping
' Proc. Warwickshire Nat. Club (1877), p. i. Woodward, op. cit. p. 163.
Quart Journ. Gtol. Soc. xxi. (1865), 159 ; also xxx. (1874), 746.
Woodward, op. cit. p. 185.
* Howell in Hull's Geol. of Cheltenham,' Mem. Geol. Survey, p. 19.
20
GEOLOGY
Norton, and according to Mr. Beesley the Marlstone was 1 1 feet thick,
while the underlying shaly and sandy beds were 16 feet in thickness. 1
The lower beds yielded numerous fossils including fine specimens of
Cypricardia.
North-west of Banbury the Marlstone rock bed is very well de-
veloped and forms a plateau which rises gradually from an altitude of
500 feet at that town to the famous escarpment of Edge Hill, 710 feet
above sea-level. The rock forms a rich brown arable soil specially
suitable for wheat growing. At Edge Hill the stone is a tough earthy
limestone of brown and greenish hues, used for building, paving and
road stone, and it has a thickness of 25 feet. There are large quarries
on Burton Dassett Hill, a few miles to the north-east, while outliers of
the beds occur at Bodington, Napton, and Upper Shuckburgh.
The Liassic sea now became deeper again, and we have the clayey
series of the Upper Lias thrown down in the quiet waters. These beds
consist chiefly of bluish-grey clay and shale with nodules of clayey lime-
stone. The basement beds are pale earthy limestones, frequently nodular,
and their junction with the Middle Lias is generally well marked. The
organic remains include various fishes, and the ammonites A, annulatus,
A. fibulatus, A. serpentinus and A. communis ; belemnites occur, together
with numerous bivalve shells, and several insects, notably some allied
to the dragonflies.
Near Ilmington the thickness of the Upper Lias has been estimated
by Mr. S. G. Hamilton at 1 20 feet ; at the tunnel north of Chipping
Norton, according to Mr. Beesley, it is about 36 feet, while near Ban-
bury it increases to about 60 feet. It occurs in the form of numerous
outliers and in valley bottoms northwards of Chipping Norton towards
Tysoe, and Upper Lias fossils have been found by Mr. Brodie in crevices
of the Marlstone rock bed on Edge Hill, 2 while still farther north there
is an outlier of Upper Lias, capped by Northampton Sands, on the hills
near Burton Dassett.
At the close of the Liassic period a shallowing of the sea appears
to have set in, caused presumably by movements of uplift ; the climate
was warm and the waters of the sea were favourable to the existence of
vast numbers of aquatic animals whose remains make up a large part of
the succeeding Oolitic rocks.
The Inferior Oolite Series is found in outlying patches near Ilming-
ton and also in the south of the county along the eastern side of the
Vale of Moreton. The series consists of two sub-divisions, the Midford
Sands below and the Inferior Oolite above.
The Midford or Cotteswold Sands form a passage bed between the
Lias and the Oolites ; the materials of which they are made up and the
fossils found in them exhibit a gradual change from the conditions which
prevailed during the formation of the Upper Lias to those under which
the Oolites were deposited. The beds, 30 to 1 50 feet thick, consist of
1 Woodward, op. cit. pp. 221, 222. * Woodward, op. cit. p. 270.
21
A HISTORY OF WARWICKSHIRE
sandy strata with concretions of calcareous sandstone, and these are
capped in the Cotteswold Hills to the south by a brown marly and
ferruginous limestone, 4 to 16 feet thick, abounding in remains of
cephalopoda ammonites, belemnites and nautili and hence known as
the Cephalopoda Bed. The rocks are characterized by the ammonites
A. jurensis and A. ofa/inus, and by the bivalve Rhynchonella cynocephala,
the fauna belonging partly to the Lias and partly to the Oolite, or in
Professor Phillips' words, ' before the Liassic life has come to an end
the Oolitic life has begun.'
Around Ebrington Hill, on the western side of the Vale of Moreton,
the Midford Sands are not exposed, being presumably concealed beneath
the debris of the overlying beds. They are traceable however south-
wards along the edge of the main Oolite tract to the vicinity of Stow-
on-the-Wold, but north-east of that locality they are not to be identified.
The Inferior Oolite consists of buff and brown oolitic and ferrugi-
nous limestone with local beds of clay, marl and sand. 1 The character-
istic zonal ammonites A. murcbisontz, A. humphriesianus and A. parkinsoni
have not been found in Warwickshire. The few fossils recorded include
bivalve shells such as Trigonia, Pecten and Terebratula, and the sea-urchin
Clypeus ploti.
The Inferior Oolite forms two small outliers on Ebrington Hill ;
the rocks there consist of yellow and brown sandy and oolitic limestone,
often banded with iron compounds, and they have been wrought for
freestone. It is evident that while the marine limestones were being
laid down the area was invaded by currents bearing much sand in sus-
pension ; for Professor Judd records that in one section yellow and
ferruginous sands of the type of the Northampton Sands can be seen to
pass into oolitic limestone in a distance of 40 yards. 2
Crossing to the eastern side of the Vale of Moreton it appears
that the county boundary just includes some of the Inferior Oolite and
Great Oolite strata in the form of outlying strips and patches, extending
from Little Compton to the vicinity of Compton Winyate. The In-
ferior Oolite of this district comprises some very variable beds, consisting
of calcareous sandstones and oolitic and sandy limestones, where the
Cotteswold type passes into the Northamptonshire type. Our know-
ledge of this area is largely due to the researches of Messrs. T. Beesley,
W. H. Hudleston, E. A. Walford, and J. Windoes. Portions of the
Inferior Oolite and of the succeeding Great Oolite were grouped together
on the Geological Survey map as Northampton Sand, but it is now
known that this formation belongs to the lower part of the Inferior
Oolite. North-east of Bright Hill (south of Long Compton) the In-
ferior Oolite is represented in part by the Clypeus Grit, the Northamp-
ton Sand below resting directly on the Upper Lias. It may be of interest
to note that the standing stones north of Little Rollwright, known as the
1 See H. B. Woodward, ' The Jurassic Rocks of Britain,' Mem. Geol. Survey, iv. 148.
* H. B. Woodward, op. cit. p. 14.2.
22
GEOLOGY
Rollwright or Rollerich Stones, are masses of one of the higher Inferior
Oolite limestones distinguished as the Chipping Norton Limestone. 1
The county boundary just includes areas of the Northampton Sands
south and east of Long Compton, near Whichford and near Epwell ; and
there are several small outliers in the same neighbourhood. According
to Professor Judd, the beds forming these tracts consist of limestone,
sands and ironstones. In the outlier west of Whichford, beds of white
freestone are underlain by sands. 2
The higher clayey and calcareous beds of the Great Oolite just
enter the county in a long faulted strip east of Whichford, and again as
an outlier, partly let down by faults, to the east of Compton Winyate.
At Traitor's Ford east of Whichford the beds consist of marly limestone
and oolite ; while east of Compton Winyate they are very similar. 3 The
lowest beds usually consist of clay with Osfrea and Gervillia, and may
represent the Upper Estuarine Series of the midland counties.
PLEISTOCENE AND RECENT
The deposits in our district which next succeed to those last
described are certain irregular patches of sand, gravel, and stony clay
which lie sporadically over the edges and fill up hollows in the surface
of the older rocks. They belong to a time so long subsequent to the
formation of the Oolitic beds that during the interval the Upper Jurassic
rocks and some of the Cretaceous were not only deposited to the thick-
ness of several thousand feet over a slowly sinking sea bottom, but were
subsequently by gradual upheavals of the earth crust raised above the
sea-level and worn down by rain and rivers to a surface configuration
much the same as obtains at the present time. Over the irregular land
surface so produced were strewn the glacial deposits or Drift, the pro-
ducts of glaciers and ice-sheets which at this time spread over much of
the northern hemisphere. By the combined influence of astronomical
causes and geographical changes the temperature had become reduced ;
the moisture falling on the earth's surface accumulated as snow ; the
separate tracts of permanent snow invaded the intermediate ground till
at the maximum much of the northern hemisphere was buried under a
thick pall of ice, which over Britain extended as far south as the valley
of the Thames.
As has been shown by the researches of local glaciologists notably
Dr. Crosskey, D. Mackintosh, and Mr. W. J. Harrison the Midlands
were the meeting-place of three great glaciers; 4 one descended from the
Arenig mountains in north Wales and entered our district by way of the
Vale of Llangollen and the plain of Shropshire, scattering blocks of Arenig
rocks about the country between Birmingham and Bromsgrove. The
second or Irish Sea Glacier was made up of confluent ice-flows from the
1 H. B. Woodward, op. cit. pp. 151-2.
* H. B. Woodward, op. cit. p. 156. 3 H. B. Woodward, op. cit. pp. 333, 335.
4 For an excellent summary on the Glacial Geology of the Birmingham District see W. J. Harrison,
Proc. Geol. Assoc. xv. (1898), 400.
23
A HISTORY OF WARWICKSHIRE
south of Scotland and the Lake District ; it extended in the direction of
Warwickshire as far south as Lichfield, and all along its terminal line
notably in the neighbourhood of Wolverhampton are found great
numbers of granite and other boulders. The third or North Sea Glacier
issued from the North Sea, and part of it invaded the Yorkshire coast,
passed over the Lincolnshire chalk country, and made its way inland to
the high ground of Charnwood Forest. Here it seems to have divided
to some extent into lobes ; one travelling southwards by Leicester and
Rugby got as far as the valley of the Thames, while another made its
way to the south-west into the Avon valley, leaving abundant traces in
the form of chalk debris and pieces of flint scattered over the surface
or embodied in its gravelly and clayey deposits even as far as the vicinity
of Chipping Campden. 1 Traces of the debris carried by all these ice-
flows have been met with in our district, though our knowledge of these
deposits so far as Warwickshire is concerned is at present very incom-
plete, for no one observer has investigated the whole of them, and their
superficial limits have only very partially been determined. 2 We are
therefore compelled to treat the subject more or less bibliographically.
One of the earliest investigators was Buckland, 8 who noticed the
abundance of gravel containing well rounded quartzite pebbles scattered
over the surface of the Midlands at various localities extending eastwards
and southwards of the Lickey district in north Worcestershire, particu-
larly at Coleshill and along the Lias plain near Shipston-on-Stour. He
traced these gravels down the Avon valley from Stratford to Evesham
and thence eastwards by Kineton, with prolongations southwards along
the Cherwell and Evenlode valleys. He recognized that these gravels
were largely derived as he thought by the waters of the ' deluge ' from
the Bunter pebble beds of the Trias. At the same time he recorded the
occurrence of fragments of igneous and metamorphic rocks with chalk
and chalk flints, while south-east of Shipston-on-Stour he noted pieces
of red chalk like that of Lincolnshire. These early observations alone
are sufficient to show that some form of transportive agency entered
the district from two different directions : from the north-east, and
from the north or north-west.
Strickland 4 made some valuable observations on the drifts of the
district ; he pointed out that they are divisible into several types : first
is the quartzose drift which occurs on some of the hill tops, contains no
mammalian remains, and was apparently derived from the north. The
second or flinty type (equivalent probably to the chalky boulder clay)
is very prevalent in the east of the county and near Rugby, extending
thence along the base of the Oolite hills to the Vale of Shipston ; it
covers some of the hills to a considerable depth, contains many chalk
1 See G. E. Gavey, Quart. Journ. Geol. Soc. ix. (1853), 29; also H. B. Woodward, Gcol, Mag.
(1897), p. 485.
For a very foil list of papers on this subject see 'A Bibliography of Midland Glaciology,' by
Mr. W. J. Harrison in Prix. Birm. Nat. Hist, and Phil Soc. ix. (i 8<x) 1 16
5 Tram. Geol. Soc. v. (1821), 506.
* Memoin of Hugh E. Strickland (8vo, Lond. 1858), p. 90.
24
GEOLOGY
flints, and was apparently derived from the north-east and east. The
third or local drift lies at the foot of some of the Oolitic hills and
appears to be made of exclusively local materials. Lastly comes the
jiuviatile type, a mixture of the other three ; it occurs in patches along
the Avon valley and is traceable from Lawford to Defford at heights
ranging up to 40 feet above the river, and is the only drift containing
organic remains of contemporaneous origin ; from it have been obtained
shells of mollusca and bones of mammalia at various places, including
Lawford and Shottery, at the latter of which were found teeth of
elephants.
Brodie's papers added much to our knowledge, and he has recorded
details 1 of an extensive deposit of drift over the tableland lying to
the north-west of Warwick and extending thence in the direction of
Birmingham. Occasional large rounded boulders of sandstone occur,
but generally the pebbles are small and consist of sandstone and quartz.
Flints are present, especially at Hazeley and Hatton, ' where masses of
large unrolled flints occur, looking as fresh as if they had lately come
from a chalkpit.' At Rowington the soil of a small field contained
little bits of very hard chalk rounded and scratched, and there were
present also flints, pieces of greensand, and fragments of various Jurassic
rocks, together with Carboniferous sandstone with plant remains, and
several boulders of igneous rocks such as granite and syenite. The Lias
outlier of Brown's Wood, south-west of Henley-in-Arden (see p. 18),
is covered with drift derived from districts lying to the north. At the
same time Brodie pointed out that fossils similar to those then recently
found in the Lower Silurian pebbles of the Trias of Budleigh Salterton
in Devonshire are to be found in some of the quartzose pebbles of the
Warwickshire drift, and this observation has since been confirmed by
Mr. W. J. Harrison. 2
Mr. T. G. B. Lloyd 3 in 1870 recorded certain observations on the
drift of the Avon valley and pointed out the occurrence on the higher
ground of a bed of chalky boulder clay, a stiff" compact mass of sandy
unstratified clay or earth, from slaty-blue to purple in colour, full of
grooved and striated pieces of Lias limestone, white chalk, quartzite
pebbles, flints and syenite boulders. This seems to be specially preva-
lent over the outcrop of the Lias, changing its colour to red where it
overlies the Trias. Associated with this typical boulder clay are irregu-
lar and impersistent beds of sand and gravel. On the lower grounds
are beds of quartzose flinty gravel and local drift containing shells and
bones of mammals. Chalky boulder clay to a depth of 30 feet has
been described by Mr. W. Andrews 4 as occurring in a railway cutting
at Berkswell.
The deposits of the neighbourhood of Rugby have been described
by Mr. J. M. Wilson & under two heads high level deposits and valley
1 Brodie, Quart. Journ. Geol. See. xxiii. (1867), 208.
8 Proc. Birm. Phil. Soc. (1882), p. 157. 3 Quart. Journ. Geol. Soc. xxvi. (1870), 202.
* Proc. Warw. Field Club, 1884. Quart. Journ. Geol. Soc. xxvi. (1870), 192.
i 25 4
A HISTORY OF WARWICKSHIRE
deposits. The former occupy the Lias plateau south of Rugby, and at
various localities appear to consist of 10 to 20 feet of gravel and sand
with beds of stony clay. From Rugby to Lowmorton the surface
deposits consist of about 13 feet of gravel lying on clayey sand, and a
cutting on the London and North- Western railway showed a few feet of
gravel and sand overlying stony clay chiefly derived from the Lias, and
containing well striated pieces of Lias limestone, chalk and flint. In
and about Rugby gravel and sand are exposed in various pits.
At Exhall, north of Coventry, a deposit of clay and sand up to 75
feet thick has been described by Mr. A. Startin l as extending in a
narrow band southwards from Griff to Foleshill ; boulders of igneous
rocks and sandstone occur at the bottom of the mass. To the west of
this the surface soil contains much angular de'bris derived from the
Hartshill Quartzite of Nuneaton. West of the high ' Permian ' ground
of Corley rounded quartzose (Bunter) pebbles become common, while
on the other hand about Bulkington and Wolvey, Liassic fossils are to be
found. Here again we have evidence of one movement from the north
and another from the north-east or east.
In addition to these spreads of gravel, sand and boulder clay which
occur irregularly over the surface of the county, we occasionally come
across large and conspicuous blocks of rock which have evidently travelled
far from their parent beds. The larger of these ' boulders ' have always
attracted notice. Few however seem to have been recorded in War-
wickshire. Several of granite and felstone occur on the western confines
north of Birmingham, and have been noted by the Rev. J. Caswell 2 of
Oscott College ; and at Stockton, some few miles east of Warwick, a
Charnwood granite boulder nearly 2 tons in mass and measuring 4 feet
across has been enclosed and inscribed. 3 Mr. W. J. Harrison has noted
two boulders in the village of Sherbourn south of Warwick ; one is a
mass of Millstone Grit 29 inches across, the other of granite, 38 inches;
while the same observer has recorded a small boulder of quartzose
material at Exhall several miles west of Stratford-on-Avon.*
Certain small tracts of drift in the north of the county fall within
the area of the Atherstone sheet B of the Geological Survey map, and
have been mapped and described by Mr. C. Fox-Strangways. There
are gravel patches at Warton and Shuttington composed of pebbles
without any admixture of eastern rocks ; they seem to have been derived
chiefly from the Bunter pebble beds. Boulder clay, somewhat of the
nature of brickearth and containing sandy and loamy bands, extends
southwards from Market Bosworth towards Hinckley, just beyond the
north-eastern edge of the county, and at the last named town it is stated
1 Proc. Warw. field Club (1866), p. 26.
* Rep. Brit. Assoc. for 1877 (pub. 1878), pp. 82, 83.
3 Rev. W. Tuckwell, Rep. Brit. Assoc. for 1886 (pub. 1887), p. 627.
1 Rep. Brit. Anoc. for 1890 (pub. 1891), p. 340.
'New series, sheet 155, showing Drift, by C. Fox-Strangways (1899) ; see also the accompanying
Memoir, p. 37 et seqq.
36
GEOLOGY
to be 150 feet thick. Mr. W. J. Harrison thinks this loamy deposit
was laid down in an old ice-dammed lake. 1
The soft rocks of Warwickshire are not such as would receive or
retain ice scratches during the glaciation ; but a few cases have been
recorded of a crumpling and disturbance of the surface beds probably
by the passage of the ice. At Small Heath near Birmingham an expo-
sure of the Keuper Marls showed evidence of the passage of a heavy
body over the surface ; streaks of red marl had been torn off and em-
bedded in the superjacent drift, and the uppermost beds of the marl were
puckered and bent. 2 Again, according to Mr. A. H. Atkins, 8 at Garri-
son Lane near Birmingham 20 feet of tenacious clay, probably drift,
rests on an indurated, smoothed and polished surface of the Keuper
Marl.
The late Dr. Crosskey * described a section between Key Hill and
Hockley Hill in Birmingham where boulder clay rested on Triassic
sandstone which had been greatly broken and disturbed and large frag-
ments of it torn off and embedded in the drift. Mr. C. J. Woodward
has described disturbances known as ' swilleys,' and possibly glacial, in
the Lias at Binton and Grafton, 6 and a smoothing and polishing of the
' Permian ' sandstone under the drift near Coventry has been recorded
by Mr. F. T. Maidwell. 9
As the climate of the country gradually ameliorated the ice melted
and gave rise to much flood water, which redistributed much of the
older drift and laid it down along the bottoms of the valleys ; subse-
quent erosion by the river has removed much of the infilling and left
only strips along the sides in the form of river terraces. It is in these
old gravels, sands and loams that the remains of early man and the
animals with which he was associated first appear. This fluviatile drift
of the Avon valley as already noted (p. 25) has yielded teeth of the
elephant at Shottery, and at Newnham near Church Lawford west of
Rugby were found in 1815 two skulls and other bones of rhinoceros,
tusks and teeth of elephant, and horns and bones of stag and ox, at
1 5 feet from the surface, in clayey gravel. 7 According to Professor Boyd
Dawkins 8 the mammalia from the freshwater deposits of the Avon valley
include wolf, hyaena, reindeer, stag, bison, hippopotamus, boar, horse,
rhinoceros, elephant and mammoth.
But undoubtedly the most interesting discovery from our present
point of view is that of quartzite implements found in 1890 by Mr. J.
Landon in the old gravels of the Rea valley at Saltley near Birmingham.
They have been noted (and one is figured) by Sir John Evans. 9 The
1 Harrison, Proc. Geol. Assoc. xv. (1898), 400.
2 W. J. Harrison, Proc. Birm. Phil. Soc. iii. (1882), 157.
s Mid. Nat. (1883), p. 230; also Rep. Birm. Nat. Hist, and Mic. Soc. (1883), p. I.
* Proc. Birm. Phil. Soc. (1882), p. 209.
5 Proc. Birm. Nat. Hist, and Mic. Soc. (1870), p. 63.
6 Proc. Wartv. Nat. and Arch, field Club (1895), p. 47.
7 Buckland, Relijuiie Di/uviartce, ed. 2 (1824), pp. 176, 177.
8 Quart. Journ. Geol. Soc. xxv. (1869), 192.
9 AncientStone Implements, ed. 2 (1897), pp. 578-81, and fig. 4JOA.
27
A HISTORY OF WARWICKSHIRE
valley of the Rea at Saltley runs about north-north-east and is nearly a
mile wide. Stretches of gravel occur on both sides of the valley at
various levels, especially on the south-eastern side. The highest and
oldest gravels are exposed in a claypit close to Saltley College and are
about 3 feet thick ; the gravel here consists of small quartzite pebbles,
some larger pebbles and a few broken flints in a light-brown sandy
matrix ; this overlies 3 or 4 feet of glacial clay and sand, and this in
turn rests on the Keuper Marls which are dug for brick making. It
was at the base of the gravel that the quartzite implements were found.
The more recent alluvial deposits along the bottom of the present
valleys, made up of flood material and the occasional peat growths, yield
remains of man and animals of a later date than those of the old terraces,
and conduct us to a point in the history of Warwickshire where the
archaeologist takes up the story.
28
PALEONTOLOGY
PALjEONTOLOGICAL interest, so far at least as vertebrated
animals are concerned, is concentrated in Warwickshire on the
remains of fishes, amphibians and reptiles from the Keuper
division of the Trias, of which a splendid series are preserved
in the museum at Warwick. Coten (or Colon) End, near Warwick,
Shrewley, Cubbington and Leamington are well known localities for
these fossils, many of which are peculiar to the county, while the others
are restricted to a few localities in Britain. The amphibian remains
belong to that early group known as labyrinthodonts, the more typical
representatives of which are characterized by the peculiar and compli-
cated infoldings of the outer layer of the crowns of their teeth, whereby
a characteristic pattern is produced in the interior which is best dis-
played in transverse section. The bones of the head, as well as those
forming the chest-shield of these lowly creatures, are also characterized by
a distinctive sculpture, recalling that on the skulls and scutes of modern
crocodiles. The Warwick Museum is especially rich in the remains of
these labyrinthodonts, which have been described by Huxley, Miall,
Owen and others. Among the collectors of Warwickshire Triassic
vertebrates may be especially mentioned the late Rev. P. B. Brodie, who
published two papers in the Quarterly ^Journal of the Geological Society * on
the fish and other remains from Shrewley and other localities. Com-
mencing with the fish remains from the Keuper, the first form to be
noticed is a shark originally described in 1840 by Murchison and
Strickland on the evidence of teeth from Pendock in Worcestershire as
Hybodus keuperinuS) but assigned in the British Museum Catalogue of
Fossil Fishes 2 to the genus Acrodus, Similar teeth occur at Shrewley
and Rowington. From the evidence of a hybodont spine from Shrewley,
which may belong to the same form, Dr. A. S. Woodward 3 has recently
expressed the opinion that this fish may have to be assigned to a distinct
genus, under the name of Liacantbus. Of special interest is a much more
primitive type of shark, belonging to the Palaeozoic group Ichthyotomi,
described by Dr. Woodward 4 on the evidence of teeth obtained by
Mr. Brodie from Shrewley under the name of Phcebodus brodiei. Another
tooth is known from the Worcestershire Keuper. 6 From the Keuper
1 Vol. xliii. 540 (1887), and xlix. 171 (1893). 2 Part i. p. 281.
3 Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist. ser. 6, xii. 283 (1893). 4 Op. cit.
6 In the ' Palaeontology ' of Worcestershire it is stated that only two teeth are known.
29
A HISTORY OF WARWICKSHIRE
formation a tooth of a lung-fish was described in 1898 by Professor
L. Miall as Ceratodus /tevissimus, being supposed to represent a new
species. In the British Museum Catalogue of Fossil Fishes 1 it was
identified with the continental C. kaupi, but a tooth in Mr. Brodie's
collection subsequently led Dr. Woodward* to believe that the original
determination was correct. If this be so, C. Itevissimus is known only
by one tooth from Ripple in Worcestershire and a second from Shrewley.
The genus, it may be mentioned, survives in Queensland in the form of
the barramunda or Burnet salmon (C.forsteri).
Another survival of a Palaeozoic type in the Warwickshire Keuper
is a fish originally described as Palczoniscus superstes, but now known as
Dictyopyge superstes. It was described by the late Sir Philip Egerton on
the evidence of the imperfect trunk of a fish in Mr. Brodie's collection.
The same collection has afforded evidence of a species of the widely
spread Triassic genus Semionotus which appears peculiar to the Warwick-
shire Keuper, and has been named S. brodiei by Mr. E. T. Newton. 3
To the same family (Semionotidce) belongs a fish from the Lower
Lias of Stratford-on-Avon, described as long ago as 1835 or 1836 by
Agassiz on the evidence of a nearly complete specimen, of which all
trace has now unfortunately been lost. A small fish belonging to a
totally different family (Eugnathidez) originally described by the writer
last mentioned on the evidence of a specimen from Barrow-on-Soar,
Leicestershire, as Eugnatbus hastingsice (in honour of the then Marchioness
of Hastings) is also apparently represented in the British Museum collec-
tion by an imperfect specimen from the Lower Lias of Wilmcote near
Stratford-on-Avon.
Passing on to the consideration of the labyrinthodont remains, per-
haps the most interesting is the unique skull in the Warwick Museum
from the Permian of Kenilworth described in 1849 as Labyrintbodon
bucklandi, but made the type of a new genus by Huxley in 1859 as
Dasyceps bucklandi. The animal to which it belonged was apparently
allied to the Carboniferous genus Antbracosaurus. An excellent descrip-
tion of the Keuper labyrinthodonts of the county will be found in a
paper by Professor L. C. Miall published in the Quarterly Journal of the
Geological Society* These are referred to four species, namely Mastodon-
saurus giganteus, M. pachygnatbus, Labyrintbodon leptognathus and Diadeto-
gnatbus varvicensis. Of these the first, if rightly identified, is common
to the Keuper of the continent, but the other three are peculiar to the
county. Nor is this all, for the generic name Labyrinthodon owes its
name to a Warwickshire specimen, as also does Diadetognatbus, the
Former having been proposed by Owen in 1841, and the latter by Miall
in 1874. The names Labyrintbodon laniarius and L. -ventricosus have
also been applied by Owen to labyrinthodont teeth in the Warwick
Museum, but the generic affinity of these is doubtful. Yet another
rm, from the Keuper of Leamington, was named by Owen Labyrintho-
1 Part ii. p. 270. * Ibid. p. 282.
Quo*. Joum. G,ol. &r. *liii. 439 (,887). * Vol. xxx. 417 (1874).
30
PALEONTOLOGY
don scutulatus, a name subsequently changed to Rhombopholis scutulata,
the type specimen being an imperfect skeleton in the Warwick Museum.
Professor Miall has expressed doubts as to the labyrinthodont nature of
this specimen.
Further evidence of the presence of labyrinthodonts in the Keuper
of the county is afforded by footprints in the sandstone, which are com-
monly known by the name of Chirotherium or Cbirosaurus, 1 although
they were made in all probability by Mastodonsaurus, Labyrinthodon^ etc.
In this connection it may be well to mention that these footprints were
originally supposed to have been made by animals resembling huge frogs
or toads ; and in old works on geology and palaeontology restorations of
Labyrintbodon on this model are shown. Such restorations are however
altogether erroneous, these ancient amphibians corresponding in general
bodily form much more nearly with the salamanders of the present day.
Of the remains of reptiles from the Keuper of Warwickshire the
earliest described appear to be certain teeth from Coten End, Leamington
and Warwick, which were named Cladyodon lloydi by Sir Richard Owen in
1841. Teeth from the same quarries subsequently examined by Huxley*
were found to be very similar to others from Bristol described as Palceo-
saurus cylindrodon, and were provisionally assigned to the same genus if
not the same species. This reptile was evidently an early representa-
tive of the Dinosauria, but the exact relationship of the animal indicated
by the teeth for which the name Cladyodon was proposed must for the
present remain uncertain. Other dinosaurians from the Warwickshire
Trias include a species of the genus Thecodontosaurus (first described on
the evidence of specimens from Bristol) and another of Zanclodon (Tera-
tosaurus). But this does not exhaust the list of Triassic reptiles found
in the county. In 1869 Huxley 3 stated that a peculiar reptile described
by himself under the name of Hyperodapedon gordoni was represented in
the quarries at Coten End, and in 1893 Mr. Brodie 4 announced the
discovery of a nearly perfect jaw of the same creature at this locality.
Hyperodapedon^ it may be mentioned, is a Triassic ally of the tuatera
lizard (Sphenodon punctatus] of New Zealand, which is the sole living repre-
sentative of the order Rhynchocephalia. In the extinct genus, of which
remains are abundant at Maleri in Central India, the palate was covered
with a number of longitudinal rows of stout conical teeth, between two
of which worked the single row surmounting the lower jaw.
Although apparently less numerous than in the corresponding for-
mation of Leicestershire, remains of the two great groups of marine
Secondary reptiles respectively known as ichthyosaurs and plesiosaurs occur
in the Lower Lias of the county, nearly complete skeletons being met
with from time to time. Of the ichthyosaurs, or the group in which the
head is large, the neck short, and the bones of the paddles quadrangular,
the species Ichthyosaurus intermedius and /. platyodon have been recorded
from the neighbourhood of Stratford-on-Avon, and there may be others.
1 Quart. Journ. Geol. Soc. xvi. 278, xlix. 173. 2 Ibid. xxvi. 46 (1869).
3 Op. cit. * Ibid. xlix. 173, note.
31
A HISTORY OF WARWICKSHIRE
A magnificent skeleton of the species last mentioned was obtained at
Stockton in 1898,' and is now in the British Museum. The plesiosaurs,
as represented by the genus P/esiosaurus in the Lias, differ by the rela-
tively smaller size of the head, the longer neck, and the more normal
form of the bones of the paddles, as well as by many other structural
features. The writer has not met with any account of the species found
in the Warwickshire Lias.
The next horizon in the county where vertebrate remains of any
importance have been recorded is a Pleistocene deposit of alluvial silt at
Little Lawford near Rugby, from which bones and teeth of mammals
were brought to the notice of the late Dean Buckland in 1815. The
deposit appears to run continuously along the Avon valley from Rugby
to Tewkesbury in Gloucestershire. The following species (with certain
emendations of nomenclature) were recorded from Lawford by T. G. B.
Lloyd 1 in 1870, namely the Pleistocene variety of the spotted hyaena
(Hycena crocuta spelcea), the wolf (Cam's lupus), the Pleistocene bison
(Bos priscus], the red deer (Cervus elapbus), the reindeer (Rangifer taran-
dus), the Pleistocene race of the hippopotamus (Hippopotamus amphibius
major], the wild boar (Sus scrofa), the wild horse (Equus cabal/us fossilis),
the woolly rhinoceros (Rhinoceros antiquitatis), the mammoth (Elephas
primigenius) , and the straight-tusked elephant (E. antiquus). Assuming
all the species to be correctly determined, the list is of special interest as
showing the association in the same area of forms now so widely separated
as the reindeer and the hippopotamus.
1 See Report Rugby School Nat. Hist. Soc. for 1889, p. 50, where a plate of this specimen is given.
a Quart. Journ. Geol. Soc. xxvi. 215.
HISTOKV OF WARWICKSHIRE
BOTANICA1
THE VICTORIA HISTORY
L3ISTRICTS.
LIST OF BOTANICAL DISTRICTS
I. Tame VI. Sow
II. Blythe VII. Stour
VIII.
IX. Arrow
X. Cherwell
IE COUNTI ES OF ENGLAND
BOTANY
IN treating of the flora of a county, it is well to refer not only to
that which is now prevalent ; but also, so far as knowledge serves,
to that which has prevailed in the past, but whose existence has
become impossible owing to altered surroundings. In few of our
midland counties have the changes incidental to the growth of popula-
tion been more marked than in Warwickshire. A glance at a map
of the county, and a study of the names of localities, will show that
formerly heaths, wastes, commons and marshes existed, indeed were
extensive in all parts of the county ; and the records of the older
botanists show that plants characteristic of such localities, though now
in many cases either extinct or very rare, were then of more frequent
occurrence ; but heaths, wastes and commons have been enclosed and
reclaimed, marshes and bogs drained, and the only portions of the county
which at the present time really represent these past conditions, are
some of the wilder portions of Sutton Park ; for here we have the
lingering remains of a flora which was once widespread, such as the
cranberry, Vaccinium oxycoccos ; the whortleberry, V. Vitis-Idaea ; the black
crowberry, Empetrum nigrum ; the grass of parnassus, Parnassia palustris ;
and the rare sedge Carex Ebrartiana, now its only British home. The
distribution of plants is to a certain extent determined by climate ;
proximity or otherwise to maritime influences, altitude, and by the
general character of its rocks, whether igneous, calcareous or sandstone.
The insular position of Warwickshire, and the absence of any great
irregularities in its surface produce a mildness of climate ; while it is free
from the disturbing influences of either sea or mountain. Although
everywhere undulating beautifully, the greatest altitude is only 855 feet
above sea-level, and the average altitude about 380 feet above the sea, or
well within the lowest zone of climatic influence. Its rocks are varied,
beginning with the Cambrian and ending with the Inferior Oolite, but
these are often in a degree obscured by the sands, gravels and clays of
the drift, and these deposits materially affect the character of the flora.
Throughout its area Warwickshire is well covered with trees, many of
the woods being extensive, probably remains of the Great Forest of
Arden, and are often rich in characteristic plants, as in the well-wooded
district around Atherstone and Hartshill. Here is found the rare wood
i 33 5
A HISTORY OF WARWICKSHIRE
vetch, Vicia syhatica \ the field bell-flower, Campanula patula ; the yellow
bird's-nest, Hypopithys multiflora ; and the rare bramble, Rubus Bloxamianus.
In the valley of the Sow around Combe and Brinklow are spreading
woodlands rich in well-grown timber, and of interest to the botanist as
yielding the rare bastard pimpernel, Centunculus minimus ; the beautiful
water avens, Geum rhiale ; its still rarer ally, G. intermedium, and the
luscious fruited bramble, Rubus Balfourianus. The valley of the Learn
has in parts quite a forest-like character ; many of its woods being of
great extent and the homes of wild plants which are worth notice, such
as the white beam, Pyrus Aria ; the gromwell, Litbospermum officinale ;
the butterfly orchis, Habenaria chlorantha ; and the beautiful lily-of-the-
valley, Convallaria majalis. In the southern portion of the county, in
the pretty valley of the Stour are the forest-like woodlands around
Wolford, Whichford and Long Compton, which like the country around
possess a flora very heathlike in general character, but also yield among
other interesting plants the rare wood chickweed, Stellaria umbrosa ; the
dwarf cherry, Prunus Cerasus ; the scented agrimony, Agrimonia odorata ;
the tawny sedge, Carex fuha ; and the throatwort, Campanula latifolia.
In the basins of the Arrow and the Alne are the extensive woods
around, Ragley, Oversley, and Henley-in-Arden, some of which have
been made historic by Purton's work recorded in his valuable Midland
Flora. The soils about this portion of the county are mostly clay loams
resting on marl and limestone, and the flora is mostly that appertaining to
calcareous soils such as the traveller's joy, Clematis Vitalba ; ithe wood
crane's-bill, Geranium syhaticum ; the spindle tree, Euonymus europaeus ;
the everlasting pea, Lathyrus syhestris ; the soft-leaved rose, Rosa mollis ;
the wild service-tree, Pyrus torminalis ; the wayfaring tree, Viburnum
Lantana ; and the beautiful clustered bell-flower, Campanula glomerata.
In the northern portion of the county the woods are usually small, the
subsoil frequently of a peaty nature, and the undergrowth for the most
part some of the more common grasses, an abundant growth of the
bilberry, Vaccinium Myrtillus ; some of the more common ferns as Lastreea
dilatata ; the black alder, Rhamnus Frangula ; now and again herb Paris,
Paris quadrifolia ; and a rich display of the beautiful bluebell, Scllla
nutans. There are no lakes in the county, but some of the pools are
large, like lakes in character, of ancient date, and yield some of our rarest
plants. Such as Packington Pool ; here is the white water-lily, Nymphcea
alba ; the flowering-rush, Eutomus umbellatus ; and the floating burr-reed,
Sparganium minimum ; near this are the pools at Merecote and Olton Mill,
where are the pondweeds, Potamogeton rufescens and P. pusillus ; and the
fine lake-like reservoir at Olton, where is found the rare water-wort,
Elatme bexandra, and the shore-weed, Littorella lacustris. Other extensive
pools occur at Combe Abbey, Stoneleigh, Wormleighton and Farn-
borough ; here is the water crowflower, Ranunculus trichophyllus ; and
the sweet flag, Acorus Calamus. But the most interesting pools from a
Dtamcal point of view are those of Chesterton, Itchington Holt and
tnam Holt, for here we find the few plants of the county which have
34
BOTANY
maritime affinities. The waters of these pools have a brackish taste, and
are partly fed by salt springs ; and the plants that make their home in
their vicinity are usually lovers of maritime surroundings. These are the
golden dock, Rumex maritimus ; the sea club-rush, Scirpus maritimus ; the
glaucous club-rush, S. Taberncemontanus ; the loose sedge, Carex distant ;
and the celery, Apium graveolens.
A comparison may here be made between the flora of Warwickshire
and that of the neighbouring counties of Oxfordshire, Northamptonshire,
Leicestershire, Staffordshire, Worcestershire, and Gloucestershire. The
total flora of Warwickshire consists of about 905 species, including the
ferns, club-mosses, pillworts, horsetails and charas. As the total for Great
Britain is 1,958, it will be seen that Warwickshire yields only about
one-half that number. From its central position it naturally possesses a
large percentage of the common or British type, viz., 501 out of 532 ;
of southern or English type more than two-thirds ; about one-fourth the
eastern type ; one-ninth the western type ; and one-tenth of the northern
type of the British flora. There are in Warwickshire, 101 plants not
recorded for Oxfordshire; 134 not recorded for Northamptonshire;
68 not recorded for Leicestershire ; 67 not recorded for Staffordshire ;
55 not recorded for Worcestershire ; and 78 not recorded for Gloucester-
shire.
There are in Oxfordshire 42 not recorded for Warwickshire ; in
Northamptonshire 32 not recorded for Warwickshire ; in Leicestershire
23 not recorded for Warwickshire ; in Staffordshire 56 not recorded for
Warwickshire ; in Worcestershire 48 not recorded for Warwickshire ;
and in Gloucestershire 92 not recorded for Warwickshire.
The botanical districts into which the county has been divided are
based on the river drainage, and are those adopted in my Flora of Warwick-
shire. They are (i) the Tame, (2) the Blythe, including the Cole, and
(3) the Anker, all forming part of the basin of the Trent ; (4) the
Avon, (5) the Leam, (6) the Sow, (7) the Stour, (8) the Alne, (9) the
Arrow ; all forming part of the basin of the Severn ; (10) the Cherwell
which drains into the Thames.
i. THE TAME
The Tame rises near Bloxwich in Staffordshire and enters Warwick-
shire north of Birmingham at Witton, a brook-like stream abounding in
the long trailing stems of Ranunculus fiuitans ; thence it flows eastward,
past Castle Bromwich and Water Orton ; where is found the rare star of
Bethlehem, Gagea lutea ; receiving on its left bank contributory streams
from Sutton Park and the surrounding country ; continuing in an easterly
direction past Hams Hall the river Blythe flows into it on the right
bank, and near this also the little river Bourne which drains a wide
extent of country around Astley, Whitacre and Baxterley ; a little
further on its course is abruptly diverted northward past Kingsbury and
35
A HISTORY OF WARWICKSHIRE
Dosthill to the north side of Tamworth, where it receives the Anker,
and passing under Lady Bridge, enters Staffordshire and joins the Trent
near Croxall.
2. BLYTHE AND COLE
The Blythe rises on the high land forming the western boundary
of the county at an elevation of 585 feet above sea-level and flows
through Earlswood reservoir to Waring's Green, where it receives streams
draining a wide stretch of the surrounding country. Here it is a small
stream often choked with water-loving plants such as the water honewort,
Slum inundatum. Its course is now north-west through low-lying
meadows, gay with the beautiful daffodil, Narcissus Pseudo-narcissus ; and
under Blythe Bridge, past Escole Hall. Thence the river flows south-
east past Temple Balsall, where it is fed by streams draining Packwood
and the surrounding country. At this point its course is again diverted
northward through Bradnocks Marsh, now a well cultivated district,
through the beautiful Packington Park, and east of Coleshill, past the
historic Blythe Hall to its confluence with the Tame near Hams Hall.
The Cole enters the county at an elevation of about 500 feet near the
source of the Blythe, and after flowing for a short distance in a north-
easterly direction, forming the boundary between Worcester and Warwick-
shire, re-enters the county near Sheldon Hall and has a sinuous easterly
course past Chelmsley Wood, passing under a bridge richly covered with
the spleenwort, Asplenium Trichomanes ; thence meandering northwards
through Coleshill Park and the lower portion of Coleshill to its
confluence with the Blythe near Blythe Hall. Like the Blythe its
whole course is through low-lying meadows which are liable to be
flooded.
3. THE ANKER
The Anker has its origin from the confluence of several small streams
draining Bulkington, Wolvey and Burton Hastings. It takes a north-
west course through Attlebury fields and Chilvers Coton, and receives on
its left bank a stream which drains a large area of the coal measures
around Bedworth, Chilvers Coton and Nuneaton. Pursuing its way
northwards, the Anker flows through Nuneaton, Caldecote and Mancetter.
Passing Atherstone on its east side, it flows on north-west through Gren-
don Park, and west through Polesworth. After this its course is very
winding, making considerable curves north and south before reaching its
confluence with the Tame near Lady Bridge. The distance from its rise
its mouth is about twenty-five miles. It is everywhere a pretty stream,
very like a brook in character, fringed with those lovers of watery sur-
roundings, the arrow-head, Sagittaria sagittifolia ; the flowering-rush,
Butomus umbellate* ; the sweet forget-me-not, Myosotis palustris ; and trail-
ing in its waters the rare water starwort, Callitriche obtusangula, and the
rarer endemic species, (Enanthe jiuviatilis.
36
BOTANY
4. THE AVON
The Avon rises near Naseby in Northamptonshire and enters War-
wickshire near Clifton. It has a meandering course a little north of
Rugby, flowing past Lawford and Brandon, receiving on its left bank
streams draining the surrounding country. Passing near Ryton-on-Duns-
more and Bubbenhall, it flows through the grounds of Stoneleigh Abbey ;
here it receives on its right bank the river Sow, and taking its course by
Ashow, flows on through the romantic grounds of Guy's Cliff. Near
here at Emscote it receives the important tributary the Learn, and pass-
ing near the walls of Warwick Castle, flows through Warwick Park.
From Warwick Park the Avon flows near Barford to Sherbourne, where
it receives waters from Norton Lindsay and the country around ; flowing
on near Hampton Lucy its stream is augmented by Thelesford Brook, a
little stream from Wasperton Hill. The little river Dene, a stream
originating from the drainage of Burton Dassett and Edge Hills, and
bringing waters from the surrounding district, flows into it as it winds
through the beautiful grounds of Charlecote. From Charlecote the Avon
flows through Alveston and Stratford-on-Avon, and a little below Strat-
ford on its left bank is joined by the river Stour ; thence flowing under
Binton Bridges and by Bidford, it receives on its right bank the rapid-
flowing Arrow, and a little below Salford Priors it leaves the county.
Its course through the county is about forty-seven miles.
The Avon is everywhere a beautiful soft-flowing stream, with rich
alluvial banks clothed with a wealth of beautiful wild flowers, stately
forests of bulrush, Scirpus lacustris ; and water meadow-grass, Glyceria
aquatica ; the golden beauty of the yellow water-cress or the pearly blos-
som of the bitter-cress, Cardamine amara ; and in its waters tangled masses
of Ranunculus tricbopbyllus, and frequently the yellow water-lily, Nupbar
lutea.
5. THE LEAM
The river Learn rises on the northern slopes of Marston Hill and,
forming the boundary line of Northampton and Warwickshire for some
two or three miles, enters Warwickshire a little north of Wolfhamcote.
As it flows in a north-westerly direction, soon after passing through
Grandborough it meets on its right bank the waters of the Rainsbrook,
a stream entering the county near Dunchurch. From this point the
Learn turns west past Leamington Hastings and Birdingbury ; near Mar-
ton receiving on its left bank the brook-like river, the Itchin, and on its
right bank waters from Bourton, Thurlaston and the surrounding country.
From Marton the Learn has a widely sinuous course through Wappen-
bury and OfFchurch to Radford Semele, receiving on its way waters from
Cubbington and Whitnash. Thence it flows westward through Leaming-
ton to its confluence with the Avon near Emscote. The principal rocks
of this basin are those of the Lias marls and clays, but about OfFchurch and
Leamington Keuper marls predominate. The Itchen rises on the west
37
A HISTORY OF WARWICKSHIRE
slopes of the Marston Hill, and has a west course for six miles, where
Ham Brook falls into it, a small stream draining Wormleighton, Fenny
Compton and the Burton Hills. The course of the Itchen now becomes
northerly, through Bishop's Itchington, near Southam, through Long
Itchington to its confluence with the Learn near Marton. It is little
more than a brook in any portion of its course, and having a gentle flow,
is as a rule luxuriously weed-grown.
6. THE Sow
The Sow rises on the high land near Astley, flowing south-west
through Bedworth woodlands, where it receives on its left bank a stream
from Arbury. Here its course bears south through Exhall, where it is
joined by Breach Brook, a stream draining Fillongley and Corley ; from
there it flows through Longford and Foleshill, receiving on its left bank
March Brook from Hawkesbury. Its course now becomes westerly
through Wyken, Sow and Binley, and receives on its left bank waters
from Monk's Kirby, Withybrooke, Combe, Stretton-on-Fosse and part of
Brinklow. From Binley it takes a widely sinuous course through Wil-
lenhall and Baginton to its confluence with the Avon in Stoneleigh Park,
receiving near Baginton the little river Sherbourne, a stream draining the
country around Allesley, Westwood Heath and Kenilworth. Its whole
course is about twenty miles.
7. THE STOUR
The Stour rises at Stour Well in Oxfordshire, and enters Warwick-
shire at Traitors' Ford, about three miles from its source ; it flows
through Stourton, Cherrington, Burmington, Shipston-on-Stour, Halford,
Alderminster, Atherstone-on-Stour to its confluence with the Avon two
miles below Stratford-on-Avon. Although the Stour is for a consider-
able portion of its course an insignificant stream, the country through
which the river runs is peculiar for its alternation of hill and dale, Bright
Hill, Brailes Hill and Ilmington Downs being among the more elevated
of our Warwickshire hills, and commanding fine far-reaching views over
the surrounding country. The highest points are Ebrington Hill, which
has an elevation of 855 feet above the sea ; Bright Hill 737 feet, and
Brailes Hill 700 feet. The district is well wooded, and contains here
and there remains of what have, in former times, been widely stretching
heath lands.
8. THE ALNE
The Alne is formed by two streams rising far apart. The main
stream rises on Apsley Heath near the county boundary, and takes
an easterly course by Tanworth Mill, through Henley-in-Arden and Beau-
desert to the grounds of Wootton Hall, where it unites with the second
principal feeder. This stream rises near Wroxall Abbey, about seven
miles north-east of Wootton Hall, and flows through Rowington, Low-
38
BOTANY
som Ford, Preston Bagot, and by Crab Mill to its confluence with the
main stream, receiving a stream flowing through Lapworth and by
Yarningale Common. The Alne now takes a course south and south-
west near Wootton Wawen, Great Alne and Kinwarton to its confluence
with the Arrow near Alcester, receiving on its left bank waters from
Shrewley, Claverdon and Bearley. The course of the river from its source
is about seventeen miles, draining a wide extent of country usually low-
lying, but with elevated land near its source and at Henley-in-Arden.
9. THE ARROW
The Arrow rises in Worcestershire in a valley north-east of Alve-
church, and enters Warwickshire near Beoley Lane. Its course is at first
south-west through Ipsley and Washford, receiving on its west bank
streams from the high lands about Ipsley and Mappleborough Green.
Now it flows south through Studley, Spernall and Coughton to Oversley
Bridge, receiving on its way streams from east and west, bringing waters
from Morton Bagot, Crabb's Cross and Sambourn. After its confluence
with the Alne at Alcester, it takes a short turn eastward through the
pretty village of Arrow, but rapidly recovering its southerly direction,
flows through Wixford and Broom to its confluence with the Avon near
Salford Bridge, receiving on either bank waters from Exhall and Beving-
ton. Its whole course in the county is sixteen miles. The valley watered
by the Arrow is narrow, hilly and well wooded ; the prevailing soils being
those of the New Red Sandstone and marls, but in the more southern
portion those of the Lias prevail, and its flora is characteristic of calcare-
ous soils.
10. THE CHERWELL
The Cherwell district includes that portion of Warwickshire lying
south-west of Wormleighton, Fenny Compton and Burton Dassett, and
a narrow tongue of land north-east of Wormleighton, part of Fenny
Compton, Avon Dassett and part of the southern escarpment of the Edge
Hill, Warmington and Shotswell. This district is drained by small
tributaries of the Cherwell. The flora is poor, but includes one notice-
able plant, the white-flowered helleborine, Cephalanthera pallens.
In the following summary of the geographical distribution of the
species and varieties of the Warwickshire plants the arrangement and
nomenclature are those of the Student's Flora of the British Islands, except
in the genus Rubus, where the arrangement and nomenclature of the
9th edition of the London Catalogue of British Plants is followed.
The numbers following the scientific names of the plants i up to i o
indicate the districts in which the plant has been found, but when found
in three or more continuous districts, to save space this has been indicated
by placing a hyphen between the first and last numbers: thus, I, 2, 3, 4,
would be thus indicated, 1-4, etc.
39
A HISTORY OF WARWICKSHIRE
SUMMARY OF ORDERS, NUMBER OF GENERA AND OF SPECIES IN
, EACH ORDER, ETC.
Ex-
Ex-
Total
Total
eluded
Total
Total
cluded
Genera
in each
Species
in each
Species
in each
Genera
in each
Species
in each
Species
in each
Order
Order
Order
Order
Order
Order
CLASS I.
38. Rubiaceae
3
12
I
79. Valerianeae .
2
5
I
DICOTYLEDONS OR
' 7
40. Dipsaceae
2
J
5
EXOGEN^E
41. Composite .
36
78
II
Div. I. Thalamiflorte
42. Campanulaceas .
43. Vaccinieae .
4
i
8
3
4
i. Ranunculaceas .
IO
29
3
43-*EricaceaE
2
5
2. Berber-ideas .
I
I
44. Monotropeae
I
i
3. Nymphaeacea.- .
2
2
46. Primulaceae .
6
1 1
4. Papaveraceae
2
4
2
47. Oleaceas ....
2
2
5. Fumariaceas.
2
6
I
48. Apocynaceas
I
2
6. Cruciferse
9
4'
13
49. Gentianeae .
4
5
i
7. Rescdaces .
i
2
51. Boragineae
7
15
5
8. Cistinea ....
i
52. Convolvulaceae .
3
4
3
9. Violates.
8
53. Solanaceas
3
4
2
10. Polygaleae .
3
54. Plantagineae .
2
5
I
1 2. Caryophyllea' .
12
32
4
55. Scrophularineas .
12
33
3
13. Portulaceae .
i
i
56. Orobancheas
2
4
14. Elatineae.
i
57. Lentibularineae .
2
3
15. Hypericinea?
8
i
58. Verbenaceae .
I
i
1 6. Malvaceae .
3
2
59. Labiatae ....
1 7
44
4
17. Tiliaceas.
2
I
1 8. Lineae ....
2
2
2
Div. IV. Mono-
19. Geraniacea' .
3
12
6
chlamydeee
2O. Ilicineas ....
I
I
21. Empetraceas
I
I
60. Illecebraceae .
61. Chenopodiacez .
i
2
2
9
4
4
Div. II. Calycifiara
62. Polygonaceas
64. Thymelaeaceae .
3
i
20
i
2
I
22. Celastrineas .
I
I
66. Loranthaceae
i
i
23. Rhamneae .
I
2
68. Euphorbiacea 1 .
2
5
4
24. Sapindaceae .
I
I
I
69. Urticaceae .
4
~
6
i
25. Leguminosae
26. Rosaceas ....
15
12
4 6
9 6
9
2
70. Myricaceas .
71. Cupiliferae .
I
8
i
7
I
27. Saxifrageae .
4
8
I
72. Salicineas
2
21
2
28. Crassulaceas .
29. Droseraceae .
2
I
3
i
4
73. Ceratophyllae .
I
I
30. Lythrarieas .
2
2
Div. V. Gymniosperms
31. Halorageae .
3
8
I
74. Coniferae
I
I
2
32. Onagrarieas .
3
IO
I
33. Cucurbitaceae .
i
I
.
CLASS II.
34. Umbelliferae. . .
35. Araliaceae . . .
22
I
35
i
6
MONOCOTYLEDONS
36. Cornaceae
I
i
Div. I. Petaloidea:
Div. III. Coroll'iflora
75. Hydrocharideae . .
76. Orchideae . . .
I
8
I
18
37. Caprifoliacese . .
4
6
77. Irideae ....
2
3
I
40
BOTANY
Total
Genera
in each
Order
Total
Species
in each
Order
Ex-
cluded
Species
in each
Order
Total
Genera
in each
Order
Total
Species
in each
Order
Ex-
cluded
Species
in each
Order
78. Amaryllideas
2
4
2
CLASS III.
79. Dioscoreae .
I
I
80. Liliaceae ....
IO
12
5
ACOTYLEDONS OR
81. Junceae ....
2
15
CRYPTOGAMIA
83. Typhaceae .
84. Aroideae ....
2
2
6
2
Div. I. Pasculares
85. Lemnaceae .
I
4
go. Filices ....
13
2O
86. Alismaceae .
3
4
91. Equisetaceae .
I
6
87. Naiadaceae .
3
i?
92. Lycopodiaceas .
I
3
94. Marsileaceae . . i
I
Div. II. Glumacete
88. Cyperaceae .
8
52
Div. II. Cellulares
89. Gramineas .
33
70
'
95. Characeae
3
7
SUMMARY OF GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION OF SPECIES AND
VARIETIES
RANUNCULACE.S
Clematis Vitalba, L. i, 2, 4, 6-10
Thalictrum flavum, L. 1-5, 7, 9
Anemone nemorosa, L. [all]
Myosurus minimus, L. 2-4, 8, 9
Ranunculus fluitans, Lam. 1-4, 6, 8, 9
trichophyllus, Chaix. 2, 4, 6-8, 10
- circinatus, Sibth. 1-6, 8, 10
pseudo-fluitans, Bab. 2-8
b. submenus, Hiern. i, 2, 4-8, 10
Drouetti, Godron. i, 2, 4-9
b. Godronii, Gren. 2, 3, 6, 8
- heterophyllus, Web. 1-7, 9
b. radians, Rev. i 6, 9, 10
peltatus, Schrank. 1-4, 6, 7
b. truncatus, Hiern. i, 2, 4, 6
c. floribundus, Bab. [all]
d. penicillatus, Hiern. 3, 8
Lenormandi, F. Schultz. i, 2, 4
hederaceus, L. 1-9
Lingua, L. i, 3, 6, 7, 8
Flammula, L. [all]
auricomus, L. [all]
sceleratus, L. [all]
acris, L. [all]
repens, L. [all]
bulbosus, L. [all]
hirsutus, Curtis. 4
arvensis, L. [all]
parviflorus, L. 2, 4, 5, 7, 9
Ficaria, L. [all]
b. incumbens, F. Sch. 7
Caltha palustris, L. [all]
b. Guerangerii, Boreau. 1-5, 7, 8
Helleborus viridis, L. 1,3, 4, 6, 8, 9
fcetidus, L. 2, 4, 8, 9
[Eranthis hyemalis], Salisb. I, 4, 5
Aquilegia vulgaris, L. 1,2, 4, 6, 8
[Delphinium Ajacis], Reich. 5, 6, 9
[Aconitum Napellus], L. 4
BERBERIDEJE
Berberis vulgaris, L. 1-9
NYMPH-EACE.S
Nuphar luteum, Sm. [all]
Nymphaea alba, L. 1-4, 9
PAPAVERACEJE
[Papaver somniferum], L. 2, 4
- Rhceas, L. [all]
b. strigosum, Boenn. 4
- dubium, L. [all]
b. Lecoqii, Lam. 4-7, 9, 10
- Argemone, L. [all]
Chelidonium majus, L. [all]
FUMARIACE.S
[Corydalis lutea], DC. 1-4, 6, 7, 8
claviculata, DC. i
Fumaria pallidiflora, Jord. 4-6
- confusa, Jord. 2, 4
- muralis, Sender, i , 4
officinalis, L. [all]
CRUCIFER.S
Cheiranthus Cheiri, L. 4, 6-8
Nasturtium officinale, Br. [all]
b. siifolium, Reichb. 2, 4, 8
sylvestre, Br. I
palustre, DC. 1-6, 8, 9
amphibium, Br. 1-6, 8, 9
Barbarea vulgaris, Br. [all]
b. divaricata, L.C. 3, 4, 7, 8-10
arcuata, Reich. 4, 5, 7-9
stricta, Andrz. 4, 6
A HISTORY OF WARWICKSHIRE
Barbara intermedia, Boreau. t, 4, 6, 9
[ przcox], Br. i, 4-6, 9
Arabis hirsuta, Br. 6, 7
perfbliata, Lamk. i, 2, 4, 6
Cardamine hirsuta, L. [all]
flexuosa, With, [all]
pratensis, L. [all]
amara, L. 1-9
impatiens, L. 3, 4
Sysymbrium Thaliana, Hook, [all]
- Sophia, L. 2, 4, 6, 9
officinale, Scop, [all]
- Alliaria, Scop, [all]
Erysimum cheiranthoides, L. i, 2, 4, 6
[Hesperis matronalis], L. 2, 4, 5, 7
Brassica Napus, L. i, 3, 4, 6-10
- Rutabuga, L. i, 4, 7, 10
- Rapa, L. i-io
b. tylveitris, Wats. 4, 5, 10
- nigra, Koch. 3-10
- Sinapis, Visiani. [all]
- alba, Boiss. 3, 4, 6-10
Diplotaxis tenuifolia, DC. 8
- muralis, DC. 4, 5
b. Babingtonii, Syme. 4, 5
Erophila vulgaris, DC. [all]
brachycarpa, Jord. 2, 5, 6
[Alyssum calycinum], L. i, 6
[ incanum], L. I, 5
[Cochlearia Armoracia], L. 1-5, 7, 9
[Camelina sativa], Crantz. i, 6
Capsella Bursa-pastoris, Moench. [all]
Senebiera Coronopus, Poiret. 2, 4-10
Lepidium ruderale, L. 6
campestre, Br. [all]
- Smithii, Hook. 1-4
- Draba, L. 1-4
Thlaspi arvense, L. 1,2, 4, 5, 7-10
Iberis amara, L. 5, 6, 8
Teesdalia nudicaulis, Br. i, 2, 4
Raphanus Raphanistrum, L. 1-4, 6-9
RESEDACEJE
[Reseda alba], L. 4, 6
[ lutea], L. 4
- Luteola, L. i, 2, 4, 6, 7, 9, 10
ClSTINE^E
Helianthemum vulgare, Gaertn. 4, 5, 7-10
VIOLACEJE
Viola palustris, L. 1-3, 6, 8
odorata, L. [all]
b. alba, Auct. i, 4, 69
c. permixta, Jord. 4
- hirta, L. 2, 4-10
b. alba, Auct. 4, 8
Riviniana, Reich, [all]
Reichenbachiana, Bor. [all]
canina, L. 1-4, 6-8
lactea, Sm. 6
tricolor, L. [all]
*. arveni>, Murr. [all]
POLYGALE.K
Polygala vulgaris, L. 19
oxyptera, Reich. 7
depressa, Wend. I, 2, 3, 6-9
CARYOPHYLLE.*
Dianthus Armeria, L. 4, 6, 7, 9
[deltoides], L. i, 4
Saponaria officinalis, L. i, 4, 9
b. hybrida, L. 6
Silene Cucubalus, Wibel. 1-5, 7, 10
b. puberula, Syme. 2, 4, 10
anglica, L. I, 2, 4
[nutans], L. i
noctiflora, L. 4, 9
Lychnis vespertina, L. [all]
diurna, Sibth. [all]
- Flos-cuculi, L. [all]
Githago segetum, Desf. [all]
Cerastium quarternellum, Fenzl. 1-3, 6, 8
semidecandrum, L. 2, 4, 8
glomeratum, Thuill. [all]
triviale, Link, [all]
arvense, L. 2, 4, 6
Stellaria aquatica, Scop, [all]
nemorum, L. 7, 9
- media, Vill. [all]
b. neglecta, Weihe. 1-5, 8, 10
umbrosa, Opitz, 2, 68
Holostea, L. [all]
palustris, Ehrh. 4, 8, 9
graminea, L. [all]
uliginosa, Murr. [all]
Arenaria trinervia, L. [all]
- serpyllifolia, L. [all]
var. leptoclados, Guss. [all]
tenuifolia, L. 3, 4
Sagina apetala, L. [all]
- ciliata, Fries, i, 2
- procumbens, L. [all]
- nodosa, E. Mey. I, 2
Spergula vulgaris, Boenn. [all]
sativa, Boenn. I, 2, 4, 6, 7
Spergularia rubra, Pers. 1-6, 8, 9
PORTULACEJE
Montia fontana, L. 1-4, 6-9
var. rivularis, Gmel. I, 2
[Claytonia perfoliata], Don. i
ELATINE/E
Elatine hexandra, DC. 2
HYPERICINE.K
Hypericum Androsaemum, L. 2, 4, 6
perforatum, L. [all]
quadrangulum, L. [all]
var. maculatum, Bab. i, 2, 4
tetrapterum, Fries, [all]
humifusum, L. 16, 8, 9
pulchrum, L. [all]
hirsutum, L. 210
elodes, Huds. i, 2
BOTANY
MALVACEJB
Malva sylvestris, L. [all]
rotundifolia, L. [all]
moschata, L. [all]
TILIACEJE
Tilia parvifolia, Ehrh. 3, 4, 6, 9
platyphyllos, Scop. 2, 6
[ vulgaris], Hayne. [all]
loam
Linum catharticum, L. [all]
[ usitatissimum], L. I, 4-6, 9
Radiola linoides, Gmel. z, 4, 6, 8
GERANIACE/E
Geranium sylvaticum, L. r, 9
pratense, L. 2 10
b. alba. 4
perenne, Huds. 2, 4, 6, 7
[ Phaeum], L. i, 2, 4-6, 8
- molle, L. [all]
pusillum, L. 1,2, 4, 6, 8, 9
columbinum, L. I, 4, 5, 9
dissectum, L. [all]
Robertianum, L. [all]
var. flore-albo, 2, 4
lucidum, L. 1-6, 9
Erodium cicutarium, L'Herit. i, 2, 4-6
var. ch<erophyllum, Cav. i, 6
- moschatum, L'Herit. 2, 4, 6, 9
Oxalis Acetosella, L. 1-9
ILICINEJE
Ilex Aquifolium, L. [all]
EMPETRACE/E
Empetrum nigrum, L. i
CELASTRINE./E
Euonymus europaeus, L. 2, 4-9
RHAIINME
Rhamnus catharticus, L. [all]
Frangula, L. 1-4, 6, 8, 9
SAPINDACE^
Acer campestre, L. [all]
[ Pseudoplatanus], L. [all]
LEGUMINOSJE
Genista tinctoria, L. 2-9
- anglica, L. i, 2, 4-6
Ulex europaeus, L. [all]
Gallii, Planch, [all]
Cytisus scoparius, Link, [all]
Ononis spinosa, L. [all]
- repens, L. [all]
[Medicago sativa], L. 1-5, 7, 8, 10
lupulina, L. [all]
denticulata, Willd. 3, 6
b. apiculata, Willd. 6
r. lappacea, Lamk. 6
maculata, Sibth. 3-6
Melilotus officinalis, Willd. I, 2, 4-10
alba, Desr. i, 2, 4
Melilotus arvensis, Wallr. i, 3-5, 7-10
[ parviflora], Lam. 2, 6
Trifolium subterraneum, L. 4
arvense, L. i, 4-6, 9
pratense, L. [all]
medium, Huds. 15, 7-10
[ incarnatum], L. i, 2, 4, 5
striatum, L. i, 4-7, 9
b. erectum, Leight. 4
scabrum, L. 4
hybridum, L. [all]
b. elegans, Savi. 4
repens, L. [all]
fragiferum, L. 4, 5, 7-10
procumbens, L. [all]
dubium, Sibth. [all]
filiforme, L. 14, 7-9
Anthyllis Vulneraria, L. 2, 4, 5, 7-10
Lotus corniculatus, L. [all]
b. villosus, Coss. & Germ. 4, 10
c. crassifolius, Pers. 4, 8-10
tenuis, Waldst. & Kit. 2, 4, 5, 7-9
uliginosus, Schk. [all]
Astragalus glycyphyllos, L. 4, 5, 8, 9
Ornithopus perpusillus, L. 1-6, 8
Hippocrepis comosa, L. 4
Onobrychis sativa, Lamk. 4, 5, 8-10
Vicia tetrasperma, Mrench. i, 2, 4-6, 8, 9
- gracilis, Loisel. 4, 5, 7, 8
hirsuta, Koch, [all]
Cracca, L. [all]
sylvatica, L. 3
- sepium, L. [all]
[ sativa], L. [all]
- angustifolia, Roth, [all]
b. Bobartii, Forst. [all]
- lathyroides, L. 3, 4, 9
Lathyrus Aphaca, L. 4, 8
- Nissolia, L. 3-5, 7-9
- pratensis, L. [all]
- [latifolius], L. 5
sylvestris, L. 3-5, 7, 9
- macrorrhizus, Wimm. 1-9
ROSACE^E
Prunus communis, L. [all]
b. fruticans, Weihe. 5-7, 10
- insititia, L. 2-4, 7-10
- Cerasus, L. 2, 4-9
- Avium, L. [all]
- Padus, L. i, 2, 4, 6
Spirasa Ulmaria, L. [all]
- Filipendula, L. 4, 5, 7-10
Rubus idaeus, L. [all]
b. obtusifolius, Willd. 4
fissus, Lindl. i, 3, 6
- suberectus, Anders, i, 3, 6, 8
- plicatus, W. & N. i, 3, 6
b. hamulosus, Bab. I
- carpinifolius, W. & N. i, 3, 10
Lindleianus, Lees, [all]
erythrinus, Genev. 10
rhamnifolius, W. & N. 1-9
Bakeri, F. A. Lees, i, 2, 6
nemoralis, P. ]. Muell. i, 2, 4
b. glabratus, Bab. i, 3, 6, 8
43
A HISTORY OF WARWICKSHIRE
Rubus pulcherrimus, Neum. [all]
Lindebergii, P. J. Muell. z, 3
mercicus, Bagnall. I
b. bracteatus, Bagnall. 3, 6
villicaulis, Koehl. 2, 6
- Selmeri, Lindeb. 1-4, 6, 8
- calvatus, Blox. I, 3, 6
- gratus, Focke. 2, 3, 6, 8
- argentatus, P. J. Muell. 2, 3, 8, 10
b. robustus, P. J. Muell. 3, 8, 10
- rusticanus, Merc, [all]
- thyrsoideus, Wimm. I, 2, 7
- pubescens, Weihe. 1-7
lentiginosus, Lees. 3
- macrophyllus, Wh. & N. [all]
b. Schleichtendallii, Weihe. I, 8, 10
c. amplificatus, Lees. 1-9
- Salteri, Bab. 3
- Colemanni, Blox. 6
- Sprengelii, Weihe. 1-4, 6, 8, 9
- orthoclados, A. Ley. 3
- micans, Gren. & Godr. 2, 6
- hirtifolius, Muell & Wirtg. 4
- pyramidalis, Kalt. 1-3, 5, 8, 9
- leucostachys, Schl. [all]
- criniger, Linton. 2
- mucronatus, Blox. 1-6, 8, 9
- anglosaxonicus, Gelert. 2, 3, 7, 8
- infestus, Weihe. I, 3, 4
- Leyanus, Rogers. 1-3, 6, 7
- radula, Weihe. [all]
b. anglicanus, Rogers. I, 3, 5, 6, 8
- echinatoides, Rogers. 3, 5
echmatus, Lindl. [all]
- podophyllus, P. J. Muell. 6, 8
- oigoclados, Muell & Lefv. I, 3, 6, 9
t. Bloxamianus, Colem. 2, 3
Babingtonii, Bell Salt. 1-4, 10
Lejeunei b. ericetorum, Lefv. 2, 3, 8
Bloxamii, Lees. 1-6, 8
- fuscus, Wh. & N. 1,3
b. nutans, Rogers, i, 3
- pallidus, Wh. & N. 6
- scaber, Wh. & N. 1,3
- foliosus, Wh. & N. 1-3, 5-9
- rosaceus, Wh. & N. 1-6, 8
b. hystrix, Wh. & N. I, 3-6, 8
e. infecundus, Rogers. 1-3, 6, 7
- adornatus, P. J. Muell. 1-6, 8, 9
- fusco-ater, Weihe. I, 4, 6
- Kcehleri, Wh. & N. [all]
b. dasyphyllus, Rogers, [all]
- Bellardi, Wh. & N. 3, 8
- hirtus, W. & K. 1-3, 8
b. rotundifolius, Bab. I, 3, 8
e. Kaltenbachii, Metsch. i
- velatus, Lefv. i
- dumetorum a. ferox, Weihe. 4-9
c. diversifolius, Lindl. I 10
d. pilosus, Wh. & N. 2
f. tuberculatus, Bab. i-io
k. fasciculatus, P. J. Muell. 1-5, 7-10
- Balfourianus, Blox. [all]
- corylifolius a. sublustris, Lees, 1-8, 10
czsius, L. 3-9
b. tenuis, Bell Salt. 1-9
44
Geum urbanum, L. [all]
rivale, L. 1,2, 46, 8
b. intermedium, Ehrh. 4-6
Fragaria vesca, L. [all]
[ elatior], Ehrh. 4, 6
Potentilla Fragariastrum, Ehrh. [all]
- silvestris, Neck, [all]
- procumbens, Sibth. 1-6, 9
- reptans, L. [all]
- anserina, L. [all]
- argentea, L. 24
- palustris, Scop, i, 2, 6, 8
Alchemilla arvensis, Scop, [all]
- vulgaris, L. [all]
Agrimonia Eupatoria, L. [all]
odorata, Mill. 2-9
Poterium Sanguisorba, L. 1-5, 7-10
polygamum, Waldst. & Kit. i, 2, 4-10
- officinale, Hook fil. [all]
Rosa spinosissima, L. 46, 8, 9
involuta, Sm. 2, 4, 8, 9
b. Doniana, Woods. 4, 6, 8
mollis, Sm. i, 2, 4, 6, 8, 9
- tomentosa, Sm. [all]
- subglobosa, Sm. 1-4, 8, 9
- scabriuscula, Sm. i, 2, 4, 6, 8, 9
- fcetida, Bast. 1-4, 7, 8
- rubiginosa, L. 2, 4, 6, 8, 9
- micrantha, Sm. 1-9
c. hystrix, Leman. 5
- agrestis, Savi. 4, 6
d. inodora, Fr. 4, 7, 9, 10
- canina a. lutetiana, Leman. [all]
b. surculosa, Woods, zio
c. sphaerica, Gren. i, 8, 9
d. senticosa, Ach. 2-9
e. dumalis, Bechst. [all]
f. biserrata, Merat. 2-10
g. urbica, Leman. [all]
var. platyphylla, Rau. i, 2, 5, 7
h. frondosa, Steven. 17
/'. arvatica, Baker. 1-8, 10
j. dumetorum, Thuill. 1-5, 7, 8, 10
k. obtusifolia, Desv. I, 2, 4, 6
. tomentilla, Leman. 17, 9, 10
o. andevagensis, Bast. 15, 7-10
/>. verticillacantha, Merat. [all]
q. collina, Jacq. 1-3, 6, 8
/. caesia, Sm. 1-6, 8
/. concinna, Baker. 2, 3, 8
. decipiens, Dum. 1-4, 6, 9
f. glauca, Vill. 1-7
w. subcristata, Baker. 2-10
x. coriifolia, Fr. i, 3-5
y. Watsoni, Baker. 1-3, 7, 8
z. Borreri, Woods. 2-5
"a. Bakeri, Desegl. 3, 4
"b. marginata, Wallr. 2, 4-6, 8, 9
systyla, Bast. 4, 5, 8
b. gallicoides, Baker. 4
arvensis, Huds. [all]
bibracteata, Bast. 2-9
Pyrus communis, L. 4-10
b. Achras, Gacrt. 5, 7, 8
- Malus, a. acerba, DC. [all]
b. mitis, Wallr. i, 3, 4-8
BOTANY
Pyrus torminalis, Ehrh. 24, 8, 9
Aria, Sm. 1-7, 9
Aucuparia, Gaert. 1-9
Crataegus Oxyacantha, L. 2-10
var. monogyna, Jacq. [all]
SAXIFRAGES
Saxifraga tridactylites, L. [all]
granulata, L. [all]
Chrysosplenium alternifolium, L. 1,2, 4> 6
oppositifolium, L. 1-4, 6-9
Parnassia palustris, L. i, 2, 4, 6, 7
Ribes Grossularia, L. 1,2, 4, 5, 8, 9
[ alpinum], L. I
rubrum, L. 2-5, 10
nigrum, L. 1,3, 6, 7, 9
CRASSULACEJE
Cotyledon Umbilicus, L. 2-4
Sedum Telephium, L. 2, 4, 6-8
album, L. 2-4, 6-8
- acre, L. 2-4, 7-10
- reflexum, b. albescens, Haw. 2-9
[Sempervivum tectorum], L. i, 3, 4, 6, 7
DROSERACE./E
Drosera rotundifblia. i, 2
HALORAGEJE
Hippuris vulgaris, L. 3-6, to
Myriophyllum verticillatum, L. 2, 4, 6, 8
var. pectinatum, DC. 6
alterniflorum, DC. 1-8, 10
- spicatum, L. i, 2, 4, 7, 9
Callitriche verna, L. 4, 7
platycarpa, Kuetz. [all]
hamulata, Kuetz. [all]
- obtusangula, Leg. 1-8, 10
LYTHRARIE/E
Lythrum Salicaria, L. [all]
Peplis Portula, L. 1-9
ONAGRARIEJE
Epilobium angustifolium, L. 2-7
var. brachycarpum, Leight. i, 2
- hirsutum, L. [all]
parviflorum, Schreb. [all]
- montanum, L. [all]
roseum, Schreb. [all]
tetragonum, L. i, 4 10
obscurum, Schreb. 1-9
- palustre, L. [all]
[CEnothera biennis], L. 2, 4, 6, 9
Circaea lutetiana, L. [all]
[* alpina]. 2
CUCURBITACEJE
Bryonia dioica, L. [all]
UMBELLIFERJE
Hydrocotyle vulgaris, L. 1-8
Sanicula europaea, L. [all]
Conium maculatum, L. [all]
Bupleurum rotundifolium, L. 4-9
Apium graveolens, L. 4, 5, 7
Apium nodiflorum, Reichb. [all]
b. repens, Koch, i, 2, 4, 6, 9
- inundatum, Reichb. 1-4, 6, 7, 9
[Carum Petroselinum], Benth. 4, 6
segetum, Benth. 4, 5, 7
[ Carui], L. i, 2, 4, 6
Sison Amomum, L. 2-10
Slum erectum, Huds. [all]
^Egopodium Podagraria, L. [all]
Pimpinella Saxifraga, L. [all]
b. dissecta, Retz. 4, 5, 7
major, Huds. 1-4, 6, 8, 9
Conopodium denudatum, Koch, [all]
Myrrhis odorata, Scop, i, 2, 9
Scandix Pecten-Veneris, L. [all]
Chasrophyllum temulum, L. [all]
Anthriscus vulgaris, Pers. 2, 4, 6, 9
sylvestris, Hoffm. [all]
[Fceniculum officinale], All. 4, 5
CEnanthe fistulosa, L. 1-8
- Lachenalii, Gmel. 4, 5, 7, 8
- peucedanifolia. Poll, i, 4, 8
- crocata, L. i, 2
- Phellandrium, Lamk. 4, 9
- fluviatilis, Colem. 3-6
^Ethusa Cynapium, L. [all]
Silaus pratensis, Besser. [all]
Angelica sylvestris, L. [all]
Peucedanum sativum, Benth. 4, 5, 7-10
Heracleum Sphondylium, L. [all]
b. angustifolium, Sm. 4, 7-10
Daucus Carota, L. [all]
Caucalis daucoides, L. 4, 8, 9
Anthriscus, Huds. [all]
- arvensis, Huds. [all]
- nodosa, Scop. I, 4, 5, 8
ARALIACEJE
Hedera Helix. L. [all]
Cornus sanguinea, L. [all]
CAPRIFOLIACE^E
Sambucus Ebulus, L. 2-4, 7, 8
nigra, L. [all]
Viburnum Lantana, L. 4, 5, 7-10
- Opulus, L. 1-9
Adoxa Moschatellina, L. 1,2, 4-9
Lonicera Periclymenum, L. [all]
Galium verum, L. [all]
- Cruciata, Scop, [all]
- palustre, L. [all]
b. elongatum, Presl. [all]
e. Withering!!, Sm. 1-4, 6-10
- uliginosum, L. 1-8
- saxatile, L. [all]
Mollugo, L. 2, 4, 5, 7-10
erectum, Huds. 2, 4, J, 8-10
Aparine, L. [all]
- tricorne, With. 4, 5, 7-9
Asperula odorata, L. 1-9
cynanchica, L. 8
Sherardia arvensis, L. [all]
45
A HISTORY OF WARWICKSHIRE
Carduus crispus, L. [all]
b. polyanthemos, Koch. 4-6, 8, 10
c. acanthoides, L. 4-6, 8, 10
Cnicus lanceolatus, Hoffm. [all]
eriophorus, Hoffm. 4-10
acaulis, Hoffm. 4-8
arvensis, Hoffm. [all]
b. setosus, Bess. 4
palustris, Hoffm. [all]
- pratensis, Willd. 1-6, 8, 9
Onopordon Acanthium, L. 4-9
[Silybum Marianum], Gaertn. 4, 9
Cichorium Intybus, L. 1-5, 7-9
Lapsana communis, L. [all]
Picris hieracioides, L. 2, 4, 5, 7, 8, 9
- echioides, L. 4, 5, 7-9
Crepis virens, L. [all]
biennis, L. 4, 5
- taraxacifolia, Thuill. 4
[ setosa], Haller fil. 4
- paludosa, Mcench. i
Hieracium Pilosella, L. [all]
murorum, L. 8
vulgatum, Fr. 1-9
maculatum, Sm. 3, 4
umbellatum, L. 1-5, 7
boreal e, Fries. 1-9
- tridentatum, Fries. 3, 7, 9
Hypochceris glabra, L. i
- radicata, L. [all]
Leontodon hirtus, L. [all]
- hispidus, L. [all]
- autumnalis, L. [all]
Taraxacum officinalis, Web. [all]
b. erythrospermum, Andrz. 1-8, 10
c. palustris, DC. 1-4, 6-10
d. laevigatum DC. i, 4-6, 10
Lactuca muralis, Fresen. 1-6, 8, 9
- virosa, L. 2, 4-6, 10
Sonchus arvensis, L. [all]
- oleraceus, L. [all]
- asper, Hoffm. [all]
Tragopogon pratensis, L. 2, 4, 5, 8-10
b. minor, Fries, [all]
CAMPANULACE.S
Jasione montana, L. i, 4-6
Wahlenbergia hederacea, Reich, i, 3
Campanula rotundifolia, L. [all]
[ Rapunculus], L. 3-6
- patula, L. 1-4, 6-9
- latifolia, L. [all]
- Trachelium, L. i, 4-10
- glomerata, L. 4, 5, 8-1 o
Specularia hybrida, DC. 2, 4, 5, 8, 9
ERICACEAE
Vaccinium Myrtillus, L. 1-3, 6, 8, 9
Vitis-Idsa, L. i, 2
- Oxycoccos, L. i, 2
Erica Tetralix, L. 1,2, 4-6, 9
- cinerea, L. 1-3, 6-9
Calluna vulgaris, Salis. 1-9
b. incana, Auct. i, 2
Pyrola minor ? Sw. 2
media, Sw. z
Valerians dioica, L. 1-6, 8-10
officinale, a. Mikani, Wats. I, 2, 4, 5, 8, 9
b. sambucifolia, Mikan. [all]
Valerianella olitoria, Maench. [all]
Auricula, DC. 4, 8
dentata, Poll. 1-8, 10
DIPSACE.*
Dipsacus sylvestris, L. [all]
- pilosus, L. [all]
Scabiosa succisa, L. [all]
Columbaria, L. 4, 5, 7, 8, 10
arvensis, L. [all]
COMPOSITE
Eupatorium cannabinum, L. 1,2, 4-6, 8, 9
Solidago Virgaurea, L. I, 2, 4, 6
Bellis perennis, L. [all]
Erigcron acre, L. 4-6, 8
Filago germanica, L. [all]
- minima, Fries. 2, 6
Gnaphalium uliginosum, L. [all]
b. pilulare, Wahl. 4
- sylvaticum, L. 2-4, 6, 9
Inula Helenium, L. I, 4, 8, 9
- Conyza, DC. I, 4, 6-9
Pulicaria dysenterica, Gcertn. [all]
- vulgaris, Goertn. i, 4
Bidens cernua, L. i, 2, 4-10
- tripartita, L. 1,2, 4, 6-8, 10
Achillea Millefolium, L. [all]
- Ptarmica, L. 1-6, 8-10
Anthemis arvensis, L. 1,2, 4, 5, 7, 9
- Cotula, L. [all]
- nobilis, L. 8
Matricaria Chamomilla, L. [all]
- inodora, L. [all]
Chrysanthemum segetum, L. 1,2, 4, 6-8
- Leucanthcmum, L. [all]
[ Parthenium], Pers. 1-4, 7, 8, 10
Tanacetum vulgare, L. 2-4, 6, 8, 9
Artemisia vulgaris, L. [all]
b. coarctata, Forcell. 4, 5, 7
Petasites vulgaris, Desf. 2-4, 6-10
[ albus], Goertn. 3, 4
Tussilago Farfara, L. [all]
Senecio vulgaris, L. [all]
- sylvaticus, L. 1-4, 6-9
- Jacobaea, L. [all]
- erucifolius, L. 1-9
- aquaticus, Huds. [all]
[ squalidus], L. 4-6
Arctium majus, Schk. 1-5, 7 _, o
- nemorosum, Lej. j t j t g
- intermedium, Lange. 1-8
- minus, Schk. [all]
Carlina vulgaris, L. i, 4, 5, 7 _ g
Centaurea nigra, L. [all]
forma radiata. 2, 4, 5, 7 _ IO
Scabiosa, L. z-io
--CyanusL. 1,2,4,9
[ solstitiahs], L. 4 7
Serratula tinctoria, L. 1-9
Carduus nutans, L. 1-8, 10
46
BOTANY
MONOTROPEJS
Hypopithys multiflora. 3, 4
PRIMULACEJE
Primula vulgaris, Huds. [all]
b. caulescens, Bab. i, 2, 4, 6-8
c. intermedia, Bab. i, 2, 4, 7-9
veris, L. [all]
Lysimachia vulgaris, L. 1,2, 4-7
nemorum, L. [all]
Nummularia, L. 1-9
Centunculus minimus, L. I, 2, 6, 9
Anagallis arvensis, L. [all]
b. caerulea, Schreb. i, 4-9
tenella, L. 1-3, 6
Hottonia palustris, L. i
Samolus Valerandi, L. 4, 5, 7, 8
Oi.EACE.ffi
Ligustrum vulgare, L. [all]
Fraxinus excelsior, L. [all]
ApocYNACE.ffi
Vinca minor, L. 14, 6, 7
major, L. 1,2, 4, 6, 7-9
GENTIANE/E
Chlora perfoliata, L. I, 3-5, 7-9
Erythraea Centaurium, Pers. [all]
- pulchella, Fries. 4, 5
Gentiana Atnarella, L. 4, 6-8
Menyanthes trifoliata, L. 1-3, 6, 8
[Limnanthemum peltatum], Gmel. 2, 4
BORACIN&K
Echium vulgare, L. 1,2, 4, 6, 8, 10
Symphytum officinale, L. 1-7, 9
b. patent, Sibth. 6, 7
[Borago officinalis], L. 2-5, 7, 9
Anchusa sempervirens, L. i, 4, 6, 10
arvensis, Bieb. i 8
Lithospermum officinale, L. 4-9
arvense, 2, 4-6, 8, 10
[Pulmonaria officinalis], L. 2-4
Myosotis palustris, With, [all]
b. strigulosa, Reich. 2, 5, 7, 8
repens, D. Don. i, 2
csespitosa, Schultz. [all]
sylvatica, Hoffm. 1-4, 8, 9
- arvensis, Hoffm. [all]
var. umbrosa, Bab. [all]
collina, Hoffm. 1-4, 6-9
versicolor, Reichb. I, 2, 4-9
Cynoglossum officinale, L. i, 4-8
montanum, Lamk. 4, 6
CONVOLVULACK.K
Calystegia sepium, L. [all]
Convolvulus arvensis, L. [all]
Cuscuta europza, L. 2, 5, 6, 7
Epithymum, Murr. 4
Epilinum, Weihe. 4
[ Trifolii], Bab. 2, 4, 6
SoLANACEJE
Hyoscyamus niger, L. 4, 7~9
Solatium Dulcamara, L. [all]
nigrum, L. 4
Atropa Belladonna, L. i, 2, 3, 8
Pl.ANTACINE.ffi
Plantago major, L. [all]
media, L. 25, 7-10
lanceolata, L. [all]
b. Timbali, Jord. i, 4, 5
Coronopus, L. 1-3, 6, 9
Littorella lacustris, L. 1,2
SCROPHULARINEJE
Verbascum Thapsus, L. i, 2, 4, 6-9
- nigrum, L. 4-6
[ virgatum], With. 4
[ Blattaria], L. 4, 9
Linaria Cymbalaria, Chav. 1-7, 9, 10
- spuria, Mill. 4, 5, 7-9
- Elatine, Mill. 2, 4-9
repens, Ait. 8
vulgaris, Mill, [all]
minor. Desf. 2, 4, 5, 7-9
Antirrhinum Orontium, L. 4, 7
[ majus], L. i, 2, 4, 6
Scrophularia nodosa, L. [all]
- aquatica, L. [all]
umbrosa, Dum. 4
Limosella aquatica, L. 2, 3, 6, 8
Digitalis purpurea, L. 1-6, 8, 9
Veronica agrestis, L. [all]
Buxbaumii. Ten. [all]
hedersfolia, L. [all]
arvensis, L. [all]
- serpyllifolia, L. [all]
officinalis, L. [all]
Chamaedrys, L. [all]
montana, L. 1-4, 6, 8
- scutellata, L. 1-4, 6-9
- Beccabunga, L. [all]
- Anagallis, L. 1-9
Bartsia Odontites a. verna, Reichb. [all]
b. serotina, Reichb. i, 2, 4, 5, 7-10
Euphrasia officinalis, L. [all]
var. gracilis. Fries. 2, 4, 7, 9
Pedicularis palustris, L. i, 2, 6, 8
- sylvatica, L. 1-9
Melampyrum pratense, L. 1-9
Rhinanthus Crista-galli, L. [all]
Lathryaea squamaria, L. 3
OROBANCHE.K
Orobanche major, L. 2, 4, 6, 9
elatior, Sutt. 2, 3, 6
minor, Sutt. 4, 6
LENTIBULARINEJE
Pinguicula vulgaris, L. I, 2, 3
Utricularia vulgaris, L. i, 2, 4, 6
minor, L. i
VERBENACE.*
Verbena officinalis, L. 3-7, 9
47
A HISTORY OF WARWICKSHIRE
LABIAT/K
Mcntha sylvestris, L. 4, 8
var. alopecuroides, Hull. 4
- rotundifolia, L. i
- piperita, a. officinaRs, Hull. 1-4, 7-9
b. vulgarii, Sole. 2, 4
aquatica, a. hirsute, L. [all]
- sativa, a. rivalis, Lond. Cat. [all]
b. paludoia, Sole. 2, 3, 5, 6
c. tubglabra, Baker. 2, 3, 6
- rubra, Sm. 2, 4-6
- gracilis, Sm. 6
- gentilis, L. 6
- arvensis, L. 1-6, 8, 9
- Pulegium, L. i, 6
Lycopus europxus, L. [all]
Origanum vulgare, L. 4, 6
Thymus Serpyllum, L. 1-5, 7-9
- Chamzdrys, Fries. 2, 4-10
Calamintha officinalis, Moench. i, 3, 4, 6-9
var. Brlggiii, Syme. 4, 7, 9
- Clinopodium, Benth. [all]
- Acinos, Clairv. i, 2, 4, 5, 7-9
Salvia Verbenaca, L. 3, 4, g
- pratensis, L. 4
Nepeta Cataria, L. 2, 4-7, 9
- Glechoma, Benth. [all]
var. parviflora, Benth. i, z, 5
Scutellaria galericulata, L. [all]
- minor, L. i, z, 6, 8
Prunella vulgaris, L. [all]
Marrubium vulgare, L. 4, 5, 9
Stachys sylvatica, L. [all]
- palustris, L. [all]
- ambigua, Sm. 2, 4, 6, 8-10
- arvensis, L. i, 3, 4, 7, 9
- Betonica, Benth. [all]
Galeopsis Ladanum, L. 4, 5, 7-10
- Tetrahit, L. [all]
forma speciosa, Mill, i, 2, 4-7, 8, 9
[Leonurus Cardiaca], L. i , 4, 9
Lamium purpureum, L. [all]
- hybridum, Vill. 2, 4, 6
- amplexicaule, L. 1,2, 4, 5-7, 10
- album, L. [all]
[ maculatum], L. i, 2, 4, 6
- Galeobdolon, Crantz. [all]
Ballota nigra, L. [all]
Teucrium Scorodonia, L. [all]
Ajuga reptans, L. [all]
ILLECEBRACEJE
[Herniaria hirsuta], L. 6
Scleranthus annuus, L. 1-4, 6, 7
biennis, Reut. 4, 6
CHENOPODIACE.S
Chenopodium polyspermum, L. 2, 4, 7-0
c. album, L. [all]
b. viride, L. [all]
c. faganum, Reichb. 1-7
- urbicum, L. i
- hybridum, L. 4, 5, 9
- Bonus-Henricus, L. i, 2, 4-7, 9, 10
- rubrum, L. 2, 3, 4, 7
- murale, L. 4
48
Atriplex patula, L. [all]
var. erecta, Huds. 4
var. angustifolia, Sm. [all]
hastata, L. 1-4, 10
triangularis, Willd. I, 2, 4-6
POLYCONACE.S
Polygonum Bistorta, L. 1-4, 6-9
- amphibium, L. [all]
- lapathifolium, L. 1-9
- maculatum, Dyer & Trim, i , 4
- Persicaria, L. [all]
- mite, Schrank. 5
- Hydropiper, L. [all]
- minus, Huds. 4
- aviculare, L. [all]
a. agrestinum, Jord. [all]
b. vulgatum, Syme. [all]
t. arenastrum, Boreau. 1-4, 6-8, 10
d. microspermum, Jord. 2-4, 6, 7
e. rurivagum, Jord. 2, 4-7
- Convolvulus, L. [all]
[Fagopyrum esculentum], Moench. 1 , 2, 4, 6, 8, 9
Rumex obtusifolius, L. [all]
- acutus, L. 24, 6-8
- pulcher, L. 4, 5, 7
- maritimus, L. I, 4, 5, 6
- crispus, L. [all]
- sanguineus, L. i, 4, 5, 9
b. viridis, Sibth. [all]
- conglomerate, Murray, [all]
- Hydrolapathum, Huds. 1-6, 8, 9
- Acetosa, L. [all]
- Acetosella, L. [all]
THYMEL^ACE/E
Daphne Laureola, L. 4, 5, 7-9
[ Mezereum], L. 2, 8
LoRANTHACU
Viscum album, L. 1,2, 4, 5, 9
EUPHORBIACE.S
Euphorbia Helioscopia, L. [all]
- amygdaloides, L. 2-4, 6, 8, 9
- Peplus, L. [all]
- exigua, L. [all]
[Buxus sempervirens], L. 8
Mercurialis perennis, L. [all]
URTICACE.S
Ulmus montana, Sm. [all]
b. major, Sm. i, 2, 4, 7, 10
t. nitida, Syme. 2, 10
campestris, Sm. [all]
b. glabra, Mill, i, 2, 4, 6, 10
Urtica urens, L. 1,2, 4, 5, 7-9
dioica, L. [all]
b. angustifolia, A. Blytt. 4
Parietaria officinalis, L. 1-6, 8
Humulus Lupulus, L. 1-9
CuFULIFIUI
Betula alba, L. [all]
- glutinosa, Fries, i, 2, 6, 8, 9
Alnus glutinosa, Gaertn. [all]
BOTANY
Quercus Robur, a. pedunculata, Ehrh. [all]
c. sessiliflora, Salisb. 29
Fagus sylvatica, L. [all]
Corylus Avellana, L. [all]
Carpinus Betulus, L. 1-4, 6, 9
SAUCINEJE
Populus alba, L. i , 3-8
canescens, Sm. 1,2, 4-8
tremula, L. [all]
[ nigra], L. 1-5, 7-9
Salix triandra, L. 2, 4-6, 9, 10
b. Hoffmanniana, Sm. 3-5, 7
c. amygdalina, L. [all]
- pentandra. 1-4, 6, 7, 10
- fragilis, L. [all]
var. decipiens, Hoffm. 2-4, 6, 8, 10
var. Russelliana, Sm. i, 4, 6, 8
alba, L. [all]
var. caerulea, Sm. i, 4, 6, 8
var. vitellina, L. 3, 4, 6, 8
Caprea, L. [all]
cinerea, L. [all]
b. aquatica, Sm. 1-6, 9
c. oleifolia, Sm. [all]
- aurita, L. [all]
repens, L. 1,2
var. incubacea, Syme. i, 2
var. argentea, Sm. i, 2
nigricans, Sm. 8
- Damascena, Forbes. 8
- laurina, Sm. 4, 8, 9
viminalis, L. [all]
Smithiana, Willd. 2-4, 6, 8, 9
ferruginea, G. Anders. 2, 6
rugosa, Leefe. 2-6, 8
- acuminata, Sm. 2-4
- purpurea, L. 8
var. Woolgariana, Borr. 8
var. Lambertiana, Sm. 2-5, 8, 9
var. Helix, L. 2-6, 8, 9
CERATOPHYLLE./E
Ceratophyllum demersum. 2, 4-6, 8, 10
CONIFERS
[Pinus sylvestris], L. [all]
Taxus baccata, L. [all]
HYDROCHARIDEJE
[Elodea canadensis], Michx. [all]
ORCHIDE^E
Neottia Nidus-avis, L. 1-6, 8, 9
Listera ovata, Br. [all]
Spiranthes autumnalis, Rich. 4, 7, 8
Epipactis latifolia, Sw. 1-9
- palustris, Sw. 2, 8, 9
Cephalanthera pallens, Rich.
ensifolia, Rich. 9
Orchis mascula, L. 1-4, 6-10
latifolia, L. 1,2, 4, 7-9
incarnata, L. 2, 4, 7
maculata, L. [all]
Morio, L. 1,2, 4-9
pyramidalis, L. 4, J, 8, 9
I
10
Ophrys apifera, Huds. I, 4, 5, 8
Habenaria conopsea, Benth. 2, 4, J, 8, 9
- viridis, Br. i, 4, 6, 8, 9
- bifolia, Br. 4
- chlorantha, Bab. 1-4, 5, 8, 9
IRIDEJE
Iris Pseud-acorus, L. [all]
- fcetidissima, L. 4, 6-9
[Crocus nudiflorus], Sm. 4
AMARYLLIDEJE
Narcissus Pseudo-narcissus, L. 1,2, 4, 6, 8, 9
biflorus, Curtis. 3, 6, 8
[ poeticus], L. 6
Galanthus nivalis, L. i, 6, 9
Leucojum aestivum. 2, 7
DIOSCOREJE
Tamus communis, L. [all]
LILIACE.S
Convallaria majalis, L, 1-6, 8, 9
Allium vineale v. compactum, Thuill. 4-9
- oleraceum, L, 4, ;, 7, 9
- ursinum, L. 1-4, 6-9
Scilla nutans, Sm. [all]
Ornithogalum umbellatum, L. 4, 7
Fritillaria Meleagris, L. 3, 4, 8
Tulipa sylvestris, L. i, 2, 4, 6
Gagea lutea, Ker. 1 , 2
Colchicum autumnale, L. 1,2, 4, 6-9
Narthecium ossifragum, Huds. i, 2
Paris quadrifolia, L. 1-6, 8, 9
JUNCEJE
Juncus bufonius, L. [all]
var. fasciculatus, Koch. I, 2, 8
- squarrosus, L. 1-3, 6, 7
Gerardi, Loisel. 3-5, 7, 9
- glaucus, Ehrh. [all]
- diffusus, Hoppe. 1-4, 6
- effusus, L. [all]
- conglomerate, L. [all]
- lamprocarpus, Ehrh. [all]
- supinus, Moench. 1-3, 6, 7, 9
obtusiflorus, Ehrh. 4-6, 8, 9
acutiflorus, Ehrh. [all]
Luzula maxima, DC. 1-4, 6, 8, 9
vernalis, DC. 1-9
- campestris, Willd. [all]
erecta, Desv. [all]
TYPHACE.S
Sparganium ramosum, Huds. [all]
neglectum, Beeby. 3, 5-8, 10
- simplex, Huds. [all]
minimum, Fries. 2-4, 6
Typha latifolia, L. [all]
var. media, Syme. 4, 5
angustifolia, L. I, 3-6, 8, 10
AROIDEJE
Arum maculatum, L. [all]
Acorus Calamus, L. 2-6, 10
LEMNACEJE
Lemna minor, L. [all]
49
A HISTORY OF WARWICKSHIRE
Lemna trisulca, L. [all]
gibba, L. 1-6, 8, 9
polyrhiza, L. 1-6
ALISMACEA
Alisma Plantago, L. [all]
var. lanceolata, With. 1-8
ranunculoides, L. 3, 7
Sagittaria sagittifolia, L. 1-8
Butomus umbellatus, L. [all]
NAIADACE.K
Triglochin palustre, L. 1-9
Potamogeton natans, L. [all]
polygonifolius, Pourr. 1-9
- rufescens, Schrad. 2-4-6
heterophyllus, Schreb. 2
- lucens, L. 2-4, 6, 7, 10
- decipiens, Nolle. 4
- perfoliatus, L. [all]
- crispus, L. [all]
var. serratus, Huds. 4, 7, 9
- densus, L. 3-5, 7, 8
- zosterifolius, Schum. 2-6, 8, 9
- acutifolius, Link. 4 ?
- obtusifolius, Mert. & Koch. 4, 6
- Friesii, Rup. I, 4-6, 8, 10
- pusillus, L. 2-4, 8
- pectinatus, L. [all]
var. flabellatus, Bab. 2-9
Zannichellia palustris, L. [all]
CYPERACEJE
Hcleocharis palustris, Br. [all]
- multicaulis, Sm. 2, 4
- acicularis, Sm. 1-6, 8
Scirpus lacustris, L. [all]
- Tabernaemontani, Gmel. 5
- maritimus, L. 5
- sylvaticus, L. 1-6, 8-10
- setaceus, L. 16, 8
- fluitans, L. I, 2, 6, 7
- czspitosus, L. 1,2
- pauciflorus, Lightft. I, 6
- Caricis, Retz. 4
Eriophorum vaginatum, L. I, 2, 8
- polystachion, L. 1-3, 5, 6, 8, 9
Rhynchospora alba, Vahl. I, 2, 5
Schcenus nigricans, L. 1,2
Cladium Mariscus, Br. I
Carex pulicaris, L. 1,2, 4, 5, 7
- dioica, L. i, 2, 6
disticha, Huds. 1-4, 6, 8, 9
- paniculata, L. I 6, 8, 9
teretiuscula, Good. 4
var. Ehrhartiana, Hoppe. I
muricata, L. [all]
- divulsa, Good. 2, 4, 5-9
- vulpina, L. [all]
- echinata, Murr. i, 2, 4, 6-9
- remota, L. [all]
axillaris, Good, i, 2, 6
- leporina, L. [all]
elongata, L. 2
canescens, L. i, 2
acuta, L. 2-6, 8, 9
Carex stricta, Good. 3, 6, 9
Goodenovii, Gay. [all]
var. juncella, Fr. I, 6, 9
glauca, Murr. [all]
pallescens, L. 19
panicea, L. 19
pendula, Huds. 1-9
przcox, Jacq. 1-4, 6-8
pilulifera, L. I, 2, 4, 7-9
hirta, L. [all]
- flava, L. i, 2, 4, 5, 8, 9
var. minor, Towns. 1-4, 69
- distans, L. 4, 5, 7
- fulva, Good, i, 6, 7, 9
- binervis, Sm. 1-4, 6-9
- laevigata, Sm. I, 4, 5
- sylvatica, Huds. [all]
- vesicaria, L. 1,2, 4-6, 8
ampullacea, Good. 1-4, 6, 10
Pseudocyperus, L. [all]
paludosa, Good, [all]
- riparia, Curtis. 1-5, 8, 9
GRAMINEJE
[Panicum Sanguinale], Scop. 6
- [Crus-galli], L. 6
Setaria viridis, Beav. 4-6
[Phalaris canariensis], L. I, 4-6
- arundinacea, L. [all]
Anthoxanthum odoratum, L. [all]
Alopecurus agrestis, L. [all]
- fulvus, Sm. i, 2, 4, 6, 8, i o
- geniculatus, L. [all]
- pratensis, L. [all]
Milium effusum, L. 1-9
Phleum pratense, L. [all]
var. nodosum, L. 2, 4-7, 9, 10
Agrostis canina, L. 14, 6-10
- vulgaris, With, [all]
var. nigra, With, [all]
- alba, L. [all]
var. stolonifera, L. 4, 8
[Polypogon monspeliensis], Desf. 6
Calamagrostis Epigejos, Roth. 1-9
- lanceolata, Roth. 2, 3, 5, 6
Gastridium lendigerum, Gaud. 4, 8, 9
Aira caryophyllea, L. 1-4, 6, 8, 9
- praecox, L. 1-4, 6, 8, 9
Deschampsia caespitosa, Beauv. [all]
- flexuosa, Trin. [all]
Holcus lanatus, L. [all]
- mollis, L. [all]
Trisetum flavescens, Beauv. [all]
Avena fatua, L. [all]
- pratensis, L. 2, 4, 7, 9
[ strigosa], Schreb. 4
- pubescens, Huds. [all]
Arrhenatherum avenaceum, Beauv. [all]
var. nodosum, Reichb. 2, 4-10
Triodia decumbens, Beauv. 19
Phragmites communis, Trin. 1-9
Cynosurus cristatus, L. [all]
Koeleria cristata, Pers. 2, 4, 5, 7-9
Molinia caerulea, Mcench. 1-8
Catabrosa aquatica, Beauv. [all]
Melica uniflora, Retz. 1-4, 6, 8, 9
BOTANY
Dactylis glomerata, L. [all]
Briza media, L. [all]
Poa annua, L. [all]
pratensis, L. [all]
var. angustifolia, L. 5, 6, 8
var. strigosa, Gaud. 4
trivialis, L. [all]
nemoralis, L. 19
compressa, L. I 5, 7-10
var. polynoda, Parn. 4-8, 10
Glyceria aquatica, Sin. 1-9
fluitans, Br. [all]
plicata, Fr. 2-9
var. pedicillata, Towns. I, 2, 510
Festuca elatior, L. [all]
pratensis, Huds. [all]
var. loliacea, Curt. 1-5, 7
gigantea, Vill. [all]
ovina, L. 14, 6-8
duriuscula, L. I, 2, 4, 8, 10
rubra, L. [all]
fallax, Th. 1-5, 8-10
Myuros, L. I, 4, 5, 7, 10
sciuroides, Roth, [all]
rigida, Kth. 4, 5, 7-10
Bromus asper, Murr. [all]
erectus, Huds. 4, 5, 710
var. villosus, Bab. 4, 5, 7
sterilis, L. [all]
mollis, L. [all]
racemosus, L. 1-4, 6-10
var. commutatus, Schrad. 2, 4-10
secalinus, L. I 10
var. velutinus, Schrad. 4, 7
Brachypodium sylvaticum, R. & S. [all]
pinnatum, Beauv. 4, 5, 79
var. pubescens, Syme. 4
Lolium perenne, L. [all]
var. italicum, A. Br. 14, 7, 9, 10
temulentura, L. 6
Agropyrum caninum, Beauv. [all]
repens, Beauv. [all]
var. barbatum, Duval-Jouve. 3, 5, 7-9
Nardus stricta, L. 1-3, 6-9
Hordeum murinum, L. [all]
pratense, Huds. [all]
FIHCES
Pteris aquilina, L. [all]
Lomaria Spicant, Desv. i, 2, 4, 6, 8, 9
Asplenium Ruta-muraria, L. [all]
Trichomanes, L. 2-4, 6, 9
Asplenium Adiantum-nigrum, L. 2, 4, 6, 8-10
Athyrium Filix-fcemina, Bernh. [all]
var. rhoeticum, Roth. 1-3, 6-8, 10
var. molle, Roth. 3, 8
Ceterach, L. 3-6, 8
Scolopendrium vulgare, Sm. 1-8
Cystopteris fragilis, Bernh. 4
Aspidium lobatum, Sw. 1-6, 8, 9
aculeatum, Sw. 1-4, 6, 8
angulare, Willd. 1-6
Nephrodium Filix-mas, Rich, [all]
var. affinis, Fisch. 13, 6-9
var. paleacea, Moore. 1-4, 6, 7, 9, 10
spinulosum, Desv. 14, 6-9
dilatatum, Desv. 1-4, 6-10
Thelypteris, Desv. I, 6
Oreopteris, Desv. 1-4, 6
Polypodium vulgare, L. 1-4, 6-10
Osmunda regalis, L. i, 2, 4
Ophioglossum vulgatum, L. 1,2, 4-7, 9
Botrychium Lunaria, Sw. i, 2, 4, 9
EQUISETACEJE
Equisetum arvense, L. [all]
maximum, Lamk. [all]
sylvaticum, L. 1-3, 6, 8
palustre, L. 1-9
limosum, L. 1-6, 8-10
var. fluviatile, L. 1-6
hyemale, L. i
LYCOPODIACEJE
Lycopodium clavatum, L. 1,2
inundatum, L. 2
- Selago, L. 2
MARSILEACEJE
Pilularia globulifera, L. 1,2
CHARACE^E
Chara fragilis, Desv. 1-3
var. capillacea, C. & G. i
var. Hedwigii, Kuetz. 2, 4, 8
contraria, Kuetz. 6
vulgaris, L. i, 3-5, 7
var. longibracteata, Kuetz. 1,2, 4-8, 10
var. papillata, Wall, i, 5
var. crassicaulis, Kuetz. 6
Tolypella glomerata, Leonh. 7
Nitella translucens, Agardh. 8
flexilis, Agardh. 1-4, 6
opaca, Agardh. i, 2, 6
THE MOSSES (Musci)
The physical features of Warwickshire are not conducive to a varied
moss flora. The atmospheric impurities which largely prevail, the great
absence of the harder rocks, the high state of cultivation prevailing over
its greater portion (the waste land being more limited than in any of the
neighbouring counties), the very small extent of marsh, bog and heath-
land, together with the total absence of mountain rocks, are all circum-
stances tending to a limited moss flora. Still (with the exception of
A HISTORY OF WARWICKSHIRE
Staffordshire) the Warwickshire list of mosses compares favourably with
that of any of the surrounding counties. The county is poor in limestone
rocks, so that lime-loving species are only found on the mud-capped walls
of the lias districts in the Avon valley, or on the mortar of old walls in
other portions of the county. The mortar of an old wall near Hatton is
the only British locality where the lime-loving Grimmia crinita is to be
found. The woodlands are extensive. In the Avon basin their soils are
usually marl or clay, and yield many plants of interest, such as Hypnum
brevirostre. In the more northern woods the soils are usually peaty in
character, yielding a rich abundance of the more common species, such
as many of the Sphagnum* and rarely Dicranum montanum, which was
first recorded from a Warwickshire wood as a British species. Trees
growing in fields and hedges are a noticeable feature in the county, and
are often tenanted by some of the rarer Tortuli, as T. papillosa, the beau-
tiful Cryphaa heteromalla and the rare Orthotricbum obtusifolium. Heath-
lands are of small extent, those of Sutton, Coleshill and Kenilworth being
the most extensive. A small expanse of heathland occurs near Great
Wolford, yielding many of the commoner ericetal species, and from this
locality Dicranum undulatum was first recorded as a British species. The
rivers are usually softly flowing and full of beauty, but their alluvial
banks are not rich in moss vegetation. The water-washed roots of the
trees and shrubs that fringe their banks, however, are often clad with
mosses both rare and common.
The total list of the moss flora of Warwickshire amounts to 240
species, and this is probably an exhaustive record. Comparing the
Warwickshire moss flora with that of the neighbouring counties, we find
that Oxfordshire has 193 species, Northamptonshire has 220 species,
Leicestershire has 180 species, Staffordshire has 276 species, but in this
county there are mountainous rocks and a large area of moor and bog,
many rapid streams, and limestone in abundance. Worcestershire has
276 species, but has not been exhaustively examined.
In order to show roughly the distribution of the mosses enumerated,
the county has been divided into the two districts watered by the rivers
(i) the Tame, (2) the Severn, and the numbers made use of in the list
following refer to these districts respectively.
Sphagnum cymbifolium, Ehrh. i,
var. squarrosulum, N. & H.
var. congestum, Schp. i
papillosum, Ldb. i
var. confertum, Ldb. i
- subsecundum, Nees. I, 2
var. contortum, Schp. i, 2
var. obesum, Schp. i, 2
var. viriJe, Boul. I, 2
- teres. Var. subteres, Dixon.
- *squarrosum, Pen. i
- acutifolium, Ehrh. i
var. rubellum, Russ. i
var. patulum, Schp. i
Sphagnum Girgensohnii, Russ. I
fimbriatum, Wilt, i
- intermedium, Hoffm. i
- cuspidatum, Ehrh. i
Tetraphis pellucida, Hedw. I, 2
Catharinea undulata, W. & M.
var. minor, W. & M. i
var. Haussknechtii, Dixon.
Polytrichum nanum, Neck, i, 2
var. longisetum, Ldb. 2
aloides, Hedw. i, 2
var. Dichoni, Wallm. I
urnigerum, L. I
piliferum, Schreb. i, 2
I, 2
BOTANY
Polytrichum juniperinum, Willd. i , 2
gracile, Dicks, i, 2
formosum, Hedw. I, 2
commune, L. i, 2
var. perigoniale y B. & S. I
var. minus, Weis. I
Archidium alternifolium, Schp. i, 2
Pleuridium axillare, Ldb. i, 2
subulatum, Rab. i, 2
alternifolium, Rab. i
Ditrichum flexicaule, Hpe. 2
Selegeria pusilla, J5. & S. 2
Ceratodon purpureus, End. i, 2
Dichodontium pellucidum, Schp. i
Dicranella heteromalla, 5cA^. i, 2
cerviculata, 5cA^. i
- crispa, Schp. 2
rufescens, Schp. i
varia, Schp. i, 2
Schreberi, &/>/. i
var. elata, Schp. I
Dicranoweissia cirrata, Ldb. i, 2
Campylopus flexuosus, Brid. i, 2
- pyriformis, Brid. I, 2
- fragilis, B. fcf 5. 1,2
Dicranum undulatum, 7>r/'. 2
spurium, Hedw. i
Bonjeani, )* Afaf. i, 2
scoparium, Hedw. I, 2
var. orthophyllum, Brid. i, 2
majus, Turn, i, 2
fuscescens, 7"i/rH. i, 2
montanum, Hedw. I, 2
Leucobryum glaucum, &/.>/>. i
Fissidens exilis, Hedw. I, 2
viridulus, Wahl. I
var. Zy/, Wils. 2
pusillus, Wih. I, 2
- incurvus, Star he. I, 2
- tamarindifolius, Wih. i, 2
- bryoides, Hedw. I, 2
var. inconstant, Schp. 2
crassipes, Wih. 2
adiantoides, Hedw. I, 2
taxifolius, Hedw. I, 2
Grimmia apocarpa, Hedw. i, 2
var. rivularis, W. & M. i
var. gracilis, W. & M. 1,2
crinita, Brid. 2
pulvinata, 5/n. I, 2
/8. /i<7, Hub. 2
trichophylla, Grev. 2
Rhacomitrium lanuginosum, Brid. 2
canescens, Brid. I
heterostichum, Brid. 2
Ptychomitrium polyphyllum, Ftirnr. 2
Hedwigia ciliata, Ehrh. i
Acaulon muticum, C.M. i
Phascum cuspidatum, Schreb. I, 2
var. curvisetum, N. & H. i
Pottia truncatula, Ldb. i, 2
intermedia, Ftirnr. i, 2
minutula, Fiirnr. I, 2
lanceolata, C.>1/. i, 2
Tortula pusilla, Mitt. 2
var. incana, Braithw. 2
rigida, Schrad. 2
ambigua, Angstr. i, 2
aloides, De Not. i, 2
- atrovirens, Ldb. 2
- marginata, Spr. i, 2
- muralis, Hedw. i, 2
ft. rupestris, Wils. i, 2
var. asstiva, Brid. i
subulata, Hedw. i, 2
- mutica, Ldb. i, 2
- laevipila, Schwgt. i, 2
- intermedia, Berk. I, 2
- ruralis, Ehrh. i, 2
- papillosa, Wils. i, 2
Barbula lurida, Ldb. i, 2
rubella, M///. i, 2
- tophacea, Mitt, i, 2
- I al lax, Hedw. I, 2
var. brevifolia, Schultz. i
var. brevicau/iiy Schw. I
recurvifolia, Schp. 2
spadicea, Mitt. i, 2
- rigidula, Af///. I, 2
- cylindrica, Sc/^/>. i, 2
- vinealis, Brid. i, 2
- sinuosa, Braithw. i, 2
Hornschuchiana, Schultz. I, 2
revoluta, J9r;W. I, 2
convoluta, Hedw. i, 2
unguiculata, Hedw. I, 2
var. cuspidata, Braithw. i, 2
Leptodontium flexifblium, ///><. i
Weissia multicapsularis, Mitt. i
- rostellata, Ldb. 2
microstoma, C.M. i
viridula, Hedw. I, 2
mucronata, B. & S. \
tenuis, C.M. i, 2
Trichostomum tortuosum, Dixon. I
Cinclidotus Brebissoni, Husn. 2
fontinaloides, P.B. 2
Encalypta streptocarpa, Hedw. i, 2
Zygodon viridissimus, R. Br. i, 2
Ulota crispa, Brid. I, 2
var. intermedia, Dixon. I, 2
Orthotrichum rupestre, Schleich. 2
anomalum. Var. saxatile, Milde. I, 2
cupulatum, Hoffm. 2
leiocarpum, B. & S. 2
- Lyelli, H.&T. i, 2
affine, Schrad. i, 2
var. fastigiatum, Hub. 2
stramineum, Hornsch. 2
tenellum, Bruch. I, 2
53
A HISTORY OF WARWICKSHIRE
Orthotrichum diaphanum, Schrad. i, 2
obtusifolium, Schrad. I, 2
Ephemerum serratum, Hpe. I
Physcomitrella patens, B & S. I, 2
Physcomitrium pyriforme, .Br/W. 2
Funaria fascicularis, Schp. I, 2
hygrometrica, Sibtb. i, 2
var. cafvescens, B. & S. 2
microstoma, B. & S. 2
Amblyodon dealbatus, P.B. i
Aulacomnium palustre, Schwgr. I, 2
androgynum, Schwgr. i, 2
Bartramia pomiformis, Hedw. I, 2
Philonotis fontana, r/W. I, 2
- caespitosa, Jfils. I, 2
- calcarea, /. i, 2
Leptobryum pyriforme, ffiis. I, 2
Webera nutans, Hedw. I, 2
annotina, Schwgr. I, 2
albicans, Schp. i, 2
Bryum pendulum, Schp. i, 2
lacustre, Brid. 2
- inclinatum, Bland. I
uliginosum, B. & S. 2
- pallens, Sw. I, 2
- turbinatum, Schwgr. i
- bimum, Schreb. i, 2
- pseudo-triquetrum, Schwgr. i, 2
- pallescens, Schleich. I
- affine, Ldb. i
- intermedium, .Br/W. i, 2
- cacspiticium, Z,. i, 2
- capillare, . 1,2
var. macrocarpum, Hdbn. i, 2
var. flaccidum, B. & S. I, 2
- obconicum, Hornsch. 2
- erythrocarpum, Schwgr. i, 2
- atropurpureum, If. & yj</. i, 2
- murale, IP Us. i, 2
- argenteum, L. i, 2
var. lanatum, B. & S. I
- roseum, Schreb. i
Mnium affine, Bland, i, 2
- rostratum, Schrad. i, 2
- undulatum, Z,. i, 2
- hornum, L. i, 2
- stellare, Reich, i, 2
- punctatum, L. i, 2
- subglobosum, B. & 5. 1,2
Fontinalis antipyretica, .. 1,2
- dolosa, Card. 2
Cryphaea heteromalla, Mohr. 2
Neckera complanata, //Ci. i } 2
Homalia trichomanoides, r/W. i, 2
Leucodon sciuroides, Schwgr. i 2
Porotrichum alopecurum, ^/i. i, 2
Leslcea polycarpa, ArA. i, 2
Anomodon viticulosus, //. & T. 1,2
Thuidium tamariscinum, B. 3" S. 'i, 2
Climacium dendroides, ^. {tf ^f. i, 2
Isothecium myurum, .BriW. I, 2
var. minus, Bagn. 2
Pleuropus sericeus, Dixon. I, 2
Camptothecium lutescens, B. 3" 5. 2
Brachythecium glareosum, B. & S. 1,2
albicans, B. & S. I, 2
salebrosum, B. & S. I, 2
var. palustre, Schp. I
rutabulum, B. & S. 1,2
rivulare, B. & S. i, 2
velutinum, B. & S. 1,2
populeum, B. & S. 1,2
caespitosum, Dixon. i, 2
illecebrum, k N<tf. 2
purum, Dixon. I, 2
Eurhynchium piliferum, 5. 3" 5. i, 2
speciosum, Schpr. i
praelongum, B. & S. 1,2
. Stokesii, L. Cat. I, 2
Swartzii, //0i/f. i, 2
abbreviatum, &/. 2
pumilum, Sr>^. i, 2
- Teesdalei, 5<r/f>/. I, 2
tenellum, Milde. \
- myosuroides, Schp. i, 2
- striatum, B. & S. i, 2
rusciforme, Milde. I, 2
var. atlanticum, Brid. i
- murale, Milde. i, 2
var. julaceum, Schp. 2
confertum, Milde. I, 2
- megapolitanum, Milde. i, 2
Plagiothecium Borrerianum, Spr. i, 2
denticulatum, B. & S. I, 2
/3. aptychus, L. Cat. I
- sylvaticum, B. 3" 5. i, 2
- undulatum, 5. 3" S. i, 2
- latebricola, B. & S. i
Amblestegium serpens, B. & S. i, 2
varium, /,<$>. i
- irriguum, B. &f S. I, 2
- fluviatile, B. & S. i
filicinum, D* A^o/. i, 2
var. Valiudawte, Dixon. 2
Hypnum riparium, L. 1,2
var. longifolium, Schp. I, 2
var. splendens, De Not. I, 2
elodes, Spr. 2
polygamum, &v&^. i, 2
var. stagnatum, Wils. 2
stellatum, Schreb. I, 2
- chrysophyllum, 5r/W. i, 2
- aduncum, Hedw. I, 2
/S. JT#, Schp. i, 2
var. paternum, Samo. 2
Sendtneri, Schp. i, 2
var. hamatum, Ldb. 2
lycopodioides, Schwgr. 2
fluitans, L. i, 2
54
BOTANY
Hypnum *exannulatum, Gumb. i,
- vernicosum, Ldb. I
revolvens, Sw. i, 2
ft. Cossoni, Ren. i, 2
Intermedium, Ldb. i, 2
commutatum, Hedw. i, 2
falcatum, Brid. i, 2
cupressiforme, L. i, 2
var. resupinatum, Schp. I, 2
var. filiforme, Brid. i, 2
var. ericetorum, B. & S. 1,2
var. tectorum, Brid. i, 2
var. elatum y B. & S. I, 2
Patientiae, Lrfi. i, 2
Hypnum molluscum, Hedui. I,
Limnobium palustre, Z/. i, 2
Calliergon stramineum, Dicks, i
cordifolium, Hedw. i, 2
giganteum, Schp. i, 2
cuspidatum, L. I, 2
var. pungent, Schp. 2
Schreberi, JF/7/rf. i, 2
Hylocomium splendens, 5. 3" S.
brevirostre, B. & S. 2
loreum, B. & S. 2
squarrosum, B. & S. i, 2
/3. calvescens, Hobk. 2
triquetrum, B & S. i, 2
THE LIVERWORTS (Hepatic*}
The natural features of Warwickshire are not conducive to a rich
or varied growth of the liverworts. These plants are usually found on
mountain rocks or wild moorlands, on the banks of rapid streams, or
where the constant spray of the waterfall keeps their home damp. In
Warwickshire the comparative absence of such conditions would naturally
limit the occurrence of any but the more common species. The total
number of liverworts recorded for Great Britain is 220, but for War-
wickshire only 50 species. The poverty of this record is in a measure
due to the fact that this portion of the county flora has been neglected.
Among the records the more rare are Cephalozia lunulcefolia, one of the
very rare hepatics, the sporadic Riccia crystallina, only once seen and then
in great abundance, and Prionolobus Turneri only recorded from three
other British stations.
Of the neighbouring counties Oxfordshire has only 26 recorded
species, Leicestershire 48 species, Staffordshire 69 species, Worcester-
shire 40 species, while for Northamptonshire there is no record.
Frullania Tamarisci (L.)
dilatata (L.)
Radula complanata (L.)
Porella platyphylla (L.)
Trichocolea tomentella (Ehrh.)
Lepidozia reptans (L.)
Kantia trichomanis (L.)
Cephalozia lunulae folia (Dum.)
bicuspidata (L.)
Lammersiana (Htiben.)
connivens (Dicks.)
curvifolia ? (Dicks.)
divaricata (Sm.)
stellulifera (Tayl.)
Prionolobus Turneri (Hook.)
Scapania nemorosa (L.)
undulata (L.)
irrigua (Nees)
curta (Mart.)
Diplophyllum albicans (L.)
Lophocolea bidentata (L.)
cuspidata (Limpr.)
heterophylla (Schrad.)
Chiloscyphus polyanthos (L.)
b. rivularis, Nees
Plagiochila asplenioides (L.)
c. minor (Carr & Pears)
Jungermannia cordifolia (Hook.)
inflata (Huds.)
turbinata (Raddi.)
sphasrocarpa (Hook.)
capitata (Hook.)
bicrenata (Schmid.)
porphyroleuca (Nees)
ventricosa (Dicks.)
crenulata (Sm.)
Nardia scalaris (Schrad.)
Fossombronia pusilla (L.)
Pellia epiphylla (L.)
calycina (Tayl.)
55
A HISTORY OF WARWICKSHIRE
Ancura multifida (L.)
- sinuata (Dicks.)
pinguis (L.)
Metzgeria furcata (L.)
Marchantia polymorpha (L.)
Conocephalus conicus (L.)
Rehoulia hemisphaerica (L.)
Lunularia cruciata (L.)
Riccia glauca (L.)
- crystallina (L.)
glaucescens (Carr.)
Ricciella fluitans (L.)
Anthoceros laevis (L.)
punctatus (L.)
THE FRESHWATER
The following list a very incomplete record of the Warwickshire
freshwater alga? represents only the imperfect examination of a limited
portion of the northern division of the county. A systematic examin-
ation of the county as a whole would materially increase the number
of plants recorded. The records of Purton and the elder botanists
have not been included in the following list as those were few and
not always reliable.
Pleurococcus vulgaris (Menegh)
Porphyridium cruentum (Nageli)
Botrydina vulgaris (Br^b.)
Tetraspora bullosa (Ag.)
- lubrica (Ag.)
Apiocystis Brauniana (Nageli)
Protococcus viridis (Cohn)
Scenedesmus quadricaudatus (Breb.)
- acutus (Meyen)
obtusus (Meyen)
Pediastrum Boryanum (Turp.)
Hydrodictyon utriculatum (Roth.)
Chlamydococcus pluvialis (A. Braun)
Volvox globator (L.)
Pandorina morum, Ehrenb.
Gonium pectorale, Moll.
Micrasterias rotata (Ralfs.)
- denticulata (Breb.)
- truncata (Corda)
- crenata (Breb.)
i.uastrum verrucosum (Ehrenb.)
Zygnema cruciatum (Vauch.)
Spirogyra nitida (Dill.)
condensata (Vauch.)
- flavescens (Hass.)
longata (Vauch.)
var. communis (Dill.)
Mesocarpus pleurocarpus (De Bary)
- scalaris (Hass.)
Botrydium granulatum (L.)
Vaucheria terristris (Lyngb.)
sessilis (Vauch.)
Vaucheria Dillwynii (Hass.)
- geminata (Vauch.)
Prasiola crispa (Ktitz)
Enteromorpha intestinalis (Link.)
Cladophora crispata (Roth.)
- glomerata (L.)
Bulbochaste setigera (Ag.)
Schizogonium murale (Ktitz)
Stigeoclonium nanum (Dill.)
Drapardnaldia glomerata (Ag.)
- plumosa (Vauch.)
Chaetophora elegans (Ag.)
- endivasfolia (Ag.)
Coleochaete scutata (Bre'b.)
Aphanocapsa virescens (Nag.)
Nostoc commune (Vauch.)
- sphaericum (Vauch.)
- caeruleum (Lyngb.)
verrucosum (Vauch.)
Oscillaria teriuis (Ag.)
- muscorum (Carm.) MS.
- limosa (Ag.)
- nigra (Vauch.)
Lyngbya ochracea (Thur.)
Tolypothrix distorta (Mull.)
Gloiotrichia natans (Thur.)
- pisum (Thur.)
Batrachospermum vagum (Harv.)
- confusum (Harv.)
- atrum (Harv.)
Lemanea fluviatilis (Agardh.)
BOTANY
THE LICHENS (Licbenes]
Very little is known as to the distribution of the lichens in War-
wickshire. The records of the elder botanists are few, are in some in-
stances doubtful, and can rarely be received with confidence, except
when they treat of the more readily recognized species. The natural
and artificial conditions prevailing in the county are not indeed favourable
to a rich lichen flora. Lichens naturally depend on light and pure
atmospheric surroundings for their existence or full development ; and
being of slow growth they cannot attain maturity under conditions of
frequent interference, from the surface alterations that are inseparable
from thickly-populated manufacturing districts. In a contaminated
atmosphere or in shady crevices these plants will not come to perfection,
but will assume the form of a Lepraria, which is an abnormal condition
of many of the lichens. The yellow powdery and white patches com-
mon on *oaks are examples of this state. Still in those portions of the
county remote from large towns many of the more common species
occur in abundance. On the trees a rich growth of Ramalina fraxinea,
Parmelia caperata and Physcia ciliaris ; on heathy footways tiny forests of
Cladonia pyxidata or C. cornucopioides ; on the stone coping of walls and
bridges grey masses of Lecanora atra or Lecidea lucida ; in damp woods
Cladonia digitata or the more common Peltigera canina ; on old palings
Parmelia olivacea and Usnea barbata, and on old walls and slated roofs the
golden fronds of Physcia parietina, every sort and condition of habitat
being the home of one or other of the lichens. The following list is an
incomplete record of the Warwickshire lichens :
Collema crispum (Huds.)
nigrescens (Huds.)
Leptogium lacerum (Ach.)
- fragrans (Sun.)
Sphinctrina turbinata (Pers.)
- anglica (Nyl.)
Calicium phaeocephalum (Borr.)
- trichiale (Ach.) var. ferrugineum
(Borr.)
- hyperellum (Ach.)
- trachelinum (Ach.)
- quercinum (Pers.)
- curtum (Borr.)
subtile (Pers.)
Coniocybe furfuracea (Ach.)
Trachylia tympanella (Fr.)
Cladonia cervicornis (Schar.)
- alcicornis (Flk.)
pyxidata (Fr.)
var. fimbriata (Hoffm.)
furcata (Hoffm.)
squamosa (Hoffm.)
cornucopioides (Fr.)
digitata (Hoffm.)
var. macilenta (Hoffm.)
Cladina sylvatica (Hoffm.)
Cladina rangiferina (Hoffm.)
- uncialis (Hoffm.)
Stereocaulon paschale (Ach.)
Usnea barbata f. florida (L.)
/ hirta (L.)
f. plicata (L.)
Alectoria jubata (L.)
lanata (L.)
Evernia furfuracea (Mann.)
prunastri (L.)
Ramalina farinacea (L.)
fraxinea (L.)
fastigiata (Pers.)
Cetraria aculeata (Fr.)
Platysma glaucum (L.)
Peltigera canina (L.)
rufescens (Hoffm.)
Stictina scrobiculata (Scop.)
Sticta pulmonaria (Ach.)
Parmelia caperata (L.)
olivacea (L.)
physodes (L.)
ambigua (Wulf.)
perlata (L.)
tiliacea (Ach.)
var. scortea (Ach.)
57
A HISTORY OF WARWICKSHIRE
Parmelia conspersa (Ehrh.)
acetabulum (Neck.)
saxatilis (L.)
Physcta parietina (L.)
var. lychnea (Ach.)
var. polycarpa (Ehrh.)
ciliaris (L.)
pulverulenta (Schreb.)
var. pityrea (Ach.)
stellaris (L.)
var. tenella, Scop.
var. caesia (Hoffrn.)
Pannaria pezizoides (Web.)
nigra (Huds.)
Squarnaria saxicola (Poll.)
Placodium murorum (HofFm.)
citrinum (Ach.)
Lecanora vitellina (Ach.)
candelaria (Ach.)
- glaucocarpa/ pruinosa (Sm.)
varia (Ehrh.)
- atra (Huds.)
- sulphurea (Hoffm.)
- circinata (Pers.)
- subfusca (L.)
- galactina (Ach.)
- calcarea^ Hoffmann! (Ach.)
- parella (L.)
/. pallescens (L.)
rupestris/. calva (Dicks.)
- albella (Pers.)
- aurantiaca (Lightf.)
- ferruginea (Huds.)
- cerina (Ehrh.)
- pyracea (Ach.)
/ ulmicola (DC.)
arenaria (Pers.)
- sophodes (Ach.)
Pertusaria communis (DC.)
fallax (Pers.)
Phylictis agelaea (Ach.)
Thelotrema lepadinum (Ach.)
Urceolaria scruposa (L.)
Lecidea ostreata (Hoffm.)
lucida (Ach.)
flexuosa/ aeruginosa (Borr.)
dubia (Borr.)
quernea (Dicks.)
viridescens (Schrad.)
parasema (Ach.)
canescens (Dicks.)
myriocarpa (DC.)
grossa (Pers.)
tricolor (With.)
- Ehrhartiana (Ach.)
- alboatra (Hoffm.)
/. epipolia (Ach.)
pachycarpa (Duf.)
endoleuca (Nyl.)
- rubella (Ehrh.)
- cupularis (Ehrh.)
Opegrapha atra (Pers.)
- varia (Pers.)
- vulgata, Ach.
- lyncea (Sm.)
Arthonia lurida (Ach.)
- astroidea (Ach.)
- Swartziana (Ach.)
- pruinosa (Ach.)
Graphis elegans (Sm.)
- scripta (Ach.)
f. varia (Leight.)
var. serpentina (Ach.)
- dendritica (Ach.)
- sophistica var. pulverulenta (Sm.)
Verrucaria epigaee, Pers.
viridula (Schrad.)
- gemmata (Ach.)
- epidermidis (Ach.)
var. analepta (Ach.)
- biformis (Borr.)
- nitida (Weig.)
THE FUNGI
The following list of the fungi of Warwickshire is an attempt to
place on record all that has been done towards this study by past and
present workers so far as the writer's knowledge extends. This list,
though an extensive one, cannot claim to be complete. Only portions of
the county have been worked, and those portions far from exhaustively.
The attempt has been made to determine the species, as understood
by Withering and Purton, by comparing their descriptions and quoted
figures with the latest views of Fries, and the writer believes this has
been done satisfactorily.
Advantage has been taken of the extensive series of coloured illus-
trations of fungi from the neighbourhood of Kenilworth and Warwick
which is now in the British Museum. These were executed by the late
58
BOTANY
Mrs. Russell of Kenilworth, and most of her specimens were named or
confirmed by eminent authorities. The writer must acknowledge his
indebtedness to the late Rev. W. W. Newbould for all his knowledge of
these plates. Many MS. notes have been received from the Rev. D. C.
O. Adams of the fungi found by him in the neighbourhood of Combe,
Ansty and Brinklow, and the list owes much of its completeness to the
indefatigable zeal of his coadjutor Mr. W. B. Grove, M.A.
The classification and nomenclature is that of Fries in his very
valuable Hymenomycetes Europcei. The record of the fungi of Warwick-
shire is believed to be larger than that of any of the midland counties,
but this is greatly due to the fact that two of the most eminent British
mycologists, Withering and Purton, left behind them so excellent a
record of the fungus wealth of the county.
A LIST OF THE FUNGI
Ord. I. AGARICIN1
Genus I. AGARICUS (L.)
Sub-genus I. AMANITA (Fr.)
Agaricus phalloides (Fr.)
van vernus, Bull.
mappa (Fr.)
muscarius (L.)
pantherinus (DC.)
excelsus (Fr.)
rubescens (Pers.)
nitidus (Fr.)
asper (Fr.)
vaginatus (Bull.)
strangulatus (Fr.)
Sub-genus II. LEPIOTA (Fr.)
Agaricus procerus (Scop.)
- rachodes (Vitt.)
excoriatus (SchaefF.)
gracilentus (Kromb.)
acutesquamosus (Weinm.)
clypeolarius (Bull.)
cristatus (Fr.)
cepaestipes (Sow.)
carcharias (Pers.)
granulosus (Batsch.)
amianthinus (Scop.)
polystictus (Berk.)
Sub-genus III. ARMILLARIA (Fr.)
Agaricus melleus (Vahl.)
ramentaceus (Bull.)
Sub-genus IV. TRICHOLOMA (Fr.)
Agaricus sejunctus (Sow.)
portentosus (Fr.)
fucatus (Fr.)
spermaticus (Fr.)
nictitans (Fr.)
flavo-brunneus (Fr.)
Agaricus albo-brunneus (Pers.)
- pessundatus (Fr.)
- stans (Fr.)
rutilans (SchaefF.)
luridus (SchaefF.)
columbetta (Fr.)
scalpturatus (Fr.)
imbricatus (Fr.)
vaccinus (Pers.)
- terreus (SchaefF.)
- saponaceus (Fr.)
cuneifolius (Fr.)
murinaceus (Bull.)
virgatus (Fr.)
- sulphurous (Bull.)
inamcenus (Fr.)
- carneus (Bull.)
gambosus (Fr.)
- borealis (Fr.)
- albus (SchaefF.)
- acerbus (Bull.)
- personatus (Fr.)
- nudus (Bull.)
cinerascens (Bull.)
grammopodius (Bull.)
melaleucus (Pers.)
brevipes (Bull.)
humilis (Fr.)
- paedidus (Fr.)
Sub-genus V. CLITOCYBE (Fr.)
Agaricus nebularis (Batsch.)
- clavipes (Pers.)
- inornatus (Sow.)
- odorus (Bull.)
cerussatus (Fr.)
phyllophilus (Fr.)
pithyophilus (Fr.)
candicans (Pers.)
dealbatus (Fr.)
gallinaceus (Scop.)
59
A HISTORY OF WARWICKSHIRE
Agaricus fumosus (Pers.)
- opacus (With.)
- giganteus (Fr.)
maximus (Fr.)
infundibuliformis (Schzeff.)
- geotropus (Bull.)
inversus (Scop.)
- flaccidus (Sow.)
- catinus (Fr.)
- tuba (Fr.)
- cyathiformis (Fr.)
- brumalis (Fr.)
- metachrous (Fr.)
- ditopus (Fr.)
- fragrans (Sow.)
- obsoletus (Batsch.)
- laccatus (Scop.)
Sub-genus VI. COLLYBIA (Fr.)
Agaricus radicatus (Relhn.)
- platyphyllus (Fr.)
- fusipes (Bull.)
- maculatus (Alb. et Schwein.)
butyraceus (Bull.)
- velutipes (Curt.)
- vertirugis (Cooke.)
- hariolorum (DC.)
- confluens (Pers.)
- conigenus (Pers.)
- cirrhatus (Schum.)
- tuberosus (Bull.)
- collinus (Scop.)
- esculentus (Wulf.)
tenacellus (Pers.)
- acervatus (Fr.)
- dryophilus (Bull.)
rancidus (Fr.)
- inolens (Fr.)
Sub-genus VII. MYCENA (Fr.)
Agaricus purus (Pers.)
- pseudo-purus (Cooke)
- luteo-albus (Bolt.)
- flavo-albus (Fr.)
- lacteus (Pers.)
- rugosus (Fr.)
galericulatus (Scop.)
- polygrammus (Bull.)
- pullatus (Berk, ct Cooke)
- pauperculus (Berk.)
- leptocephalus (Pers.)
- alcalinus (Fr.)
- ammoniacus (Fr.)
- metatus (Fr.)
- stanneus (Fr.)
- vitreus (Fr.)
- tenuis (Bolt.)
- filopes (Bull.)
amictus (Fr.)
- vitilis (Fr.)
60
Agaricus acicula (SchaefF.)
- sanguinolentus (A. et S.)
- galopus (Pers.)
leucogalus (Cooke)
- epipterygius (Scop.)
vulgaris (Pers.)
tenerrimus (Berk.)
- electicus (Buckn.)
corticola (Schum.)
Sub-genus VIII. OMPHALIA (Fr.)
Agaricus pyxidatus (Bull.)
- sphagnicola (Berk.)
hepaticus (Batsch.)
- muralis (Sow.)
- umbelliferus (Linn.)
- pseudo-androsaceus (Bull.)
- stellatus (Fr.)
- campanella (Batsch.)
- fibula (Bull.)
- integrellus (Pers.)
Sub-genus IX. PLEUROTUS (Fr.)
Agaricus corticatus (Fr.)
- dryinus (Pers.)
- ulmarius (Bull.)
- subpalmatus (Fr.)
- craspedius (Fr.)
- fimbriatus (Bolt.)
- lignatilis (Fr.)
- ostreatus (Jacq.)
euosmus (Berk.)
- salignus (Fr.)
- petaloides (Bull.)
- acerosus (Fr.)
- applicatus (Batsch.)
- chioneus (Pers.)
Sub-genus X. VOLVARIA (Fr.)
Agaricus volvaceus (Bull.)
- speciosus (Fr.)
- gloiocephalus (DC.)
- parvulus (Weinm.)
Sub-genus XL PLUTEUS (Fr.)
Agaricus cervinus (SchaefF.)
- umbrosus (Pers.)
nanus (Pers.)
chrysophseus (SchaefF.)
- phlebophorus (Dittm.)
Sub-genus XII. ENTOLOMA (Fr.)
Agaricus sinuatus (Fr.)
- lividus (Bull.)
prunuloides (Fr.)
repandus (Bull.)
ameides (B. et Br.)
Saundersii (Fr.)
jubatus (Fr.)
griseocyaneus (Fr.)
BOTANY
Agaricus sericellus (Fr.)
clypeatus (Linn.)
rhodopolius (Fr.)
costatus (Fr.)
sericeus (Bull.)
nidorosus (Fr.)
Sub-genus XIII. CUTOPILUS (Fr.)
Agaricus prunulus (Scop.)
- undatus (Fr.)
cancrinus (Fr.)
carneo-albus (With.)
Sub-genus XIV. LEPTONIA (Fr.)
Agaricus lampropus (Fr.)
- serrulatus (Pers.)
euchrous (Pers.)
chalybasus (Pers.)
incanus (Fr.)
asprellus (Fr.)
Sub-genus XV. NOLANEA (Fr.)
Agaricus pascuus (Pers.)
- mammosus (Fr.)
- pisciodorus (Ces.)
Sub-genus XVI. CLAUDOPUS (Fr.)
Agaricus variabilis (Pers.)
Sub-genus XVII. PHOUOTA (Fr.)
Agaricus terrigenus (Fr.)
- erebius (Fr.)
- durus (Bolt.)
- prascox (Pers.)
- radicosus (Bull.)
- pudicus (Bull.)
- heteroclitus (Fr.)
- squarrosus (Mull.)
- spectabilis (Fr.)
- adiposus (Fr.)
- mutabilis (SchaefF.)
- marginatus, Batsch
- mycenoides (Fr.)
Sub-genus XVIII. INOCYBE (Fr.)
Agaricus lanuginosus (Bull.)
- scaber (Mull.)
- lacerus (Fr.)
- flocculosus (Berk.)
- Bongardii (Weinm.)
- obscurus (Pers.)
hzmactus (B. et C.)
fastigiatus, SchaefF.
rimosus (Bull.)
asterosporus (Quel.)
eutheles (B. et Br.)
descissus (Fr.)
sindonius (Fr.)
- geophyllus (Sow.)
trechisporus (Berk.)
6l
Sub-genus XIX. HEBELOMA (Fr.)
Agaricus fastibilis (Fr.)
testaceus (Batsch.)
versipellis, Fr.
mesophaeus, Fr.
sinapizans (Fr.)
crustuliniformis, Bull
elatus (Batsch.)
longicaudus (Pers.)
Sub-genus XX. FLAMMULA (Fr.)
Agaricus lentus, Pers.
- gummosus, Lasch.
carbonarius (Fur.)
- flavidus (SchsfF.)
- conissans (Fr.)
- inopus (Fr.)
- sapineus (Fr.)
Sub-genus XXI. NAUCORIA (Fr.)
Agaricus cucumis (Pers.)
melinoides (Fr.)
- striaspes (Cookc)
- sideroides (Bull.)
- pediades (Fr.)
- semiorbicularis (Bull.)
- sobrius (Fr.)
- erinaceus (Fr.)
- conspersus (Pers.)
- escharoides (Fr.)
Sub-genus XXII. GALERA (Fr.)
Agaricus lateritius (Fr.)
- tener (SchaefF.)
- oval is (Fr.)
- antipus (Lasch.)
- sparteus (Fr.)
- rubiginosus (Pers.)
- hypnorum (Batsch.)
- mycenopsis (Fr.)
Sub-genus XXIII. TUBARIA (Fr.)
Agaricus furfuraceus (Pers.)
Sub-genus XXIV. CREPIDOTUS (Fr.)
Agaricus mollis (SchaefF.)
- haustellaris (Fr.)
- rubi (Berk.)
- pezizoides (Nees.)
Sub-genus XXV. PSALLIOTA (Fr.)
Agaricus arvensis (Schaeff.)
- campestris (Linn.)
- silvaticus (SchaefF.)
Sub-genus XXVI. STROPHARIA (Fr.)
Agaricus versicolor (With.)
asruginosus (Curt.)
albo-cyaneus (Desm.)
coronillus (Bull.)
A HISTORY OF WARWICKSHIRE
Agaricus melaspermus (Bull.)
squamosus (Fr.)
thraustus (Kalch.)
luteo-nitens (Fr.)
merdarius (Fr.)
stercorarius (Fr.)
scmiglobatus (Batsch.)
Sub-genus XXVII. HYPHOLOMA
Agaricus sublateritius (Fr.)
- epixanthus (Fr.)
fascicularis (Huds.)
lacrymabundus (Fr.)
- velutinus (Fr.)
Candolleanus (Fr.)
- appendiculatus (Bull.)
- egenulus (B. et Br.)
- hydrophilus (Bull.)
Sub-genus XXVIII. PSILOCYBE, Fr.
Agaricus sarcocephalus (Fr.)
- ericsus (Pers.)
- udus (Pers.)
- areolatus (Klotsch.)
- atro-rufus (Schsff.)
- comptus (Fr.)
- semilanceatus (Fr.)
- spadiceus (Fr.)
- cernuus (Mall.)
- fcenisecii (Pers.)
- clivensis (Berk.)
Sub-genus XXIX. PSATHYRA (Pers.)
Agaricus conopileus (Fr.)
- mastiger (B. et Br.)
- corrugis (Pers.)
- spadiceogriseus (SchaefF.)
- obtusatus (Fr.)
- semivestitus (Berk, et Br.)
- fibrillosus (Pers.)
- pennatus (Fr.)
- gossypinus (Bull.)
Sub-genus XXX. PANJEOLUS (Fr.)
Agaricus separatus (Linn.)
- leucophanes (B. et Br.)
- fimiputris (Bull.)
- phalznarum (Fr.)
- retirugis (Fr.)
- campanulatus (Linn.)
- papilionaceus (Fr.)
acuminatus (Fr.)
Sub-genus XXXI. PSATHYRELLA
Agaricus gracilis (Fr.)
- pronus (Fr.)
- atomatus (Fr.)
- disseminatus (Fr.)
Genus II. COPRINUS (Fr.)
Coprinus comatus (Fr.)
ovatus (Fr.)
sterquilinus (Fr.)
atramentarius (Fr.)
picaceus (Fr.)
similis (B. et Br.)
fimetarius (Fr.)
tomentosus (Fr.)
niveus (Fr.)
micaceus (Fr.)
radians (Fr.)
- deliquescens (Fr.)
congregatus (Fr.)
Hendersonii (Berk.)
lagopus (Fr.)
nycthemerus (Fr.)
radiatus (Fr.)
domesticus (Fr.)
ephemerus (Fr.)
plicatilis (Fr.)
Genus III. BOLBITIUS (Fr.)
Bolbitius Boltonii (Fr.)
fragilis (Fr.)
- titubans (Fr.)
apicalis (Smith)
tener (Berk.)
Genus IV. CORTINARIUS (Fr.)
Cortinarius varius (Fr.)
- cyanopus (Fr.)
- variicolor (Fr.)
anfractus (Fr.)
- multiformis (Fr.)
- talus (Fr.)
- glaucopus (Fr.)
- calochrous (Fr.)
- purpurascens (Fr.)
- turbinatus (Fr.)
- orichalceus (Batsch.)
- scaurus (Fr.)
- collinitus (Fr.)
- mucifluus (Fr.)
- elatior (Fr.)
- delibutus (Fr.)
- stillatitius (Fr.)
- violaceus (Fr.)
- callisteus (Fr.)
- bolaris (Fr.)
- pholideus (Fr.)
- ochroleucus (Fr.)
- tabularis (Fr.)
- caninus (Fr.)
- anomalus (Fr.)
- sanguineus (Fr.)
cinnamomeus (Fr.)
- uliginosus (Berk.)
raphanoides (Fr.)
62
BOTANY
Agaricus bulbosus (Fr.)
torvus (Fr.)
armillatus (Fr.)
hinnuleus (Fr.)
brunneus (Fr.)
periscelis (Fr.)
iliopodius (Fr.)
hemitrichus (Fr.)
rigidus (Fr.)
paleaceus (Fr.)
armeniacus (Fr.)
castaneus (Fr.)
leucopus (Fr.)
decipiens (Fr.)
acutus (Fr.)
Genus V. GOMPHIDIUS (Fr.)
Gomphidius glutinosus (Fr.)
viscidus (Fr.)
maculatus (Scop.)
gracilis (B. et Br.)
Genus VI. PAXILLUS (Fr.)
Paxillus involutus (Fr.)
Genus VII. HYGROPHORUS (Fr.)
Hygrophorus chrysodon (Fr.)
eburneus (Fr.)
arbustivus (Fr.)
olivaceo-albus (Fr.)
- hypothejus (Fr.)
pratensis (Fr.)
virgineus (Fr.)
ventricosus (B. et Br.)
russo-coriaceus (Fr.)
- distans (Berk.)
ovinus (Fr.)
Colemannianus (Blox.)
ceraceus (Fr.)
coccineus (Fr.)
miniatus (Fr.)
puniceus (Fr.)
conic us (Fr.)
calyptrseformis (B. et Br.)
chlorophanus (Fr.)
- psittacinus (Fr.)
unguinosus (Fr.)
Genus VIII. LACTARIUS (Fr.)
Lactarius torminosus (Fr.)
cilicioides (Fr.)
turpis (Fr.)
controversus (Fr.)
insulsus (Fr.)
zonarius (Fr.)
utilis (Weinm.)
biennius (Fr.)
hysginus (Fr.)
circellatus (Fr.)
Lactarius uvidus (Fr.)
pyrogalus (Fr.)
chrysorheus (Fr.)
plumbeus (Fr.)
pergamenus (Fr.)
piperatus (Fr.)
vellereus (Fr.)
deliciosus (Fr.)
pallidus (Fr.)
quietus (Fr.)
theiogalus (Fr.)
cyathula (Fr.)
rufus (Fr.)
glyciosmus (Fr.)
fuliginosus (Fr.)
volemus (Fr.)
serifluus (Fr.)
mitissimus (Fr.)
subdulcis (Fr.)
camphoratus (Fr.)
Genus IX. RUSSULA (Fr.)
Russula nigricans (Fr.)
adusta (Fr.)
delica (Fr.)
furcata (Fr.)
sanguinea (Fr.)
rosacea (Fr.)
sardonia (Fr.)
depallens (Fr.)
drimeia (Cooke)
virescens (Fr.)
lepida (Fr.)
rubra (Fr.)
Linnasi (Fr.)
vesca (Fr.)
cyanoxantha (Fr.)
- heterophylla (Fr.)
consobrina (Fr.)
foetens (Fr.)
- fellea (Fr.)
- Queletii (Fr.)
emetica (Fr.)
ochroleuca (Fr.)
- citrina (Gill)
fragilis (Fr.)
integra (Fr.)
decolorans (Fr.)
- aurata (Fr.)
veternosa (Fr.)
nitida (Fr.)
claroflava (Grove)
alutacea (Fr.)
lutea (Fr.)
chamasleontina (Fr.)
Genus X. CANTHARELLUS (Adams)
Cantharellus cibarius (Fr.)
aurantiacus (Fr.)
A HISTORY OF WARWICKSHIRE
Cantharellus tubaeforrnis (Fr.)
infiindibuliformis (Fr.)
muscigenus (Fr.)
lobatus (Fr.)
Genus XL NYCTALIS (Fr.)
Nyctalis asterophora (Fr.)
- parasitica (Fr.)
Genus XII. MARASMIUS (Fr.)
Marasmius urens (Fr.)
- peronatus (Fr.)
- porreus (Fr.)
- oreades (Fr.)
- erythropus (Fr.)
- archyropus (Fr.)
- Vaillantii (Fr.)
- foetidus (Fr.)
- ramealis (Fr.)
- alliaceus (Fr.)
- rotula (Fr.)
- androsaceus (Fr.)
- epiphyllus (Fr.)
- saccharinus (Fr.)
Genus XIII. LENTINUS (Fr.)
Lentinus tigrinus (Fr.)
- lepideus (Fr.)
- adhaerens (Fr.)
- cochleatus (Fr.)
- flabelliformis (Fr.)
Genus XIV. PANUS (Fr.)
Panus conchatus (Fr.)
- torulosus (Fr.)
- stypticus (Fr.)
Genus XV. SCHIZOPHYLLUM (Fr.,
Schizophyllum commune (Fr.)
Genus XVI. LENZITES (Fr.)
Lenzites betulina (Fr.)
- flaccida (Fr.)
- sepiaria (Fr.)
Ord. II. POLTPOREI
Genus XVII. BOLETUS (Dill.)
Boletus luteus (Linn.)
- elegans (Schum.)
- flavus (With.)
- granulatus (Linn.)
- bovinus (Linn.)
badius (Fr.)
sanguineus (With.)
- piperatus (Bull.)
variegatus (Sw.)
- strisepes (Seer.)
Boletus chrysenteron (Fr.)
subtomentosus (Linn.)
rubinus (Smith)
parasiticus (Bull.)
variecolor (B. et Br.)
calopus (Fr.)
olivaceus (Schaeff.)
pachypus (Fr.)
- edulis (Bull.)
- fragrans (Vitt.)
impolitus (Fr.)
- aestivalis (Fr.)
- Satanas (Lenz.)
- luridus (Schaeff.)
- laricinus (Berk.)
- scaber (Fr.)
- felleus (Bull.)
- castaneus (Bull.)
Genus XVIII. FISTULINA (Bull.)
Fistulina hepatica (Fr.)
Genus XIX. POLYPORUS
Polyporus leptocephalus (Fr.)
rufescens (Fr.)
- squamosus (Fr.)
- varius (Fr.)
- elegans (Fr.)
lucidus (Fr.)
- intybaceus (Fr.)
- cristatus (Fr.)
- giganteus (Fr.)
sulfureus (Fr.)
heteroclitus (Fr.)
salignus (Fr.)
- nidulans (Fr.)
- 'fumosus (Fr.)
- adustus (Fr.)
- adiposus (B. et Br.)
- hispidus (Fr.)
- cuticularis (Fr.)
- dryadeus (Fr.)
- betulinus (Fr.)
- applanatus (Fr.)
- fomentarius (Fr.)
- igniarius (Fr.)
- conchatus (Fr.)
- ribis (Fr.)
- ulmarius (Fr.)
- fraxineus (Fr.)
- annosus (Fr.)
- radiatus (Fr.)
versicolor (Fr.)
- Wynnei (B. et Br.)
ferruginosus (Fr.)
medulla-panis (Fr.)
vitreus (Fr.)
obducens (Pers.)
vulgaris (Fr.)
64
BOTANY
Polyporus molluscus (Fr.)
sanguinolentus (Fr.)
vaporarius (Fr.)
Ptychogaster (Lud.)
Genus XX. TRAMETES (Fr.)
Trametes Bulliardi (Fr.)
suaveolens (Fr.)
gibbosa (Fr.)
serpens (Fr.)
Genus XXI. D^EDALEA (Fr.)
Daedalea quercina (Pers.)
confragosa (Pers.)
unicolor (Fr.)
Genus XXII. MERULIUS (Fr).
Merulius corium (Fr.)
lachrymans (Fr.)
Genus XXIII. SOLENIA (Hoffm.)
Solenia anomala (Pers.)
Ord. III. HTDNEI
Genus XXIV. HYDNUM (Linn.)
Hydnum repandum (Linn.)
scrobiculatum (Fr.)
auriscalpium (Fr.)
coralloides (Scop.)
membranaceum (Bull.)
ferruginosum (Fr.)
udum (Fr.)
niveum (Pers.)
farinaceum (Pers.)
Genus XXV. PHLEBIA (Fr.)
Phlebia merismoides (Fr.)
Genus XXVI. GRANDINIA (Fr.)
Grandinia granulosa (Fr.)
Ord. IV. THELEPHOREI
Genus XXVII. CRATERELLUS (Fr.)
Craterellus lutescens (Fr.)
cornucopioides (Fr.)
Genus XXVIII. THELEPHORA (Ehrh.)
Thelephora anthocephala (Fr.)
terrestris (Ehrh.)
laciniata (Pers.)
mollissima (Pers.)
cristata (Fr.)
Genus XXIX. STEREUM (Fr.)
Stereum purpureum (Fr.)
hirsutum (Fr.)
65
Stereum spadiceum (Fr.)
sanguinolentum (Fr.)
rubiginosum (Fr.)
tabicinum (Fr.)
rugosum (Fr.)
Genus XXX. AURICULARIA, Bull.
Auricularia mesenterica (Fr.)
Genus XXXI. CORTICIUM (Fr.)
Corticium evolvens (Fr.)
giganteum (Fr.)
laeve (Fr.)
sanguineum (Fr.)
caeruleum (Fr.)
quercinum (Fr.)
cinereum (Fr.)
incarnatum (Fr.)
nudum (Fr.)
corrugatum (Fr.)
comedens (Fr.)
puteanum (Fr.)
aridum (Fr.)
terrestre (Mass.)
sambuci (Fr.)
Genus XXXII. CYPHELLA (Fr.)
Cyphella capula (Fr.)
Curreyi (B. et Br.)
faginea (Lib.)
villosa (Pers.)
Ord. V. CLAVARlEl
Genus XXXIII. CLAVARIA (Linn.)
Clavaria fastigiata (Linn.)
coralloides (Linn.)
cinerea (Bull.)
cristata (Pers.)
rugosa (Bull.)
Kunzei (Fr.)
fusiformis (Sow.)
inaequalis (Fl. Dan.)
vermicularis (Scop.)
fragilis (Holmsk.)
pistillaris (Linn.)
Genus XXXIV. CALOCERA (Fr.)
Calocera viscosa (Fr.)
cornea (Fr.)
Genus XXXV. TYPHULA (Pers.)
Typhula gyrans (Fr.)
phacorrhiza (Fr.)
Genus XXXVI. PISTILLARIA (Fr.)
Pistillaria micans (Fr.)
quisquiliaris (Fr.)
rosella (Fr.)
A HISTORY OF WARWICKSHIRE
Ord. VI. TREMELLINEI Genus XXXIX. HIRNEOLA (Fr.)
Genus XXXVII. TREMELLA (Fr.) Herneola Auricula-Judae (Berk.)
Tremella foliacea (Pers.)
_ mesenterica (Retz.) Qenus XL DACRYMYCES (N.)
albida (Huds.)
moriformis (Eng. Bot.) Dacrymyces deliquescens (Dub.)
tubercularia (Berk.) stillatus (Nees.)
torta (Berk.)
Genus XXXVIII. EXIDIA (Fr.) Genus XLI. DITIOLA (Fr.)
Exidia recisa (Fr.)
glandulosa (rr.)
66
ZOOLOGY
MOLLUSCS
Warwickshire is not a very suitable county for molluscan life since
so much of its subsoil consists of sandstone. Nevertheless 93 species out
of a possible 139 for the whole British Islands have been found ; while
one other form, Physa beterostropba, introduced from the United States,
occurs near Birmingham.
The freshwater forms as might be expected show the higher per-
centage of occurrences.
The whole assemblage is typically British, extreme northern and
western forms being absent, nor does Pomatias e/egans occur.
A few more species may yet be discovered, notably among the
Vertigos.
The literature on the subject is small and scattered, the three
principal papers being : one on the neighbourhood of Birmingham by
G. SherrifF Tye, 1 that on the Rugby district by E. E. Austen 2 and a list
for Sutton Coldfield by A. Wood. 3
A. GASTROPODA
I. PULMONATA
a. STYLOMMATOPHORA
'festacella maugei, FeY.l
kaliotidea, Drap. V Birmingham
scutulum, Sby.
Limax maximus, Linn.
flavus, Linn. Birmingham ; Whitchurch
arborum, Bouch. -Chant. Near Knowle
Agrlollmax agrestis (Linn.)
!<evis (Mflll.). Sutton Coldfield
Amalla wwerbii (FeY.). Birmingham
gagates (Drap.). Birmingham
Vltrlna pelluclda (Milll.)
Vltrea crystalKna (Mull.). Rugby ; Kenil-
worth ; Warwick
alliaria (Miller)
glabra (Brit. Auct.). Sutton Coldfield ;
Edge Hill
eel/aria (Milll.)
nitidula (Drap.)
pura (Aid.)
radiatula (Aid.). Birmingham
excavata (Bean). Near Knowle
nitida (Mull.). Witton
Vltrea fulva (Milll.).
Arion ater (Linn.)
hartensis, FeY.
Solihull : Kenilworth
drcumscriptus, Joh n .")
i. /
Birmingham
Solihull .
Sutton Coldfield : Bir-
intermedia.!^ Norm
subfuscus (Drap.).
mingham
Punctum pygmteum (Drap.). Solihull ; Knowle
Pyramidula rotundata (Mull.)
Helicella virgata (Da C.). Rugby ; Temple
Grafton ; Whitchurch
itala (Linn.). Rugby ; Temple Grafton ;
Harbury
caperata (Mont.). Solihull ; near Alcester
cantiana (Mont.). Henley-in-Arden
Hygromia fusca (Mont.). Near Knowle
hispida (Linn.)
rufescens (Penn.)
Acanthlnula aculeata (Milll.). Knowle ; Soli-
hull ; Edge Hill
Vallonla pulchella (Mull.). Solihull ; Rugby ;
Kenilworth ; Whitchurch
Helicigona arbustorum (Linn.). Birmingham ;
Warwick
Helix aspersa, Mull.
1 Journal of Conckology, vol. i. pp. 57, 68.
2 Report of the Rugby Natural History Society, i8pz (1893) p. 16.
* List of Land and Freihtvater Shells found at Sutton Coldfield, 8vo (Leeds, 1897).
6 7
A HISTORY OF WARWICKSHIRE
Helix nemoralis, Linn.
hortmsis, Mall.
Buliminus abscurus (Mall.). Solihull ; Kenil-
worth ; Whitchurch
CochKcopa lubrica (Mall.)
Avca tridens (Pult.). Knowlc; Birmingham;
Sutton Coldfield ; Kenilworth
CiecUiantlla acicula (Mall.). Ettington
Pupa cylindracta (Da C.). Birmingham ;
Alcester ; Kenilworth
muscerum (Linn.). Warwick
Sphyradium edtntulum (Drap.). Solihull ; War-
wick
Vertigo pygmita (Drap.). Rugby ; Knowle ;
Warwick
- pusilla, Mall. Solihull
Balea perversa (Linn.). Fenny Compton ;
Wood lows, Warwick
Clausilia bidentata (StrGm.). Bearley ; Soli-
hull ; Rugby ; Kenilworth
- rolphii, Gray. Bearley
Succinea putris (Linn.)
b. BASOMMATOPHORA
Carychium minimum, Mttll. Solihull ; Rugby ;
Kenilworth ; Warwick
dncy/us fluviatilis, Mull.
Velletia lacustris (Linn.). Sutton Coldfield ;
River Avon, Ashow ; Warwick
Limntea auricularia (Linn.)
pereger (Mall.)
palustris (Mall.)
truncatula (Mall.)
stagnalis (Linn.)
Planorbif corneus (Linn.)
albus, Mall.
glaber, Jeff. Sutton
nautileus (Linn.)
carinatus, Mall.
marginatus, Drap.
vertex (Linn.)
spirariis, Mall.
contortus (Linn.)
- fontanus (Lightf.). Sutton Coldfield
Physa fontinalis (Linn.)
hypnorum (Linn.). Birmingham ; Kenil-
worth
II. PROSOBRANCHIATA
Bithynia tentaculata (Linn.)
leachii (Shepp.). Plants' Brook, Minworth
Vivipara vivipara (Linn.). Birmingham ;
Rugby
Valvata piscina/is (Mttll.)
cristata, Mall. Canal at Warwick
Neritina fluwatilh (Linn.). River Tame,
Aston ; Rugby ; River Avon, Kenil-
worth
B. PELECYPODA
Dreissensia polymorpha (Pall.). Birmingham ;
Rugby ; Stratford Canal ; Warwick
Unto pictorum (Linn.)
- tumidus, Retz. Birmingham ; Whitchurch
Anodonta cygntea (Linn.)
Sph&rium rivico/a (Leach). Rugby
corneum (Linn.)
ovale(Fir.), Canal near Olton, Birmingham
Sphatrium lacustre (Mall.). Sutton Coldfield
Pisidium amnicum (Mall.)
pusillum (Gmel.)
nitidum, Jenyns
fontinale (Drap.)
milium (Held.). Sutton Coldfield ; Hill
Morton
68
I
INSECTS
It is a somewhat uninteresting task to attempt to give an account
of the insects of Warwickshire as it is not a good entomological county
and moreover has not been at all well worked, so that the list of species
I am able to give as known to occur within its bounds is neither large
nor interesting. Possibly an opportunity may occur later to publish a
more complete list, and this one may be the means of inducing additional
information to be forthcoming.
Warwickshire cannot boast any specially rare or interesting species
such as Leucodonta bicoloria, Schiff., and Epicnaptera i/icifo/ia, SchifE, both
of which are claimed by its neighbour Staffordshire; or Xylomiges conspicil-
laris, L., which occurs in Worcestershire; nor does it include within its
boundaries any known good collecting ground which would be likely to
attract entomologists either from without or within the county, so that
perhaps it is not to be wondered at that so few have worked there.
Even the limited number of entomologists who happen to have lived
within or near it have chiefly collected away from home, and have left
little record of work done in their own county.
Situated as it is right in the middle of agricultural England it is not
only remote from any sources of specialized forms such as inhabit the
seacoast or mountains, but is so richly cultivated that there are no exten-
sive wastes of any kind, either woodland, moorland or fen, to provide a
varied fauna. The county is rich enough, it is very well wooded, and
vegetation everywhere is luxuriant ; but the woods though frequent are
usually small, and the vegetation though rich is somewhat uniform in
character, and consequently the insects though probably numerous as
individuals are not so numerous and varied as species. Moreover while
too uniform and ' commonplace ' to show any specialized or characteristic
forms such as occur for example in Scotland, it is also too remote from
the continent to benefit by the constant accession of new or rare species
from there, which probably accounts for the greater variety and interest
of our south coast insect fauna. Even such strong fliers and wanderers
as Protoparce convolvuli, L., and Colias Edusa, F., reach it but rarely.
The Forest of Arden, which once covered a large part of the county,
now survives chiefly in place names, though round Marston Green, Coles-
hill, Hampton-in-Arden, etc., are still some woods and uncultivated land
which probably remain directly from it and may retain some of its in-
sect life. Probably the most interesting locality in the county is Sutton
Park, a public and natural preserve of about 2,250 acres north of Bir-
mingham and on the borders of the county. With its several sheets of
69
A HISTORY OF WARWICKSHIRE
water, its bogs, woods and common land it has always been an attractive
spot for the naturalist, and being within easy reach of Birmingham has
been well worked and will be found frequently quoted in the lists
which follow. There are fine parks full of large trees, etc., at Stone-
leigh, Warwick, Packington, etc., and the woods are scattered all over
the county, most of the localities quoted in the lists Knowle, Wolford,
Brandon, Atherstone, etc. being in the neighbourhood of some of the
larger ones, though none are very large. The presence of Birmingham
with its smoke and dirt and crowds of inhabitants pouring forth into
the country on every holiday has doubtless had its effects on the flora
and fauna of the north-western parts ; on the one hand helping to re-
duce the number of species and on the other possibly modifying them,
as the presence of dark forms of some species such as Miana strigilis, Cl.,
Hybernia marginaria, Bkh., Gradlaria syringe/fa, F., etc., seems to prove.
Possibly this may be the explanation of the occurrence of some species
in the south which do not occur in the north of the county.
In the south-west is a portion of the county which is separated
from the remainder by a narrow strip of Worcestershire. In this 'island'
is situated Whitchurch, which is often quoted in the lists, and a portion
of the parish is, I believe, in each county, so that the records from there
are a little mixed. In some cases I have mentioned when specimens
were taken in the Worcestershire strip ; geographically however, though
not politically, this strip of Worcestershire might well be included in
Warwickshire, and there could be no harm in including its fauna in
that of our county. In and around Birmingham too the border lines
are rather irregular, and I have thought it neither necessary nor desir-
able to be too strict about including captures from doubtful spots. For
instance, a long tongue of Worcestershire runs into Warwickshire just
south of Birmingham. Situated in this strip are Yardley, Acocks Green,
Moseley, etc., all of which will be found quoted in the lists; but as
a walk of a quarter of a mile or little more would take one from either
of these places into Warwickshire, and as moreover Warwickshire almost
surrounds them, specimens recorded are as likely to have been taken
in one county as in the other and are little likely to be restricted to one
of them only.
There is not much to be written historically about the progress
of entomology in Warwickshire. Few entomologists even of slight dis-
tinction have ever worked or lived in the county, and but little has ever
been published on its insects. It was in this county that Weaver col-
lected and was said to have taken Argynnis dia, L., and other wonderful
species in the early half of last century ; and there must have been
other collectors in those early days as there are traditions of their
captures of Lycoena semiargus, Rott., near Birmingham, etc., but I have
been unable to learn anything about them or their work. It is not
until we reach the 'sixties,' when Dr. R. C. R. Jordan, Messrs. W. G.
Blatch and F. Enock began to collect, that anything definite is known,
and not much then. Dr. Jordan was well known as a student of the
70
INSECTS
Lepidoptera, and published some important papers on the Pterophorida?,
etc. His attention was chiefly directed to continental insects, and he
appears to have done little work near home. A few notes by him,
chiefly upon insects occurring at Edgbaston, are scattered through the
early volumes of the Entomologist's Monthly Magazine. Mr. F. Enock,
who at one time lived at Birmingham, published the first account of
Warwickshire insects with which I am acquainted. 1 It however was a
mere list of names, and as the area covered included a large part of
Staffordshire and Worcestershire as well as Warwickshire, the right to
an inclusion of any particular species in our list would be doubtful. No
localities are indicated in any way, but it is probable that most of the
species were taken at Knowle or Sutton. The list moreover was a com-
pilation from lists supplied, I believe, by Mr. W. G. Blatch and others,
and as no names are quoted it is impossible to judge of the value of
any particular record or to fix credit or responsibility. There are cer-
tainly a number of undoubted errors, and I have quoted it with caution.
Other records of Mr. Enock's have occurred from time to time in the
pages of the magazines, and a few are quoted by E. Newman in his
British Butterflies.
The late Mr. W. G. Blatch was undoubtedly one of the most dis-
tinguished entomologists in the midlands, and he was almost the only
one who steadily worked the local fauna. He is best known as a cole-
opterist, in which capacity he did excellent work, introducing several
species to the British list and making a good reputation for carefulness
and exactness. His collections for the most part have passed into the
hands of Mr. H. Willoughby Ellis, who is responsible for the list of
Coleoptera in this work ; he however made a special collection of mid-
land Coleoptera, which was bought for Birmingham by Mr. G. H.
Kenrick, and is now in the keeping of the Birmingham Entomological
Society. In addition to Coleoptera however he made large collections
of Lepidoptera and Hemiptera, and as most of his specimens are care-
fully labelled his collections have been drawn upon freely for purposes of
this present list. He lived at Small Heath for many years and after-
wards at Knowle, and both these localities will be frequently quoted.
Many notes appeared from his pen in the Entomologist's Monthly Magazine,
chiefly recording the capture of new or rare Coleoptera. In 1886 he
furnished incomplete lists of the midland Coleoptera and Lepidoptera to
the Handbook to Birmingham, prepared for the use of the British Associa-
tion on the occasion of their meeting in Birmingham. This however,
like Mr. F. Enock's list mentioned above, was to some extent a compil-
ation, and authorities are never quoted. Localities are however given,
and as most of it was the result of his own work it has formed the best
account of our local insect fauna that we have had till now. Dr. Baly,
the well known writer on exotic Coleoptera, was a Warwick man, but
1 Proceedings of the Birmingham Nat. Hist, and Micro. Sac. for 1869, 'A List of the Lepidoptera
captured within ten miles of Birmingham during the years 1867-9.' A supplement was published in
the same series in the following year.
71
A HISTORY OF WARWICKSHIRE
did little if any local work. In 1867 the Rugby School Natural History
Society commenced a series of annual reports, one of the features of
which was a list of the Lepidoptera observed by the boys in and around
Rugby during each year. This has been continued to date, and in
recent years a few other orders have been dealt with, the Rev. F. D.
Morice, who was resident at one time, contributing a list of Aculeate
and other Hymenoptera. In my list of Lepidoptera these will be found
frequently quoted, though I have done so with considerable hesitation,
as after all they are for the most part only schoolboy records. The
only other local publication dealing with Warwickshire entomology
with which I am acquainted besides notes in the magazines is a short
popular account of local Lepidoptera contributed by Mr. F. Enock to
the Saturday Half-Holiday Guide, though several very excellent local lists
have been published by neighbours at Burton-on-Trent, Leicester, etc.,
who however never passed our borders. In 1888 the Birmingham
Entomological Society was founded, and it is largely owing to the work
of its members that even this incomplete account of the local insects
has been rendered possible. The society has never issued any publica-
tions, but the reports of their meetings have appeared regularly in the
pages of the 'Entomologist and Entomologist's Monthly Magazine through the
courtesy of their respective editors, and many of the records given
below have been already mentioned in those reports. I have not how-
ever referred to these reports, as in every case I have had the records
at first hand myself. The members of this society being chiefly residents
of Birmingham or its neighbourhood, most of their records are from
the few favourite collecting grounds in the immediate vicinity of that
city ; lists have however also been kindly supplied by a few scattered
entomologists residing in other and remoter parts of the county
beyond a radius of ten or twelve miles from Birmingham.
In conclusion I have to thank the many kind friends who have as-
sisted me and made this list possible, and must point out that any merits
which it may perchance possess are entirely owing to their kind assist-
ance. To Messrs. R. C. Bradley, H. Willoughby Ellis, and A. H.
Martineau in particular my thanks are due for taking the responsibility
of entire sections and for much assistance besides; to Messrs. P. W.
Abbott, Austen, C. Baker, Dr. P. P. Baly, Revs. J. H. Bloom, W. Bree,
Messrs. W. Kiss, L. C. Keighley-Peach, N. V. Sidgwick, W. C. E.
Wheeler, G. W. Wynn and many others I am indebted for lists and
much of the information quoted ; to Messrs. C. E. M. Hawkesworth,
G. H. Verrall and others for help of various kinds; and to Mr. Charles G.
Barrett my thanks are specially due for much help and kind advice.
Without his assistance in checking many of the records, in identifying
many doubtful species, and in many other ways, the list of the Lepi-
doptera would have been of very small value, and any credit it deserves
is due entirely to him.
INSECTS
ODONATA
The only portion of the Neuroptera to which any attention has
been given is the Odonata, and they have only been collected casually,
and chiefly by Mr. R. C. Bradley. It is true that W. Harcourt Bath
collected here and wrote a Handbook to the British Dragonflies, but I
think it is safer to ignore his work entirely. The following short list
has been prepared for this work by Mr. Bradley. It must not be taken
as complete, although I should not look for many more species in this
county ; some however are found in the neighbouring counties which
may well occur in this. The nomenclature and order is according to
Lucas' British Dragon/lies.
Sympetrum striolatum, Charp. Sutton Cold- Calopteryx virgo, L. Sutton (R. C. B.)
field (R. C. B.) splendens, Harr. Stratford-on-Avon (A. H.
Libellula depressa, L. Solihull (A. H. Martineau)
Martineau), Sutton (C. J. W., A. D. Erythromma naias, Hansem. Sutton (R. C. B.)
Imms) Pyrrhosoma nymphula, Sulz.
Cordulegaster annulatus, Latr. Shirley (A. D. Ischnura elegans, Lind.
Imms Agrion pulchellum, Lind. ,,
QEschna juncea, L. Sutton (R. C. B.) puella, L.
cyanea, Mtill. Enallagma cyathigerum, Charp.
grandis, L. Sutton, Coleshill (R. C. B.)
HYMENOPTERA
Unfortunately this order has been little studied in Warwickshire,
some sections not at all, and the small amount of work that has been
done appears to have been confined to very limited areas. The follow-
ing list therefore is far from complete, and from a perusal it is evident
that many species are not recorded which undoubtedly must occur in
the county but of which no records appear to exist.
It would be well perhaps to point out that the records to which
Rev. F. D. Morice's name is attached are taken from a list made at
Rugby regardless of county boundaries, and possibly therefore some may
have actually occurred in Leicestershire.
The systems of classification followed are as follows : Aculeata,
Mr. E. Saunders, 1896 list; Chrysididas, Rev. F. D. Morice's Synopsis,
Entomologist's Monthly Magazine, June, 1900 ; and the Sawflies are
arranged according to Konow's views with synonyms in brackets which
refer to Cameron's monograph.
The localities given without a name attached are my own.
HYMENOPTERA ACULEATA
HETEROGYNA Lasius flavus, De Geer. Generally common
Formica rufa, Linn. Sutton (Bradley), Hay in fields
Wood, Knowle niger, Linn. Generally common
fusca, Ltr. Generally common Plagiolepis flavidula, Rog. Edgbaston Botani-
Lasius fuliginosus, Ltr. Sutton (Bradley), cat Gardens ; evidently imported
Solihull Ponera contracta, Latr. Sutton (Bradley)
umbratus. Harborne (Harrison) Formicoxenus nitidulus, Nyl. Knowle (Ellis)
I 73 10
A HISTORY OF WARWICKSHIRE
Myrmica rubra, Linn.
race laevinodis. Rugby (Morice)
ruginodis.
scabrinodis. Sutton (Blatch)
Solenopsis fugax, Latr. Knowle (Ellis)
Monomorium pharonis, Linn. Birmingham ;
common in houses
FOSSORES
Myrmosa melanocephala, Fab. Sutton (Brad-
ley), Rugby (Morice)
Tiphia minuta, V. de Lind. Rugby (Morice)
Sapyga quinque-punctata, Fab. Solihull,
Knowlt (Blatch)
clavicornis, Linn. Solihull, Fillongley
Pompilus niger, Fab. Sutton (Bradley)
spissus, Schiiidte. Sutton (Bradley),
Knowlt
gibbus, Fab. Common in sandy localities
- unguicularis, Thorns. Rugby (Morice)
- pectinipes, V de Lind.
Salius fuscus, Linn. ffhitchurch (Bloom),
Rugby (Morice), Solihull, etc.
- notatulus, Saund. Sutton (Bradley)
- parvulus, Dahlb. ,,
Tachytes pectinipes, Linn. Kenilworth,
ColeMll
Trypoxylon figulus, Linn. Button, Knowle,
Rugby, etc. ; generally common about
palings, etc.
- clavicerum, Lep. Rugby (Morice), Soli-
hull, Kenilworth
attenuatum, Smith. Sutton (Bradley)
Spilomena troglodytes, V. de Lind. Rugby
(Morice), Salihull
Stigmus solskyi, Moraw. Sutton (Bradley),
Rugby (Morice), Solihull
Pemphredon lugubris, Latr. Generally com-
mon in rotten palings, stumps, etc.
shuckardi, Moraw. Rugby (Morice)
- lethifer, Shuck. Sutton, Solihull, Rugby,
etc.
Diodontus minutus, Fab. Rugby (Morice)
tristis, V. de Lind. Sutton (Bradley),
Rugby (Morice), Solihull
Passalcecus corniger, Shuck. Rugby (Morice),
Solihull
insignis, V. de Lind. Rugby (Morice)
Solihull
gracilis, Curt. Rugby (Morice), Solihull
monilicornis, Dlb. Rugby (Morice),
Sutton (Bradley), Solihull
Mimesa bicolor, Fab. Sutton (Bradley), Soli-
hull, Coleibill
Psen pallipes, Panz. Rugby (Morice), Sutton
(Bradley), Solihull, Coleihill
Gorytcs mystaceus, Linn. Knowle, Rugby,
Sutton, etc.
quadrifasciatus, Fab. Rugby (Morice)
Nysson spinosus, Fab. Rugby (Morice), Sutton
(Bradley), Solihull
trimaculatus, Rossi. Rugby (Morice)
Mellinus arvensis, Linn. Packington (Blatch),
Rugby (Morice)
Oxybelus uniglumis, Linn. Knowle, Sutton,
Kenilworth, Rugby, etc.
Crabro tibialis, Fab. Sutton (Bradley), Soli-
bull
clavipes, Linn. Sutton (Bradley), Rugby
(Morice), Solihull
leucostomus, Linn. Sutton, Knowle, Rugby,
etc. ; generally common in wood
stumps, etc.
pubescens, Shuck. Sutton (Bradley)
capitosus, Shuck. Rugby (Morice)
podagricus, V. de Lind.
palmipes, Linn. Generally common
varius, Lep. Sutton (Bradley), Rugby
(Morice), Solihull
anxius, Wesm. Sutton (Bradley), Solihull
- wesmaeli, V. de Lind. Rugby (Morice)
- elongatulus, V. de Lind. Knowle, Sutton,
Rugby, etc.
quadrimaculatus, Dlb. Rugby (Morice),
Solihull, Coleshill
- dimidiatus, Fab. Sutton (Bradley), Knowle
(Blatch), Solihull
- vagabundus, Panz. Knowle (Blatch),
Rugby (Morice)
cephalotes, Panz. Hampton-in-Arden
(Blatch), Rugby (Morice)
chrysostomus, Lep. Generally common
vagus, Linn. Sutton (Bradley), Solihull
cribrarius, Linn. Sutton (Bradley), Coles-
hill (Blatch)
peltarius, Schreb. Sutton (Bradley), Rugby
(Morice), Coleshill
interruptus, De Geer. Sutton (Bradley),
Solihull, Middleton
albilabris, Fab. Rugby (Morice), Kenil-
worth
Entomognathus brevis, V. de Lind- Rugby
(Morice)
DIPLOPTERA
Vespa crabro, Linn. Salford Priors (Blatch),
Studley
vulgaris, Linn. Generally common
germanica, Fab.
rufa, Linn. Sutton, Rugby, Solihull
sylvestris, Scop. Sutton, Solihull, Astley,
Rugby, etc.
norvegica, Fab. Sutton (Bradley), Rugby
(Morice), Solihull
Odynerus spinipes, Linn. Sutton (Bradley),
Knowle (Blatch), Rugby (Morice)
kevipes, Shuck. Knowle
callosus, Thorns. Sutton, Knowle, Solihull,
Rugby
74
INSECTS
Odynerus parietum, Linn. Sutton (Bradley),
Rugby (Morice), Solihull, etc.
pictus, Curt. Rugby, Solihull, Sutton
trimarginatus, Ztt. Sutton (Bradley)
trifasciatus, Oliv. Sutton, Knowle, Rugby,
etc.
parietinus, Linn. Sutton, Knowle (Blatch),
Rugby (Morice)
antiliope, Panz. Rugby (Morice)
sinuatus, Fab. Sutton (Bradley)
ANTHOPHILA
Collates succincta, Linn. Sutton (Bradley),
Solihull
daviesana, Smith. Solihull, Kenilivortb,
Rugby
Prosopis communis, Nyl. Sutton, Knowle,
Rugby, Solihuh
signata, Panz. Rugby (Morice)
hyalinata, Sm. Sutton (Bradley), Rugby
(Morice)
Sphecodes gibbus, Linn. Sutton (Bradley),
Rugby (Morice)
subquadratus, Sm. Sutton (Bradley), Rugby
(Morice)
pilirrons, Thorns. Sutton, Knowie, Rugby,
etc.
similis, Wesm. Sutton (Bradley), Rugby
(Morice)
rerruginatus, Sch. Rugby (Morice)
- variegatus, V. Hag.
dimidiatus, V. Hag.
- affinis, V. Hag. Sutton, Solihull, Kenil-
worth, Rugby
Halictus rubicundus, Christ. Common in
most localities
- leucozonius, Schk. Rugby (Morice)
laevigatus, Kirb. Sutton (Bradley)
cylindricus, Fab. Common in most
localities
albipes, Kirb. Sutton, Rugby, Solihull, and
many other localities
subfasciatus, Nyl. Sutton (Bradley), Rugby
(Morice)
villosulus, Kirb. Common in most locali-
ties
nitidusculus, Kirb. Sutton (Bradley),
Solihull, Rugby (Morice)
atricornis, Sm. Sutton (Bradley), Rugby
(Morice), Solihull
minutissimus, Kirb. Rugby (Morice)
tumulorum, Linn. Sutton (Bradley),
Knowle
smeathmanellus, Kirb. Rugby (Morice)
leucopus, Kirb. Sutton (Bradley), Rugby
(Morice)
Andrena albicans, Kirb. Common through-
out the county
rosae (var. trimmerana). Common in
most localities
Andrena cineraria, Linn. Sutton (Bradley),
Solihull, Middleton
fulva, Schr. Common in most localities
clarkella, Kirby. Common in many
localities
nigroasnea, Kirby. Generally common
gwynana, Kirb. Rugby (Morice), Knowle,
Salford Priors (Wainwright)
var. bicolor. Rugby (Morice)
angustior, Kirb. Sutton (Bradley), Rugby
(Morice), Fillongley, Solihull
varians, Rossi. Sutton (Bradley), Knowle
(Blatch)
helvola, Linn. Rugby (Morice), Sutton
(Bradley)
fucata, Smith. Rugby (Morice), Sutton
fuscipes, Kirby. Sutton (Bradley), Coles-
hill
cingulata, Fab. Rugby (Morice)
albicrus, Kirb. Generally common
chrysosceles, Kirb. Rugby (Morice), Kings-
wood
analis, Panz. Sutton (Bradley), Rugby
(Morice)
coitana, Kirb. Sutton (Bradley), Rugby
(Morice), Solihull
humilis, Im. Sutton (Bradley), Solihull
labialis, Kirb. Solihull, Fillongley
minutula, Kirb. Rugby (Morice), Solihull
parvula. Rugby (Morice)
nana, Kirb. Rugby (Morice), Solihull
similis, Sm. Fillongley
wilkella, Kirb. Knowle (Blatch), Rugby
(Morice), Solihull, Colesbill
Nomada obtusifrons, Nyl. Rugby (Morice)
succincta, Panz. Rugby (Morice), Solihull
alternata, Kirb. Common generally
lathburiana, Kirb. Solihull
ruficornis, L. Common generally
- bifida, Thorns. Sutton (Bradley), Rugby
(Morice), Hatton
borealis, Ztt. Sutton (Bradley), Rugby
(Morice), Knowle (Wainwright)
ochrostoma, Kirb. Sutton (Bradley),
Rugby (Morice), Solihull
ferruginata, Kirby. Sutton (Bradley)
fabriciana, L. Common generally
flavoguttata, Kirb. Rugby (Morice), SoK-
hull
Chelostoma florisomne, Lin. Rugby (Morice),
Solihull, Fillongley
campanularum, Kirb. Rugby (Morice),
Solihull
Ccelioxys elongata, Lep. Sutton (Bradley),
Kenilworth
Megachile willughbiella, Kirb. Sutton (Brad-
ley), Rugby (Morice), Coleshill, etc.
circumcincta, Lep. Rugby (Morice), Soli-
bull
ligniseca, K. Sutton (Bradley)
75
A HISTORY OF WARWICKSHIRE
Megachile centuncularis, L. Knowle (Blatch),
Rugby (Morice), Suttan (Bradley)
Osmia rufa, Lin. Common generally
coerulescens, L. Rugby (Morice), Sutton,
Solihull
fulviventris, Panz. Solihull
leucomelana, Kirb. Rugby (Morice)
Anthidium manicatum, Linn. Sutton (Brad-
Icy), Rugby (Morice)
Melecta armata, Panz. Rugby (Morice)
Anthophora pilipes, Fab. Sutton (Bradley),
Rugby (Morice), Solihull
- furcata, Panz. Sutton (Bradley), Rugby
(Morice), Solihull
Psithyrus rupestris, Fab. Sutton (Bradley),
Rugby (Morice)
- vestalis, Fourc. Sutton (Bradley), Knowle
(Blatch), Rugby (Morice)
- barbutellus, Kirb. Sutton (Bradley), Knowle
(Blatch), Rugby (Morice)
- campestris, Panz. Sutton (Bradley), Rugby
(Morice)
- quadricolor, Lep. Sutton (Bradley), Rugby
(Morice), Solihull
Bombus venustus, Sm. Sutton (Bradley), Rugby
(Morice)
- agrorum, Fab. Common generally
- hortorum, Lin. Rugby (Morice), Solihull,
Knowle, etc.
- hortorum var. harrisellus. Rugby (Morice),
Solihull, Coleshill
- latreillellus, Kirb. Sutton (Bradley), Rugby
(Morice)
- latreillellus var. distinguendus. Rugby
(Morice)
- sylvarum, Lin. Rugby (Morice), Solihull,
Coleihill
- derhamellus, Kirb. Sutton (Bradley),
Rugby (Morice), Solihull
- lapidarius, Linn. Common everywhere
- jonellus, Kirb. Sutton (Bradley), Rugby
(Morice)
- pratorum, Lin. Sutton (Bradley), Rugby
(Morice), etc., etc.
- cullumanus, Kirb. Sutton (Bradley)
- sorofinsis, Fab. Rugby (Morice)
- terrestris, Linn. Common generally
var. virginalis. Rugby (Morice)
Apis mellifica, Lin. Common, but the indi-
genous type is rare
HYMENOPTERA TUBULIFERA
CHRTSIDID&
Cleptes pallipes, Lep. Rugby (Morice), Salt-
hull
Ellampus auratus, Lin. Rugby (Morice)
Chrysis pustulosa, Ab. Solihull
- cyanea, Lin. Rugby (Morice), Solihull
viridula, Lin.
7 6
Chrysis neglecta, Shuck. Rugby (Morice),
SaKhull
ignita, Lin. Generally common
SAWFL1ES
(All these were taken at or near Rugby by the
Rev. F. D. Morice)
Pamphilius inanitus, Vill.
sylvaticus, Linn.
Cimbex femorata, Lin.
Trichiosoma tibialis ( = crategi)
Hylotoma ustulata, Lin.
cyanocrocea
Cladius pectinicornis, Fourc.
padi, Linn.
drewseni, Thorns.
Dineura stilata, Kl.
Pontania leucuspis ( = leucostigma)
Pteronus leucotrochus
ribesii
Holcocneme lucida
Pachynematus capreas, Panz.
obductus, Htg.
albipennis, Htg.
Pristiphora pallipes ( = appendiculata)
ruficornis
Phyllotoma aceris
Eriocampoides annulipes
aethiops ( = rosae)
Tomostethus dubius ( = ephippium)
lutiventris ( = fuscipennis)
Blennocampa affinis ( = assimilis)
pusilla, Klug.
- subcana, Zad.
- tenuicornis ( = alchemillae, Cam.)
Monophadnus albipes, Schr.
Attralia glabricollis, Thorns.
lineolata ( = rosae)
Selandria serva
stramineipes var. analis
Strombocerus delicatulus
Poecilosoma klugi
tridens
sp (?) probably hungarica, Knw.
Emphytus cinctus, Klug.
togatus (F. nee, Cam. = cingulatus,
Cam.)
glossulariae, Klug.
Taxonus glabratus, Fall.
equiseti, Fall.
- agrorum, Fall.
Dolerus pratensis, Fall. ( = fulviventris, Scop.)
aericeps
- gonager, Klug.
picipes ( = leucopterus)
nigratus ( = fissus, Htg.)
coruscans ( = possilensis)
hasmatodis, Schr.
aeneus, Htg.
var. elongatulus, Thorns.
INSECTS
Loderus palmatus Pachyprotasis rapae
vestigralis Macrophya ribis
Rhogogastera ( = part of Tenthredo, Cam.) punctum album, Lin.
viridis, Lin. annulata ( = neglecta)
punctulata, Klug. Allantus temulus ( = T. bicincta, Cam.)
fulvipes ( = lateralis, Fab.) scrophulariae, Lin.
aucupariae ( = gibbosa, Fall.) vespa (= tricinctus, F.)
Tenthredopsis litterata arcuatus, Forst.
tiliae Tenthredo atra, Lin.
dorsalis livida, Lin.
campestris ( = scutellaris) mesomelana, Lin.
COLEOPTERA
In preparing a list of Warwickshire Coleoptera it becomes at once
apparent that a large number of species frequently met with in the
neighbourhood cannot be included, as the records in many cases refer to
localities outside the county boundary.
This boundary being an artificial one, and not defined by any
natural features of the country, can have no bearing whatever on the
occurrence or distribution of the fauna of the district. Some years ago
one of our leading geologists sketched out a midland area defined by the
geological formation of the country, which he called ' The Midland
Plateau ' ; and to do justice to the distribution of the fauna of the
district the whole of this plateau should be included. The present
work however deals with Warwickshire, and although the limits of the
country are purely political, the actual tract of the country included
therein can only be considered in compiling the present list.
A large number of species must therefore be excluded which in-
habit the adjacent counties and which, up to the present time, have
not been recorded as occurring within our borders, and amongst them
are many insects deserving special notice. A few species may perhaps
be mentioned :
Carabus nitens and C. arvensis may be taken on Cannock Chase,
both species being now very scarce. The curious Nebria livida may
also be taken in the same locality. This beetle was first discovered
on the Chase by Mr. J. T. Harris, and the late Mr. Blatch and also
the author have verified its occurrence on many subsequent occasions.
This is the only known instance of this species inhabiting an inland
locality, its headquarters being at Bridlington Quay and a few other
parts of the north-east coast. It lives in argillaceous cliffs, and on
Cannock Chase it is met with in a similar formation. Dischirius ceneus
occurs at Cannock Chase and Bewdley, and many species of Bembidium
occur in the adjacent country which cannot be included in our list.
Patrobus assimilis, Trecbus rufcns, Pterostichus lepidus, Amara patricia all
occur on Cannock Chase, and A, spinipes at Dudley and Bewdley.
Miscodera arctica can be taken in plenty in some seasons on Cannock
Chase, and in the same locality Harpalus griseus and Anisodactylus binotatus
occur sparingly. Hydroporus septentrionalis (Bewdley) and several other
77
A HISTORY OF WARWICKSHIRE
species of water beetles occur in the adjoining counties which have not
yet been recorded from Warwickshire.
Of the Brachelytra a large number of species occur at Cannock
Chase, Bewdley, Sherwood Forest, Church Stretton, Trench Woods and
Budde'n Woods which have not been found in our county, and of the
other sections the following insects may perhaps be mentioned : Triplax
russtca and eenea, Teredus nitiaus, Gnathoncus rotunaatus, Plagaderus dissec-
fus, Thymalus limbatus, Antheropbagus nigricornis, Byrrbus fasciatus and
dorsalis, Georyssus pygnuzus^ Macronycbus quadrituberculatus, Trox sabulosus,
Elater coccineus and pomorum, Athous rhombeus, Clytus mysficus, Pachyta
collaris and octomaculata, Strangalia quadrifaciata and nigra, Melasoma
ceneum, Tropideres sepzco/a, Apion jilirostre, and some hundreds of others
which cannot be referred to.
Warwickshire has however produced a fairly large number of
species when compared to other counties. It has been said that the
midlands are not productive of a large and varied insect fauna, and that
in the British Isles the further west investigations are made the less
insect life appears to thrive. While to a certain extent this may be
true, it is nevertheless a fact that the more a district is worked the more
species does it reveal.
It is of course impossible to make a county list of Coleoptera com-
plete, as at any time further species may be found in the district. The
Rev. J. H. Bloom of Whitchurch Rectory in the space of a few months
last year added several species to our county fauna by collecting in the
neighbourhood of Stratford-on-Avon.
Mention has been made of some of the more remarkable beetles
which occur in the immediate neighbourhood, but which have not been
recorded from the county, and the following remarks regarding the
families and more notable species which have appeared within our
limits may be interesting.
Of the Geodephaga, which embraces 310 British species, we find 138
occurring in Warwickshire. The beautiful species Cicindela campestris,
which is very active and voracious, is extremely abundant at certain
seasons, and the elegant beetle Cychrus rostratus is occasionally taken
throughout the district. Five species of Carabus, four of Notiophilus and
four of Leistus occur.
Elapbrus riparius and E. cupreus, both very beautiful insects, may
sometimes be taken in the utmost profusion on mud flats near streams
and ponds. Clivina collaris, Badister sodalis, Chlcenius vestitus, C. nigri-
cornis and Oodes helopioides occur but sparingly in a few localities.
The genera Harpalus and Pterostichus are fairly well represented,
and the commoner species of Amara are numerous. The rarer ones,
A. ovata, A. acuminata and A. nitiaa, occur in certain localities.
Taphria nrualis has turned up occasionally at Knowle. Fifteen
species of the genus Ancbomenus occur, amongst which may be mentioned
A. marginatus, which is common locally ; A. graci/is, A. thoreyi and A.
puellus.
78
INSECTS
Of the Bembian twenty-two species occur, including B. qmnquestria-
tum, B. ceneum^ B. articulatum and B. affine.
The late Mr. Blatch's belief that he took B. adustum within the
Warwickshire borders is probably correct, as he found this insect in the
utmost profusion on the banks of the river Severn in a similar locality
to which he refers his Warwickshire record.
The beautiful Lebia chlorocephala has lately been added to our list ;
it has however been previously taken a few miles beyond the county
boundary. Seven species of Dromius occur, the rarest of which is
D. quadrisignatus.
The small but very active Bkchrus maurus was found by Mr. Blatch
at Leamington, the usual limits of this beetle being in the southern
counties and generally on or near the sea-coast. All the species of
Metabletus occur.
The Hydradephaga are represented by sixty-three species. Brychius
e/evatus occurs plentifully between Solihull and the adjacent village of
Knowle, and of the genus Haliplus nine species have been taken within
our borders, some very plentifully ; but the species H. confinis., H. fu/vus,
H. cinereus and H. striatus are rare. Pelobius tardus has only occurred in
two localities, but could in all probability be obtained in several places
by systematic working.
The Hydropori are represented by sixteen species, of which H.
umbrosus and H. angustatus are very rare, most of the other species being
abundant.
Of the species of Agabus some are extremely plentiful, the rarer
ones being A. gutfafus, A. affinis, A, unguicularis, A. didymus and A.
sturmii. Amongst the other genera the following are the rarer species :
Copelatus agi/is, Rbantus exo/efus, Dytiscus punctulatus and Gyrinus opacus.
The Hydropbilidce are represented in the county by fifty-four species,
a large proportion of which have been taken in the vicinity of Knowle,
although the scarcity of recorded localities is probably accounted for by
the fact that very little work amongst the water beetles has been done
outside this district. The following are the more important species :
Hydrobius picicrus, Pbilbydrus nigricornis, Holochares lividus, Laccobius alu-
faceus, L. minutes, L. bipunctatus, Limnebius picinus, Helopborus dorsalis,
Ocbtbebius poiveri, O. rufomarginafus, Hydrcena augustata (usually con-
sidered a more northerly insect) and H. pulchella.
The Brachelytra, consisting of 777 British species, are represented in
Warwickshire by 480. A large proportion of the insects in this sec-
tion are small and extremely difficult to identify, due to the great simi-
larity existing between them, and it is owing to the large amount of
work which the late Mr. Blatch bestowed upon this naturally isolated
group that we can include so many species in our list.
Many insects of this group are myrmecophilous, and good oppor-
tunities are afforded of studying the ants' nests in the well wooded
country in the vicinity of Knowle, which district forms part of the
ancient Forest of Arden. The particulars of each species have been
79
A HISTORY OF WARWICKSHIRE
given as fully as possible in the list, and a few only of the more remark-
able ones need be mentioned here, namely : Aleochara ruficornis and
A . succico/a, Oxypoda pectita, O. lentula, O. spectabilis, O. mutata, Thyaso-
pbila angu/ata, Ocyusa maura, Plceopora cortica/is, Calodera nigrita and
Myrmedonia humeralis.
Of the large genus Homalota the species and varieties occurring in
our county are 100 in number, being about two-thirds of those included
in the British list. Of the other species in the tribe Aleocharina may be
mentioned Silusa rubtgenosa, Bolitocbara bella, Oligota punctulata, Myllcena
dubia and Gymnusa brevicollis, all of which are scarce.
The tribe Tachiporina is well represented, and Tachinus pallipes, a
species new to the county, has recently been found near Stratford-on-
Avon.
The tribe Staphylinina, which includes the larger members of the
Bracbelytra, is fairly well represented, the county yielding twenty species
of Quedius and five of Staphylinus, all of which latter are rare, especially
S. latibricola, which is found in ants' nests (Myrmica).
The large genus Philonthus has thirty-two Warwickshire species, of
which P. intermedius, P. carbonarius^ P. facens, P. umbratilis and P. ther-
marum are the rarest. Xantbolinus fulgidus is a rare insect in the district,
and in the Pcederina the same remarks apply to Lathrobium punctatum^
L. quadratum, Achenium humile and Stilicus similis.
The majority of the species of Stenus are very abundant, S, melanopus,
S. canaliculatus, S. circularis and S. cerosus being the rarer ones. In the
remaining genera, Trogophlceus arcuatus and Homalium riparium and brevi-
corne may be mentioned as being occasionally met with in the district.
The C/avicornia are represented by 360 species. The genus Euplectus
was most carefully studied by Mr. Blatch, who was the author of some
very useful notes upon it (E. M. M. xxii. 203). The genus Choleva is
well represented, but Colons are few in species and numbers.
The f frichopterigidee occur freely, and many species literally swarm
in some localities. The species are extremely difficult to determine, and
there is no doubt that when more time is bestowed upon them several
species new to the county will be recorded.
Sacium pusillum, one specimen of which was taken at Knowle, is
probably the only British specimen in existence.
The genus Meligethes has received very little attention in this dis-
trict, and there is little doubt that many more species would turn up if
carefully worked for.
Of the Cryptophagidce the two largest genera, Cryptophagus and
Atomaria, are well represented and yield many interesting species.
Of the Lamellicornia just one half of the British species occur, of
which the Lucanidez have three representatives in the county, a fine
male specimen of Lucanus ceruus having been taken by Mr. A. H.
Martineau at Warwick on July 4, 1887. This is apparently the only
specimen of this beetle taken in the county, although in Wyre Forest,
Worcestershire, it is not uncommon.
80
INSECTS
The genus Aphodius is well represented in Warwickshire by twenty-
seven and Onthopbagus by three species, of which O. vacca has recently
been added to the list.
Trox sabulosus has occurred sparingly, and also the beautifully
coloured Cetonia aurata.
The Sternoxi number thirty-seven species, many of which are ex-
tremely abundant the rarer ones being Elater balteatus^ Melanotus rufi
pes var. castanipes and Corymbetes census.
The Malacoderma are represented by fifty-two species, most of them
being very plentiful, the scarcer ones being Telepborus oralis, T. thoraclcus^
Malthinus frontalis and Melachius viridis.
The genus Malthodes yields eight species, all of which are un-
common, and the same remarks apply to Tillus elongates and Opilo
mollis.
The Teredilia have only twenty-eight species in the county. Niptus
crenatus used to be taken freely in an old cowshed amongst manger
refuse, but unfortunately, after a lapse of many years, this productive
shed was cleaned out, and the old home of Niptus has been practically
broken up.
The genus Cis is represented by ten species. Ptinus subpilosus occurs
in rotten wood, and Dryopbilus pusillus may be taken plentifully on fir
trees in the summer at Hay Woods near Knowle.
The Longicornia number nineteen species only, but this may possibly
be increased when other portions of the county are more thoroughly
explored.
Prionus coriarlus occurs occasionally, this fine insect having been
taken in several localities in the county. Aromia moscbata, Callidium a/ni,
Clytus mysticus and Tetrops prczusta occur sparingly. All the other species
in the list are fairly common.
The Phytophaga (with Bruchidaf) have 132 representatives in the
county.
The genus Longitarsus is much in evidence, but owing to the ex-
treme difficulty in separating the species it is impossible to vouch for
the accuracy of all the records, and much further research is needed.
The Heteromera (with abnormal Coleoptera) number forty-two species,
and include some interesting insects. The genus Anaspis has perhaps
received the least attention, all the Mordellidce being more or less difficult
to preserve owing to the antennae and legs being so loosely articulated,
and more species may be expected to occur than are enumerated in the
list.
The Rbyncophora (with Anthribidce) have 217 representatives, many
of which are rare, and species new to the county are being discovered
year by year. One example may be mentioned in Rbytidosomus globulus,
which was found by the late Mr. Blatch and the author in the year
1898 in a spot which had been worked by Mr. Blatch more or less
regularly for at least twenty years without having taken the insect before.
Numerous examples of this kind might be mentioned, and in the future
I 81 ii
A HISTORY OF WARWICKSHIRE
it is hoped that our list may be enhanced by the addition of many other
species which most certainly inhabit the county unobserved.
For purposes of comparison a table is given showing the total
number of known British species and also the number which have been
found in Warwickshire :
Cox's groups
Britain, 1897
Warwickshire, 1902
7IO
I9C
I7O
67
Qf
CJ.
Brachelytra
777
480
681
760
Lamellicornia
QO
j"*
4.C
76
77
Malacoderma
QI
j/
C2
S7
28
Longicornia
J /
S7
10
Phytophaga (with Bruchidae)
2$6
* 7
171
Heteromera (with abnormal Coleoptera) .
Rhyncophora (with Anthribidae)
118
526
* j*
42
217
Total . .
3264
1663
In compiling the following list of Warwickshire Coleoptera it has
been thought that a few particulars as to the habits and times of appear-
ance of the insects might be of interest to entomologists, and a brief
note has therefore been given with each species.
In the case of species which occur commonly throughout the dis-
trict it has not been considered necessary to detail every record, therefore
a note as to general habitat and distribution has been given. Where no
authority is given for a record the insect has in every instance been
taken in that locality by the author. In all the other cases the authority
is given after the localities.
The entomologists mentioned in the following list are as follow :
W. G. Blatch, F.E.S. (ob. 1900) ; Rev. J. H. Bloom, M.A., Whit-
church Rectory ; A. H. Martineau, F.E.S. , Solihull ; F. A. Jackson,
A.I.E.E., Tonbridge ; A. J. Chitty, M.A., F.E.S. ; the late J. A.
Power, M.D. The nomenclature adopted is that of the Catalogue of
British Coleoptera by Sharpe and Fowler, 1893.
CICINDELID/E
Cicindela campestris, L. Found throughout
the county, especially in sandy places.
March to July
CARABID^
CYCHRINA
Cychrus rostratus, L. Not abundant ;
January to December. Erdington
(Blatch), Knirwle, Solihull
CARABINA
Carabus catenulatus, Scop. Found chiefly
in hilly districts ; January to De-
cember. Sutton Coldfield (Blatch),
Knowle
nemoralis, Mull. Abundant throughout
the county ; January to December
violaceus, L. Widely distributed, but
not so abundant as the preceding ;
January to December
INSECTS
CARABINA (continued)
Carabus granulatus, L. Fairly common
throughout the county ; January to
December
monilis, F. Found in all parts through-
out the year, but most in evidence
in spring and autumn
NOTIOPHILINA
Notiophilus biguttatus, F. All localities
throughout the year.
substriatus, Wat. All seasons, but
mostly during summer. Knowle
(Blatch), Solibull
aquaticus, L. All localities at all seasons
palustris, Duft. Same as the preceding ;
perhaps rather less abundant
NEBRIINA
Leistus spinibarbis, F. Common at roots of
trees, under stones, bark, etc.,
throughout the county ; all seasons
fulvibarbis, Dej. Under bark, at roots
of trees, etc. ; all seasons ; common
ferrugineus, L. Under bark, in moss
and grass tufts ; all seasons ; common
rufescens, F. In bogs, grass tufts and
sphagnum, on banks of streams and
in flood refuse ; all seasons ; rather
less abundant than preceding
Nebria brevicollis, F. Common every-
where ; all seasons
ELAPHRINA
Elaphrus riparius, L. Muddy banks of
rivers and ponds ; generally distri-
buted. Knowle (Blatch), Edgbaston,
Stratford-on-Avon
cupreus, Duft. Habitat and distribu-
tion same as last species. Knowle
(Blatch), Stratford-on-Avon
LORICERINA
Loricera pilicornis, F. Occurs under all
conditions, and is abundant
SCARATINA
Clivina fossor, L. Under clods and stones,
in moss, grass tufts and hedge refuse.
In winter found hybernating 6 or 8
inches below surface of ground ;
January to December ; abundant in
all parts
collaris, Herbst. In banks of rivers ;
local ; January to December. Salford
Priors (Blatch)
Dyschirius globosus, Herbst. In boggy
places, under refuse, in grass tussocks
and moss ; all seasons. Coleshill,
Sutton Park (Blatch), Knowle
LICININA
Badister bipustulatus, F. In grass tufts,
hedge rubbish, moss, and under
stones. Throughout the year in all
localities, but not very abundantly
83
LICININA (continued)
Badister sodalis, Duft. Under stones, flood
refuse and moss ; local and scarce,
but found in all seasons. Knowle
CHUENIINA
Chlaenius vestitus, Payk, In banks of rivers
and ponds, and under stones : January
to December. Alcester (Blatch)
nigricornis, F. On banks of rivers
and marshy places, amongst herbage,
etc., May to September, and probably
hybernates in mud cracks and at
roots of plants. Edgbaston (Jackson),
Alcester
OODINA
Oodes helopioides, F. In marshy places at
roots of plants. Knowle
STENOLOPHINA
Acupalpus exiguus, Dej. In sphagnum ;
all seasons ; rare. Coleshill (Blatch)
exiguus var. luridus, Dej. In sphagnum
and at roots of plants in boggy places ;
local ; January to December. Coles-
bill (Blatch), Knowle
meridianus, L. At grass roots, in
moss, vegetable refuse and haystack
bottoms ; all seasons ; found through-
out the county
Bradycellus cognatus, Gyll. In boggy
places and on heaths ; under stones
in vegetable refuse ; in sphagnum ;
locally abundant, all seasons. Coleshill,
Button Park (Blatch), Alerter
distinctus, Dej. In moss and grass
tufts, damp places in woods, margins
of ponds ; January to December.
Coleshill, Sutton Park (Blatch), Knowle
- verbasci, Duft. Under stones, in moss,
grass tufts and flood refuse ; January
to December; all localities
harpalinus, Dej. Habitat and distri-
bution much the same as preceding,
and even more abundant
HARPALINA
Harpalus rufibarbis, F. Under refuse on
margins of ponds ; amongst chips,
etc., in woods ; in moss and under
stones ; January to December ;
throughout the county.
ruficornis, F. Under stones and rub-
bish ; all seasons ; all localities
aeneus, F. Under stones, vegetable
refuse, moss, etc. ; all seasons ; all
localities
latus, L. Under stones, clods, moss
and rubbish; all seasons; all locali-
ties
tardus, Panz. Under stones in gravel
pits ; on heaths, etc. ; spring to
autumn ; scarce. Sutton Park. Also
A HISTORY OF WARWICKSHIRE
recorded rrom this locality by the
late Mr. Blatch
PTEROSTICHINA
Stomis pumicatus, Panz. In banks of ponds
and streams, under stones and vege-
table refuse ; January to December.
Olton, Knowle, Solihull
Platyderus ruficollis, Marsh. Under stones.
bark, dead leaves and moss ; local ;
all seasons. Know/e (Blatch), Strat-
ford (Bloom), Solihull
Pterostichus cupreus, L. Under stones
and clods ; in moss, grass tufts and
vegetable refuse ; January to Decem-
ber ; all localities
- versicolor, Sturm. In old pastures,
wood sides, etc. ; all seasons. Sutton
Park (Blatch), Know/e, Solihull
madidus, F. Under stones, clods, moss
and refuse ; a most abundant species ;
all seasons and in all parts
- niger, Schall. Under bark, stones, moss
and rubbish ; all seasons and in all
localities
- vulgaris, L. Habitat and distribution
same as the last
- anthracinus, 111. River banks and bogs ;
local and scarce. Alcester ; also re-
corded from this locality by the late
Mr. Blatch
- nigrita, F. In marshy places, in moss,
herbage and at roots of plants ; all
seasons ; abundant everywhere
minor, Gyll. Under reeds ; in sphag-
num, margins of ponds, etc.; January
to December. Sutton Park, Salford
Priors (Blatch), Knowle, Coleshill
- strenuus, Panz. In moss and at roots
of plants in marshy places ; January
to December ; all localities
- diligens, Sturm. Habitat and distribu-
tion same as preceding; very abundant
- picimanus, Duft. Under bark, stones,
moss and refuse, banks of rivers and
pools ; all seasons ; scarce. Alcester,
Salford Priors (Blatch), Stratford-on-
Avon (Bloom)
inaequalis, Marsh. Under stones, in grass
tufts, banks of rivers and pools ;
January to December; rare. Salford
Priori (Blatch), Stratford (Bloom),
Knowle
vernalis, Gyll. In moss, grass tufts
and refuse ; marshy places and banks
of ponds and rivers ; all seasons ; all
localities
striola, F. Under bark, stones and
refuse ; abundant in places, especially
in spring and autumn. Sutton Park
(Blatch), Knowle
84
AMARINA
Amara fulva, Dej. Under stones and
clods in sandy places and gravel pits ;
all seasons ; local. Near Tamworth
(Blatch), Sutton Coldfield
apricaria, Sturm. Under stones, refuse,
grass tufts and moss ; all seasons ;
all localities
consularis, Duft. Under stones, etc.,
in sandy places and gravel pits ;
spring to autumn ; scarce. Sutton
Park (Blatch), Knowle
bifrons, Gyll. Under stones and rub-
bish, especially in sandy places. Small
Heath (under bones, Blatch), Knowle
ovata, F. In moss and grass tufts,
under stones, and by sweeping ; all
seasons ; rather scarce. Alcester, Sut-
ton Park (Blatch), Salford Priors,
Knowle
similata, Gyll. Occurs under similar
conditions to the last, but rather
more frequently met with. Sutton
Park (Blatch), Stratford (Bloom),
Knowle, Coleshill
accuminata, Payk. Moss and herbage,
and by sweeping ; all seasons ; hyber-
nates in moss and grass roots in pas-
tures, etc. ; rather rare. Sutton Park
(Blatch), Knowle
nitida, Sturm. In moss and turf in
pastures ; taken freely by the late
Mr. Blatch and the author at Knowle
tibialis, Payk. Under stones on heaths
and hills ; in sandy places and gravel
pits ; spring to autumn ; local and
scarce. Sutton Park (Blatch)
lunicollis, Schiod. Under stones ; in
moss and at roots of grass ; all sea-
sons. Small Heath, Sutton Park
(Blatch), Knowle, Coleshill
familiaris, Duft. Under stones, in
moss, grass roots and rubbish ; all
times and in all localities
trivialis, Gyll. Habitat and distribution
same as the last
communis, Panz. In moss and turf;
under bark and stones ; all seasons.
Sutton Park (Blatch), Coleshill, Knowle
(plentiful)
continua, Thorns. Amongst herbage,
and in moss and grass roots ; all
seasons ; rare. Knowle
- plebeia, Gyll. Under stones ; in moss,
etc. ; found at all times throughout
the county.
ANCHOMENINA
Calathus cisteloides, Panz. Under stones,
vegetable refuse, moss, etc. ; all sea-
sons ; all localities
INSECTS
ANCHOMENINA (continued)
Calathus fuscus, F. Under stones in sandy
places. Sutton Part (Blatch)
flavipes, Fourc. Under stones, refuse,
etc., especially on heaths and hills ;
spring to autumn. Coleshill (Blatch),
Sutton Park
melanocephalus, L. An abundant
species ; all seasons ; all localities
piceus, Marsh. In sphagnum, the
folds of reeds and flags, dead leaves in
woods, etc. ; all seasons. Sutton Park
(Blatch), Coleshill, Knowle (Sept.
1901)
Taphria nivalis, Panz. Under stones and
moss ; all seasons. Small Heath
(Blatch), Knowle
Pristonychus terricola, Herbst. In cellars,
stables, banks of rivers, moss and
under bark ; all seasons ; all localities,
urban and rural
Anchomenus angusticollis, F. Under loose
bark ; amongst herbage ; at roots of
trees in woods ; all seasons ; all
localities
dorsalis, Mull. Under stones, refuse,
moss, loose bark and herbage at roots
of trees ; all seasons ; all localities
albipes, F. On banks of streams and
ponds, in moss and vegetable refuse ;
abundant everywhere ; all seasons
oblongus, Sturm. Amongst herbage
and under willow bark in wet places ;
all seasons. Salford Priors (Blatch),
Stratford-on-Avon (Bloom)
marginatus, L. Margins of ponds and
rivers ; January to December ; hy-
bernates in crevices. Edgbaston
(Jackson), Sutton Park (Blatch),
Knowle
parumpunctatus, F. Under stones, in
moss, grass tufts, hotbeds and refuse
generally ; all seasons ; plentiful in
all localities
atratus, Duft. In marshy places; on
banks of rivers and pools and under
stones ; spring to autumn ; local and
scarce. Alcester, Sutton Park (Blatch),
Coleshill
viduus, Panz. In moss and refuse in
damp places ; all seasons. Sutton
Park (Blatch), Knowle, Solihull
viduus var. mcestus, Duft. Found with
the type form, and rather more plen-
tiful
micans, Nic. Under loose bark of
decaying logs, and in moss and herb-
age in marshy places and banks ot
rivers and ponds j all localities ; all
seasons
ANCHOMENINA (continued)
Anchomenus fuliginosus, Panz. In sphag-
num and herbage in marshy places ;
abundant at all times and in all
localities
gracilis, Gyll. In sphagnum, grass
tussocks, etc., in boggy places ; all
seasons ; local. Tysoe, Sutton Park,
Salford Priors (Blatch), Knowle,
Coleshill
piceus, L. Habitat and distribution
same as the preceding
thoreyi, Dej. In sphagnum, axils of
flags and vegetable refuse ; on mar-
gins of pools. Coleshill, Sutton Park
(Blatch), near Knowle
puellus, Dej. Found under same con-
ditions and in the same localities as
the preceding
Olisthopus rotundatus, Payk. Under stones,
refuse and moss ; all seasons ; all
localities
BEMBIDIINA
Bembidium rufescens, Gue'r. Under refuse,
etc., in marshy places; all seasons;
all localities
quinquestriatum, Gyll. On walls and
under stones. Olton, Small Heath
(Blatch), Knowle
obtusum, Sturm. In moss, refuse,
hotbeds, etc. ; partial to dry situa-
tions ; abundant at all times and in
all situations
guttula, F. In all sorts of habitats, and
met with in profusion everywhere
mannerheimi, Sahl. In damp woods,
flood refuse, margins of streams and
ponds ; all seasons ; all localities
biguttatum, F. In habitat and range
similar to preceding
riparium, Ol. Damp places, banks of
streams and ponds, amongst herbage,
under stones, etc. ; all localities, but
not so abundant as preceding
aeneum, Germ. Under refuse, stones
and bark in damp places ; local.
Alcester, Tysoe (Blatch), Stratford,
Knowle
articulatum, Panz. On margins of
streams and ponds; spring to autumn.
Tysoe, Salford Priors (Blatch), Knowle
doris, Panz. In moss and vegetable
refuse on margins of ponds and
streams ; all seasons ; local. First
taken in midlands by Mr. Blatch
and Mr. Tail at Waterfield; Water
Lane, Knowle
lampros, Herbst. Found under all sorts
of conditions at all times and in all
localities
A HISTORY OF WARWICKSHIRE
ANCHOMENINA (continued)
Bembidium lampros var. velox, Er. Under
stones and amongst herbage ; all
seasons ; local and scarce. Stratford,
Salford Priors (Blatch), Knowle, So/Hull
nitidulum, Marsh. In shingle, moss,
refuse, and under stones and bark;
occurs everywhere, often in profu-
sion
affine, Steph. In gravel pits, stone
quarries, and mud banks of rivers
and pools ; all seasons ; rather scarce.
Sutton Part, Salford Priori
- quadriguttatum, F. Under refuse, bark,
moss, etc. ; at all times and in all places
- quadrimaculatum, Gyll. In moss,
hedge refuse, under bark, etc. ; abun-
dant everywhere
femoratum, Sturm. Under stones, and
on margins of pools and streams ; all
seasons ; local. Sutton Park
- bruxellense, Wesm. In shingle and
refuse on banks of rivers and ponds ;
all seasons ; local. Sutton Park
littorale, Ol. In moss, shingle, hedge
refuse, hotbeds, etc. ; abundant
everywhere
bipunctatum, L. Amongst shingle re-
fuse on banks of rivers and ponds ;
all seasons ; local. Sutton Park
flammulatum, Clairv. Banks of rivers
and ponds ; abundant everywhere
adustum, Schaum. Found in profusion
on the river Severn by the late Mr.
Blatch, who believed he also took a
few specimens at Salford Priors in
Warwickshire
Tachypus flavipes, L. In hedge refuse,
moss, grass tufts, and under stones ;
all seasons ; Stratford -on- Avon
(Blatch), Knowle
TRECHINA
Trechus discus, F. In banks of rivers ;
under flood refuse and stones ; all
seasons ; local. Salford Priors (Blatch)
micros, Herbst. Found under similar
conditions as the preceding. Small
Heath (Blatch), Salford Priors
minutus, F. In rubbish, hotbeds, moss,
grass roots and hedge refuse ; abun-
dant everywhere
- minutus var. obtusus, Er. Under
stones, refuse, and in moss ; all
seasons. Sutton Park (Blatch), Knowle
secalis, Payk. Margins of ponds and
rivers, and under bark and chips in
woods ; all seasons ; all localities
Patrobus excavatus, Payk. Under stones ;
in moss on mud banks ; all seasons ;
all localities
LEBIINA
Lebia chlorocephala, Hoff. On broom, and
in moss and under stones. Stratford-
on-Avon (Bloom)
Demetrias atricapillus, L. In hedge refuse,
grass tufts and moss ; abundant
everywhere
Dromius linearis, Ol. In hedge refuse, grass
tufts and moss ; all timesand all places
agilis, F. Under bark ; all seasons ;
throughout the county
meridionalis, Dej. Habitat and distri-
bution same as the preceding
quadrimaculatus, L. Under bark ; all
seasons ; abundant
86
quadrinotatus, Panz. Under bark,
sedges and moss ; all localities
quadrisignatus, Dej. Under bark of
various trees ; rare in the midlands.
Sutton Park ; also recorded from this
locality by the late Mr. Blatch
melanocephalus, Dej. In vegetable
refuse, grass tufts and moss ; abund-
ant everywhere
Blechrus maurus, Sturm. Under stones,
moss and refuse. Spring to autumn.
Leamington (Blatch)
Metabletus foveola, Gyll. In vegetable
refuse, moss, dung, etc. ; all seasons
and in all localities
truncatellus, L. In grass tufts and
vegetable refuse ; all seasons ; less
abundant than the preceding
obscuro-guttatus, Duft. In moss, refuse,
etc. ; scarce. Salford Priors (Blatch),
Knowle
HALIPLIDJE
Brychius elevatus, 1 Panz. In streams and
ponds. Solihull (Blatch), Knowle
Haliplus obliquus, 2 F. Local. Sutton Park
(Blatch), Knowle
confinis, Steph. Rare. Knowle
flavicollis, Sturm. Rather local. Sal-
ford Priors (Blatch), Knowle
fulvus, F. Scarce. Sutton Park (Blatch),
Knowle
cinereus, Aubd. Rare. Knowle
ruficollis, De G. Abundant in all
localities
fluviatilis, Aub. Rather local. Sal-
ford Priors, Coleshill, Sutton Park
(Blatch), Knowle
striatus, Sharp. Local and rare. Knowle
1 All the water beetles are found throughout the
year, although the majority are most active in early
spring.
2 All the species of this genus are found in
streams, ponds and ditches.
INSECTS
Haliplus lineatocollis, Marsh. Abundant
in all localities
PELOBIIDjE
Pelobius tardus, Herbst. Rare. Stratford-
on-Avon (Bloom), near Harborne
DYTISCID^
NOTERINA
Noterus sparsus, Marsh. In streams, canals
and ponds. Near Tamworth, Sal-
ford Priors (Blatch), Sutton Park,
Knowle
LACCOPHILINA
Laccophilus interruptus, Panz. In ponds
and canals. Salford Priors, Sutton
Park (Blatch), Knowle
obscurus, Panz. In ponds and canals ;
all localities
HYDROPORINA
Hyphydrus ovatus, L. In ponds and
ditches ; abundant everywhere
Ccelambus versicolor, Schall. In ponds,
ditches and streams. Salford Priors ;
Sutton Park (Blatch), Knowle
inaequalis, F. Ponds, ditches and
streams ; abundant everywhere
- confluens, F. Sutton Park (Blatch)
Deronectes assimilis, Payk. In ponds,
ditches and streams. Salford Priors
(Blatch), Sutton and Knowle
depressus, F. Occurs mostly in streams ;
throughout the midlands
duodecim-pustulatus, F. In streams ;
local. Sutton (Blatch), Knowle
Hydroporus pictus, F. In ponds and
streams ; all localities
lepidus, Ol. In both stagnant and
running water ; local. Sutton Park
(Blatch), Knowle
rivalis, Gyll. Abundant in a small
stream between Knowle and Solihull
dorsalis, F. In ponds ; apparently
scarce. Knowle (Blatch), Chadwick
End
lineatus, F. Abundant in ponds ; every
where
umbrosus, Gyll. \ In ponds ; rare.
angustatus, Sturm. ) Knowle
gyllenhali, Schiod. In ponds and
streamlets ; especially in woods.
Sutton, Coleshill (Blatch), Knowle
palustris, L. Plentiful in ponds ; all
localities
erythrocephalus, L. In ponds ; every-
where
memnonius, Nic. In ponds and stumps
of newly felled oaks in woods ; un-
common ; all localities
HYDROPORINA (continued)
Hydroporus nigrita, F. In ponds ; especi-
ally in woods. Knowle
pubescens, Gyll. Abundant every-
where
planus, F. All localities ; plentiful
lituratus, F. In ponds in woods and
open country ; local and scarce.
Knowle (Blatch), Bently Heath
marginatus, Duft. Pits in woods
and in osier beds. Solihull (Blatch,
record only) ; Knowle
DYTISCINA
Agabus guttatus, Payk. In ponds ; local.
Sutton Park (Blatch)
paludosus, F. In brooks and pools.
Knowle (Blatch), Solihull
affinis, Payk. In sphagnum, grass tus-
socks, etc. Sutton Park (Blatch)
unguicularis, Thorns. Under similar
conditions to the preceding and in
same locality
didymus, Ol. In streams and ponds.
Salford Priors (Blatch)
nebulosus, Forst. In ponds ; local.
Knowle (in great abundance)
sturmii, Gyll. In ponds ; frequent.
Knowle
chalconotus, Panz. In ponds and
streams. Coleshill, Sutton Park
(Blatch), Knowle
bipustulatus, L. In ponds ; abundant
everywhere
bipustulatus var. solieri, Aub. Habitat
same as type. Knowle
Platambus maculatus, L. In brooks
throughout the district
Ilybius fuliginosus, F. In brooks and
ponds ; all localities
- ater, De G. In ponds ; everywhere
guttiger, Gyll. In bogs ; rare. Coles-
hill
- aenescens, Thorns. In ponds and bogs.
Tysoe (Blatch), Knowle
Copelatus agilis, F. In ponds ; very rare.
Near Knowle
Rhautus exoletus, Forst. In pools and
pits. Knowle
bistriatus, Berg. In pools and pits.
Sutton Park (Blatch), Knowle
Colymbetes fuscus, L. In ponds, dykes
and streams ; all localities
Dytiscus punctulatus, F. In ponds and
slowly running streams ; not un-
common throughout England (Fow-
ler), Knowle
marginalis, L. Abundant in ponds ;
in all localities
Acilius sulcatus, L. In ponds and ditches ;
everywhere
A HISTORY OF WARWICKSHIRE
HELOPHORINA (continued)
Helophorus aeneipennis, Thorns. In damp
places ; all localities
brevipalpis, Bedel. Margins of brooks,
etc. ; abundant
Hydrochus angustatus, Germ. Margins
of streams and ponds. Knowle
Ochthebius margipallens, Latr. Margins
of ponds and streams. Sutton Park
(Blatch), Knowle
poweri, Rye. Ponds. Knowle
pygmaeus, F. Margins of ponds and
in bogs. Knowle
bicolon, Germ. Ponds and ditches,
and in moss. Knowle
rufimarginatus, Steph. In flood refuse ;
rare. Knowle
Hydrasna riparia, Kug. Marshy places ;
margins of ponds, etc. Knowle
nigrita, Germ. In running water and
marshy places. Knowle
angustata, Sturm. Amongst herbage
on margins of streams. Knowle
pulchella, Germ. In running water ;
rare. River Blythe near Knowle
SPH^RIDIINA
Cyclonotum orbiculare, F. Banks of
streams, ponds and ditches ; all
localities
Sphaeridiium scarabaeoides, F. In dung,
moss, roots of grass, etc. ; abun-
dant everywhere
bipustulatum, F. Found with pre-
ceding, but less abundantly
bipustulatum var. marginatum, F. In
dung, moss, etc. ; all localities
bipustulatum var. semistriatum, Cast.
Found with the preceding but scarcer
Cercyon 1 haemorrhous, Gyll. At roots of
grass, in moss, flood refuse, dead
leaves and dung ; all localities
hasmorrhoidalis, Herbst. Found with
preceding. The late Mr. Blatch
also found this species in nest of
Formica rufa at Bewdley (Worcester-
shire)
obsoletus, Gyll. Small Heath (Blatch),
Knowle
flavipes, F. Small Heath (Blatch), Knowle
lateralis, Marsh. All localities
melanocephalus, L. Abundant every-
where
unipunctatus, L. All localities
quisquilius, L. Knowle
nigriceps, Marsh. Edgbaston (Blatch),
Knowle
pygmaeus, 111. Knowle
Gyrinus natator, Scop. Ponds, ditches
and brooks ; abundant everywhere
marinus, Gyll. Ponds, streams, etc. ;
local. Salford Priors (Blatch), Kmnvle
opacus, Sahl. Canals and ponds.
Leamington (Blatch), Knowle
Orectochilus villosus, Mall. Under sub-
merged stones ; margins of rivers
and brooks ; in winter may be dug
out of the banks. Alcester, Salford
Priors (Blatch), Knowle
HYDROPHILID^E
HYDROPHILINA
Hydrobius fuscipes, L. In ponds, etc. ;
everywhere
picicrus, Thorns. Ponds and ditches.
Knowle
Philhydrus nigricans, Zett. Ponds and
ditches. Knowle
coarctatus, Gredl. Ponds, etc. Knowle
Anacaena globulus, Payk. In boggy and
marshy places ; abundant everywhere
limbata, F. Ponds and ditches ; all
localities
Holochares lividus, Forst. Wet places ;
ponds and ditches. Knowle
Laccobius sinuatus, Mots. Banks of
streams and pools. Near Tarn-
worth (Blatch), Knowle
alutaceus, Thorns. Damp places ;
margins of ponds, etc. Knowle
minutus, L. Boggy places and mar-
gins of pools, etc. Knowle
- bipunctatus, F. Wet places. Knowle
Limnebius truncatellus, Thorns. Banks
of streams, canals and ponds. Soli-
hull (Blatch), Knowle
papposus, Muls. Habitat same as pre-
ceding. Knowle
nitidus, Marsh. Margins of brooks,
ditches and damp places. Knowle
picinus, Marsh. Ponds and ditches ;
rare. Knowle
Chastarthria seminulum, Herbst. In moss
and grass roots in marshy places.
Solihult- (Blatch), Knowle
HELOPHORINA
Helophorus nubilus, F. In wet places ;
moss and flood refuse ; all localities
aquaticus, L. In wet places ; moss
and hedge refuse ; abundant every-
where
aquaticus var. aequalis, Thorns. Found
with the preceding, but less abun-
dantly
dorsalis, Marsh. Banks of brooks,
ditches, etc., and in moss. Knowle
1 All the species of Cercyon may be found under
similar conditions unless otherwise stated.
88
INSECTS
SPHJERIDIINA (continued)
Cercyon terminatus, Marsh. Knowle
analis, Payk. All localities
lugubris, Payk. Knowle
granarius, Er.
minutus, Muls. Knowle and Solihull
Megasternum boletophagum, Marsh. In
vegetable refuse, moss, dung, fungi,
etc. ; abundant everywhere
Cryptopleurum atomarium, F. Habitat
and distribution same as preceding
NOTE. All the Hydrophilidae are to be found
throughout the year.
STAPHYLINID^E
ALEOCHARINA
Aleochara ruficornis, Grav. In moss,
vegetable refuse, etc. ; rare. Button
Park
fuscipes, F. In dead animals, fungi
and vegetable refuse ; all seasons ;
abundant everywhere
brevipennis, Grav. In grass tufts in
marshy places. Knowle
bipunctata, Ol. In moss, grass tufts,
dead leaves, hedge refuse, etc. ; all
seasons, sparingly. Tysoe ; Salford
Priors, Sutton Park (Blatch), Knowle
and Solihull
cuniculorum, Kr. In moss and under
dead moles. Knowle
lanuginosa, Grav. In moss, grass tufts,
dead leaves, dung, etc. ; at all seasons
and in all localities
lygaea, Kr. In dead birds and moles,
etc. ; rare. Knowle (Blatch, June
1893), (the author, 1899)
villosa, Maun. In moss and decaying
leaves ; rare. Knowle
- succicola, Thorns. In moss ; rare.
Knowle
mcesta, Grav. Habitat and distribution
same as A. lanuginosa
mcerens, Gyll. In carrion, fungi, dead
leaves, moss, etc. ; rare. Knowle
(Blatch)
nitida, Grav. In moss, hedge rubbish,
dung, etc. ; all seasons ; all localities
nitida var. belineata, Gyll. At sap
on oak stumps ; spring to autumn ;
scarce. Knowle (Blatch, record
only), near Coleshill
morion, Grav. Abundant in dung,
hotbeds, moss, grass tufts and fungi ;
all seasons ; all localities
Microglossa suturalis, Sahl. Bottoms of
haystacks, in cowsheds, moss and
grass tufts ; all seasons. Edgbaston ;
Sutton Park (Blatch), Knowle
I 89
ALEOCHARINA (continued)
Microglossa nidicola, Fairm. In and near
nests of sand martins. Found abun-
dantly in spring and summer in all
localities where the sand martin
builds
Oxypoda spectabilis, Mark. In grass tufts,
vegetable refuse, etc. ; rare. Knowle
lividipennis, Mann. In moss and
hedge refuse and in decaying fungi.
Found throughout the year in all
localities
opaca, Grav. In hotbeds, vegetable
refuse, etc. ; abundant everywhere
at all times
alternans, Grav. In fungi ; all seasons ;
abundant everywhere
exoleta, Er. Under bones at Small
Heath (Blatch) ; under bark, Sander-
land Coppice, Knowle
leutula, Er. Amongst decaying leaves,
etc., on margins of ponds in woods ;
all seasons ; scarce. Knowle (Blatch)
umbrata, Grav. In moss, grass tufts,
under bones and bark ; all seasons.
Knowle, Olton, Small Heath (Blatch),
Knowle
pectita, Sharp. Under bones and stack
refuse ; rare. Knowle, under bones
(Blatch) ; Knowle, stack refuse
nigrina, Wat. In moss, grass tufts,
hotbeds and under bark, etc. Knowle,
Tysoe, Small Heath, Coleshill, Sutton
(Blatch)
mutata, Sharp. Knowle (Blatch)
- longiuscula, Er. In damp places ; all
seasons ; abundant everywhere
formeceticola, Mark. In nests of For-
mica rufa. Knowle
hzmorrhoa, Mann. In moss, hot-
beds, under bark and in nests of
Formica rufa ; all seasons. Edgbaston,
Sutton (Blatch), Knowle
waterhousei, Rye. In vegetable refuse,
in marshy places. Knowle (Blatch,
record only)
soror, Thorns. In moss on oak trunks.
Knowle (Blatch, record only)
annularis, Sahl. In moss and dead
leaves ; scarce ; all seasons. Knowle
(Blatch)
brachyptera, Steph. Found by the
late Mr. Blatch, and also by the
author in an old cowshed at Knowle
Thiasophila angulata, Er. In nests of
Formica rufa ; local. Near Tarn-
worth (Blatch), Knowle
Ischnoglossa prolixa, Grav. Under bark
of dead trees ; abundant ; all seasons.
All localities
12
A HISTORY OF WARWICKSHIRE
ALEOCHARINA (continued)
Ischnoglossa corticina, Er. Under bark ; all
seasons. Olton t Sutton Park (Blatch),
Knowle
Ocyusa incrassata, Kr. In moss and leaves
and under bark ; all seasons ; all
localities ; often abundant
maura, Er. In boggy places, in grass
tussocks, etc. ; all seasons ; local.
Knowle, Coleshill, Sutton (Blatch)
- picina, Aube. Habitat same as pre-
ceding ; very local. Sutton Park
(abundant in the bogs at all times)
Phlaeopora reptans, Grav. Under bark of
dead trees ; all seasons ; abundant
in all localities
- corticalis, Grav. Under bark of holly
and other trees ; all seasons ; scarce..
Sutton Park
- corticalis var. transita, Muls. Under
bark ; rare. Sutton Park (Blatch)
Ocalea castanea, Er. In moss, grass tufts,
fungi, etc. ; all seasons ; plentiful ;
all localities
- latipennis, Sharp. Margins of ponds
and streams ; rare ; all seasons.
Knowle
- badia, Er. Grass tufts and moss in
damp places ; all seasons. Solihull
(Blatch), Knowle
Ilyobates nigricollis, Payk. Amongst dead
leaves in woods, in banks of rivers
and under stones ; spring to autumn ;
rare. Knowle
Calodera nigrita, Mann. Marshy places ;
rare. Solihull (Blatch)
- aethiops, Grav. In grass tufts and
decaying vegetable matter, etc. ; all
seasons ; local. Knowle
- umbrosa, Er. In gravel pits, on muddy
margins of ponds, amongst shingle ;
all seasons ; rare. Knowle. Also
once found by Mr. G. W. Tail in
his wine cellar at Knowle
Chilopora longitarsus, Steph. Banks of
ponds and streams. Abundant at
all times and in all localities
Myrmedonia humeralis, Grav. In and
near nests of Formica rufa. Knowle
Astilbus canaliculatus, F. In ants' nests,
grass tufts, moss, and under stones ;
all seasons ; abundant throughout
the midlands
Callicerus obscurus, Grav. In moss, herb-
age on river banks and bone heaps ;
flies about on the first sunny days of
spring and in winter hybernates in
moss ; scarce. Knowle (Blatch)
Thamiaraea cinnamomea, Grav. At sap
of trees infested with Cossus ; in
ALEOCHARINA (continued)
hedge refuse and on posts ; spring
to autumn ; rather scarce. Knowle
(Blatch), Solihull
Thamiaraea hospita, Mark. Habitat same
as preceding. Knowle, Solihull
Notothecta flavipes, Thorns. In nests of
Formica rufa ; all seasons. Knowle
anceps, Gr. Habitat and distribution
same as preceding, but scarcer
Alianta incana, Er. In grass tussocks, etc.,
in bogs and wet places ; all seasons ;
local. Coleshill, Sutton (Blatch),
Knowle
Homalota pavens, Er. Amongst shingle
in river beds, etc., and under bones ;
spring to autumn ; rare. Knowle
gregaria, Er. In grass tufts, moss and
hedge refuse ; all seasons and all
localities
luteipes, Er. Banks of rivers and
brooks ; spring and summer. Near
Birmingham (Blatch)
luridipennis, Mann. In dead leaves
and moss in woods, under bark,
bones, etc. ; all seasons and all
localities
- gyllenhali, Thorns. In moss and grass
tufts and under bones ; all seasons
and in all localities
- hygrotopora, Kr. In moss and muddy
places on banks of streams and ponds ;
all seasons. Birmingham, Sutton
(Blatch), Knowle
elongatula, Grav. In moss and herb-
age, especially in damp places ;
abundant at all times and in all
places.
- volans, Scrib. Found with the pre-
ceding, and equally widely distributed
but less abundant
nitidula, Kr. In dead moles ; rare.
Knowle (Blatch)
oblongiuscula, Sharp. In moss, hay-
stack refuse, and under bones ; found
sparingly at all seasons. Small Heath,
Sutton Park, Solihull (Blatch), Knowle
sylvicola, Fuss. Amongst dead leaves
in woods, moss and grass tufts ; all
seasons ; not abundant. Coleshill
(Blatch), Knowle
vicina, Steph. Hedge refuse, moss,
bones, etc. ; all seasons ; all localities
pagana, Er. Dead leaves in woods
and under bones ; found through-
out the year, but is scarce. Small
Heath (Blatch)
graminicola, Gyll. In moss and grass
tufts in marshy places ; all seasons
and in all localities
90
INSECTS
ALEOCHARINA (continued)
Homalota occulta, Er. In moss and under
bones ; spring to autumn ; rather
scarce. Knowle, Small Heath (Blatch)
fungivora, Thorns. In moss, fungi,
grass tufts and under bones and
bark ; all seasons ; all localities,
often in profusion
picipes, Thorns. In lawn clippings and
under bones and bark ; rare. Small
Heath (Blatch), Knowle
monticola, Thorns. Under bones and
dead moles ; in grass tufts and fungi ;
all seasons ; abundant locally. Small
Heath, Knowle (Blatch), Solihull
nigella, Er. In bogs and marshy places
at roots of plants and in folds of
typha, carex, etc. ; local. Earlswood,
Tamworth, Coleihill, Sutton (Blatch),
Knowle
aequata, Er. Under bark of dead trees
and logs ; at all seasons and in all
places where dead trees and logs occur
augustula, Gyll. Bones, fungi, hot-
beds, bark and marshy places ;
spring to autumn ; scarce. Knowle,
Small Heath (Blatch)
linearis, Grav. In moss and bark, fungi
and carrion ; all seasons. Knowle
pilicornis, Thorns. At sap, in moss,
leaves and under bark ; all seasons ;
scarce. Knowle, Solihull (Blatch)
debilis, Er. In moss, flood refuse, wet
shingle, etc. ; rare ; all seasons
Knowle (Blatch)
fallaciola, Sharp. Grass tufts in bogs ;
rare. Coleshill (Blatch), Sutton
circellaris, Grav. In moss, grass tufts,
hedge rubbish, etc. ; abundant at all
times and in all localities
immersa, Heer. Under bark of various
trees ; all seasons ; fairly plentiful.
Edgbaston, Small Heath (Blatch),
Sutton, Knowle
cuspidata, Er. Found with the pre-
ceding, and very abundant at all
times throughout the midlands
eremita, Rye. In sphagnum, in boggy
places. Coleshill (Blatch), Sutton
curtipennis, Sharp. Grass tussocks, in
bogs and in sphagnum ; local. Sutton
(Blatch)
analis, Grav. All kinds of habitats, all
seasons and in all localities
decipiens, Sharp. Amongst dead leaves,
etc. ; rare. Knowle
soror, Kr. Marshy places. Stratford-
on-Avon (Bloom)
exilis, Er. Roots of grass in damp
pastures and under bark ; all sea-
ALEOCHARINA (continued)
sons ; rare. Knowle (Blatch), Salford
Priors
Homalota depressa, Gyll. In moss and dead
leaves, on walls and fences ; local
and scarce ; spring to autumn.
Knowle (Blatch)
hepatica, Er. Grass tufts and leaves
in woods ; all seasons ; rare.
Knowle
aquatica, Thorns. In moss, fungi, grass
tufts, carrion and under bark ; all
seasons ; fairly plentiful through-
out midlands
aeneicollis, Sharp. Habitat and distri-
bution same as preceding
xanthoptera, Steph. Found under simi-
lar conditions and in the same locali-
ties as the preceding
valida, Kr. Amongst dead leaves in
woods ; all seasons. Knowle (Blatch)
euryptera, Steph. At sap, in moss,
dead leaves, fungi and under bones ;
found throughout the year, but is
active only during spring, summer
and early autumn ; plentiful every-
where
trinotata, Kr. Found with the pre-
ceding ; also in hotbeds ; all sea-
sons and in all localities
- xanthopus, Thorns. Bones, refuse,
moss, hotbeds, fungi, bark ; plenti-
ful in summer, rarely met with in
winter ; all localities
triangulum, Kr. Habitat same as pre-
ceding ; all seasons ; found through-
out midlands ; not so abundant as
preceding
fungicola, Thorns. Fungi, moss, leaves,
bones, carcases, hotbeds ; abundant
at all times (especially summer) ; all
localities
ignobilis, Sharp. In fungi, moss, dead
moles and in sap ; all seasons ; rather
scarce. Knowle (Blatch), Solihull
boletobia, Thorns. In fungi ; occa-
sionally in moss and hedge refuse ;
fairly plentiful spring to autumn ;
scarce in winter. Knowle, Berkswell
(Blatch), Packwood
liturata, Steph. In polypori ; spring to
autumn ; rare in midlands. Edge
Hill
coriaria, Kr. Hotbeds, moss and sap ;
abundant locally in fresh lawn clip-
pings during summer ; rare in winter.
Knowle (Blatch)
sodalis, Er. In moss, fungi, vegetable
refuse and under bones, etc. ; all
seasons and all localities
A HISTORY OF WARWICKSHIRE
ALEOCHARINA (continued)
Homalota humeralis, Kr. In fungi ; spring
to autumn ; rare. Knowle (Blatch)
clancula, Er. Amongst decaying leaves,
vegetable refuse and grass tufts ; gene-
rally rare. Taken in utmost profu-
sion at Knowle
gagatina, Baudi. In fungi, moss, dead
leaves, carrion, etc. ; all seasons.
Knowle (Blatch), Sol'thull
divisa, Mark. Fungi, moss, bones,
carrion, dung, etc. ; all seasons.
Knowle
divisa var. Blatchii, Ellis (Ent. Rec. xiii.
250). Taken first by the late Mr.
Blatch in dead moles and hedgehogs,
and afterwards by the author in dead
moles at Knowle
nigricornis, Thorns. In fungi, moss,
grass tufts, carcases, etc. ; all sea-
sons and all localities
ravilla, Er. Habitat and distribution
much the same as the preceding
palustris, Kies. In moss, vegetable re-
fuse, fungi, leaves and bones, and in
marshy places ; all seasons ; abun-
dant ; all localities
corvina, Thorns. Under bark, dung,
carcases ; in moss and fungi ; all
seasons ; not abundant. Knowle,
Sutton (Blatch)
atomaria, Kr. Under dead moles, in
moss and dead leaves ; spring to
autumn, occasionally winter. Knowle,
Sutton (Blatch)
perexigua, Sharp. Lawn clippings, moss,
hedge refuse, under dead moles ; all
seasons. Knowle (Blatch)
oblita, Er. In fungi and at sap of
cossus trees, in dead leaves and moss ;
all seasons ; scarce. Knowle
autumnalis, Er. Under bark and flood
refuse ; in decaying leaves and in
grass tufts at margins of ponds in
woods ; found throughout the year
and not scarce. Solihull, Salford
Priors, Packwood (Blatch), Knowle
sericea, Muls. Abundant in all sorts
of habitats, at all times and in all
localities
- subtilis, Scriba. In moss and under
bark ; rare. Mr. Blatch records
this species from Sutton and Knowle
indiscreta, Sharp. Rare. Knowle
indubia, Sharp. In moss, grass tufts,
lawn clippings, dead moles, etc. ; all
seasons. Small Heath (Blatch),
Knowle, abundant
mortuorum, Thorns. Mr. Blatch re-
cords this species from Warwick-
ALEOCHARINA (continued)
shire, but has some doubt as to the
identity of the specimen
Homalota atricolor, Sharp. In moss, grass
tufts, hedge refuse, carrion, dung,
etc. ; all seasons ; abundant ; all
localities
inquinula, Grav. On sappy stumps of
newly-felled oaks. Knowle (Blatch)
nigra, Kr. All sorts of habitats ; abun-
dant at all times and in all localities
hodierna, Sharp. Under bones. Knowle
germana, Sharp. Occurs with H. nigra,
but is less plentiful
sordidula, Er. In moss, grass tufts, fungi,
dung and dead leaves ; all seasons.
Sutton Park (Blatch), Knowle, Solihull
canescens, Sharp. In moss, grass tufts,
fungi, dung, carrion, etc. ; all sea-
sons. Knowle
cauta, Er. In moss, grass tufts, dung,
carrion, hotbeds, bones, etc. ; abun-
dant at all times and in all places
villosula, Kr. In moss, grass tufts,
dead leaves and fungi ; all seasons
and all localities
setigera, Sharp. Found with the two
preceding species and equally plenti-
ful and widely distributed
Isevana, Muls. In fungi, bones, etc. ;
rare. Small Heath (Blatch), Knowle
cinnamoptera, Thorns. In moss, grass
tufts, dead leaves, fungi and at sap ;
all seasons ; found throughout the
county
macrocera, Thorns. In cut grass,
carrion, dung, hotbeds, etc. ; all
seasons. Small Heath, Sutton Park,
Knowle (Blatch)
atramentaria, Gyll. In dung, fungi,
grass tufts, moss, etc. ; abundant
throughout the year and in all
localities
- cadaverina, Bris. In carrion, fungi and
dead leaves ; spring to autumn ; rare.
Knowle (Blatch)
marcida, Er. In fungi, moss and under
bark ; scarce ; found chiefly in autumn.
Knowle (Blatch), Sutton Coldfield
intermedia, Thorns. In moss, dead
leaves in woods and fungi ; all
seasons ; scarce. Knowle (Blatch),
Packwood
longicornis, Grav. In all sorts of
habitats ; abundant ; all seasons
and in all localities
sordida, Marsh. In hotbeds, dung,
moss, etc. ; all seasons ; extremely
plentiful in all localities
testudinea, Er. In moss, grass tufts,
INSECTS
ALEOCHARINA (continued)
dead leaves and hedge refuse ; all
seasons ; often abundant. Harborne
(Blatch), Knowle
Homalota aterrima, Grav. In hotbeds, moss,
dung and carrion, etc. ; always
abundant everywhere
pygmasa, Grav. Occurs with the above
and is equally plentiful
muscorum, Bris. In moss, grass tufts,
fungi, carrion and at sap ; all sea-
sons ; all localities ; sometimes plentiful
pilosiventris, Thorns. In moss, dead
leaves, carrion ; under bark and at
oak sap ; generally rare ; sometimes
plentiful. Knowle
laticollis, Steph. In hotbeds, moss,
leaves, etc. ; all seasons and all
localities
subsinuata, Er. In moss, hotbeds,
grass tufts, sappy stumps ; all sea-
sons ; rather scarce. Small Heath,
Birmingham (Blatch), Knowle
montivagans, Woll. In cowshed re-
fuse ; rare. Knowle
orbata, Er. In moss ; scarce. Knowle
(Blatch)
fungi, Grav. Always plentiful in all
sorts of habitats and localities
fungi var. dubia, Sharp. Found with
the above and generally recognized
as a variety of it
fungi var. clientula, Er. Less plentiful
than the preceding, but in other re-
spects the same remarks apply
orphana, Er. Found under same con-
ditions as preceding. Knowle
Gnypeta labilis, Er. On banks of streams
and ponds ; in sandpits and carrion ;
all seasons, but mostly in summer ;
all localities
Tachyusa constricta, Er. Banks of brooks
and rivers ; spring to autumn ; locally
abundant. Knowle
atra, Grav. Margins of ponds and
streams, and amongst dead leaves in
woods ; scarce ; all seasons. Knowle
(Blatch), Coleshill
Falagria sulcata, Payk. In moss, hotbeds,
dung, bones, etc. ; abundant at all
times and in all localities
sulcatula, Grav. In moss, hotbeds, etc.
fond of damp places. Knowle (Blatch),
Edgbaston
thoracica, Curt. Under stones and
vegetable refuse ; spring to autumn ;
scarce. Edgbaston
obscura, Grav. In hotbeds, stack re-
fuse, moss, etc. ; all seasons and all
localities
ALEOCHARINA (continued)
Autalia impressa, Ol. In fungi and de-
caying leaves ; very plentiful during
summer and may be shaken out of
dead leaves in winter ; all localities
rivularis, Grav. In moss, hedge refuse,
hotbeds, dung, carrion ; all seasons;
abundant in all localities
Encephalus complicans, Westw. In moss,
dead leaves, grass tufts and stack re-
fuse ; all seasons ; fairly plentiful in
all parts
Gyrophaena affinis, Mann. In fungi from
spring to autumn ; amongst dead
leaves in winter ; often abundant ;
all localities
gentilis, Er. Fungi ; spring to autumn ;
all localities
nana, Payk. Found with the preceding
fasciata, Marsh. Fungi ; not so plenti-
ful as some of the preceding. Knowle
minima, Er. In fungi ; in all localities
Isevipennis, Kr. In fungi ; spring to
autumn ; in dead leaves in winter ;
fairly plentiful ; all localities
lucidula, Er. Amongst decaying leaves
on margin of pond in a wood at
Knowle
manca, Er. Local and rather scarce.
Edgehill (Blatch), Knowle
strictula, Er. In polypori on old stumps ;
spring to autumn ; abundant where
it occurs. Near Tamworth (Blatch),
Salford Priors
Agaricochara laevicollis, Kr. Fungi ; on
stumps and logs ; all seasons
Placusa pumilio, Grav. Under bark and
at sap ; all seasons ; local and rather
scarce. Warwick, Knowle (Blatch),
Solibull
infima, Er. At sap on cossus trees ;
rare. Knowle (Blatch), Solihull
Epipeda plana, Gyll. Under bark of dead
trees and logs ; all seasons ; plenti-
ful where it occurs. Knowle ; Sutton
(Blatch), Edgbaston
Silusa rubiginosa, Er. At sap on cossus
trees ; rare. Knowle (Blatch)
Lcptusa fumida, Er. Under bark ; all sea-
sons ; all localities
Sipalia ruficollis, Er. Under bark ; amongst
dead leaves in woods and in moss on
tree trunks ; all seasons. Knowle
Bolitochara lucida, Grav. In polypori, on
oaks and old stumps ; chiefly in
spring and autumn ; local. Knowle
bella, Mark. Under bark and in fungi ;
scarce ; found occasionally through-
out the year. Knowle (Blatch), Sal-
ford Priors
93
A HISTORY OF WARWICKSHIRE
ALKOCHARINA (continued)
Hygronoma dimidiata, Grav. In grass tufts
and axils of typha, carex, etc., in
bogs and wet places ; all seasons ;
generally abundant where it occurs.
Knowle, Tysoc (Blatch), Sutton, Coles-
hill
Oligota inflata, Mann. In moss, cut grass,
hotbeds, hedge refuse, etc. ; all sea-
sons ; generally plentiful. Sutton
Park (Blatch), Knowle
pusillima, Grav. Habitat and distribu-
tion same as preceding
atomaria, Er. In moss, grass tufts, etc. ;
all seasons. Knowle, Berkswell
punctulata, Heer. In moss, hedge re-
fuse and carrion ; all seasons ; rather
rare. Knowle; Kenilworth (Blatch)
Myllaena dubia, Grav. On banks of streams
and ponds ; in moss and herbage in
bogs ; all seasons ; rather scarce.
Knowlc, Sutton (Blatch), Co/esbill
intermedia, Er. Margins of ponds, in
moss, etc. ; found throughout the
year, but never in any numbers, in
all parts of the district
elongata, Matth. Amongst stones on
muddy banks of streams and ponds ;
all seasons ; frequent. Tysoe ; Salford
Priors (Blatch), Knowle
- gracilis, Matth. In moss, grass tufts,
etc. ; in boggy places ; all seasons ;
occasionally in numbers. Coleshill
(Blatch), Knowle, Sutton Park
- infuscata, Matth. Damp places in wood.
Knowle
- brevicornis, Matth. Moss in wet places,
stack refuse, dead leaves in woods ;
all seasons ; generally plentiful
Gymnusa brevicollis, Payk. In sphagnum
on margins of streams and pools and
in bogs ; all seasons ; scarce. Coleshill
variegata, Kies. In sphagnum, grass
tussocks, axils of flags, etc. ; in boggy
places ; all seasons ; sometimes plenti-
ful. Coleshill, Sutton Park
Deinopsis erosa, Steph. In mud and amongst
decaying leaves, etc., on margins of
ponds and streams ; all seasons. Tysoe
(Blatch), Knowle
TACHYPORINA
Hypocyptus longicornis, Payk. In moss,
hedge refuse, etc. ; all seasons ; abun-
dant everywhere
laeviusculus, Mann. In moss, dead
leaves, etc. ; all seasons. Sutton Park
(Blatch), Knowle, Coleshill
ovulum, Heer. In moss and amongst
decaying leaves in woods ; rare.
Knowle, in winter (Blatch)
TACHYPORINA (continued)
Hypocyptus seminulum, Er. In polypori,
rotten wood, moss and dead leaves.
Salford Priors (Blatch), Knowle,
Coleshill
punctum, Mots. In moss and vegetable
refuse in boggy places. Salford Priors
(Blatch), Coleshill
Conosoma littoreum, L. Under loose
bark, sticks, moss and hedge rubbish ;
all seasons and in all localities
pubescens, Grav. Habitat and distribu-
tion same as preceding
- immaculatum, Steph. Amongst dead
leaves, in moss and grass tufts in
woods ; all seasons ; scarce. Knowle,
Hampton-in-Arden
lividum, Er. In moss and hedge re-
fuse, especially in damp places ; all
seasons ; all localities
Tachyporus obtusus, L. In moss and hedge
refuse ; all seasons ; abundant every-
where
solutus, Er. In moss and dead leaves ;
all seasons. Knowle (Blatch), Sutton
Park
pallidus, Sharp. Moss, dead leaves, etc. ;
in bogs and marshy places ; all sea-
sons ; plentiful locally. Sutton (Blatch),
Knowle, Coleshill
chrysomelinus, L. In moss, grass tufts
and hedge refuse ; abundant at all
times and in all places
- humerosus, Er. Found with the above ;
plentiful
- hypnorum, F. Moss, hedge refuse, etc. ;
all seasons ; all localities
- hypnorum var. meridionalis, Fairm.
Occurs with the type
- pusillus, Grav. In moss, garden refuse,
etc. ; often abundant in hotbeds ; all
seasons. Edgbaston, Knowle
- brunneus, F. Habitat same as the last ;
abundant everywhere
transversalis, Grav. In bogs and on
heaths; all seasons. Co leshill (Blatch),
Sutton Park
Cilea silphoides, L. In hotbeds, moss and
hedge refuse ; under bark and leaves ;
all seasons ; abundant in all locali-
ties
Tachinus flavipes, F. In dung, fungi and
decaying wood ; scarce. Sutton Park
humeralis, Grav. In moss, fungi, dung,
dead leaves and sap ; abundant at all
times and everywhere
proximus, Kr. In fungi and at sap ;
spring to autumn. Sutton Park
pallipes, Grav. In refuse ; rare. Strat-
ford-on-Avon (Bloom)
94
INSECTS
TACHYPORINA (continued)
Tachinus rufipes, L. In moss, hedge refuse,
dung, etc. ; all seasons and in all
localities
subterraneus, L. In moss, fungi, hot-
beds, etc.
subterraneus var. bicolor, Grav. Found
with the type
marginellus, F. In moss, dead leaves,
hedge refuse, etc. ; found through-
out the year in all localities
laticollis, Grav. Habitat same as the
preceding ; fairly plentiful in all parts
of the county
elongatus, Gyll. In moss, hedge re-
fuse, dead leaves in woods and in
gravel pits ; spring to autumn ; rare.
Sutton
Megacronus cingulatus, Mann. In moss,
grass tussocks, dead leaves and under
bark ; all seasons ; rather rare. Sut-
ton Park
analis, F. Found with the preceding
and fairly abundant in all locali-
ties
inclinans, Grav. Habitat similar to the
last two species. Knowle
Bolitobius lunulatus, L. In moss and fungi ;
all seasons ; all localities
trinotatus, Er. In moss and fungi ; all
seasons ; all localities
exoletus, Er. In moss, dead leaves,
fungi ; all seasons ; all localities
pygmaeus, F. Found with preceding
and very abundant
Mycetoporus lucidus, Er. In moss, grass
tufts, dead leaves and under bark ;
all seasons ; scarce. Knowle (Blatch),
Celabill
splendens, Marsh. In flood refuse, etc. ;
rare. Knowle
punctus, Gyll. Under bark, dead leaves
in woods ; in flood refuse and old
faggots ; all seasons ; rare. Knowle
(Blatch)
lepidus, Grav. In moss, grass tufts,
flood refuse and under bark ; all
seasons ; occurs in all localities, but
is never abundant
longulus, Mann. In moss, grass tufts
and flood refuse ; found at all sea-
sons and in all localities
angularis, Rey. On boggy margin of
a pool in Sutton Park (Blatch)
clavicornis, Steph. In moss, grass tufts
and dead leaves ; all seasons. Coles-
hill, Sutton
clavicornis var. forticornis, Fauv. Found
with the type. Coleshill
spendidus, Grav. Habitat same as M.
TACHYPORINA (continued)
clavicornis. Knowle ; Hampton-in-
Arden (Blatch), Coleshill
Mycetoporus longicornis, Cr. Amongst
sedges, in grass tufts, garden and
flood refuse ; all seasons ; rare.
Knowle
STAPHYLININA
Heterothops praevia, Er. In moss, hotbeds,
dead leaves and cut grass ; all sea-
sons ; rare. Knowle (Blatch)
dissimilis, Grav. In moss, hotbeds, cow-
shed refuse, etc. ; all seasons ; scarce.
Knowle
Quedius microps, Grav. In rotten wood ;
rare. Atherstane (Power), Knowle
mesomelinus, Marsh. In dead wood,
moss, hedge refuse, etc. ; all seasons ;
abundant ; all localities
mesomelinus var. fageti, Thorns. Under
bark; allseasons. Sutton P^r^(Blatch),
Knowle
fulgidus, F. Under bark, bones, refuse,
etc. ; all seasons. Knowle
puncticollis, Thorns. Rotten wood and
under bark ; rare. Knowle
- cruentus, Ol. At sap, under bark and
in cut grass, etc. ; spring to autumn.
Edgbaston (Blatch), Salford Priors,
Knowle
cinctus, Payk. Vegetable refuse, moss
and dung ; abundant at all times
and in all localities
brevis, Er. In nests of Formica rufa ;
all seasons ; very local. Knowle
(Blatch)
fuliginosus, Grav. In moss, grass roots,
vegetable refuse, etc. ; throughout the
year in all localities
- tristis, Grav. Found under similar con-
ditions to the last, but is much less
abundant generally
molochinus, Grav. In all kinds of
vegetable refuse, etc. ; all seasons ;
all localities
picipes, Mann. In moss, dead leaves,
fungi and refuse ; all seasons. Knowle
nigriceps, Kr. In moss, herbage, dead
leaves and under bark. Knowle
(Blatch), Hampton-in-Arden
fumatus, Steph. Amongst decaying
leaves in woods, in moss and flood
refuse ; all seasons ; local. Knowle
(Blatch)
maurorufus, Grav. In moss and grass
tussocks in boggy places, etc. ; all
seasons. Knowle
suturalis, Kies. In moss, dead leaves
and flood refuse ; all seasons ; rare.
Leamington, Knowle
95
A HISTORY OF WARWICKSHIRE
STAPHYLININA (continued)
Quedius scintillans, Grav. In vegetable
refuse, dead leaves and under bark.
jtthtntone (Power), Knowle
rufipes, Grav. In moss, dead leaves,
flood refuse, etc. ; all seasons. Knowle
attenuatus, Gyll. In wet moss, flood
refuse, dead leaves, etc. ; all seasons ;
Sutton (Blatch), Coleshill, Knowle
semizneus, Steph. In moss, grass tufts,
etc., especially in boggy places.
Knowlc, Sutton (Blatch), Coleshill
boops, Grav. In moss, grass tufts,
vegetable and flood refuse ; all sea-
sons ; all localities
Creophilus maxillosus, L. In decaying
vegetable matter, carcases, etc. ;
abundant at all times and in all
places
Leistotrophus nebulosus, F. In moss, dung,
fungi and vegetable refuse ; not very
abundant. Knowle
murinus, L. Habitat similar to pre-
ceding. Knowle
Staphylinus pubescens, De G. At sap, in
dung, etc. Sutton (Blatch), Knowle
stercorarius, Ol. In dung, carcases,
etc. ; scarce. Knowle
latebricola, Grav. In ants' nests
(myrmica) ; rare. Mr. Blatch has
recorded this species from Sutton
erythropterus, L. In moss, grass tus-
socks and dung and under stones ;
spring to autumn ; scarce. Sutton
czsareus, Ceder. In moss, dung, etc. ;
spring to autumn ; rather scarce.
Small Heath (Blatch), Knowle
Ocypus olens, Mull. At grass roots and
vegetable refuse, etc. ; all seasons ;
all localities
- brunnipes, F. In moss, flood refuse,
etc. ; all seasons ; all localities
cupreus, Rossi. In moss and under
stones ; all seasons ; all localities
morio, Grav. In moss, fungi, grass
roots and under stones ; all seasons.
Knowle
Philonthus splendens, F. In moss, car-
cases, dung, etc. ; all seasons ; found
freely in all localities
intermedius, Boisd. In moss, dung,
etc. ; rare. Knowle
laminatus, Creutz. In moss and dung ;
all seasons ; all localities
aeneus, Rossi. In moss, fungi, dung,
carcases, refuse, etc. ; all seasons ; all
localities
proximus, Kr. In moss, carcases, etc. ;
all seasons. Knowle, and doubtless in
most localities
STAPHYLININA (continued)
Philonthus addendus, Sharp. In moss, dead
leaves, etc. ; all seasons. Knowle
carbonarius, Gyll. In moss, flood re-
fuse, carcases and under stones ;
scarce. Knowle
decorus, Grav. In moss, etc. ; all sea-
sons. Sutton Park (Blatch), Knowle
politus, F. In moss in pastures ; all
seasons ; all localities
lucens, Er. In moss in pastures ; all
seasons ; generally rare. Several
specimens at Knowle (Blatch)
varius, Gyll. In moss, hotbeds, etc. ;
abundant at all times in all localities
marginatus, E. In moss, dung, refuse,
etc.; all seasons ; all localities
albipes, Grav. In moss, grass, hotbeds,
etc. ; abundant everywhere at all
times
umbratilis, Grav. In moss, grass tufts,
lawn clippings, etc. ; very scarce.
Earhwood near Knowle
cephalotes, Grav. In hotbeds, refuse,
under bones, etc. ; all seasons ; all
localities
fimetarius, Grav. Habitat and distri-
bution same as the preceding
sordidus, Grav. Same as last two
ebeninus, Grav. Found with preced-
ing ; plentiful in winter at grass roots
in pastures. All localities
ebeninus var. corruscus, Grav. One
specimen once at Knowle
debilis, Grav. In hotbeds, moss, refuse
and carrion ; all seasons. Knowle
(Blatch), Edgbaston
sanguinolentus, Grav. In moss, grass
tufts, etc. ; all seasons ; generally dis-
tributed. Knowle, Tysoe (Blatch),
Sutton Coldfield
cruentatus, Gmel. In moss, under
bark, etc. ; all seasons. Sutton (Blatch),
Knowle
longicornis, Steph. In garden refuse,
moss, etc. Knowle
varians, Payk. In moss, hedge refuse,
dung, bones, etc. ; all seasons ; all
localities
agilis, Grav. In moss, etc., on margins
of pools, etc. ; all seasons. Knowle
ventralis, Grav. In hotbeds, carrion,
etc. ; all seasons. Knowle ; Small
Heath (Blatch), Edgbaston
discoideus, Grav. In hotbeds, etc. ; all
seasons. Knowle, Edgbaston (Blatch)
quisquilarius, Gyll. Muddy banks of
streams, etc. Knowle (rare)
thermarum, Aube. In hotbeds, etc. ;
all seasons ; rare. Edgbaston (Blatch,
9 6
INSECTS
STAPHYLININA (continued)
one specimen) ; one specimen at
Knowle by the author
Philonthus nigrita, Nord. In sphagnum ;
all seasons ; local. Coleshill
micans, Grav. In moss and grass tufts,
especially damp places. Knowle
(Blatch), Coleshill
trossulus, Nord. In moss, hotbeds, etc.;
all seasons ; abundant everywhere
puella, Nord. In, moss, refuse, carrion,
etc. ; all seasons ; all localities
Actobius cinerascens, Grav. In sphagnum,
grass tussocks in bogs, on margins of
ponds, etc. ; all seasons. Coleshill ;
Button (Blatch), Knowle
villosulus, Steph. Banks ot streams.
Bromfird
procerulus, Grav. One specimen at
Knowle
prolixus, Er. In moss, and in shingle
and sand on margins of streams.
Knowle
Xantholinus fulgidus, F. In hotbeds, etc.;
rare. Knowle (Blatch)
glabratus, Grav. In moss, grass tufts,
dung, etc. ; all seasons ; all localities
punctulatus, Payk. In moss, hotbeds,
at sap and under bark ; all seasons ;
all localities
ochraceus, Gyll. Habitat and distribu-
tion same as last.
atratus, Heer. In moss, gravel pits,
under bark and stones, often in ants'
nests ; all seasons. Knowle (Blatch)
linearis, Ol. In hotbeds, etc. ; all sea-
sons ; abundant everywhere
longiventris, Heer. Occurs with pre-
ceding and is equally plentiful
Leptacinus parumpunctatus, Gyll. In hot-
beds, stack refuse, under bones ; all
seasons ; all localities
batychrus, Gyll. In hotbeds and vege-
table refuse ; all seasons. Knowle
(Blatch), Edgbaston
linearis, Grav. In hotbeds, etc. ; all
seasons ; an abundant species every-
where
formecetorum, Mark. In nests of the
wood ant (Formica rufa); all seasons;
plentiful locally. Knowle (Blatch)
Baptolinus alternans, Grav. Under bark
and decaying leaves ; all seasons ;
all localities ; often abundant
Othius fulvipennis, F. In moss, dead
leaves, etc., and under bark; all sea-
sons ; all localities
laeviusculus, Steph. Habitat as in
preceding ; not so abundant, but
found throughout the district
STAPHYLININA (continued)
Othius melanocephalus, Grav. In moss
refuse, grass roots, etc., etc. ; abun-
dant at all times and everywhere
myrmecophilus, Kies. In various ants'
nests, moss, hotbeds, etc. ; as widely
distributed and almost as plentiful as
the preceding
P/EDERINA
Lathrobium elongatum, L. In moss, flood
refuse, grass tufts, etc. ; abundant at
all times and in all places
boreale, Hoch. Found with the pre-
ceding
fulvipenne, Grav. Found with the
last two
rufipenne, Gyll. In sphagnum, mar-
gins of ponds and streams ; all sea-
sons ; rare. Knowle, Sutton (Blatch),
Coleshill
brunnipes, F. In moss, grass tufts,
etc.; all seasons; all localities
longulum, Grav. In moss and at roots
of grass in damp places ; all seasons.
Knowle (Blatch), Solihull
punctatum, Zett. In sphagnum and
grass tussocks in bogs ; all seasons ;
rare. Sutton Park ; Coleshill (Blatch)
quadratum, Payk. In moss, etc., in
boggy places. One specimen at
Coleshill
terminatum, Grav. In wet and boggy
places and in moss ; all seasons ; all
localities
terminatum var. immaculatum, Fowler.
Found with the type
multipunctum, Grav. In moss, hedge
refuse, under bones, etc. ; all seasons;
all localities
Achenium humile, Nic. In moss and flood
refuse, under stones and clods; spring
to autumn ; rare. Salford Priors
(Blatch)
Cryptobium glaberrimum, Herbst. In
sphagnum, grass roots, etc., in boggy
places ; all seasons. Knowle, Tysoe
(Blatch), Coleshill and Sutton Park
Stilicus rufipes, Germ. In moss, refuse,
hotbeds, under bark, etc. ; all seasons;
all localities
orbiculatus, Er. Habitat and distribu-
tion same as last
similis, Er. In moss and hedge rubbish;
rare. Knowle (Blatch)
afEnis, Er. Habitat and distribution
same as S. rufipes.
Medon propinquus, Bris. In hotbeds, stack
refuse, etc. ; all seasons ; scarce.
Knowle ; Salford Priors (Blatch)
melanocephalus, F. Found under same
97 13
A HISTORY OF WARWICKSHIRE
PJEDERINA (continued)
conditions as preceding ; abundant
everywhere
Lithocharis ochracea, Grav. In moss, hot-
beds, etc.; all seasons ; abundant
everywhere
Sunius diversus, Aub. In hotbeds, cow-
shed refuse and on river banks ; all
seasons ; scarce. Knowle, Edgbaston
(Blatch)
augustatus, Payk. In moss and vege-
table refuse ; all seasons ; all localities
Paederus littoralis, Grav. In flood and
hedge refuse ; spring to antumn.
Stratford-on-Avon (Bloom), Alcester
EV^STHETINA
Evaesthetus scaber, Thorns. In grass tus-
socks, etc., in boggy places ; all sea-
sons. Sutton Park (Blatch), Know/e
ruficapillus, Lac. In grass roots in
bogs, flood refuse, etc. ; all seasons.
Know/e, Tysoe ; Sutton (Blatch), Coles-
hlll
lajviusculus, Mann. In grass tussocks,
etc., in marshy places ; all seasons ;
rather rare and local. Co/esbill
(Blatch)
STENINA
Stenus guttula, Mull. Banks of streams,
canals, ponds, etc. Salford Priors
(Blatch), Knowle
- bimaculatus, Gyll. In moss, grass
roots, flood refuse, etc.; abundant at
all times and in all localities
- juno, F. Found with the preceding
and equally abundant
- speculator, Er. In moss, hedge refuse,
etc. ; all seasons ; abundant every-
where
- providus var. rogeri, Kr. In moss,
grass tufts, and especially in damp
places ; as widely distributed but not
so plentiful as preceding
- bupthalmus, Grav. In moss and grass
tufts ; all seasons. All localities
- melanopus, Marsh. In moss, vegetable
refuse, and under bones ; all seasons ;
scarce. Know/e ; Sutton (Blatch)
incrassatus, Er. In moss and vegetable
refuse; all seasons. Know/e
- melanarius, Steph. In moss, grass tufts,
etc. ; all seasons. Recorded from
Coleshill by Mr. Blatch
atratulus, Er. In moss, grass tufts, etc. ;
all seasons ; rare. Knowle
canaliculatus, Gyll. In moss and on
banks of streams, etc. ; all seasons ;
scarce. Know/e, Solihull
nitens, Steph. One specimen, Knowle,
1901
STENINA (continued)
Stenus pusillus, Er. In moss, grass roots and
vegetable refuse ; all seasons. Knowle
exiguus, Er. In moss and grass roots
in damp places ; found throughout
the year, but scarce. Recorded by
Mr. Blatch from Knowle
circularis, Grav. In wet moss and flood
refuse ; rare. Knowle
declaratus, Er. In moss, grass roots,
hedge refuse, hotbeds, etc. ; all sea-
sons. Occurs freely in all localities
crassus, Steph. In hotbeds, grass tufts
and moss ; all seasons. Knowle
(Blatch)
- nigritulus, Gyll. In moss, grass roots,
etc., in marshy places. Knowle
(Blatch)
brunnipes, Steph. In moss, hotbeds,
hedge refuse, etc ; abundant in all
places at all times
subaeneus, Er. Moss, etc., in damp
places. Knowle (Blatch)
ossium, Steph. In moss on banks of
rivers, ponds and wet places; all
seasons ; rather scarce. Knowle
palustris, Er. In boggy places ; rare.
Knowle
impressus, Germ. In moss, grass roots,
leaves, etc. ; all seasons ; abundant
in all localities
aerosus, Er. In moss, grass tussocks
and dead leaves ; all seasons ; rare.
Knowle ; Sutton (Blatch)
pallipes, Grav. Moss in wet places ;
all seasons. Tysoe (Blatch), Knowle
flavipes, Steph. In moss, hedge refuse,
etc. ; all seasons ; all localities
- pubescens, Steph. In moss, grass tufts,
flood refuse, etc. ; all season ; local.
Salford Priors, Sutton (Blatch), Knowle,
Coleshill
- binotatus, Linn. In moss, etc., in
boggy places ; all seasons. Knowle ;
Sutton Park (Blatch), Coleshill
pallitarsus, Steph. In sphagnum, grass
tussocks, etc., in wet places ; all sea-
sons ; local. Knowle (Blatch), Sutton
Park
- pallitarsus var. niveus, Fauv. Found
with the type ; rare. Knowle
bifoveolatus, Gyll. In moss and grass
tufts ; all seasons. Sutton Park
(Blatch), Knowle
- nitidiusculus, Steph. In moss and
roots of herbage in bogs and wet
places; all seasons; all localities
- picipennis, Er. In moss, grass tufts,
etc., in boggy places ; all seasons.
Sutton (Blatch), Knowle
INSECTS
In moss, hedge
Salford
STENINA (continued)
Stenus picipes, Steph.
refuse, etc. ; all seasons.
Priors, Knowle (Blatch)
cicindeloides, Grav. In moss, etc., in
damp places ; all seasons and in all
localities
similis, Herbst. In moss, stack refuse,
etc. ; all seasons and all localities
solutus, Er. In moss, etc., in boggy
places ; all seasons. Knowle (Blatch),
Sutton Park
tarsalis, Linn. In moss, refuse, hot-
beds, etc. Abundant at all times
and in all localities
paganus, Er. Habitat and distribution
same as the preceding
latifrons, Er. In moss and grass tufts ;
all seasons. Sutton; Coleshill (Blatch),
Knowle
OXYPORINA
Oxyporus rufus, L. In fungi ; spring
to autumn ; local. College grounds,
Oscott (Perry), Sutton Coldfield
OXYTELINA
Bledius subterraneus, Er. In banks of
rivers and brooks; spring to autumn;
abundant locally. Salford Priors
Platystethus arenarius, Fourc. In moss,
hotbeds, dung, carrion, etc. ; all
seasons ; all localities
cornutus, Gyll. In banks of streams and
ponds ; all seasons. Knowle (Blatch)
capito, Heer. In stack refuse. Knowle
nodifrons, Sahl. On river banks, etc. ;
rare. Knowle
nitens, Sahl. In flood refuse, under
bark, etc. ; rare. Salford Priors
Oxytelus rugosus, Grav. In moss, hedge
refuse, grass tufts, etc. ; extremely
abundant everywhere
rugosus var. terrestris, Lac. Occurs
with the type but less common.
Knowle
insecatus, Grav. Habitats similar to
those of O. rugosus ; occurs at all
times in all localities
fulvipes, Er. In grass tussocks in bogs
and on margins of ponds, etc. ; all
seasons. Sutton (Blatch), Knowle
- sculptus, Grav. In moss, dung and
vegetable refuse ; all seasons ; all
localities
laqueatus, Marsh. In same habitats
and localities as last
piceus, L. In dung, flood and vege-
table refuse. Knowle
inustus, Grav. In moss, grass tufts,
etc. ; all seasons.
(Blatch), Solihull, Coleshill
Knowle, Sutton
OXYTELINA (continued)
Oxytelus sculpturatus, Grav. In moss,
fungi, grass tufts and at sap ; in all
localities
nitidulus, Grav. In similar habitats
and localities as the last
complanatus, Er. Habitats and locali-
ties same as the preceding
clypeonitens, Pand. In moss and under
dead moles ; all seasons. Knowle
(Blatch)
tetracarinatus, Block. Found in simi-
lar habitats to O. sculpturatus and
allied species, and equally abundant
fairmairei, Pand. In moss and hedge
refuse in damp ditches and on
hedge banks. Coventry ; Knowle
(Blatch)
Haploderus ccelatus, Grav. In moss, dung,
vegetable refuse and carrion ; all
seasons ; all localities
Trogophloeus arcuatus, Steph. Banks of
rivers and ponds, on submerged logs
and in flood refuse; all seasons; rare.
Knowle
bilineatus, Steph. In moss, hotbeds,
flood refuse and under bones ; all
seasons; all localities
rivularis, Mots. Habitat and distribu-
tion same as the preceding
elongatulus, Er. Found with the pre-
ceding
fuliginosus, Grav. Banks of rivers ;
spring to autumn. Salford Priori
cortacinus, Grav. In moss, refuse and
under bark ; all seasons. Knowle
(Blatch), Solihull, Salford Priors
pusillus, Grav. In flood refuse, on
banks of streams. Knowle (Blatch)
tenellus, Er. In wet places, hotbeds,
cowshed refuse and under bones ;
all seasons. Small Heath, Knowle
(Blatch)
Syntomium aeneum, Mtlll. In moss and
hedge refuse, both in wet, dry and
sandy places ; all seasons ; all mid-
land localities
Coprophilus striatulus, F. Amongst bones
and flood refuse, etc. ; all seasons ;
occurs throughout the district, some-
times abundantly
HOMALIINA
Lesteva longelytrata, Goeze. In moss and
herbage in damp places ; all seasons ;
abundant everywhere
pubescens, Mann. In moss and herb-
age in wet places ; all seasons ; not
so abundant as the preceding
sicula, Er. Habitats and distribution
same as the preceding
99
A HISTORY OF WARWICKSHIRE
HOMALIINA (continued)
Acidota crenata, F. Amongst dead leaves,
under pines, in sphagnum. Sutton
(Blatch), Colahill
cruentata, Mann. Under dry cow-
dung in winter. Sutton Park (Blatch)
Olophrum piceum, Gyll. In moss, hedge
rubbish, flood refuse, etc.; all seasons;
abundant in all localities
Lathrimaeum atrocephalum, Gyll. In moss,
hedge rubbish, grass tufts, etc., in all
localities
unicolor, Steph. Found with the pre-
ceding and equally abundant
Deliphrum tectum, Payk. In moss, grass
tufts, dead leaves in woods, fungi,
and under bones. Knowle; Sutton
(Blatch)
Coryphium angusticolle, Steph. In moss,
fungi, under bark and at sap ; all
seasons. Knowle; Sutton (Blatch),
Solihull
Homalium rivulare, Payk. In moss, vege-
table refuse, carrion, sap, etc. ; all
seasons ; abundant everywhere
laeviusculum, Gyll. In moss and fungi ;
all seasons. Sutton (Blatch), Knowle
- septcntrionis, Thorns. In moss, hot-
beds and dead moles ; all seasons.
Know/e(E\Mch). (E.M.M. xxv. 457)
riparium, Thorns. In fungi ; rare.
Knowle (Blatch)
- allardi, Fairm. Under bones and dead
moles ; spring to autumn. Small
Heath (Blatch), Knowle
- exiguum, Gyll. In moss, grass tufts
and carrion ; all seasons. Knowle
- oxycanthas, Grav. In moss, dead
leaves, carrion, etc. Knowle (Blatch)
- excavatum, Steph. In hotbeds, straw
refuse, carrion and amongst bones ;
all seasons; all localities
- caesum, Grav. Found with the pre-
ceding in the same localities
- pusillum, Grav. Under bark of fir and
other trees ; all seasons ; abundant
in all parts of the district
- punctipenne, Thorns. Under bark of
various trees, but principally decay-
ing oaks ; all seasons ; all localities
rufipes, Fourc. In flowers and vege-
table refuse ; all seasons ; all locali-
ties
vile, Er. Under bark of trees ; very
abundant at all times
vile var. heeri, Rey. Found at Knowle
(Blatch)
brevicorne, Er. Specimens found by
Mr. Blatch at Knowle and Solihull
seem referable to this species
HOMALIINA (continued)
Homalium gracilicorne, Fairm. Under
bark ; all seasons. Knowle (Blatch),
Sutton Park
iopterum, Steph. Under bark and in
flowers ; all seasons ; not common,
but generally distributed throughout
the district
planum, Payk. Under bark and at
sap ; all seasons. Knowle
concinnum, Marsh. In cowshed re-
fuse, stack bottoms, hedge refuse and
often in granaries ; all seasons ; all
localities
deplanatum, Gyll. In stack refuse ;
all seasons. Knowle (Blatch) Coles-
hill
striatum, Grav. In moss, amongst
dead leaves, etc.; all seasons. Knowle
(Blatch)
Hapalaraea pygmaea, Gyll. In fungi and
under bark. Knowle
Eusphalerum primulas, Steph. In prim-
roses ; spring. Knowle
Anthobium minutum, F. In flowers ;
spring and summer. Knowle (Blatch)
ophthalmicum, Payk. In flowers ;
spring and summer ; abundant in
all localities.
PROTEININA
Proteinus ovalis, Steph. In fungi, moss,
grass tufts, carrion, etc.; all seasons;
abundant everywhere
brachypterus, F. In same habitats and
localities as the last
macropterus, Gyll. In wet places and
under dead leaves ; all seasons.
Knowle
atomarius, Er. In fungi, moss, dead
leaves in woods, etc. ; all seasons.
Knowle (Blatch)
Megarthrus denticollis, Beck. In moss,
hotbeds, carrion, bones, under bark,
etc. ; all seasons ; all localities
affinis, Mill. In hotbeds and under
bones and vegetable refuse ; all
seasons. Small Heath ; Edgbaston
(Blatch), Knowle
depressus, Lac. Found under similar
conditions to preceding and in all
localities
sinuatocollis, Lac. In habitat same as
the previous species but less abun-
dant ; all localities
Phloeobium clypeatum, Mall. In moss,
grass tufts, hedge refuse, etc. Abun-
dant at all times in all localities
PHLCEOCHARINA
Phlceocharis subtilissima, Mann. Under
bark ; all seasons. Knowle (Blatch)
100
INSECTS
PHLCEOCHARINA (continued)
Pseudopsis sulcata, Newm. In grass roots,
etc. Knowle (Blatch)
PSELAPHID^E
PsELAPHINA
Pselaphus heisii, Herbst. In moss, grass
tufts and vegetable refuse ; all sea-
sons ; plentiful in all localities
Tychus niger, Payk. In moss, grass tufts,
hotbeds and hedge refuse ; abundant
at all times in all localities
Bythinus puncticollis, Denny. In moss,
dead leaves and hedge refuse ; all
seasons. Salford Priors ; Sutton
(Blatch), Knowle, Coleshill
validus, Aub6. Habitat and distribu-
tion same to the preceding ; all sea-
sons
bulbifer, Reich. Found under similar
conditions to the preceding and in
the same localities
curtisi, Denny. Habitat and distribu-
tion same as the last
securiger, Reich. In moss and dead
leaves, generally in drier places than
the preceding insects ; rare in mid-
lands. Knowle
burrelli, Denny. Amongst moss in
hedge banks, in damp places ; all
seasons. Knowle (Blatch)
Bryaxis fossulata, Reich. Abundant in
moss, grass tufts, hedge refuse, etc. ;
at all seasons throughout the midlands
haematica, Reich. In moss and flood
refuse, sometimes under bark ; all
seasons. Knowle (Blatch), Salford
Priors
juncorum, Leach. At roots of com-
mon rush, in moss and hedge refuse ;
abundant at all times and in all
localities
impressa, Panz. Grass tussocks in bogs
and on margins of ponds ; all seasons.
Coleshill (abundant)
Bibloporus bicolor, Denny. Under bark
of various trees, especially oak and
birch ; all seasons. Knowle ; Sutton
Park (Blatch)
Euplectus punctatus, Muls. Under bark
of oak and birch trees and logs ; all
seasons. Salford Priors (Blatch),
Knowle
karsteni, Reich. Under bark and in
hotbeds ; all seasons. Knowle ; Sut-
ton (Blatch)
signatus, Reich. In hotbeds, decaying
vegetable matter, etc. ; all seasons ;
generally abundant ; found through-
out midlands
PSELAPHINA (continued)
Euplectus nanus, Reich. Mostly found
under bark and occasionally in hot-
beds ; all seasons. Edgbaston, Knowle,
Sutton Park
sanguineus, Denny. In hotbeds and
vegetable refuse ; all seasons ; abun-
dant in all localities
piceus, Mots. Under bark of various
trees, mostly oaks and birches ; also
in hotbeds ; most parts of the mid-
lands, often in great abundance
Neuraphes elongatulus, Mttll. In moss,
grass tufts, dead leaves, flood refuse
and under bark ; all seasons ; found
sparingly throughout the district
sparshalli, Denny. Amongst decaying
leaves in hedges, especially beneath
holly bushes. Knowle ; Salford Priors
(Blatch)
Scydmsenus scutellaris, Mull. In moss,
hedge refuse and under stones. A
scarce species to be found at Knowle
collaris, Mttll. In moss, under bark,
etc. ; all seasons ; most abundant
species of the genus, occurring every-
where
exilis, Er. Under bark. Generally a
rare species, which however occurs
in many midland localities. Sutton
Coldfield (Blatch), Knowle, Coleshill
Euconnus hirticollis, 111. Moss in boggy
places ; all seasons. Sutton Park
Eumicrus tarsatus, Mull. In hotbeds,
vegetable refuse, moss and under
stones ; all seasons ; plentiful
throughout the district
Eutheia scydmaenoides, Steph. In hotbeds,
moss and flood refuse ; all seasons.
Knowle (abundant)
schaumi, Kies. In hotbeds, under
bones and bark. Small Heath (Blatch),
Knowle
Cephennium thoracicum, Mttll. In moss,
especially in woods ; all seasons.
Knowle (Blatch), Salford Priors
CLAMBINA
Calyptomerus dubius, Marsh. On damp
walls of house at Knowle (Blatch) ;
all seasons
Clambus pubescens, Redt. In hotbeds and
vegetable refuse ; all seasons ; in
all localities
armadillo, De G. In bogs, flood re-
fuse and under bark and bones ; all
101
A HISTORY OF WARWICKSHIRE
CLAMBINA (continued)
seasons. Knowle ; Sutton (Blatch),
Salford Priors
Clambus minutus, Sturm. In grass tufts and
moss, and by sweeping. Knowle
ANISOTOMINA
Agathidium nigripenne, Kug. Under
loose bark, especially when affected
by fungi ; all seasons. Sutton Park
(Blatch), Knowle
atrum, Payk. At grass roots and
amongst dead leaves and woods and
bogs, in fungi and under bark ; all
seasons. Sutton Park, Hampton-in-
Ardtn ; Colesbill (Blatch), Knowle
seminulum, L. In moss, grass tufts,
dead leaves and rotten wood ; all
seasons. Knowle
Izevigatum, Er. In moss, hedge re-
fuse and under stones ; all seasons.
Knowle ; Acocks Green (Blatch)
- varians, Beck. Under bark, in moss
and by sweeping. Knowle, in num-
bers under fungoid bark of beech
(Blatch)
convexum, Sharp. In moss and amongst
dead leaves in woods ; all seasons.
Knowle (Blatch), Hampton-in-Arden
- rotundatum, Gyll. Under bark ; all
seasons. Knowle
- nigrinum, Sturm. Amongst chips of
newly felled timber, under bark and
amongst moss ; all seasons. Knowle
nigrinum var. staphyleum, Gyll.
Knowle (Blatch)
Amphycillis globus, F. In moss, hedge
refuse, dead leaves in woods and at
sap. Knowle
globus var. rerrugineum, Sturm. Found
with the type frequently in abun-
dance
Liodes humeralis, Kug. In fungi, espe-
cially on old trees and logs and in
moss ; all seasons. Salford Priors,
Knowle (Blatch), Sutton Park
orbicularis, Herbst. In fungi and un-
der bark of decayed trees ; all sea-
sons. Sutton Park
Cyrtusa minuta, Ahr. On windows or
waiting-room at Knowle Station in
evening ; spring to autumn (Blatch)
pauxilla, Schmidt. Same locality as
preceding (Blatch)
Anisotoma cinnamomea, Er. By sweep-
ing in Sutton Park (]. F. Perry)
dubia, Kug. By sweeping ; spring to
autumn. Knowle
badia, Sturm. Knowle (Blatch)
punctulata, Gyll. By sweeping. Knowle
(Blatch)
In carcases and fungi
spring to autumn ; all
In carcases, dung and
ANISOTOMINA (continued)
Anisotoma calcarata, Er. In moss, amongst
dead leaves and hedge refuse, etc. ;
found all the year round and in all
parts of the district
Colenis dentipes, Gyll. In fungi and dead
moles ; spring to autumn. Knowle
(Blatch)
SlLPHINA
Necrophorus humator, F. In carcases and
dung ; spring to autumn ; abundant
everywhere
mortuorum, F.
and at sap
localities
ruspator, Er.
under bones ; spring to autumn ; all
parts of the district
ruspator var. microcephalus, Thorns.
Found with the type
Nccrodes littoralis, L. In carrion ; spring
to autumn. Sutton ; Knowle (Blatch),
Coleshill
Silpha tristis, 111. In moss and under
stones ; all seasons. Sutton Park
(Blatch), Knowle
nigrita, Creutz. In carrion and under
stones ; all seasons. Small Heath
(Blatch), Knowle
quadripunctata, L. Feeds on Lepi-
dopterous larvat, especially such as
affect oak trees ; in profusion in
May and June. Sutton Park (Blatch),
Knowie
- opaca, L. In carrion and moss, under
bark and stones ; all seasons. Knowle
thoracica, L. In carrion and fungi ;
spring to autumn ; occurs in all
midland localities
rugosa, L. In carrion. This is the
most abundant species of the genus
and occurs everywhere
- sinuata, F. Found under same condi-
tions and in same localities as pre-
ceding, but is less abundant
atrata, L. In moss, rotten stumps,
under loose bark and occasionally in
carrion ; all seasons ; all localities
atrata var. brunnea, Herbst. Of fre-
quent occurrence with the type
CHOLEVINA
Choleva angustata, F. In moss, hedge re-
fuse, dead leaves in woods, grass tufts,
etc. ; all seasons ; all localities, but
not abundant
cisteloides, FrShl. In moss, vegetable
refuse, gravel pits and under bones ;
all seasons ; throughout the district
intermedia, Kr. In moss, dead leaves
in woods ; all seasons. Knowle
102
INSECTS
CHOLEVINA (continued)
Choleva spadicea, Sturm. In moss, grass
tufts and dead leaves in woods.
Knowle
agilis, 111. In moss, grass tufts and
dead leaves in woods ; all seasons.
Knowle (Blatch)
velox, Spence. In moss, grass tufts,
hedge refuse and under bones ; all
seasons and in all localities
wilkini, Spence. Found in the same
habitats and localities as the preced-
ing, but less abundantly
anisotomoides, Spence. In moss, dead
leaves, hedge refuse ; all seasons.
Knowle (Blatch), Stratford-on-Avon
fusca, Panz. In refuse, dead leaves,
moss and carrion ; all seasons. Small
Heath (Blatch), Knowle
nigricans, Spence. In moss, dead
leaves, refuse, carcases, etc. ; all sea-
sons ; abundant in all localities
coracina, Kell. In carcases, especially
dry ones ; all seasons. Knowle,
Celesbill
morio, F. In refuse, carrion and fungi ;
all seasons. Co/eshi//, Sutton ; Alceiter
(Blatch), Knowle
grandicollis, Er. In refuse, dead moles
and birds, and in fungi ; all seasons ;
not common, but generally distri-
buted
nigrita, Er. In refuse, moss, fungi,
carrion, etc. ; all seasons ; all localities
- tristis, Panz. Habitats and distribution
same as preceding
kirbyi, Spence. In carcases and vege-
table refuse ; all seasons. Knowle,
Small Heath ; Sutton (Blatch), Edg-
baston
chrysomeloides, Panz. Vegetable refuse,
moss, grass tufts in bogs, carrion ;
all seasons ; abundant everywhere
fumata, Spence. Found under similar
conditions as preceding, and equally
abundant
watsoni, Spence. Habitats and distri-
bution as preceding
Ptomaphagus sericeus, F. In moss, refuse,
etc. ; all seasons ; plentiful every-
where
Colon serripes, Sahl. The late Mr. Blatch
took what he believed to be this
species on the windows of the wait-
ing-room at Knowle Railway Station
dentipes, Sahl. In stack refuse, etc.
Knowle
dentipes var. zebei, Kr. Knowle (Blatch)
brunneum, Latr. In moss and stack
refuse ; all seasons. Knowle
CHOLEVINA (continued)
Colon append iculatum, Sahl. In refuse.
Knowle
HISTERID^E
Hister unicolor, L. In carrion, fungi, hot-
beds, at sap, etc. ; all seasons.
Knowle (Blatch)
merdarius, HofF. In hotbeds, carrion,
moss, etc. ; all seasons. Knowle
cadaverinus, HofF. In carrion, dung,
etc. ; all seasons. Knowle, Coleshill
succicola, Thorns. In carrion, fungi
and at sap ; spring to autumn.
Knowle (Blatch), Solihull
purpurascens, Herbst. In moss, lawn clip-
pings, etc. ; all seasons. Knowle
- neglectus, Germ. In hotbeds and car-
cases ; all seasons. Knowle (Blatch)
carbonarius, 111. In carrion, dung, etc. ;
all seasons. Sutton (Blatch), Knowle
1 2-striatus, Schr. In garden refuse,
haystacks, hotbeds, dung, carrion ;
all seasons. Knowle (Blatch)
bimaculatus, L. In hotbeds, stack re-
fuse, carrion, etc. ; all seasons ; in
abundance in all midland localities
Carcinops minima, Aub6. In fungi on ash
logs and in flood refuse. Salford
Priors ; Knowle (Blatch)
Dendrophilus pygmaeus, L. In nests of
Formica rufa ; all seasons. Knowle
(Blatch)
Myrmetes piceus, Payk. In nests of Formica
rufa ; all seasons. Knowle (Blatch)
Gnathoncus nannetensis, Mars. In dead
birds. Knowle
punctulatus, Thorns. In dead birds,
etc. Knowle (Blatch)
Saprinus nitidulus, Payk. In carrion, dung,
hotbeds, etc. ; all seasons ; all places
aeneus, F. In carcases, dung, etc.
Knowle
Plegaderus dissectus, Er. Under bark of
decaying logs ; all seasons. Salford
Priors
Abraeus globosus, HofF. In rotten wood,
fungi, etc. ; all seasons. Salford
Prion ; Sutton (Blatch), Knowle
granulum, Er. In rotten wood and
under bark ; all seasons. Salford
Prion
Acritus minutus, Herbst. In hotbeds and
vegetable refuse ; all seasons ; abun-
dant in all localities
nigricornis, HofF. In hotbeds, fungi,
etc. ; all seasons. Knowle (Blatch)
Onthophilus striatus, F. In dung and
vegetable refuse ; all seasons ; abun-
dant in all localities
103
A HISTORY OF WARWICKSHIRE
SCAPHIDIID^:
Scaphidium 4 - maculatum, Ol. Under
bark, in rotten wood and fungi ; all
seasons. Knowle
Scaphisoma agaricinum, L. In fungi, on
stumps and under bark ; all seasons ;
plentiful in all localities
boleti, Panz. In fungi, dead leaves in
wood, moss, under bark and on
sappy stumps. Knowle
TRICHOPTERYGID.E
Pteryx suturalis, Heer. Under oak and
birch bark ; all seasons. Knowle ;
Sutton (Blatch), Salford Priors
Ptinella denticollis, Fairm. Under oak and
birch bark, etc. ; all seasons ; abun-
dant in all parts of midlands
aptera, Guer. Under bark of oak,
birch and ash, etc. ; all seasons.
Knowle, Salford Priors (Blatch)
angustula, Gill. Under bark of oak,
birch, ash, etc. ; all seasons. Sutton ;
Salford Priors (Blatch), Knowle
Trichopteryx thoracica, Matth. In hot-
beds, grass tufts, moss and refuse ;
all seasons. Knowle (abundant)
atomaria, De G. In stack refuse,
hedge refuse, hotbeds, etc. ; all sea-
sons ; abundant throughout the
district
- anthracina, Matth. In hotbeds and
under bones ; all seasons. Small
Heath, Edgbaston ; Knowle (Blatch)
grandicollis, Mann. In dung, moss,
carrion and under bark ; all seasons ;
all localities
lata, Mots. In moss, grass tufts, hot-
beds, etc. Abundant at all times
throughout the district
cantiana, Matth. In moss on hedge
banks and grass tufts ; all seasons.
Knowle (Blatch)
fascicularis, Herbst. Grass tufts, hedge
refuse, etc. ; all seasons. Knowle,
Coleshill ; Sutton (Blatch)
- sericans, Heer. In hotbeds, moss, grass
tufts, etc. ; all seasons. Edgbaston ;
Knowle (Blatch)
bovina, Mots. In flood refuse, cow-
sheds, hotbeds and dung ; all seasons
- brevipennis, Er. Knowle (Blatch),
Edgbaston
longula, Matth. In hotbeds, cow-
sheds, moss, etc. ; all seasons.
Knowle
picicornis, Mann. Amongst bones and
in rotten wood ; all seasons. Knowle
(Blatch)
Trichopteryx montandonii, All. Hotbeds,
moss, cowsheds and under bark ; all
seasons. Knowle
rivularis, All. Hotbeds ; autumn.
Knowle
chevrolati, All. In mushroom beds,
hotbeds, etc. ; all seasons. Knowle
(Blatch)
dispar, Matth. In hotbeds and moss ;
all seasons. Knowle
Nephanes titan, Newm. In cut grass,
hotbeds, etc. ; all seasons. Knowle
Ptilium kunzei, Heer. In hotbeds, moss,
dry rabbit skins, etc. ; all seasons.
Knowle (Blatch), Edgbaston
spencei, All. In hotbeds, moss, rotten
fungi, carrion and under bark ; all
seasons. Edgbaston, Knowle
- affine, Er. In moss ; winter. Knowle
- exaratum, All. In vegetable refuse,
moss, dead moles and dry rabbit
skins ; all seasons. Knowle
foveolatum, All. In hotbeds and moss ;
all seasons ; Knowle
Millidium trisulcatum, Aub. In hotbeds,
moss, etc. ; all seasons. Knowle
Ptenidium nitidum, Heer. In moss, hot-
beds, grass tufts, hedge refuse, etc. ;
all seasons ; abundant in all local-
ities
evanescens, Marsh. In vegetable re-
fuse, moss, hotbeds, etc. ; all seasons ;
abundant everywhere
formecetorum, Er. In ants' nests, re-
fuse, etc. ; all seasons. Knowle^ Sut-
ton Park (Blatch), Edgbaston
CORYLOPHID.E
Orthoperus atomus, Gyll. In vegetable
and stack refuse, moss, etc. ; on
damp walls and under bark. Knowle
Corylophus cassidioides, Marsh. In flood
refuse ; all seasons. Salford Priors
(Blatch)
Sacium pusillum, Gyll. Said to be found
under bark. One specimen on an
orange which had been lying some
time in a cupboard in the late Mr.
W. G. Blatch's house at Small Heath.
Found by his son, Mr. F. J. Blatch,
Christmas, 1886. This is probably
the only British specimen existing
COCCINELLIDjE
Subcoccinella 24-punctata, L. In flood
refuse. Salford Priors (Blatch)
Anisosticta ig-punctata, L. In axils of
water plants and amongst vegetable
refuse in bogs and marshy places ;
104
INSECTS
all seasons. Knowle, Sutton Park
(Blatch), Coleshill
Adalia obliterata, L. Under bark ; all
seasons. Coleshill, Button (Blatch),
Knowle
bipunctata, L. On various trees and
plants and under bark, amongst dead
leaves and in moss ; all seasons ;
abundant in all localities
Mysia oblongoguttata, L. On pine trees,
in moss and dead leaves ; all seasons.
Knowle, Coleshill, Sutton
Anatis occellata, L. On pine trees, in
moss and dead leaves ; all seasons.
Coleshill; Sutton (Blatch), Knowle
Coccinella lo-punctata, L. On flowers
and trees and under bark ; all sea-
sons ; abundant in all localities
hieroglyphica, L. Under bark and by
beating various trees ; all seasons.
Sutton Park (Blatch), Knowle
n-punctata, L. By beating and
sweeping trees and herbage, and
amongst dead leaves in woods, etc. ;
all seasons ; found in all midland
localities
7-punctata, L. On various trees and
plants, in moss, etc. ; all seasons ;
abundant everywhere
Halyzia 14-guttata, L. On various trees
and flowers, and in grass tufts and
moss ; all seasons ; plentiful every-
where
i8-guttata, L. Found in same local-
ities and under same conditions as
preceding, but much less commonly
conglobata, L. On trees and herbage
and in moss and dead leaves ; all
seasons ; abundant in all locali-
ties
22-punctata, L. On trees and low
herbage, in moss and dead leaves ;
all seasons ; abundant everywhere
Hyperaspis reppensis, Herbst. On trees
and herbage in woods ; spring to
autumn. Knowle
Scymnus nigrinus, Kug. By sweeping
ling, etc., in and near fir plantations ;
in moss, etc., in woods. Knowle
(Blatch)
pygmaeus, Fourc. By sweeping and
in moss ; all seasons. Coleshill, Ty-
soe (Blatch), Knowle
frontalis, F. In moss and grass tufts,
and by sweeping ; all seasons. Knowle
(Blatch)
suturalis, Thunb. In moss and by
sweeping ; all seasons. Knowle
testaceus, Mots. In moss and grass
roots. Tysoe
Scymnus testaceus var. scutellaris, Muls.
Knowle (Blatch)
haemorrhoidalis, Herbst. In moss and
fungi, and by sweeping in boggy
places ; all seasons. Alcester (Blatch),
Knowle
capitatus, F. In moss, dead leaves and
by sweeping ; all seasons. Coleshill,
Sutton (Blatch), Knowle
ater, Kug. Knowle
Chilocorus similis, Rossi. On birch trees ;
spring to autumn. Knowle (Blatch)
Exochomus 4-pustulatus, L. On ling and
other low herbage, and in sphag-
num ; all seasons. Coleshill (Blatch),
Knowle
Rhizobius litura, F. At grass roots, in
moss, hedge refuse, etc. ; all seasons ;
plentiful in all localities
Coccidula rufa, Herbst. In axils of water
plants, in grass tufts, moss and refuse
in damp places ; all seasons ; abun-
dant everywhere
ENDOMYCHHXE
Mycetsea hirta, Marsh. Amongst old bones,
in hotbeds, cowsheds, stack and flood
refuse, and in cellars (on wine corks,
etc.) ; all seasons ; all localities
Endomychus coccineus, L. Under bark
and in moss ; all seasons. Salford
Priors (Blatch)
EROTYLID^:
Dacne rufifrons, F. In fungi on trees and
stumps ; all seasons. Salford Priors
(Blatch), Knowle
humeralis, F. In fungi on trees and
stumps ; all seasons. Knowle (Blatch)
PHALACRID^
Phalacrus corruscus, Payk. On flowers
and herbage and amongst decaying
leaves ; all seasons. Knowle
caricis, Sturm. Amongst reeds and
garden refuse ; all seasons. Coleshill
(Blatch), Knowle
Olibrus aeneus, F. On flowers, especially
the chamomile tribe, in moss and
dead leaves ; all seasons. Knowle
(Blatch), Caleshill
Eustilbus testaceus, Panz. On flowers, in
moss, dead leaves and flood refuse ;
all seasons. Knowle and Solihull
MICROPEPLID^:
Micropeplus porcatus, Payk. In moss, hot-
beds, stack refuse, gravel pits and
banks of streams ; all seasons. Sal-
105
A HISTORY OF WARWICKSHIRE
ford Priors, Kenilworth (B latch), Soli-
hull, Knowle
Micropeplus staphylinoides, Marsh. In
moss, stack refuse, fungi ; all sea-
sons ; found throughout the district,
but less sparingly than preceding
margaritas, Duv. Found under simi-
lar conditions to the two preceding,
and certainly much more plentiful
than either
tesserula, Curt. At sap, in vegetable
refuse and by sweeping. Knowle,
sappy stumps of newly felled oaks
(Blatch)
NITIDULIDJE
Brachypterus pubescens, Er. On nettles
and other low plants ; all seasons ;
abundant everywhere
urticae, F. Found under same condi-
tions and in same localities as the
preceding
Cercus pedicularis, L. In marshy places,
in folds of Xypha, moss, osier beds,
on water plants, very fond of Spiraea
ulmaria. Coleshill, Sutton (Blatch),
Knowle
bipustulatus, Payk. In damp meadows
and marshy places ; all seasons. Sut-
ton ; Leamington (Blatch), Knowle,
Salford Priors
rufilabris, Latr. Habitat and distribu-
tion same as preceding
Carpophilus hemipterus, L. In dried fruits ;
also taken in Cossus burrows. Small
Heath (Blatch)
Epuraea diffusa, Bris. At sap and in Cos-
sus burrows in oak trees ; spring to
autumn. Solihull, Knowle
aestiva, L. In flowers and (in winter)
amongst dead leaves, etc. ; all seasons.
Hampton-in-Arden ; <?//// (Blatch),
Solihull, Knowle
- melina, Er. By beating and sweeping,
on Umbelliferas and at sap ; spring
to autumn. Knowle
oblonga, Herbst. On flowers, in fungi,
under bark and in Cossus burrows ;
all seasons. Sutton (Blatch), Knowle
florea, Er. On flowers, at sap, under
bark and in moss ; all seasons ; very
abundant in all localities
- deleta, Er. In fungi, rotten logs, chips,
moss, leaves and under bark ; all
seasons ; plentiful everywhere
obsoleta, F. In moss and fungi, at
sap, in Cossus burrows and under
bark ; all seasons ; all localities
pusilla, Er. At sap and under bark ;
106
all seasons. Sutton Park (Blatch),
Knowle, Solihull
Epuraea angustula, Er. Under loose bark of
old holly trees ; all seasons. Sutton
Park (Blatch)
Omosiphora limbata, F. In fungi on old
stumps ; spring to autumn. Knowle
(Blatch)
Micrurula melanocephala, Marsh. On
flowers of various trees and plants ;
spring to autumn. Salford Priors,
Knowle
Nitidula bipustulata, L. In dead animals,
under bones, in stack and vegetable
refuse, etc. ; all seasons ; all local-
ities
Soronia punctatissima, 111. At sap, espe-
cially in Cossus burrows ; all seasons.
Salford Priors ; Shustoke (Blatch), Soli-
hull, Knowle
grisea, L. At sap, under loose bark,
amongst chips of newly felled oaks,
in hedge refuse and moss
Omosita depressa, L. At sap, in fungi,
carrion and under bones ; all seasons.
Knowle
colon, L. Under bones, carrion, dung
and flood refuse, etc. ; all seasons ;
abundant in all localities
discoidea, F. Found under same con-
ditions and in same localities as pre-
ceding, but scarcer
Phalycra sericea, Sturm. In moss on
poplar tree, also on a window ; all
seasons. Knowle (Blatch), Packwood
Pocadius ferrugineus, F. In puff balls and
other fungi ; spring to autumn.
Packwood (Blatch), Knowle
Pria dulcamaras, Scop. On Umbelliferae
and Solanum dulcamaras ; spring to
autumn. Salford Priors (Blatch),
Knowle
Meligethes rufipes, Gyll. On hawthorn
and other flowers, in moss and dead
leaves ; all seasons ; abundant
lumbaris, Sturm. On various flowers
and moss ; all seasons ; occurs
throughout the district, but less
abundantly than preceding
asneus, F. On flowers and in moss
and leaves ; all seasons ; abundant
everywhere
asneusvar. cceruleus, Steph. On flowers,
in moss, etc. ; all seasons. Knowle
viridescens, F. On flowers, in moss,
etc. ; all seasons ; abundant in all
localities
brunnicornis, Sturm. On Stachys syl-
vestris and in moss ; summer and
winter. Knowle
INSECTS
Meligethes ovatus, Sturm. Knowle
picipes, Sturm. On various flowers, in
moss, etc. ; all seasons ; abundant
in all localities
obscurus, Er. On various plants and
in moss ; all seasons. Coleshill
(Blatch), Knowle
erythropus, Gyll. On Helianthemum
vulgare, Potentilla tormentilla, etc.
Knowle
Cychramus luteus, F. On flowers, in fungi ;
spring to autumn ; all localities
Cryptarcha strigata, F. At sap on Cossus
trees, under bark and in fungi ; all
seasons. Solihull, Knowle
imperialis, F. Habitat and localities
same as preceding. If tobacco
smoke be puffed in the Cossus bur-
rows numbers make their appearance
where otherwise scarcely one is to
be seen
Ips 4-guttata, F. Under bark, in moss
and dead leaves ; all seasons. Knowle
4-punctata, Herbst. In old stumps,
under bark and in grass roots ; all
seasons. Coleshill (Blatch), Knowle
TROGOSITID^:
Nemosoma elongatum, L. Under bark,
in the burrows of Hylesinus vittatus.
Campion Wyniates
Tenebrioides mauritanicus, L. In corn
and on walls ; all seasons. Small
Heath, Bordesley (Blatch)
Thymalus limbatus, F. Under bark ; all
seasons. Knowle
COLYDIID^E
Aglenus brunneus, Gyll. In hotbeds, etc. ;
all seasons. Edgbaston (Blatch)
Cerylon histeroides, F. Under bark of
various trees, oak, pine, etc. ; all
seasons ; abundant in midlands
ferrugineum, Steph. Under bark,
birch, oak, beech, etc. ; all seasons.
Sutton Park (Blatch), Knowle
CUCUJIDjE
Rhizophagus cribratus, Gyll. In fungi,
under bark, in stack refuse and grass
tufts ; all seasons. Salford Priors,
Shustoke (Blatch), Knowle
depressus, F. Under bark. Sutton
Coldfield (Blatch), Knowle
perforatus, Er. Under bark, etc. Sut-
ton Park, Salford Priors
parallelocollis, Er. Under bark and in
fungi ; all seasons. Knowle
Rhizophagus ferrugineus, Payk. Under
bark and at sap ; all seasons. Soli-
hull, Sutton (Blatch), Knowle
nitidulus, F. Under bark of oak and
pine ; all seasons. Sutton Coldfield,
in great abundance
dispar, Gyll. Under bark of oak,
birch, etc. ; all seasons ; abundant
bipustulatus, F. Under bark ; abun-
dant ; all seasons
politus, Hellw. Under bark, ash, pop-
lar, etc. ; spring to autumn. Salford
Prion (Blatch)
Lsemophlceus ferrugineus, Steph. Under
bark and in granaries ; all seasons.
Small Heath (Blatch), Knowle, War-
wick
ater, Ol. In dead wood ; occurs
throughout the year. Small Heath,
Knowle (Blatch)
Psammoechus bipunctatus, F. In grass
tufts and the axils of plants in
marshy places ; all seasons. Coleshill,
Sutton (Blatch), Knowle
Nausibius dentatus, Marsh. In flour and
corn ; all seasons. Knowle
Silvanus surinamensis, L. In corn, etc.,
and has also been taken under bark ;
all seasons. Small Heath, Knowle
(Blatch)
unidentatus, F. Knowle (Blatch)
MONOTOMIDjE
Monotoma conicicollis, Aube 1 . In nests of
Formica rufa ; spring. Knowle
(Blatch)
formccetorum, Thorns. In nests of
Formica rufa ; spring. Knowle
spinicollis, Aub6. In hotbeds, cow-
shed refuse, etc. ; all seasons. Edg-
baston (Blatch), Knowle
brevicollis, Aub. In stack refuse,
lawn clippings, etc. ; all seasons.
Knowle (Blatch)
picipes, Herbst. In hotbeds, stack refuse,
grass tufts, moss, etc. ; all seasons ;
abundant throughout the district
quadricollis, Aub6. In hotbeds, etc. ;
all seasons. Knowle, Edgbaston
rufa, Redt. Knowle
longicollis, Gyll. In hotbeds, lawn
clippings, moss, under bark, etc. ;
all seasons. Sutton Park (Blatch),
Knowle ; abundant
LATHRIDIID^:
Lathridius lardarius, De Geer. In hotbeds,
etc. ; all seasons ; generally distri-
buted but not abundant
107
A HISTORY OF WARWICKSHIRE
Lathridius angulatus, Humm. In moss,
etc. Knowle (Blatch)
Coninomus nodifer, Westw. In hotbeds,
moss, grass tufts, hedge refuse ;
under bark and bones ; all seasons ;
extremely plentiful in all localities
constrictus, Humm. On damp walls ;
said to occur under bark. Knowle
Enicmus minutus, L. In hotbeds, vege-
table refuse, etc. ; all seasons ;
abundant everywhere
transversalis, Ol. In fungi, moss, dead
leaves, grass tufts and flowers ; all
seasons ; plentiful.
rugosus, Herbst. In rotten wood,
fungi, etc. ; all seasons. Knowle,
Salford Priors
testaceus, Steph. In fungi on oaks ;
spring to autumn. Knowle
Cartodere ruficollis, Marsh. In fungi, moss,
cowshed refuse, under bark, etc. ;
all seasons ; abundant in all mid-
land localities
elongata, Curt. In moss, hedge refuse,
fungi and under bark ; all seasons.
Olton (Blatch), Knowle, Solihull
Corticaria pubescens, Gyll. In flood refuse,
moss and grass tufts ; all seasons.
Salford Priors, Coleshill (Blatch),
Knowle, Sutton
crenulata, Gyll. In flood refuse, moss,
etc. ; all seasons. Salford Priors
(Blatch), Knowle
- denticulata, Gyll. In hedge refuse,
moss, grass tussocks, etc. ; all seasons.
Knowle ; Sutton (Blatch), Coleshill,
Saljord Priors
- serrata, Payk. Under bark, in stack
refuse, etc. ; all seasons. Knowle
fulva, Com. In vegetable refuse ; all
seasons. Knowle, Sutton
elongata, Humm. In moss, etc. ; all
seasons ; abundant everywhere
Melanopthalma gibbosa, Herbst. In moss
and vegetable refuse ; all seasons ;
abundant everywhere
fuscula, Humm. In moss and vege-
table refuse and under bark ; all
seasons ; plentiful throughout the
district
CRYPTOPHAGID.E
Diphyllus lunatus, F. In Hypoxylon con-
centricum, on ash trees ; spring to
autumn. Knowle (Blatch), Salford
Priors
Telmatophilus caricis, Ol. In moss and
folds of Typha, amongst reeds, etc. ;
all seasons ; abundant in all parts
108
Telmatophilus typhae, Fall. Found under
same conditions and in same localities
as preceding, but less abundantly
Antherophagus nigricornis, F. On flowers
of Viburnum, Spiraea, etc. Knowle
pallens, Gyll. On rhododendron ;
summer. Solihull, Knowle
silaceus, Herbst. On Umbelliferae and
in hawthorn blossom ; summer.
Coleshill (Blatch)
Cryptophagus lycoperdi, Herbst. In puff
balls, under bark, amongst chips ;
spring to autumn ; abundant in all
midland localities
setulosus, Sturm. In fungi, hedge
refuse, etc., and at sap ; all seasons.
Solihull, Knowle (Blatch)
pilosus, Gyll. In hotbeds, cowshed
refuse, moss, etc. ; all seasons.
Knowle
punctipennis, Bris. In hotbeds, under
bones and bark ; all seasons.
Knowle
ruficornis, Steph. In Hypoxylon con-
centricum on ash trees ; spring to
autumn. Salford Priors (Blatch),
Knowle
saginatus, Sturm. Cowshed refuse,
grass tufts in bogs, etc. Sutton Cold-
field (Blatch), Knowle
umbratus, Er. In cowshed refuse,
grass tufts and under bark ; all
seasons. Sutton Park (Blatch),
Knowle
scanicus, L. In vegetable refuse, moss,
fungi and under bark ; all seasons ;
abundant everywhere
scanicus var. patruelis, Sturm. Found
with the type
badius, Sturm. In moss and flowers
and by sweeping ; all seasons.
Knowle (Blatch), Salford Priors
validus, Kr. In hotbeds, warehouses,
etc. ; all seasons. Edgbaston (Blatch),
Knowle
dentatus, Herbst. In hotbeds, fungi,
vegetable refuse, etc. ; all seasons.
Edgbaston (Blatch), Knowle, Sutton
distinguendus, Sturm. In hotbeds and
grass tufts in bogs ; all seasons.
Edgbaston, Knowle (Blatch)
acutangulus, Gyll. In hotbeds, moss,
under bark, etc. ; all seasons. Edg-
baston (Blatch), Knowle
cellaris, Scop. In granaries, cellars,
fungi, etc. ; all seasons ; all locali-
ties
affinis, Sturm. In straw refuse, cow-
sheds, moss, etc. ; all seasons ;
abundant everywhere
INSECTS
Cryptophagus pubcscens, Sturm. In moss
and hedge refuse and by sweeping ;
all seasons. Small Heath (Blatch),
Knowle
bicolor, Sturm. Moss and grass tussocks
in bogs, cowshed refuse and on damp
walls ; all seasons. Knowle, Sutton
Park
Micrambe vini, Panz. On gorse and
broom, in grass roots and moss ; all
seasons ; all localities
Henoticus serratus, Gyll. Under bark on
sappy oak trunks. Knowle
Paramecosoma melanocephalum, Herbst.
In flood refuse, moss, etc. ; all sea-
sons ; not uncommon throughout
the midlands
Myrmecoxenus vaporariorum, GueV. In
hotbeds and heaps of stable manure ;
sometimes in great abundance, always
in October. Edgbaston (Blatch),
Knowle
Atomaria fimetarii, Herbst. In moss and
flood refuse and fungi. Knowle
(Blatch)
barani, Bris. By sweeping. Knowle
nigriventris, Steph. In moss, fungi,
refuse, etc. ; all seasons. Coleshill;
Leamington (Blatch), Knowle
umbrina, Er. In sphagnum, grass
tufts, under bark, etc. ; all seasons ;
all localities
linearis, Steph. In moss, amongst
sedges, etc. ; all seasons. Knowle
(Blatch)
elongatula, Er. Under bark, on sappy
oak stumps, etc. ; all seasons. Knowle
fuscipes, Gyll. In moss, dead leaves
and cut grass ; all seasons. Knowle
(Blatch)
nigripennis, Payk. In cowshed refuse,
hotbeds, etc. ; all seasons ; all mid-
land localities. Sometimes abun-
dantly
munda, Er. In cowshed refuse ; all
seasons. Knowle (Blatch)
fuscata, Schon. In stack refuse, hot-
beds, etc. Knowle (Blatch)
pusilla, Payk. In moss, hedge refuse,
etc. ; all seasons. Abundant every-
where
atricapilla, Steph. Habitat and distri-
bution same as preceding
berolinensis, Kr. In moss and vege-
table refuse ; all seasons. Knowle,
Sutton (Blatch)
basalis, Er. In sphagnum, hypnum,
osier beds, etc. ; all seasons. Strat-
ford-on-Avon (Blatch), Knowle, Sut-
ton
Atomaria mesomelas, Herbst. Habitat
same as preceding ; all seasons.
Knowle, Coleshill, Sutton (Blatch)
gutta, Steph. Amongst reeds, in vege-
table refuse and fungi ; all seasons.
Coleshill (Blatch), Sutton, Knowle,
Salford Priors
apicalis, Er. In stack and other
refuse, moss, etc. ; all seasons ;
abundant in all localities
analis, Er. Habitat and distribution
same as preceding
ruficornis, Marsh. Vegetable refuse,
hotbeds, carrion and under bark ; all
seasons ; all localities
versicolor, Er. In sheep-dung, etc.
Knowle (Blatch)
Ephistemus globosus, Waltl. In stack re-
fuse, hotbeds, dung and under bark.
Knowle (Blatch)
gyrinoides, Marsh. In hotbeds and
vegetable refuse, etc. ; all seasons ;
all localities ; very abundant
gyrinoides var. dimidiatus, Sturm.
Found with the type
gyrinoides var. dubia, Fowler. Hot-
beds, etc. Knowle
MYCETOPHAGID^E
Typhasa fumata, L. In stack and hedge
refuse, hotbeds, etc. ; all seasons ;
extremely abundant everywhere
Triphyllus suturalis, F. In fungi, dead
leaves and under bark ; all seasons.
Knowle, Salford Priors
punctatus, F. In puff balls and other
fungi and under bark ; occurs in
all midland localities
Litargus bifasciatus, F. In Hypoxylon
concentricum on ash trees ; all sea-
sons. Knowle, Packwood
Mycetophagus 4-pustulatus, L. In fungi,
on old ash and willow trees, etc. ;
spring to autumn. Salford Priors
(Blatch), Knowle
piceus, F. In Polypori on ash and oak
and under bark. Tamworth (Blatch)
- multipunctatus, Hellw. In fungi and
ash trees ; spring to autumn. Sal-
ord Priors (Blatch)
BYTURIDjE
Byturus sambuci, Scop. On flowers of
Viburnum, Salix, Caltha, etc.
Knowle, Solihull
tomentosus, F. On various flowers ;
summer ; abundant everywhere
109
A HISTORY OF WARWICKSHIRE
DERMESTID^E
Dermestes murinus, L. In dead birds,
moles and other animals ; spring to
autumn ; abundant everywhere
lardarius, L. In bacon, on walls, etc. ;
all seasons. Birmingham, Knowle
Attagenes pellio, L. On walls in houses,
in hawthorn blossom and under
bark ; all seasons. Birmingham,
Small Heath (Blatch), Coleshill, Knowle
Megatoma undata, Er. Under ash bark
and logs, in flowers, etc. ; all seasons.
Near Leamington, Knowle (Blatch)
Tiresias serra, F. Under loose bark on
old oaks, willows, etc. ; spring to
autumn. Knowle (Blatch)
Anthrenus musaeorum, L. In flowers of
Umbelliferae, on old fences, etc. ;
spring to autumn. Knowle
claviger, Er. Habitat same as preced-
ing ; all seasons. Knowle (Blatch),
Button Park
BYRRHID^E
Byrrhus pilula, L. In moss and at roots
of plants ; all seasons ; all localities
Cytilus varius, F. In moss, at grass roots
and under stones ; all seasons ; found
throughout the district
Simplocaria scmistriata, F. In moss, grass
tufts, hotbeds and under bones ; all
seasons ; abundant everywhere
Aspidiphorus orbiculatus, Gyll. In fungi,
grass tufts in woods, under bark and
on windows ; all seasons. Knowle
(Blatch)
PARNIDjE
Elmis asneus, Mtill. In rivers and brooks,
on bracken ! ! all seasons. Knowle
subviolaceus, Miill. In streams, water-
falls, etc. Knowle (Blatch)
nitens, Miill. In streams ; spring to
autumn. Knowle (Blatch)
Limnius tubcrculatus, Miill. In brooks
and rivers, on stones and submerged
logs ; all seasons ; all localities
Parnus prolifericornis, F. In wet places,
in moss, roots, etc. ; all seasons.
Knowle
auriculatus, Panz. Habitat and distri-
bution same as preceding
HETEROCERID^E
Heterocerus marginatus, F. On banks of
rivers, ponds and ditches ; spring
to autumn. Salford Priors, Tysoe
(Blatch), Knowle
Izvigatus, Panz. Banks of rivers and
ponds ; spring to autumn. Knowle
Lucanus cervus, L. Found on the trunks
of oak trees, on pailings, etc. ; sum-
mer. Warwick (Martineau)
Dorcus parallelopipedus, L. In rotten
logs, stumps of trees and under bark ;
all seasons. Salford Priors (Blatch),
Knowle
Sinodendron cylindricum, L. In decaying
trees, especially ash ; all seasons.
Sparkbrook ; Knowle (Blatch), Solihull
CoPRINA
Onthophagus ovatus, L. In dung and
vegetable refuse ; all seasons. Knowle
vacca, L. In dung ; one specimen from
Wimpstone, May 5, 1900 (Bloom)
nuchicornis, L. In dung ; spring to
autumn. Sutton Park (Blatch)
Aphodius erraticus, L. In dung ; through-
out the year. Sutton Park
subterraneus, L. In dung ; all seasons.
Sutton Park ; Coleshill (Blatch),
Knowle, Solihull
fossor, L. In dung and vegetable re-
fuse ; all seasons ; occurs in all
localities
haemorrhoidalis, L. In dung, vege-
table refuse and moss ; all seasons.
Knowle ; Sutton (Blatch)
fostens, F. In dung, especially in
sandy places ; spring to autumn.
Sutton ; Coventry (Blatch), Knowle,
Coleshill
fimetarius, L. In dung, hotbeds, moss,
etc. ; all seasons ; all localities
scybalarius, F. In dung, moss and
vegetable refuse ; all seasons. Knowle
ater, De G. In dung, moss, hotbeds,
etc. ; all seasons ; all localities
constans, Duft. In sheep-dung, moss
and hedge refuse ; all seasons.
Knowle
granarius, L. In dung and vegetable
refuse ; all seasons. Sutton Park
(Blatch)
sordidus, F. In dung ; spring to
autumn. Knowle (Blatch), Sutton
Park
rufescens, F. In dung ; spring to
autumn. Sutton Park (Blatch), Soli-
hull, Knowle
putridus, Sturm. In dung ; one
specimen at Knowle, August, 1899
- porcus, F. In dry cow-dung ; spring
to autumn. Sutton Park (Blatch)
tristis, Panz. In dung in sandy places ;
spring to autumn. Sutton Park
(Blatch), Knowle
no
INSECTS
COPRINA (continued)
Aphodius pusillus, Herbst. In dung, stack
and hedge refuse and moss. Sutton
Park ; Knowle (Blatch)
merdarius, F. In dung ; spring to
autumn ; all localities
inquinatus, F. In dung and under
loose bark ; spring to autumn ; all
localities
tessulatus, Payk. In dry cow-dung ;
winter and early spring. Sutton
Park (Blatch)
conspurcatus, L. In dry cow-dung ;
spring to autumn. Sutton Park
(Blatch)
sticticus, Panz. One specimen in
dung at Knowle, August, 1899
punctato-sulcatus, Stm. In dung, hot-
beds and moss ; all seasons ; abun-
dant everywhere
prodromus, Brahm. Habitats and
localities same as the preceding
contaminatus, Herbst. In dung ;
spring to autumn. Knowle ; Sutton
(Blatch)
luridus, F. In sheep-dung, etc. ; all
seasons. Sutton Park (Blatch),
Stratford-on-Avon (Bloom)
rufipes, L. In dung, moss, hotbeds
and under bones ; all seasons ;
abundant in all localities
depressus, Kug. In dung ; all seasons.
Button Park (Blatch)
Geotrupes typhaeus, L. Sandy places in
dung ; spring to autumn. Knowle ;
Sutton (Blatch), Coleshill
spiniger, Marsh. In dung in all loca-
lities ; spring to autumn
- stercorarius, L. In all localities ; spring
to autumn
- sylvaticus, Panz. In dung in all loca-
lities ; spring to autumn
vernalis, L. All seasons ; found in
dung in all parts of the district
Trox sabulosus, L. In dry carcases and
skins of animals. Sutton Park
MELOLONTHINA
Hoplia philanthus, Fttss. In old willows
and other trees and shrubs ; spring
and summer. Knowle (Blatch), Soli-
bull
Serica brunnea, McL. Under bark and at
' sugar,' also attracted by ' light ' ;
spring and summer ; all localities
Rhizotrogus solstitialis, Latr. Flying at
dusk about trees. Stratford-on-Avon
(Bloom)
Melolontha vulgaris, F. On oaks and
other trees ; spring and summer.
Only too plentiful everywhere
RUTELINA
Phyllopertha horticola, L. Abundant in
flowery meadows in May and June.
In all localities
CETONIINA
Cetonia aurata, L. On various flowers,
especially roses and lilies ; summer.
Knowle (Blatch)
BUPRESTID^E
Agrilus laticornis, 111. On young oaks,
hazels, birches and other trees in and
near woods ; spring to autumn.
Sutton Park (Blatch), Knowle
angustulus, III. Habitats and localities
same as the preceding
Trachys troglodytes, Gyll. On flowers
and marshy meadows in May.
Knowle
THROSCID.E
Throscus dermestoides, L. By beating
birch trees ; spring to autumn.
Knowle
carinifrons, Bour. Beaten from sallows.
Knowle
EUCNEMID^E
Melasis buprestoides, L. In decaying logs
and old fences. Sutton Park (Blatch),
Knowle
ELATERID^
Lacon murinus, L. Under turf, under
stones and by sweeping ; all seasons ;
all localities
Cryptohypnus riparius, F. At the roots of
plants and in refuse in marshy places ;
all seasons ; all localities
quadripustulatus, F. Under stones and
at roots of plants or margins of
streams ; all seasons. Knowle (Blatch),
Salford Priors
dermestoides, Herbst. Habitats and
localities same as the preceding
quadriguttatus, Lap. Found with the
preceding and in the same localities
Elater balteatus, L. In decaying birch
trees ; all seasons. Sutton (Blatch)
nigrinus, Payk. Under bark of decay-
ing pines, etc. Knowle
Melanotus rufipes, Herbst. In decaying
wood ; all seasons ; abundant every-
where
rufipes var. castanipes, Payk. Beech
log. Knowle
Athous niger, L. On bracken and by
sweeping in meadows, etc. ; spring
to autumn ; found throughout the
district
III
A HISTORY OF WARWICKSHIRE
Athous longicollis, Ol. On trees and
herbage, especially in wooded dis-
tricts ; spring to autumn ; occurs
throughout the county
hsemorrhoidalis, F. On bracken and
various trees and herbage ; in winter
at roots of grass and in moss ; all
seasons ; abundant everywhere
vittatus, F. This species occurs with
the preceding and is often mistaken
for it
Limonius minutus, L. By sweeping
flowers, etc., in meadows; summer;
plentiful in all localities
Adrastus limbatus, F. By sweeping, in
and near woods ; summer ; all lo-
calities
Agriotes sputator, L. In moss, grass tufts,
vegetable refuse, and under stones,
etc. ; all seasons ; all localities
obscurus, L. Habitats as in the pre-
ceding ; abundant in all parts of the
district
- lineatus, L. Found under the same
circumstances as the preceding and
equally widely distributed
- sobrinus, Kies. In grass tufts and
moss and by beating and sweeping ;
all seasons ; all localities
- pallidulus, 111. Habitats and localities
as in the preceding
Dolopius marginatus, L. By beating and
sweeping ; mostly in woods ; amongst
dead leaves in winter ; abundant in
all parts of the midlands
Corymbites pectinicornis, L. On various
plants and flowers in spring and
early summer, especially in damp
pastures ; all localities but never
abundantly
cupreus, F. In pastures and on hill-
sides, in grass roots and moss in
winter ; all seasons ; all locali-
ties
cupreus var. aeruginosus, F. Found
with the type, but seems to be
more partial to hills and high moor-
lands
tessellatus, F. In moss, grass roots,
flood refuse, and various plants ; all
seasons. Knowle
quercus, Gyll. By beating young trees
and sweeping herbage ; summer ;
all localities
quercus var. ochropterus, Steph. Found
with the type but perhaps less abun-
dantly
holosericeus, F. In moss and herbage,
gravel pits, etc. ; all seasons ;
throughout the district
Corymbites aeneus, L. Under stones and
at roots of ling, etc. Button Park
bipustulatus, L. In dead willows, birch
stumps and by sweeping ; one speci-
men. Leamington
Campylus linearis, L. By beating various
trees, in dead leaves and old stumps ;
all seasons. Sutton Park (Blatch),
Knowle
DASCILLID^E
Helodes minuta, L. On various trees and
herbage in damp places ; spring to
autumn ; all localities
marginata, F. Found under the same
conditions as the preceding and in
the same localities, but perhaps rather
less abundantly
Microcara livida, F. On herbage in damp
places ; spring to autumn ; all lo-
calities
livida var. bohemanni, Mann. In osier
beds ; spring to autumn. Knowle,
Solihull
Cyphon coarctatus, Payk. In osier beds,
on margins of streams, etc. ; all
seasons ; all localities
nitidulus, Thorns. On herbage in
moist and boggy places ; all seasons.
Knowle ; Sutton (Blatch), Coleshill
variabilis, Thunb. In marshy places,
by sweeping, etc. ; all seasons ; abun-
dant everywhere
padi, L. In bogs ; all seasons. Coles-
hill (Blatch), Sutton
Scirtes hemisphaericus, L. Margins of
streams, canals and pools ; spring
to autumn ; rather local, but occurs
throughout the midlands
MALACODERMID^E
LAMPYRINA
Lampyris noctiluca, L. Under stones and
loose bark, in moss and grass roots ;
comes freely to ' light ' and ' sugar ' ;
all seasons ; all localities
Podabrus alpinus, Payk. By beating
various trees ; spring and summer ;
all localities
TELEPHORINA
Telephorus rusticus, Fall. Abundant in
all localities
lividus, L. All localities
pellucidus, F. Fairly plentiful in all
localities
nigricans, Mull. All localities
nigricans var. discoideus, Steph. Occurs
with the type, but is scarcer
112
INSECTS
TELEPHORINA (continued)
Telephorus lituratus, F. An abundant
species everywhere
figuratus, Mann. Occurs in all parts
of the midlands
bicolor, F. Abundant everywhere
hasmorrhoidalis, F. Knowle
oralis, Germ. Knowle (Blatch)
flavilabris, Fall. In all localities
thoracicus, Ol. Knowle (on palings)
Rhagonyca fuscicornis, Ol. All localities
fulva, Scop. Extremely abundant
everywhere
testacea, L. Found throughout the
county but not abundantly
limbata, Thorns. Very plentiful in
all localities
pallida, F. All localities
NOTE. As all the species of the above two
genera are found during the summer
months on various flowers and the foliage
of trees and shrubs it has been considered
unnecessary to repeat the facts in each
case.
Malthinus punctatus, Fourc. By beating
and sweeping trees and shrubs ;
spring to autumn ; all localities
fasciatus, Ol. On trees and plants,
especially in and near woods ; spring
to autumn ; all localities
frontalis, Marsh. On and near fir
trees ; summer. Knowle
Malthodes marginatus, Latr. On trees
and herbage ; spring to autumn ;
abundant in all localities
flavoguttatus, Kies. On various trees ;
spring to autumn. Knowle (Blatch),
Salford Priors
guttifer, Kies. On trees and plants ;
summer. Knowle
mysticus, Kies. Knowle. One speci-
men by beating ; summer
pellucidus, Kies. On young birches
and other trees and plants ; summer ;
Knowle
minimus, L. On various trees and
shrubs ; spring to autumn ; abun-
dant in all localities .
misellus, Kies. On young trees, etc. ;
summer. Knowle
atomus, Thorns. On trees and plants ;
summer. Knowle (Blatch)
MELYRINA
Malachius aeneus, L. In grass tufts and
by sweeping ; apparently very rare
in the midlands ; one specimen taken
by the late Mr. Blatch and one by
the author ; both at Knowle
bipustulatus, L. On flowers and trees
in summer, in moss and dead leaves
MELYRINA (continued)
in woods in winter ; abundant every-
where
Malachius viridis, F. On young trees in
woods ; summer. Knowle (one
specimen)
Anthocomus fasciatus, L. In grassy places
and on willows ; summer. Knowle
Dasytes flavipes, F. On trees and herbage ;
summer. Knowle (Blatch)
aerosus, Kies. OR young trees and
herbage ; summer ; all midland lo-
calities, especially in and near woods
Haplocnemus impressus, Marsh. All sea-
sons ; under oak bark, in flowers, etc.
Button
Tillus elongatus, L. On old willows, etc. ;
spring and summer. Knowle
Opilo mollis, L. On old oaks ; summer.
Leamington (A. J. Chitty)
Thanasimus formicarius, L. In old trees,
palings, etc. ; spring to autumn.
Tamworth (Blatch), Salford Priors
Necrobia ruficollis, F. Under bones and
in carcases ; spring to autumn.
Knowle ; Small Heath (Blatch)
violacea, L. Under bones, hay refuse
and in carcases ; all seasons. Knowle
rufipes, De G. Under bones and in
carcases ; spring to autumn. Knowle
Corynetes caeruleus, De G. Under bones,
in stack refuse and carcases ; all
seasons. Knowle
PTINID^E
PTININA
Ptinus fur, L. In dead wood and in old
houses ; all seasons ; all localities
subpilosus, Mall. In rotten wood,
etc. ; all seasons ; rare. Small Heath
(Blatch), Knowle
brunneus, Duft. In cowshed refuse,
old houses, etc. Birmingham ; Small-
Heath (Blatch), Knowle
Niptus hololeucus, Falc. In cupboards,
etc., in houses ; all seasons ; all
localities
crenatus, F. In cowshed refuse,
granaries, etc. ; all seasons. Bir-
mingham (Blatch), Knowle
Hedobia imperial's, L. In the wood of
old hawthorns and by beating May-
blossom ; spring and summer. Coles-
hill ; Brandon (Blatch), Knowle
ANOBIINA
Dryophilus pusillus, Gyll. On fir trees
and by sweeping near them ; summer.
Knowle
"3
A HISTORY OF WARWICKSHIRE
ANOBIINA (continued)
Priobium castaneum, F. In dead wood
and under bark ; all seasons. Small
Heath (Blatch), Knowle
Anobium domesticum, Fourc. In dead
wood and in houses ; all seasons ;
abundant in all localities
paniceum, L. In granaries, houses,
etc.; all seasons. Small Heath (Blatch)
Xestobium tessellatum, F. In old trees,
etc. ; spring to autumn. Knowle
Ernobius mollis, L. In old fences, trees,
sallows, under bones, etc. ; all
seasons. Small Heath (Blatch), Knowle
Ptilinus pectinicornis, L. In old trees,
posts, etc. ; summer ; found in all
localities
Ochina hederae, Mull. In old ivy and by
beating and sweeping ; summer.
Knowle (Blatch)
BOSTRICHID^:
Rhizopertha pusilla, F. In rice, etc. ; all
seasons. Birmingham, Knowle (Blatch)
LYCTID^E
Lyctus canaliculatus, F. On recently
felled oaks, palings, etc. ; also under
bark and in various kinds of timber ;
spring and summer. Knowle ; Tysoe
(Blatch), Birmingham
Cis boleti, Scop. In boleti on old stumps,
posts, etc. ; all seasons ; abundant
in all localities
- villosulus, Marsh. In boleti ; all
seasons. Birmingham (Blatch), Knowle
- micans, F. In boleti ; all seasons.
Knowle (Blatch)
- hispidulus, Payk. In boleti ; all seasons.
Knowle (Blatch)
- bidentatus, OI. In boleti ; all seasons.
Stilford Priors (Blatch), Knowle
- alni, Gyll. In boleti and under bark ;
doubtless occurs at all seasons. Knowle
- nitidus, Herbst. On fungoid stumps
in woods ; summer. Knowle (Blatch)
pygmaeus, Marsh. In boleti, etc. ; all
seasons. Knowle (Blatch)
- festivus, Panz. In boleti, etc. Knowle
- vestitus, Mell. In boleti ; all seasons.
Near Olton (Blatch), Knowle, Sutton
Ennearthron cornutum, Gyll. In Poly-
pori ; autumn. Knowle (Blatch)
Octotemnus glabriculus, Gyll. In boleti,
etc. ; all seasons ; abundant in all
localities
CERAMBYCID^E
PRIONINA
Prionus coriarius, L. On trees, fences,
etc. ; spring to autumn. Aston,
Birmingham ; Solihull (Blatch)
CERAMBYCINA
Aromia moschata, L. On old willows ;
summer. Salford Priors
Callidium violaceum, L. In decaying
wood. Knowle (Blatch), Binley,
Coventry
alni,L. Amongst dead sticks, etc. Knowle
Clytus arietis, L. On old posts, in
flowers, etc. ; spring to autumn ;
found throughout the midlands
mysticus, L. On flowers, etc. ; spring
and summer. Knowle
Gracilia minuta, F. In dead willow twigs ;
also in remains of old hampers ;
spring to autumn. Small Heath
(Blatch), Knowle
Rhagium inquisitor, F. In decaying trees
and logs ; all seasons ; found through-
out the district
bifaciatum, F. In decaying trees and
logs ; all seasons ; recorded from all
districts
Toxotus meridianus, Panz. On Umbelli-
feras, Spiraea and other flowers. Soli-
hull, Knowle
Strangalia armata, Herbst. On flowers ;
summer ; abundant throughout the
county
melanura, L. On flowers ; summer ;
one specimen at Knowle, June 1900
Grammoptera tabacicolor, De G. On flowers
near woods ; summer. Knowle ; Sut-
ton (Blatch), Coventry
ruficornis, F. On flowers ; summer ;
plentiful throughout the district
LAMIINA
Leiopus nebulosus, L. On aspens and
sallows ; spring to autumn. Knowle,
Sutton
Pogonochasrus bidentatus, Thorns. On
palings, etc., and by beating dry
sticks ; found throughout the year,
but especially in spring. Small
Heatl, Moseley ; Marston Green,
Coleshill (Blatch), Knowle
dentatus, Fourc. In dead sticks, etc. ;
spring and summer. Marston Green
(Blatch), Knowle
Saperda populnea, L. On aspens ; spring
and summer ; during winter this
species may be found in the twigs
of aspen, which are much swollen
where the beetle is undergoing its
transformations. Knowle (Blatch),
Solihull
INSECTS
LAMIINA (continued)
Tetrops praeusta, Steph. On apple and
other blossoms ; spring and summer.
Knowle
BRUCHID.E
Bruchus pectinicornis, L. In granaries,
etc. ; all seasons. Birmingham
pisi, L. In peas ; all seasons. Knowle
(B latch), Birmingham
rufimanus, Boh. Amongst beans and
in pea fields ; summer. Small Heath
(Blatch), Knowle
atomarius, L. On various flowers.
Knowle (Blatch)
loti, Payk. On Lotus corniculatus,
etc. ; summer. Knowle
villosus, F. On flowers of broom and
other plants ; summer. Knowle
CHRYSOMELID^E
EUPODA
Donacia crassipes, F. On water lilies ;
summer. Knowle (Blatch)
- dentata, Hoppe. On Potamogeton,
etc. ; summer. Knowle
versicolorea, Brahm. On Potamogeton,
etc. ; summer. Knowle
limbata, Panz. On flags, etc. ; sum-
mer. Knowle
bicolora, Zsch. On aquatic plants ;
summer. Knowle
simplex, F. On aquatic plants ; sum-
mer ; abundant everywhere
vulgaris, Zsch. On Typha latifolia,
etc. ; summer. Knowle
semicuprea, Panz. On aquatic plants ;
summer. Knowle
sericea, Herbst. On aquatic plants ;
spring to autumn ; abundant in all
localities
discolor, Panz. On aquatic plants and
grass tufts in bogs ; all seasons. Sut-
ton Park
- affinis, Kunze. On Carex paludosa ;
very abundant on canal side at
Knowle in June
Zeugophora subspinosa, F. On young
aspens, birches, etc. ; spring to
autumn. Knowle
Lema cyanella, L. Amongst herbage, moss,
etc., in meadows ; all seasons. Knowle
lichenis, Voeb. Amongst herbage, in
grass tufts, moss, etc. ; all seasons ;
abundant everywhere
melanopa, L. Amongst herbage, especi-
ally in cornfields ; spring to autumn ;
all localities
Crioceris asparagi, L. On asparagus. Knowle
CAMPTOSOMATA
Clythra quadripunctata, L. On herbage
and trees in and near woods ; often
found in and near nests of Formica
rufa. Knowle
Cryptocephalus pusillus, F. On birch,
etc., in and near woods ; spring
and autumn. Knowle
labiatus, L. On various trees in and
near woods ; spring to autumn ;
all localities, plentiful
frontalis, Marsh. On birch and wil-
low ; summer. Knowle
CYCLICA
Lamprosoma concolor, Sturm. Amongst
herbage, at grass roots, etc. ; all
seasons. Knowle
Timarcha tenebricosa, F. Hedge sides,
heaths and commons, etc. ; spring
and summer ; all localities
violaceonigra, De G. On heaths and
commons ; spring and summer.
Sutton Park (Blatch)
Chrysomela staphylea, L. On herbage,
in moss, grass tufts, etc. ; all sea-
sons ; abundant in all localities
polita, L. In marshy places, etc., and
on herbage ; all seasons ; abundant
in all localities
orichalcia, Miill. On herbage ; sum-
mer. Alcester (Blatch)
orichalcia var. hobsoni, Steph. Found
with the type form. Alcester (Blatch)
menthrasti, Suffr. Marshy places on
mint, etc. Edgbaston
Melasoma longicolle, Suffr. On aspens in
woods ; summer. Edgbaston (Blatch),
Knowle
Phytodecta rufipes, De G. On aspen,
hazel, etc., in woods ; summer.
Brandon (Blatch), Knowle
viminalis, L. On sallows, aspen, etc.,
in woods ; summer. Knowle
olivacea, Forst. On wood sage, broom ;
in moss, etc. ; all seasons. Knowle'
olivacea var. litura, F. Knowle (Blatch)
Gastroidea polygoni, L. On Polygonum
and other low plants ; spring to
autumn ; very abundant
Plagiodera versicolorea, Laich. On wil-
lows ; spring to autumn. Salford
Priors (Blatch), Knowle
Phasdon tumidulus, Germ. On herbage,
in moss, etc. ; all seasons ; all locali-
ties
armoracias, L. Habitat and distribution
same as the preceding
cochleariae, F. On watercress, etc. ;
often found in moss in wet places ;
all seasons ; all localities
A HISTORY OF WARWICKSHIRE
CYCUCA (continued)
Phyllodecta vulgatissima, L. On poplar,
sallow, etc. Near Knowle (under
cut reeds)
cavifrons, Thorns. On poplars ; spring
to autumn ; all localities
vitcllinae, L. On willows, aspens, etc. ;
spring to autumn ; extremely abun-
dant
Hydrothassa aucta, F. In wet places,
amongst herbage, refuse, etc. ; all
seasons. Knowle (Blatch)
- marginella, L. At roots of plants and
on herbage in wet places ; all sea-
sons ; all localities
Prasocurus junci, Brahm. On Veronica
baccabunga ; in winter at roots of
plants ; found throughout the -mid-
lands
- phellandrii, L. On Phellandrium aqua-
ticum, in the folds of Typha, grass
tussocks, etc., in marshy places. But-
ton Park (Blatch), Knowle
Luperus rufipcs, Scop. On birch, willow,
alder, etc. ; summer ; all localities
- flavipcs, L. Habitat and distribution
same as the preceding
Lochma-a capreae, L. On sallows, willows,
birches, etc. ; spring to autumn ; all
localities
suturalis, Thorns. On ling and hea-
ther ; spring to autumn. Button
(Blatch), Coleshill
cratasgi, Forst. On whitethorn, etc.;
summer. Knowle (Blatch)
Galerucella viberni, Payk. On Viburnum,
especially in woods ; several woods
about Knowle
nymphcse, L. On water plants,
Nymphae, etc. ; all seasons. Knowle,
Coleshill
- sagittariae, Gyll. On water plants ;
hybernates at roots of plants ; all
seasons. Knowle, Button (Blatch),
Ctlesbill
lineola, F. On willow and alder.
Knowle (Blatch)
- tenella, L. In osier beds, etc. ; all
seasons ; hybernates at roots of plants.
Button Park (Blatch), Knowle
Adimonia tenaceti, L. On devil's bit
scabious, wild thyme, etc. ; spring
to autumn. Knowle (Blatch), Coles-
hill
Syrmela halensis, L. On flowers and
herbage ; summer and autumn ; all
midland localities
Longitarsus anchusae, Payk. On Anchusa,
etc., and in moss and grass tufts ; all
seasons. Knowle (Blatch)
II*
CYCLICA (continued)
Longitarsus holsaticus, L. In boggy places ;
on Equisetum and in Sphagnum.
Coleshill
luridus, Scop. On herbage and in
moss and grass tufts ; all seasons ;
all localities
brunneus, Duft. Habitat and distribu-
tion same as the preceding
fusculus, Kuts. Knowle
suturellus, Duft. On Senecio jacobaea,
etc.; summer (Blatch)
suturellus var. fuscicollis, Steph. On
Senecio. Knowle (Blatch)
atricillus, L. On Medicago and other
low plants ; summer. Knowle (Blatch),
Stratford-on-Avon (Bloom)
melanocephalus, All. On Spiraea, etc.;
occurs in all midland localities
atriceps, Kuts. In moss and hedge
refuse in winter. Knowle
nasturtii, F. On Cruciferae in summer;
in moss and dead leaves in winter.
Knowle (Blatch)
piciceps, Steph. On Senecio jacobaea.
Knowle (Blatch)
membranaceus, Fourd. On Teucrium,
etc. ; summer. Knowle
pusillus, Gyll. On Thymus serpyllum,
etc. Stratford -on- Avon (Bloom),
Knowle (Blatch), Button Coldfield
jacobeas, Wat. On ragwort; summer;
all localities
rutilus, 111. On Scrophularia aquatica.
Knowle (Blatch)
ochroleucus, Marsh. On low herbage.
Knowle
laevis, Duft. On chrysanthemum, etc.
Knowle (Blatch)
pellucidus, Foudr. On Trifolium and
Mentha. Knowle (Blatch)
NOTE. Several of the foregoing records are
given very doubtfully, the species ofLongi-
tarsus being, with few exceptions, extremely
difficult to determine. This remark refers
to Mr. Blatch's records as well as my own.
Haltica tamaricis, Lehr. By sweeping.
Knowle (Blatch)
lythri, Aube". On herbage in marshy
places. Knowle (May)
ereceti, All. On ling and heath ;
summer and autumn. Coleshill
coryli, Brit. Coll. In woods. Knowle
(Blatch)
oleracea, L. On various plants; spring
to autumn ; all localities
palustris, Weise. In wet places. Strat-
ford-on-Avon (Bloom)
pusilla, Duft. On Helianthemum ;
INSECTS
CYCLICA (continued)
summer. Knowle (Blatch), Stratford-
on-Avon (Bloom)
Phyllotreta nigripes, F. On Cruciferas.
Knowle (Blatch)
consobrina, Curt. On Cruciferae.
Knowle (Blatch)
punctulata, Marsh. On Cruciferae in
summer and in moss and dead leaves
in winter. Solihull (Blatch), Knowle
cruciferas, Goeze. On Cruciferae.
Knowle (Blatch)
vittula, Redt. On Cruciferae, etc. ;
summer. Leamington; Knowle (Blatch)
undulata, Kuts. On Cruciferae, in
moss, etc. ; all seasons ; all localities
nemorum, L. On Cruciferas, in moss,
amongst dead leaves in hedges and
woods, etc. ; all seasons ; occurs
throughout the county
ochripes, Curt. In wet places, on
herbage. Knowle (Blatch)
sinuata, Steph. In moss, grass tufts in
bogs, etc.; all seasons. Knowle,
Sutton (Blatch)
tetrastigma, Com. On Cruciferae, etc.
Knowle (Blatch)
exclamationis, Xhunb. In moss, hedge
rubbish, dead leaves in woods, etc. ;
all seasons ; all localities
Apthona venustula, Kuts. On Euphorbia,
etc.; summer. Knowle
atroccerulea, Steph. Amongst herbage
and in moss, etc. ; all seasons. Knowle
(Blatch)
Batophila rubi, Payk. By beating, etc. ;
summer. Salford Priors (Blatch),
Knowle
aerata, Marsh. By beating, etc.; sum-
mer. Knowle (Blatch)
Sphasroderma testaceum, F. On thistles,
Senecio, etc. ; spring to autumn ; all
localities
cardui, Gyll. On thistles, etc. ; spring
to autumn ; all localities
Apteropeda orbiculata, Marsh. In moss,
grass tufts and dead leaves, especially
in woods ; all seasons ; all locali-
ties
Minophila muscorum, Koch. In moss in
woods ; all seasons. Knowle
Mantura rustica, L. In moss, cut grass,
under bark, etc. ; all seasons. Small
Heath ; Knowle (Blatch)
rustica var. suturalis, Weise. Knowle
(Blatch)
obtusata, Gyll. On herbage and in
moss, etc., in marshy places. Sutton
Park, December (Blatch)
Crepidodera transversa, Marsh. On thistles
CYCLICA (continued)
and other herbage in summer, hyber-
nates at roots of plants ; all locali-
ties
Crepidodera ferruginea, Scop. On nettles,
etc., in summer ; hybernates at
roots of plants ; all localities
helxines, L. On willows, sallows, etc.,
from spring to autumn ; amongst dead
leaves and refuse in winter. Knowle
(Blatch), Stratford-on-Avon (Bloom)
cyanea, Marsh. By sweeping ; sum-
mer. Knowle
chloris, Foudr. On aspens and wil-
lows ; spring to autumn. Knowle
(Blatch)
aurata, Marsh. On willows, poplars,
etc. ; all seasons ; hybernates at
roots of plants ; all localities ; abun-
dant
smaragdina, Fourd. On aspens, etc.,
in moss and leaves ; found with
the preceding
Hippuriphila modeeri, L. In boggy and
damp places ; all seasons. Knowle;
Sutton (Blatch), Coleshill
Chaetocnema hortensis, Fourc. On herb-
age and in moss, etc.; all seasons.
Knowle ; Arley (Blatch), Stratford
(Bloom)
Plectroscelis concinna, Marsh. In moss,
hedge rubbish, dead leaves, etc. ; all
seasons; all localities
Psylliodes chrysocephala, L. On Cruci-
ferae, etc.; spring to autumn.
Knowle
chrysocephala van anglica, F. Found
with the type
chrysocephala, var. nucea, 111. Found
with the type
napi, Koch. On Cruciferas, etc. ;
spring to autumn. Knowle ; Salford
Priors (Blatch)
cuprea, Koch. On Cruciferae, etc. ;
spring to autumn. Knowle (Blatch)
affinis, Payk. On Solanum, etc.; sum-
mer. Tysoe; Knowle (Blatch)
chalcomera, 111. OnCircaea; summer.
Knowle
picina, Marsh. On Lythrum, etc.
Knowle
CRYPTOSOMATA
Cassida sanguinolenta, F. In flood refuse,
etc. ; all seasons. Salford Priors
flaveola, Thunb. In moss, grass tufts,
etc., in damp places ; all seasons ;
all localities
viridis, F. On thistles, in moss, etc.;
all seasons ; abundant in all locali-
ties
117
A HISTORY OF WARWICKSHIRE
TENEBRIONID^:
Blaps mucronata, Latr. In houses, cellars,
etc.; allseasons. Knowle, Small Heath
(Blatch), Warwick
Scaphidema metallicum, F. In flood re-
fuse and under stones, etc. ; all sea-
sons. Knowle (Blatch), Salford
Priors
Tenebro molitor, L. In houses and mills,
in old flour ; all seasons. Birming-
ham ; Hastier (Blatch)
obscurus, F. In old flour, etc. ; all
seasons. Birmingham (Blatch)
Alphitobius piceus, OI. In flour bins,
mills and granaries ; all seasons.
Small Heath, Birmingham (Blatch)
Gnathocerus cornutus, F. In flour, etc. ;
all seasons. Small Heath (Blatch),
Birmingham
Trilobium ferrugineum, F. In flour, corn,
etc. ; all seasons. Small Heath
(Blatch), Birmingham
- confusum, Duv. In flour, etc. ; all
seasons. Small Heath, Birmingham
(Blatch)
Helops striatus, Fourc. Under bark, in
moss, etc. ; all seasons ; abundant
in all localities
Lagria hirta, L. On flowers and herbage;
summer. Knowle (Blatch), Warwick,
Stratford-on-Avon
MELANDRYID^
Tetratoma dcsmaresti, Latr. Under bark,
etc. Knowle
Orchesia micans, Panz. In Polypori on
old trees. Knowle
Conopalpus testaceus, Ol. By beating old
trees. Knowle
Malandrya caraboides, L. Under willow
bark and on old posts and fences.
Knowle, June 1870 (Blatch)
Anisoxya fuscula, 111. In dead twigs, etc.
I find a note by the late Mr. Blatch
giving Warwick as a locality for this
species. No specimens are however
preserved in his collections from this
place
Salpingus castaneus, Panz. Amongst dead
leaves in fir woods ; in moss at mar-
gins of bogs bordered by woods ; all
seasons. Coleshill ; Sutton (Blatch).
IT I *'
Knowle
aeratus, Mtlll. Under bark, on fences,
windows, etc. ; all seasons. Knowle
Salpingus atep-, Payk. The late Mr.
Blatch records this species from
Knowle, but Canon Fowler seems to
think it referable to the last species
Lissoderma quadripustulata, Marsh. Under
bark ; all seasons. Small Heath ;
Knowle (Blatch), Salford Priors
Rhinosimus ruficollis, L. Under bark ; all
seasons. Edgbaston; Sutton (Blatch),
Knowle
viridipennis, Steph. Under bark; all
seasons ; all localities
planirostris, F. Under bark, dead
leaves, moss, etc. ; all seasons ; oc-
curs in all localities
OEDEMERIDjE
Oedemera lurida, Marsh. On flowers,
etc. ; spring and summer. Stratford-
on-Avon (Bloom)
Ischnoglossa coerulea, L. By sweeping,
etc.; summer. Leamington (Blatch)
PYROCHROID.E
Pyrochroa serraticornis, Scop. On flowers
and herbage ; summer; found in all
localities
MORDELLIDJE
Anaspis frontalis, L. On flowers and
herbage ; spring to autumn ; all
localities
pulicaria, Costa. On flowers, etc. ;
summer. Knowle
rufilabris, Gyll. On flowers, etc. ;
summer. Solihull; Sutton (Blatch),
Knowle
- geoffroyi, Mall. On flowers, etc. ;
summer ; abundant in all localities
ruficollis, F. On whitethorn and othei
flowers ; summer ; all localities
- flava var. thoracica, L. On flowers,
etc. Knowle (Blatch)
subtestacea, Steph. On flowers, etc. ;
spring to autumn. Knowle (Blatch)
maculata, Fourc. On flowers, etc. ;
spring to autumn ; all localities
ANTHICID/E
Anthicus floralis, L. In hotbeds, stack
refuse, etc. ; all seasons ; abundant
in all localities
floralis var. quisquilius, Thorns. Habi-
tat and distribution same as the pre-
ceding, but not so abundant
antherinus, L. In moss and vegetable
refuse and on flowers and herbage.
Not abundant, but found in all parts
of the midlands
118
INSECTS
Melofi proscarabaeus, L. In sandy places ;
spring ; occurs in suitable spots
throughout the midlands
proscarabaeus var. cyaneus, Muls.
Spring. Button Park (Blatch)
violaceus, Marsh. On heaths, com-
mons, etc. ; spring. Knowle ; Sutton
(Blatch)
cicatricosus, Leach. Stratford-on-Avon
(Bloom)
Sitaris muralis, Forst. In and near bees'
nests (Anthophora). This species
has been recorded from ' Warwick-
shire ' by Stephens.
ANTHRIBID^E
Brachytarsus varius, F. In dead wood and
on old trees, etc. ; summer. Knowle
(Blatch)
Platyrrhinus latirostris, F. In fungus
(Sphaeria, etc.), on ash trees ; spring.
Salford Priors (Blatch)
Choragus sheppardi, Kirby. On old
trees, twigs and stumps ; summer.
Salford Priors (Blatch)
CURCULIONID^:
ATTELABINA
Apoderus coryli, L. On hazels in woods,
occasionally on elms ; spring to
autumn. Knowle
Attelabus curculionoides, L. On young
oaks in woods ; spring to autumn.
Knowle^ Sutton Park
RHYNCHITINA
Rhynchites asquatus, L. On whitethorn
blossom, etc. ; spring and summer.
Knowle^ Coleshill
aeneovirens, Marsh. On young trees
in and near woods ; summer. Knowle
coeruleus, De G. On apple, pear,
whitethorn, etc. Knowle (Blatch)
minutus, Herbst. On undergrowth in
woods ; summer. Knowle ; Leaming-
ton (Blatch)
interpunctatus, Steph. On young trees
in woods. Knowle
pauxillus, Germ. Young oaks and
hazels. Knowle (Blatch)
nanus, Payk. On birch trees; summer.
Knowle
uncinatus, Thorns. On birch, hazel,
aspen, etc. ; summer. Knowle (Blatch),
Solihull
pubescens, F. On oak, birch, etc., in
woods ; summer. Knowle ; Coventry
(Blatch), Hay Woods
RHYNCHITINA (continued)
DeporaUs megacephalus, Germ. On bir-
ches, hazels, etc., in woods ; spring
to autumn. Knowle
betulae, L. On undergrowth in woods,
etc. ; spring to autumn ; all localities
APIONINA
Apion pomonae, F. On Leguminosae, in
moss, etc. ; all seasons. Occurs
throughout midlands
craccae, L. On Vicia cracca, etc. ;
spring to autumn. Knowle
subulatum, Kirby. On Leguminosae,
etc. ; summer. Knowle (Blatch)
ulicis, Forst. On furze (Ulex) ; spring
to autumn ; found in all localities
where furze grows
genestae, Kirby. On dyer's weed
(Genista tinctoria). Knowle (Blatch)
miniatum, Germ. On docks (Rumex),
in moss, etc. ; all seasons ; all lo-
calities
haematodes, Kirby. On sorrel, etc.,
and in moss ; all seasons. Knowle
rubens, Steph. On sorrel, docks, etc.;
summer. Knowle (Blatch)
pallipes, Kirby. On dog mercury
(Mercurialis perennis), etc. Knowle
viciae, Payk. On Vicia cracca ; sum-
mer and autumn ; all localities
difforme, Germ. In moss, etc., under
broom and on Polygonum hydropiper,
etc. ; all seasons. Knowle
apricans, Herbst. On clover, in moss,
etc. ; all seasons ; all localities
assimile, Kirby. Habitat and distribu-
tion same as preceding
trifolii, L. On herbage, in moss, etc.;
all seasons ; all localities
dichroum, Bedel. On clover, meadow
sweet, at roots of plants, etc. ; all
seasons ; all localities
nigritarse, Kirby. On Trifolium, etc.,
and in moss ; all seasons ; all locali-
ties
hookeri, Kirby. On the unopened
buds of flowers, wild camomile,
coltsfoot, anthyllis, etc., and in moss,
cowshed refuse in winter ; all sea-
sons. Knowle^ Kingswood
aeneum, F. On mallows, in moss ; all
seasons ; all localities
radiolus, Kirby. On mallows, tansy,
etc., and in moss ; all seasons ; all
localities
onopordi, Kirby. On the onopord and
other thistles, etc.; spring to autumn;
all localities
carduorum, Kirby. On thistles, in
moss ; all seasons ; all localities
119
A HISTORY OF WARWICKSHIRE
APIONINA (continued)
Apion virens, Herbst. On Leguminosae, in
moss, grass tufts, etc. ; all seasons ;
all localities
pisi, F. On broom and various other
plants ; all seasons ; all localities
zthiops, Herbst. On vetches, etc.,
often found in moss, etc., on hedge
banks ; all seasons ; all localities
filirostre, Kirby. By sweeping herbage
and in moss ; all seasons. Knowle
striatum, Kirby. On the rest-harrow
(Ononis), at the roots of the plants in
winter ; all seasons ; occurs in all
localities where the food plant grows
ononis, Kirby. On Ononis spinosa ; all
seasons. Salford Priors (Blatch)
- ervi, Kirby. On Vicia, Lathyrus, etc.,
and in moss ; all seasons ; all lo-
calities
vorax, Herbst. On Leguminosae, in
moss, hedge refuse, etc. ; all seasons ;
all localities
unicolor, Kirby. On Vicia cracca, in
moss, etc. ; all seasons ; all localities
- meliloti, Kirby. On Melilotus arvensis,
etc. ; summer. Knowle
scutellare, Kirby. On furze, in moss,
etc. ; all seasons. Knowle ; Sutton
(Blatch)
livescerum, Gyll. On vetches (Ono-
brychis, etc.), by sweeping, etc. ;
summer. Knowle
seniculum, Kirby. On trefoils, in
moss, hotbeds, etc. ; all seasons ; all
localities
- loti, Kirby. On Lotus corniculatus ;
summer ; in grass tufts in pastures
in winter. Knowle
tenue, Kirby. On Melilotus officinalis,
Anthyllis and in moss ; all seasons.
Knowle (Blatch)
- pubescens, Kirby. On willows, in
moss, etc. ; all seasons. Solibull
(Blatch), Knowle
- marchicum, Herbst. On sorrel, etc.,
by sweeping ; spring to autumn.
Knowle ; Sutton (Blatch), Solihull
violaceum, Kirby. On docks, sorrel,
etc., and in moss, etc. ; all seasons ;
all localities
- hydrolapathi, Kirby. On docks, in
moss ; all seasons ; all localities
humile, Germ. On sorrel, in moss,
etc. ; all seasons ; all localities
OTIORRHYNCHINA
Otiorrhynchus tenebricosus, Herbst. In
moss, under stones, etc. ; all seasons.
Salford Priors (Blatch)
ligneus, Ol. In moss, grass roots, under
OTIORRHVNCHINA (continued)
stones, etc. ; all seasons. Stratford-
on-Avon (Bloom)
Otiorrhynchus picipes, F. On young trees
and herbage, in moss, etc. ; a common
garden pest ; all seasons ; abundant
everywhere
sulcatus, F. At roots of plants, in moss,
etc. ; all seasons ; all localities
ovatus, L. In moss, at roots of plants,
etc. ; all seasons. Knowle (Blatch)
muscorum, Bris. In moss, under stones,
etc. ; all seasons. Knowle
Strophosomus coryli, F. On young trees, in
moss, etc. ; all seasons ; all localities
capitatus, De G. On young trees, in
moss, etc. ; all seasons ; all localities
retusus, Marsh. On furze, heath, etc. ;
spring and summer. Sutton (Blatch),
Knowle
Exomias araneiformis, Schr. In moss and
herbage ; all seasons ; abundant in
all localities
pellucidus, Boh. In moss, etc. ; all
seasons. Knowle (Blatch)
Brachysomus echinatus, Bousd. In moss
and hedge rubbish ; all seasons.
Knowle (Blatch)
Sciaphilus muricatus, F. In moss, hedge
rubbish, etc. ; all seasons ; all locali-
ties
Tropiphorus tomentosus, Marsh. On Mer-
curialis perennis, in moss, etc. ; all
seasons. Knowle (Blatch)
Liophlceus nubilus, F. On young trees,
in moss, etc. ; all seasons. Knowle
Polydrusus tereticollis, De G. On young
trees, especially in woods ; spring to
autumn ; all localities
pterygomalis, Boh. On young trees in
woods ; summer. Knowle
cervinus, L. On young trees ; in woods
and hedges ; spring to autumn ; all
localities
Phyllobius oblongus, L. On trees and
shrubs ; spring to autumn ; all
localities
calcaratus, F. On alders and occa-
sionally other trees ; spring and
summer. Knowle
urticae, De G. On nettles ; spring and
summer ; all localities
pyri, L. On various trees in woods
and hedges ; spring and summer ;
all localities
argentatus, L. On birch, oak, white-
thorn, etc. ; spring and autumn ; all
localities
maculicornis, Germ. On various trees
in and near woods. Knowle
1 2O
INSECTS
OTIORRHYNCHINA (continued)
Phyllobius pomonae, Ol. On young trees.
Knowle
viridiaeris, Laich. On nettles and various
trees, in moss, etc. ; all seasons ; all
localities
Barynotus obscurus, F. Under stones, at
roots of plants and in moss ; all sea-
sons ; all localities
elevatus, Marsh. In sandy places,
under stones, etc. ; all seasons.
Knowle (Blatch)
Alophus triguttatus, F. In sandy places,
under stones, etc., also in moss and
herbage ; all seasons. Salford Priors
(Blatch), Knowle
CURCUUONINA
Sitones cambricus, Steph. In moss ; at
roots of grass in marshy places ; all
seasons. Earls-wood, Tanworth, Soli-
hull (Blatch), Knowle
regensteinensis, Herbst. On gorse and
broom and at roots of grass, in moss,
etc. ; abundant in all localities
tibialis, Herbst. On broom, in moss,
etc. ; all seasons ; all localities
hispidulus, F. On clover, broom, etc.,
and in moss ; all seasons ; all locali-
ties
humeralis, Steph. On Leguminosae,
etc. ; summer. Knowle
flavescens, Marsh. On clover, etc. ; sum-
mer. Small Heath (Blatch), Knowle
flavescens var. longicollis, Fahr. On
clover, etc. ; summer. Knowle
puncticollis, Steph. On clover, vetches,
etc., and in moss ; all seasons. Knowle
suturalis, Steph. On Leguminosae, etc.,
and in moss ; all seasons. Knowle
lineatus, L. On peas, beans and other
plants, in moss, etc. ; all seasons ;
all localities
sulcifrons, Thunb. In clover fields,
moss, etc. ; all seasons ; all localities
Hypera punctata, F. Amongst herbage,
in moss, hedge refuse, etc. ; all sea-
sons ; all localities
rumicis, L. On docks, in moss, etc. ;
all seasons ; all localities
polygoni, L. On the corn-spurrey
(Spergula arvensis, etc.) ; all locali-
ties
suspiciosa, Herbst. On trefoils, etc.,
and in moss ; all seasons. Knowle
(Blatch), Coleshill
variabilis, Herbst. On trefoil, vetches,
broom, etc. ; spring to autumn.
Knowle (Blatch)
trilineata, Marsh. On Leguminosae,
etc. ; summer. Knowle (Blatch)
CURCULIONINA (continued)
Hypera nigrirostris, F. On clover and
other plants, in moss, hedge refuse,
hot-beds, etc. ; all seasons ; all
localities
Cleonus sulcirostris, L. On thistles ; spring
to autumn. Knowle (Blatch)
Liosoma ovatulum, Clairv. In moss, grass
roots, hedge refuse, etc. ; all seasons ;
all localities
ovatulum var. collaris, Rye. Found
with the type, but much scarcer
and more attached to boggy places.
Tysoe ; Coleshill (Blatch), Knowle
oblongulum, Boh. In moss and amongst
dead leaves in woods ; all seasons.
Knowle
Hylobius abietis, L. Amongst pines and
firs ; summer. Edgbaston ; Sutton
(Blatch) Knowle
Orchestes quercus, L. On oaks, under
bark, in moss, dead leaves, etc. ;
all seasons ; found freely in all parts
of the midlands
alni, L. On elm trees, in hedges,
under bark, etc. ; all seasons ; all
localities
alni var. ferrugineus, Marsh. Found
with the type form, but less abun-
dantly
ilicis, F. On oak and other trees ;
summer. Knowle (Blatch)
avellanae, Don. On oaks, etc. ; sum-
mer. Knoivle (Blatch)
fagi, L. On beech trees, under bark,
etc. ; all seasons ; all localities
rusci, Herbst. On birch and other
trees, especially in woods ; spring
to autumn ; all localities
stigma, Germ. On sallows, etc. ;
spring to autumn ; all localities
salicis, L. On willows, etc. ; spring
to autumn ; all localities
Rhamphus flavicornis, Clairv. On birch,
sallow, etc. ; spring to autumn ; all
localities
Grypidius equiseti, F. On the horsetail
(Equisetum) ; spring to autumn ;
throughout the midlands
Erirrhinus acridulus, L. In low meadows,
margins of streams, rivers and ponds,
at roots of plants, in moss, etc. ; all
seasons ; abundant in all localities
Thryogenes festucae, Herbst. At roots of
Carex, amongst reeds, etc. ; on river
banks, etc. ; all seasons. Leaming-
ton ; Salford Priors (Blatch)
nereis, Payk. Amongst reeds in wet
and boggy places ; all seasons.
Knowle
121
16
A HISTORY OF WARWICKSHIRE
CURCULIONINA (continued)
Thryogenes scirrhosus, Gyll. Amongst
reeds and in grass tussocks in bogs ;
all seasons. Sutton Park (Blatch)
Dorytomus vorax, F. On poplars : often
found in profusion hybernating under
the bark ; all seasons ; all localities
tortrix, L. On aspens, willows and
poplars in summer ; under bark in
winter. Knowle (Blatch), Co/eshill
maculatus, Marsh. On sallows, etc. ;
amongst leaves and refuse in wet
places in winter ; all seasons ; abun-
dant everywhere
maculatus var. costirostris, Gyll. On
aspens, etc. Coleshill (June)
melanopthalmus, Payk. On sallows ;
autumn. Knowle
melanopthalmus var. agnathus, Boh.
On sallows ; autumn. Knowle
pectoralis, Gyll. On sallows and at
roots of plants ; all seasons. Knowle
(Blatch)
Tanysphyrus lemnae, F. On duckweed
(Lemna) and amongst refuse ; all
sasons. Knowle ; Coleshill (Blatch)
Bagous alismatis, Marsh. On water-
plantain, watercress, etc. Knowle
Anoplus plantaris, Naez. On young birches,
etc. ; spring to autumn ; all localities
- roboris, Suffr. On alders, oaks, etc.
Knowle (Blatch)
Elleschus bipunctatus, L. On young sal-
lows ; autumn. Knowle (Blatch)
Tychius tomentosus, Herbst. On vetches
and other plants ; summer. Knowle
(Blatch)
Miccotrogus picirostris, F. On herbage in
pastures, in moss, etc. ; all seasons ;
all localities
Gymnetron villosulus,Gyll. Amongst herb-
age on margins of watercourses, etc.
Knowle. Also recorded from Knowle
by Blatch, but no specimen is pre-
served in his collection
- baccabungae, L. On Veronica bacca-
bunga and other aquatic plants ; sum-
mer. Knowle ; Tysoe (Blatch), Coles-
hill
Mecinus pyraster, Herbst. On plantains,
in moss, etc. ; all seasons ; all localities
Anthonomus ulmi, De G. On elms, etc. ;
summer ; all localities
rosinae, Des Gozis. By beating hedges ;
summer. Knowle
pedicularis, L. On whitethorn and
other trees. Knowle (Blatch)
pomorum, L. On apple, pear and
other trees ; summer ; all localities
rubi, Herbst. By beating hedges, etc.,
CURCULIONINA (continued)
during summer ; in moss and leaves
in woods in winter ; all localities
Cionus scrophularias, L. On figworts(Scro-
phularia); summer. Know/e(Blntch),
Solihull
hortulanus, Marsh. On Scrophularia
and Verbascum ; summer. Knowle
blattariaa, F. Habitat same as pre-
ceding ; summer ; all localities
pulchellus, Herbst. On Scrophularia
nodosa ; summer ; all localities
Orobites cyaneus, L. On herbage and in
moss ; all seasons. Knowle ; Tysoe
(Blatch), Coleshill
Cryptorrhynchus lapathi, L. On willows,
in osier beds, etc. ; summer. Salford
Priors
Coeliodes rubicundus, Herbst. On young
birches in woods and bogs ; amongst
dead leaves, etc., in winter ; all sea-
sons. Knowle; Sutton (Blatch), Coles-
hill
- quercus, F. On young oaks ; amongst
moss and leaves in woods ; all sea-
sons. Knowle ; Sutton (Blatch)
ruber, Marsh. On young oaks and
amongst dead leaves in woods ; all
seasons. Knowle
erythroleucus, Gmel. On oaks, etc.,
in and near woods, and moss and
dead leaves in winter ; all seasons.
Knowle, Coleshill
cardui, Herbst. On herbage, in moss,
flood refuse, etc. ; all seasons. Knowle
quadrimaculatus, L. On the stinging
nettle, in moss and herbage ; all sea-
sons ; all localities
Poophagus sisymbrii, F. On Nasturtium
amphibium ; on margins of brooks
and ponds, etc. ; summer ; fairly
plentiful throughout midlands
Ceuthorrhynchusassimilis, Payk. On Cruci-
ferae, in moss and herbage ; all sea-
sons ; all localities
cochleariae, Gyll. On Cochlearia and
Cardamine in wet places ,- all sea-
sons. Knowle (Blatch)
- ericae, Gyll. On heath and ling and
in moss, etc. ; all seasons. Coleshill ;
Sutton (Blatch)
- erysimi, F. On Cruciferae, in moss,
etc. ; all seasons ; all localities
erysimi var. chloropterus, Steph. Found
with the type form
contractus, Marsh. On Cruciferae, in
moss, etc. ; all seasons ; all localities
quadridens, Panz. On Cruciferas, in
moss, etc. ; all seasons. Knowle
(Blatch), Coleshill
122
INSECTS
CURCULIONINA (continued)
Ceuthorrhynchus pollinarius, Forst. On
the stinging nettle, in moss, etc. ;
all seasons ; abundant in all places
pleurostigma, Marsh. On Cruciferas,
in moss, etc. ; all seasons ; all locali-
ties
marginatus, Payk. On flowers and
herbage ; summer. Knowle (Blatch)
rugulosus, Herbst. In moss and herb-
age ; all seasons. Solihull
euphorbias, Bris. On spurge (Euphorbia),
etc. Knoui/e
chrysanthemi, Germ. On the ox-eye
daisy,etc. ; summer. Knowle (Blatch)
litura, F. On thistles, etc. ; summer ;
all localities
Ceuthorrhynchidius floralis,Payk. On Cruci-
ferae, etc. ; summer ; all localities
nigrinus, Marsh. In herbage in wet
places. Sheldon
melanarius, Steph. Amongst herbage
and moss, etc., in wet places ; all
seasons. Knowle ; Salford Priors
(Blatch)
quercicola, Payk. On herbage and in
moss. Knowle (Blatch)
troglodytes, F. On plantains and herb-
age in pastures ; all seasons ; abun-
dant in all localities
Rhytidosomus globulus, Herbst. On aspens ;
summer ; taken by the late Mr. Blatch
and the author in woods near Knowle
Amalus hasmorrhous, Herbst. On herbage,
in moss, etc. ; all seasons. Salford
Priors (Blatch), Knowle
Rhinoncus pericarpius, L. On knot grass,
dock, thistles, etc. ; all seasons ; all
localities
gramineus, Herbst. At roots of plants,
in vegetable refuse, etc. ; all seasons.
Coleshill ; Button (Blatch), Knowle
perpendicularis, Reich. In bogs and
damp meadows ; all seasons. Knowle ;
Sutton (Blatch), Kingswood, Coleshill
castor, F. At roots of grass and amongst
herbage ; all seasons. Sutton Cold-
field
Phytobius comari, Herbst. Grass tussocks,
moss, etc., in bogs ; all seasons. Coles-
hill; Sutton (Blatch)
quadrituberculatus, F. In bogs and
marshy places, in moss, etc. ; all
seasons ; all localities
canaliculatus, Fahr. Marshy places.
Knowle (June)
quadricornis, Gyll. Marshy places.
Sutton Coldfield
Limnobaris T-album, L. In grass tussocks,
axils of reeds and flags, in moss, etc.,
CURCULIONINA (continued}
in bogs and marshy places ; all sea-
sons. Coleshill ; Sutton (Blatch)
Balaninus venosus, Grav. On oaks in
woods ; summer. Knowle
nucum, L. On hazel in woods ; sum-
mer. Knowle
turbatus, Gyll. On oak, hazel, etc. ;
summer. Knowle
villosus, F. On oaks and hazels in
summer ; flood refuse in winter.
Knowle ; Sutton (Blatch)
salicivorus, Payk. On willows ; spring
to autumn ; all localities
pyrrhoceras, Marsh. On oak, willow,
hazel, etc. ; spring to autumn ; gener-
ally distributed
Magdalis armigera, Fourc. By beating ;
summer. Knowle
- cerasi, L. On blackthorn, etc. ; sum-
mer. Knowle
- pruni, L. On blackthorn ; summer ;
all localities
CALANDRINA
Calandra granaria, L. In granaries, flour,
corn, etc. ; all seasons. Birmingham ;
Small Heath (Blatch), Knowle
oryzae, L. In rice, wheat, flour, etc. ;
all seasons. Birmingham (Blatch),
Knowle
COSSONINA
Rhyncolus gracilis, Ros. In birch twigs,
on dry sticks, etc. ; summer. Small
Heath (Blatch)
SCOLYTID^E
Scolytus destructor, Ol. In elm, ash and
other trees ; all seasons. Knowle ;
Salford Priors (Blatch)
pruni, Ratz. In apple trees. Haseler
(Blatch), Knowle
multistriatus, Marsh. In decaying trees,
ash, apple, etc. ; summer. Knowle
Hylastes ater, Payk. Under pine bark ;
summer. Knowle
opacus, Er. In decaying wood, fir,
elm, etc. ; spring to autumn. Knowle
(Blatch)
palliatus, Gyll. Under bark of spruce
and other firs ; all seasons. Knowle ;
Sutton (Blatch)
Hylesinus crenatus, F. In decaying ash
trees. Knowle (Blatch)
oleiperda, F. In dead ash trees. Leam-
ington (A. G. Chitty), Knowle
fraxini, Panz. In decaying ash trees ;
all seasons ; all localities
vittatus, F. In decaying elm, ash, etc. ;
Campion Wyniates (Power), Salford
Priors (Blatch)
A HISTORY OF WARWICKSHIRE
Myelophilus piniperda, L. In decaying
firs, in dead leaves, etc. ; all seasons.
Knawle ; Sutton (Blatch)
Xylocleptes bispinus, Duft. In the stems
of Clematis vitalba ; summer. Sut-
ton Park (Blatch)
Dryocastes villosus, F. Under oak bark ;
all seasons ; abundant in the midlands
alni, Georg. Under bark of beech, etc. ;
summer. Near Tardley (Blatch)
Pityogenes bidentatus, Herbst. Under fir
bark and by sweeping amongst
pines. Sutton Park
Trypodcndrort domesticum, L. In decay-
ing wood of oak and other trees ; all
seasons. Sutton Park (Blatch), Knowle
ABNORMAL COLEOPTERA
STYLOPIDjE
Stylops melittae, Kirby. Parasitic on bees
(Andrena). The late Mr. Blatch
was under the impression that he
found a specimen on an Andrena
captured at Knowle^ but unfortu-
nately it was not preserved
LEPIDOPTERA
The greater part of the following list needs no explanation ; a few
notes on the authorities quoted are however necessary. Mention has
already been made in the general introduction of the late Mr. W. G.
Blatch. He is quoted constantly throughout this list in several ways. In
the first place the lists in the Handbook to Birmingham for the use of the
British Association, mentioned above, are referred to as Brit. Assoc. Hand.
or ' W. G. Blatch Hand.' These records must be taken as fairly accurate
but not absolutely trustworthy, owing to the fact that to some extent they
were compiled from sources not always quite sound ; moreover I am
afraid they were rather hastily put together without sufficient examina-
tion. The greater part of the records quoted on his authority have
however been made after personal examination of his collection, and
have only been given when the specimen is actually there and is labelled.
These are probably accurate, as Mr. C. G. Barrett went through the
collection not long before Mr. Blatch's death. These are referred to as
' Blatch Coll.' Mr. Blatch also left a MS. catalogue of a portion of his
collection, made as the specimens were taken in his earlier days. Many
of these specimens do not now exist in his cabinets ; and many mistakes
occur, as the notes were usually made at the time, but whereas the
identification was frequently corrected afterwards the catalogue was
not always corrected. This is occasionally quoted as ' Blatch Cat.' In a
few cases I have records personally conveyed to me, and those are simply
quoted ' W. G. Blatch.' The Rugby School Natural History Society
Reports referred to above are usually referred to simply as 'Rugby Lists.'
When a record occurred only once the date is put afterwards. These
records must be accepted with much reserve. They are for the most
part merely schoolboys' records and naturally very untrustworthy. I
hesitated for some time about employing them at all, but as no other
account of that part of the county was procurable they have been
quoted when other evidence of the species occurring in the county has
not been forthcoming. Many absurd errors occur which make one dis-
trustful of the whole list ; but no schoolboy is likely to be wrong about
a species like Zeuzera pyrina, L., which is mentioned in nearly every
report. While therefore excluding the most improbable ones I have
124
INSECTS
thought it worth while to give all those most likely to be correct in
order to give a better idea of distribution inside the county. Even for
this purpose the lists are rather unsatisfactory, as unfortunately exact
localities are not always given, and Rugby may mean some place 10
miles away, perhaps not even in Warwickshire, as Rugby is so near the
border. Several of the contributors to the reports were masters and
others whose records are much more reliable, such as the Rev. A. H.
Wratislaw, Messrs. J. M. Furness, A. and N. V. Sidgwick, and I have
usually quoted their names in addition. Mr. F. Enock's Lists in Pro-
ceedings of Birmingham Natural History and Microscopical Society referred
to in the general introduction are quoted as ' F. Enock, List,' 1869 or
1870 ; and the brief popular account he gave in the Saturday Half-
Holiday Guide as F. Enock, Saturday Guide. It should be pointed out
that even though they may have been accurate, some of the records
of Messrs. F. Enock and W. G. Blatch in these older publications were
correct only for the time when they were written, and the insects referred
to cannot always be found still in the same places. Of the other
authorities most of them explain themselves. I have had opportunities
of examining Messrs. R. C. Bradley 's and H. W. Ellis' collections and
have had lists supplied to me by Messrs. C. Baker, W. Kiss, W. C. E.
Wheeler and N. V. Sidgwick, Dr. P. P. Baly and Rev. W. Bree, and all
their records are taken from those lists. Rev. J. H. Bloom collected
information specially for me for purposes of this work, and sent to me
the records of Mr. Austen and Mr. L. C. Keighley-Peach. I have had
no opportunity of seeing any of the specimens recorded by them.
Most of the remainder of the records have been given either personally
or have been obtained through specimens shown at meetings of the Bir-
mingham Entomological Society, and have been gradually accumulated,
a few only having been obtained, after much search, from the magazines,
etc. The list will be found a poor one, especially in the smaller and
more obscure groups, but this is not surprising seeing that the county
has never had a collector who has given his undivided attention to the
whole of the Lepidoptera. Mr. Blatch was primarily a coleopterist and
Mr. R. C. Bradley has given most of his time to Diptera and Aculeate
Hymenoptera, and few of the others have ever studied any but the
Macro-Lepidoptera. I myself am not a lepidopterist, but have given
most of my time to a few groups of the Diptera. Some years ago
however I gave a little attention to the Lepidoptera, when like too many
others I took little notice of the ' Micros,' of which I know very little, so
that that part of the following list is chiefly compilation. Where no
authority is quoted for a record, I am myself responsible.
The chief places quoted are situated, roughly speaking, as follows :
Sutton on the north-west border line ; Birmingham also on the border line
a little further south ; Moseley, Small Heath, Yardley and Stechford, all
suburbs of Birmingham, on the south or south-east side (Moseley and
Yardley themselves being actually just over the border) ; Marston Green,
Knowle, Solihull, Olton, Hampton-in-Arden, Coleshill and Hay Woods,
125
A HISTORY OF WARWICKSHIRE
all in the west of the county ; Alcester, Haselor and Salford Priors in
extreme south-west ; Whitchurch, Wolford, Idlicote, Wellesbourne,
Ettington, all nearly south ; Rugby in the extreme east ; Atherstone on
the north-east border ; Brandon, Coombe, Waveney and PVankton Woods
all in the eastern parts of the county ; and Coventry, Warwick, etc.,
almost in the centre. A glance at the map will show that most of the
places where the majority of our records have been made happen to be
on or very near the border line of the county.
The total number of species recorded is only 813, excluding doubt-
fully accurate ones, a very poor number which could easily be added to
by a little attention to the smaller species. There are 46 butterflies, of
which 6 Aporia crafagi, Vanessa Antiopa, Nemeobius lucina, Lyccena Argus,
L. Condon, and L. semiargus have no good claim to be considered War-
wickshire insects. The larger species, Noctuidas, Geometridae, etc., of
the old lists are fairly well represented, whilst the greater number of
blanks will be found in the old families Tortricida? and Tineidae.
I have adopted for this list the classification and nomenclature of
Staudinger and Rebel's last catalogue without change, although I do not
think that it by any means reaches the high water mark of modern
entomological progress. I have given synonyms according to no regular
system, quoting only those which it seemed to me would be helpful
to make clear the species intended.
land it is never abundant witli us.
It is very rarely seen excepting in
the big Edusa years. I have records
from Bent ley Heath (A. H. Mar-
tineau) ; Meriden (one = 1892,
G. W. Wynn) ; Knowle (W. Kiss,
W. G. Blatch Hand., J. T.
Fountain) ; Yardley and Coleshill
(W. G. Blatch Hand.); Marston
Green (Blatch Cat.) ; Allesley (occa-
sionally, W. Bree) ; Warwick (com-
mon in 1877, but never seen since ;
two of var. Helice amongst them,
P. P. Baly) ; Atherstone (C. Baker) ;
Wolford Woods (plentiful in 1900,
Austen) ; Whitchurch (J. H. Bloom) ;
Sutton Coldfield (J. W. Moore En-
tom, 1892); Wolford (common in
1877 ; also var. Helice, W. C. E.
Wheeler) ; Rugby (Lucas, E.M.M.
1892, p. 266) ; several records in
Rugby lists in years 1867, 1877,
1889, 1892, including one var.
Helice at Overslade (J. M. Furness,
1892), etc.
Gonepteryx rhamni, L. Throughout the
county
NYMPHALID^
NYMPHALINJE
Apatura Iris, L. Very rare. I have never
seen a Warwickshire specimen, but
PIERID^E
Aporia cratsegi, L. Never seems to have
been a native of this county. The
Rev. W. Bree once took a single
specimen at Allesley, and Mr. W. C.
E. Wheeler says he has an old speci-
men of his father's which he believes
was taken at Wolford
Pieris brassicae, L. Common everywhere
- rapas, L.
- '"Pi, L.
Euchloe cardamines, L.
Leptidia (Lcucophasia) sinapis, L. Very
rare ; I know of no recent captures.
Mr. W. G. Blatch (Brit. Assoc.
Hand.) says: 'Occasionally in woods
near Knoiu/e.' It occurs in Mr. F.
Enock's list, 1869, probably referring
to the same place ; and in the Rugby
It6t for 1874 (H. Vicars)
Colias Hyale, L. Very rare ; only casuals
have occurred. Edgbaston Reservoir
(one in 1868, F. Enock ; mentioned
in Newman's) ; Rugby (W. S.
Edmonds, Rugby list, 1888); near
Birmingham (G. H.Kenrick, E.M.M.
1868, p. 107) ; Wolford Woods
(several in 1900, Austen)
Colias Edusa, F. We get our share of the
occasional immigrations of this
species, although being so far in-
126
INSECTS
NYMPHALINJE (continued)
have the following records for it :
Ettington Park (one, some time since,
J. H. Bloom) ; Wolford (frequently
seen, a few taken years ago by my
father, W. C. E. Wheeler) ; Oakley
Woods (is said to have been taken
there, but have never seen it there,
or a specimen from there, P. P.
Baly). Mr. W. G. Blatch speaks
of its occurrence in woods near
Coventry and Leamington, on what
authority I do not know (Brit.
Asm. Hand.; also E.M.M. 1887,
p. 199) ; it occurs in Rugby list
for 1888 (W. S. Edmonds), and
Morris mentions its occurrence at
Anstey
Pyrameis Atalanta, L. Occurs in every
list from all parts of the county, and
is sometimes abundant, but not
generally. It seems very irregular
in its appearance
cardui, L. The same remarks apply
to this as to the last species
Vanessa Jo, L. This species likewise
occurs in every list I have received,
but frequently with the remark ' not
common.' I have not often seen it
myself in the county
urticae, L. Common everywhere. One
var. polaris Small Heath (A. D. Imms,
E.M.M. 1901, p. 148)
[ 1-album, Esp. A specimen of this
species is said to have been taken by
Mr. B. May at Henley-in-Arden
about 1877. The specimen was
exhibited at a meeting of the
Birmingham Ent. Soc., and the
capture seemed genuine. It was
probably an accidental importation]
polychloros, L. Rare ; there seems to
be a general opinion that it is rarer
now than it used to be. Sutton
(one, R. C. Bradley ; one, C.
J. Wainwright) ; Knowle (W. Kiss,
Blatch Hand.) ; Allesley (scarce,
W. Bree) ; Warwick (but not no-
ticed lately, P. P. Baly); Wolf or d
(used to be common, but now almost
gone, W. C. E. Wheeler) ; Rugby,
Overslade, etc. (Rugby lists, several
records). Newman quotes, 'not un-
common (W. G. Colbourne) ; Strat-
ford-on-Avon (W. G. Colbourne) ;
Rugby (A. H. Wratislaw) ' ; and
Morris gives Anstey
Antiopa, L. I have the following re-
cords : Sutton Park (one, Titley) ;
Warwick (one taken by C. S. H.
NYMPHALIN^: (continued}
Perceval, Aug. 22, 1872; Entom.
Dec. 1872); Coombe Wood near Rug-
by (one, H. Vicars, Rugby list,
1874) ; Birmingham near Cannon
Hill Park (one, R. C. R. Jordan,
E.M.M. 1880, p. 113); Warwick
(one taken by a lady and recorded
by E. G. Baldwin, E.M.M. i. 213)
Polygonia c-album, L. Fairly generally
distributed, but never abundant. I
have however many records for it,
and W. G. Blatch says (Brit. Assoc.
Hand.) that it is sometimes seen
even in the streets of Birmingham
Melitaea aurinia, Rott. (Artemis, Hb.).
Rare ; here and there small colonies
in very restricted areas. Knowle
(R. C. Bradley, Blatch Hand.) ;
Vmberslade (J. T. Fountain) ; Alles-
ley (once only, W. Bree) ; Wolford
(very local, one or two fields only,
W. C. E. Wheeler) ; Brandon Woods
(Rugby lists) ; Morris quotes Coles-
bill and Coventry. It used to occur
in Sutton Park, but on draining the
marshes to build the railway through
it its haunts were destroyed, and the
last time it was heard of was in 1882,
when a few specimens were taken
by E. C. Tye
[ cinxia, L. Morris recorded the cap-
ture of a specimen at Leamington by
Mr. Walhouse ; doubtless an error]
Argynnis Selene, Schiff. Common in many
of the larger woods. Manton Green
(E. C. Tye, G. W. Wynn) ; Knowle
(W. Kiss, Blatch Hand., etc.) ; Coles-
hill Pool (W. Bree) ; Sutton Coldfield
(Stainton in Manual] ; Rugby = Bran-
don Woods, Princethorpe, etc. (Rugby
lists) ; Wolford (W. C. E. Wheeler) ;
Coombe (G. B. Longstaff, E.M.M.
1866, p. 138)
Euphrosyne, L. Distributed more widely
than the above. Manton Green (E. C.
Tye, G. W. Wynn) ; Knowle (R. C.
Bradley, Blatch Hand., etc.) ; Coven-
try (G. H. Kenrick) ; Sutton (one in
garden, R. C. Bradley) ; Hay Woods
(H. W. Ellis) ; Carley (abundant for-
merly in woods at Corley ; none seen
for many years, W. Bree) ; Oakley
and Hay Woods (very common, P. P.
Baly) ; Rugby = Brandon Woods,
Princethorpe, etc. (Rugby lists) ;
Atherstone (C. Baker) ; Wolford
Woods (Austen and W. C. E.
Wheeler) ; Coombe (G. B. Long-
staff, E.M.M. 1866, p. 138)
12?
A HISTORY OF WARWICKSHIRE
NYMPHAUN/E (continued)
[Argynnis Dia, L. It was at Sutton Park
that this species was supposed to have
been taken by Weaver, and it was
also in this county at Leamington
that A. Aphrodite, an American
species, I believe, was supposed to
have been taken by Mr. Walhouse
as recorded by Morris]
Aglaja, L. Rare. Occurs at Wol-
ford Woods (Austen and W. C. E.
Wheeler) ; is quoted two or three
times in the Rugby lists from Bran-
don Woods ; the Rev. W. Bree re-
cords it from Coleshill Poo/, near to
which E. C. Tye believes he took
it some years ago ; and W. G.
Blatch gives Knowh in Brit. Asm.
Hand. I have never seen a Warwick-
shire specimen myself, and there is
not much ground suitable to it
Adippe, L. Not uncommon in some
of the larger woods. Coombe Woods
(W. Bree and G. B. Longstaff,
E.M.M. 1866, p. 138); Rugby =
Brandon Woods, etc. (Rugby lists, and
G. B. LongstafF in Newman's) ;
Wolford Woods (Austen, W. C. E.
Wheeler) ; Marston Green (E. C.
Tye) ; Knowh (C. J. Wainwright,
Blatch Hand.) ; Earlswood (A. D.
Imms)
- Paphia, L. Found with Adippe as a
rule, not uncommon in most suitable
places. Wolf or d Woods (Austen and
W. C. E. Wheeler) ; Coombe Woods
(G. B. LongstafF, E.M.M. 1866,
p. 138); Rugby = Brandon Woods,
etc. (Rugby lists) ; Atherstone (C.
Baker) ; Chesterton Wood and Oakley
Wood near Warwick (common, P. P.
Baly) ; Corley (abundant formerly,
none seen for many years, W. Bree) ;
Brandon (W. Bree, 1900); Know/e
(Blatch Hand.) ; Marston Green
(E. C. Tye believes he took it
there) ; Sutton Park (A. D. Imms
records it as common in the Park,
see Entom. 1898, p. 43 ; Mr. Brad-
ley and I however have collected
in the very spot many times and
have never seen or heard of it there)
SATYRIN.S
Melanargia Galathea, L. Not common ;
is recorded from Alcester (R. C.
Bradley and Blatch Cat.) ; Know/e ;
Henley - in - Arden, Salford Priors
(W. G. Blatch, E.M.M. 1887,
p. 199, etc.) ; Print Hill and Long
Itchington (W. Bree) ; Warwick (once,
128
SATYRIN.S (continued)
Baly) ; Know/e (in woods near, but
not taken for many years, F. Enock
in Newman's) ; Weston Park (one,
Austen) ; Wolford (common in cer-
tain very restricted spots, does not
occur every year, W. C. E. Wheeler).
I have however not heard of any
recent captures in several of the
above localities
[Satyrus Semele, L. Has been recorded in
the Rugby lists, but I doubt its
occurrence in the county]
Pararge ./Egeria, L. I believe not uncom-
mon in woods, but I have few re-
cords : Wolford (W. C. E. Wheeler) ;
Warwick (one, Baly) ; Rugby (many
times in Rugby lists from different
woods) ; and F. Enock in his list of
insects occurring within ten miles of
Birmingham gives it as common
Megera, L. Common. Warwick (com-
mon, Baly) ; Rugby (Rugby lists
many times) ; Wolford Woods (Aus-
ten) ; Whitchurch (J. H. Bloom) ;
Wolford (W. C. E. Wheeler) ; Sut-
ton Park (W. G. Blatch, E.M.M.
1887, p. 200)
Aphantopus (Epinephele) Hyperantus (Hy-
peranthus), L. Common in many
places. Hampton (G. W. Wynn) ;
Knowle (H. W. Ellis); Atherstone
(C. Baker) ; Oakley and Hay Woods
(in profusion, Baly) ; Rugby = Bran-
don Woods, etc. (Rugby lists) ; Wol-
ford (Austen, W. C. E. Wheeler)
Epinephele Jurtina, L. (Janira). Common
throughout the county
Tithonus, L. Common. Solibul/(A. H.
Martineau) ; Know/e (W. Kiss) ;
Know/e and Shottery (Blatch Cat.) ;
Warwick (common, Baly) ; Rugby
(Rugby lists) ; Whitchurch (common,
(J. H. Bloom) ; Wolford (W. C. E.
Wheeler)
Coenonympha Pamphilus, L. Common in
all suitable localities ; very abundant
in Sutton Park
ERYCINID.E
Nemeobius Lucina, L. Not usually found
in Warwickshire, but W. C. E.
Wheeler records it from Wolford
just inside the county in the extreme
south-west
LYC/ENIDjE
Thecla w-album, Knock. Wolford (not
common, W. C. E. Wheeler);
Brandon Woods (four or five in
INSECTS
1888, N. V. Sidgwick); Wolford
Woods (Austen) ; Whitchurcb (fre-
quent in garden, J. H. Bloom) ;
Athentone (C. Baker) ; Brandon
Woods (N. W. Hudson, Rugby list,
1888) ; near Warwick^, dim recol-
lection, P. P. Baly) ; Knowle (W. G.
Blatch) ; Haselor near Alcester (Blatch
Cat.) ; and Morris gives Allesley
[Thecla pruni, L., was recorded in Blatch
Hand, in error]
Callophrys rubi, L. Very local ; common
in Sutton Park, which is its best
known haunt ; also recorded from
Edgebill (P. P. Baly) ; Wolford
(W. C. E. Wheeler) ; Allesley (once
only, W. Bree)
Zephyrus quercus, L. Fairly common.
Oakley Wood (common most years,
P. P. Baly) ; Atherstone (C. Baker) ;
Rugby = Brandon Woods, etc. (Rugby
lists) ; Wolford Woods (Austen, W.
C. E. Wheeler) ; Alveston near
Wbitchurch (L. C. Keighley-Peach) ;
Coombe Wood (G. B. Longstaff,
EMM. 1866, p. 138); Tilt Hill
Woods (very abundant some years,
W. Bree) ; Corky Woods (occasion-
ally, W. Bree); Knowle (W. G.
Blatch Hand.)
[ betulae, L. The only record of the
capture of this species in the county
is one by W. C. E. Wheeler, who
says his father took it at Wolford.
Mr. C. G. Barrett thinks it is not a
likely Warwickshire insect, so that
confirmation is desirable]
Chrysophanus Phlaeas, L. Common every-
where
Lycaena Argus, L. (/Egon, Schiff). Very
rare, and I have no satisfactory mo-
dern records. Newman gives it as
occurring at Coleshill Park and neigh-
bourhood and Sutton Park on the
authority of F. Enock, and Morris
also quotes Coleshill Heath. I fear
however that it is gone from both
these localities many years ago. It
is also recorded from Rugby by New-
man on the authority of G. B.
Longstaff and by E. Solly (Rugby
list, 1881)
Astrarche, Bgstr. Not common. Wol-
ford (W. C. E. Wheeler); Rugby
(Rugby lists) ; and Morris says near
Birmingham. I have not seen any
county specimens
Icarus, Rott. (Alexis, Hub.) Common
everywhere
Coridon, Poda. This and Bellargus,
I 129
Rott., cannot be regarded as
Warwickshire insects, and as there
is no chalk in the county they are
scarcely to be expected. W. C. E.
Wheeler however tells me that the
former occurs within a few miles of
Wolford. In this extreme south-
west corner of Warwickshire how-
ever several insects have been found
by him which are not characteristic
of the county, and it may be partly
owing to the fact that along the
southern border Liassic rocks crop
up, whereas most of the county con-
sists of Triassic sandstones, etc. A
single specimen of Coridon also is
said to have been taken years ago at
Knowle, as recorded in Morris, New-
man and F. Enock's list. It was
probably a straggler, but it may
have been a survivor of a small
colony, as there is a small outcrop
of lias near, and the species seems
sometimes associated with that forma-
tion as well as with chalk
Lycaena minimus, Fuessl. (Alsus, F.) Wol-
ford (W. C. E. Wheeler, Austen,
J. H. Bloom) ; Stockton (in fairly large
numbers, June 22, 1901, on banks
of a chalk pit where Anthyllis grows,
D. T. Garrett, Entom. 1901, p. 229 ;
also W. S. Edmonds, Rugby lists)
semiargus, Rott. (Acis, Schiff.) Used
to occur many years ago near
Birmingham, but it is long since one
was taken, and I do not know any
one who possesses a local specimen.
Its occurrence is referred to by
Stainton, quoting Allis, who says
that it had not been taken for seve-
ral years then ; by Morris, quoting
W. Bree, who took one specimen in
Coleshill Park ; by W. G. Blatch in
Brit. Assoc. Hand. ; and by New-
man, quoting F. Enock, who gives
Shirley as the locality
Cyaniris Argiolus, L. Not uncommon.
Occurs freely, and in some years in
great abundance in Sutton Park,
where are many very fine old hollies.
So far as I know only the first brood
ever appears there. It has also been
recorded from Knowle (W. G.
Blatch) ; Alleslty (W. Bree and
Morris) ; Warwick (one in High
Street, P. P. Baly) ; Rugby, Charley
Wood, etc. (Rugby lists) ; Yardley
Wood, Shirley and Coleshill (A. D.
Imms, Entom. 1897, p. 319) ; Ather-
stone (C. Baker); Wolford (both
17
A HISTORY OF WARWICKSHIRE
broods in vicarage garden in 1896,
W. C. E. Wheeler) ; Coventry (W.
G. Blatch, E.M.M. 1887, p. 200)
HESPERIID/E
Adopaea (Hesperia) Thaumas, Hufn. (linea,
F.) Not uncommon Hay Woods
(H. W. Ellis); Warwick (P. P.
Baly) ; Rugby = Brandon Woods, etc.
(Rugby lists) ; Ettingttm (L. C.
Keighley-Peach) ; Wolford (W. C.
E. Wheeler)
Augiades sylvanus, Esp. Occurs in much
the same places as above. Marston
Green (G. W. Wynn) ; Knowle
(H. W. Ellis); Oakley Wood near
Warwick (one, P. P. Baly) ; Rugby
= Brandon Woods, Princethorpe, etc.
(Rugby lists) ; Atherstone (C. Baker) ;
Wolford Woods (Austen, W. C. E.
Wheeler) ; Ettlngton (L. C. Keigh-
ley-Peach) ; Coombe Woods (G. B.
Longstaff, E.M.M. 1866, p. 138)
Hesperia (Syrichthus) malvae, L.' Similar
distribution to the last two and
similarly common. Coventry (G. H.
Kenrick) ; Hampton-ln-Ardm (G. W.
Wynn) ; Knowle (H. W. Ellis) ;
Corley Woods (formerly, W. Bree) ;
Knowle (W. Kiss, etc.) ; Rugby =
Brandon, etc. (Rugby lists) ; Ather-
stone (C. Baker) ; Ettlngton (L. C.
Keighley-Peach) ; Wolford (W. C.
E. Wheeler)
Thanaos Tages, L., also occurs in the same
places as the above three species.
Sutton Park (H. M. Lee) ; Coventry
(G. H. Kenrick) ; Hampton-in-Arden
(G. W. Wynn) ; Knowle, Umberslade
(Blatch Coll., W. Kiss, etc.); Corley
Woods (formerly, not seen lately, W.
Bree) ; Rugby = Brandon, Prince-
thorpe, etc. (Rugby lists) ; Atherstone
(C. Baker); Ettlngton (L. C. Keighley-
Peach); Wolford (W. C. E. Wheeler);
Coombe Woods (G. B. Longstaff.
E.M.M. 1866, p. 138)
SPHINGIDjE
Acherontia Atropos, L. In the years when
this species is common in England,
we get our share and hear of its
occurrence in the larval stage in
potato fields. I have records from
Cbalcot Wood (W. Harrison) ; Solihull
(A. H. Martineau) ; Knowle (H. W.
Ellis, etc.) ; Water Orton (R. C. Brad-
ley); Rugby (Rugby lists, 1867,1874,
1889); Atherstone (C. Baker); Wol-
ford Woods (Austen); Whltchurcb
(very common 1900, ]. H. Bloom) ;
Warwick (P. P. Baly)
Smerinthus populi, L. Common every-
where
ocellata, L. Fairly common, less so
than populi. Solihull (R. C. Brad-
ley) ; Knowle (H. W. Ellis, com-
mon, etc.) ; Small Heath (Blatch
Cat.) ; Yardley (H. Taylor) ; Rugby
(Rugby lists) ; Warwick (P. P.
Baly), Atherstone (C. Baker) ; Wolford
Woods (Austen) ; Ettlngton (L. C.
Keighley-Peach)
Dilina tilias, L. Less common than the
above, but generally distributed.
Knowle (Blatch Coll. and W. Kiss) ;
Stoneleigh Park (Blatch Coll.) ; War-
wick (P. P. Baly); Rugby (Rugby
lists) ; Atherstone (C. Baker) ; Mi-
cote (L. C. Keighley-Peach); Wolford
(W. C. E. Wheeler)
Daphnis (Chcerocampa) nerii, L. Bir-
mingham ; one in 1870 in the town
(F. Enock, E.M.M. 1870, p. 41)
Sphinx ligustri, L. Not common. Knowle
(W. G. Blatch and W. Kiss) ; Sal-
ford Priors (larva on ash, J. T.
Fountain) ; Solihull (larvae on holly,
A. H. Martineau), Rugby (Rugby
lists) ; Sutton Coldfield (Blatch
Hand. ; not for many years, C. J.
W.); Brandon Woods (Rugby lists);
Warwick (many, P. P. Baly) ; Ather-
stone (C. Baker) ; Whitchurch (J. H.
Bloom) ; Wolftrd ( W. C. E. Wheeler)
Protoparce (Sphinx) convolvuli, L. Only
odd stragglers in convolvuli years ;
several have been recorded in the
city itself and its suburbs (Entom.
1898, p. 292, A. D. Imms; 1887,
p. 273, W. T. Raine; E.M.M.
1868, p. 107, G. H. Kenrick). I
also have records from Solihull (one,
A. H. Martineau, in 1898); Hamp-
ton-in-Arden (G. W. Wynn, Ent.
Record, xiii. 335) ; Warwick (P. P.
Baly, Entom. Dec. 1872) ; Rugbv
(Rugby list, W. S. Edmonds, 1888);
Knowle (W. Kiss); Atherstone (C.
Baker); Wolford (one in 1886; in
some numbers about 1 846, W. C.
E. Wheeler) ; Birmingham district
(common in 1868, F. Enock, List,
1869)
Deilephila gallii, Rott. W. G. Blatch
(Brit. Assoc. Hand.) and F. Enock
(List, 1870) speak of its occasional
occurrence in Birmingham, but with-
out exact reference. I have a speci-
130
INSECTS
men taken in Handsworth, just over
the border. Rugby (in a cottage
window at Overslade, N.W. Hudson,
Rugby lists, 1888)
Deilephila lineata, F. One in Birmingham
in 1870 (F. Enock> EMM. 1870,
p. 40)
Chaerocampa celerio, L. One in Birming-
ham = Horsefair in 1868 (F. Enock,
EMM. 1868, p. 172) ; and one at
Edgbaston (G. T. Bethune- Baker,
Entom. 1880, p. 310)
elpenor, L. Not common. Marston
Green (one, H. Stone) ; Shirley (J.
T. Fountain) ; Sutton Park (one,
E. C. Tye) ; Kncwle (H. W. Ellis,
Blatch Coll. etc.), Solihull and Hock-
ley Heath (Blatch Hand.); Rugby
(many records in Rugby lists) ;
Atherstone (C. Baker) ; Whitchurch
(L. C. Keighley-Peach) ; Wolford
(W. C. E. Wheeler)
Metopsilus (Chasrocampa) porcellus, L.
Not common. Sutton Park is the
best known locality for this species,
but it is rare there. It is also re-
corded from Atherstone (C. Baker,
Entom. 1899, p. 213); Wellesbourne
(L. C. Keighley-Peach); Wolford
(by his father, W. C. E. Wheeler) ;
Rugby (Rugby lists)
Macroglossa stellatarum, L. Not uncom-
mon sometimes, locally. Sutton (P.
W. Abbott) ; Aston (C. J. Wake-
field) ; Solihull (A. H. Martineau) ;
Hampton-in-Arden (one, 1900, G.
W. Wynn) ; Knowle (H. W. Ellis,
W. Kiss, etc.); Small Heath Park
(H. Taylor) ; Rugby = Overs/ode, etc.
(several records, Rugby lists) ; War-
wick (most years, P. P. Baly) ; Ather-
stone (C. Baker) ; Wolford (Austen ;
common some years, W. C. E.
Wheeler) ; Whitchurch (very com-
mon 1900, J. H. Bloom)
Hemaris (Macroglossa) fuciformis, L. Ow-
ing to the confusion in the synonomy
of this and the next species, most of
the records must be regarded as un-
certain ; both species however occur
in the county, I believe, but are al-
ways rare. This one has occurred
at Rugby, as Mr. N. V. Sidgwick
writes to me : ' The only one oc-
curring here so far as I know is the
broad bordered one of which I have
one and have seen several others.'
Moreover, there are many records of
it in the Rugby lists, chiefly from
Brandon Woods. Both species were
recorded by the old collectors as
being common near Knowle at Chal-
cot Wood, etc. (Blatch Hand. ; F.
Enock, Sat. Guide) ; they however
must be very scarce now, as only
single specimens have been seen
anywhere near for many years.
Mr. J. T. Fountain took one of
this species there at Umberslade
on June 14, 1896, and one on
June 17,1 900. Coombe Wood (com-
mon, G. B. Longstaff, EMM.
1866, p. 138; G. H. Kenrick);
Wolford (taken years ago by his
father, W. C. E. Wheeler)
Hemaris scabiosae, Z. (bombyliformis, Esp.)
The narrow bordered species I can
give fewer records of, and yet I sus-
pect it is equally common. Its
occurrence near Knowle in the old
days is already referred to above, and
Mr. J. T. Fountain took one there
on June 21, 1891, at Umberslade.
In the Rugby lists both names
occur ; doubt is however thrown on
the records of this species by Mr.
N. V. Sidgwick's note quoted above
NOTODONTID/E
Cerura furcula, Cl. Rare. The larvae
occasionally obtained from sallow.
Knowle (R. C. Bradley, W. Kiss,
Blatch Hand.) ; Sutton (R. C. Brad-
ley) ; Rugby (A. Sidgwick, Rugby
list, 1867, etc.)
bifida, Hb. Not uncommon in the
larval stage on poplars and aspens. I
have taken it in the suburbs of
Birmingham, at Tardley, and in
Handsworth (Staffs.) ; I also have
records from Hampton - in - Arden,
Marston Green, Tardley (G. W.
Wynn) ; Knowle (Blatch Coll., etc.,
W. Kiss) ; Rugby = Brandon, etc.
(Rugby lists)
Dicranura vinula, L. Common every-
where ; its name occurs in every
list I have received
Stauropus fagi, L. Very rare in the mid-
lands. Its only claim to inclusion
in the Warwickshire list rests on the
recorded capture of one larva at
Rugby in the Rugby list, 1888. It
is a schoolboy record and open to
doubt, but owing to the striking
character of the larva, and the fact
that it occurs in neighbouring coun-
ties, I have treated it as probably
correct, and included it
131
A HISTORY OF WARWICKSHIRE
(Notodonta) trimacula, Esp.
(dodottca, Frr.) Rare. Mtrttt*
Grttm (one, E. C. Tye) ; Attmtau
(C. Baker) ; Kmwk (Blatch Hand.;
F. Knock, Sat. Gd*)
rhanofc^ Hb. Rarer eren than the
above. Atkntnu (one, C Baker) ;
Wt^rd (one, W. C E. Wheeler)
Pheosia (Notodonta) tremula, CL (dictara,
Esp.) Not common, but probably
generally distributed. Kntrailt (R. C.
Bradley, etc.) ; Rugby (A. Sidgwick,
Rugby lists, 1867, etc.) ; Walftrd
Winds (Austen). I have taken it in
the Birmingham suburbs = at Hands-
v.vrtb = but over the border. It
doubtless occurs however all round
Birmingham, on the many poplars in
gardens, etc.
dictzoides, E*p. Probably somewhat
commoner than the above. Atkerrtim
(C. Baker) ; Rufiy = Brandin Winds
(Rugby lists) ; Smttsm Part (C. J.
Wain wright, etc.) ; Kmruile (G. W.
Wynn, \V. G. Blatch)
Notcnionta ziczac, L. Not common ; at
Knra.-^ it occurs regularly, and it is
also recorded from Surton P>*rk
(P. W. Abbott) ; Tardltj (H. Tay-
lor) ; Rxgiy = (h-tnladt, etc. (Rugby
lists) ; If'ilfjrd If'iads (Austen)
drcmecarius, L. Not uncommon. I
have taken the larvz at Sxttin and
K"U*LJ, at both of which places it
probably occurs regularly ; it is also
recorded from Afarsta* Grun (G. W.
Wynn) ; Cilakill (F. Enock, Sat.
Git^u] j Birmingham (one larva,
R. C. R. Jordan, E.M.M. ii. 261)
trepida, Esp. Az'centoiu (a pair in IQCI,
C. Baker) ; Krxgraiood (oac in 1902,
W. H. Flint)
Lophopteryx camelina, L. A common
species everywhere
Pterostoma palpina, L. Not uncommon
on aspen. Ktraj (R. C. Bradley,
W. Kas, W. G. Blatch, etc.) ;
Small Heath (H. Taylor) ; Ritgey
(Rugby list, 1874) ; OotnUe
(Rugby list, J. M. Furness, 1893) J
ff'ufird (W. C. E. Wheeler) ; has
also been taken in Birmingham submras,
but not in our county
Phalera 'r TirtMfj*, L. Very common
cv u neic
Pygzra curtuk, L. Very rare. KxmoU
(W. Kiss)
pigra, Hufix. (reclusa, F.) The only
ckim of this species to inclusion in
Ac county lists rests on a record in
the Rugby lists, 1888. It has how-
ever probably been overlooked else-
where
LYMANTRIIDjE
Orgyia gonostigma, F. Rare ; its occur-
rence needs confirmation. Ctvtntry
(Blatch Hand.) ; Rugby (Rugby list,
1888); Ctombt Wood (G. H. Kenrick)
antiqua, L. Common everywhere
[Dasychira fascelina, L. Needs confirma-
tion as a Warwickshire insect. There
is a specimen in the Blatch Coll.
labelled as having been obtained in
Stftttm Pork ; and some very doubt-
ful records in the Rugby lists]
pudibunda, L. Not uncommon. Kmruilt
(G. W. Wynn, H. W. Ellis, W.
Kiss, etc.) ; StBtmtt (Blatch Cat.) ;
Rugby = Brandon, Prixcitbarpe, etc.
(Rugby lists) ; Atbtrrtau (C. Baker) ;
IVdfird (W. C. E. Wheeler)
Euproctis (Porthesia) chrysorrhcEa, L. This
species has been recorded several
times, and possibly records referring
to old captures may be correct. F.
Enock (in list, 1870) gives it as
occurring in the Birmingham district,
and W. C. E. Wheeler's record of it
for Wilfird may have been correct in
his father's days. I doubt its occur-
rence now anywhere in the county,
and although the name occurs many
times in the Rugby lists, it is prob-
ably in error
Porthesia similis, FuessL (auriflua, F.)
Very common, often abounds
Sdlpnotia (Leucoma) salicis, L. Not com-
mon. Crvfntry (larvz near, in 1897,
E. C. Tye) ; Knauilt (Blatch Hand.);
Rugby (Rugby lists) ; Edgbastnt (one
at rest, 1901, G. H. Kenrick)
Lymantria (Psilura) monacha, L. Suttan
Park (Blatch Hand.), but certainly
not seen for many years ; Rugby =
Cmmbt JVvid, Brandon Wands, etc.
(many records, Rugby lists) ; Wilfvrd
(sometimes feiriy plentiful = several at
sugar,' in 1 888, W. C. E. Whcder)
LASIOCAMPIDji:
Malacosoma neustria, L. By no means a
pest in Warwickshire as it seems to
be in many places further south ; it
is rather an uncommon insect with
as as a rule. Whitdmrdti, Id&ott
(J. H. Bloom) ; Wttfrd (W. C. E.
Wheder; Austen); JjM*(B.W.
Ellis, common at 'tight,' etc.);
R*& (Rugby list, .874)
133
INSECTS
Trichiura crataegi, L. Rare. Atberstone
(C. Baker) ; Rugby (Rugby lists =
A. Sidgwick, etc.) ; also recorded
from near Wbitchurcb in the strip of
Worcestershire separating Whit-
church from the rest of Warwickshire
(L. C. Keighley-Peach)
Pcecilocampa populi, L. Not common.
Tardley (E. C. Tye); Button (A.
Johnson) ; Krurwle (R. C. Bradley,
W. Kiss, etc.) ; Rugby (Rugby lists) ;
Atberstone (C. Baker) ; Whitchurcb
(on Worcestershire side of parish,
L. C. Keighley-Peach)
Eriogaster lanestris, L. Not common.
Altester (R. C. Bradley); Knowle
(H. W. Ellis, W. Kiss, etc.) ; Rugby
Church Lawford and Brandon
Woods (A. Sidgwick, etc., Rugby
lists) ; Atberstone (C. Baker); Wolford
(Austen ; larvae sometimes common,
W. C. E. Wheeler) ; IdKcote (L. C.
Keighley-Peach)
Lasiocampa quercus, L. Common especially
in Sutton Park, where the larvse
are sometimes abundant. Rugby =
Princethorpe, etc. (Rugby lists) ; War-
wick (common, Baly) ; Knowle (W.
Kiss) ; Atherstone (C. Baker) ; Watford
(Austen, W. C. E. Wheeler)
Macrothylacia (Bombyx) rubi, L. Common
in Sutton Park ; also recorded from
Rugby (Rugby list, 1894 only);
Wolford (W. C. E. Wheeler)
Cosmotriche potatoria, L. Common every-
where
Gastropacha quercifolia, L. Very rare.
Bidford (one, G. W. Wynn) ; Hock-
ley Heath (larva once, Blatch Cat.) ;
Rugby (A. Sidgwick, Rugby list,
1867, etc.) ; near Warwick (W.
Kiss) ; Wolford (larvae several times,
not common, W. C. E. Wheeler) ;
Whitchurch (on Worcestershire side,
L. C. Keighley-Peach)
SATURNIID/E
Saturnia pavonia, L. Common in Sutton
Park, where the males have been
obtained in considerable numbers by
sembling ; has not been recorded
from anywhere else in the county,
though there are several other lo-
calities where it might be expected
DREPANID.S
Drepana falcataria, L. Not rare. I have
taken the larvae freely at Knnule and
also have records from Marston Green
(G. W. Wynn) ; Coventry (G. H.
Kenrick) ; Knowle (W. Kiss, Blatch
Coll.) ; Coleshill (Blatch Cat.); Rugby
= Brandon Woods, etc. (Rugby lists) ;
Atberstone (C. Baker) ; Frankton
(G. B. Longstaff, E.M.M. iii. 138)
Drepana lacertinaria, L. With the above,
but not quite so common. Marston
Green (E. C. Tye, G. W. Wynn) ;
Knowle (R. C. Bradley, W. Kiss,
etc.) ; Sutton Park (P. W. Abbott,
G. W. Wynn) ; Umberslade (Blatch
Coll.) ; Rugby = Brandon Woods, etc.
(Rugby lists) ; Athentone (C. Baiker)
binaria, Hufh. (hamula, Esp.) Rare ;
only old records = Knowle (Blatch
Hand., and F. Enock, Sat. Guide),
and the schoolboy records of the
Rugby lists (1877, 1888)
Cilix glaucata, Sc. (spinula, Schiff.) Gene-
rally distributed
NOCTUIDJE
ACRONYCTIN^
Acronycta leporina, L. Not uncommon ;
larvae frequent on poplars at Sutton
and Knnule ; also recorded from
Tardley (E. C. Tye) ; Rugby = Bran-
dan Woods, etc. (Rugby lists), and
Atkerstone (C. Baker). The usual
form with us appears to be brady-
porina, Tr.
aceris, L. Very rare. W. G. Blatch
records one specimen found on
palings at Small Heath in 18/0,
which specimen is still in his collec-
tion ; no other record of the species
in this county exists however, ex-
cepting one or two in the Rugby
lists (1874, 1898)
tnegacephala, F. Common in the
suburbs on the Staffordshire side of
Birmingham, and probably all round.
Also recorded from Knowle (G. W.
Wynn, H. W. Ellis, etc., etc.);
Rugby (A. Sidgwick, Rugby list,
1867, etc.) ; Warwick (P. P. Baly) ;
Whitchurch (Worcestershire side, L.
C. Keighley-Peach)
alni, L. Occurs throughout the dis-
trict, but never more than one speci-
men seems to be taken at one time
or place, and every one is recorded ;
so that it must be considered very
rare. Wylde Green (one on haw-
thorn, C. J. Wainwright) ; near
Rugby (one, W. D. Spencer) ; Knowle
(one, G. W. Wynn ; one on oak,
W. Kiss) ; Sutton (one on mountain
ash, R. C. Bradley) ; Meulej (one
on maple, H. W. Ellis); Yardley
133
A HISTORY OF WARWICKSHIRE
ACRONYCTIN.S (continued)
(E. C. Tye, H. Taylor); Small
Heath (one, W. G. Blatch) ; Edg-
baston (G. H. Kenrick, one at 'light';
Blatch Hand., and Enock, Sat.
Guide) ; near Solihull (A. D. Imms,
Entom. 1898, p. 293) ; Rugby (A.
Sidgwick, Rugby list, 1867 ; one,
N. W. Hudson, Rugby list, 1889) ;
Brandon Woods and Overslade (one
each, Rugby lists, 1893) ; Atherstone
(C. Baker) ; Sutton (one, F. Enock,
E.M.M. i. 143)
Acronycta tridens, Schiff. Very doubtfully
distinguished from the next species.
It is probably not uncommon, but re-
cords cannot be trusted. I have not
met with the larvae myself. W. G.
Blatch (Brit. Assoc. Hand.) speaks
however of taking the larvae on
elms at Knowle, and probably knew
them ; and N. V. Sidgwick writes
to me that he has taken and bred it
at Rug/>y,znd is certain of the identifi-
cation
psi, L. Very common everywhere
menyanthidis, View. Mr. G. H.
Kenrick took a single specimen in
1899 at Richmond Hi//, Edgbaston ;
he knew the species, having taken it
in the north, so it was doubtless
correctly identified, but its occurrence
must have been quite accidental
- rumicis, L. Common everywhere
Craniophora (Acronycta) ligustri, F. Rare.
Atherstone (C. Baker) ; Rugby =
Coombe Wood, etc. (Rugby lists)
Agrotis strigula, Thnb. (porphyrea, Hb.)
Not common ; occurs most freely in
Sutton Park ; also recorded from near
Coleshill (G. W. Wynn); Hay
Woods (Blatch Coll.) ; Rugby (Rugby
lists, 1888 only ; rather doubtful)
janthina, Esp. Common throughout
the district
fimbria, L. Not uncommon. Occurs in
nearly every list, but is never abundant
interjecta, Hb. Rare. Knuw/e (one, R.
C. Bradley, Aug. 16, 1885) ; Hamf-
ton-in-Arden (two at 'sugar,' 1900,
G. W. Wynn); Tardley, Knowle
(Blatch Hand.); Rugby = Overslade,
etc. (Rugby lists, several times) ;
Atherstone (C. Baker) ; Wolford
(Austen ; used to be fairly plentiful,
W. C. E. Wheeler); Whitchurch
(J. H. Bloom)
augur, F. Common throughout the
district
TRIFIN/E (continued)
Agrotis obscura, Brahm. (ravida, Hb.) Very
rare. Rugby (N. V. Sidgwick) ;
Rugby = Overslade, etc. (Rugby lists) ;
Whitckurch (Worcestershire side,
L. C. Keighley-Peach)
pronuba, L. Abundant everywhere as
usual
comes, Hb. (orbona, F.) Common
everywhere
castanea, Esp. Very rare. Rugby =
Overslade, Frankton, etc. (Rugby
lists) ; Atherstone (C. Baker). F.
Enock gives it as occurring in the
Birmingham district in his 1870 list
agathina, Dup. Was once only taken
at Sutton by H. Tunaley
triangulum, Hufn. Marston Green,
Tardley, Hampton-in-Arden (common,
G. W. Wynn); Sutton (P. W.
Abbott, etc.) ; Knowle (R. C. Brad-
ley) ; Small Heath (Blatch Cat.) ;
Rugby = Overslade, etc. (Rugby lists) ;
Atherstone (C. Baker)
baja, F. Common everywhere
c-nigrum, L.
xanthographa, F. Very common
everywhere
umbrosa, Hb. Tardley, Hampton-in-
Arden (G. W. Wynn); Knowle
(R. C. Bradley, W. G. Blatch) ;
Rugby = Overslade, etc. (Rugby lists) ;
Atherstone (C. Baker) ; Wolford
(' seems fond of sunflowers,' W. C.
E. Wheeler)
rubi, View. Sutton (P. W. Abbott) ;
Knowle (R. C. Bradley, etc.) ;
Hampton-in-Arden (G. W. Wynn) ;
Birmingham (Blatch Cat.) ; Rugby =
Overslade, etc. (Rugby lists) ; Ather-
stone (C. Baker) ; Whitchurch (J. H.
Bloom)
- dahlii, Hb. Not common. Sutton
(P. W. Abbott, G. W. Wynn) ;
Knowle (Blatch Coll.); Rugby =
Overslade, etc. (Rugby lists)
brunnea, F. Marston Green, Hampton-
in-Arden (common, G. W. Wynn) ;
Sutton (P. W. Abbott, R. C. Bradley,
etc.) ; Knowle (R. C. Bradley, etc.) ;
Rugby = Brandon Woods, etc. (Rugby
lists)
primulas, Esp. (testiva, Hb.) Common
everywhere
glareosa, Esp. Sutton (P. W. Abbott,
G. W. Wynn, R. C. Bradley, etc.) ;
Hampton-in-Arden (G. W. Wynn) ;
Knowle (W. G. Blatch)
plecta, L. Sutton (P. W. Abbott,
G. W. Wynn) ; Knowle (R. C.
134
INSECTS
(continue/I)
Bradley, H. W.Ellis, etc.); Hampton-
in-Arden, Marston Green (G. W.
Wynn) ; Rugby = Overslade, etc.
(Rugby lists) ; Atherstone (C. Baker).
Agrotis putris, L. Not common. Knowle
(R. C. Bradley) ; Rugby = Overslade,
Waveley Wood near Stoneleigh, etc.
(Rugby lists) ; Atherstone (C. Baker)
Wolford (W. C. E. Wheeler) ;
Whitchurch (Worcestershire side, L.
C. Keighley-Peach)
exclamationis, L. Very common every-
where
nigricans, L. Knowle (W. G. Blatch,
R. C. Bradley) ; Hampton-in-Arden
(a few in 1900, G. W. Wynn) ;
Rugby (N. V. Sidgwick, etc., Rugby
lists) ; Atherstone (C. Baker) ; Bir-
mingham (very rare, R. C. R. Jordan,
E.M.M., October, 1888)
tritici, L. Very rare. Hampton-in-
Arden (two in 1 900, G. W. Wynn) ;
Rugby (one doubtful record); is given
by F. Enock (List, 1869) as com-
mon, but that must have been an
error
- tritici, L., var. aquilina, Hb. Very rare.
N. V. Sidgwick records one from
Rugby
obelisca, Hb. This species, usually, I
believe, associated with the sea coast,
occurs in Sutton Park, where a few
specimens have been taken by P.W.
Abbott and G. W. Wynn
corticea, Hb. Rare with us. Mar-
ston Green ; Lapworth ; Hampton-in-
Arden (G. W. Wynn); Rugby =
Overslade, etc. (Rugby lists)
ypsilon, Rott. (suffusa, Hb.) Not
common. Sutton (P. W. Abbott) ;
Knowle (W. G. Blatch, W. Kiss) ;
Hampton-in-Arden (one in 1900,
G. W. Wynn) ; Rugby = Overslade,
etc. (Rugby lists) ; Atherstone (C.
Baker) ; Birmingham (very rare,
R. C. R. Jordan, E.M.M., October,
1888)
segetum, Schiff. Common everywhere
saucia, Hb. Not common. Sutton
(P. W. Abbott); Knowle (W. G.
Blatch, W. Kiss); Small Heath
(H. Taylor) ; Rugby = Overslade, etc.
(Rugby lists)
prasina, F. (herbida, Hb.) Not
common. Knowle (W. G. Blatch) ;
Hay Woods (Blatch Coll.) ; Rugby =
Frankton Wood, etc. (Rugby lists) ;
Atherstone (C. Baker), and I believe it
has occurred in Sutton Park
Tn.iFiN.ffi (continued)
Pachnobia rubricosa, F. Common through-
out the county
Charaeas graminis, L. Not uncommon.
Sutton (C. J. Wainwright, etc.) ;
Knowle (R. C. Bradley, W. Kiss,
etc.); Rughy = Overslade, etc. (Rugby
lists) ; Atherstone (C. Baker) ; Wol-
ford (common in a few spots, W.C. E.
Wheeler)
Epineuronia popularis, F. Not common,
but occurs in every list
cespitis, F. Not common. Knowle
(W. G. Blatch, R. C. Bradley) ;
Tardley (H. Taylor) ; Wolford
W. C. E. Wheeler) ; Atherstone (C.
Baker) ; Pershore Road, Birmingham
(J. T. Fountain)
Mamestra advena, F. Very rare. Rugby =
Overslade, etc. (J. M. Furness, etc.,
Rugby lists) ; Wolford (W. C. E.
Wheeler). I know of no other re-
cords
tincta, Brahm. Very rare ; the only
record I have is Knowle (W. G.
Blatch)
nebulosa, Hufn. Common throughout
the county
brassicas, L. Very common every-
where
persicariae, L. Common, particularly
so in gardens
oleracea, L. Common everywhere
genistae, Bkh. Not common. Knowle
(W. G. Blatch, R. C. Bradley, etc.);
Kingswood (G. H. Kenrick) ; Rugby
(Rugby list, 1886 only); Atherstone
(C. Baker) ; Sutton (F. Enock, Sat.
Guide, but no recent record, C. j.W.)
dissimilis, Knoch. Rare. Small Heath
(H. Taylor) ; Rugby = Overslade,
Brandon Woods, etc. (Rugby lists) ;
Atherstone (C. Baker)
thalassina, Rott. Common everywhere
contigua, Vill. Not common ; gener-
ally taken singly in the larval stage.
I have a number of records from
Sutton, also from Hampton-in-Arden
(G. W. Wynn) ; Knowle (W. G.
Blatch Coll.); Rugby (Rugby list,
1888 only)
pisi, L. Common everywhere
trifolii, Rott. (chenopodii, F.) Rare.
Rugby (N. V. Sidgwick) ; Overslade
(J. M. Furness, Rugby list, 1892) ;
also is mentioned in Blatch Cat. as
occurring at Knowle ; there is how-
ever no specimen in the Blatch
collection
glauca, Hb. Rare. The only certain
135
A HISTORY OF WARWICKSHIRE
TRIFIN.* (continued)
locality for it is Button Park, where
it occurs regularly but locally and
not abundantly. It is also recorded
from Rugby once (Rugby list, 1874)
Mamestra dentina, Esp. Common every-
where
reticulata,Vill. (saponariae,Bkh.) Rare.
I have records from Whitchurch
(J. H. Bloom) ; Wolford (W. C. E.
Wheeler) ; Overslade (Rugby list =
J. M. Furness, 1892)
serena, F. Not common ; occurs oc-
casionally in Sutton Park, and I also
have records from Wolford (W. C. E.
Wheeler) ; Rugby Brandon Woods,
etc. (Rugby lists) ; A-therstone (C.
Baker) ; Whitchurch (on Worcester
side of parish, L. C. Keighley-Peach)
Dianthcecia capsincola (S.V.), Hb. Com-
mon. Marston Green (G.W.Wynn);
Small Heath (J.T. Fountain); Knowle
(Blatch Coll.); Rugby (Rugby lists
and N. V. Sidgwick) ; Edgbaston
(Dr. Jordan)
cucubali (S.V.), Fuessl. Not uncom-
mon. Knowle (R. C. Bradley) ;
Birmingham (Blatch Coll.); Rugby =
Overslade, etc. (Rugby lists); Ather-
stone (C. Baker)
Bombycia viminalis, F. Not uncommon.
Knowle (R. C. Bradley, etc.); Rugby
(N. V. Sidgwick, and Rugby lists) ;
Atherstone (C. Baker) ; Wolford
(W. C. E. Wheeler)
Miana literosa, Haw. Knowle (R. C.
Bradley); Hampton-in-Arden (G.W.
Wynn); Small Heath(Vf .G. Blatch);
Atherstone (C. Baker)
strigilis, Cl. Very common through-
out the district. In the immediate
neighbourhood of Birmingham the
usual form is var. aethiops, Haw.
Amongst many specimens I took or
saw on 'sugar' in Handsworth (a Staf-
fordshire suburb) I only took one
specimen with any distinct white
markings, and I believe that is the
more general experience around
Birmingham. I have records of the
species from all parts of the county,
but do not know what form prevails
right away from Birmingham, though
at Knowle the black one is still the
commoner one.
fasciuncula, Haw. Common ; occurs
in every list, and I believe is nearly
always found with the preceding but
less commonly
bicoloria, Vill. Tfardley, Sutton, Hamp-
TRIFIN.S (continued)
ton-in-Arden (very common in 1900
in the last locality, G. W. Wynn) ;
Rugby (Rugby lists)
Bryophila perla, F. Common throughout
the county in suitable spots, but of
course local
Diloba cceruleocephala, L. Throughout
the county ; is recorded in every list
Apamea testacea, Hb. Common everywhere
Celaena matura, Hufn. (cytherea, F.). Well
distributed, not common. Knowle
(W. G. Blatch, R. C. Bradley);
Hampton-in-Arden (a few, 1900,
G. W. Wynn) ; Rugby = Overslade,
etc. (Rugby lists); Atherstone (C.
Baker); Wolford (W. C. E. Wheeler);
Whitchurch (on Worcestershire side,
L. C. Keighley-Peach)
Hadena adusta, Esp. Not common and
very local. Sutton Park (G. W.
Wynn) ; Rugby = Overslade, etc.
(Rugby lists) ; Knowle (W. Kiss) ;
Atherstone (C. Baker)
ochroleuca, Esp. One specimen is in
the Blatch collection which has been
recorded as having occurred near
Small Heath, and according to the
Blatch MS. Catalogue of the collec-
tion was taken by Mr. James Madi-
son ; no other specimen has been
taken anywhere near Birmingham
to my knowledge
- furva (S.V.), Hb. Mr. C. Baker in-
forms me that he took two speci-
mens at Athsrstone, which were as-
signed to this species by Mr. R.
Newstead of Chester. It certainly
seems very rare throughout the mid-
lands and needs confirmation
sordida, Bkh. (anceps, Hb.) Not
common. Coventry ; Sutton (G. W.
Wynn) ; Hampton-in-Arden (one in
1 900, G. W. Wynn) ; Knowle (R. C.
Bradley, and Blatch Coll.); Small
Heath (H. Taylor); Rugby = Over-
slade, etc. (Rugby lists)
monoglypha, Hufn. Extremely com-
mon everywhere. Var. infuscata,
Buch. White. Very rare, only one
recorded, Solihull (A. H. Martineau)
lithoxylea, F. Common ; occurs in
every list. Mr. G. W. Wynn found
it very common at ' sugar ' at Hamp-
ton-in-Arden in 1900
sublustris, Esp. Much less common.
Hampton-in-Arden (a few, 1900,
(G. W. Wynn) ; Knowle (Blatch
Coll.) ; Rugby = Overslade, etc.
(Rugby lists)
136
INSECTS
Tn.iFiN.ffi (continued)
Hadena rurea, F. Common everywhere in
various forms ; type and var. alope-
curus, Esp.
hepatica, Hb. Not common. Hampton-
in-Arden (one in 1 900, G. W. Wynn);
Knowle (Blatch Coll.); Rugby (Rugby
lists); Ather stone (C. Baker)
scolopacina, Esp. Not common. Knowle
(G. W. Wynn, W. G. Blatch, etc.) ;
Hay Woods (G. W. Wynn, etc.) ;
Wolford (W. C. E. Wheeler) ; Ather-
stone (C. Baker)
basilinea, F. Common everywhere
gemina, Hb. Common. Button (with
var. remissa, P. W. Abbott, etc.) ;
Knowle (R. C. Bradley, etc.); Hamp-
ton-in-Arden (G. W. Wynn) ; Small
Heath (H. Taylor); Rugby = Over-
slade, etc. (Rugby lists) ; Wolford
(W. C. E. Wheeler)
unanimis, Tr. Rare. Has occurred
in the Birmingham district, but
whether on the Warwickshire side or
not I do not know. Mr. G. H.
Kenrick took it at Selly Oak in Wor-
cestershire, and Mr. F. Enock records
it in the ten-mile radius (List, 1870).
It is also mentioned in the Rugby
lists from Brownsover and Overslade,
but needs confirmation on the whole
secalis, L. (didyma, Esp. ; oculea, Gn.)
Occurs in various forms commonly
everywhere
Aporophyla lutulenta, Bkh. Very rare.
Has been taken at Knowle, where
Mr. H. W. Ellis got one in 1898 at
' sugar,' and where it is mentioned as
occurring in the Blatch Catalogue
Polia flavicincta (S.V.), F. Very rare, and
I should like confirmation. Mr. A.
Sidgwick recorded it in 1867 in
Rugby lists, and his son writes to
me that he believes it to be correct,
and Mr. W. C. E. Wheeler records
it at Wolford.
chi, L. Occurs throughout the county
Brachionycha sphinx, Hufn. (cassinea, Hb.)
Wolford (occasionally, W. C. E.
Wheeler)
Miselia oxyacanthae, L. Common every-
where with var. capucina, Mill.
Dichonia aprilina, L. Occurs throughout
the county
Dryobota protea (S.V.), Bkh. Common
throughout the county
Dipterygia scabriuscula, L. Is recorded in
Rugby list, 1886, as occurring at
Kings Newnham near Rugby, and is
sufficiently distinct for no error to be
I 137
TRIFIN^E (continued)
likely in its identification ; it is how-
ever a rare midland insect
Euplexia lucipara, L. Common every-
where
Brotolomia meticulosa, L. Common every-
where
Mania maura, L. Occurs throughout the
county not uncommonly
Naenia typica, L. Common everywhere
Hydroecia nictitans, Bkh. Common every-
where
micacea, Esp. Common. Sutton (P. W.
Abbott) ; Knowle (one as late as Nov.
2, W. G. Blatch, etc.) ; Hampton-
in-Arden (G.W.Wynn); Small Heath
(H. Taylor) ; Rugby = Overslade, etc.
(Rugby lists) ; Atherstone (C. Baker) ;
Wolford (W. C. E. Wheeler)
Gortyna ochracea, Hb. (flavago, Esp.) Not
uncommon. Sutton (C.J.W., P. W.
Abbott, etc.); Knowle (R. C. Bradley,
etc.); Hay Mills, etc. (J. T. Foun-
tain); SmallHeath (H.Taylor); Rugby
= Overslade, etc. (Rugby lists)
Nonagria typhae, Thnbg. Local, but prob-
ably occurs wherever its food plant
grows freely ; recorded from Knowle
(R. C. Bradley, etc.) ; Sutton (P. W.
Abbott) ; near Whitacre (G. W.
Wynn) ; Rugby = Kings Newnham,
etc. (Rugby lists)
Tapinostola fulva, Hb. Sutton Park (P.W.
Abbott, G. W. Wynn, etc.); Knowle
(R. C. Bradley, G. W. Wynn) ;
Hampton-in-Ardcn (G. W. Wynn) ;
Rugby Cathiron, etc. (Rugby lists) ;
Whitchurch (J. H. Bloom)
Calamia lutosa, Hb. Mr. R. C. Bradley
possesses a specimen which was
taken at ' light ' at the signal box at
Knowle railway station. Mr. F.
Enock in his 1869 list also gives it
as occurring in the ten-mile radius
from Birmingham, on what authority
I know not
Leucania impura, Hb. Common every-
where
pallens, L. Common everywhere
comma, L.
conigera, F. Hampton-in-Arden (' sugar,'
1900, G. W. Wynn) ; Knowle
(Blatch Coll.) ; Solihull (Blatch Cat.) ;
Rugby = Overslade, etc. (Rugby lists) ;
Wolford (Austen, W. C. E. Wheeler) ;
Whitchurch (J. H. Bloom)
lithargyria, Esp. Throughout the
county
Grammesia trigrammica, Hufn. Through-
out the county
18
A HISTORY OF WARWICKSHIRE
(continued)
Caradrina quadripunctata, F. (cubicularis
[S.V.], Bkh.) Common generally
morpheus, Hufn. Common every-
where
alsines, Brahm. Knowle (W. G. Blatch,
R. C. Bradley) ; Hampton-in-Arden
(G. W. Wynn, common) ; Rugby
(Rugby lists); Whitchurch (J. H.
Bloom) ; Atherstone (C. Baker) ;
Wolford (W. C. E. Wheeler)
taraxaci, Hb. (blanda, Tr.) Knowle
(W. G. Blatch, R. C. Bradley) ;
Hampton-in-Arden (G. W. Wynn) ;
Rugby Overslade, etc. (Rugby lists)
Petilampa arcuosa, Haw. Common every-
where
Rusina umbratica, Goeze (tenebrosa, Hb.)
Common everywhere
Amphipyra tragopoginis, L. Common
everywhere
- pyramidea, L. Common locally. Coven-
try (G. W. Wynn) ; Knowle (Blatch
Coll.) ; Rugby = Overslade (Rugby
lists) ; Warwick (seen only, P. P.
Baly) ; Atberstone (C. Baker) ; Idli-
cote (J. H. Bloom); Wolford (W.C.E.
Wheeler)
Tosniocampa gothica, L. Very common,
especially in the pupal stage
miniosa, F. Marston Green (one in
1895, H.Taylor); Rugby = Prince-
thorpe (Rugby list, 1897 only). Not
uncommon in Worcestershire, so will
probably prove commoner in War-
wickshire when looked for
pulverulenta, Esp. Very common
- populeti, Tr. Not common. Marston
Green (G. W. Wynn); Rugby =
Overslade, etc. (Rugby lists) ; is also
recorded by Newman as occurring
in the county
- stabilis, View. "1 These two species
incerta,Hufn. (in- Vwith gothica and pul-
stabilis, Esp.). J verulenta occur in the
greatest abundance on sallows in the
spring and in the pupal stage at the
feet of trees in autumn wherever I
have collected
opima, Hb. The only record of this
species is one by Mr. E. A. Laxon
at Keni/worth (Entom. 1899, p. 166).
I do not know it otherwise as occur-
ring in the county and should like
confirmation
gracilis, F. Not common but well
distributed. Marston Green, Hamp-
ton-in-Arden (G. W. Wynn) ; Knowle
(R. C. Bradley, etc., etc.); Olton
(Blatch Cat.); Yardley (Blatch Hand.);
(continued)
Rugby = Overslade, etc. (Rugby lists) ;
Atherstone (C. Baker) ; Whitchurch
(J. H. Bloom)
Tceniocampa munda, Esp. Like gracilis not
common but well distributed. Marston
Green (E. C. Tye, G. W. Wynn) ;
Sutton (P. W. Abbott, C. J. W.) ;
Knowle (R. C. Bradley, etc); Rugby =
Overslade, etc. (Rugby lists) ; Kenil-
worth (E. A. Laxon, Entom. 1899) ;
Wolford (W. C. E. Wheeler)
Panolis griseovariegata, Goeze (piniperda,
Panz.) Very local ; occurs regu-
larly in Sutton Park chiefly in one
wood but is never common there ;
and is also recorded from Marston
Green (G. W. Wynn); Rugby (Rugby
list, 1888 only)
Calymnia affinis, L. Well distributed but
not common. Hampton-in-Arden
(common second week in August,
1 900, at ' sugar,' G. W. Wynn) ;
Knowle and Hay Woods (Blatch Coll.);
Marston Green (one, H. Taylor) ;
Rugby = Brandon Woods, Overslade,
etc. (Rugby lists); Knowle (W. Kiss);
Atherstone (C. Baker) ; Whitchurch
(L. C. Keighley-Peach) ; Wolford
(W. C. E. Wheeler)
diffinis, L. Much less common than
affinis ; only recorded from Atherstone
(C. Baker); Wolford (W. C. E.
Wheeler) ; Rugby (Rugby lists)
trapezina, L. Common everywhere
Cosmia paleacea, Esp. (fulvago, Hb.) Is
reported by Mr. C. Baker to occur
at Atherstone, but I know of no other
captures
Dyschorista suspecta, Hb. Rare. The
only records I have are Coventry and
Sutton (G. W. Wynn) ; Whitchurch
(J. H. Bloom)
fissipuncta, Haw. (upsilon, Bkh.)
Also rare, and my records are very
unsatisfactory. Sutton Park (Blatch
Cat.); Rugby (Rugby lists) ; and it
also occurs in F. Enock's 1870 list,
but I should like confirmatory re-
cords
Plastenis subtusa, F. Rare. Hampton-in-
Arden (one, G. W. Wynn); Knowle,
Small Heath (Blatch Coll.) ; Rugby
(N. V. Sidgwick and in Rugby lists);
and has also occurred over the border
in the suburbs of Birmingham
Cirrhoediaxerampelina, Hb. Rare. Knowle
(one, R. C. Bradley at 'light,' Sept. I,
1886, and Blatch Coll.); Stechford in
Worcestershire (H. Taylor) ; Sutton
138
INSECTS
TRIFINJE (continued)
(Groves); Pershore Road, Birming-
ham = ? Worcestershire (J. T. Foun-
tain); Rugby (Rugby list, once only,
1892); Atherstone (C. Baker); near
Coleshill (W. H. Bath, Entom. 1887,
p. 210)
Anchoscelis lunosa, Haw. Rare. Knowle
(R. C. Bradley, W. G. Blatch) ;
Button (P. W. Abbott) ; Yardley (H.
Taylor); Atherstone (C. Baker); Rugby
= Overslade, etc. (Rugby lists)
Orthosia lota, Cl. Generally distributed
but not abundant
macilenta, Hb. Rare. Recorded from
Knowle (Blatch Coll.); Saltley (Blatch
Cat.); Rugby = Overslade, etc. (Rugby
lists); Wolford (W. C. E. Wheeler) ;
Chelmsley Wood (J. T. Fountain)
circellaris, Hufn. (ferruginea, Esp.)
Common everywhere
helvola, L. (rufina, Hb.) Not uncom-
mon. Button (P. W. Abbott, G. W.
Wynn) ; Hampton-in-Arden, Mar-
ston Green, Knouile (G. W. Wynn);
Knowle (H. W. Ellis); Rugby =
Overs/ade, etc. (Rugby lists); Ather-
stone (C. Baker)
- pistacina, F. Common everywhere in
great variety
litura, L. Common everywhere
Xanthia citrago, L. Not common. Button
(P. W. Abbott); Knowle (R. C.
Bradley, G. W. Wynn, etc.); Hay
Woods (G. W. Wynn, H. W. Ellis,
etc.); Rugby = Overslade (Rugby lists,
J. M. Furness); I have also taken
it on Staffordshire side of Birming-
ham
aurago, F. Rare. The late Mr. W. G.
Blatch took it at Knowle, but no
other capture anywhere near Bir-
mingham is known
lutea, Strom, (flavago, F., silago, Hb.)
Common everywhere
fulvago, L. (cerago, F.) Common
everywhere. This and lutea seem
to occur wherever sallow grows, and
the two can nearly always be bred
if the catkins be gathered. O. cir-
cellaris usually occurs with them but
less frequently
gilvago, Esp. Not common. Button
(P. W. Abbott); Knowle (W. G.
Blatch, H. W. Ellis); Hampton-in-
Arden (not uncommon at ' sugar ' 1 900,
G. W. Wynn); Rugby = Overslade,
etc. (Rugby lists) ; Atherstone (C.
Baker); Wolford (W. C. E. Wheeler)
Orrhodia vaccinii, L. Common every-
TRIFIN^E (continued)
where, frequently very abundant at
'sugar' in the autumn and sallows in
the spring
Orrhodia ligula, Esp. (spadicea, Haw.) Not
so common as vaccinii but generally
occurs with it, and Mr. W. G. Blatch
obtained it in considerable numbers
at ' sugar ' at Knowle. The form we
get seems to be always a rich dark
brown, and is, I suppose, var. sub-
spadicea, Stgr.
Scopelosoma satellitia, L. Common every-
where
Xylina ornitopus, Rott. (rhizolitha, Tr.)
Notcommon. Know/e(W.G. Blatch);
Solihull (Blatch Cat.); 1 Rugby (Rugby
list, 1888 only)
Calocampa vetusta, Hb. Not common.
Button (H. M. Lee, Blatch Hand.,
etc.); Knowle (W. G. Blatch); Rugby
= Overslade, etc. (Rugby lists)
exoleta, L. Not uncommon. Marston
Green (E. C. Tye); Button (P. W.
Abbott, G. W. Wynn, etc.); Knowle
(W. G. Blatch, etc.) ; Birmingham
(J. T. Fountain); Solihull (Blatch
Cat.) ; Rugby = Overslade, etc. (Rugby
lists)
Xylocampa areola, Esp. (lithorhiza, Tr.)
Not common ; it occurs regularly at
Knowle and is also recorded from
Button (H. Taylor); Coleshill (Blatch
Cat.); Rugby = Overslade, etc. (Rugby
lists) ; Wolford (W. C. E. Wheeler)
Cucullia verbasci, L. Not common. Knowle
(W. G. Blatch) ; Rugby (Rugby
lists); Whitchurch (J. H. Bloom);
Wolford (W. C. E. Wheeler)
umbratica, L. > The records of
chamomillae, Schiff. / these two spe-
cies are probably mixed and unde-
pendable owing to their close resem-
blance, but both species seem to
occur throughout the county, um-
bratica being probably much the
commoner
Anarta myrtilli, L. Common in Button
Park, and is also recorded from
Hampton-in-Arden (G. W. Wynn) ;
there are not many other places in
the county which I should regard as
likely for its occurrence
Heliaca tenebrata, Scop, (arbuti, F.) Com-
mon locally throughout the county
Pyrrhia umbra, Hufn. (Chariclea marginata,
F.) Very rare ; has been recorded
from Coleshill (Blatch Hand.); Knowle
(H. Taylor); Rugby = Overslade^. M.
Furness, Rugby list, 1892)
139
A HISTORY OF WARWICKSHIRE
TRIFIN.* (continued)
Erastria fasciana, L. (fuscula, Hb.) Very
rare. H. R. Brown, in Entom. 1882,
p. 91, records it from a wood at
Bubbenhall near Coventry, and it is
also recorded in Rugby lists as occur-
ring in Waveley Wood near Stoneleigh
Park, also on Mr. H. R. Brown's
authority. The two records prob-
ably refer to the same capture, and
Mr. N. V. Sidgwick tells me the in-
sects are still in the school collection
labelled accordingly
Rivula sericealis, Scop. The only records
I have of this species are in the
Rugby lists in 1874 and 1898, the
former on Mr. A. Sidgwick's the
latter on Mr. N. V. Sidgwick's
authority. Mr. N. V. Sidgwick in
a letter confirms the capture and
says he took one in Rugby
Prothymnia viridaria, Cl. (asnea, Hb.)
W. G. Blatch in his Handbook gives
Knowle, Coleshill and Button, and F.
Enock (List, 1869) says common,
but I have no recent records except
that Mr. W. C. E. Wheeler gives
it in his Wolford list, and it occurs
several times in the Rugby lists
Brandon Jf^oods, etc. I feel sure it
does not occur at Sutton now
GoNOPTERINj'E
Scolioptcryx libatrix, L. Generally dis-
tributed and fairly common
QuADRIFIN.ffi
Abrostola triplasia, L. Not common.
Tardley (E. C. Tye, G. W. Wynn);
Knowle (W. Kiss, etc.); Rugby
Overslade, etc. (Rugby lists); Aiher-
stone (C. Baker) ; Whitchurch (J. H.
Bloom) ; Wolford (W. C. E. Wheeler)
tripartite, Hufn. (urticae, Hb.) Not
common. Yardley (E. C. Tye) ;
Knowle (Blatch Coll.) ; Rugby = Over-
slade, etc. (Rugby lists) ; Athentone
(C. Baker) ; Wolford (W. C. E.
Wheeler)
Plusia chrysitis, L. Throughout the
county not uncommon
festucae, L. I have one specimen taken
by my brother in Sutton Park, and
have a record of its occurrence at
Wolford, where Mr. W. C. E.
Wheeler says his father took it years
ago
pulchrina, Haw. (v-aureum, Gn.)
Not uncommon throughout the
county
jota, L. Not uncommon throughout
the county
TRIFIRS (continued)
Plusia gamma, L. As abundant as else-
where
Euclidia mi, Cl. Recorded from most
parts of the county, but seems to be
local. It does not occur at Sutton,
nor has it been recorded from any-
where nearer to Birmingham than
Knowle
glyphica, L. Usually occurs with the
above but there are fewer records
for it. Knowle (Blatch Hand.) ; Rugby
= Cathiron, etc. (Rugby lists); Wol-
ford (W. C. E. Wheeler); Whit-
church, (Worcestershire side, L. C.
Keighley-Peach)
Catocala fraxini, L. Rugby ; one caught
by T. M. Wratislaw on August 31,
1880 (see Entom. 1880, p. 310)
nupta, L. Not common. Hampton-in-
Arden (one, 1900, G. W. Wynn);
Knowle (Blatch Hand.); Rugby (N. V.
Sidgwick, and Rugby lists) ; Warwick
(taken by Mr. Chadwick = P. P.
Baly) ; Baddesley Clinton (one, W.
Kiss); Whitchurch (J. H. Bloom);
Wolford (common some years, in
others scarcely one, W. C. E.
Wheeler)
[ sponsa, L. Rev. J. H. Bloom tells
me that it was taken by Mr. Austen
in Wolford Woods ; I however think
it improbable, and it certainly needs
confirmation as it is not usually taken
in the midlands]
[ promissa, Esp. This also comes into
the list on a single doubtful record.
Mr. W. S. Edmonds records it in
Rugby list, 1888, and Mr. N. V.
Sidgwick writes me that he assured
him he had taken it in Brandon Woods
and seemed to know it ; I consider it
however as improbable as the last]
HYPENIN^E
Laspeyria flexula, Schiff. Mr. N. V. Sidg-
wick tells me he has taken this in
Rugby, and it occurs several times in
the Rugby lists
Zanclognatha tarsi pennalis, Tr. Not un-
common. Coventry (G. H. Kenrick);
Rugby = Brandon Woods, Ovenlade,
Princethorpe, etc. (Rugby lists) ;
Knowle (Blatch Coll.); Atherstone (C.
Baker)
grisealis, Hb. (nemoralis, F.) Not un-
common. Sutton (R. C. Bradley) ;
Knowle (Blatch Coll.); Rugby = Over-
slade, etc. (Rugby lists)
Pechipogon barbalis, Cl. Knowle (Blatch
Coll.) ; Rugby = Brandon Woods,
140
INSECTS
HYPENIN. (continued)
Princethorpe, etc. (Rugby lists); Ather-
stone (C. Baker)
Hypena proboscidalis, L. Common. Knowle
(R. C. Bradley) ; Rugby (Rugby lists)
CYMATOPHORID.E
Habrosyne derasa, L. Occurs throughout
the county, but not abundantly
Thyatira batis, L. More numerous than
derasa and equally generally distri-
buted
Cymatophora or (S.V.), F. Rare. Knowle
(W. Kiss); Rugby (Rugby list, once
only, 1888)
octogesima, Hb. (ocularis, Gn.) Mr.
E. A. Laxon tells me that two speci-
mens of this species were taken in
Waveley Wood near Coventry in his
presence
duplaris, L. Not common. Sutton
(G. W. Wynn, J. T. Fountain) ;
Hay Wood (G. W. Wynn) ; Knowle
(G. W. Wynn, Blatch Coll.); Rugby
(Rugby list, 1888 only); Wolf or d
(W. C. E. Wheeler)
Polyploca diluta, F. Not uncommon.
Coventry, Knowle, Marston Green
(G. W. Wynn) ; Knowle (R. C.
Bradley, W. Kiss, etc.) ; Solihull
(Blatch Coll.); Rugby (Rugby list, in
1888 only); Wolford (W. C. E.
Wheeler) ; Wh\tcburch(]. H. Bloom) ;
Chelmsley Wood (J. T. Fountain)
flavicornis, L. Not common. Sohhull
(R. C. Bradley) ; Marston Green
(E. C. Tye, G. W. Wynn); Middle-
ton Woods (P. W. Abbott) ; Knowle
(R. C. Bradley, G. W. Wynn, etc.);
Sutton Park (G. W. Wynn, H.
Taylor)
ridens, F. Rare. I have only one
record = Wolford (one only, W. C. E.
Wheeler) ; but it has also been taken
only just over the -border in Hopwas
Wood by Mr. W. G. Blatch
BREPHID^E
Brephos parthenias, L. Rare. Knowle
(W. G. Blatch) ; Rugby = Brandon
Woods, etc. (Rugby lists) ; Wolford
Woods (common in one part, W. C.
E. Wheeler)
nothum, Hb. The Rev. A. H.
Wratislaw records it in the Rugby
list for 1867
GEOMETRIDjE
GEOMETRINJE
Pseudoterpna pruinata, Hufn. (cythisaria,
GEOMETRIN.S (continued)
Schiff. Not uncommon. Sutton
(P. W. Abbott, G. W. Wynn, etc.) ;
Knowle (Blatch Hand.) ; Rugby (N.
V. Sidgwick, and Rugby lists) ;
Atherstone (C. Baker) ; Wolford (W.
C. E. Wheeler)
Geometra papilionaria, L. Not common.
Marston Green (E. C. Tye) ; Knowle
(R. C. Bradley, W. Kiss, etc.);
Atherstone (C. Baker) ; Rugby =
Frankton Wood, Brandon Woods,
etc. (Rugby lists) ; Bubbinhall near
Coventry (H. R. Brown, Entom.
1882, p. 91)
Euchloris pustulata, Hufn. (bajularia, Schiff.)
Not common and local. Knowle
(W. G. Blatch, W. Kiss) ; Solihull
(Blatch Hand.) ; Rugby = Wave ley
Wood, etc. (Rugby lists) ; Atherstone
(C. Baker) ; Bubbinhall near Coven-
try (H. R. Brown, 1882, p. 91)
Thalera lactearia, L. Common every-
where
Hemithea strigata, Mttll. (thymiaria, Gn.)
Not common. Hampton-in-Arden
(G. W. Wynn) ; Knowle (Blatch
Coll.) ; Rugby = Brandon Woods, etc.
(Rugby lists) ; Atherstone (C. Baker);
Wolford (Austen, W. C. E.
Wheeler) ; Whltchurch (J. H.
Bloom)
AciDALIINJE
Acidalia dimidiata, Hufn. (scutulata, Bkh.)
Common. Knowle (R. C. Bradley,
etc.) ; Hampton-in-Arden (G. W.
Wynn) ; Atherstone (C. Baker) ;
Rugby = Overslade, etc. (Rugby lists);
Wolford (W. C. E. Wheeler)
virgularia, Hb. (incanaria, Hb.) Soli-
hull (A. H. Martineau, one in
house) ; Knowle (Blatch Cat.) ; Wol-
ford (W. C. E. Wheeler) ; Rugby =
Overslade, Princethorpe, etc. (Rugby
lists, quite common, N. V. Sidg-
wick)
bisetata, Hufn. Common. Knowle
(R. C. Bradley, G. W. Wynn);
Stechford (Blatch Coll.) ; Tardley (H.
Taylor) ; Rugby = Overslade, etc.
(Rugby lists) ; Atherstone (C. Baker);
Wolford (W. C. E. Wheeler)
dilutaria, Hb. (osseata [F.], Stt.) Rug-
by = Brandon village and Ntwbold
(N. V. Sidgwick)
inornata, Haw. Not common. Sutton
(W. G. Blatch, G. W. Wynn) ;
Knowle (Blatch Coll.); Rugby
(Rugby list 1888 only)
aversata, L. Common everywhere
141
A HISTORY OF WARWICKSHIRE
ACIDALIIN.S (continued)
Acidalia emarginata, L. Doubtfully recorded
from Rugby ; in Rugby list 1867 G.
B. Longstaff records it, and in a com-
munication to me Mr. N. V. Sidg-
wick tells me that Mr. A. Sidgwick
thinks he saw it years ago, but is not
certain
remutaria, Hb. Common. Sutton
(P. W. Abbott, G. W. Wynn,
etc.) ; Knowle (R. C. Bradley, G.
W. Wynn, etc.) ; Rugby = Brandon
Woods, etc. (Rugby lists) ; Wolford
(W. C. E. Wheeler)
- immutata, L. Only recorded from
Wolford by W. C. E. Wheeler
- imitaria, Hb. Not common. . Tardley
(H. Taylor) ; Atherstone (C. Baker) ;
Wbitchurch (J. H. Bloom) ; Wolford
(W. C. E. Wheeler); Rugby =
Overslade, etc. (Rugby lists)
Ephyra pendularia, Cl. Not common.
Knowle (R. C. Bradley, C. J. W.,
etc.) ; Erd'mgton (Blatch Hand.) ;
Rugby = Brandon Woods, etc. (Rugby
lists)
- annulata, Schulze (omicronaria [S.V.]
Hb. Not common ; only re-
corded in Rugby lists = Brandon
Woods, etc.
- porata, F. Not common. Erd'mgton,
Knowle (Blatch Hand.); Rugby =
Brandon Woods (Rugby list 1886
only)
punctaria, L. Not uncommon. Sutton
(C. J. W., etc.) ; Knowle (W. Kiss,
R. C. Bradley, etc.) ; Erd'mgton
(Blatch Cat.) ; Rugby = Brandon
[foods, etc. (Rugby lists) ; Atherstone
(C. Baker); Coombe Wood (G. B.
LongstafF, E.M.M. iii. 138)
Timandra amata, L. (amataria, L.) Not
common, but generally distributed
LARENTIIN^E
Ortholitha plumbaria, F. (palumbaria
[S.V.] Tr.) Very common in
Sutton Park. Also recorded from
Rugby = Overslade, Brownsover, etc.
(Rugby lists) ; Atherstone (C.
Baker) ; and probably common in
all suitable localities
- cervinata, Schiff. Not common. Sutton
(P. W. Abbott, R. C. Bradley) ;
Hampton-in-Arden (G. W. Wynn) ;
Knowle (Blatch Coll.); Rugby =
Ovenlade (Rugby list 1892 only);
Atherstone (C. Baker) ; Rugby (once
only, N. V. Sidgwick)
limitata, Sc. (mensuraria, Schiff.)
Common throughout the county
LARENTIINJE (continued)
Odezia atrata, L. (chaerophyllata, L.)
Very local, sometimes occurring in
one field only, but it is given in all
my lists, and usually is common in
the spots where it is found
Anaitis plagiata, L. Not uncommon, and
seems to occur throughout the county
[ paludata, Thnb., var. imbutata, Hb.
Both W. G. Blatch in Brit. Assoc.
Hand, and Enock in his 1869 list
mention this as occurring near Bir-
mingham. I however do not know
of its occurrence nearer than Chart ley
Moss, Staffordshire, and do not think
it is at all likely to be found in
Warwickshire]
Chesias spartiata, Fuesl. Very local, but
well distributed. Sutton (G. W.
Wynn); Knowle (R. C. Bradley,
W. Kiss, etc.) ; Rugby = Ovenlade,
etc. (Rugby lists) ; Atherstone (C.
Baker)
Lobophora carpinata, Bkh. (lobulata, Hb.).
Rare. It occurs at Knowle, where I
have taken it ; and F. Enock gives
it in his list 1870, probably from
captures at the same place. At
Hopwas Wood just over the border
it is very common
halterata, Hufn. (hexapterata, Schiff.)
Rare. Mr. N. V. Sidgwick writes
to me that he took it once at Bran-
don Woods, and Rev. J. H. Bloom
records it from the Worcestershire
side of Whitchurch parish
- viretata, Hb. Sutton Park is a well-
known headquartersof this usually un-
common insect, and in some years it
has been taken there in considerable
numbers. Of late years however I
fear it has been rendered much rarer
by over collecting ; at any rate I
have not heard of many being taken
recently, though that may be because
it has not been looked for so much as
it used to be
Chcimatobia brumata, L. Very common
here as elsewhere
Triphosa dubitata, L. Common every-
where
Eucosmia certata, Hb. Rare. Ather-
stone (C. Baker) ; Rugby = Ovenlade,
etc. (Rugby lists) ; Whitchurch,
Worcestershire, J. H. Bloom)
undulata, L. Not common. Sutton
(C. J. W., etc.) ; Knowle (R. C.
Bradley); Rugby = Brandon Woods,
etc., (Rugby lists) ; Solihull= Cut
Throat Coppice (Blatch Cat.)
142
INSECTS
LARENTIINJE (continued)
Scotosia vetulata, Schiff. Not common.
Salford Priors (J. T. Fountain) ;
Rugby = Cawston, Overslade, etc.
(Rugby lists) ; Whitchurch (Worces-
tershire, J. H. Bloom) ; Wolford
(W. C. E. Wheeler) ; Rugby (N.
V. Sidgwick)
rhamnata, Schiff. Not common.
Rugby = Overslade, etc. (Rugby lists) ;
Wolford (W. C. E. Wheeler);
Whitchurch (Worcestershire, J. H.
Bloom)
Lygris prunata, L. (ribesiaria, B.). Not
common. Hampton-in-Arden (G.
W. Wynn) ; Rugby = Overslade,
Princethorpe (Rugby lists) ; Wolford
(W. C. E. Wheeler)
- testata, L. Not very common, but
occurs throughout the county
- populata, L. Not uncommon. Button
(C. J. W., G. W. Wynn, etc.) ;
Knowle (R. C. Bradley, etc.) ; Soli-
hull (Blatch Cat.) ; Rugby (Rugby
lists) ; Atherstone (C. Baker)
associata, Bkh. (dotata, D. L.). Com-
mon in gardens, etc. Tardley (G.
W. Wynn) ; Sutton (R. C. Bradley,
etc.) ; Hampton-in-Arden (G. W.
Wynn) ; Rugby = Overslade, etc.
(Rugby lists) ; Atherstone (C. Baker) ;
Wolford (W. C. E. Wheeler)
Larentia dotata, L. (pyraliata [S.V.] Hb.)
Common. Knowle (C. J. W., etc.,
etc.) ; Solihull (Blatch Cat.) ; Rugby
= Overslade, etc. (Rugby lists) ;
Atherstone (C. Baker) ; Wolford (W.
C. E. Wheeler)
fulvata, Forst. Common everywhere
- ocellata, L.
- bicolorata, Hufn. (rubiginata [S.V.]
Hb.) Not common. Sutton Park
(C. J. W.) ; Knowle (R. C. Bradley,
etc.) ; Olton, Solihull (Blatch
Cat.) ; Rugby (Rugby lists) ; Ather-
stone (C. Baker) ; Wolford (W. C. E.
Wheeler)
variata, Schiff. Common locally ; Sut-
ton Park (very common, C. J. W.,
etc.) ; Hampton-in-Arden, Knowle
(G. W. Wynn) ; Rugby = Overslade,
etc. (Rugby lists)
miata, L. Not uncommon. Knowle
(W. G. Blatch) ; Rugby = Overslade,
etc. (Rugby lists) ; Atherstone (C.
Baker) ; Wolford (W. C. E.
Wheeler)
truncata, Hufn. (russata [S.V.] Hb.) )
immanata, Haw. J
Both these species are, I believe,
LARENTIIN^E (continued)
common throughout the county, and
occur in all their known forms ; they
are doubtless, however, much mixed
up in collections and records
Larentia firmata, Hb. Rare. A few larvz
have been taken in Sutton Park with
those of variata, and it is recorded
twice in the Rugby lists
[ olivata [S.V.], Bkh. Mr. C. Baker
records this species from Atherstone,
and Rev. J. H. Bloom says it occurs
at Whitchurch, but I think it very
likely dark viridaria have been mis-
taken for it, and it much needs con-
firmation]
- viridaria, F. (pectinataria, Knoch.)
Common everywhere
fluctuata, L. Very common every-
where
multistrigaria, Haw. Common in
Sutton Park ; and also recorded
from Knowle (W. G. Blatch) ;
Marston Green (G. W. Wynn) ;
Small Heath (Blatch Coll.) ; Rugby =
Princethorpe (Rugby list 1898 only,
D. Campbell)
didymata, L. Very common every-
where
montanata, Schiff. Very common in
all the woods
suffumata [S.V.], Hb. Common.
Sutton (C. ]. W., etc.) ; Knowle (R.
C. Bradley, etc.) ; Rugby = Brandon
Woods, Overslade, etc. (Rugby lists) ;
Atherstone (C. Baker) ; Wolford (W.
C. E. Wheeler)
quadrifasciaria, Cl. Occurs in Enock's
list 1869, but I think in error
ferrugata, Cl. \ I think both these
unidentaria, Haw. J species are com-
mon, but the records are untrust-
worthy owing to the difficulty of
distinguishing the two species
designata, Rott. (propugnata [S.V.] F.)
Not common. Sutton (R. C. Brad-
ley, G. W. Wynn, etc.) ; Middleton
(R. C. Bradley); Solihull (Blatch
Cat.) ; Rugby = Brandon Woods,
Frankton, etc. (Rugby lists) ; Wol-
ford (W. C. E. Wheeler)
fluviata, Hb. Mr. W. G. Blatch
gives Knowle as a locality for this
species in his handbook ; and Mr. F.
Enock includes it in his 1869 list ; I
however know of no recent capture
vittata, Bkh. (lignata, Hb. ) Very
rare. Mr. P. W. Abbott has taken
it at Sutton, and the name also occurs
once in the Rugby lists 1888
1 43
A HISTORY OF WARWICKSHIRE
LARENTIINJE (continued)
Larentia dilutata (S. V.) Bkh. Very common
everywhere
cuculata, Hufn. (sinuata [S.V.] Hb.)
Mr. W. G. Blatch bred one in 1869
from a larva found at Knowle
rivata, Hb. \
sociata, Bkh. (subtristata, Haw.) j
There are numerous records of both
these species, but I am of opinion
that most if not all of the specimens
are sociata ; Rivata may occur, but
I think it is rare if it does ; sociata
is very common
unangulata, Haw. Rare. Sutton (H.
M. Lee) ; Knowle (W. G. Blatch,
R. C. Bradley, etc.) ; Rugby = Bar-
by, Overslade, etc. (Rugby lists) ;
Atherstone (C. Baker)
albicillata, L. Not common and local ;
most abundant in Sutton Park, where
many have been taken ; also occurs
at Marston Green (G. W. Wynn) ;
Knowle (H. W. Ellis and W. Kiss) ;
Solihull (Blatch Coll.) ; Rugby =
Coomb e Wood, Brandon Woods, Prince-
thorpe, etc. (Rugby lists) ; Atherstone
(C. Baker); Wolford (W. C. E.
Wheeler) ; Whitchurch (J. H. Bloom)
hastata, L. Rare. Knowle (R. C.
Bradley, etc.) ; Coventry (G. H.
Kenrick) ; Rugby = Brandon Woods,
etc. (Rugby lists) ; Wolford (Austen,
W. C. E. Wheeler)
affinitata, Steph. Common. Solihull
(Blatch Cat.) ; Knowle (Blatch
Coll.); Rugby (Rugby list 1899
only) ; Atherstone (C. Baker) ; Wol-
ford (W. C. E. Wheeler)
alchemillata, L. Common. Knowle
(R. C. Bradley); Solihull (Blatch
Coll.) ; Rugby = Overslade (Rugby
lists)
albulata, Schiff. Commoner than the
above two species ; occurs every-
where
testaceata, Don (Asthena sylvata [S.V.]
Hb.) Rare. Knowle = Chalcot
Wood (R. C. Bradley, W. G.
Blatch) ; Rugby (N. V. Sidgwick
and Rugby lists) ; Wolford (W. C.
E. Wheeler) ; Coombe Wood (G. B.
Longstaff, E.M.M. iii. 138)
obliterata, Hufn. (heparata [S.V.]
Haw.) Not common. Occurs at
Sutton amongst the alders ; and at
Marston Green (G. W. Wynn and
E. C. Tye) ; Know It (R. C. Brad-
ley, etc.); Solihull (Blatch Cat.);
Atherstone (C. Baker)
LARENTIIN.S: (continued)
Larentia luteata, Schiff. Not common.
Knowle (W. G. Blatch) ; Rugby =
Brandon Woods, etc. (Rugby lists) ;
Atherstone (C. Baker)
flavofasciata, Thnbg. (decolorata, Hb.)
Not uncommon. Tardley, Marston
Green, Sutton (G. W. Wynn, etc.) ;
Knowle (R. C. Bradley) ; Rugby
(Rugby lists) ; Atherstone (C. Baker) ;
Whitchurch (J. H. Bloom) ; Edgbas-
ton (R. C. R. Jordan, E.M.M. iv.
1 86)
bilineata, L. Common everywhere
sordidata, F. (elutata, Hb.) Com-
mon everywhere
autumnalis. StrOm (trifasciata, Bkh.
impluviata [S.V.] Hb. ) Not
common. Marston Green (G. W.
Wynn) ; Sutton (H. M. Lee, G. W.
Wynn, etc., etc.) ; Knowle (R. C.
Bradley, etc.) ; Solihull (Blatch
Hand.); Rugby (Rugby list 1888
only) ; Atherstone (C. Baker)
[ ruberata, Frr. Has been recorded
many times, but never seems to stand
investigation. I do not believe it
occurs with us at all, although it is
given in both Enock's lists and
Blatch Hand.]
silaceata (S.V.), Hb. Not common.
Rugby (Rugby lists) ; Wolford (W.
C. E. Wheeler) ; Whitchurch (J. H.
Bloom) ; Brandon Woods (N. V.
Sidgwick)
corylata, Thnbg. Common through-
out the county
badiata (S.V.) Hb. Common every-
where
nigrofasciaria, Goze (derivata [S.V.]
Bkh.) Much less common than
badiata. Marston Green (G. W.
Wynn) ; Knowle (R. C. Bradley,
etc.) ; Rugby = Overslade, etc. (Rugby
lists) ; Atherstone (C. Baker) ;
Hampton-in-Arden (G. W. Wynn) ;
Wolford (W. C. E. Wheeler)
rubidata (S.V.), F. Very rare. In
the Blatch collection is a specimen
bred by Mr. W. G. Blatch from a
larva found at Knowle in 1869
Mr. C. Baker records it from Ather-
stone, and it is given in the Rugby
lists, but Mr. N. V. Sidgwick writes
to me that he never heard of its
capture and doubts it. It occurs in
Mr. Enock's list 1869
comitata, L. Rugby = Overslade, etc.
(Rugby lists and Mr. N. V. Sidg-
wick) ; Atherstone (C. Baker)
144
INSECTS
LARENTIIN.* (continued)
Asthena candidata, Schiff. Common
everywhere in woods
Tephroclystia oblongata, Thnbg. (centau-
reata [S.V.] F.) Not common.
Knowle (R. C. Bradley, etc.);
Hampton-in-Arden, Yardley (G.
W. Wynn) ; Rugby = Overslade,
Frankton, etc. (Rugby lists) ; Ather-
stone (C. Baker) ; Wolford (W. C. E.
Wheeler)
linariata (S.V.), F. Not common.
Knowle (W. G. Blatch) ; given in
Knock's list 1869 as common, which
it is not now anyway
pulchellata, Stph. Not uncommon.
Marston Green (G. W. Wynn) ;
Button (R. C. Bradley) ; Knowle
(Blatch Coll.) ; Rugby (Rugby list
1888 only) ; Edgbaston (R. C. R.
Jordan, E.M.M. iv. 186)
indigata, Hb. Fairly common in
Sutton Part, and also recorded by
Mr. N. V. Sidgwick in Rugby list
1859
venosata, F. Not common. Sutton
(P. W. Abbott, etc.) ; Rugby (Rugby
lists) ; and is given in Knock's list,
1870
assimilata, Gn. Common in gardens
on currant bushes round Birming-
ham ; also recorded from Atherstone
(C. Baker) ; Rugby = Overslade (J. M.
Furness, Rugby list, 1895)
absinthiata, Cl. F. Enock gives it in
his 1869 list as common, and it
occurs in several Rugby lists, but I
know of no capture myself
Goossensiata, Mab. (minutata, Gn.) I
have a specimen which I reared from
amongst some Sutton larvs
vulgata, Haw. Common every-
where
lariciata, Frr. Common in fir woods.
Sutton (C. J. W., etc.) ; Rugby
(Rugby list, 1867 only); Knowle
(Blatch Coll.) ; Frankton Wood,
Cawston Spring (G. B. Longstaffj
E.M.M. iii. 138)
castigata, Hb. Fairly common. Sut-
ton (C. J. W., R. C. Bradley, etc.) ;
Knowle (R. C. Bradley) ; Rugby =
Brandon Woods, etc. (Rugby lists)
subnotata, Hb. Enock says common
in his 1869 list, but I do not know
of any capture, though I expect it
would prove not uncommon if
looked for
satyrata, Hb. Knowle (W. G. Blatch) ;
Rugby (N. V. Sidgwick, Rugby list,
I M5
LARENTIINVE (continued)
1888) ; Atherstone (C. Baker). Com-
mon (F. Enock, List, 1869)
Tephroclystia succenturiata, L. Enock
(List, 1869) says common, but I do
not think it is ; my only record is
in the Rugby lists, where it is given
by Rev. J. M. Furness
subfulvata, Haw. Not uncommon. Is
recorded from Tardley, Hampton-in-
Arden (G. W. Wynn) ; Sutton (P. W.
Abbott) ; Knowle (R. C. Bradley) ;
Rugby (N. V. Sidgwick, Rugby lists) ;
Atherstone (C. Baker)
plumbeolata, Haw. Not common.
Sutton (G. W. Wynn, R. C. Brad-
ley) ; ? Rugby (Rugby list, 1898
only) ; Moseley (R. C. Bradley =
? Warwickshire)
nanata, Hb. Common at Sutton and
probably wherever the Calluna
grows ; only recorded however
from Hampton-in-Arden (G. W.
Wynn) and Knowle (Blatch Coll.)
[ innotata, Hufn. I have no record of
the occurrence of the type more
trustworthy than the Rugby School
lists. The variety fraxinata, Crewe,
however almost certainly occurs,
though I have no certain Warwick-
shire record. It is however common
on ash trees in the suburbs of Bir-
mingham at Handsworth, Moseley, etc.,
and I have no doubt also occurs on
the Warwickshire side. I believe
too that I have seen larvas on ash
trees at Wylde Green]
abbreviate, Stph. Seems to occur every-
where in woods and to be fairly com-
mon
exiguata, Hb. Knowle (W. G. Blatch) ;
Rugby = Overslade, etc. (Rugby lists
several times = N. V. Sidgwick, J. M.
Furness, etc.)
sobrinata, Hb. Not common. Knowle
(R. C. Bradley) ; Whitchurch (J. H.
Bloom) ; Rugby = Overslade (Rugby
list, J. M. Furness, 1892). (Food
plant does not occur in this district
= Rugby, N. V. Sidgwick)
Chloroclystis coronata, Hb. Rare. Sutton
(J. F. Perry) ; Wolford (W. C. E.
Wheeler) ; Rugby = Overslade, etc.
(Rugby lists)
rectangulata, L. Common in gardens
and orchards, etc.
Phibalapteryx tersata (S.V.), Hb. The only
record is one by Rev. J. M. Furness
in the Rugby list for 1 893, and it
needs confirmation
19
A HISTORY OF WARWICKSHIRE
BOARMIIN.*
Abraxas grossulariata, L. Exceedingly abun-
dant in gardens, etc., as usual
sylvata, Sc. Not common and very
local. Knowle (Blatch Coll., W.
Kiss) ; Rugby = Brandon Woods,
Newbold Road, Overslade, etc. (Rug-
by lists) ; Athentone (C. Baker) ;
Wolford (not seen for some time,
W. C. E. Wheeler)
- marginata, L. Common in woods, etc.
- adustata, Schiff. Rare. Sutton (P. W.
Abbott); I Rugby (Rugby list, 1888
only) ; Wolford (W. C. E. Wheeler)
Bapta temerata (S.V.), Hb. Rare. Rugby
= Frankton Woods (Rugby list, 1886);
Wolford (W. C. E. Wheeler)
Deilinia pusaria, L. Common everywhere.
Ab. rotundaria, Haw., has occurred.
I bred one from a lot of Sutton
larvae, and it is also twice recorded
in the Rugby lists
exanthemata, Sc. Common everywhere
Numeria pulveraria, L. Not common.
Knowle (C. J. W., etc.) ; Hampton-
in-Arden (G. W. Wynn) ; Athentone
(C. Baker) ; Rugby Brandon Woods,
etc. (Rugby lists)
Ellopia prosapiaria, L. (fasciaria, SchifF.).
Occurs in Sutton Park, but not com-
monly, and the only other record is
^from Overslade = Rugby (J. M. Fur-
ness, Rugby lists)
Metrocampa margaritata, L. Common
and generally distributed
Ennomos quercinaria, Hufn. (angularia
[S.V.], Hb.) Not common. Knowle
(W. G. Blatch, W. Kiss) ; Rugby
= Overslade, Frankton Wood, etc.
(Rugby lists); Whitchurch (L. C.
Keigh ley-Peach); Wolford (W.C.E.
Wheeler)
- alniaria, L. (tiliaria, Bkh.) Fairly com-
mon and generally distributed
- fuscantaria, Haw. Not common. Knowle
(R. C. Bradley, etc.) ; Rugby (Rugby
lists, bred from larvae, N. V. Sidg-
wick) ; Atherstone (C. Baker)
- erosaria (S.V.), Hb. Rare. Marston
Green (R. C. Bradley) ; Leamington,
Knowle (Blatch Coll.) ; ? Rugby
(Rugby list, 1892 only)
Selenia bilunaria, Esp. (illunaria, Hb.)
Occurs throughout the county not
uncommonly ; also var. juliaria,
Haw.
- lunaria, Schiff. Much less common.
Knowle (C. J. W., etc.); Tardley
(G. W. Wynn, etc.); Marston
Green (R. C. Bradley); near Bir-
146
BOARMIIN.* (continued)
mingham (Blatch Hand.) ; Rugby
(Rugby lists)
Selenia tetralunaria, Hufn. (illustraria, Hb.)
Not common. Knowle (W. G.
Blatch) ; Rugby (Rugby lists) ; also
given in Enock's List, 1870
Hygrochroa syringaria, L. Seems to occur
throughout the county, as it is in
every list, but it is far from common
Gonodontis bidentata, Cl. Common every-
where
Himera pennaria, L. Not uncommon.
rard!ey(G.W. Wynn, etc.); Knowle
(R. C. Bradley, etc.); Sutton Park
(Blatch Coll.) ; Rugby = Overslade,
etc. (Rugby lists) ; Atherstone (C.
Baker)
Crocallis elinguaria, L. Generally distri-
buted and fairly common
Ourapteryx sambucaria, L. Common every-
where
Eurymene dolobraria, L. Not common.
Knowle (R. C. Bradley, W. G.
Blatch) ; Sutton Park (W. G. Blatch
= not taken for many years,
C. J. W.) ; Rugby = Brandon Woods,
etc. (Rugby lists, many times) ; Wol-
ford (W. C. E. Wheeler)
Opisthograptis luteolata, L. (cratasgata, L.)
Very common everywhere
Epione apiciaria, SchifF. Seems to occur
throughout the county, but it is far
from common
Semiothisa liturata, Cl. Common in Sut-
ton Park ; also recorded from Knowle
(R. C. Bradley, etc.) ; Rugby = Bran-
don Woods, Frankton, etc. (Rugby
lists) ; and probably occurs wherever
there are fir woods
Hybernia rupicapraria(S.V.), Hb. Common
throughout the county
leucophaearia, Schiff. Generally dis-
tributed and fairly common
aurantiaria, Esp. Not common. Sutton
Park (C. J. W., etc.) ; Tardley (G. W.
Wynn); Knowle (R. C.Bradley, etc.);
Atherstone (C. Baker) ; Wolford (W.
C. E. Wheeler)
marginaria, Bkh. (progemmaria, Hb.)
Very common everywhere. Dark
forms are frequent, both the uni-
colorous var. fuscata and also speci-
mens more or less richly clouded
with dark colour, the markings re-
maining as usual
defoliaria, Cl. Very common every-
where. The oaks in Sutton Park
are in some seasons nearly stripped
of their foliage, the larvae of this
I
INSECTS
BOARMIIN^E (continued)
species being the chief offenders ; at
such times it is uncomfortable to
pass through the woods in conse-
quence of the number of pendent
silken threads and larvae which
catch one's face, etc. The perfect
insects show great variation from a
unicolorous brown to pale specimens
richly marked with dark bars
Anisopteryx asscularia, Schiff. Generally
distributed and fairly common
Phigalia pedaria, F. (pilosaria [S.V.], Hb.)
Common. All are of the usual form ;
the black form has not yet been no-
ticed. I think however ours are per-
haps dullerandless richly marked than
some southern ones
Biston hispidaria (S.V.), F. Far from com-
mon. Occurs regularly in Chakot
Wood, Knowle ; also recorded from
Hay Wood and Umbenlade (W. Kiss) ;
Atherstone (C. Baker) ; Button Park
(Blatch Hand. ; F. Knock, Sat. Guide
= has not however been seen there
for many years, C. J. W.) ; Rugby
= Wolscote, Brandon Woods, etc.
(Rugby lists)
hirtaria, Cl. Very rare. Mr. W. G.
Blatch has it from Knowle, and it
also occurs in the Rugby lists, though
from a communication received from
Mr. N. V. Sidgwick I think it is
probably in mistake
strataria, Hufn. (prodromaria, SchirF.)
Rare ; but I think it occurs through-
out the district. It is usually obtained
in the pupal stage, and the greater
portion never develop, but emerge
and become cripples. Even when
found at liberty a large proportion
are imperfect
Amphidasis betularia, L. Common through-
out the district ; generally taken in
the larval stage from poplars, etc. ;
var. Doubledayaria, Mill., is very
common, and although I think the
larger portion are still the type, yet
the variety is very rapidly obtaining
a majority
Hemerophila abruptaria, Thnbg. Not
common, but generally distributed,
and comes to ' light ' sometimes in
the suburbs of Birmingham
Boarmia gemmaria, Brahm. (rhomboidaria
[S.V.], Hb.) Common everywhere.
Is particularly common in gardens
amongst the ivy on houses, etc.
[ ribeata, Cl. (abietaria [S.V.], Hb.) Is
recorded from Frankton Wood by G.
BOARMIIN^E (continued)
B. Longstaff in E.M.M. 1866, p.
138, but probably in error, as I do
not think it occurs with us at all]
Boarmia repandata, L. Common every-
where ; but while gemmaria occurs
in gardens, this seems to belong to the
woods. Var. conversaria, Hb., has
not been recorded in the county
roboraria, Schiff. Very rare. It is re-
corded several times in the Rugby
lists from Brandon Woods, Frankton,
etc. Mr. W. C. E. Wheeler says
it occurs at Wolford, but is not com-
mon ; and Mr. R. C. Bradley has
a specimen supposed to have been
taken near Coventry
lichenaria, Hufn. Mr. W.C.E. Wheeler
gives it in his Wolford list, and it
occurs in the Rugby lists, but I think
it is very doubtful if it really occurs
in the county
crepuscularia (S.V.), Hb.) I am told
bistortata, Goeze. [that all our
specimens are bistortata, and that
crepuscularia is not a midland in-
sect. I confess however that I cannot
follow the distinctions or synonomy
of this pair of species. Our species
is fairly common and generally dis-
tributed, and the commoner form
seems to be the one with but slight
markings and evenly dusted with
grey
luridata, Bkh. (extersaria, Hb.) Rare.
Wolford (W. C. E. Wheeler) ; Rugby
= Brandon floods, etc. (Rugby lists) ;
Whitchurch (L. C. Keighley-Peach)
punctularia, Hb. Not common. Coven-
try (G. H. Kenrick) ; Atherstone (C.
Baker) ; Rugby = Brandon Woods, etc.
(Rugby lists)
Ematurga atomaria, L. Very common in
Sutton Park, and probably equally so
wherever heather grows. Recorded
from Knowle (R. C. Bradley) ; Mars-
ton Green (G. W. Wynn) ; Wolford
(W. C. E. Wheeler) ; Athentone (C.
Baker)
Bupalus piniarius, L. Very common in
Sutton Park, and also recorded from
Knowle (R. C. Bradley, etc.); Rugby
= Frankton, Brandon Woods, Prince-
thorpe, etc. (Rugby lists)
Thamnonoma wauaria, L. Common,
especially in gardens
Phasiane petraria, Hb. Fairly common.
Sutton (P. W. Abbott, R. C. Brad-
ley, etc.) ; Knowle (R. C. Bradley,
etc.) ; Atherstone (C. Baker) ; Rugby
147
A HISTORY OF WARWICKSHIRE
BoARMUN/E (continued)
= Brandon, Princethorpe, etc. (Rugby
lists) ; Wolford (W. C. E. Wheeler)
Phasiane clathrata, L. Seems to be common
in the southern parts of the county, but
does not occur at all in the northern.
Rugby (common, G. B. Longstaff,
E.M.M. iii. 138, and Rugby lists) ;
Warwick (1887, P. P. Baly) ; Wai-
ford (W. C. E. Wheeler, Austen) ;
Whitchurcb (L. C. Keighley-Peach)
Perconia strigillaria, Hb. Mr. W. G. Blatch
records this from Button Park. It
must however be very rare there as
I have heard of no other captures
NOLIDjE
Nola cucullatella, L. Probably generally
common, though I have no records
from the southern part of the county
excepting in the Rugby lists
confusalis, H. S. (cristulalis, Dup.)
Coombe Wood, Coventry (G. H.
Kenrick) ; Brandon Woods = Rugby
(Rugby lists : practically the same
as Coombe) ; Walfard (W. C. E.
Wheeler)
CYMBIDjE
Hylophila prasinana, L. Common through-
out the county
ARCTIIDjE
ARCTIIN^E
Spilosoma mendica, Cl. Not common.
Hampton-in-Arden (G. W. Wynn) ;
Knowle (W. Kiss, etc.) ; Small Heath
(Blatch Hand.) ; Rugby = Overs/ade,
etc. (Rugby lists) ; Atherstone (C.
Baker) ; Wolford (W. C. E. Wheeler)
lubricipeda, L. Common everywhere
menthastri, Esp.
Phragmatobia fuliginosa, L. Not common.
Sutton Park (C. ]. W., etc.) ; Knowle
(Blatch Coll.) ; Wolford (W. C. E.
Wheeler) ; Athenian (C. Baker)
Parasemia plantaginis, L. Fairly common
in Sutton Park ; and Mr. W. C. E.
Wheeler says it is common in one
locality at Wolford
Diacrisia sanio, L. (russula, L.). Rare.
Occurs occasionally in Sutton Park
Arctia caja, L. Common everywhere
Hipocrita jacobaeae, L. Rare ; and has
not been taken anywhere near to
Birmingham for many years. It is
said that it used to be found at Saltley
(Blatch Hand.) ; Rugby = Brandon
Woods (Rugby lists = ' very rare, as is
(continued)
its food plant ; but it has certainly
been taken at Brandon by L. Cum-
ming,' N. V. Sidgwick) ; Atherstone
(C. Baker); Walfard (W. C. E.
Wheeler, Austen, etc.)
LITHOSIIN^E
Nudaria mundana, L. Not common.
Rugby (Rugby lists) ; Walfard (W.
C. E. Wheeler)
Miltochrista miniata, Forst. Brandon Woods
(Rugby lists). It is very rare in the
midlands, but the records are pro-
bably correct, as the name occurs in
several lists and it is a distinct species ;
moreover Mr. A. Sidgwick is respon-
sible for some of the records
Cybosia mesomella, L. Rare. Knowle
(Blatch Hand.) ; Rugby = Brandon
Woods, etc. (Rugby lists) ; also occurs
in F. Enock's 1870 List
Lithosia lurideola, Zinck. (complanula, B.).
Generally distributed, but not very
common
ZYG1ENID1E
ZYG.flENIN.ffi
Zygaena trifolii, Esp. Knowle (R. C. Brad-
ley) ; Olton, Coventry (Blatch Coll.) ;
Rugby (Rugby lists) ; Atherstone (C.
Baker) ; Wolford (W. C. E. Wheeler)
lonicerae, Scheven. Marston Green
(G. W. Wynn) ; Knowle = Hay Wood
(Blatch Coll.) ; Rugby (Rugby lists) ;
Wolford^W. C. E. Wheeler). I doubt
if the above two species are always
properly distinguished, and merely
give the records as I have received
them
filipendulae, L. The commonest species
of the genus, and is recorded from most
parts of the county. It is however
local, and not often common even
locally
Ino statices, L. Common in a few re-
stricted localities. Knowle (R. C.
Bradley, W. Kiss, etc. ; very abun-
dant in 1898, H. W. Ellis) ; Sutton
(reported only = J. T. Fountain) ;
Olton,Marston Green (Blatch Hand.);
Wolford (Austen ; locally common,
W. C. E. Wheeler) ; Coombe Woods
(G. B. Longstaff, E.M.M. 1866,
P- 138)
COCHLIDIDjE
Heterogenea asella, Schiff. Brandon Woods
(one specimen only in 1890, N. V.
Sidgwick). Seen and confirmed by
Mr. C. G. Barrett
148
INSECTS
Trochilium apiformis, Cl. Not common.
Athenians (C. Baker) ; ? Warwick
(P. P. Baly); Sal ford Priors (J. T.
Fountain)
crabroniformis, Lewin (bembeciformis,
Hb). Rugby (Rugby lists) ; Mr. N.
V. Sidgwick writes to me that he
thinks the record was probably right
Sesia tipuliformis, Cl. Common on cur-
rant bushes in some of the suburbs
of Birmingham, and probably in all ;
not many records of the species, but
probably common everywhere
vespiformis, L. (asiliformis, Rott. ; cyni-
piformis, Esp.). Rare ; though pro-
bably overlooked. Mr. P. W. Abbott
took two at Sutton and Mr. H. W.
Ellis took it at Knowle
culiciformis, L. Rare ; though like the
last, probably overlooked. Mr. R. C.
Bradley took one in his garden at
Sutton, and it has been taken at or
near Knowle several times (H. W.
Ellis, W. G. Blatch, J. T. Fountain)
Cossus cossus, L. (ligniperda, F.) Seems
to occur throughout the county, but
is not often seen, and few specimens
exist in collections. Infested trees
are however reported from many
places
Zeuzera pyrina, L. (sesculi, L.) Odd
specimens turn up throughout the
district, even in Birmingham and its
suburbs, generally being taken at
' light ' ; but the only place where
it seems to be known at home is at
Rugby, where the schoolboys take it
every year and sometimes in numbers
HEPIALID^E
Hepialus humuli, L. Common everywhere
sylvina, L. Generally distributed, but
not common
fusconebulosa, De Geer (velleda, Hb.)
Not uncommon at Sutton, and also
recorded trom Hampton-in-Arden (G.
W. Wynn) and Atherstone (C. Baker)
lupulina, L. Common everywhere
hecta, L. Common everywhere, though
less so than lupulina
PYRALIDJE
CRAMBIN.*
Crambus tristellus (S.V.), F. Common
perlellus, Sc. Knowle (W. G. Blatch) ;
Sutton Park (Blatch Coll.) ; Rugby
(continued)
= Overslade, etc. (Rugby lists) ; Whit-
church (J. H. Bloom)
Crambus margaritellus, Hb. Sutton (R. C.
Bradley). Common (F. Enock, List,
1869)
pinellus, L. (pinetella, Tr.). Knowle
(W. G. Blatch) ; Sutton (Blatch Cat.) ;
Rugby = Brandon Woods, etc. (Rugby
lists) ; Whitchurch (J. H. Bloom)
falsellus, Schiff. Olton (Blatch Coll.) ;
Rugby (two undoubted specimens in
garden, N. V. Sidgwick). Common
(F. Enock, List, 1869) ?
hortuellus, Hb. Knowle (R. C. Bradley,
Blatch Coll.); Rugby = Overs/ade,etc.
(Rugby lists). Common (F. Enock,
1869)
culmellus, L. Common. Knowle (R. C.
Bradley); Rugby (Rugby lists); Whit-
church (J. H. Bloom)
pratellus, L. Knowle (R. C. Bradley
and Blatch Coll.); Rugby = Overslade,
etc. (Rugby lists) ; Whitchurch (J. H.
Bloom). Common (F. Enock, List,
1869)
pascuellus, L. Knowle (R.C. Bradley);
Rugby = Overslade, etc. (Rugby lists)
PHYCITIN.S:
Ephestia Kuhniella, Z. Birmingham (R. C.
Bradley) ; Knowle (Blatch Coll.)
calidella, Gn. (ficella, Dougl.) Has
been bred locally, but from imported
fruit
- elutella, Hb. Common. Found in
Birmingham, etc. (R. C. Bradley)
Salebria betulae, Gocze. Knowle (R. C.
Bradley)
Phycita spissicella, F. Knowle (W. G.
Blatch) ; Rugby = Brandon Wood
(N. V. Sidgwick, Rugby lists)
Acrobasis Zelleri, Rag. (tumidella, Zk.)
Knowle (W. G. Blatch)
consociella, Hb. Brandon Woods (N.
V. Sidgwick)
Rhodophaea advenella, Zk. Brandon, New-
bold (N. V. Sidgwick)
Myelois ceratoniae, Zell. Rugby (taken at
'light' in house August 24, 1895,
N. V. Sidgwick)
Cryptoblabes bistriga, Haw. Knowle (W.
G. Blatch) ; Sutton Park (Blatch
Cat.)
PYRALIN.S
Aglossa pinguinalis, L. Common
Hypsopygia costalis, F. Knowle (W. G.
Blatch)
Pyralis farinalis, L. Common
Herculia glaucinalis, L. Knowle (W. G.
Blatch). Rare (F. Enock, List, 1869)
149
A HISTORY OF WARWICKSHIRE
HYDROCAMPIN.S
Nymphula stagnata, Don. Common
- nymphaeata, L.
- stratiotata, L. Knowle (R. C. Bradley) ;
Button Park (Blatch Coll.) ; Rugby
(Rugby lists). Common (F. Enock,
List, 1869)
Cataclysta lemnata, L. Common
Eurrhypara urticata, L. Common every-
where
SCOPARIIN.S:
Scoparia cembras, Haw. Rugby (several,
N. V. Sidgwick)
ambigualis, Tr. Knowle, Sutton (R. C.
Bradley) ; Rugby = Overslade, etc.
(Rugby lists). Common (F. Enock,
List, 1869)
ulmella, Knaggs. Knowle (W. G.
Blatch)
dubitalis, Hb. Rugby = Overslade (J.
M. Furness, Rugby list, 1893)
- truncicolella, Stt. Sutton (W. G.
Blatch)
- cratasgella, Hb. Knowle (R. C. Brad-
ley, Blatch Coll.) ; Overslade = Rugby
(J. M. Furness, Rugby list, 1895)
frequentella, Stt. (mercurella, Stph.)
Knowle, Sutton (R. C. Bradley) ;
Small Heath (Blatch Cat.) ; Over-
slade = Rugby ( J. M. Furness, Rugby
list, 1894). Common (F. Enock,
List, 1869)
PYRAUSTINJE
Sylepta ruralis, Sc. (verticals, Schiff.)
Common
Nomophila noctuella, Schiff. Common.
Knowle, etc. (R. C. Bradley) ; Rugby
= Overslade^ etc. (Rugby lists).
Common (F. Enock, List, 1869)
Pionea ferrugalis, Hb. Overslade = Rugby
(J. M. Furness, Rugby list, 1893) ;
Mr. Bradley also took one at Mau-
ley, ? in Warwickshire
prunalis, Schiff. Knowle (common,
R. C. Bradley) ; Rugby Overslade,
etc. (Rugby lists). Common (F.
Enock, List, 1869)
forficalis, L. Very common every-
where
lutealis, Hb. Knowle (R. C. Bradley,
Blatch Coll.) ; Rugby = Overslade,
etc. (Rugby lists). Common (F.
Enock, List, 1869)
olivalis, Schiff. Knowle (common, R.
C. Bradley) ; Rugby = Overslade, etc.
(Rugby lists) ; Whitchurch (J. H.
Bloom). Common (F. Enock, List,
1869)
Pyrausta fuscalis, Schiff. Knowle (R. C.
Bradley)
PYRAUSTIN/E (continued)
Pyrausta sambucalis, Schiff. Button, Moseley
(R. C. Bradley) ; Rugby = Overslade,
etc. (Rugby lists) ; Knowle (Blatch
Coll.) ; Whitchurch (J. H. Bloom)
cespitalis, Schiff. Rugby (N. V. Sidg-
wick and in Rugby lists)
purpuralis, L. Rugby = Overslade,
Frankton, etc. (Rugby lists) ; Coombe
Wood (common, G. B. Longstaff,
E.M.M. iii. 138). Rather scarce
(F. Enock, List, 1 869)
PTEROPHORID^
Platyptilia gonodactyla, Schiff. Knowie
(R. C. Bradley, Blatch Coll.) ; Sut-
ton (R. C. Bradley) ; Rugby (Rugby
lists)
Alucita galactodactyla, Hb. Brandon Woods
(N. V. Sidgwick) ; Rugby = Frankton,
etc. (Rugby lists)
pentadactyla, L. Knowle (R. C. Brad-
ley) ; Rugby = Brandon, etc. (Rugby
lists). Occasional (F. Enock, List,
1869)
Pterophorus monodactylus, L. (pterodactyla,
Hb.) Sutton (R. C. Bradley) i; Knowle
(W. G. Blatch) ; near Birmingham
(Blatch Cat.) ; Rugby = Overslade, etc.
(Rugby lists). Occasional (F. Enock,
List, 1869)
Stenoptilia bipunctidactyla, Haw., var.
plagiodactyla, Stt. Knowle (R. C.
Bradley)
pterodactyla, L.(fuscus, Retz.) Knowle,
Sutton (R. C. Bradley) ; Hockley
Heath (Blatch Coll.) ; Rugby = Over-
slade, Frankton, etc. (Rugby lists)
ORNEODID^:
Orneodes hexadactyla, L. Common.
Knowle (Blatch Coll.); Rugby =
Overslade, etc. (Rugby lists) ; Whit-
church (J. H. Bloom). Occasional
(F. Enock, List, 1869)
TORTRICID^:
TORTRICINJE
Acalla emargana, F. (caudana, F.). Knowle
(abundant, R. C. Bradley) ; Rugby
(J. M. Furness, Rugby list, 1884)
hastiana, L. Knowle (R. C. Bradley)
variegana, Schiff. Common every-
where. Sutton, Knowle, etc. (R. C.
Bradley) ; Small Heath (Blatch Cat.) ;
Rugby (Rugby lists) ; Birmingham
(R. C. R. Jordan, E.M.M. October
1888). Occasional (F. Enock, List,
1869)
150
INSECTS
ToR.TRiClN.ffi (continued)
Acalla sponsana, F. Moseley, Knowle, Button
(R. C. Bradley) ; Rugby (N. V.
Sidgwick, Rugby list, 1898). Occa-
sional (F. Enock, List, 1869)
Schalleriana, F. Knowle (R. C. Brad-
ley, Blatch Coll.)
Schalleriana var. comparana, Hb.
Knowle (R. C. Bradley) ; Rugby
(N. V. Sidgwick)
aspersana, Hb. Rugby (Aug. 6, 1896,
N. V. Sidgwick) ; also in Knock's
List, 1869
Holmiana, L. Knowle (R. C. Bradley,
Blatch Coll.) ; Small Heath (Blatch
Cat.) ; Rugby = Overslade, etc. (Rugby
lists). Occasional (F. Enock, List,
1869)
contaminana, Hb. Common every-
where. Dr. Jordan in E.M.M.
October, 1888, says: 'As far as I
have seen the form with the anterior
wings unicolorous brown (var. rhom-
bana, Stph.) occurs only at Birming-
ham.'' Var. rhombana, Steph. = dimi-
diana, Froel.
Dichelia grotiana, F. Small Heath (Blatch
Coll.)
Capua angustiorana, Haw. Knowle, Sutton
(R. C. Bradley) ; Overslade = Rugby
(J. M. Furness, Rugby, 1894)
favillaceana, Hb. (ochraceana, Stph.)
Sutton (R. C. Bradley)
Cacoecia podana, Sc. (pyrastrana, Hb.)
Knowle (R. C. Bradley) ; Small
Heath, Solihull (Blatch Cat.) ; Rugby
= Brandon Woods, Overslade, etc.
(Rugby lists)
xylosteana, L. Knowle (R. C. Bradley,
etc.) ; Sutton, Solihull (Blatch Cat.) ;
Rugby = Brandon Woods, Overslade,
etc. (Rugby lists)
rosana, L. Knowle (R. C. Bradley) ;
Rugby = Overslade, Brandon, etc.
(Rugby lists). Occasional (F. Enock,
List, 1869)
- sorbiana, Hb. Solihull (R. C. Bradley) ;
Rugby = Brandon Woods, etc. (Rugby
lists). Occasional (F. Enoclc, List,
1869)
costana, F. Small Heath (Blatch Coll.)
Occasional (F. Enock, List, 1869)
musculana, Hb. Sutton (R. C. Brad-
ley) ; Rugby (Rugby list, 1867
only)
unifasciana, Dup. Knowle, Sutton (R.
C. Bradley) ; Small Heath (Blatch
Coll.) ; Rugby = Overslade, etc.
(Rugby lists). Occasional (F. Enock,
List, 1869)
TORTRICIN.* (continued)
Cacoecia lecheana, L. Knowle, Sutton (R. C.
Bradley); Rugby = Brandon Woods
(Rugby lists)
Pandemis ribeana, Hb. Knowle (R. C.
Bradley, etc.) ; Small Heath (Blatch
Coll.) ; Selihull (Blatch Cat.) ; Rugby
= Brandon Woods, Overslade, etc.
(Rugby lists)
cinnamomeana, Tr. Knowle (R. C.
Bradley) ; Rugby = Brandon Woods
(Rugby list, 1886 only)
heparana, Schiff. Knowle (R. C. Brad-
ley, Blatch Coll.); Rugby = Over-
slade, etc. (Rugby list). Occasional
(F. Enock, List, 1869)
Eulia ministrana, L. Middleton Woods,
Knowle (R. C. Bradley, etc.) ; Rugby
Brandon Woods (Rugby lists) ;
occasional (F. Enock, List, 1869) ;
Birmingham (var. ferrugana, Hb.,
once, Jordan, E.M.M. Oct. 1888)
Tortrix Forskaleana, L. Common (R. C.
Bradley). Knowle (R. C. Bradley,
etc.) ; Sutton, Small Heath (Blatch
Cat.) ; Rugby = Brandon Woods, Bil-
ton (Rugby lists)
Bergmanniana, L. Everywhere =
Knowle, etc. (R. C. Bradley) ; Rugby
= Overslade, etc. (Rugby lists)
Conwayana, F. Knowle (R. C. Brad-
ley, etc.) ; Rugby = Overslade, etc.
(Rugby lists). Occasional (F. Enock,
List, 1869)
Lceflingiana, L. Knowle (with var.
plumbana, Hb., R. C. Bradley) ;
Rugby = Brandon Woods, Overslade,
etc. (Rugby lists). Occasional (F.
Enock, List, 1869)
viridana, L. Too common everywhere
- Forsterana, F. Knowle, Sutton (R. C.
Bradley) ; Small Heath (Blatch
Coll.) ; Rugby = Overslade, etc.
(Rugby lists). Occasional (F. Enock,
List, 1869)
- paleana, Hb. Knowle (R. C. Bradley) ;
var. icterana, Froel., Rugby = Kings
Newnham (Rugby lists)
rusticana, Tr. Knowle (R. C. Bradley)
Cnephasia osseana, Scop, (pratana, Hb.)
Knowle (R. C. Bradley, Blatch Coll.)
longana, Haw. (ictericana, Haw.)
Knowle (R. C. Bradley)
chrysantheana, Dup. Sutton (R. C.
Bradley) ; Knowle (Blatch Coll.)
Wahlbomiana, L., var. virgaureana, Tr.
Sutton (R. C. Bradley) ; Knowle,
Small Heath (Blatch Coll.) ; Over-
slade (J. M. Furness, Rugby lists)
\ incertana, Tr. (subjectana, Gn.) Knowle
A HISTORY OF WARWICKSHIRE
TORTRICIN.S (continued)
(Blatch Coll., R. C. Bradley) ; Rugby
= Overslade, etc. (Rugby lists)
Cnephasia pasivana, Hb. (pascuana).
Knowle (R. C. Bradley)
nubilana, Hb. Rugby = Overstate, etc.
(Rugby lists and confirmed by N. V.
Sidgwick)
Cheimatophila tortricella, Hb. (Tortricodes
hyemana, Hb.) Common in all
woods, etc.
Anisotaenia rectifasciana, Haw. (hybridana,
Wilk.) Knowle (R. C. Bradley,
Blatch Coll.) ; Rugby = Overslade,
etc. (Rugby lists)
CONCHYLIN.S:
Conchylis nana, Haw. Sutton (R. C.
Bradley)
maculosana, Haw. Knowle, Middleton
(R. C. Bradley)
Hartmanniana, Cl. (Baumanniana,
Schiff.). Occasional (F. Enock,
List, 1869)
- cnicana, Doubl. Knowle, Sutton (R.
C. Bradley) ; Mauley (R. C. Brad-
ley) ; Small Heath (Blatch Coll.)
- ciliella, Hb. Knowle (R. C. Bradley)
Euxanthis hamana, L. Knowle (R. C.
Bradley, Blatch Coll.); Rugby =
Cathiron, etc. (Rugby lists). Occa-
sional (F. Enock, List, 1869)
- zoegana, L. Knowle (R. C. Bradley) ;
Rugby = Owrsladty etc. (Rugby lists,
N. V. Sidgwick)
straminea, Haw. Rugby (I have a
specimen which I believe to be this
species, N. V. Sidgwick)
angustana, Hb. Knowle (R. C. Brad-
ley)
OLETHREUTIN;E (GRAPHALOTINJE)
Evetria buoliana, Schiff. Sutton (R. C.
Bradley) ; Brandon (N. V. Sidgwick)
pinicolana, Doubl. Sutton Park (Blatch
Coll.)
Olethreutes salicella, L. Knowle, Sutton
(R. C. Bradley) ; Small Heath
(Blatch Coll.) ; Rugby (N. V. Sidg-
wick). Occasional (F. Enock, List,
1869)
capreana, Hb. Frankton Wood (N. V.
Sidgwick)
corticana, Hb. Knowle, Moseley (R. C.
Bradley) ; Solihull, Knowle (Blatch
Coll.) ; Overslade (]. M. Furness,
Rugby lists, 1894)
betulaetana, Haw. Knowle, Sutton (R.
C. Bradley)
sauciana, Hb. Sutton Park (Blatch
Coll.)
variegana, Hb. Common everywhere
OLETHREUTIN.ffi (GRAPHALOTINjE) (continued)
Olethreutes pruniana, Hb. Knowle (com-
mon, R. C. Bradley); Rugby =
Brandon Woods, Overslade, etc.
(Rugby lists). Occasional (F. Enock,
List, 1869)
nigricostana, Haw. Sutton (R. C.
Bradley) ; once also given in Rugby
lists, 1898
striana, Schiff. Rugby, Frankton Wood
(N. V. Sidgwick)
branderiana, L. Knowle (R. C. Brad-
ley)
micana, Hb. Sutton (R. C. Bradley)
urticana, Hb. Rugby (Rugby lists).
Occasional (F. Enock, List, 1869)
lacunana, Dup. Knowle (R. C. Brad-
ley) ; Solihull, Sutton, ColeMll (Blatch
Cat.) ; Rugby = Brandon Woods, etc.
(Rugby lists). Occasional (F. Enocfe,
List, 1869)
Polychrosis euphorbiana, Frr. One at
Moseley (R. C. Bradley). This is
perhaps outside the county, but just
near the border line. It is a most
unexpected capture, but the speci-
men has been named by Mr. C. G.
Barrett
Lobesia permixtana, Hb. (reliquana, Hb.)
Knowle (Blatch Coll.) ; Rugby list,
once only, 1867
Steganoptycha ramella, L. (Paykulliana,
Wilk.) Sutton, Knowle (R. C. Brad-
ley) ; Knowle (Blatch Coll.) Occa-
sional (F. Enock, List, 1869)
diniana, Gn. (pinicolana, Z. ; occul-
tana, Dougl.) Sutton (R. C. Brad-
ley)
corticana, Hb. Common everywhere
cruciana, L. Knowle (Blatch Coll.)
trimaculana, Don. Knowle, Moseley
(R. C. Bradley) ; Rugby (Rugby
lists)
Gypsonoma incarnana, Haw. (dealbana,
Froel.) Knowle, Moseley, Sutton
(R. C. Bradley) ; Rugby (N. V.
Sidgwick, Rugby list, 1898)
neglectana, Dup. Knowle (Blatch Coll.) ;
Small Heath (Blatch Coll.)
Bactra lanceolana, Hb. Everywhere.
Knowle, etc. (R. C. Bradley) ; Sutton
(Blatch Coll.)
Semasia hypericana, Hb. Knowle (R. C.
Bradley) ; Rugby (N. V. Sidgwick,
Rugby list, 1898)
Notocelia Uddmanniana, L. Knowle (R.
C. Bradley) ; Solihull (Blatch Coll.) ;
Rugby = Bilton, Overslade (Rugby
lists). Occasional (F. Enock, List,
1869)
152
INSECTS
OLETHREUTIN/E (GRAPHALOTIN.S) (continued)
Notocelia suffusana, Z. (trimaculana, Haw.)
Knowle (R. C. Bradley) ; Rugby (J.
M. Furness, Rugby list, 1894)
rosaecolana, Dbld. Moseley, Sutton (R.
C. Bradley) ; Rugby (Rugby list,
1890)
roborana (S.V.), Tr. Knowle, Sutton (R.
C. Bradley) ; Small Heath (Blatch
Cat.); Rugby (N. V. Sidgwick,
Rugby list, 1898)
tetragonana, Stph. Knowle (R. C.
Bradley)
Epiblema scopoliana, Haw. Rugby = Bran-
don Woods, etc. (N. V. Sidgwick)
tedella, Cl. Knowle (R. C. Bradley) ;
Rugby (Rugby lists)
subocellana, Don. Knowle, Sutton,
Middleton (R. C. Bradley) ; Rugby =
Overslade, etc. (Rugby lists)
nisella, Cl. Knowle (R. C. Bradley)
Penkleriana, F. Knowle (R. C. Brad-
ley) ; Rugby = Bilton (N. V. Sidg-
wick), Rugby list, 1898)
- opthalmicana, Hb. Rugby (N. V.
Sidgwick)
solandriana, L. Knowle, Sutton (R. C.
Bradley)
sordidana, Hb. Knowle (R. C. Bradley)
bilunana, Haw. Knowle (Blatch Coll.)
tetraquetrana, Haw. Sutton (R. C.
Bradley); Rugby (Rugby list, 1867)
immundana, F. Sutton (R. C. Bradley)
similana, Hb. Knowle (R. C. Bradley)
tripunctana (S.V.), F. Knowle (R. C.
Bradley) ; Rugby = Overslade, etc.
(Rugby lists)
Pflugiana, Haw. Knowle (R. C. Brad-
ley) ; Coleshill Bog (Blatch Coll.) ;
Rugby = Princethorpe (Rugby list,
1898). Occasional (F. Enock, List,
1869)
luctuosana, Dup. (cirsiana, Z.) Knowle
(Blatch Coll.) Occasional (F. Enock,
List, 1869)
Brunnichiana (S.V.), Froel. Knowle,
Moseley, Sutton (R. C. Bradley) ;
Rugby = Newbold, Brandon, etc.
(Rugby lists). Occasional (F. Enock,
List, 1869)
Grapholitha Wceberiana, Schiff. Moseley
(R. C. Bradley) ; Small Heath
(Blatch Coll.) ; Brandon Woods
(Rugby list, 1886) ; Rugby (Aug.
ii, 1900, N. V. Sidgwick)
nigricana, Stph. Knowle (Blatch Coll.) ;
Rugby (Rugby list, 1867)
succedana (S.V.), Froel., var. ulicetana,
Haw. Knowle (R. C. Bradley);
Rugby (Rugby lists)
OLETHREUTIN/E (GRAPHALOTIN^) (continued)
Grapholitha compositella, F. Moseley (R.
C. Bradley)
perlepidana, Haw. Rugby (N. V. Sidg-
wick, etc.)
aurana, F. (mediana, Hb.) Knowle,
Moseley (R. C. Bradley) ; Tardley
(Blatch Coll.)
Pamene fimbriana, Haw. Sutton Park
(Blatch Coll.)
argyrana, Hb. Moseley, Sutton (R. C.
Bradley) ; Knowle, Sutton (Blatch
Coll.) Occasional (F. Enock> List,
1869)
splendidulana, Gn. Knowle (R. C.
Bradley, Blatch Coll.)
populana, F. Knowle (R. C. Bradley)
regiana, Z. Sutton (R. C. Bradley)
nitidana, F. Sutton (R. C. Bradley) ;
Brandon (J. M. Furness, Rugby list,
1894)
rhediella, Cl. Knowle, Sutton (R. C.
Bradley) ; Rugby (Rugby list, 1867).
Occasional (F. Enock, List, 1869)
Tmetocera ocellana, F. Moseley (R. C.
Bradley) ; Knowle (Blatch Cat.) ;
Rugby = Overslade, etc. (Rugby lists) ;
Birmingham (Dr. Jordan, E.M.M.
Oct. 1888: 'Form with anterior
wings entirely black occurs ')
Carpocapsa pomonella, L. Common. Sut-
ton, Moseley (R. C. Bradley)
Ancylis lundana, F. Knowle (Blatch Coll.) ;
Rugby = Bilton, etc. (Rugby lists)
myrtillana, Tr. Common = Sutton,
etc. (R. C. Bradley)
siculana, Hb. Sutton (R. C. Bradley)
mitterbacheriana, Schiff. Knowle (R.
C. Bradley, Blatch Coll.)
lanana, F. Knowle (R. C. Bradley,
Blatch Coll.)
Rhopobota nasvana, Hb. Knowle (R. C.
Bradley) ; Small Heath (Blatch
Coll.) ; Sutton (Blatch Cat.) ; Rugby
(N. V. Sidgwick, Rugby list, 1898) ;
Birmingham (Dr. Jordan, E.M.M.
Oct. 1888: 'Form with anterior
wings deep blackish umber ; not rare')
naevana var. geminana, Stph. Every-
where (R. C. Bradley)
Dichrorampha sequana, Hb. Knowle (R.
C. Bradley) ; Rugby (N. V. Sidgwick,
Rugby lists, 1895, given as segnana)
petiverella, L. Knowle, Sutton (R. C.
Bradley) ; Rugby (N. V. Sidgwick,
etc., Rugby lists)
alpinana, Tr. (politana, Gn.) Rugby
(July 21, 1898, N. V. Sidgwick)
acuminatana, Z. Princethorpe (Aug.
16, 1895, N. V. Sidgwick)
153
20
A HISTORY OF WARWICKSHIRE
GLYPHIPTERYGID^:
CHOREUTIN.S
Choreutis myllerana, F. Button (R. C.
Bradley) ; Rugby (in numbers in
1900, N. V. Sidgwick, etc.) Occa-
sional, F. Enock, List, 1869)
Simaethis Fabriciana, L. (oxyacanthella, L.)
Everywhere (R. C. Bradley) ; Rugby
= Overs/ade, etc. (Rugby lists)
GLYPH IPTERYGI NVE
Glyphipteryx fuscoviridella, Haw. Know/e,
Moseley (R. C. Bradley); Rugby =
Overs/ade, etc. (Rugby lists)
thrasonella, Sc. Knowle (R. C. Bradley)
- equitella, Sc. Sutton, Moseley (R. C.
Bradley) ; Small Heath (Blatch Coll.)
- Fischeriella, Z. Knowle (^.C. Bradley);
Rugby = Newbold, etc. (Rugby lists)
YPONOMEUTIDjE
YPONOMEUTIN^
Yponomeuta padellus, L. Knowle (R. C.
Bradley, etc.) ; Rugby = Overslade,
etc. (Rugby lists). Common (F.
Enock, List, 1869)
cognatellus, Hb. Knowle (R. C. Brad-
ley) ; Rugby = Brandon Woods, etc.
(N. V. Sidgwick, etc.)
Swammerdamia combinella, Hb. Knowle
(R. C. Bradley) ; Rugby = Overs/fide
(]. M. Furness, Rugby list, 1894)
- spiniella, Hb. Knowle (R. C. Bradley) ;
Edgbaston (Dr. Jordan, E.M.M.
August, 1887)
- griseocapitella, Stt. Knowle (R. C.
Bradley)
- oxyacanthella, Dup. Rugby (N. V.
Sidgwick) ; Small Heath (Blatch
Coll.) The above three species are
upon the authority of Mr. C. G.
Barrett, who tells me that he has
little doubt that we have all three
species in abundance
pyrella, Vill. Knowle, Moseley (R. C.
Bradley) ; Rugby (Rugby lists)
Prays curtisellus, Don. Moseley (R. C.
Bradley) ; Olton, Solihull, Knowle
(Blatch Coll.) ; Frankton Woods (N.
V. Sidgwick, Rugby list, 1895);
Birmingham (R. C. R. Jordan,
E.M.M. October, 1888). I have
seen a large ash tree in Handsworth
(a Staffordshire suburb of Birmingham)
with great patches rendered bare by
the ravages of the larvae of this in-
sect
curtisellus var. rustica, Haw., forms
a fair percentage of the whole
ARGYRESTHIN/E
Argyresthia conjugella, Z. Everywhere
(R. C. Bradley) ; Overs/ade (]. M.
Furness, Rugby list, 1894)
spiniella, Z. Rugby (N. V. Sidgwick)
albistria, Haw. Rugby (N. V. Sidg-
wick, etc.)
ephippella, F. Rugby (N. V. Sidgwick ?
Rugby lists). Probably correct
nitidella,F. Small Heath (Blatch Coll.);
Rugby = Overslade, etc. (Rugby lists ;
very common here, N. V. Sidgwick)
nitidella var. ossea, Haw. Rugby (several
times in and near, N. V. Sidgwick)
retinella, Z. Knowle (R. C. Bradley) ;
Overslade (J. M. Furness, Rugby
list, 1894)
cornella, F. (curvella, Steph.) Sutton
(R. C. Bradley)
Goedartella, L. Everywhere = Sutton,
Knowle, etc. (R. C. Bradley ; Frank-
ton Wood (N. V. Sidgwick, Rugby
list, 1897). Occasional (F. Enock,
List, 1869)
Brockeella, Hb. Knowle, Sutton (R. C.
Bradley) ; Rugby = Brandon, etc.
(Rugby lists)
Ocnerostoma piniariella, Z. Sutton Park
(Blatch Coll.)
PLUTELLID^
Pl.UTELLIN.ffi
Plutella porrectella, L. Knowle (R. C.
Bradley) ; Overslade (J. M. Furness,
Rugby list, 1894).
maculipennis, Curt, (cruciferarum, Z.).
Everywhere (R. C. Bradley) ; Rugby
= Overs/ade, etc. (Rugby lists)
Cerostoma vittella, L. Moseley (R. C.
Bradley) ; Small Heath (Blatch
Coll.) ; Rugby (J. M. Furness, Rugby
list, 1894) ; Birmingham (a form
with anterior wings entirely black
occurs rarely, R. C. R. Jordan,
E.M.M. October, 1888)
radiatella, Don. Knowle (R. C. Brad-
ley) ; Rugby = Brandon, etc. (Rugby
lists)
parenthesella, L. (costella, F.) Knowle
(R. C. Bradley) ; Sutton (Blatch
Coll.); Rugby (N. V. Sidgwick,
Rugby list, 1895)
scabrella, L. Rugby (N. V. Sidgwick)
nemorella, L. Frankton Wood (N. V.
Sidgwick)
xylostella, L. Knowle (R. C. Bradley,
etc.) ; Solibull (Blatch Cat.) ; Rugby
= Brandon Woods, Frankton, etc., etc.
(Rugby lists). Occasional (F. Enock,
List, 1869)
154
INSECTS
GELECHIID.E
GELECHIIN.S
Chelaria Httbnerella, Don. Knowle (R. C.
Bradley)
Bryotropha terrella (S.V.), Hb. Knowle,
Sutton (R. C. Bradley) ; Overbade
(J. M. Furness, Rugby list, 1894)
senectella, Z. Rugby (Aug. 4, 1896,
N. V. Sidgwick)
- basaltinella, Z. Knowle (R. C. Bradley)
Gelechia sororculella, Hb. Knowle (Blatch
Coll.)
eriectella, Hb. Sutton (R. C. Bradley)
mulinella, Z. Knowle (R. C. Bradley)
diffinis, Haw. Sutton (R. C. Bradley)
vulgella, Hb. Small Heath (Blatch
Coll.)
proximella, Hb. Knowle, Sutton (R. C.
Bradley); Small Heath (Blatch Coll.)
luculella, Hb. Sutton Park (Blatch
Coll.)
- dodecella, Z. Sutton (Blatch Coll.)
Tachyptilia populella, Cl. Knowle (R. C.
Bradley) ; Sheldon, Knowle (Blatch
Cat.)
Anacampsis vorticella, Sc. (ligulella, Z.)
Knowle (R. C. Bradley)
Epithectis (Brachmia) mouffetella, Scruff.
Knowle, Sutton (R. C. Bradley);
Overslade (J. M. Furness, Rugby
list, 1 894) ; Rugby (N. V. Sidgwick)
Stenolechia (Pcecilia) albiceps, Z. Moseley
(R. C. Bradley) ; Rugby (N. V.
Sidgwick)
gemmella, L. (nivea, Haw.) Rugby
(N. V. Sidgwick)
Brachmia (Ceratophora) rufescens, Haw.
Knowle (R. C. Bradley)
Sophronia semicostella, Hb. (parenthesella,
Haw.) Sutton Park (Blatch Coll.) ;
Brandon (N. V. Sidgwick)
BLASTOBASIN^E
Endrosis lacteella, Schiff. (fenestrella, Scop.)
Too common everywhere
OECOPHORINJE
Pleurota bicostella, Cl. Coleshill Bog (Blatch
Coll.)
Chimabache phryganella, Hb. Sutton (R.
C. Bradley) ; Rugby (J. M. Furness,
Rugby list, 1894)
fagella (S.V.) F. Very common in
woods, etc., varying from almost
uniform white to almost uniform
dark grey
Semioscopis avellanella, Hb. Knowle (Blatch
Coll.)
Epigraphia Steinkellneriana, Schiff. Knowle
(Blatch Coll.) ; Overslade (J. M.
Furness, Rugby list, 1894) ; Rugby
(N. V. Sidgwick)
OECOPHORIN^: (continued)
Depressaria costosa, Haw. Knowle (R. C.
Bradley) ; Coleshill (Blatch Coll.) ;
Rugby (N. V. Sidgwick, Rugby list,
1898
flavella, Hb. (liturella [S.V.] Tr.).
Knowle (R. C. Bradley)
umbellana, Steph. Sutton (R.C. Bradley)
assimilella, Tr. Knowle (R. C. Brad-
ley) ; Rugby (N. V. Sidgwick)
arenella, Schiff. Knowle (R. C. Brad-
ley, etc.) ; Coleshill (Blatch Coll.) ;
Overslade (J. M. Furness, Rugby
list, 1893). Occasional, F. Enock,
List, 1869)
ocellana, F. Knowle (R. C. Bradley),
and in Rugby list, 1886
- liturella, Hb. Knowle (Blatch Coll.)
conterminella, Z. Knowle (R. C. Brad-
ley)
applana, F. Everywhere = Knowle, etc.
(R. C. Bradley) ; Tardley (Blatch
Coll.) ; Rugby = Overslade, etc.
(Rugby lists). Occasional, F. Enock,
List, 1869)
- angelicella, Hb. Knowle (R. C. Bradley)
- heracliana, De Geer. Knowle, Sutton
(R. C. Bradley) ; Overslade (J. M.
Furness, Rugby, 1893). Occasional
(F. Enock, List, 1869)
Carcina quercana, F. Knowle (R. C.
Bradley) ; Solihull (Blatch Coll.) ;
Rugby = Overslade, etc. (Rugby lists).
Occasional (F. Enock> List, 1869)
Alabonia (Harpella) Geoffrella, L. Knowle
(R. C. Bradley, etc.) ; Sutton (Blatch
Coll.) Occasional (F. Enock, List,
1869)
CEcophora sulphurella, F. Everywhere
(R. C. Bradley) ; Rugby (Rugby
list, 1886). Occasional (F. Enock,
List, 1869)
Borkhausenia (CEcophora) pseudospretella,
Stt. Too common everywhere
ELACHISTID^:
SCYTHRIDINJE
Schreckensteinia festaliella, Hb. Sutton
(R. C. Bradley)
Epermenia (Chauliodus) chjerophylella,
Goeze. Rugby (Sept. 24, 1896, N.V.
Sidgwick)
Scythris (Butalis) grandipennis, Haw. Sutton
(R. C. Bradley, July 12, 1891)
Cataplectica (CEcophora) fulviguttella, Z.
Knowle (R. C. Bradley) ; Coleshill,
Haselor (Blatch Coll.)
Batrachedra pneangusta, Haw. Knowle,
155
A HISTORY OF WARWICKSHIRE
MOMPHINJE (continued)
Sutton (R. C. Bradley) ; Rugby (N. V.
Sidgwick)
Blastodacna Hellerella, Dup., var. atra, Haw.
Knowle (R. C. Bradley); Rugby
J. M. Furness, Rugby list, 1894)
Mompha (Laverna) propinquella, Stt.
Rugby Quly 31, 1898, N. V. Sidg-
wick)
Chrysoclista linneella, Cl. Sutton (R. C.
Bradley)
Spuleria aurifrontella, Hb. Knowle, Moseley
(R. C. Bradley)
Psacaphora Schranckella, Hb. Sutton, Knowle
(R. C. Bradley)
HELIOZEUN^:
Heliozela sericiella, Haw. Sutton, Knowle
(R. C. Bradley) ; Rugby (N. V.
Sidgwick, Rugby list, 1897)
CoLEOPHORIRffl
Coleophora laricella, Hb. Sutton, common
and destructive (R. C. Bradley)
lutipennella, Z. Rugby (July 30, 1896,
N. V. Sidgwick)
gryphipennella, Bouch. Knowle, Sut-
ton (R. C. Bradley)
- viminetella, Z. Knowle (R. C. Bradley)
fuscedinella, Z.
- nigricella, Stph. Sutton (R. C. Brad-
ley ; Rughy (G. B. LongstafF, Rugby
list, 1867)
- discordella, Z. Knowle (R. C. Bradley)
- anatipennella, Hb. Knowle (R. C.
Bradley, at 'light,' July 23, 1886)
- caespititiella, Z. Everywhere. Knowle,
etc. (R. C. Bradley)
ELACHISTIN^E
Elachista albifrontella, Hb. Sutton, Knowle
(R. C. Bradley) ; Overslade (J. M.
Furness, Rugby list, 1894)
- luticomella, Z. Sutton (R. C. Bradley);
Newbold = Rugby (J. M. Furness,
Rugby list, 1894)
- atricomella, Stt. Sutton (R. C. Bradley)
- monticola, Wck.-Hein. Knowle (R. C.
Bradley)
- nigrella, Haw. Sutton (R. C. Bradley)
- megerlella, Stt.
- rufocinerea, Haw. Knowle (R. C.
Bradley) ; Rugby = Overslade, etc.
(Rugby lists)
- argentella, Cl. (cyanipennella, Hb.)
Knowle (R. C. Bradley); Rugby =
Overslade, etc. (Rugby lists)
GRACILARIIDjE
GRACILARIINJE
Gracilaria alchimiella, Sc. Knowle (R. C.
Bradley) ; Sutton Park (Blatch Cat.) ;
Rugby (Rugby lists)
GRACILARIIN/E (continued)
Gracilaria stigmatella, F. Knowle (R. C.
Bradley)
elongella, L. Knowle (R. C. Bradley)
Stramineella, Stt., which Rebel sinks
as a form of this species, is recorded
from Sutton (R. C. Bradley)
syringella, F. Common everywhere
(R. C. Bradley). The black form
of this insect seems to be peculiarly a
Birmingham insect. It is common at
Edgbaston, and has already been re-
ferred to in various places by Dr.
Jordan and others (see E.M.M.
Oct. 1888). Mr. G. T. Bethune-
Baker tells me that although this
form occurs in several places in
Edgbaston, yet in Clarendon Road it
is confined to one side of the road
only. He lived for many years on
one side, and the variety was common
with the type there ; since then he
has lived for several years on the
other side, and finds there the type
without the variety, although the
variety is still to be seen in its old
quarters as of old. This is a very
curious case of extreme localization
of a form, and doubtless to some ex-
tent explains the fact that it does not
occur outside the county
Ornix guttea, Haw. Knowle (R. C. Bradley)
anglicella, Stt. Rugby (N. V. Sidgwick,
etc.)
avellanella, Stt. Knowle (R. C. Bradley)
torquillela, Z.
LITHOCOLLETIN.S:
Lithocolletis Cramerella, F. Knowle (R. C.
Bradley) ; Rugby = Overslade, etc.
(Rugby lists)
alniella, Z. (alnifoliella, Dup.). Knowle
(R. C. Bradley)
spinolella, Dup. Sutton (R. C. Bradley)
pomifoliella, Z. Rugby (N. V. Sidg-
wick) and probably generally com-
mon, but no one here has studied this
genus properly, so that I cannot be
sure which of the apple species occur
with us
sorbi, Frey. Rugby (N. V. Sidgwick,
April 22, 1898, named by Mr. C.
G. Barrett)
faginella, Z. Knowle, Moseley (R. C.
Bradley)
quercifoliella, Z. Sutton, Knowle (R. C.
Bradley) ; Small Heath (Blatch Coll.);
Rugby = Overslade, etc. (Rugby lists)
messaniella, Z. Moseley (R. C. Bradley)
corylifoliella, Haw. Knowle (R. C.
Bradley)
156
INSECTS
LITHOCOLLETIN.* (continued)
Lithocolletis trifasciella, Haw. Knowle (R.
C. Bradley, Blatch Coll.) and in
Rugby list, 1886
Tischeria complanella, Hb. Sutton (R. C.
Bradley)
marginea, Haw. Knowle (R. C. Brad-
ley) and in Rugby list, 1867
LYONETIID^E
LYONETIINJE
Lyonetia Clerkella, L. Rugby (J. M. Fur-
ness, Rugby list, 1894)
PHYLLOCNISTINJE
Cemiostoma spartifoliella, Hb. Every-
where
(R. C. Bradley) ; Sutton (Blatch Cat.)
laburnella, Stt. Everywhere (R. C.
Bradley) ; Knowle (Blatch Coll.) ;
Rugby = Overslade, etc. (Rugby lists) ;
Rugby (abounds, N. V. Sidgwick)
NEPTICULID^:
Nepticula atricapitella, Haw. Knowle (R.
C. Bradley)
ruficapitella, Haw. Knowle (R. C.
Bradley)
anomalella, Goeze. Knowle, Sutton
(R. C. Bradley)
oxyacanthella, Stt. Knowle (R. C.
Bradley) ; Overslade (J. M. Furness,
Rugby list, 1894)
aurella, F. Knowle (R. C. Bradley)
alnetella, Stt. Rugby (N. V. Sidg-
wick)
microtheriella Stt. Knowle (R. C.
Bradley)
floslactella, Haw. Sutton Park (Blatch
Coll.)
(Trifurcula) pulverosella, Stt. Rugby
(N. V. Sidgwick)
TAL^EPORIDJE
Talaeporia tubulosa, Retz (pseudobomby-
cella, Hb.) Sutton (R. C. Bradley)
[Solenobia inconspicuella, Stt., has been
taken by Mr. W. G. Blatch at
Hopwas Wood, just over the border]
TlNEINJE
Monopis (Blabophanes) rusticella, Hb.)
Knowle, Sutton (R. C. Bradley) ;
Overslade (J. M. Furness, Rugby
list, 1894)
Trichophaga tapetzella, L. Everywhere
Tinea fulvimitrella, Sodof. Sutton (R. C.
(continued)
Bradley) ; Princethorpe (Rugby list,
1898)
Tinea arcella, F. Knowle, Digbeth = Birming-
ham (R. C. Bradley)
granella, L. Birmingham (R. C.
Bradley) ; Overslade (J. M. Furness,
Rugby list, 1894)
cloacella, Haw. Everywhere, Sutton,
Birmingham, etc. (R. C. Bradley) ;
Knowle (Blatch Coll.); Rugby =
Overslade, etc. (Rugby lists)
fuscipunctella, Haw. Rugby = Over-
slade, etc. (Rugby lists, J. M. Fur-
ness, etc.)
pellionella, L. Birmingham (R. C.
Bradley) ; Rugby (N. V. Sidgwick) ;
Overslade (J. M. Furness, Rugby
list, 1894)
pallescentella, Stt. Birmingham (Dr.
Jordan, E.M.M. 1889, p. 213 ;
and R. C. Bradley, E.M.M. 1895,
P- 97)
lapella, Hb. Knowle (R. C. Bradley) ;
Overslade (J. M. Furness, Rugby
list, 1894). Occasional (F. Enock,
List, 1869)
semifulvella, Haw. Solihull (A. H.
Martineau) ; Knowle (Blatch Coll.) ;
Overslade (J. M. Furness, Rugby
list, 1894)
Tineola biselliella, Hummel. Everywhere
(R. C. Bradley); Knowle (Blatch
Coll.) ; Overslade (J. M. Furness,
Rugby list, 1894)
Incurvaria luzella, Hb. Sutton (R. C.
Bradley) ; Knowle (Blatch Coll.)
rubiella, Bjerkander. Sutton, Knowle
(R. C. Bradley)
capitella, Cl. Knowle (R. C. Bradley);
Overslade (J. M. Furness, Rugby
list, 1894)
muscalella, F. Knowle, Sutton, Moseley
(R. C. Bradley) ; Rugby, Overslade,
etc. (Rugby lists). Occasional (F.
Enock, List, 1869)
Nemophora Swammerdammella, L. Knowle,
Sutton (R. C. Bradley and Blatch
Coll.) ; Rugby (Rugby lists)
schwarziella, Z. Knowle (R. C. Brad-
ley). Occasional (F. Enock, List,
1869)
ADELINE
Adela viridella, Sc. Very common in
Sutton Park, etc., and probably in
all woods, etc. Knowle (R. C.
Bradley) ; Rugby (Rugby lists)
Degeerella, L. Knowle (R. C. Bradley
and Blatch Coll.) ; Rugby = Brandon,
etc. (Rugby lists)
157
A HISTORY OF WARWICKSHIRE
ERIOCRANIIDjE
Eriocrania Sparmannella, Bosc. Knowle
(R. C. Bradley)
subpurpurella, Haw. Knowle, Sutton
(R. C. Bradley) ; Knowle, Colesbill
(Blatch Coll.)
unimaculella, Zett. Rugby (N. V.
Sidgwick)
semipurpurella, Steph. Knowle (R. C.
Bradley) ; Coleshill (Blatch Coll.) ;
Rugby (N. V. Sidgwick, Rugby lists,
1897)
MICROPTERYGID^
Micropteryx aureatella, Sc. (allionella, F.)
Sutton (R. C. Bradley) ; near Bir-
mingham (Stainton's Manual) ; Rugby
(Rugby list, 1867)
seppella, F. Knowle (R. C. Bradley);
Rugby (Rugby list, 1867)
calthella, L. Very common in Sutton
Park in the bogs ; also recorded from
Knowle (R. C. Bradley) ; Rugby
(Rugby list, 1867)
DIPTERA
I was for a long time very undecided about attempting a list of the
Diptera of Warwickshire, and am now far from sure that it is wise to
have done so. They are very insufficiently worked, so that it is inevi-
table that the list must remain very incomplete, and what is far more
important, the difficulties of the order are still so great that it is practi-
cally impossible to prevent errors creeping in, and a list that is incom-
plete and possibly inaccurate is of very doubtful value. I have however
ventured upon the task, and hope it may prove of some value and interest
to others attempting to understand these insects. There are not many of
our counties in which dipterists have lived and worked, so that it seems
a pity, as Warwickshire is one of the few, that an account of its insect
fauna should include no reference to the order.
So far as I know, no one gave any attention to these insects in the
midlands until a few years ago when Mr. R. C. Bradley and I took them
up, and so far as I know no one else has yet done so excepting in the
slightest degree. This list therefore will be based almost entirely upon
the results of our own work. Mr. R. C. Bradley lived for some years
at Sutton Coldfield, and collected regularly in the Park, etc., so that
he had good opportunities of making an extensive list, and has kindly
furnished me with much information which he obtained at that time.
I have also frequently collected in the Park, and as neither of us has
done more than a little casual collecting in any other part of the
county, it becomes almost exclusively a Sutton list. I have therefore
only named localities when other than Sutton. We have both of us
given a considerable amount of attention to the Syrphida? and allied
families, and our work in that section may be taken as probably accu-
rate. Mr. Bradley has also made a considerable collection of Tipulidae
and its allies in the Park, and as Mr. G. H. Verrall has seen them their
names also may be taken as fairly reliable. We have also given attention
to various other families which will be found represented in the list, but
as I have preferred to omit uncertainties, so as to make it I hope more
trustworthy though necessarily shorter and more incomplete, I have
entirely omitted any reference to many difficult families such as the
Cecidomyids, Mycetophilids, Chironomidas, etc., only mentioning
those insects which are the most conspicuous and characteristic, and
158
INSECTS
least uncertain as to identification. There has been no attempt to
make a complete list, but rather to supply the nucleus of one and to give
an idea of the more characteristic dipterous insects of the county fauna.
The system and nomenclature is according to Verrall's List of British
Diptera published in 1901.
My thanks are due to Mr. Verrall for assistance and advice in the
preparation of the list ; to Mr. R. C. Bradley for much information
which I have included ; and to the Rev. J. H. Bloom, who assisted me
by collecting a few Diptera at Whitchurch.
DIPTERA ORTHORRHAPHA
NEMATOCERA
DIXID.E
Dixa maculosa, Mg. ; nebulosa, Mg. ;
aprilina, Mg.
PTYCHOPTERIDjE
Ptychoptera contaminata, L. ; paludosa,
Mg. ; albimana, F. ; scutellaris,
Mg.
LIMNOBID^E
LIMNOBIN.S:
Limnobia quadrinotata, Mg. ; nubeculosa
Mg. ; flavipes, F. ; analis, Mcq.
(nitida, Verr.) ; tripunctata, F. ; tri-
vittata, Schum. ; macrostigma,
Schum.
Dicranomyia modesta, Mg. ; chorea, Mg. ;
didyma, Mg. ; dumetorum, Mg. ;
morio, F.
Rhipidia maculata, Mg.
RHAMPHIDIN.S:
Rhamphidia longirostris, Mg.
Thaumastoptera calceata, Mik.
ERIOPTERIN.S:
Empeda nubila, Schum.
Goniomyia tenella, Mg.
Chilotrichia imbuta, Mg.
Acyphona maculata, Mg.
Molophilus appendiculatus, Staeg. ; propin-
quus, Egg. ; bifilatus, Verr. ; ob-
scurus, Mg. ; murinus, Mg.
Rhypholophus nodulosus, Mcq. ; varius,
Mg. ; pentagonalis, Loew.
Erioptera flavescens, Mg. ; lutea, Mg. ;
taenionota, Mg. ; fuscipennis, Mg. ;
trivialis, Mg.
Lipsothrix errans, Wlk.
LIMNOPHILIN.S
Idioptera pulchella, Mg.
Ephelia miliaria, Egg. ; varinervis, Zett. ;
submarmorata, Verr. ; marmorata,
Mg.
Po:cilostola punctata, Schk.
(continued)
Epiphragma picta, F.
Limnophila Meigenii, Verr.; lineola, Mg.;
aperta, Verr. ; ferruginea, Mg. ;
ochracea, Mg. ; punctum, Mg. ;
fuscipennis, Mg. ; discicollis, Mg. ;
lucorum, Mg. ; nemoralis, Mg.
Adelphomyia senilis, Hal.
Trichocera annulata, Mg. ; regelationis, L.
AMALOPIN^
Ula pilosa, Schum.
Dicranota bimaculata, Schum.
Amalopis immaculata, Mg.
Pedicia rivosa, L.
CYLINDROTOMIN^E
Cylindrotoma distinctissima, Mg.
Phalacrocera replicata, L.
TIPULIDJE
Dolichopeza sylvicola, Curt.
Pachyrrhina crocata, L. ; imperialis, Mg. ;
scurra, Mg. ; histrio, F. ; maculosa,
Mg. ; cornicina, L. ; guestfalica,
Westh. ; quadrifaria, Mg. ; annuli-
cornis, Mg.
Tipula pagana, Mg. ; obsoleta, Mg. ; sig-
nata, Staeg.; rufina, Mg. ; longicornis,
Schum. ; pabulina, Mg. ; varipennis,
Mg. ; scripta, Mg. ; Diana, Mg. ;
plumbea, F. ; pruinosa, W. ; lutei-
pennis, Mg. ; flavolineata, Mg. ;
lunata, L. ; lateralis, Mg. ; vernalis,
Mg. ; vittata, Mg. ; gigantea,
Schrk. ; lutescens, F. ; oleracea, L. ;
paludosa, Mg. ; ochracea, Mg.
Xiphura atrata, L. (C. J. Wainwright) ;
nigricornis, Mg.
All the above were collected by Mr. Brad-
ley at Sutton unless otherwise marked. In
Sutton Park are several boggy parts, and in
these the ' Daddies ' are very numerous.
Pedicia rivosa, L. is probably the most strik-
ing species, it is usually common in Blackroot
Bog and is handsome and conspicuous
159
A HISTORY OF WARWICKSHIRE
BRACHYCERA
STRATIOMYIDJE
This family is not at all well represented ;
although we have worked the Button bogs
thoroughly, and no more suitable place for
them exists in the county so far as I know,
the following list contains all the species we
have observed and probably nearly all likely to
occur
CLITELLARIN.ffi
Oxycera pygmaea, Fall. Observed by Mr.
Bradley only
STRATIOMYINJE
Stratiomys potamida, Mg. This is the
only species of the genus we have
seen in the midlands, and only two
specimens have been taken, both in
Blackroot Bog, by myself
SARGIN.S
Sargus flavipes, Mg. (R. C. B.) ; cuprarius,
L. ? (R. C. B.) ; iridatus, Scop,
(infuscatus, Mg.), not common
(R. C. B. and C. j. W.)
Chloromyia formosa, Scop. Button
(R. C. B.); Wh'itchurch (J. H.
Bloom)
Microchrysa polita, L. ; flavicornis, Mg.
The commonest species in the family,
and polita, L. at least occurs every-
where
BERING
Beris clavipes, L. (R. C. B. and C. J. W.) ;
vallata, Forst. (R. C. B.) ; chalybe-
ata, Forst., fairly common ; genicu-
lata, Curtis (R. C. B.)
TABANID.E
cras-
Hrematopota pluvialis, L., common
sicornis, Whlbg (R. C. B.)
Therioplectes tropicus, Mg. I have on
two occasions captured melanochroic
specimens of this genus which may
be var. bisignatus, Jaen., of this species.
I have however never seen the type,
and have often wondered if they
were not similar vars. of solstitialis,
Mg.
solstitialis, Mg. Not very common.
Tabanus sudeticus, Zlr. (R. C. B.). Very
rare
Chrysops csecutiens, L., common ; quad-
rata, Mg. (R. C. B.; one J , C. J.W.);
relicta, Mg. (R. C. B.)
LEPTID^E
Leptis scolopacea, L., very common ;
tringaria, L. ; lineola, F.
Chrysopilus aureus, Mg. (R. C. B.) ; aura-
tus, F. ; the latter very common in
the bogs at Button
ASILIOffi
DASYPOGONIN^E
Leptogaster cylindrica, Deg. Hay Woods
near Kings-wood (R. C. B. and
C. J. W.) ; and Wkitchurch (J. H.
Bloom) ; not seen at Button
Dioctria rufipes, Deg., common ; Baum-
haueri, Mg., a few at Button
(R. C. B. and C. J. W.)
ASILIN./E
Machimus atricapillus, Fin. The only
true Asilid we have seen is however
far from common (a few, R. C. B.)
BOMBYLHXE
Bombylius major, L. Kingswood (A. H.
Martineau) ; no other species seen
yet
THEREVIOfc
Thereva nobilitata, F.
SCENOPINID.S
Scenopinus fenestralis,
(R. C. B.)
L. Birmingham
EMPID^E
HYBOTINJE
Hybos grossipes, L. (R. C. B.) ; femoratus
Mull (R. C. B.)
EMPINJE
Rhamphomyia nigripes, F. (R. C. B.) ;
sulcata, Fall. (R. C. B.) ; plumipes,
Fall. (R. C. B.); geniculata, Mg.
(R. C. B.)
Empis tessellata, F., very abundant ; livida,
L. (R. C. B.) ; opaca, F. (R. C. B.) ;
stercorea, L. (R. C. B.) ; trigramma,
Mg. (R. C. B.) ; punctata, Mg.
(JThitchurch, J. H. Bloom)
DIPTERA CYCLORRHAPHA
PROBOSCIDEA
PLATYPEZID^E
Callimyia amcena, Mg., rare (R. C. B.)
Platypeza atra Mg. ? (R. C. B.) ; infumata,
Hal. (R. C. B.)
PIPUNCULID^E
Chalarus spurius, Fall. (R. C. B.)
Verrallia pilosa, Zett. (R. C. B.) ; villosa
v. ROser (R. C. B.)
Pipunculus littoralis, Beck (R. C. B.) ;
rufipes, Mg. (R. C. B.) ; confusus,
1 60
INSECTS
Verr., Birmingham (R. C. B.) ;
campestris, Latr., common at Sutton
(R. C. B., C. J. W.); unicolor,
Zett. (R. C. B.)
SYRPHID^E
SYRPHIN^
Paragus tibialis, Fall. (R. C. B.)
Pipizella virens, F. (R. C. B.) ; flavitarsis,
Mg. (R. C. B., C. J. W.), very
rare ; Heringi Zett., one so named
by Mr. Verrall (C. J. W.)
Pipiza noctiluca, L., very common ; bima-
culata, Mg. (R. C. B.)
Cnemodon vitripennis, Mg. (R. C. B. and
C. J. W.)
Orthoneura brevicornis, Loew, in Black-
root Bog every year (C. J. W.) ;
nobilis, Fall. (R. C. B.) ; elegans,
Mg. (C. J. W., every year). It is
noteworthy that these three species
all occur in Sutton Park, elegans
and brevicornis every year for a
short time only in May, and nobilis
only in odd ones
Liogaster splendida, Mg. (R. C. B.) ;
metallina, F., very common in
Sutton Bog, and occurs with O. ele-
gans, Mg., which closely resembles it
Chrysogaster hirtella, Lw., common in the
bog ; solstitialis, Fin., very abundant
in the bog ; virescens, Lw., rare,
with the other species ; splendens,
Mg., very few, also in the bog, but
I think it is a later insect, as I have
only seen it there in August, whereas
the other species are most abundant
in May and June
Chilosialongula,Zett. Sutton (one, C. J. W.,
in my collection as plumulifera,
Loew.)
scutellata, Fall. One of the com-
monest species of the genus
pulchripes, Lcew. ; variabilis, Panz.,
common ; honesta, Rond. (R. C. B.);
illustrata, Harris, very rare through-
out the midlands, as the only speci-
men either of us has seen is one I
took in Hay Woods ; grossa, Fall.,
rare on sallow bloom in spring ;
albipila, Meig., rare, with the for-
mer ; albitarsis, Meig., common in
Sutton Bog ; fraterna, Mg., common
in the bogs ; Bergenstammi, Becker
(R. C. B.) ; vernalis, Fall. (R. C. B.)
Platychirus. This genus is very highly
developed in Warwickshire, and
occurs freely both in individuals and
species ; manicatus, Mg., common
everywhere ; discimanus, LCEW.,
SYRPHINJE (continued)
very common in Sutton Park in May
and June on late sallow blossoms
and on hawthorn ; I have seen it in
great numbers ; peltatus, Meig.,
common everywhere ; scutatus, Mg.,
very common, especially in gardens,
where I have seen it swarming at
flowers of ' London Pride,' etc. ;
albimanus, F., very common every-
where ; scambus, Stoeg, not common,
Sutton only ; perpallidus, Verr., dis-
covered by Mr. R. C. Bradley in
Sutton Park, and still only known
from there and by odd individuals
from elsewhere ; it is rare, however,
and was only taken in one year,
1895 ; clypeatus, Mg., very common
everywhere ; angustatus, Zett., com-
mon, especially in the Sutton Bogs
Pyrophaena granditarsa, Forst. ; rosarum,
Fab. Both occur not uncommonly
in Blackroot Bog; they seem always
associated with boggy land.
Melanostoma is like Platychirus, very
highly developed with us : am-
biguum, Fall., not uncommon on
hawthorn, etc., in spring ; melli-
num, L. and scalare, F., both very
abundant everywhere, especially
amongst long grass
Melangyna quadrimaculata, Verr., occurs
sometimes in great numbers on the
sallows in early spring with Syrphus
lasiophthalmus, Zett. ; chiefly observed
in Sutton Park so far as Warwick-
shire is concerned, but I have found
it wherever I have collected at sal-
low blooms in the midlands
Leucozona lucorum, L. One of the orna-
ments of Blackroot Bog, where it is
not uncommon
Ischyrosyrphus glaucius, L. (R. C. B.)
laternarius, Mall, Sutton (R. C. B.),
Hay Wood (C. J. W.) ; both these
species are rare with us
Didea alneti, Fall. Sutton (R. C. B.), Hay
Woods (C. J. W.) ; fasciata, Macq.,
Sutton (R. C. B.), Hay Wood(K. H.
Martineau) ; intermedia, Loew., Sut-
ton (R. C. B.) ; all three species are
very rare
Catabomba pyrastri, L. (R. C. B.), not com-
mon ; selenitica, Meig. Mr. R. C.
Bradley found this species in 1894
in Sutton Park in considerable num-
bers, flying high up about the pine
trees ; so far as I know however it
has not been seen since
Syrphus. The species of this genus occur
161
21
A HISTORY OF WARWICKSHIRE
SYRPHIN.S (continued)
in great abundance everywhere : albo-
striatus, Fall., not common; tricinctus,
Fall., not uncommon in Sutton Park ;
venustus, Mg. ; lunulatus, Mg. ; nigri-
cornis, Verr. (R.C.B.) ; torvus, O. S.
(R.C.B.); annulatus, Zett. ; lineola,
Zett., rare (R. C. B.) ; vittiger, Zett.,
rare (C. J. W.) ; grossulariae, Mg. (R.
C. B.) ; ribesii, L., very abundant ;
vitripennis, Mg., common ; latifasci-
atus, Macq., rare (R. C. B.) ; nitidi-
collis, Mg. (R. C. B.) ; nitens, Zett.
rare ; corollas, Fab., very abundant;
luniger, Mg., very common ; bifasci-
atus, Fab., common ; balteatus, De
Geer,very common ; cinctellus, Zett.;
cinctus,Fall.(R.C. B); auricollis, Mg.
= var. maculicornis, Zett., the variety
is the chief if not the only form occur-
ring with us; punctulatus, Verr., com-
mon ; guttatus, Fall., very rare (R.
C. B.) ; umbellatarum, F., rare (C.
J. W.) ; compositarum, Verr., rare
(R. C. B.) ; labiatarum, Verr., rare
(R. C. B.) ; lasiophthalmus, Zett.,
very common in spring on sallow
bloom, etc. ; arcticus, Zett., not com-
mon ; barbifrons,Fall.,rare(R. C.B.)
Sphaerophoria scripta, L. (R. C. B.) ; men-
thastri, L., var. picta, Meig. is prob-
ably our commonest Sphaerophoria ;
var. toeniata, Mg., is however com-
mon as well ; menthastri, L., type is
rare at least ; flavicauda, Zett. (R.
C. B.)
Baccha obscuripennis, Mg. (R. C. B.) ;
elongata, F.
Sphegina clunipes, Fall., not uncommon
Ascia podagrica, F., very abundant ; flora-
lis, Meig., common
Brachyopa bicolor, Fall., very rare, Bir-
mingham (R. C. B.)
Rhingia campestris, L. Common
Volucella bombylans, L., common ; pellu-
cens, L.
ERISTALIN.*:
Eristalis sepulchralis, F., common in Black-
root Bog ; tenax, L., abundant as
usual ; intricarius, L., common ;
arbustorum, L., very abundant ;
pertinax, Scop., very abundant ; ne-
morum, L., apparently rare ; horti-
cola, De Geer, common
Myiatropa florea, L., not common
Helophilus trivittatus, F.,very rare (R. C. B.);
hybridus, Loew., not common, Black-
root Bog ; pendulus, L., common gene-
rally ; versicolor, F., rather common
in Blackroot Bog ; transfugus, L., rare,
ERISTALIN.S (continued)
a few in Blackroot Bog ; lineatus, F.,
the occurrence of this species in great
numbers is one of the most charac-
teristic features of Blackroot Bog. On
a fine day I have seen it in thousands,
several at every flower of Caltha pa-
lustris ; frequently two or three males
at a time courting each female in the
manner described in Verrall's book
Merodon equestris, F. Has established it-
self here as elsewhere, and is gradu-
ally becoming common
MILESIN^E
Criorrhina berberina, F., very rare ; oxya-
canthas, Mg., very rare ; floccosa,
Mg., very rare (R. C. B.)
Brachypalpus bimaculatus, Macq., very rare,
one only (R. C. B.) at Sutton
Xylota segnis, L., common ; sylvarum, L.,
rare at Sutton (R. C. B.), Idlicote
(L. C. Keighley-Peach), not un-
common at Hay Woods (C. J. W. );
florum, F., not uncommon in Black-
root Bog
Syritta pipiens, L., very abundant every-
where. The males of this species
court the females in a very similar
manner to those of Helophilus linea-
tus, F., hovering near with head and
body inclined towards the female and
the wings in a state of rapid vibra-
tion so as to be almost invisible, the
body meanwhile also being vibrated
Eumerus ornatus, Mg., Hay Wood near
Kingswood (C. J. W.)
Chrysochlamys cuprea, Scop., Hay-wood
near Kingswood (C. J. W.), Idlicote
(L. C. Keighley Peach) ; the species
is usually rare wherever I have col-
lected in the midlands
Arctophila mussitans,F., very rare (R.C.B.)
Sericomyia borealis, Fall, and lappona, L.
Both rather common in Blackroot Bog
CHRYSOTOXIN.*
Chrysotoxum cautum, Harris., Whitchurch
(J. H. Bloom) ; arcuatum, L., rather
common in Blackroot Bog; festivum,
L., rare (R.C.B.) ; bicinctum, L.,not
uncommon, Sutton and Hay floods (C.
J. W.), Idlicote (L.C. Keighley-Peach)
CONOPID^
CONOPIN.*:
Conops flavipes, L. Not common
163
Sicus ferrugineus, L. (R. C. B.)
Myopa buccata, L., not uncommon at
hawthorn blossom, etc. ; testacea, L.
(R. C. B.)
INSECTS
TACHINID^E
TACHININJE
Meigenia floralis, Mg. (R. C. B.)
Ceromasia senilis, Mg., probably generally
common, Moseley (R. C. B.)
Gymnochaeta viridis, Fall., rare, Button
Exorista vetula, Mg., rare, Sutton (R. C.
B.)
Blepharidea vulgaris, Fall., common as
usual
Phorocera serriventris, Rond.( = concinnata,
Mg.),rare(R.C.B.); cilipeda, Rond.
(R. C. B.)
Chastolyga quadripustulata, F., Sutton (R.
C. B.)
Tachina erucarum, Rond. (R. C. B.)
Tricholyga major, Rond. This species,
which has not been previously re-
corded from Britain, has been bred
from larvae of Saturnia pavonia, L.,
which were obtained in Sutton Park
Brachychaeta (Desvoidia) spinigera, Rond.
(fusca, Meade). One specimen from
Marston Green (C. J. W.)
Aporomyia dubia, Fall., common in Sut-
ton Park
Melanota volvulus, F., Sutton, Moseley
(R. C. B.)
Pelatachina tibialis, Fall., Whitcburcb (J.
H. Bloom)
Thelaira leucozona, Panz. (R. C. B.)
Olivieria lateralis, F.
Erigone radicum, F. ; truncata, Zett. (ap-
pendiculata, Mcq.), Sutton (C. J. W.),
Moseley (R. C. B.) ; rudis, Fall.
Echinomyia grossa, L., very rare (R. C. B.) ;
fera, L., common
Servillia ursina, Mg., not common ; on
sallows in spring
Plagia ruralis, Fall. (R. C. B.)
THRYPTOCERIN.S
Siphona cristata, F. ; geniculata, Mg.
Roeselia antiqua, Fall. (R. C. B.)
Craspedothrix vivipara, B. & B. This
species, not previously known as
British, I recognized amongst some
insects taken at Moseley by Mr. R. C.
Bradley ; one specimen only
TRIXINJE
Trixa cestroidea, Rob. (R. C. B.)
SARCOPHAGIN.S:
Cynomyia mortuorum, L., very rare (R.
C. B.) ; alpina, Zett. (R. C. B.)
Metopia leucocephala, Rossi.
Sphixapata conica, Rond., not uncommon,
Moseley, round burrows of Oxybelus
uniglumis, L. (R. C. B.)
DEXINJE
Macronychia agrestis, Fall., one, Sutton
(R. C. B.)
ANTHOMYID^E
M.YDMINX
Polietes lardaria, F., common as usual ;
albolineata, Fall., Sutton
Hyetodesia incana, W. ; lucorum, Fall.,
Sutton (R. C. B.), Coleshill(C. J.W.) ;
marmorata, Zett. ; serva, Mg. ; ob-
scurata, Mg. (C. J. W.) ; errans, Mg.
(R. C. B.) ; erratica, Fall. (R. C. B.) ;
vagans, Fall., this is an addition to
the British list and is common in
Blackroot Bog ; basalis, Zett. (R. C.
B.) ; rufipalpis, Macq. (R. C. B.) ;
scutellaris, Fall. ; populi, Mg. ; pal-
lida, F.
Allaeostylus simplex, W. (R. C. B.) ; sude-
ticus, Schnbl. (R. C. B.) ; flaveola,
Fin. (R. C. B.)
Mydaea vespertina, Fall., common in Black-
root Bog ; urbana, Mg. (R. C. B.) ;
pagana, F. (R. C. B.) ; impuncta, Fall.
Spilogaster maculosa, Mg. ; duplaris, Zett. :
communis, Desv. ; quad rum, F. ; tetra-
stigma, Mg. ; pertusa, Mg., all Sutton
(R. C. B.) ; uliginosa, Fall., Birming-
<w!(R.C.B.);trigonalis,Mg.(R.C.B.)
Limnophora compuncta, W. ; litorea, Fall,
(both R. C. B.)
Hydrotaea ciliata, F. ; irritans, Fall. ; denti-
pes, F., very common
Ophyra leucostoma, W. (R. C. B.)
Drymia hamata, Fall. (R. C. B.)
Pogonomyia alpicola, Rond. (R. C. B.)
Trichopticus cunctans, Mg. (R. C. B.) ;
hirsutulus, Zett. (C. J. W.)
ANTHOMYIN^E
Hydrophoria conica, W. (R. C. B.) ; socia,
Fall. (R. C. B.)
Hylemyia variata, Fall. (R. C. B.) ; lasciva,
Zett. (R. C. B.) ; nigrescens, Rond.
(R. C. B.) ; flavipennis, Fall.(R. C. B.);
seticrura, Rond. (R. C. B.) ; strigosa,
F., common ; praepotens, Mg. (R. C.
B.) ; nigrimana, Mg. (R. C. B.) ;
coarctata, Fall. (R. C. B.)
Mycophaga fungorum, Deg. (R. C. B.)
Anthomyia pluvialis, L., common ; sulci-
ventris, Zett., common (C. J. W.)
Chortophila albescens, Zett. (R. C. B.) ;
sylvestris, Fall. (R. C. B.)
Phorbia floccosa, Macq. (R. C. B.) ; trans-
versalis, Zett. (R. C. B.) ; muscaria,
Mg., very common on sallow bloom
in spring ; ignota, Rond. ; seneciella,
Meade, one (C. J. W.) ; cepetorum,
Meade, one (C. J. W.)
Pegomyia hoemorrhoum, Zett. (R. C. B.) ;
transversa, Fall. (R. C. B.) ; bicolor,
W. (R. C. B.) ; latitarsis, Zett. (R.
C. B.) ; nigritarsis, Zett. (R. C. B.)
163
A HISTORY OF WARWICKSHIRE
HOMALOMYIN.*
Homalomyia hamata, Mcq. (R. C. B.) ; sca-
laris, F., common ; canicularis, L.,
common everywhere as usual ; afirea,
Zett. (R. C. B.)
Azelia Zetterstedti, Rond. (R. C. B.) ;
cilipes, Hal. (R. C. B.); triquetra, W.
(R. C. B.)
Coelomyia mollissima, Hal., not uncommon
in Blackroot Bog
CCENOSIN^E
Caricea tigrina, F. (R. C. B.) ; humilis,
Mg. (R. C. B.)
Ccenosia elegantula, Rond. (R. C. B) ;
sexnotata, Mg. Birmingham (R.C.B.)
CORDYLURIOE
Cordylura pudica, Mg. ; ciliata, Mg., com-
mon in Blackroot Bog
Parallelomma albipes, Fall., common in
Blackroot Bog; vittata, Mg. (R.C.B.)
Cnemopogon apicalis, Mg. (R. C. B.)
Norellia spinimana, Fall. (R. C. B.)
Pogonota hircus, Zett, Blackroot Bog, Sut-
ton, where it is not uncommon. It
was first made known as British
through specimens taken there by
Mr. R. C. Bradley
Trichopalpus fraternus, Mg. (R. C. B.)
Spathiophora hydromyzina, Fin. (Falleni,
Sch.) (R. C. B.)
Scatophaga scybalaria, L., rare, Sutton Park
Coniosternum obscurum, Fin. (R. C. B.)
HELOMYZID^:
Helomyza pectoralis, Loew. ; loevifrons,
Loew. ; flava, Mg. ; rufa, Fin. (varie-
gata, Loew.) ; Zetterstedti, Loew. ;
pallida, Fin. (olens, Mg.) ; all Sutton
(R. C. B.)
CEcothea fenestralis, Fln.l Birmingham
Blepharoptera serrata, L. J (R. C. B.)
Tephrochlamys rufiventris, Mg. (R. C. B.) ;
flavipes, Zett. (R. C. B.)
HETERONEURID^:
Heteroneura albimana, Mg. (R. C. B.)
Stomphastica flava, Mg. (R. C. B.)
SCIOMYZID^
Dryomyza flaveola, F. (R. C. B.)
Neuroctena anilis, Fall. (R. C. B.)
Sciomyza pallida, Fall. ; albocostata, Fall.
(R. C. B.) ; dubia, Fall. (R. C. B.) ;
fuscinervis, Zett. (R. C. B.)
Tetanocera elata, F. ; sylvatica, Mg. ; fer-
ruginea, Fin. ; Icevifrons, Loew. (R.
C. B.) ; robusta, Loew. (R. C. B.) ;
coryleti, Scop, (reticulata, F.) (R. C.
B.)
Limnia unguicornis, Scop., very common in
Blackroot Bog ; rufifrons, F. (R. C. B.)
Elgiva dorsalis, F. (R. C. B.) ; rufa, Pz.
(R. C. B.) ; cucularia, L. (R. C. B.)
Sepedon sphegeus, F., very rare in Black-
root Bog
PSILID.&
Psila fimetaria, L.
Chyliza leptogaster, Pz. (R. C. B.)
Loxocera aristata, Pz., common (R. C. B.) ;
albiseta, Schrk. (R. C. B.) ; sylvatica,
Mg. (R. C. B.)
MICROPEZID^E
Micropeza corrigiolata, L. (R. C. B.)
Calobata cothurnata, Pz. (R. C. B.) ; petro-
nella, L. (R. C. B.)
ORTALIDJE
PLATYSTOMIN^E
Platystoma seminationis, F., one in a box
of insects received from the Rev.
J. H. Bloom from Whitchurcb
ULIDINJE
Seoptera vibrans, L.
TRYPETID/E
Acidia heraclei, L., not uncommon ; cog-
nata, W. (R. C. B.) ; lychnidis, F.
(R. C. B.)
Spilographa Zo6, Mg., not uncommon
Rhacochlasna toxoneura, Loew., one at
Sutton on a window in the house ;
the only recorded British specimen
(R. C. B.)
Trypeta onotrophes, Loew., rare, Sutton ;
tussilaginis, F., common, Hay Woods
(C. J. W.)
Carphotricha pupillata, Fall., Solihull, one
(A. H. Martineau)
Tephritis miliaria, Schrk., Hay Woods
(C.J. W.), Sutton (R. C. B.)
LONCH^ID^E
Lonchaea vaginalis, Fall. (R. C. B.) ; chorea,
F. (R. C. B.) ; tarsata, Fall. (R.C. B.)
Palloptera ustulata, Fall. (R. C. B.) ; um-
bellatarum, F. (R. C. B.) ; saltuum,
L.(R.C.B.) ; arcuata,Fall.(R.C.B.)
Toxoneura muliebris, Harris (R. C. B.)
SAPROMYZIDJE
Sapromyza rorida, Fall. (R. C. B.) ; praeusta,
Fall. (R. C. B.); lupulina, F. (C.
J. W.) ; decempunctata, Fall. (C. J.
W.) ; apicalis, Lcew. (C. J. W.) "
Lauxania cylindricornis, F. (R. C. B.) ;
senea, Fall. (R. C. B.)
164
INSECTS
OPOMYZID.E
Balioptera tripunctata, Fall. (R. C. B.) ;
combinata, L., common ; venusta,
Mg., Hands-worth (C. J. W.)
Opomyza germinationis, L., very common
SEPSIDJE
Sepsis violacea, Mg. (R. C. B.) ; cynipsea,
L. (R. C. B.)
Nemopoda cylindrica, F.
Themira putris, L. (R. C. B.)
PIOPHILID^E
Piophila casei, L., common
Madiza glabra, Fall. (R. C. B.)
HEMIPTERA HETEROPTERA
In compiling the following list I have been much indebted to the
Rev. J. H. Bloom, M.A., of Whitchurch Rectory, for his kindness in
sending me his records of insects from that district, which he informs
me were named by the British Museum authorities.
The records of the late Mr. W. G. Blatch have been taken from
his collection, which is now in my possession.
The records are my own where not otherwise stated.
I am also grateful to Mr. Edward Saunders, F.L.S., F.E.S., for his
assistance, and I have followed the nomenclature of his Catalogue of
British Hemiptera, dated 1890.
The list is not a very comprehensive one, and, unfortunately,
comparatively little work has been done in this order in the district.
There is much room for additions, and I have little doubt that assiduous
workers could soon enlarge our list of species and records.
PACHYMERID^E (continued)
Drymus sylvaticus, Fab. Knowle (Blatch) ;
Packwood
brunneus, Sabilb. Knowle (Blatch)
Notochilus contractus, H. S. Leamington
(Blatch)
Scolopostethus affinis, Schill. Whitchurch
(Bloom)
GYMNOCERATA
CYNID.S:
Sehirus bicolor, Lin. Whitchurch (Bloom)
PENTATOMID.S
Tropicoris rufipes, Lin. Knowle
Piezodorus lituratus, Fab., Stal. Knowle
ASOPID.S
Picromerus bidens, Lin. Knowle
Zicrona casrulea, Lin. Whitchurch (Bloom)
ACANTHOSOMID^E
Acanthosma haemorrhoidale, Lin. Knowle
(Blatch) ; Whitchurch (Bloom) ;
Packwood
dentatum, De G. Coleshill (Blatch) ;
Knowle
interstinctum, Lin. Knowle^ Coleshill
(Blatch)
COREID.S
Coreus denticulatus, Scop. Knowle (Blatch)
BERYTIDJE
Berytus minor, H. S. Whitchurch (Bloom)
CYMID^E
Cymus glandicolor, Hahn. Sutton Coldfield
(Blatch)
claviculus, Fall. Coleshill
PACHYMERID.S
Peritrechus luniger, Schill. Knowle (Blatch)
Serenthia laeta, Fall. Coleshill
Orthostira cervina, Germ. Knowle (Blatch)
parvula, Fall. Salford Priors (Blatch)
Dictyonota strichnocera, Fieb. Knowle
Derephysia foliacea, Fall. Knowle (Blatch)
Monanthia cardui, Lin.
. Knowle
Coleshill (Blatch)
165
humuli, Fab.
ARADID^E
Aradus depressus, Fab. Knowle ; Salford
Priors (Blatch)
HYDROMETRIDJE
Hydrometra stagnorum,
(Blatch) : Knowle
VEUIDJE
Microvelia pygmaea, Duf. Knowle (Blatch)
Velia currens, Fab. Earlswood (Blatch) ;
Knowle
GERRID^E
Gerris najas. Earlswood (Blatch)
Lin. Solihull
Knowle (Blatch)
A HISTORY OF WARWICKSHIRE
GERRIDJE (continued)
Gerris thoracica, Schun. Earhwood
lacustris, Lin. Wbltcburch (Bloom)
odontogaster, Zett. Earhwood (Blatch);
Coleshill
argentata, Schun. Button Coldfield
EMESIDJE
Ploiaria vagabunda, Lin. Knowle (Blatch)
REDUVIID.S
Reduvius personatus, Lin. Whitchurch
(Bloom) ; Solihull (Martineau)
NABID/E
Nabis brevipennis, Hahn. Whitchurch
(Bloom)
major, Cost. Knowle
limbatus, Dahlb. Whitchurch (Bloom)
ferus, Lin. Coleshill (Blatch)
rugosus, Lin.
erecetorum, Scholtz. Coleshill (Blatch)
SALDID.S:
Salda saltatoria, Lin. Sutton Coldfield
cincta, H. S. Sutton Coldfield ; Coleshill
(Blatch) : Knowle
cocksii, Curt. Knowle
CIMID.S
Cimex lectularius, Lin. Birmingham
(Blatch)
ANTHOCORIDJE
Lyctocoris campestris, Fall. Knowle
Piezostethus galactinus, Fieb. Edgbaston
(Blatch), Knowle
- cursitans, Fall. Knowle
Triphleps nigra, Wolff. Whitchurch
(Bloom), Knowle
majuscula, Reut. Whitchurcb (Bloom)
- minuta, Lin. Wbitchurcb (Bloom) ;
Salford Priors (Blatch) ; Knowle
Xylocoris ater, Duf. Salford Priors (Blatch)
MICROPHYSID^
Microphysa pselophiformis, Curt. Salt-
hull
CAPSIDJE
Miris calcaratus, Fall. Sutton Coldfield
(Blatch) ; Knowle, Coleshill
Leptopterna ferrugata, Fall. Whitcburch
(Bloom) ; Knowle
dolobrata, Lin. Knowle (Blatch)
Monalocoris filicis, Lin.
Lopus gothicus, Lin. Knowle
Phytocaris dimidiatus. Whitchurch (Bloom)
ulmi, Lin. Salford Priors (Blatch) ;
VI
Knowle
Calocoris sexguttatus, Fab. Knowle (Blatch)
striatellus, Fab. Knowle
fulvomaculatus, De G. Salford Priors
(Blatch); Knowle
bipunctatus, Fab. Knowle
Lygus pratensis, Fab. Knowle (Blatch)
contaminatus, Fall. ,,
CAPSID.S (continued)
Lygus spinolae, Mey. Whitchurch (Bloom)
pabulimis, Lin.
cervinus, H.S. Knowle
Pceciloscytus unifaciatus, Fab. Sutton
Coldfield (Blatch)
Liocoris tripustulatus, Fab. Whitchurch
(Bloom)
Capsus laniarius, Lin. Smallheath, Salford
Priors (Blatch)
Rhopalotomus ater, Lin. Whitchurch
(Bloom)
Dicyphus stachydis, Reut. Knowle (Blatch)
globulifer, Fall. Knowle (Blatch)
Cyllocoris flavonotatus, Boh. Whitchurch
(Bloom)
histrionicus, Lin. Knowle
/Etorhinus angulatus, Fab. Knowle
Orthotylus marginalis, Reut. Knowle
(Blatch)
Heterotoma merioptera, Scop. ) Whitchurch
Harpocera thoracica, Fall. J (Bloom)
Phylus melanocephalus, Lin. Sutton Cold-
fleld (Blatch); Knowle
coryli, Lin. Whitchurch (Bloom)
var. avellanas, Mey. Salford
Priors (Blatch)
Psallus betuleti, Fall. Knowle
quercus, Rb. Sutton Coldfield (Blatch)
Fallenii, Reut.
Plagiognathus arbustorum, Fab. Knowle
CRYPTOCERATA
NEPINA
Nepa cinerea, Lin. Whitchurch (Bloom) ;
Knowle (Blatch) ; Solihull, Sutton
Coldfield, Salford Priors
Ranatra linearis, Lin. Knowle, Salford
Priors (Blatch)
NOTONECTINA
Notonecta glauca, Lin. Whitchurch
(Bloom) ; Knowle
glauca var. maculata, Fab. Knowle
(Blatch)
CORIXINA
Corixa geoffroyi, Leach. Whitchurch
(Bloom) ; Meriden (Blatch) ; Knowle
lugubris, Fieb. Knowle (Blatch)
hieroglyphica, Duf. Knowle (Blatch)
sahlberg, Fieb. Sutton Coldfield, Earls-
wood (Blatch) ; Knowle
striata, Lin. Sutton Coldfield, Earls-
wood, Knowle (Blatch)
fossarum, Leach. Knowle (Blatch)
fallenii, Fieb. Sutton Coldfield (Blatch)
fabricii, Fieb. Knowle, Earhwood
(Blatch)
mcesta, Fieb. Knowle
Sigara minutissima, Lin. Knowle (Blatch)
166
SPIDERS
ARACHNIDA
Spiders, etc.
Scarcely any records of either spiders, harvestmen or false scorpions
have been made for the county of Warwickshire. The following list is
drawn up from a collection made by the Rev. J. Harvey Bloom at
Whitchurch near Stratford-on-Avon.
ARANE^E
ARACHNOMORPHM
DYSDERID^:
Spiders with six eyes and two pairs of stigmatic openings, situated close together on the
genital rima ; the anterior pair communicating with lung books, the posterior with tracheal
tubes. Tarsal claws, two in Dysdera, three in Harpactes and Segestria.
2. Dysdera crocota, C. L. Koch.
Stratford-on-Avon (J.H.B.)
Larger than the last species, with a deep
orange-pink carapace, orange legs, and abdo-
men with a delicate rosy-pink flush. The
palpal bulb of the male has a cross-piece at
the apex. This spider is also known as D.
rubicunda, Blackwall.
I. Dysdera cambridgii, Thorell.
Stratford-on-Avon (J.H.B.)
Not uncommon under stones and bark ot
trees, where it lurks within a tubular retreat.
The spider is easily recognizable by its elon-
gate form, orange legs, dark mahogany cara-
pace and pale clay-yellow abdomen. The
palpal bulb of the male has no cross-piece
at the apex. The spider is also known as
D. erythryna, Blackwall.
DRASSID^
3. Prosthesima nigrita (Fabricius) Whitchurch (J.H.B.)
CLUBIONID.E
Spiders with eight eyes, situated in two transverse rows. The tracheal openings lie
immediately in front of the spinners. The tarsal claws are two in number, but the anterior
pair of spinners are set close together at the base ; the maxillae are convex and not impressed
across the middle.
4. Clubitna stagnatilis, Kulczynski.
Stratford-on-Avon (J.H.B.)
5. Clubiona terrestris, Westring.
Stratford-on-Avon (J.H.B.)
6. Clubiona pallidula (Clerck)
Stratford-on-Avon, Warwick (J.H.B.)
7. Clubiona phragmitis, C. L. Koch.
Stratford-on-Avon, Warwick (J.H.B.)
8. Clubiona diversa, O.P.-Cambridge.
Whitchurch (J.H.B.)
The spiders of this family resemble those of the Clubionidte in most respects, except that
the trachael stigmatic openings beneath the abdomen are situated about midway between the
genital rima and the spinners, and not, as in the last family, immediately in front of the
spinners. One species only is indigenous to Great Britain, and is very common amongst the
foliage of trees in May and June.
9. Anypbeena accentuata (Walckenaer) Stratford-on-Avon (J.H.B.)
Spiders with eight eyes, situated in two transverse rows, two tarsal claws and anterior
spinners close together at their base. Maxillae not impressed. The crab-like shape and side-
167
A HISTORY OF WARWICKSHIRE
long movements of these spiders are
distinguished from the more elongate
10. Philodromus dispar, Walckenaer.
Stratford-on-Avon (J.H.B.)
1 1 . Philodromus aureolus (Clerck)
Stratford-on-Avon (J.H.B.)
12. Xysticus cr hiatus (Clerck)
Stratford-on-Avon (J.H.B.)
their chief characteristics, enabling them to be easily
Drassidee and Clubionidte.
13. Xysticus ulmi (Hahn)
Stratford-on-Avon (J.H.B.)
14. Xysticus lanio, C. L. Koch.
Stratford-on-Avon (J.H.B.)
15. Xysticus erraticus (Blackwall)
ATTIDJE
1 6. Salticus cingulatus (Panzer). Warwick (J.H.B.)
PISAURID^E
Spiders with eight eyes in three rows of 4, 2, 2 ; the small anterior eyes being sometimes
in a straight line, sometimes recurved and sometimes procurved. Those of the other two
rows are situated in the form of a rectangle of various proportions, and are much larger than
the eyes of the anterior row. The tarsal claws are three in number. Pisaura runs freely
over the herbage, carrying its egg-sac beneath the sternum ; while Dolomedes is a dweller in
marshes and swamps.
17. Pisaura mirabilis (Clerck)
Stratford-on-Avon (J.H.B.)
Known also as Dolomedes, or Ocyale, mirabifis.
LYCOSID.E
The members of this family are to be found running freely over the ground, and carry-
ing the egg-sac attached to the spinners. Many of the larger species make a short burrow in
the soil, and there keep guard over the egg-sac. Eyes and tarsal claws as in the Pisauridte,
with slight differences.
1 8. Lycosa ruricola (De Geer)
Stratford-on-Avon (J.H.B.)
Known also as L. campestris, Blackwall.
19. Lycosa terricola, Thorell.
Stratford-on-Avon (J.H.B.)
Known also as L. agretlca, Blackwall.
20. Lycosa accentuata, Latreille.
Stratford-on-Avon (J.H.B.)
2 1 . Lycosa pulverulenta (Clerck)
Stratford-on-Avon (J.H.B.)
Known also as L. rapax, Blackwall, and
Tarentula pulverulenta.
22. Pardosa lugubris (Walckenaer)
Stratford-on-Avon (J.H.B.)
23. Pardosa pullata (Clerck)
Stratford-on-Avon (J.H.B.)
Known also as Lycosa obscura, Blackwall.
24. Pardosa amentata (Clerck)
Stratford-on-Avon (J.H.B.)
AGELENID^
Spiders with eight eyes, situated in two straight or more or less curved transverse rows.
Tarsal claws, three. The species of this family spin a large sheet-like web, and construct a
tubular retreat at the back of it, which leads to some crevice amongst the rocks or in the
herbage, or in the chinks in the walls of outhouses and barns, wherever the various species
may happen to be found. The habits of Argyroneta, the water spider, are however quite
different. The posterior pair of spinners is much longer than the others in the more typical
genera of this family.
25. Tegenaria derhami (Scopoli)
Stratford-on-Avon (J.H.B.)
26. Agelena labyrinthica (Clerck)
Stratford-on-Avon (J.H.B.)
1 68
SPIDERS
ARGIOPID^E
The spiders included in this family have eight eyes, situated in two rows, the lateral eyes
of both rows being usually adjacent, if not in actual contact, while the central eyes form a
quadrangle. The tarsal claws are three, often with other supernumerary claws. The web is
either an orbicular snare, as in the case of the 'common garden spider," or consists of a sheet
of webbing, beneath which the spider hangs and captures its prey as it falls upon the sheet.
This immense family includes those usually separated under the names Epeirid<e and Linyphiida.
27. Meta segment ata (Clerck)
Stratford-on-Avon (J.H.B.)
Known also as Epeira inclinata, Blackwall.
28. Meta meriante (Scopoli)
Whitchurch (J.H.B.)
29. Meta menardi (Scopoli)
Warwick (J.H.B.)
30. Tetragnatha extensa (Linnasus)
Stratford-on-Avon (J.H.B.)
31. Tetragnatha solandri (Scopoli)
Stratford-on-Avon (J.H.B.)
32. Pachygnatha clerckii, Sundevall.
Stratford-on-Avon (J.H.B.)
33. Pachygnatha degeerit, Sundevall.
Stratford-on-Avon (J.H.B.)
34. S'tnga pygmera, Sundevall.
Stratford-on-Avon (J.H.B.)
35. Zilla x -notata (Clerck)
Stratford-on-Avon (J.H.B.)
36. Araneus cucurbitinus, Clerck.
Stratford-on-Avon (J.H.B.)
37. Araneus patagiatus, Clerck.
Stratford-on-Avon (J.H.B.)
38. Araneus marmoreus, Clerck.
Stratford-on-Avon (J.H.B.)
39. Araneus umbraticus, Clerck.
Stratford-on-Avon (J.H.B.)
40. Araneus triguttatus, Fabricius.
Stratford-on-Avon (J.H.B.)
Known also as Epeira aga/ena, Blackwall.
41. Linyphia triangularis (Clerck)
Stratford-on-Avon (J.H.B.)
42. Linyphia pusilla, Sundevall.
Stratford-on-Avon (J.H.B.)
43. Linyphia peltata, Wid.
Whitchurch (J.H.B.)
44. Linyphia montana (Clerck)
Whitchurch (J.H.B.)
45. Linyphia clathrata, Sundevall.
Stratford-on-Avon (J.H.B.)
46. Lepthyphantes tenuis (Blackwall)
Whitchurch (J.H.B.)
47. Lepthyphantes obscurus (Blackwall)
Whitchurch (J.H.B.)
48. Lepthyphantes minutus (Blackwall)
Whitchurch (J.H.B.)
49. Lepthyphantes leprosus (Ohlert)
Stratford-on-Avon (J.H.B.)
50. Bathyphantes concolor (Wider)
Warwick (J.H.B.)
5 1 . Bathyphantes dorsalis (Wider)
Stratford-on-Avon (J.H.B.)
52. Centromerus bicolor (Blackwall)
Whitchurch (J.H.B.)
53. Gongylidium rufipes (Sundevall)
Stratford-on-Avon (J.H.B.)
54. Gongylidium gramimcolum (Sundevall)
Warwick (J.H.B.)
Known also as Neriene munda, Blackwall.
55. Trachygnatha dentata (Wider)
Whitchurch (J.H.B.)
56. Neriene rubens, Blackwall.
Stratford-on-Avon (J.H.B.)
THERIDIID^
The members of this family have eight eyes, situated very much like those of the Argio-
pidee ; but the mandibles are usually weak, the maxilla are inclined over the labium, and the
posterior legs have a comb of stiff curved spines beneath the tarsi. The web consists of a
tangle of crossing lines, and the spider often constructs a tent-like retreat wherein the egg-sac
is hung up. The tarsal claws are three in number.
57. Theridion sisyphium (Clerck)
Whitchurch near Stratford-on-Avon (J.H.B.)
Known also as T. nervosum, Blackwall.
I 169
58. Theridion variant, Blackwall.
Warwick (J.H.B.)
22
A HISTORY OF WARWICKSHIRE
61. Theridion lineatum (Clerck)
Warwick (J.H.B.)
62. Theridion tepidariorum, C. L. Koch.
Whitchurch (J.H.B.)
59. Theridion bimaculatum (Linnaeus)
Stratford-on-Avon (J.H.B.)
Known also as T. carolinum, Blackwall.
60. Theridian pulchel/um, Walckenaer.
Warwick (J.H.B.)
DICTYNID^E
The spiders belonging to this family possess three tarsal claws, and the eyes, eight in
number, situated in two transverse rows, the laterals being in contact. The cribellum (or
extra pair of spinning organs) and the calamistrum (a row of curving bristles on the protarsi of
the fourth pair of legs) are present in all members of the family. They construct a tubular
retreat with an outer sheet of webbing, which is covered with a flocculent silk made with the
calamistrum from threads furnished by the cribellum.
63. Amaurobius fenestralis (Stroem)
Stratford-on-Avon (J.H.B.)
64. Amaurobius ferox (Walckenaer)
Whitchurch (J.H.B.)
65. Amaurobius similis (Blackwall)
Whitchurch (J.H.B.)
68. Cthonius rayi t L. Koch.
Loxley G- H - B
66. Dictyna arundinacea (Linnaeus)
Stratford-on-Avon (J.H.B.)
Known also as Ergatis benigna, Blackwall.
67. Dictyna uncinata, Westr.
Warwick (J.H.B.)
CHERNETES
OPILIONES
The harvestmen are spider-like creatures with eight long legs, the tarsi very long and
flexible. Eyes simple, two in number, situated on each side of an eye eminence. Body not
divided into two distinct regions by a narrow pedicle, as in spiders ; abdomen segmentate.
69. Platybunus corniger, Hermann.
Stratford-on-Avon (J.H.B.)
70. Nemastoma lugubre (O. F. Muller)
Whitchurch (J.H.B.)
71. Phalangium opilio, Linn.
Whitchurch (J.H.B.)
170
CRUSTACEANS
From a dry county like Warwickshire one might not expect a great
abundance of animals so aquatically disposed and so essentially moisture
loving as the Crustacea. How small in fact any such expectation has
been down to quite recent times is pointedly illustrated by a volume of
much merit and usefulness. For the meeting of the British Association
in 1886 a Handbook of Birmingham was prepared, embracing a wide range
of subjects. The section devoted to zoology occupies in it satisfactory
space and prominence. A valuable page of this section is devoted to
crustaceans, but the writer of it has to explain how they creep into
this little corner of the field. They win their chance of notice it
appears not because they are members of an important independent class
of the animal kingdom, but as a subordinate branch of the district's
microscopic fauna. It is however a mistake to suppose that the carcino-
logy of a county is wholly dependent for its interest on an extensive
seaboard, or the presence of large lakes and broad rivers. Some
crustaceans have in the course of ages, if theory may be trusted, forsaken
that watery world in which alone their distant ancestors could breathe,
and, whether theory can be trusted or not, as a matter of fact their
existing generations live on land. Others there are among the fresh-
water species as modest in their views as Cincinnatus, who preferred his
little farm to a dictator's palace. They actually like a rivulet better than
a river, and disdainful of spreading lakes make it a point of honour to
swarm in small and shallow ponds. There are moreover a very great
number which, though incapable of active life on land, can in the
embryonic stage wait for water with admirable patience, choosing to be
born only when there is liquid for them to live in.
For the crustaceans of an inland county it is sufficient to distinguish
two out of the three principal sections of the class, the Malacostraca
and Entomostraca. All the crabs, lobsters, shrimps and other forms
belonging to the former group are linked together by a community of
structure much closer than at the first glance would be imagined.
Leaving out of count the foremost piece to which the eyes belong and
the hindmost piece called the telson, there are in the malacostracan body
nineteen segments, and each segment has a pair of appendages assignable
to it. That appendages are often missing, that segments coalesce, making
two or more look like one, must be admitted. But the general state-
ment is based on very substantial evidence. The appendages, for
example, that are missing in one sex will be found in the other, or if
171
A HISTORY OF WARWICKSHIRE
wanting in this or that family or genus will make their appearance in
another that is nearly related. The same applies to the coalescence of
segments. In the tail of a crab, for instance, that of the male will often
show only five segments, while that of the female has the normal seven,
the explanation being that in the male three are obviously consolidated
into one. Frequently lines, grooves, sutures, partial divisions, testify to
the intrinsic distinctness of these united portions. In the Entomostraca
on the other hand there are always more or fewer than this number of
nineteen segments and nineteen pairs of appendages.
In the Handbook of Birmingham Mr. Thomas Bolton, F.R.M.S.,
speaking of the Malacostraca says : ' In this class [Crustacea] should be
mentioned the freshwater crayfish, Astacus jtuviatilis, not of course a
microscopic organism ; but if it were omitted here it could not appear
in any of the other reports. This species is fairly distributed in most of
the smaller brooks, in the canals and larger reservoirs, but it is not so
abundant or so large as it is on the lime formations round Oxford. Two
other large microscopic species of this class, the freshwater shrimp,
Gammarus pulex, and the water woodlouse, Asellus vu/garis, are always
present, the former busy in its office of scavenger in the sandy bottoms
of the brooks and ditches, and the latter climbing about, like a monkey,
amongst the water weeds, investigating the mass of living and decaying
organisms with which the weeds are clothed.' :
Of the Macrura or long-tailed Malacostraca the only species likely
to be found living in Warwickshire was the above-mentioned river
crayfish, and this was not likely to be absent. The technical designation
of it should rather be Potamobius pallipes (Lereboullet), the name Astacus
in strictness belonging to the somewhat similar but really distinct genus
of the marine lobster. There is no evidence that we have in England
more than one species, or even more than one variety of the river
crayfish. A difference in size, however constant as between the speci-
mens from two localities, could not be considered of any significance in
this respect, since the smaller form might become larger if transferred
to a district where there was a better food supply and where the con-
stituents of its crustaceous coat were more abundant, while the larger
breed might degenerate under the influence of an opposite removal.
The two other malacostracan species which Mr. Bolton records are
almost certainly present in every one of our English counties. Gammarus
pulex (Linn.) has very near relations in the sea and on the seashore, but
is itself a widely distributed exclusively freshwater representative of the
Amphipoda. The species of this great order are at once distinguished
from crabs and crayfishes by being sessile-eyed. They have their eyes
firmly seated in the head. They cannot shift them from side to side or
up and down as we can ours, nor yet can they lift and lower them or
move them to and fro on jointed pedicels after the fashion which gives
to many of the stalk-eyed crustaceans a wonderful look of alertness and
1 Handbook of Birmingham, p. 306. I am indebted to Professor W. W. Watts for calling my
attention to this source of information.
172
CRUSTACEANS
cunning. It is therefore only with some reserve that G. pulex can be
called ' the freshwater shrimp.' Shrimps, in the more familiar accepta-
tion of the term, are all stalk-eyed. Furthermore our common shrimp
and common prawn are phyllobranchiate, that is to say they have under
the carapace a series of breathing organs composed of two rows of
branchial leaflets. On the other hand in the Amphipoda the branchia?
or gills are not under the carapace, and are as a rule undivided, each
consisting of a single vesicle. There are true freshwater shrimps and
prawns of the same general character as the marine species to be found
in many places, though they do not happen to occur in Warwickshire.
Hence Amphipoda are spoken of as shrimps only because popular
neglect in the past has left them without any suitable vernacular appella-
tion. Apart from the want of pedunculate eyes however they have as
many jointed appendages as the ordinary eatable shrimp. The head as
usual carries two pairs of antennas. These are followed by four pairs
of jaws, known as mandibles, first and second maxilla? and maxillipeds.
With these the carapace or cephalothorax comes to an end, and is
succeeded by the middle body made up of seven separate segments
carrying seven pairs of legs, after which comes the normally jointed
pleon with its six pairs of appendages that have various functions of
swimming, springing or promoting a circulation of the surrounding
water. In a shrimp or lobster, on the other hand, the carapace includes
both head and middle body, carrying the two pairs of antenna? and six
pairs of jaws instead of four, but only five pairs of legs instead of seven,
the pleon both here and elsewhere remaining uncovered. Among all
the more or less striking differences however, the total number of
appendages between the eyes and the pleon it will be seen is precisely
the same in the decapod or ten-footed macruran and in the tetradecapod
or fourteen-footed amphipod. Not only is the number the same, but
the appendages themselves are evidently equivalent, homologous, pair for
pair, though in the case of some of them science has been pleased to
vary their names and nature has been pleased to vary their functions.
Upon ' the water woodlouse, Asellus vu/garis,' somewhat similar
observations may be made. The name to be preferred for it, as older
than Latreille's A. vutgaris, is A. aquations (Linn.), and for this Latin
term ' water woodlouse ' would be as fair an English equivalent as could
be given. In our inland counties it might even deserve to be distin-
guished as the water woodlouse, because in those counties the order
Isopoda to which it belongs has no other freshwater representative.
Nevertheless the title woodlouse is not well fitted to animals that live
only in the water, and besides it belongs by right to a large terrestrial
subdivision of the order. The Isopoda are sessile-eyed malacostracans
like the Amphipoda, and have almost the same arrangement of append-
ages. They also have the middle body uncovered by the carapace.
Still between the two orders the differences are many and important.
In the genuine isopods the heart is in the hinder half of the trunk
instead of being as in the amphipods in its front half, and in place of
173
A HISTORY OF WARWICKSHIRE
gills attached to the trunk-legs several appendages of the pleon supply
the respiratory organs. Amphipods are usually, though not always,
laterally compressed. This puts them at a disadvantage for walking in
the open air. But isopods, being almost always dorso-ventrally depressed
or flattened downwards, have a more stedfast equilibrium, such as is well
exemplified in A. aquaticus. The brown colour marbled with white,
the long antenna? in front, and the slender two-branched uropods or
tail-feet prominently projecting from the consolidated pleon behind,
make this exceedingly common species easy to recognize. It is fully
and beautifully illustrated in an early work 1 by the distinguished
Norwegian carcinologist, Professor G. O. Sars, and more concisely in
his recent description of the Isopoda of Norway. 2
Of the Isopoda terrestria, or woodlice proper, if so unscientific a
term can be called proper, Warwickshire might be thought to be wholly
destitute, to judge by the silence of its zoological records. It is however
quite certain that in this county as in others Oniscus ase//us, Porcellio
scatter, Philoscia muscorum, Armadillidium vu/gare and various other species
are to be found, in gardens and woods, in dry ditches by the roadside,
and almost anywhere under loose flat stones, amidst decaying leaves and
rubbish, or wherever their necessary food and shelter and a modicum of
moisture can be obtained. In the case of A . vu/gare and a few other
species that stable equilibrium with which nature has provided an isopod
can be sacrificed at will, the creature being able to ' conglobate ' its body
and roll out of reach of its enemies sometimes in a manner very un-
expected.
Of the Entomostraca Mr. Bolton writes as follows : 9 'The members
of this sub-class are also to be found everywhere, but it is desirable to
call special attention to the discovery for the first time in Great Britain
of the wonderfully transparent Leptodora hyalina^ at a visit of the
Birmingham Natural History and Microscopical Society in 1879 to the
Olton reservoir near Solihull. It has since been found in many localities,
and is very abundant in the summer and autumn in the Warwick Canal
and several reservoirs. Hyalodaphnia kahlbergensis is very generally found
with it. Argulus coregoni is found in the Birmingham and Warwick
Canal. It had only been discovered in Great Britain previously in the
tanks of the Royal Aquarium at Westminster, which of course are not
used for British fish exclusively. The fairy shrimp, Chirocephalus
diaphanus, is found in only one locality in the district, near Knowle. A
few specimens of the very rare Lynceus acanthocercoides were found near
Bewdley, and amongst other local finds may be mentioned Moina
rectirostris, Macrotbrix roseus and Ilyocryptus sordidus?
To make clear the relations one to another of these and several
other Warwickshire species it will be expedient to give in brief an
outline of the classification now generally adopted for the Entomostraca.
1 Hittoire Naturelle des Cruttacet feau douce de Notvege, p. 93, ph. 8-10 (1867).
* Crustacea of Norway, ii. 97, pi. 39 (1899).
3 Handbook of Birmingham, p. 306.
174
CRUSTACEANS
They are parcelled out into three great companies, the Branchi6poda,
with branchial feet, the Ostrac6da, shell-invested, which have the body
completely enclosed in a pair of valves like peas in a peascod, and the
Copepoda, oar-footed, which are not enclosed in valves and the feet of
which are not branchial.
The Branchiopoda are again subdivided into three important
sections : the Phyll6poda, leaf-footed ; the Cladocera, with branching
antenna? ; the Branchiura, with a name signifying that the tail is branchial.
Each of these sections is represented in Mr. Bolton's list of species above
quoted, although the first and third have only a single species apiece.
Chirocephalus diapbanus, Prevost, belongs indeed to a subsection of the
Phyllopoda which has at present no other known representative through-
out England. The fairy shrimp is one of those crustaceans of which
the coat is not crustaceous. Moreover it has neither enclosing valves
nor extended carapace. The movements of its flexible but ill-protected
body are graceful rather than rapid. Probably it is shielded from harm
partly by a happy knack of lodging in unexpected places and partly by
the discreet blending which nature has established between the tints of
its pellucid structure and those of its environment. Its eggs, in common
with those of many other Entomostraca, enjoy the wonderful power of
resting in dry ground till an accession of water summons them to
development. Thus after a downpour of rain this beautiful species has
been known to make its appearance in such an unromantic situation as a
hoof mark or a cart rut. It has long been regarded as rare, but records
are accumulating which may prove it to be far from uncommon.
The third section is a very small one, and its position has not always
been among the Branchiopoda. Earlier authors placed its members
among the parasitic Copepoda, to some of which they show a not in-
considerable resemblance. This, however, may be due in great measure
to similarity of habit, for all the Branchiura are parasitic on fishes or
frogs, and it is some of the fish parasites among the Copepoda that they
most resemble. The representative species long known in England is
called Argulus foliaceus (Linn.), which may be presumed to occur in
Warwickshire, whether specially recorded or not. The A. coregoni,
Thorell, to which Mr. Bolton refers, is parasitic chiefly, though not ex-
clusively, on Salmonidae. In this the great shield covers all the four pairs
of swimming feet, whereas in A, foliaceus the fourth pair is left exposed.
Both alike have a pair of large lateral eyes and a small trilobed median
eye. In this genus the large sucking disks into which the maxillae at
a certain stage of development are metamorphosed betray the parasitic
character of the animals. Yet they can exist for days, or even weeks,
apart from their hosts. For leading a life of independent activity they
have first to be well gorged, and to this end, it has been observed, nature
has provided them with ramified ccecal appendages in the gastric depart-
ment. Dr. Baird has quoted Jurine's observation that fishes seemed to
be afraid of these little vampires, and would speedily reject them if acci-
dentally swallowed. This may be true in general, but the late Professor
175
A HISTORY OF WARWICKSHIRE
Claus maintains that at least the little bleak and the minnow are as ready
to feed on the Argulus as the Argulus is to feed on them. Claus is will-
ing to retain the term Branchiura for this group, although objecting that
the tail is not in fact more branchial than some other parts of the body.
It is, indeed, he says, the seat of an extraordinarily rich and lively blood
circulation, and by its muscular arrangement is adapted for rhythmical
contractions and expansions, so that its function is that of an auxiliary
heart. 1
In contrast with the foregoing very limited set of forms, the Clado-
cera, which constitute the remaining section of the Branchiopoda, are
a group of remarkable extent and importance in the fresh waters of the
world. Though in almost all species the individuals are small, and in
many descend to microscopic minuteness, they make amends for this by
their prodigious fertility. Like the aphides that infest our roses and
other plants, these entomostracans multiply by parthenogenesis. Milton
represents Adam as lamenting that the Creator did not ' fill the world at
once with men, as angels, without feminine.' Parthenogenesis is a device
for filling it ' without masculine,' and setting up a republic of amazons.
Nevertheless there come periods when it seems to be borne in upon the
minds of these self-sufficient females that nature is not completely satis-
fied with their procedure. They then form what are known as the
' resting eggs,' which require to be fertilized by the male before they
are detached from the mother. They are then capable of ' resting ' for
long periods in mud, which may become thoroughly dry. When at a
suitable season water comes again to the soil the buried entomostracans
hatch out and a new cycle begins.
In 1895 Mr. T. V. Hodgson, now engaged as naturalist on board
the antarctic exploring vessel, the Discovery, published a 'Synopsis of the
British Cladocera.' To this he appended a list containing all those species
which had up to that time been recorded from the neighbourhood of
Birmingham, 'a region which may be defined as being within a fifteen
mile radius.' 2 Mr. Hodgson has since informed me that as a matter of
fact all the species mentioned in the list have occurred in Warwickshire.
The question was raised, because localities are not in every case specified,
and a fifteen mile radius round Birmingham includes a district obviously
not conterminous with the county. The catalogue comprises twenty-
nine species and two varieties. Although these are far less than half the
number of British Cladocera now known, they involve almost all the
chief outlines of the existing classification.
In the same year (1895) D r - Jules Richard began his excellent
Revision des Cladoceres with the following definition of this group :
' Entomostraca free, minute. Head distinct. Rest of the body as a rule
laterally compressed and covered by a bivalved test. Second antennas
1 Zeitichrift fur wissenschaftfiche Zoo&gie, xxv. 269 (1875).
8 Journal of the Birmingham Natural History and Philosophical Society, vol. i. No. 19, pp. 101-112
(February, 1895). It will be understood that subsequent quotations, where not otherwise indicated,
refer to this paper.
I 7 6
CRUSTACEANS
two-branched, each branch setiferous, consisting of only 2-4 joints.
Mandibles quite devoid of palp. Pairs of feet 46, of which for the
most part the majority or all are foliaceous, lobed. The eye single.' 1
Freedom is a word of many meanings. Minuteness is a matter of
comparison. The objects of the above definition are free in contrast to
many entomostracans which are parasitically attached to other organisms.
In size they range, with a few exceptions, between about one-fifth and
one-hundredth of an inch, so that there are some living creatures indefi-
nitely smaller than the smallest of them. The distinctness of the head
is noted to contrast them with the Ostracoda, which have the head as
well as the rest of the body enclosed in a bivalved test or shell covering.
Their lateral compression is a character not uncommon, but in the
Branchiura, in many Phyllopoda and in the Copepoda as a rule the
compression is dorso-ventral, from above downwards. The branching
second antennas are so characteristic that the name of the whole sec-
tion alludes to this feature, and though the joints in each branch are so
few, the varying numbers admit of many combinations useful in distin-
guishing genera. In the absence of a palp from the mandibles nature
here speaks with unwonted decision. Elsewhere we find crustacean
groups in which some members have this palp and others are without
it. Such a difference between nearly related genera or species seems
very capricious, as though it were introduced just to try the temper of
systematists. The mandible may be regarded as an appendage originally
similar to the many-jointed limbs. Its basal part became enlarged and
fortified for purposes of mastication, and the slender terminal joints, now
spoken of as 'the palp,' have in some cases entirely disappeared, in others
been partially retained. This may be explained, in the terms of modern
science, as an example of the continual struggle between heredity on the
one hand and adaptation to circumstances on the other.
The Cladocera are divided into two principal companies : the Calyp-
tomera, a name implying that the limbs are covered by a well developed
carapace ; and the Gymnomera, or bare shanks, in which the carapace
is small and does not encompass the trunk limbs. Each company is sub-
divided into two tribes.
The first tribe of the Calyptomera takes its descriptive name, Cten6-
poda, or comb-feet, from the fact that all its six pairs of foliaceous legs
are furnished with setae arranged like the teeth of a comb. One of its
families, the Sididae, contains two genera recorded for this county Sida,
Straus, and Diaphanosoma, Fischer. In the former the dorsal, outer, or
upper branch of the second antennae has three joints, and the ventral,
inner, or lower branch only two ; while the reverse is the case in the
latter genus. The species Sida crystallina (O. F. Miiller) is stated by
Mr. Hodgson to be ' abundant in clear weedy pools and canals.' It has
on the back of its head an apparatus by which it can affix itself to one
or other of the aquatic plants among which it dwells. It is also distin-
guished by having the dorsal margin of its post-abdomen fringed with
1 Annaks Jei Sciences Nature/let, ser. 7, xviii. 304 (1895).
I 177 23
A HISTORY OF WARWICKSHIRE
a series of twenty or more simple or isolated denticles. Diaphanosoma
brachyurum (Lievin) has a very different appearance, owing to the enor-
mous size of its second antennas. In Mr. Hodgson's list it appears as
Daphnella brachyura^ LieVin, but the name Daphnella being preoccupied
has had to be relinquished ; and possibly our British species ought to be
known as Diaphanosoma wingii (Baird), a question of names that might
prove extremely profitable to lawyers if a title and estates depended on
the decision.
The second tribe is called Anomopoda, to signify that the feet are
not all alike, the two front pairs being, in contrast to those of the Cteno-
poda, more or less prehensile, not foliaceous. This tribe, which comprises
most of the Cladocera, is divided into four families Daphniidas, Bosmi-
nidas, Macrotrichidae and Chydoridae each taking its name from the
eldest of the genera it contains. In the first three of these families the
second antennas have the dorsal branch four-jointed, the ventral three-
jointed ; but in the fourth family both branches are three-jointed. In
the first family the intestinal canal has in front two coecal appendages,
but forms no loop ; in the second, it has neither loop nor coeca ; in the
third, it is variable, being generally without the cceca, and sometimes
straight, sometimes convoluted ; in the fourth, it forms almost a double
convolution. Not in every kind of animal, nor yet in every kind of
crustacean, does the shape of the intestine offer an easy guide towards
the distinction of families. But with most of the Cladocera the chitinous
envelope is so pellucid, sometimes of such a glassy transparence, that the
course of the alimentary tract can be perfectly perceived from the out-
side, without any necessity for killing and dissecting the specimen.
In the Daphniidae Mr. Hodgson records Daphnia fu/ex, de Geer,
'abundant in dirty water'; D. longispina, Miiller, 'abundant in clear
water, canals'; D. lacustris, var. ga/eata, G. O. Sars, 'common: Olton,
Whitacre, Sutton'; D. jardtnii, Baird, 'common: Olton, Whitacre,
Sutton'; with var. kahlbergensis, Schodler, 'Olton,' and var. cederstromii,
Schodler, 'Blackroot, Sutton.' In regard to the first of these species,
Dr. G. S. Brady, F.R.S., in a paper 'On the British species of Ento-
mostraca belonging to Daphnia and other allied genera,' under the head-
ing, 'var. brevispina (Daday de Dees),' writes as follows: 'Mr. D. J.
Scourfield has sent to me specimens taken in the neighbourhood of
Birmingham, which are different in some respects from the ordinary
form of D. pulex, and I think are the same as those described by Daday
de Dees under the specific name bre-vispina. They do not however
appear to me to require more than a varietal name. The spine is rather
longer than that which I look upon as belonging to the typical D. pulex,
and the principal abdominal processes are short, curved, nearly equal in
length and divergent, the whole animal of a deep brown colour.' * Daph-
nia longispina is a small species, taking its name from the great length of
the spine at the extremity of its test. It labours under two disadvan-
tages. No one is quite sure what species O. F. Miiller was really
1 Nat. Hist. Tram. Northumberland, etc. vol. xiii. pt. 2, p. 223 (1898).
I 7 8
CRUSTACEANS
describing under this specific name, and that which is now allowed to
carry the title is so variable that not only have many nominal species
been carved out of it and then discarded, but it is almost impossible by
words to fix its characters. They change with the individual, with the
locality, with the season, with the conditions of nourishment, with the
sizes and ages even of ovigerous adults. 1 D. jardinii, Baird, is now usually
transferred to the genus Hyalodaphnia, Schodler, distinguished from Dapb-
nia by the want of an eye-spot. Brady, in 1898, perhaps overlooking
Mr. Hodgson's record, declares that the only British locality in which
H. jardinii has hitherto been found is Lochmaben, Dumfriesshire. 2 On
the other hand he accepts H. kablbergensis [kahlbergiensis], 3 Schodler,
as an independent species. In the same way he does not hold galeata to
be a variety of D. /acustris, but describes it as D. galeata, Sars ; and further
on he says, 'The characters, which may be taken as separating D. kablber-
gensis from D. galeata, are the large size of the head, its wedge-shaped
outline, broad at the base or posterior end and gradually tapering to an
acute apex, and the absence of an eye-spot : the vertex-spine, which in
D. galeata has a ventral bend, is here either straight or slightly bent to-
wards the dorsum.' 4 Under D. galeata he had already observed that ' in
other respects a description of the one form may very well be applied
to both.' 6 In 1879 Mr. H. E. Forrest described and figured ' D.
Bairdii' from Olton reservoir. He says, 'The appearance of D. Bairdii
in the microscope is irresistibly comic. It has an immense head, which
terminates upwards in a sharp point, exactly as if it were wearing a
dunce's cap, and in this its one goggle eye rolls about with an air of
supernatural wisdom. The body is transparent and almost colourless.' 6
Subsequently Mr. Forrest explains that his D. Bairdii had been previ-
ously found near Berlin, and described by Schodler as Hyalodaphnia kahl-
bergensis, but he maintains that its name ought to be Daphnia kablbergen-
sis, and in addition to Olton Reservoir gives as localities for it Edgbaston
Pool and Spurrier's Pool. 7 Sars however in 1890 makes it a variety of
Hyalodaphnia jar dinii (Baird), grouping together several so-called species,
and explaining that 'the spring generations of this species usually have
the head quite evenly rounded, without a hint of the more or less strongly
outdrawn hood-shaped extension which characterizes summer genera-
tions, and therefore exhibit a very different physiognomy, so much the
more as also the eye seems considerably larger.' 8 There remains to be
considered the var. cederstromii. For the species described by Schodler
as H. cederstromii Dr. Jules Richard adopts the designation 'H. cristata,
Sars ; var. cederstromii, Schodler,' stating that the variety is scarcely dis-
tinguished except by the extraordinary development and the form of the
1 Richard, Ann. Set. Nat., ser. 8, ii. 277 (1896) ; and Lilljeborg, Cladocera Sued*, p. 95 (1900).
8 Nat. Hist. Trans. Northumberland, etc. vol. xiii. pt. 2, p. 238.
3 The name as given by Schfidler is kahlbergiensis, although, as will be seen, it is repeatedly quoted
as kahlbergensis.
4 Loc. cit. p. 239. 6 Loc. cit. p. 235.
6 Midland Naturalist, ii. 217, pi. 14 (1879). 7 Loc. cit. p. 284.
8 Oversigt afNorges Crustaceer, in Chris tiania yid.-Selsk. Forhandlinger, No. I, p. 34.
179
A HISTORY OF WARWICKSHIRE
cephalic crest. * The head, in fact, presents the form of a hood more or
less curved in a dorsal direction, laterally flattened. Thus the ventral
margin forms a regularly convex line, while the dorsal margin is con-
cave. The head attains half the length of the body (not including the
caudal spine, which is almost as long as the head).' He does not accept
any English locality for it, but believes the form commonly noted under
the name cederstromii to be a variety of H, jardinii, for which he proposes
the name incerta on account of the uncertainties arising from its confusion
with the true cederstromii^
The upshot of all these explanations is to credit Warwickshire with
Daphnia pulex, var. brevispina, Daday de Dees ; Z). longispina, O. F.
M tiller ; D. galeata, Sars ; Hyalodapbnia jardinii, var. incerta, Richard ;
and H. kablbergiensis, Schodler. According to Lilljeborg, in his
important work just issued, the last of these should be called Daphnia
(Hyalodaphnia] cucullata, Sars. 1 It is indeed only in Utopia that the
student can expect to rest and be thankful over a final settlement of
zoological names.
Belonging to the same family of the Daphniida? Mr. Hodgson
records Simocepbalus ve'tu/us (O. F. Miiller), * abundant in clear weedy
water, canals'; Scapholeberis mucronata (O. F. M.), ' common : Olton,
Kingswood, Middleton, Hagley Park ' ; Ceriodaphnia reticulata (Jurine),
'Middleton, Olton'; C. rotunda (Straus), 'generally distributed';
C. quadrangula (O. F. M.), ' Barnt Green, Middleton'; C. megalop s,
Sars, ' Lower Bittel Reservoir, Olton Mill' ; and Moina rectirostris
(O. F. M.), ' a horsepond near Harborne.' All these genera were at one
time included under Daphnia, and the first three of them still were so in
1850 when the Ray Society published Dr. Baird's valuable book on
The Natural History of the British Entomostraca. In that volume Baird
distinguished Moina, which has the first antennae of the female long and
inserted on each side of the head's ventral margin, from the other
Daphniidae, in which these antennae are small and inserted under the
rostrum or on the head's hind margin. Simocepbalus, Schodler, has its
shell covering marked with sub-parallel transverse lines, whereas in
Daphnia and others there is a reticulation of little quadrate or polygonal
meshes. In Ceriodaphnia, Dana, the first antenna? of the female are
movable, while in Daphnia and Hyalodaphnia they are immovable, and
from these three Scapholeberis, Schodler, is differentiated by having the
ventral margin almost straight in continuity with the caudal spine, and
by having a distinct hind margin. In the others the convex ventral and
dorsal margins meet at the caudal spine, so that the hind margin remains
undefined as in the bow of a boat.
In the family Bosminida? the records are Eosmina longirostris (O. F.
Mtiller) and B. longispina, Leydig, of which the former is said to have
the 'head erect, not tumid above,' the latter to have the 'head depressed,
tumid above.' It may be worth while here to notice that in describing
1 Ann. Set. Nat. ser. 8, ii. 331, 343 (1896).
8 ClaJocera Sueci*, p. 127.
1 80
CRUSTACEANS
the second antennae, Mr. Hodgson in his Synopsis speaks of the dorsal
or external branch as the posterior, the ventral or inner as the ante-
rior, while Dr. Baird does just the reverse. Specimens of Cladocera
are usually figured with the head uppermost. When the antennae are
erected the ventral branch faces forward, when they are depressed the
dorsal one occupies this position. It is therefore inconvenient to dis-
tinguish them by terms which have no fixity of application. Professor
Lilljeborg distinguishes B. longirostris as having the spines of the caudal
ungues in the female divided into two series, while in the other species
of the genus the series is single.
In the family Macrotrichida? Warwickshire lays claim to Ilyocryptus
sordidus, Lievin, and Drepanotbrix dentata, Euren. Already in 1881,
Mr. H. E. Forrest, F.R.M.S., had recorded the former as obtained
' probably from a small pond in Sutton Park near Birmingham.' 1 Mr.
Hodgson gives its distribution as ' common : Kingswood, Olton Canal,
Sutton.' The generic name alludes to its habit of hiding in the mud,
and the specific name enforces the moral that mudlarks will still be
muddy. The terminal claws in this genus are very long and the intestine
straight, subapically dilated, whereas in Drepanotbrix the terminal claws
are small and the intestine forms a large loop. The name of the latter
genus signifies sickle-haired or sabre-haired, and alludes to a rather
minute character. In the second antennas the inner branch has on
its first joint a long seta or hair, which is slightly curved like a sabre,
and without any articulation in the middle such as is found in the
seta of the second joint. In framing generic characters for the
Cladocera a census has been taken of the hairs on the second antenna?.
Hence unwonted attention has been drawn to parts that might otherwise
be thought rather insignificant. The specific name dentata alludes to the
dorsal tooth or stout spine on the subcircular carapace.
Of the fourth family, often called Lynceidae but more correctly
Chydoridae, there are ten species assigned to Warwickshire : Chydorus
spbtzricus (O. F. M.), 'abundant, clear water'; C. g/o&osus, Baird, ' not
uncommon ' ; Eurycercus lamellatus (O. F. M.), ' abundant in clear weedy
pools and canals ' ; Acroperus harpa \harpcz\, Baird, ' generally distributed,
clear water ' ; ' Lynceus quadrangularis, canal, Olton ' ; Graptoleberis
testudinaria, Fischer, ' Olton Reservoir ' ; Alonella nana (Baird) , ' common :
Kingswood, Olton, Barnt Green ' ; Peracantha truncata (O. F. M.),
'canal, Olton; Alvechurch ' ; Pleuroxus trigonellus (O. F. M.), ' Alve-
church ' ; P. uncinatus, Baird, ' canal, Olton ; Windley Pool, Sutton.'
In regard to Lynceus quadrangularis, O. F. M., it needs to be
explained that the genus Lynceus was established by O. F. M tiller, one of
the chief pioneers in entomostracan science. But, as so often happens
when new paths are opened up in zoology, this early genus was far too
comprehensive for subsequent requirements. It had to be much
restricted, and is now properly confined to the Phyllopoda. The
Cladocera once included in it are distributed under various other generic
1 Midland Naturalist, iv. I . pi. I .
181
A HISTORY OF WARWICKSHIRE
names. In particular the species L. quadrangularis was transferred in
1843 by Dr. Baird to a new genus, Alona. Baird indulged in the incon-
sistency of retaining the family Lynceidas, although he left in it no genus
Lynceus. Mr. Hodgson and some other authorities have avoided this
fault by retaining the genus Lynceus in place of Alona. But Lynceus
cannot be in two places at once. Being a phyllopod, it cannot likewise
be a cladoceran. For several of the genera in this family Baird notices
something distinctive in the external form. Thus, Cbydorus, Leach, is
' nearly spherical in shape ' ; Acroperus, Baird, ' somewhat harp-shaped ' ;
Alona, ' quadrangular' ; Eurycercus, Baird, ' sub-quadrangular' ; Camp-
tocerus, Baird, and Peracantha, Baird, respectively 'ovoid' and 'oval';
while Pleuroxus, Baird, has the lower part of the ventral margin ' trun-
cated, or, as it were, cut sharp and straight.' He contrasts the motion
through the water of Alona quadrangularis with that of the Daphniidae,
for ' instead of swimming by short irregular bounds, as these latter do,
they direct themselves by a rapid motion of their inferior antennae, or
rami, and legs, straight towards the point to which they wish to go.' '
He considers that this probably depends on the shortness of the branches
of the second antennas, since among the species of another family
Bosmina longirostris, which also has very short branches similarly situ-
ated, has the same kind of motion. As in the Daphniidas, so in the
Chydoridas, the eye, Baird observes, ' is a spherical body contained in
a somewhat funnel-shaped sheath of muscles, having a semi-rotatory
motion, and consisting of a series of crystalline bodies, which, in the
Eurycercus lamellatus, are about twenty in number.' 2 In Eurycercus
Dr. Jules Richard notes that the optic ganglia and their nerves are
clearly separated one from the other, though all the same the eye
remains single, 3 thus strengthening the recognized probability that the
single eye of the Cladocera has arisen from the fusion of eyes originally
paired.
Passing on to the Gymnomera, we find this section likewise divided
into two tribes, the Onychopoda with four pairs of feet, nail-bearing feet
as the name implies, and the Haplopoda, with six pairs of feet, these
being in accord with the name simple, unarmed. The so-called nails
of the Onychopoda are supplied by unguiform setae. In this tribe the
family Polyphemidas supplies Warwickshire with the interesting species
Polyphemus pediculus, de Geer. Mr. Hodgson describes its distribution
as ' local : Olton Mill Pool ; Blackroot, Sutton.' In the second tribe
the family Leptodoridas supplies Leptodora hyalina, Lilljeborg, ' abundant,
canals and some large pools.' This species was recorded in 1879 from
' a pool in the neighbourhood of Olton ' 4 by Mr. Walter Graham,
F.R.M.S., President of the Birmingham Natural History and Micro-
scopical Society, his identification of it being corroborated by Professor
Ray Lankester. Lilljeborg now accepts L. kindtii (Focke) as its right
name.
1 British Entomostraca, p. 122. * Loc. cit. p. 117.
* Ann. Set. Nat. ser. 7, vol. xviii. p. 312. * The Midland NaturaSst, ii. p. 225, pi. 5 (1879).
182
CRUSTACEANS
According to Dr. J. Richard 1 the Gymnomera feed on living prey,
consisting generally of other entomostracans. Some of them are of
much greater size than that which is normal among the Entomostraca.
Their appearance is also strongly differentiated by the projecting limbs.
In Polyphemus the enormous eye is naturally a conspicuous feature. In
Leptodora the second antennae have a huge peduncle, with both the
branches four-jointed and the plumose setae very numerous.
Of the Ostracoda, which have the whole body shut up in a bivalve
shell covering as if in a box, three species are recorded by Baird from
Rugby, under the names of Cypris vidua, Miiller, C. monacha, Miiller,
and C. compressa, Baird. 2 The first of these is now classified as Pionocypris
vidua (O. F. M.), the second, from ' old canal at Rugby,' has been placed
in the genus Notodromas, Lilljeborg, and the third becomes a synonym
of Cypria ophthalmica (Jurine), Norman and Brady declaring it to be ' one
of the commonest of British species, occurring everywhere in ditches,
ponds and lakes, both freshwater and brackish.' 3 The Ostracoda are so
well protected, each in its own little natural fortress, that enemies of
their own size can have little chance against them. They are exceed-
ingly shy of exposing needlessly any tangible part of their tender body
or limbs outside the covering valves. Many can swim with great
rapidity. Some prefer to pass their time clinging to weeds or crawling
about the mud. Some sink and swim by turns. They are very prolific.
Their species are numerous, and of these there are no doubt a
goodly number in Warwickshire, so that a fuller discussion of the group
may conveniently wait till more than three members of it have been
recorded.
Our great national library possesses a copy, though a somewhat
imperfect one, of the Reports of the Warwickshire Natural History and
Archaeological Society from 1837 to 1880. In the course of these con-
siderable attention is paid to geology and ornithology, and a plaintive
appeal is repeatedly made on behalf of entomology. But that such a
subject as carcinology exists cannot be inferred from the two volumes of
these collected reports, unless exception be made in favour of the report
for 1845. Therein, on page 6, in a list of miscellaneous donations,
mention is made of ' a Crab, by Mr. Spicer.' Naturally this crab does
not claim to be indigenous to the county, any more than ' a Crustacean '
from ' the Lithographic Slate of Solenhofen,' reported on page 6 of the
next report. How little then need the student be daunted by negative
evidence ! How erroneous would have been any inference drawn as to a
dearth of crustaceans from the dearth of information about them, which
remained almost unbroken down to the year 1879 ! Since that date
researches have shown that at least in one important group the county is
richly provided. There are other groups in which it may be expected
that a like diligence will have a like result.
1 Ann. Sfi. Nat. ser. 7, xviii. 339. British Entomostraca, pp. 152-4.
8 Trans. R. Dublin Soc. ser. 2, iv. 69 (1889).
I8 3
FISHES
Warwickshire lying in the watershed of the Severn, Trent and
Thames sends feeders to each of these rivers, and as might be supposed
the tributaries contain the same, or nearly the same, fish as their
respective main streams ; but, as will be seen from the localities given in
the following list, the fish of the tributaries of the Trent differ in many
respects from those of the Avon, and also from those found in the
Warwickshire feeders of the Thames. The migratory fish are undoubt-
edly much interfered with by the locks and weirs, but on the other hand
the connection formed by canals between the upper reaches of several
of the tributaries of the different river basins has been the means of
mixing the species to a certain degree.
TELEOSTEANS
ACANTHOPTERYGII
1. Perch. Perca fluvia ti/is, Linn.
Common and generally distributed in all
the considerable streams in the county, and
also found in many ponds and canals and other
artificial water. According to Mr. J. Steele
Elliott it is common in all the pools in Button
Park, where it must have been introduced.
2. Ruffe or Pope. Acerina vu/garis, Linn.
Abundant in rivers and ponds. It is said
by Mr. J. Steele Elliott to occur in one pool
only in Sutton Park, into which it has doubt-
less been introduced ; which may indeed be
said of all other pools.
3. Miller's Thumb or Bullhead. Cottus gobio,
Linn.
Common in almost all streams, including
small brooks in all parts of the county.
ANACANTHINI
4. Burbot. Lota vulgaris, Linn.
Yarrell in his work on British Fishes says,
f The Tame is said to contain the burbot.'
Mr. G. Sheriff Tye, writing in 1886, gives
the following record of it : ' Is found in the
river Anker at Tamworth, the largest fish
recorded being 5 lb.'
HEMIBRANCHII
Three-spined Stickleback.
acu/eatus, Linn.
Common in all parts of the
Gasterosteus
184
in all parts ot tne county, in
pools as well as in streams, including small
brooks and even ditches.
Var. /eiurus, Cuv. et Val.
It occurs in many streams in Warwickshire,
but appears to thrive most in the smaller ones,
that is in the brooks and ditches. Mr. G.
Sherriff Tye, in his list of the fishes found in
the neighbourhood of Birmingham, published
in 1886, mentions it as being very abundant
in the ditches feeding the Anker.
Var. brachycentrus, Cuv. et Val.
Very common in the north of the county,
where it is found in ditches feeding the Anker,
as we learn from Mr. G. S. Tye.
Var. spinulosus, Jen. & Yarr.
Mentioned by Mr. G. S. Tye as occurring
in the same localities as the last, but less
frequently.
6. Ten-spined Stickleback. Gasterosteus pungi-
tius t Linn.
Occurs, though not abundantly, in many
places in the county. Common in the
FISHES
streams in the north part according to Mr.
G. S. Tye.
HAPLOMI
7. Pike. Esox lucius, Linn.
Common and indeed abundant in all the
larger streams. It occurs in many ponds and
canals where it has without doubt been intro-
duced, as for instance in the pools in Sutton
Park. Mr. J. Steele Elliott speaks of it as
abundant at the latter place.
OSTARIOPHYSI
8. Carp. Cyprinus carpio, Linn.
Very rare in the Avon and not recorded
by Mr. G. S. Tye as occurring in the Tame
or Anker. According to that authority how-
ever it has been found in the Plants Brook
reservoir, and Mr. J. Steele Elliott speaks of
it as numerous in the pools in Sutton Park.
It also occurs in many other similar places in
the county.
9. Crucian Carp. Cyprinus carassius, Linn.
Stated by Mr. G. S. Tye to be not un-
uncommon in small cattle pits in the county.
10. Gudgeon. Gobio fluviatilis, Flem.
Very numerous in all the principal streams,
spawning in shoals in stony places where
there is a rapid flow of water.
1 1 . Roach. Leuciscus rutilus, Linn.
Abundant in all the larger streams. It
seeks the fibrous roots of willows on which
to deposit its spawn, which is consumed in
quantity by the broad-nosed eel, as fishermen
well know who take the eels in wicker put-
chins at such places.
Up to the present time there is no recorded
occurrence of the Rudd, Leuciscus erythroph-
thalmus, in Warwickshire ; though as a known
Worcestershire fish its presence in the former
county might be expected.
12. Dace. Leuciscus dobu/a, Linn.
Common in the Avon and its feeders.
Though occurring in the Trent, there is no
record of its frequenting the Tame or Anker.
The fish mentioned in Yarrell's History of
British Fishes as having been found by Mr.
W. Thompson in the Learn at Leamington
under the name of 'graining' is nothing more
than a light coloured dace, such as may be
taken from the Stour near Stratford and from
the Arrow near Alcester.
13. Chub. Leuciscus cepha/us, Linn.
Found in all the considerable streams as
well as in the canals all over the county. It
is not however mentioned by Mr. J. Steele
Elliott as occurring in the pools in Sutton
Park.
14. Minnow. Leuciscus phoxinus, Linn.
Formerly very abundant in the small streams
and brooks, though never numerous in the
larger streams such as the Avon, but now less
common everywhere. Said by Mr. G. S. Tye
to be ' common in many streams ' around
Birmingham, that is in 1886.
15. Tench. Tinea vu/garis, Cuv.
Common in pools but very rare in the
rivers, and quite unknown in the small
streams.
1 6. Bream. Abramis brama, Linn.
Common in the Avon, frequenting the
deep parts and keeping in shoals. More
abundant than formerly, but not mentioned
as having been taken from the Anker or
Tame, and is not known to appear in the
smaller streams generally. Its existence in
ponds such as those in Sutton Park must be
the result of introduction.
The hybrid between this and the next
species, known as Pomeranian bream, Abramis
huggenhagi, Bloch, also occurs. More than
half a century since the present writer, when
roach fishing in the Avon near Welford, occa-
sionally took a small fish which seemed to
agree with the specific details of the present
fish as given in Yarrell's History of British
Fishes. Specimens having been taken to Mr.
Yarrell were stated by him to be examples of
the Pomeranian bream, which specific deter-
mination was afterwards confirmed by Dr.
Gunter, to whom specimens were sent. It
was never found in any numbers in the Avon,
one or two being taken in a large catch of
roach and other white fish either by fishermen
in nets or by anglers. Subsequently however
to the above mentioned time great numbers
were found in the ancient fishponds and stews
at Temple Grafton. As those excavations were
connected with a small brook, and through it
with the Avon, it has been suggested that
these small fish had been introduced into the
fishponds, and that individuals had escaped by
the brook into the Avon. It would however
be most unlikely that so valueless a fish would
be brought to the fishponds, and the supposi-
tion that it had ascended to them from the
Avon seems to be a more probable explana-
tion. Certain it is that it was there in abun-
dance and was supposed by the people of the
village to be the young of the carp.
The first English specimen was obtained
at Dagenham, on the Thames, which river,
185
24
A HISTORY OF WARWICKSHIRE
be it remembered, is connected with War-
wickshire, though only remotely, by some
Oxfordshire streams.
1 7. White Bream. Abramis b/icca, Linn.
The writer has seen a few specimens of
bream which were taken in the Avon which
he has no doubt were identical with the white
bream of the Trent. Although specimens
from that river have been examined there has
not been a direct comparison between them
and the ones taken in the Avon.
1 8. Bleak. Allurnus luciclus, Heck. & Kner.
Common in most of the Warwickshire
streams. Mr. G. S. Tye records its appear-
ance in the Earlswood reservoir between
Birmingham and Stratford-on-Avon, into
which it must have been introduced.
1 9. Loach. Nemachilus karbatulus, Linn.
Very few streams are without this species,
but it seems to prefer the smaller ones, in
which it may be found in plenty, often con-
cealing itself in mud, much as eels are known
to do, with its snout only visible.
20. Spinous Loach. Colitis taema, Linn.
Known only to the writer as a Warwick-
shire fish by the following, which appears in
Yarrell's History of British Fishes : ' William
Thompson, Esq., has found it in Warwick-
shire.'
MALACOPTERYGII
21. Salmon. Salmo salar. Linn.
' It has been taken from the eel traps in
the river Tame at Tamworth ' (G. Sherriff
Tye).
22. Trout. Salmo _fario, Linn.
Found in many of the streams and brooks
in the county. Very rare in the Avon,
though occurring sparingly in many of its
feeders. It occasionally works its way up
very small brooks, and is taken so near their
source that they are mere rills. In Bourne
Brook, Fazeley, it has been taken as much as
7 Ib. in weight, and in the Thame of the
weight of 5^ Ib. The river Cole at Pucking-
ton is said to contain trout, as are also the
streams in Sutton Park. The same may be
said of the Stour, Arrow and Alne, as well
of streams within the limits of the county
which entering Oxfordshire become feeders
of the Thames.
23. Grayling. Thymallus vexillifer, Linn.
Of this fish, as occurring in the north of
the county, Mr. Tye says : ' Also was 1 7 ozs.
Bourne Brook, Fazeley.'
APODES
24. Eel. Anguilla vulgaris, Turt.
Numerous in the Avon and its tributaries,
and indeed in rivers and pools in all parts of
the county.
Without entering into the question of the
species of eels it may be well to record the
difference of habit of the so-called varieties
or species as observed in the principal stream
in the county, the Avon.
Silver eels, so designated by the fishermen,
have sharp noses, small mouths, the upper
surface dark and the lower silvery white, the
line of demarcation being well defined. They
are caught in nets or at the weirs in the
autumn floods (locally termed ' freshes '), and
rarely if ever on lines, in wicker putchins
or in mud.
Mud eels have broad heads, wide mouths,
yellowish olive backs, and more or less yellow
bellies, and all the colours are much blended.
They are caught in summer on lines or> in
wicker putchins, and are taken in winter
from mud by means of the eel spear. It is
very rarely that one is obtained with the silver
eels in the nets.
1 86
REPTILES
AND BATRACHIANS
Very little need be said relative to the occurrence or the distri-
bution of the reptiles and amphibia of Warwickshire more than what
falls under the head of the different species. There is however one
which demands special mention, namely the palmated newt. It is
common and even abundant all over the oolitic district, including the
Cotteswolds and the adjoining parts of Oxfordshire, as well as the near
part of Warwickshire ; but the further from those districts the rarer does
it become, until it is quite uncommon, indeed rare in the valley of the
Avon.
REPTILES
1. Common or Viviparous Lizard. Lacerta
vivipara, Jacq.
Although not abundant the present species
occurs at several places in the county, namely
on a common near Claverdon ; in close
proximity to Warwick, where the writer has
seen it playing in and out of the rough stone
wall around the Priory ; and in the sand-
stone pits near the town. It has also ap-
peared near Ragley, and at several localities
at the foot of Edgehill, as at Avon Dasset
and Burton Dasset. Mr. J. Steele Elliott
records its former appearance in Sutton Park,
where however it has been exterminated.
2. Sand Lizard. Lacerta agilis, Linn.
The only localities in the county where
the present species has been observed are the
following : namely at two places on the Ridge-
way near Alcester, and in the refuse at the
mouth of some abandoned openings for gyp-
sum at Spernal, also near Alcester. But it
is rare at those localities.
3. Slow-worm or Blind-worm. Anguh fra-
gi/is, Linn.
Occurs in several places in the county but
not numerously. It has been seen by the
writer at Claverdon, also near Wootton
Wawen, where it is not unfrequent. It is
more common in that part of the county
adjoining Oxfordshire, and occurs at Brailes
and near Compton Wynniates. At the above
places it has been observed by parties of geo-
logists, most frequently beneath large stones.
It was at one time found in Sutton Park, but
as we learn from Mr. J. Steele Elliott is no
longer to be seen there.
4. Common or Ringed Snake. Tropidonotus
natrix, Linn.
A common and generally distributed species.
5. Common Viper or Adder. Viper a berus,
Linn.
Though not abundant in the county the
adder (the name by which it is known) is
found wherever there are sandy or stony
places and the soil is not too retentive, but
is unknown on the fertile alluvial parts of the
county. All the specimens which have been
examined have possessed the normal colour,
none of the described varieties having been
observed.
BATRACHIANS
1. Common Frog. Rana temporaria, Linn.
Common and generally distributed.
2. Common Toad. Bufo vulgaris, Laur.
Less abundant than the frog, but yet of hedgerows or trees.
187
common almost everywhere. The toad is
frequently found in mid-winter in holes deep
under ground, and brought to light by the
removal of heaps of earth, or by the grubbing
A HISTORY OF WARWICKSHIRE
There is no record up to the present time
of the occurrence of the natterjack toad in
the county.
3. Great Crested Newt. Molge cristata, Linn.
Common in stagnant water in ditches and
pools.
4. Common Newt. Molge vulgaris. Linn.
A common species which not only fre-
quents stagnant water, but is often found in
damp underground places, in abandoned
quarries, and in heaps of earth or other
similar places during the winter.
5. Palmated Newt. Molge palmata, Schneid.
The palmated newt is local rather than rare
in the county. It is very common on the
oolitic hills of Gloucestershire and the near
parts of Warwickshire, though comparatively
rare in the alluvial or low-lying tracts of the
county, the writer having only very occa-
sionally seen it in the valley of the Avon.
At present there is no record of its occurrence
in the north of Warwickshire.
1 88
BIRDS
The avifauna of the county does not show any strongly marked
characteristics. As might be expected, however, many sea coast or
estuarine birds follow the course of the Avon from the Bristol Channel,
and appear in Warwickshire as spring or autumn visitors, and heavy
gales from the south-west drive coast species into the county.
The Avon is also the resort of birds which do not follow its course, as
for instance the swallow, which in former times came in countless numbers
to roost in the reed and osier beds. And as surely as they came so
surely came the hobbies to prey upon them, and might be seen two or
three at a time. Occasionally, though but rarely, a merlin would appear
with the hobbies. Again, the peregrine falcon has been a not very rare
winter visitor to the banks of the Avon, attracted by the various water
and other birds found there at that season.
Whether the spring and autumn migration of birds across England
between the Bristol Channel and the Wash (in the line of which War-
wickshire lies) exercises any influence on the avifauna of the county is
a question which remains for future determination. Of the summer
visitors, consisting largely of warblers, Warwickshire always has an
abundance. The appearance in extraordinary numbers of the Arctic
tern up the course of the Avon in May, i 842, must be regarded rather in
the light of an irruption than a migration, but as the flight followed
the stream we may assume that had there been no river there would
have been no terns.
Sutton Coldfield Park, in the north of the county, merits special
mention from its having been the haunt of many rare birds. It possesses
woodland, marsh, pools, and small streams, and was formerly frequented
by black grouse, red grouse, all the species of harriers, the little bittern,
the little egret, as well as the common bittern, the latter being by no
means of infrequent occurrence there.
I. Missel-Thrush. Turdus viscivorus, Linn. 2. Song-Thrush. Turdus musicus y Linn.
Although much less abundant than formerly The numbers of the song-thrush are con-
the recent mild winters have done much to- siderably augmented in the autumn. Some-
wards restoring its numbers. That the missel- times before harvest the beans are almost
thrush suffers very greatly in severe winters smothered by small brown beetles, which are
is without doubt. In the early autumn, about consumed in immense numbers by the
harvest time, this bird is very partial to fields thrushes. There is no doubt however that
of standing beans, from which small parties snails constitute to a great extent the food
are often flushed by harvest people, and later of the song-thrush,
on by the dogs of the partridge shooters.
189
A HISTORY OF WARWICKSHIRE
3. Redwing. Turdus i/iacus, Linn.
There is not apparently any diminution in
the number of redwings which arrive in the
autumn, though when all hedge fruit has
been consumed they seem to depart. They
never, so far as the present writer has observed,
feed on snails or field roots like the song-
thrush, blackbird, or fieldfare.
4. Fieldfare. Turdus falaris, Linn.
A regular winter visitor to the county of
Warwick. The fieldfare is a much more
omnivorous feeder than its congeners, often in
severe winters it has recourse to fields of
turnips and other succulent roots, and does
considerable damage.
5. White's Thrush. Turdus vartus, Pallas.
A bird of this species, which had been shot
at Packington, was brought to Mr. Peter
Spicer of Leamington, the son of the veteran
taxidermist of Warwick, for preservation.
The occurrence was duly recorded in the
Field of November 5, 1898.
6. Blackbird. Turdus merula, Linn.
From the observations of many years I am
confident that the blackbird seeks for its food
in winter almost wholly on the ground in
woods, coppices, hedgerows, brakes, or shrub-
berries, where it feeds chiefly on small gastero-
poda and coleoptera. But that fruit in great
variety is consumed all through the summer
admits of no doubt.
7. Ring-Ousel. Turdus torquatus, Linn.
Known in Warwickshire as a passing visitor
in spring and autumn, but of very uncertain
occurrence. It has however been too often
noted to demand a record of its appearances,
which have not been confined to any part of
the county but spread over the whole of it.
8. Wheatear. Saxicola cenanthe (Linn.)
A regular visitor in no great numbers in
spring and autumn. There are two distinct
varieties, a small one, which arrives early,
and a larger one coming two or three weeks
later. It is probable that the latter breeds
occasionally in the county. In the neigh-
bourhood of Birmingham the wheatear is
recorded by Mr. Chase as common in spring,
but whether the large or small variety has
been noticed is not mentioned.
9. Whinchat. Pratincola rubetra (Linn.)
A common and indeed abundant summer
visitor, breeding freely in the meadows bor-
dering the streams as well as in the open
fields.
10. Stonechat. Pratincola rubicola (Linn.)
A much less abundant bird than the last,
and resident. It breeds most commonly in
rough stony places, and the nest is generally
carefully concealed. From the circumstance
of pairs being commonly seen together in
winter it seems probable that the Stonechat,
like many other birds, pairs for life.
1 1 . Redstart. Ruticilla phcenicurus (Linn.)
An early summer visitor to Warwickshire,
and generally distributed in the county. The
nest is always in a hole in a wall or tree,
and far enough in to be out of sight.
[Red-spotted Bluethroat. Cyanecula suecica
(Linn.)
Has occurred near Birmingham and is re-
corded in Yarrell's History of British Birds,
i. 322.]
12. Redbreast. Erithacus rubecula (Linn.)
Though common and resident the robin is
not abundant.
13. Nightingale. Daulias luscinia (Linn.)
A well known summer migrant to the
greater part of the county, but showing a
decided preference for the low lying alluvial
tracts. In the Birmingham district it is
however stated by Mr. Chase to be numerous
and to breed. Yet Mr. Steele Elliott speaks
of it as rare at Sutton Coldfield, indeed he
only gives one instance of its appearance
there, namely on August II, 1895.
14. Whitethroat. Sylvia cinerea (Bechstein)
Common in every hedge-bottom and brake
throughout the summer.
15. Lesser Whitethroat. Sylvia curruca
(Linn.)
A far less common summer migrant than
the last named, and frequenting trees and
bushes rather than the rubbish in the bottom
of a hedge. The nest is a beautiful struc-
ture, thin and fragile looking, but strong,
and often placed some distance from the
ground.
1 6. Blackcap. Sylvia atricapilla (Linn.)
A common summer migrant, arriving early,
and generally distributed, though much more
frequently seen and heard in the low-lying
parts, especially in the valleys of the Avon
and other streams. It is quite a mimic, but
has a very sweet, wild, but intermittent song
of its own, which can never be mistaken for
that of any other bird.
190
BIRDS
17. Garden- Warbler. Sylvia hortensis (Bech-
stein)
Not so often seen as the blackcap, but
nevertheless fairly common in the county.
Its song is a low, sweet, and continuous
warble, having a conversational tone, and the
bird while uttering it is very earnest and
gesticulating.
1 8. Goldcrest. Regulus cristatus, K. L. Koch.
A resident bird in Warwickshire which
breeds in many localities, though not abun-
dantly. The writer has seen a nest which
was suspended from the branch of a yew tree
in a garden at the back of a house in High
Street, Warwick, the contents of which were
visible from an upper window. That garden
was however only separated from the wooded
grounds of the castle by a back lane and a
high wall. In the great Lebanon cedars at
the castle the writer has many times seen
this little bird.
19. Firecrest. Regulus ignicapillus (Brehm)
Although this bird has undoubtedly oc-
curred in Warwickshire no localities or dates
can be recorded. A few specimens killed at
no great distance from Warwick were brought
to John Spicer of that town for preservation,
one of which, a male, was examined by the
present writer when freshly mounted.
20. Chiffchaff. Phylloscopus rufus (Bechstein)
A very early summer migrant, but though
common not very abundant. It is also an
early breeder, the nest being sometimes con-
structed before its congeners, the willow-
warbler and the wood-warbler, have made
their appearance. It is generally placed on
or near the ground, but the writer has quite
recently seen one in a thick mass of ivy on
the top of a wall eight feet from the ground.
21. Willow- Warbler. Phylloscopus trochilus
(Linn.)
This bird so closely resembles the chiffchaff
as to be with difficulty distinguished from it.
There is however a wide difference in the
song and in the coloration of the eggs. It
is common over the greater part of the
county.
22. Wood- Warbler. Phylloscopus sibilatrix
(Bechstein)
A much rarer bird in Warwickshire than
its allies, the chiffchaff and willow-warbler,
but easily distinguished from them by its
somewhat greater size, and by its relatively
longer wings. It is a frequenter of trees and
coppices, and its peculiar trill, for it hardly
merits the name of song, may be sometimes
heard from the very top of a tall tree. Its
domed nest, always on or near the ground,
is at once recognizable by its lining of horse-
hair.
23. Reed - Warbler. Acrocephalus streperus
(Vieillot)
A noisy little summer migrant found by all
the streams in the county where there are
reeds. It will sometimes frequent osier beds,
and the present writer has heard it and seen
its nest in the osiers almost immediately under
the walls of Warwick Castle. The nest is
always suspended between three or four reeds
or osiers, and occasionally between the stems
of the willow herb, but reeds are always pre-
ferred.
24. Marsh-Warbler. Acrocephalus palustris
(Bechstein)
The writer has heard the warble of this
sweet songster in the neighbourhood of Strat-
ford-on-Avon more than once, and is fully
assured of its occurrence in Warwickshire,
but cannot speak of its distribution in the
county.
25. Sedge- Warbler. Acrocephalus phragmitis
(Bechstein)
To be seen in almost every hedge in most
parts of the county.
26. Grasshopper-Warbler. Locustella neevia
(Boddaert)
Although by no means a rare bird it is
not abundant, and appears to be rather
local even within the limits of the county.
In the north of Warwickshire it is less abun-
dent than elsewhere, and is reported by Mr.
Chase to be far from common around Bir-
mingham. In the valley of the Avon its
peculiar trill may be often heard in fields of
wheat and barley. In these places it breeds,
the nest being placed on the ground and
well concealed beneath the tangled corn.
27. Hedge - Sparrow. Accentor modularis
(Linn.)
Common, resident, and generally dis-
tributed.
28. Alpine Accentor. Accentor collaris (Sco-
poli)
An alpine accentor which was shot in
proximity to the village of Ettington near
Stratford-on-Avon a few years since may
have been killed in Warwickshire, for Etting-
ton is almost on the line of division between
the counties of Warwick and Worcester.
191
A HISTORY OF WARWICKSHIRE
29. Dipper. Cinclus aquaticus, Bechstein.
The occurrence of the dipper in Warwick-
shire can only be recorded for a few localities.
Nearly thirty years ago one which had been
shot in the Leam at Leamington came into
the hands of the present writer ; and he has
seen two or three others which were shot
in the brook which runs into the Avon at
Sherborne. More recently, though still but
rarely, dippers have been taken in the Alne
brook near Alcester. Some of these which
still retained some of the nesting feathers had
doubtless been bred there. Mr. Chase writ-
ing in 1886 speaks of the dipper as very rare
around Birmingham, but mentions the occur-
rence of one at Handsworth on 12 January,
1882. From Mr. Ground of Birmingham
the writer learns that a dipper was taken at
Hay Mill in the Birmingham district in the
winter of 1894-5.
30. Long-tailed Tit. Acredula caudata (Linn.)
Formerly more abundant than at the present
time, though still not rare. It is one of the
birds which if not protected will certainly
become scarce ; its conspicuous nest stands
small chance of escaping notice and de-
struction.
31. Great Tit. Parus major , Linn.
There does not seem to be any fear of this
bird becoming rare, for it is quite able to
take care of itself. A cocoanut broken in
half is a very great attraction in the winter
months to the great, blue and coal-tits, and
affords a good opportunity for observing their
habits. It will be seen that the great tit is
master and has first to be satisfied ; then
conies the blue tit, and finally the coal-tit,
the latter having to keep a sharp look-out
to snatch even a hasty meal when opportunity
serves. Both great and blue tits are very
quarrelsome little birds, but the coal-tit is
the reverse. The marsh-tit never comes to
feed on the cocoanut.
32. Coal-Tit. Parus ater, Linn.
It is rather remarkable that the nest of
this bird has not been observed in the counties
of Warwick and Worcester, nor in the ad-
joining part of Gloucestershire, though as a
species the bird is anything but rare in these
counties. It is probable that there are ar-
rivals in the autumn which remain through
the winter and depart in the spring.
33. Marsh-Tit. Parus palustris, Linn.
Although as abundant as the coal-tit it is
less frequently noticed, as it rarely comes near
dwelling houses but frequents coppices and
brakes in small parties. It breeds, so far as
the present writer has observed, in holes in
trees, which it sometimes excavates for itself.
It rarely if ever makes use of a hole in
masonry for the nest.
34. Blue Tit. Parus caruleus, Linn.
The blue tit, locally known as the torn
tit, is a most courageous and impudent little
fellow who will enter outhouses and help
himself to anything which is to his taste.
He will visit the slaughter-house of the vil-
lage butcher and feed on any scraps of offal
meat which may be there ; and will literally
peel the inner surface of the skins of sheep
or other animals which have been hung on
the beams in the cart or cattle shed to dry.
But he also consumes an enormous number
of very small insects which he obtains by
laborious search in the branches of trees and
bushes. The nest is in any suitable hole
either in building or tree.
35. Nuthatch. Sitta cauia, Wolf.
A great frequenter of parks, orchards and
other places where there are aged trees, but
very rarely seen in growing woods or cop-
pices. In an orchard near the dwelling of
the present writer where a number of fowls
are daily fed with maize, it is no uncommon
thing to see a nuthatch carry off a large
grain and consume it at leisure in an apple
tree. Occasionally one of these birds will
come quite near the windows to feed upon
cocoanuts fixed up for the tits.
36. Wren. Troglodytes parvulus, Koch.
This is one of the most prying of birds,
often appearing in very odd places, almost
always however near the ground. In the
winter the hedger leaves behind him along
the hedgerow faggots of wood (locally termed
' kids '), into which the wren very often
creeps, and the writer has seen one fly out
of a ' kid ' when it was on the fork to be
thrown on the wagon and taken to the
woodyard. The nest is constructed in a
great variety of situations, some of them very
remarkable.
37. Tree-Creeper. Certhia familiaris t Linn.
This as a species is not by any means
numerous ; indeed it might almost be said
to be uncommon. The best places to observe
its habits are in parks and orchards where there
are large or old trees ; but it has a habit of
passing round to the other side of a tree trunk
to avoid observation. It is only seen singly,
except in the breeding season. The nest
is rarely seen, but is always in some crack
192
BIRDS
or opening, which may be either in a build-
ing or old tree. During a very long period
of observation the present writer has only
discovered three nests.
38. Pied Wagtail. Motadlla lugubris, Tem-
minck.
As a resident bird the pied wagtail is not
abundant, though common, and the nest is
less frequently seen than formerly. The
flights, chiefly of young birds, which repair
to the Avon and other streams are fewer in
number and smaller. The osier beds near
the castle at Warwick used formerly to be
a favourite roosting place with this bird. In
the autumn the number is materially increased
by arrivals which probably pass on, as they
are not often seen in mid-winter, though a
few frequent the sheepfolds, and sometimes
suffer severely from the wool and earth which
tightly clogs their toes.
39. White Wagtail. Motadlla alba, Linn.
As a Warwickshire bird the record was
for some time confined to a single occur-
rence ; that of an adult male which was seen
by the writer feeding on the mud in a ditch
in close proximity to the bridge over the
Avon at Stratford. The beautiful pearly
grey of the back will at once distinguish this
species from the pied wagtail. Mr. Steele
Elliott reports a pair which appeared in the
park at Sutton Cold field on 8 May, 1897,
and it may be confidently expected to appear
in other localities in the county.
40. Grey Wagtail. Motadlla mefanope, Pallas.
Except as an autumn visitor this species
is rare in the county, and has never been re-
corded as breeding in it, and only once has
it come under the notice of the present writer
in full summer plumage. In the early part
of the summer of 1898 Mr. C. C. Jones of
Loxley Hall shot one with a full black throat
near the village of Loxley, which is now in
his collection. In the district around Bir-
mingham it has been observed in summer
dress, and Mr. Chase has suggested the proba-
bility of its sometimes breeding there. The
sides of streams are the haunts of the grey
wagtail, and it is most frequently seen just
when the various water-plants have rotted
down and lie in masses in the water. On
these it loves to run and flit.
[Blue-headed Yellow Wagtail. Motadlla
flava, Linn.
A bird of this species was shot at Welford-
on-Avon in the county of Gloucester only
two hundred yards from the Avon where it
divides that county from Warwickshire.]
41. Yellow Wagtail. Motadlla rait (Bona-
parte)
An abundant bird all through the sum-
mer, breeding freely in cultivated fields and
meadows, and generally distributed in the
county.
42. Tree-Pipit. Anthus trivia/is (Linn.)
Common and generally distributed in the
county all through the summer, and is to
be seen chiefly in meadows and pastures.
43. Meadow-Pipit. Anthus pratensis (Linn.)
A common resident which breeds in the
county and is met with in sheepfolds in the
winter, and also in meadows which have re-
cently been flooded. In the latter places it
seems to find abundance of food left by the
receding water.
44. Rock-Pipit. Anthus obscurus (Latham)
This bird appears occasionally on the Avon,
though but rarely. Some years ago several
were shot near Warwick and brought to
John Spicer of that town for preservation,
some of which are in the writer's collection.
As it is known to frequent the broad water
of the Severn its appearance on the Avon
might be expected more frequently.
45. Golden Oriole. Oriolus ga/bu/a, Linn.
A good many years since two golden orioles,
probably a pair, were shot on the estate of
Sir Robert Peel near Tamworth, and brought
to John Spicer of Warwick for preservation.
There is also a record in the Zoologist in 1871
of the occurrence of a bird of this species
at Barton near Tamworth. About twenty
years ago a fine male was shot at Ilming-
ton near the boundary of Warwickshire and
brought to Mr. G. Quatremayne of Strat-
ford, in whose hands it remained for some
time and was seen by the present writer.
The last named bird was repeatedly seen
in and near the village of Ilmington before
being shot.
46. Great Grey Shrike. Lanius excubitor, Linn.
The present, though a rare bird, has too
frequently appeared in the county to render
a close enumeration of the instances necessary.
Specimens were years ago brought to John
Spicer of Warwick for preservation, and others
were subsequently received by H. Coombs
of Stratford-on-Avon, namely in the winter
of 1844-5 ar >d 1846-7. More recently
Mr. Hunt of Alcester has received specimens
which were shot in the county. One which
was taken near Stratford in the winter of
1 844-5 was secured in the following manner.
193
A HISTORY OF WARWICKSHIRE
A caged goldfinch was hung on a wall in a
brickyard, and the shrike was seen to strike
at it, but was driven away. Shortly after-
wards however the shrike was seen to be
endeavouring to drag the goldfinch, which
was killed, through the wires of the cage.
A trap baited with the dead bird secured the
assassin, which came to the writer with two
broken legs. Mr. Chase records the occur-
rence of this bird at two places around Bir-
mingham, namely at Wylde Green on
14 November, 1871, and at Rubery Hill on
31 October, 1881.
47. Red-backed Shrike. Lanius collurio, Linn.
A regular summer visitor and generally
distributed, breeding freely in the county. Its
habit of impaling food on thorns is well
known, and mice, voles, shrews, young birds
and large insects, such as beetles, humble-
bees, and large moths, have been often seen
secured in that manner in thorn bushes,
always however inside the bush and not ob-
servable unless looked for.
48. Waxwing. Ampelis garrulus, Linn.
This handsome bird has appeared occasion-
ally in the county. One preserved in the
Warwick Museum was taken near Coventry.
A very fine male, having six of the wax-like
appendages on each wing, was shot at Red
Hill between Stratford-on-Avon and Alcester
on 1 8 January, 1850, and came at once into
the hands of the present writer. Mr. Chase
records the occurrence of one at Aston Hall
near Birmingham about 1845, and another
which was killed at Rednal on -?o January,
1882.
49. Pied Flycatcher.
Linn.
Muscicapa atricapilla,
As an occasional summer migrant the pied
flycatcher has occurred in the county, and I
have seen specimens in the hands of John
Spicer of Warwick which had been shot near
that town. One of them, an adult male,
was shot while perched on the roof of the
flour mill close to the walls of Warwick
Castle. Near Birmingham it is said by Mr.
Chase to be rare. Mr. Steele Elliott, quot-
ing Mr. Chase, states that it nested on
5 June, 1882, in the park at Sutton Cold-
field, and also that a pair was seen there by
Mr. Bitteridge in May, 1889.
50. Spotted Flycatcher. Muscicapa grisola,
Linn.
A regular summer migrant and generally
distributed. The selection of its nesting place
is sometimes remarkable. On two occasions
194
a nest has been placed immediately over a
door through which people passed continually.
51. Swallow. Hirundo rustica, Linn.
With the continuance of such a decrease
in its numbers as has taken place of late
years, this beautiful bird will at no distant
time have to be recorded as a rare British
bird. There are now only individuals where
there were formerly hundreds, and a swallows'
nest has become an unusual thing. The very
great decrease in numbers is difficult of ex-
planation. That the rarity of some birds has
been due to the interference with their nest-
ing places there can be no doubt, but that
cannot be said of the swallow, for as a general
rule its nest is inviolate. And the explana-
tion is not made easier when it is remembered
that a pair of swallows will ordinarily rear
three broods in one summer.
52. House-Martin. Chelidon urb'ua (Linn.)
This species like the swallow now appears
in decreased numbers, but by no means in
so great a degree.
53. Sand-Martin. Cattle riparia (Linn.)
Where there is suitable accommodation for
nesting, the present species does not seem
to have decreased in numbers ; but it must
always be somewhat local according to the
presence or absence of a nesting-place.
54- Greenfinch. Ligurinus chloris (Linn.)
The greenfinch at one time became a
somewhat local bird, owing apparently to high
cultivation having reduced the hedges suit-
able for its nest. Of late years however
the number has increased, and there is cer-
tainly more nesting accommodation in the
higher and untrimmed hedges.
55. Hawfinch. Coccothraustes vulgaris, Pallas.
Though much more abundant than for-
merly and generally distributed the hawfinch,
owing to its shy and wary nature, is but seldom
seen. It will however come quite near to
dwellings and will even build its nest within
sight of the windows. A nest seen by the
writer was in the thick fork of an apple tree,
and was only discovered by the birds being
watched from a window. When completed
nothing could be seen of the nest from below
except the projecting ends of a few sticks,
which gave it the appearance of the frag-
mentary remains of a nest of the previous
summer. The hawfinch has been accused of
a partiality for green peas, which it is said
to take from the pods. It feeds freely during
the winter months on the seeds of the maple.
BIRDS
56. Goldfinch. Carduelis eiegans, Stephens.
Though much less abundant in the county
than formerly the goldfinch is found breeding
in many places. In the end of autumn or
early in winter its numbers are increased by
the arrival of companies varying in number
from five or six to twenty or thirty. At
that time the seeds of thistles, teasels and
burdocks constitute its chief food, but in
midwinter the alder and ash trees are visited
and their seeds consumed. It is only how-
ever the germ of the seed of the ash which is
picked out and eaten. In the north side of
the county, that is in the Birmingham dis-
trict, Mr. Chase, writing in 1886, reports
the goldfinch as scarce.
57. Siskin. Carduelis spinus (Linn.)
The appearance of the siskin as a winter
visitor to Warwickshire depends almost wholly
on the presence or the absence of alder trees,
though whole seasons pass without its being
seen even when trees of that kind thickly
fringe the streams. In some winters the sis-
kin has appeared in very considerable num-
bers in the immediate vicinity of the town of
Warwick and also in the alder trees around
the large fishponds at Coughton Court near
Alcester and probably at other localities.
58. House-Sparrow. Passer domesticus (Linn.)
Abundant everywhere.
59. Tree-Sparrow. Passer montanus (Linn.)
Much less abundant than the house-sparrow
and very seldom seen in the close vicinity of
houses. The nest however is sometimes in
the thatch of an old building but generally
outside, as for instance under the eaves. Pol-
lard withy trees remote from all dwellings
are favourite places for the nest of this
species.
60. Chaffinch. Fringilla coelebs, Linn.
This pretty and lively little bird is a very
torment at certain seasons to the growers of
cruciferas, more especially radishes, and it
seems to have a sort of intuitive knowledge
of the places where the seeds have been sown
even before the young plants make their
appearance. As soon however as they show
themselves they are pulled up and a part eaten ;
the ground is sometimes literally strewn with
the long white underground stems.
61. Brambling. Fringilla montifringilla, Linn.
An uncertain winter visitor which some-
times appears in considerable numbers in most
parts of the county and mixes with flights of
finches in weedy stubbles, amongst which
they are conspicuous from their white rumps.
Occasionally they approach farmsteads and
feed on the seeds which have been winnowed
from the corn and thrown out.
62. Linnet. Linota cannabina (Linn.)
The linnet is one of those birds which is
as numerous as ever. A weedy stubble in
the autumn where there is plenty of scattered
charlock seed is a certain attraction and will
bring an abundance of linnets. Any thick
bush or hedge is suitable for a nesting-place,
though a gorse bush is preferred.
63. Lesser Redpoll. Linota rufescens (Vieillot)
As a Warwickshire bird this has always
been regarded by the present writer as a win-
ter visitor, frequenting the alder trees by the
sides of the streams and feeding on their seeds
and also on those of the willow herb. Once
only has a nest been noted. It was in the
leafy branch of a plum tree in a garden at
Alcester. However, in the northern part of
the county it has probably nested more fre-
quently, and Mr. Chase speaks of it as
common and resident in the Birmingham dis-
trict.
64. Twite. Linota flavirostns (Linn.)
A rare winter straggler, occasionally appear-
ing in severe weather and making its presence
known by its peculiar and monotonous note.
65. Bullfinch. Pyrrhula europtea, Vieillot.
The bullfinch though a common resident
is not abundant. Of a shy and retiring
nature it is not however a wild or wary bird,
but may be approached quite nearly when
feeding on the buds of fruit trees or on the
long seeds of the ash.
66. Crossbill. Loxia curvirostra, Linn.
A winter visitor of very uncertain appear-
ance, but sometimes arriving as early as
August. In 1845 a considerable number made
their appearance at Claverdon, and several
were shot and brought to J. Spicer of War-
wick for preservation. All were red birds.
Crossbills have been shot at various times in
the park at Warwick Castle, which also have
come into the hands of the same bird preserver.
On 14 November, 1855, a flight of these
birds alighted in a coppice of conifers at Little
Alne near Alcester, several of which were
shot and brought to the present writer. They
were of all colours, from red to a dingy green.
In the Birmingham district the crossbill has
occurred at Solihull, Wylde Green and Aston
Park as recorded by Mr. Chase.
195
A HISTORY OF WARWICKSHIRE
67. Corn-Bunting. Emberiza mi/iana. Linn.
A common though not by any means an
abundant bird. Formerly it used to frequent
fields of vetches, in which the nest was often
placed ; but of late years, since fewer vetches
have been planted, the nest is more frequently
found in coarse herbage of any kind, but not
often in the bottoms of hedges.
68. Yellow Hammer. Emberiza citrine/la,
Linn.
An abundant and resident bird.
69. Cirl Bunting. Emberiza cir/us, Linn.
A very locally distributed bird even within
the limits of the county, but nevertheless a
resident one. It appears to be most frequent
in some parts of the valley of the Avon, for in-
stance near Stratford, while at Leamington, as
I learn from Mr. Peter Spicer, it is of rare
occurrence, only two having come into his
hands during a period of more than twenty
years. Although recorded by Mr. Aplin as
occurring near Banbury there is no evidence
of its presence in the near part of Warwick-
shire. Around Birmingham and in the Tarn-
worth district it is unknown.
70. Reed-Bunting. Emberiza schaenic/us, Linn.
A resident bird, frequenting the sides of
streams or pools.
7 1 . Snow - Bunting. Plectrophenax nivalis
(Linn.)
A rare winter straggler. One is recorded
from Harborne near Birmingham, and Mr. T.
Ground informs me of one that appeared
at Haywood near that city in the winter of
1894-5. Near Stratford the snow-bunting
has appeared on two or three occasions, always
in the winter.
72. Starling. Sturnus vu/garis, Linn.
Mr. O. V. Aplin, speaking of the starling
as an Oxfordshire bird, says, 'An abundant
and increasing resident,' which is precisely
what may be said of it as a Warwickshire
bird. Towards the end of summer great
flocks visit the bean fields and feed on the
aphides which sometimes abound there.
73. Rose-coloured Starling. Pastor roseus
(Linn.)
A male in nearly adult plumage was shot
in a cherry orchard at Barton in the parish of
Bidford in the summer of 1854 by a man
engaged in keeping birds from the ripening
cherries. A second, an adult male, which
had been shot somewhere near that town,
was brought to Mr. Hunt of Alcester for
preservation.
196
74. Jay. Garrulus glandarius (Linn.)
A common resident, frequenting woods and
coppices.
75. Jackdaw. Corvus monedula, Linn.
Common and resident wherever there are
suitable nesting places. Three broods are
sometimes reared by the same pair of birds,
as the writer has determined by the observa-
tion of a nest in the hole of a tree on his
premises. Such was the case in the summer
of 1900.
76. Magpie. Pica rustica (Scopoli)
Much less abundant throughout the whole
of the county than formerly. The nest of
the magpie is well worth careful examination.
Dead but not decayed thorns are largely,
indeed almost exclusively, made use of as
material, and they are so well put together
that even when in the very top of a tall tree
in an exposed place the nest is rarely if ever
blown out. Fine flexible roots constitute its
lining.
77. Raven. Corvus corax, Linn.
It is many years since the raven last
nested in Warwickshire or even made its
appearance there. Between thirty and forty
years ago the Rev. W. T. Bree of Allesley
near Coventry, then a man advanced in years,
informed the writer that he remembered the
raven breeding in that neighbourhood in the
early part of his life, but that no nests had been
known for many years. An aged native of
Snitterfield often spoke to the writer of the
nesting of the raven in his boyhood in some
great elms near that place, which he said had
years before disappeared from age, hurricanes or
the axe. Within the memory of the present
writer the raven was an occasional visitor to the
county, and it was no uncommon thing to see
one or perhaps a pair pass over and betray
their presence by their croaking. On one
occasion the remains of one were seen nailed
to the gable of a building with other so-called
vermin at Coughton Court, the residence ot
the Throckmorton family. In 1841 a raven
frequented a rickyard at Clopton near Strat
ford-on-Avon, where it fed on dead rats,
which had been trapped in a rickyard and
thrown out into an adjacent field. A raven
which was shot by the keeper in the park
at Warwick Castle some time in the ' fifties '
is now in the writer's collection.
78. Carrion-Crow. Corvus corone, Linn.
The numbers of this handsome bird a
miniature raven have greatly decreased with-
in the last twenty or thirty years except in a
BIRDS
few favoured localities. Mr. Aplin says, 'In
the north of the county [Oxfordshire] where
the crow has it all his own way it is particu-
larly abundant.' As might be expected it is
common in the adjacent part of Warwick-
shire, At the commencement of the breed-
ing season the crow goes through some
remarkable vocal exercises, wholly unlike the
incessant and monotonous caw, caw, caw of
the rook. He commences with a rather shrill
repetition of a note something like the syllable
' crocht,' which is followed by some low
modulated sounds, and he ends with a deep
double note sounding like ' ka!6re ' repeated
many times, the last and accented syllable
being accompanied by an upward fling of the
wings, for the wind up of the performance
generally takes place on the wing. The
alarm note is one which once heard, especially
at nightfall when all is still, is not easily for-
gotten.
79. Hooded Crow. Corvus cornix. Linn.
An occasional visitor to the county, some-
times frequenting the sides of streams and
feeding on mussels and other molluscs at low
water as well as associating with herds of
cattle in pastures. Mr. Chase records the
breeding of the hooded crow in Sutton Park
in May, 1883, and Mr. Steele Elliott men-
tions its nesting there in 1894.
80. Rook. Corvus frugi/egus, Linn.
The abundance of the rook depends wholly
on its protection at breeding time.
81. Sky-Lark. Alauda arvensis, Linn.
A common and resident bird, whose music
is heard in almost every field.
82. Wood-Lark. Alauda arborea, Linn.
An uncommon and local bird in the county,
and even rare in the northern part, as I am
informed by Mr. Chase. Its rather peculiar
song at once announces its presence.
83. Swift. Cypselus apus (Linn.)
This, perhaps the most remarkable of our
birds, is a common summer visitor whose
numbers have suffered no diminution. It
exists almost entirely on the wing except
during the period of nesting. The inter-
course between the sexes takes place high
up in the air, where also it is now supposed
to spend the night as well as the day. Its
habits have led country people to say that
they retire to the upper regions of the atmos-
phere to roost. There is no doubt that the
swift is a more or less nocturnal bird. The
large and rather deeply sunken eyes seem to
I 97
indicate as much, and the whole face of the
bird has a very owl-like appearance. When
or where the swift retires to rest is not at
present within our knowledge.
84. Nightjar. Caprimulgus europaus, Linn.
A summer visitor which cannot be termed
rare, though it is nowhere plentiful. It is
quite as common in the north as the south
side of the county, and breeds where there
are suitable surroundings.
85. Wryneck. lynx tore/ui/la, Linn.
The wryneck is most certainly less com-
mon than formerly. Its peculiar and unmis-
takable song, if such it can be called, is not
as often heard, and specimens are more rarely
brought to the bird stuffers for preservation.
It is more a local than a rare bird.
86. Green Woodpecker. Gecinus viridis
(Linn.)
Wherever the growth of timber suits the
habits of this bird no diminution in its numbers
appears to have taken place, and its well known
laughing voice may be heard.
87. Great Spotted Woodpecker. Dendrocopus
major (Linn.)
Although much less common than the green
woodpecker, this species is not rare in the
county, but it is more dependent than even
the last species on the presence of large and
aged trees. The nest, to judge by the very
few instances which have come to the
knowledge of the writer, is high up in
some half-decayed tree, and not in a con-
spicuous place ; the beech appears to be
frequently chosen. There is no longer any
doubt that the loud jarring rattle which this
bird makes in the spring is caused by very
rapid strokes of the bill on hard wood or
bark. It is reported by Mr. Steele Elliott to
be not uncommon in the park at Button Cold-
field, where it breeds, choosing by preference
the oak and holly trees in which to excavate
a nesting place.
88. Lesser Spotted Woodpecker. Dendrocopus
minor (Linn.)
A commoner bird than the last and more
generally distributed. At the end of January
and all through February, its presence is known
by the jarring sound that it makes and which
resembles that made by the greater spotted
woodpecker, except that the vibrations are
smaller and more rapid. Ancient orchards
are favourite haunts of this little bird, but
the nest is not easy to find, being generally
more or less out of sight, and only to be dis-
A HISTORY OF WARWICKSHIRE
covered by the chips which have fallen to the
ground when the hole was being made.
89. Kingfisher. Akedo ispida, Linn.
There can be little doubt that the diminu-
tion in the numbers of this bird has been
caused in a great measure by the extremely
wet summers of about twenty years ago. In
1879 the meadows bordering the streams in
the county were in a state of flood for several
weeks during the breeding season, and the
nests of the kingfishers must have been de-
stroyed wholesale. With the return of more
favourable nesting times the kingfishers, as
might be expected, have become more nu-
merous, and although still uncommon more
of these beautiful birds may now be seen on
the Avon and its tributaries.
90. Bee-Eater. Merops apiaster, Linn.
In one instance only has the bee-eater been
met with in Warwickshire. Two were seen
and one of them shot at Red Hill on the road
between Stratford-on-Avon and Alcester on
29 May, 1886. The bird which was shot
proved to be a female containing enlarged
eggs, and had she been spared it is probable
that she would have nested somewhere near.
91. Hoopoe. Upupa epops, Linn.
Several specimens of this bird which have
occurred in the county are preserved in col-
lections. One in the Warwick Museum was
shot at Brinklow ; another in a private collec-
tion was shot at Oak farm, three miles north-
west of Stratford-on-Avon ; while a third in
the writer's collection was taken at Broom in
the parish of Bidford in 1852. A fourth
occurred at Henley in Arden, which having
been shot was taken to Warwick for preserva-
tion,where the present writer saw and examined
it. Mr. Chase gives several occurrences of the
hoopoe near Birmingham, namely at Witton,
Quinton, Oscott, and Baddesley near Tarn-
worth.
92. Cuckoo. Cucu/us canorus, Linn.
A common summer visitor all over the
county. I have long been of opinion that
the female cuckoo lays her eggs on the bare
ground, from which she takes them in her
beak and places them in the nests of other
birds ; and I have arrived at that conclusion
from having repeatedly met with cuckoos'
eggs, and also young cuckoos, in nests into
which the cuckoo could not have deposited
them by the ordinary process of laying. I
believe that on one occasion I disturbed a bird
of this species when in the act of laying an
egg on the bare ground, or immediately after
she had done so. Seeing a cuckoo flitting
about in a very odd manner on some bare
ground at the foot of a large grass-grown
heap of earth in the middle of a pasture field,
I watched the actions of the bird for a
little time until it had settled down on one
side of the heap, and then approached it quite
closely from the opposite side of the heap,
when it flew off in great hurry and alarm,
leaving behind it an egg, which was broken and
the contents were escaping from the shell. I
believe that I surprised a female cuckoo when
laying her egg on the bare ground preparatory
to conveying it to the nest of some foster
parent.
93. White or Barn-Owl. Strix flammea,
Linn.
The time is not very distant when this
beautiful and useful bird will have to be
reported as rare in the county, for it is
yearly becoming less common. In the win-
ter of 1898-9 a rather remarkable variety
of the barn-owl, which had been taken near
Stratford-on-Avon, was brought to Mr.
Quatremayne for preservation. It was what
has been called an eastern owl, small, very
pale in colour, and without the usual yellow-
ish buff either above or below.
94. Long-eared Owl. Asia otus (Linn.)
Resident and not rare, though not com-
mon. As in other counties it much affects
woods in which there are pines or other ever-
green trees, in the foliage of which it con-
ceals itself by day.
95. Short-eared Owl. Asia accipltrinus (Pallas)
An autumn migrant, appearing in some
seasons not uncommonly, though never nu-
merously.
96. Tawny Owl. Syrnium aluco (Linn.)
Since the barn-owl has become less com-
mon the present species is certainly the most
abundant owl in Warwickshire. It is a much
more watchful bird than that species, and has
a way of concealing itself in woods, especially
if they contain evergreen trees.
97. Marsh-Harrier. Circus teruginosus (Linn.)
Some years ago two of these birds were
taken by the keeper in the park at Warwick
Castle, and having been preserved by John
Spicer of Warwick were afterwards seen by
the present writer in the castle. The War-
wick Museum contains one taken at Ston-
leigh Abbey. All three are in immature
plumage. A fourth Warwickshire specimen is
mentioned by Mr. Chase as having occurred
at Elford near Tamworth.
198
BIRDS
98. Hen-Harrier. Circus cyaneus (Linn.)
Formerly not rare but now almost unknown
in the county. An adult male shot near Alces-
ter in 1850 is now in the writer's collection,
and there is one in the Worcester Museum
in similar plumage from the same locality.
These are probably the ones referred to by
Mr. Chase in his list of the birds of the dis-
trict around Birmingham, dated 1886. The
latest record is of one, a female, shot in the
eighties on the estate of Mr. J. R. West,
near Stratford-on-Avon, and brought to Mr.
G. Quatremayne of that town for preserva-
tion.
more recently, namely in 1897, a bird of this
species was killed at Ragley near Alcester.
It has been twice noted at Coleshill as stated
by Mr. Chase.
I O2. White-tailed Eagle. Halia'etus albicilla
(Linn.)
An immature and very spotted example of
this bird was trapped at a place called Knaven-
hill, on the estate of Mr. J. R. West, a few
miles south-east of Stratford-on-Avon, on
22 November, 1879, and is now preserved
in the mansion at Alscot. A second was
seen at the same time which was not taken.
99. Montagu's Harrier. Circus cineraceus 103. Sparrow-Hawk. Accipiter nisus (Linn.)
(Montagu)
An adult male was shot at Sutton Coldfield
in the winter of 1 839-40 and brought to John
Spicer of Warwick, where it was seen by the
present writer and secured for his collection.
It is an unusually dark-coloured example.
Sutton Coldfield in former times, when less
frequented than at present, was a locality for
many rare species of birds.
100. Buzzard. Buteo vu/garis, Leach.
The buzzard can only now be admitted
into the Warwickshire list as a straggler, al-
though even formerly it was not very rare.
The Rev. W. T. Bree, advanced in years
thirty or forty years ago, spoke of the nesting
of the buzzard at Allesley near Coventry ; and
an old keeper remembered taking the eggs in
a wild wooded place known as Snitterfield
Bushes, between Warwick and Stratford-on-
Avon. Waverley Wood near Stonleigh was
also at one time a haunt of the buzzard,
as were the woods near Alcester, on the
estates of the Marquis of Hertford and the
Throckmorton family. The most recent oc-
currences of the buzzard were in 1871, when
one was shot at Ilmington, and in 1877 when
one was trapped at Bishopton near Stratford-
on-Avon. The last on record was trapped in
December, 1887, at Ragley, the seat of the
Marquis of Hertford. Mr. Chase mentions
two localities where the buzzard had been
observed, Alcester and Sutton Coldfield.
1 01. Rough-legged Buzzard. Buteo lagopus
(Gmelin)
There are several instances on record of
the appearance of this bird in the county.
In the autumn of 1845 one was taken at
Edstone near Stratford-on-Avon ; one at
Charlcote in the spring of 1881 ; and a
third at Oldpark, Warwick, in March, 1882.
In the early part of the winter of 1891 one
was shot at Ettington near Stratford ; and
A resident species, which though still com-
mon is by no means abundant. An old nest
of a crow or magpie, or even of a wood-
pigeon, is almost always chosen as a foundation
for its nest, and in every instance which
has come within the observation of the writer
there has been a complete superstructure added
by the hawk.
104. Kite. Milvus ictinus, Savigny.
The late veteran Warwickshire ornitholo-
gist, the Rev. W. T. Bree of Allesley, many
years ago informed the writer that he re-
membered the kite nesting in some tall elms
near Allesley, but that it had long before that
time ceased to do so, and was no longer even
seen. In the autumn of 1848 a kite was
taken on the estate of Lord Leigh at Ston-
leigh Abbey, which is now in the Warwick
Museum. In the following year another was
shot near the same spot, which coming into
the hands of John Spicer of Warwick passed
into the collection of the present writer. A
later record is that of one killed at Alscot,
the residence of Mr. J. R. West, on 1 6 Feb-
ruary, 1884. That the kite 'has occurred
near Tamworth,' on the authority of Mr.
Chase, is the only traceable record of this
bird in the north of the county.
105. Honey-Buzzard. Perms apivorus(L'mn.)
In the Warwick Museum are six specimens
of the honey-buzzard, all taken in the county.
According to the statements of the keeper on
the estate of Lord Leigh at Stonleigh one
pair of these was shot in Bericot Wood. A
second pair was shot while engaged in
building a nest in Waverley Wood on the
same estate, on 12 June, 1841. The two
pairs above mentioned have been most care-
fully examined by the writer, but owing to
the absence of accurate labels neither the
pairs nor the sexes can be determined. There
is a notice of them by Mr. J. P. Wilmot
199
A HISTORY OF WARWICKSHIRE
in the second volume of the Zoologist. The
fifth specimen was killed at Moreton Morrel
near Warwick and the sixth was shot at Radford
near Leamington. In the spring of 1860 a
honey-buzzard was taken by the gamekeeper
in the park at Warwick Castle, and on 26 Sep-
tember, 1876, one was shot near Kenilworth.
The latest occurrence of this bird seems to
have been in the summer of 1894, when one
was caught in a jay-trap at Ragley. Mr.
J. Steele Elliott records the capture of one
at Little Aston on 16 June, 1891.
1 06. Peregrine Falcon. Falco peregrinus,
Tunstall.
A somewhat rare and irregular winter
visitor to the county, feeding on partridges,
lapwings, moorhens and ring-doves. It is not
however so rare as to require detailed mention
of appearances, which are recorded from most
parts of the county.
107. Hobby. Falco subbuteo, Linn.
Formerly not uncommon as a summer
migrant in the valley of the Avon, but
much less frequent of late years, the falling
off in number apparently corresponding with
the great diminution in the supply of swallows.
A pair of hobbies built a nest in the old nest
of a crow or magpie in Snitterfield Bushes, a
large cover in the village of Snitterfield, in
the summer of 1850; and in September,
1846, a young bird was taken in the park at
Ragley, the seat of the Marquis of Hertford.
1 08. Merlin. Falco lesalon, Tunstall.
A strictly migratory species, appearing only
in the autumn, winter, or early spring. Once
only has the writer met with it in summer,
but the specimen though adult was in such a
wretched condition that it could have been
merely an accidental visitor. Larks are to
some extent the food of the merlin, and the
following story shows the persistency with
which it follows its prey. A man thrash-
ing in a barn had opened the upper half of
the barn doors on each side of the building
for the admission of fresh air, when just as
the flail was at the top of its swing he felt it
touch something over his head, and a lark,
nearly smashed by a blow, fell on to the floor.
In attempting to escape from a merlin it flew
in at the open door and was struck by the
flail, while the hawk passed through the barn
unhurt.
109. Kestrel. Falco tinnuncu/us, Linn.
Though still a common resident the kestrel
is less abundant than formerly. It is not so often
seen hanging in the air or passing leisurely over-
head and perching, a conspicuous object, on the
very top of some tree. Its habit of flight is
very unlike that of the sparrow-hawk, which
dashes past quite low down and rising up
alights in the middle of the tree, never on
the top of it. The food of the kestrel con-
sists almost wholly of small mammals, as may
be seen by the contents of the castings under
a roosting-place after they have been disinte-
grated by the rains of winter.
no. Osprey. Pandion ba/iaftus (Linn.)
Five occurrences of the osprey in Warwick-
shire have come to the knowledge of the writer.
One preserved in the museum at Warwick
was taken in the park at the castle ; another
in the same collection was shot at Umber-
slade. A third was shot over the Avon at
St. Nicholas's meadow, Warwick, and is in
the writer's collection. The fourth was also
shot on the Avon at a place known as Binton
Bridges, between the counties of Warwick
and Gloucester, in January, 1865, which
came into the hands of the writer and proved
to be a female. Mr. Peter Spicer of Leam-
ington received an osprey which had been
shot at Packington on 26 August, 1887, and
a bird of this species was seen by Mr. Steele
Elliott at Sutton Coldfield on 30 September,
1890.
111. Cormorant. Phalacrocorax carbo (Linn.).
A storm-driven visitor to most parts of the
county, but of infrequent occurrence and
generally, perhaps always, in immature plum-
age.
112. Shag or Green Cormorant. Phala-
crocorax gracu/us (Linn.)
Like the last species an uncertain storm-
driven wanderer, and when found generally
in a state of exhaustion.
113. Gannet or Solan Goose. Sula banana
(Linn.)
Another wanderer brought inland by stress
of weather. An adult gannet was shot some
years ago near Warwick and is now in the
museum there. Another was found ex-
hausted in the middle of a large arable field
at Milcote near Stratford-on-Avon. Mr.
Chase records the occurrence of one which
was taken in a field of potatoes near Tarn-
worth.
114. Common Heron. Ardea cinerea, Linn.
There are at present but few heronries in
Warwickshire. The one at Warwick Castle
has either ceased to be or is greatly reduced
in size. A small one yet remains at Ragley,
the seat of the Marquis of Hertford. The
mischief done by the heron where fish arc
2OO
BIRDS
preserved is the main cause of the destruction
of the heronries.
115. Little Egret. Ardea garzetta, Linn.
This is recognized as a Warwickshire bird
on the authority of Mr. W. C. Cristie, who
in the ninth volume of the Magazine of
Natural History (1836), records the occurrence
of one which was shot at Sutton Coldfield.
Three specimens are indeed mentioned in
that communication as having been shot there.
To that statement I may now add that all
three were taken at different, but not widely
separated times to John Spicer of Warwick for
preservation, where they were seen by Dr.
Lloyd of Warwick, who was then interested in
the formation of the museum there, and wished
to secure them for the collection. He how-
ever failed to do so, and subsequent inquiries
made by him in conjunction with the present
writer as to their whereabouts were without
result.
1 1 6. Little Bittern. Ardetta minuta (Linn.)
An immature bird of this species was shot
between Warwick and Stratford some years
since and brought to the latter town for pre-
servation, where it was seen by the writer.
There is also a notice in the ninth volume
of the Magazine of Natural History (1836)
of one which was shot at Sutton Coldfield.
117. Bittern. Botaurus stellarh (Linn.)
A rare visitor to the Avon and other rivers,
but formerly much more common, especially
in severe winters. A considerable number
have been noted from time to time at Sutton
Coldfield and recorded by Mr. Chase and
Mr. Steele Elliott.
1 1 8. Grey Lag-Goose. Anser cinereus, Meyer.
Formerly an occasional visitor, but now
unknown to the county.
119. White-fronted Goose. Anser albifrons
(Scopoli)
A straggler only to the county.
1 2O. Bean-Goose. Anser segetum (Gmelin)
Formerly when flights of wild geese periodi-
cally passed over from east to west, or the
reverse, single birds not infrequently dropped
out of the flights and alighted, generally in
the middle of some large field, and after a rest
renewed their journey. Individuals of this
species were most frequently known to have
done so.
121. Pink-footed Goose. Anser brach\rhyn-
cbus, Baillon.
Like the last named this species was much
more common formerly than at the present
time. It must be now regarded as of very rare
occurrence in the county.
122. Barnacle - Goose. Bernicla leucopsis
(Bechstein)
Of very uncertain appearance, indeed a
mere straggler.
123. Brent Goose. Bernicla brenta (Pallas)
Like the last of very uncertain occurrence,
but has been noted at several localities in the
county.
The Canada Goose has been shot several
times in Warwickshire, once on the large
pool at Chesterton on the estate of Lord
Willoughby de Broke. The Egyptian Goose
has also been obtained, but neither has any
substantial claim to a place amongst British
birds.
124. Whooper Swan. Cygnus musicus, Bech-
stein.
Occasionally small flights of this bird have
appeared on the Avon in severe winters,
though very rarely. In the winter of 1894-5
six or seven frequented that river near Bid-
ford for more than a week.
125. Common Sheld-Duck. Tadorna cornuta
(S. G. Gmelin)
Appears only as a straggler, and most of
the examples examined have proved to be
immature. Mr. Chase however says 'a
magnificent male was shot at Hawksbury
near Coventry in 1 88 1.'
[Ruddy Sheld-Duck. Tadorna casarca
(Linn.)
Mr. Chase mentions two occurrences of
this bird in the Birmingham district, namely
at Neckells and at Yardley Wood, but sug-
gests that they were escaped birds.]
126. Mallard or Wild Duck. Anas boscas,
Linn.
Resident and breeding where protected.
[Gadwall. Anas strepera, Linn.
Very rare, and doubtfully a Warwickshire
bird. One was met with at Lichfield in
December, 1881.]
127. Shoveler. Spatula clypeata (Linn.)
An uncertain winter visitor, but single
birds sometimes appear on the Avon and
the other streams. One was shot at Sutton
Coldfield in 1867.
128. Pintail. Dafila acuta (Linn.)
An occasional winter visitor.
201
26
A HISTORY OF WARWICKSHIRE
129. Teal. Nettion crecca (Linn.)
Of not infrequent appearance as an autumn
and winter visitor, sometimes appearing in
considerable flights, but remaining only for
a short time. It is reported to have bred in
Sutton Coldfield Park, where it is abundant
in the winter.
130. Garganey. Querqitedula circia (Linn.)
A rare spring migrant. Three or four
occurrences only are known to the writer.
131. Wigeon. Mareca penelope (Linn.)
Immature birds, appearing either singly or
in small flights, are not infrequent on our
streams in winter. In the early spring adult
individuals occur, but only on passage, and
have never been known to breed.
132. Pochard. Fuligula ferina (Linn.)
Like the wigeon this is a winter visitor
only, and in small numbers. It has appeared
on the Avon and Tame, as well as on private
waters.
!33- Tufted Duck. Fuligula cristata (Leach)
Immature examples are not infrequent in
winter on our streams, but adult individuals
are very rare.
134. Scaup-Duck. Fuligula marila (Linn.)
Less frequently seen on inland waters than
the pochard or tufted duck ; only a straggler,
and generally in immature plumage.
135. Goldeneye. Clangula glaudon (Linn.)
Immature or female birds of this species
are not very rare in winter, and have been
shot on the Avon and Tame, and on other
waters, but adult males are of extremely rare
occurrence.
136. Common Scoter. CEdemia nigra (Linn.)
Of very rare occurrence on our inland
waters. In three instances only during a
long period has the writer met with it in
Warwickshire, twice on the Avon, and once
on the sheet of water in the park at Ragley.
It has however occurred at Sutton Coldfield.
137. Surf-Scoter. CEdemia per spidllata (Linn.)
A specimen of this rare bird which was
shot on the Avon a few miles down stream
from Stratford was brought to H. Coombs
of that town some years since for preservation,
where it was seen and secured by the present
writer. It is an adult male in full black
plumage with the characteristic white mark-
ings on the neck.
138. Goosander. Mtrgui merganser, Linn.
Although not of frequent occurrence it is
certainly not very rare in the county in the
winter. It is however a very uncertain
visitor.
139. Red-breasted Merganser. Mergus serra-
tor, Linn.
Very rare in Warwickshire, one example
only having come to the knowledge of the
writer during a long period, which was an
immature male shot in the Avon. Mr.
Chase reports it to be of equal rarity in the
district around Birmingham, and Mr. Steele
Elliott quotes one instance of its occurrence
at Sutton Coldfield.
140. Smew. Mergus albellus, Linn.
Has occurred once in the county, namely
as Elford near Tamworth.
141. Ring-Dove or Wood-Pigeon. Columba
palumbus y Linn.
Locally, Quice.
A common resident. It feeds very freely
in summer on the leaves of young field peas,
turnips, or clover, often to the serious injury
of the crop. Later on, namely at harvest, the
pods of the peas are attacked and their con-
tents consumed. In the autumn the quice
visits oak trees to feed on the acorns, always
taking by preference those trees which bear
the smallest acorns. A good deal of green
stuff, such as turnip tops and field cabbage, is
eaten in the winter, as also are the berries of
the ivy.
142. Stock-Dove. Columba aenas, Linn.
A much less abundant bird than the quice,
but sometimes associating with it in winter.
The nest is generally in holes in trees, and
occasionally on the crown of a pollard withy.
143. Turtle-Dove. Turtur communis, Selby.
Sixty years ago this was a rare bird in
Warwickshire, but it is now common as a
summer migrant, the increase having been
gradual and not by a sudden immigration.
It seems to affect the low-lying fertile lands
rather than the higher and more sterile ones.
It is reported to appear in considerable num-
bers in the north of the county and to breed
there.
1 44. Pallas's Sand-Grouse. Syrrhaptes para-
doxus (Pallas)
In July, 1888, a flock consisting of nine
individuals of this bird alighted in a clover
field near Kineton, and were seen to be feed-
ing, as was supposed, on the leaves of the
clover. One was shot and taken into Stratford-
on-Avon for preservation, where it was seen
and examined by the writer, into whose col-
202
BIRDS
lection it afterwards passed. It proved to be a
female. About the same time one was shot,
as was stated, at Edge Hill, which may have
been one of the same flock and was brought
to Mr. G. Quatremayne of Stratford for
preservation. With the latter specimen,
which was a male, several others were shot,
which were plucked and eaten. In the
Zoologist (1873, p. 3801) there is a record
of the appearance of the sand-grouse at Swin-
fin near Tamworth.
145. Black Grouse. Tetrao tetrix, Linn.
Was formerly not very rare at Sutton Cold-
field. A pair were shot there in October,
1871. It is now probably extinct.
146. Red Grouse. Lagopus scoticus (Latham)
Occurred formerly at Sutton Coldfield, but
is no longer found there.
147. Pheasant. Phasianus co/cbicus, Linn.
Occurs where preserved.
148. Partridge. Perdix cinerea, Latham.
Its presence depends chiefly on its pro-
tection.
149. Red-legged Partridge. Caccabis rufa
(Linn.)
Is rather local in its distribution, and does
not appear to supersede the common part-
ridge even under protection.
150. Quail. Coturnix communis, Bonnaterre.
A summer visitor, but though not rare the
quail cannot be considered as otherwise than
uncommon. It has occurred in most parts
of the county, though only sparingly.
151. Corn-Crake or Land-Rail. Crex praten-
sis, Bechstein.
A summer visitor whose presence is known
by its loud raking note. That note, once so
common in the meadows bordering the Avon
and its tributaries, is now much less frequently
heard. Formerly the corn-crakes were nu-
merous enough in the meadows for their
voices to be heard apparently in rivalry, and
their nests were often mown out in the hay
season. They were never so abundant in the
cultivated fields, but now they are not often
heard in either meadow or cornfield, and the
nest is rarely seen.
152. Spotted Crake. Porzana maruetta
(Leach)
Though not absolutely rare in the county
this species is by no means common. It
is most frequent in the spring and autumn,
but has occurred both in summer and mid-
winter. In the summer of 1848 one was
caught by a cat in an osier bed under the
walls of Warwick Castle, and came at once
into the hands of the present writer. In
January, 1860, one was shot on the Avon
where it divides the counties of Warwick and
Gloucester, a few miles down stream from
Stratford. It is stated to have nested in
Sutton Park in 1880.
153. Water-Rail. Rallus aquattcus, Linn.
A migratory bird in the county and com-
mon throughout the winter, but unknown
in the summer.
154. Moor-Hen. Gallinula ch/oropus (Linn.)
A common resident which breeds freely in
the county. If closely observed it will be
seen retiring to roost with great punctual-
ity towards nightfall into some bush or low
tree, generally one overhanging the water of
a river or pool, climbing up the branches
which hang down into the water. The
habit of ascending into trees even to a con-
siderable height out of the way of danger is
not uncommon with the moor-hen. When
out shooting some years ago the present
writer saw a moor-hen which was flushed by
the dog fly directly up into the very top of
a large oak, and there disappear from sight.
Shortly afterwards a second was put up which
was seen to drop directly into the old nest
of a crow. A well directed shot at the
bottom of the nest brought both the birds out
in great haste, but apparently unhurt. The
moor-hen will become very tame if not
alarmed, and has been known to approach
quite near to a dwelling and feed morning
and evening with the poultry.
155. Coot. Fullca atra, Linn.
Common on ornamental or protected
waters.
156. Little Bustard. Otis tetrax, Linn.
' Once at Thickbroom near Tamworth.'
Chase.
157. Stone-Curlew. (Edicnemus scolopax (S.
G. Gmelin)
Two specimens of this bird which were
killed in the valley of the Avon are in
the possession of the writer. One was taken
at Wilmcote near Stratford on 19 October,
1847, an d tne other shot on i January, 1853,
on the border between the counties of War-
wick and Gloucester near Weston-on-Avon.
[Dotterel. Eudromias morinellus (Linn.)
Has occurred at Perry Barr near Birming-
ham in 1882, and on Cannock Chace in
1875.]
203
A HISTORY OF WARWICKSHIRE
158. Ringed Plover. /Egialitis biaticula
(Linn.)
An uncertain straggler appearing sometimes
in the winter. Mr. T. Ground of Birming-
ham has a note of one at Haywood near that
city. It has also occurred not uncommonly
at Sutton Coldfield.
159. Golden Plover. Charadrius p/uvialis,
Linn.
A winter visitor to the county, and not
uncommon, usually associating with lapwings.
1 60. Lapwing. Vanellus vu/garis, Bechstein.
A common resident and breeding in many
localities.
[Turnstone. Strepsilas interpret (Linn.)
' Very rare.' Chase.]
161. Oyster-Catcher. Htematopus ostra/egus,
Linn.
A rare straggler which has appeared in
many parts of the county. Mr. T. Ground
has a note of one which was found in Broad
Street, Birmingham, on 30 January, 1877.
162. Grey Phalarope. Phalaropus fu/icarins
(Linn.)
An uncertain visitor in winter, but in some
seasons not very rare. It appeared in several
localities in 1844, 1853, J ^57 all( l 1886.
163. Red-necked Phalarope. Phalaropus hyper-
boreus (Linn.)
' Has occurred once at Tamworth.' Chase.
164. Woodcock. Scolopax rusticu/a, Linn.
Common throughout winter in many places,
and has bred in the woods near Alcester.
165. Great Snipe. Gallinago major (Gmelin)
According to Mr. Chase the great snipe
has once occurred near Tamworth. It is also
mentioned by Mr. Steele Elliott as having
appeared at Sutton Coldfield in January, 1892,
and November, 1894.
1 66. Common Snipe. Gallinago caelest'n (Fren-
zel)
In the early part of the last century the
snipe was abundant in many localities in the
county. Snitterfield is said to have taken its
name from the plentifulness of this bird in
that neighbourhood. It is reported to have
bred, though only sparingly, in the north of
the county.
167. Jack Snipe. Gallinago gallinula (Linn.)
A common though not very abundant
winter visitor.
1 68. Dunlin. Tringa alpina, Linn.
A very rare straggler inland. A few in-
dividuals have been met with in the valley of
the Avon, and one is recorded as occurring
at Small Heath near Birmingham. One which
was shot on the Arrow near Alcester has the
feathers of the back margined by rich chest-
nut, and the under parts partially spotted
with black, as in the breeding season, but I
have not the date of its appearance.
169. Ruff. Machetes pugnax (Linn.)
According to Mr. Chase this bird has once
appeared at Sutton Coldfield.
170. Bartram's Sandpiper. Bartramia longi-
cauda (Bechstein)
The first known example of this as a
British bird was shot by the late Lord Wil-
loughby de Broke on his estate at Compton
Verney, Warwickshire, on 31 October, 1851.
It was no doubt a passage bird which had
alighted in the middle of a stubble field and
permitted a near approach, as the writer was
informed by Lord Willoughby himself. Com-
pared with preserved skins from the United
States, the Warwickshire specimen is paler
in colour and the dark markings less distinct.
171. Common Sandpiper. Totanus hypoleucus
(Linn.)
A regular spring migrant appearing on our
streams for a short time only, and not known
to breed. In the autumn there is another
appearance, consisting chiefly of young birds.
172. Wood - Sandpiper. Totanus glareola
(Gmelin)
Very rare. Mr. Chase records its appear-
ance at the sewage farm near Birmingham.
173. Green Sandpiper. Totanus ochropus
(Linn.)
Has occurred in many localities in the
county, but must be reported as rare. It
seems to frequent pools or any other retired
place, rather than navigable streams or canals.
174. Redshank. Totanus calidrh (Linn.)
The redshank is reported by Mr. Chase to
have appeared at the sewage farm near Bir-
mingham.
175. Greenshank. Totanus canescens (Gmelin)
A specimen in the writer's collection was
shot out of a flock passing over the estate of Mr.
J. R. West at Alscot near Stratford-on-Avon
on 26 August, 1847. Mr. Chase mentions
Castle Bromwich as a locality where it has
occurred.
204
BIRDS
176. Common Curlew. Numenius arquata
(Linn.)
An occasional winter visitor only, appar-
ently halting for a time on its way across the
country. Its well known whistle may not
infrequently be heard in the night.
177. Black Tern. Hydrochelidon nigra (Linn.)
An uncertain though not very rare visitor
to the streams of the county. On several
occasions adult birds have been met with in
the spring on the Avon at Warwick, Strat-
ford, and Bidford, and on the Arrow at
Alcester. In the autumn immature birds
sometimes appear. It is reported to be not
infrequent in the north part of the county
in the spring and autumn.
178. White-winged Black Tern. Hydro-
chelidon leucoptera (Schinz)
One of these birds was shot while flying
over the Avon near Welford on 8 May,
1884. The stream at that place divides the
counties of Warwick and Gloucester. The
specimen was in adult plumage, but the sex
could not be determined.
179. Gull-billed Tern. Sterna ang/ica, Mon-
tagu.
A bird of this species was shot flying over
the reservoir at Wormleighton on 24 April,
1876, and brought to Mr. Peter Spicer for
preservation. From Mr. T. Ground I learn
that a gull-billed tern occurred at Coleshill
in 1899.
1 80. Sandwich Tern. Sterna cantiaca,
Gmelin.
A sandwich tern was shot at Hampton in
Arden in April, 1876, and brought to Mr.
Peter Spicer of Leamington. Mr. Chase
records this as an occasional autumn visitor,
and says that it has occurred at Castle Brom-
wich.
1 8 1. Common Tern. Sterna Jluviati/is,
Naumann.
This is by no means a common bird in the
county, but has often been confounded with
the arctic tern, which is less rare on the
spring migration. A pair of common terns
in adult plumage were shot together over the
Avon near Luddington on 18 August, 1841.
Since that date a few others have appeared.
Mr. Chase however speaks of it as being
often observed around the city of Birming-
ham during spring and autumn migration.
182. Arctic Tern. Sterna macrura, Naumann.
More common than the last species in the
spring and autumn migration. The great
flights which appeared on the Severn and
Avon in May, 1842, extended up the latter
river to its source. Most of the specimens
brought to the bird stuffers in the autumn
have been immature birds.
183. Little Tern. Sterna minuta, Linn.
A rare straggler on our streams, but it has
been shot on the Avon as high up as War-
wick.
184. Sabine's Gull. Xema sabinii (J. Sabine)
Mr. Chase says, ' Once occurred near Coles-
hill in October, 1883.'
185. Little Gull. Larus minutus, Pallas.
A specimen of this small gull was shot
while flying over the Avon near Bidford and
brought to Stratford for preservation, where
the writer saw and examined it. The plum-
age was that of an immature bird.
1 86. Brown-headed Gull. Larus ridibundus,
Linn.
The distance of this county from the sea,
and the absence of a river estuary, must
materially influence the appearance of many
marine birds such as the gulls, and accord-
ingly the records of their appearance are
very meagre, and like all the others the
present species is only known as a straggler,
though immature examples are not of rare
appearance in the autumn.
187. Common Gull. Larus canus, Linn.
An occasional wanderer only, but some-
times staying in the open fields and feeding
on earthworms.
1 88. Herring-Gull. Larus argentatus, Gmelin.
Like the last only an uncertain visitor,
though adult as well as immature birds have
been observed.
189. Lesser Black-backed Gull. Larus fuscus,
Linn.
An uncommon straggler, which has how-
ever been observed at many places in the
county, including the north, as noticed by
Mr. Chase.
190. Great Black-backed Gull. Larus marinus,
Linn.
Of rare occurrence. It seldom makes a
halt in in its flight across this county. An
example is reported to have been taken at
Shustoke.
[Pomatorhine Skua. Stercorarius pomator-
hinus (Temminck)
Reported by Mr. Chase as very rare in the
Birmingham district.]
205
A HISTORY OF WARWICKSHIRE
191. Arctic Skua. Stercorarius crepidatus
(Gmelin)
A bird of this species was taken near Bir-
mingham in October, 1897, as I learn from
Mr. T. Ground.
[Long-tailed or Buffon's Skua. Stercorarius
parasiticus (Linn.)
An immature bird of this species was shot
on the Lichfield racecourse in October, 1874,
and recorded by Mr. Chase.]
192. Razorbill. A lea torda, Linn.
Specimens of this bird have at various times
been brought to Warwick and Stratford for
preservation, where they have been seen by
the present writer.
193. Guillemot. Uria trolle (Linn.)
When it appears it is a waif and stray
driven inland by heavy gales. The writer
has seen one which was shot from the roof
of a thatched cottage in the south-eastern
side of the county.
194. Little Auk. Mergulm alle (Linn.)
This also has several times been found in
the county as a storm-driven bird, either in
an exhausted state or dead. All examined
by the writer have been in winter plumage
excepting one, which was taken up dead at
Great Alne near Alcester in the spring a good
many years ago, which was in full summer
dress.
195. Puffin. Fratercula arct'ica (Linn.)
Found only after strong gales from the
Bristol Channel, and generally in the autumn.
All the examples examined have been young
birds.
196. Great Northern Diver. Colymbus
g/acia/is y Linn.
A rare visitor to the streams of the county,
two only having come to the knowledge of
the writer during a period of half a century.
One of them was shot in the Avon at Alves-
ton near Stratford and is now in the Warwick
Museum. Mr. Chase records the occurrence
of one at Tipton on 8 January, 1877.
197. Red-throated Diver. Colymbus septen-
triona/is, Linn.
Though uncommon this is not a very rare
bird in the valley of the Avon, but nearly all
the examples seen have been immature and
appeared in the autumn or winter. One only
in adult plumage is on record. It was taken
up in a state of great exhaustion in Loxley
Lane near Stratford-on-Avon in November,
1858.
198. Great Crested Grebe. Podicipes cristatus
(Linn.)
An uncommon almost rare bird in the
county, occurring occasionally in the winter
on the Avon. A pair which had commenced
building a nest at Napton in May, 1881, were
both ruthlessly shot. It has several times
been known to breed at Sutton Coldfield.
1 99. Red-necked Grebe. Podicipes griseigtna
(Boddaert)
There are several records of the appearance
of this species on the Avon, in all instances in
the winter.
200. Slavonian Grebe. Podicipes auritus
(Linn.)
An autumn and winter visitor to the county,
but has on one occasion appeared in summer.
A pair in full breeding plumage were shot to-
gether on some ornamental water at Wootton
Hall near Henley in Arden, and brought to
John Spicer of Warwick some years since,
when they were examined by the writer.
Doubtless if spared they would have bred
there. It has also been met with in several
other localities in the county.
201. Eared Grebe. Podicipes nigricollis
(Brehm)
Of rare occurrence in the county, though
it has been shot on the Avon in a few instances
in winter. One in full summer plumage was
however shot on the ornamental water at
Wootton Hall near Henley in Arden a few
years since, which having been taken to John
Spicer of Warwick for preservation came under
the observation of the present writer.
202. Little Grebe or Dabchick. Podicipes
fluviatilis (Tunstall)
Common though not abundant in winter
on all streams and ponds, and but little
known in summer ; there is no record of
its having bred in the county. A very
immature specimen was however shot on
the Arrow near Alcester some years ago.
203. Storm-Petrel. Procellaria pelagica, Linn.
A waif and stray of rare occurrence, but
yet when seen has always been on the wing
and not in an exhausted state. One was shot
while flying about at Wormleighton on 15
August, 1885, and taken to Mr. Peter Spicer of
Leamington for preservation. Another was
also shot near Alcester in the winter of
1882-3 an( i sent to Mr. Hunt of that town
to be preserved. According to Mr. Chase it
has occurred several times in the Birmingham
district.
2O6
BIRDS
204. Leach's Fork-tailed Petrel. Oceanodroma 205. Manx Shearwater. Pufftnus anglarum
leucorrhoa (Vieillot) (Temminck)
This, like the storm-petrel, only occurs as Occasionally a shearwater of this species is
a storm-driven straggler, but certainly much found on the ground and unable to rise after
more frequently inland than that species. In a strong gale from the Bristol Channel. One
every instance which has come to the know- was taken up alive and unhurt in a field of
ledge of the writer the bird has been taken wheat, then in shuck, near Stratford-on-Avon
up dead or too much exhausted to make any in the fourth week in August, 1888. It was
attempt at escape. About a dozen specimens brought to the writer on the following day,
examined by the writer have been found in and proved to be a male in fine plumage,
the valley of the Avon, some of which were Another was taken up in Chandos Road,
in Warwickshire. A bird of this species was Birmingham, on 5 September, 1880, as is
picked up dead on 4 September, 1883, in a recorded by Mr. Chase,
yard in Guild ford Street, Birmingham.
207
MAMMALS
As in the case of the birds, the physical features of a county deter-
mine to a great extent the number and distribution of its mammals.
For the continued presence of the larger mammals there must be quiet
retreats in plenty such as a forest or moorland offers ; there must be also
the attractions of the pasture-land and the lake. These features in
Warwickshire, with its broad cultivated lands, are not sufficiently well
marked, and the badger, of the larger mammals, finds it difficult to exist,
if it has not already disappeared from our borders. The otter, however,
though by no means common, still clings to the Avon, and it is a
pleasure to report that it has even become rather more frequent between
Evesham and Stratford since the navigation between these places has
ceased. Brought into our county from the warehouses of Gloucester
and Bristol on board the grain laden vessels which came up the Avon,
the old English black rat was reintroduced about forty or fifty years
ago, but has again become rare, perhaps extinct. In the distribution of
the smaller mammals the Avon also has considerable influence. The
meadows about its banks are the haunts of such species as the water
shrew and the field and bank voles, and the water vole abounds in the
river itself. Of the Cervidcz, or deer, little need be said, as the natural
characteristics of the county in no way affect their existence, for they
continue under protection only in the parks where they have been
introduced and beyond their mere mention need claim no more of our
attention than the cattle in the pastures.
A great many years spent amongst the vertebrates of the valley of
the Avon more or less in connection with the Warwickshire Naturalists'
Field Club, and a long connection also with the museum in the county
town, has made the writer acquainted with a great number of the species,
and enabled him to contribute in no inconsiderable degree to the second
edition of Bell's British Quadrupeds. With the species in the north end
of the county he is much less intimately acquainted, but the deficiency
of information is fortunately made up by other observers who have made
public the results of their observations. The following may be specially
mentioned as supplying valuable information :
A Handbook of Birmingham., prepared for the members of the British
Association in 1886. The parts relating to the mammals and reptiles
around Birmingham was written by Mr. E. de Hamel, what relates to
the birds was supplied by Mr. R. W. Chase, while the account of the
fishes was the work of Mr. G. Sherriff Tye. The whole was under the
editorship of Mr. W. R. Hughes, F.L.S., and took in an area of twenty
208
MAMMALS
miles around Birmingham and consequently a considerable area in
Warwickshire.
Subsequently to the appearance of the above Mr. J. Steele Elliott
printed a Vertebrate Fauna of Sutton Coldfield Park, which is of great
interest, the locality, it may be observed, being quite a classical one with
the zoologists of the midland counties. For the use of a copy of that
work the writer is indebted to the kindness of Mr. J. Steele Elliott
himself.
CHEIROPTERA
1. Lesser Horse-shoe Bat. Rhinolophus hip-
poiiderus, Bechstein.
This is a local rather than a rare species.
The writer has seen it in considerable num-
bers in its diurnal retreats in the roof of the
mansion at Ragley, and in smaller numbers
near Stratford and Warwick, always in build-
ings, either singly or in numbers.
In no instance has the greater horse-shoe
bat been noted as occurring in Warwick-
shire, though it is reported in the Fauna and
Flora of Gloucester as occurring in that
county.
2. Long-eared Bat. Plecotus auritus, Linn.
A common though not very numerous bat
which frequents a great many localities in the
county, and, whether when feeding after
nightfall or in its diurnal retreat, appears to
be solitary, though several are occasionally
found near together. It takes its food, as the
writer can affirm from personal observation,
both on the wing and when at rest. It
hovers in front of foliage and takes the in-
sects which are resting on the leaves.
3. Barbastelle. Barbastella barbastellus, Schre-
ber.
Bell Barbastellus daubentonn.
A solitary and by no means common
species, which frequents several, perhaps
many, localities in the county. The writer
has obtained it at Alcester and also at Wei-
ford and Weston on the Avon, which al-
though in Gloucestershire are only removed
from Warwickshire by two or three hundred
paces. It has also been found in or near the
town of Warwick. The place of retirement
for the day is very varied, indeed almost any
hole or crack, either in a building or tree, is
suitable.
4. Great or White's Bat. Pipistrellus noctula,
Schreber.
Bell Scotophilus noctula.
White Vespertilio altivolans.
A common species in the valley
Avon and indeed throughout the
of the
county,
feeding largely on the cockchafer in the
early part of the summer and other large
species of Coleoptera at a later period. The
crushing of their hard elytra in the process of
mastication may be very distinctly heard on
those evenings when the flight is not too high
up. During the day this bat retires to holes
in trees.
5. Pipistrelle. Pipistrellus pipistrellus, Schreber.
Bell Scotophilus pipistrellus.
A common but solitary species frequenting
buildings and flitting to and fro in any shel-
tered spot, either among the stems of trees
or buildings, but never, so far as the writer
has observed, amongst foliage. Any hole will
serve its turn as a place of rest for the day,
whether in a tree or building.
6. Natterer's Bat. Myotis nattereri, Kuhl.
Bell fespertilio nattereri.
A thoroughly gregarious species, at least so
far as its diurnal retreat is concerned. Very
local in its distribution, the only places in the
county where it has been observed by the
writer being at Arrow, near Alcester, where
some years since there was quite a large
colony in the roof of the church, and at
Temple Grafton. At the latter place it was
shot while on the wing in the evening, and
a considerable number were noticed.
7. Daubenton's Bat. Myotts daubentoni,
Leisler.
Bell Vespertilh daubentonil.
Common and frequenting water, especially
that which is stagnant, close to the surface of
which it flits ; but as it comes abroad rather
late it is not easily observed. The writer has
seen it on the Avon in many places in the
county, as at Warwick, where it was numerous
beneath and near the arches of the bridge as
well as in close proximity to the castle ; also
over the stagnant water near the railway
station, formerly in the grounds of the priory.
At Stratford it occurs in considerable num-
bers, reposing during the day in the tower of
the church, and at Bidford and Binton. It
209
27
A HISTORY OF WARWICKSHIRE
was equally common at one time over the
large fishponds at Coughton Court near Alces-
ter. Mr. J. Steele Elliott records its occur-
rence at Sutton Coldfield.
8. Whiskered Bat. Myotis mystacinus,
Leisler.
Bell Vespertillo mystacinus.
Common and frequenting the foliage of
tall trees, which it penetrates through and
through in pursuit of insects, which appear to
be taken while resting on the leaves. Its
flight in the intricacies of foliage is remark-
ably quivering, and unlike that of any other
British bat. So far as the writer has observed
it returns to rest and to hybernate in buildings
rather than trees, indeed he has never met
with it in the latter situation.
INSECTIVORA
9. Hedgehog. Erinaceus europ<eus y Linn.
The hedgehog is too well known in the
county to require special observation. It
might however be mentioned that one kept
as a pet and which was very docile had a
very decided liking for hens' eggs, and would
consume those which were in the very last
stage of decay with as much relish as fresh
ones.
10. Mole. Talpa europtea, Linn.
The abundance or the reverse of the mole
in any district depends entirely on the assidu-
ity of the mole-catcher. There is no doubt
however that with the decadence of agricul-
ture it has materially increased, and in many
places is now abundant, as may be seen from
the number of hills it throws up.
11. Common Shrew. Sorex arancus y
Linn.
A common and generally distributed species,
which varies much in colour, the upper parts
being sometimes nearly black.
12. Pigmy Shrew. Sorex minutus, Pallas.
Bell Sorex pygm<?us.
Much less abundant than the common
shrew, to which it bears considerable resem-
blance, except in size and in being always of a
lighter colour. It appears to be very local in
its distribution, indeed the writer has met
with it only in the valley of the Avon.
13. Water Shrew. Neomys fodiens, Pallas.
Bell Crossopus fodlent.
Not rare in the valley of the Avon, where
it frequents the low lying meadows. It is
also found in the wet ditches and rills of the
higher ground, subsisting on small crustaceans,
which are abundant in such places. It will
also feed on the dead body of an animal or
bird, as the writer has determined from
personal observation.
The so-called oared shrew is a variety only
of the water shrew, in the summer or
seasonal dress of that species. In the winter
the contrast between the black colour of the
back and the white of the under parts be-
comes again clearly defined.
CARNIVORA
14. Fox. Vulpes vu/pes, Linn.
Bell Vulpes vulgaris.
An animal which is common or rare accord-
ing as it is preserved for hunting or destroyed
as vermin.
15. Polecat. Putorius putorius, Linn.
Bell Mustela putorius.
Formerly not rare in the county, though it
had become uncommon so long as half a
century since. It is very doubtful whether
it now occurs, as there is no recent and well
authenticated instance of its appearance. Some
so-called polecats which the writer has seen
were undoubtedly brown ferrets which had
escaped, and closely resembled polecats.
1 6. Stoat. Putorius ermineus, Linn.
Bell Mustela erminea.
Though less abundant than the weasel,
the stoat is common and generally distributed.
It is a bold and wild creature with a good
deal of dash, and when hunted by dogs will
take across country, keeping however as much
as possible within cover and out of sight.
Occasionally, when it has become white and
is very conspicuous, it may be seen to pass
through hedge and over ditch for two or
three fields length without check or hesita-
tion. The stoat is also an adroit climber,
and will ascend the upright bole of a tree to
reach the nests of birds almost after the man-
ner of a squirrel.
17. Weasel. Putorius nivalis. Linn.
Bell Mustela vulgaris.
Common and generally distributed, feeding
chiefly on field mice and voles, and also on
young rabbits and birds. There is some
210
MAMMALS
doubt whether it preys on shrews, but that it
destroys a great many nests of ground build-
ing birds is without doubt ; and that it follows
moles in their subterranean runs is obvious
from its being sometimes caught in the mole
trap.
1 8. Badger. Meles me/es, Linn.
Bell Meles taxus.
An uncommon animal, which owes its
very existence to its fossorial habits. Were
it not gifted with great capabilities of exca-
vating it would long since have disappeared
from the cultivated parts of the county, in-
deed probably it has become extinct in nearly
all parts.
19. Otter. Lutra lutra, Linn.
Bell Lutra vulgaris.
Not so rare in the streams of Warwickshire
as formerly when the upper Avon was a
navigable stream. It cannot now be men-
tioned as by any means abundant, but has
certainly become more common since the
navigation has been superseded by railways.
A creature of the size of the otter is never
likely to be plentiful in a stream passing
through a cultivated district.
RODENTIA
20. Squirrel. Sciurus leucourus, Kerr.
Bell Sciurus vulgaris.
Common in all considerable woods. It is
accused by keepers and woodmen of destroy-
ing the eggs and young of many tree build-
ing birds.
[Dormouse. Muscardinus ave/lanarius, Linn.
The dormouse has been said to occur in
the county, though the writer has never met
with it, and it is not included by Mr. J.
Steele Elliott in his list of the mammals of
Sutton Coldfield.]
21. Brown Rat. Mas decumanus, Pallas.
An abundant pest of nasty habits, but
easily tamed even when not in captivity.
Aged males often become solitary in their
habits and develop cannibal propensities.
22. Black Rat. Mm rattus, Linn.
A few years since the black rat was by no
means rare in several localities in the county,
all more or less near to the Avon ; and it
was supposed that it was introduced by barges
laden with grain up that stream from Glouces-
ter and Bristol. That was probably the case,
as since the navigation of the Avon has
ceased the black rats have not been observed.
It is still said to frequent some of the Bristol
warehouses.
23. House Mouse. Mus musculus, Linn.
Too abundant and too great a pest to re-
quire further mention.
24. Long-tailed Field Mouse. Mus sylvati-
cus, Linn.
Common and frequenting the open fields.
It is one of the prettiest of our mammals, and
may be very easily tamed.
25. Harvest Mouse. Mus minutus, Pallas.
So far as the observations of the present
writer go, this small creature is found only in
the southern and western parts of the county
and is unknown in the north. It is more
common in the valley of the Avon than else-
where, preferring the lower and more fertile
tracts.
26. Water Vole. Murotus amphibius, Linn.
Bell Arvicola amphibius.
Common wherever there is water, whether
in river, brook, pond, or even ditch. Aquatic
plants constitute the chief food, such as the
succulent bottom part of the large bulrush
and duckweed. When feeding on the latter
the animal sits on its hind legs in the manner
of a dormouse or squirrel, and conveys the
weed to the mouth by the two paws, only
the green leafy part being eaten. When
hard pressed for food, more especially during
floods, the bark of bushes and trees is eaten.
27. Field Vole. Microtus agrestis, Linn.
A common and sleepy looking animal
having very little intelligence, as any one
keeping it in captivity will very soon observe.
Sometimes, after severe winters, large orna-
mental masses of ivy on walls or other build-
ings will be seen in the spring to have dead
branches, which on examination will be found
to have been barked by mice. It is the pre-
sent species, the writer believes, which must
be credited with the mischief.
28. Bank Vole. Evotomys glareolus, Schreber.
A less abundant species than the last named,
but yet not rare. Its habits are very similar
to those of the field vole, but it is a much
more lively creature, while its brighter colour
and less obese form add greatly to its general
appearance. This and the last species, as well
as the harvest mouse, the long-tailed field
mouse, and the three species of shrews, were
much more frequently met with before the
211
A HISTORY OF WARWICKSHIRE
introduction of reaping and mowing machines it will at no distant time become extinct. It
than they have been since. The sickle and is even questionable whether under the opera-
scythe left stubble in the fields, which being tion of the Ground Game Act preservation
gathered into cocks late in the autumn as ordinarily understood will be found suffi-
afforded a comfortable retreat for all those cient to prevent extinction,
small mammals ; but the reaping machines
having done away with the stubble they are 3- Rabbit. Ltptu cunlculus, Linn,
now less frequently seen. There seems no danger of this creature
_, _ becoming extinct or even scarce. Its great
29. Common Hare. Leflu europ<e US , Pallas. fertility and its burrowing habits wil , su( . 6 cess .
Bell Lepus ttmiJus. f u ji y operate to keep up its numbers with
Unless steps are taken to preserve the hare very little protection.
212
HISTORY OF >VARW1CKSHIRK
40'
biirgt Gwjjrpljitl Imta;
THE VICTORIA HISTORY
3 REMAINS.
3O'
REFERENCE
Settlements and Camps
Interments
_ Drift Implements
Miscellaneous Flnds,A'roWMc Imptemmts, Coitu,
X Bronze Implements
Seal,
"HE COUNTI ES OF ENGLAND
EARLY MAN
prehistoric antiquities found in Warwickshire can hardly
be said to equal in number or importance those which have
been discovered in many of the other English counties. But
this perhaps may be attributed partly to the fact that they have
not been so carefully and persistently searched for here as elsewhere. It
is to be regretted moreover that of those antiquities which have been
found few with anything like a clear or intelligible pedigree are now
accessible.
Dugdale notices a few discoveries of neolithic and bronze age
objects, 1 and several collectors in more recent times have brought to-
gether a number of antiquities which, if accompanied by precise records
of the locality and circumstances of each discovery, would be of great
value in determining the story of early man in the county. Unfortu-
nately these precise details are wanting. The collections of the late
Mr. M. H. Bloxam, F.S.A., are well-known as having contained objects
illustrative of prehistoric times in Warwickshire. These collections are
now in the Art Museum of Rugby School, but they must be pro-
nounced somewhat disappointing for the purposes of this article. It is to
be regretted also that some of the prehistoric antiquities in the museum
at Warwick, particularly those of the bronze age, are unlabelled, and
it is doubtful whether the place of their discovery will ever be ascertained.
The period covered by this section extends from the earliest trace
of man or man's handiwork until the appearance of the Romans in
Britain, and may conveniently be divided into (i.) palaeolithic age, (ii.)
neolithic age, (iii.) bronze age, and (iv.) prehistoric iron age.
THE PALEOLITHIC AGE
The palaeolithic age. unlike the succeeding prehistoric ages, is sepa-
rated from our own times by something more than a very long interval
of time. There have been considerable physical changes in the country
itself, for Great Britain and Ireland were then parts of the continent of
Europe.
As far as Warwickshire itself is concerned, there is not a great deal
of material bearing upon this remote age. As has been stated, some of
the collections which might have furnished illustrations of this period
are not in a condition to supply positive evidence. But the numerous
finds in adjoining counties suggest that Warwickshire, if more fully
1 The Antiquities of Warwickshire (1656).
213
A HISTORY OF WARWICKSHIRE
investigated, should give abundant proofs of the presence of palaeolithic
man.
The implements of the palaeolithic age, like those of the neolithic,
appear to have been shaped by means of chipping the nodule of flint,
into shape. In the case of the neolithic implements however greater
degree of finish and more thorough precision of form have been attained
by a grinding process which has removed much and sometimes all of the
marks of the conchoidal fractures which resulted from chipping. Both
neolithic and palaeolithic implements however were produced without
the aid of metal tools, for such tools belong to a period when metals and
the methods of working them were equally unknown. The imple-
ments may be briefly described as follows :
(1) Method of Manufacture. Palaeolithic implements have been
boldly shaped by a comparatively few blows, which have produced ovoid
or pointed forms, whilst neolithic implements bear evidence of many
blows and not infrequently grinding.
(2) Superficial or Structural Change. Flint implements which have
been much exposed to drift action or the influences of the weather
bear evidence of it in the loss of that horny appearance usually found in
a newly broken chalk flint. This alteration is found to extend some-
times only a little way below the surface and sometimes entirely through
the flint. In addition to this many of the drift-worn flints have acquired
a superficial colouring which varies from a pale straw colour to a rich
ochreous brown or even dark brown. These are some of the marks of
palaeolithic implements. Neolithic implements rarely show any deep
structural alteration or deep colouring, but are usually flint-coloured,
milky white or pure white upon the surface.
(3) Positions in which the Implements are found. Palaeolithic imple-
ments are sometimes found several feet deep in river-drift gravel. Neo-
lithic implements are never so found. They occur either in alluvial
deposits or on or near the surface of the ground.
The points of difference here described may at first sight appear to
be trivial, but as aids to the reconstruction of that remote period of the
past of which we have no written story, their importance is by no means
inconsiderable.
One of the most promising fields to which one might turn in the
hope of finding palaeolithic implements is the drift deposit in the valley
of the river Avon, and as long ago as the year 1867 the Rev. P. B.
Brodie ' wrote : ' The later deposits of this kind are to be found along
the valley of the Avon, and consist of the usual finer sands and gravels
with mammalian remains ; but I have not yet heard of any flint imple-
ments having been detected with them, though I do not think they have
been so diligently searched after in the neighbourhood of Warwick,
Stratford and elsewhere in the county as they have been in other places ;
and they may turn up at any time.' It is interesting to find that this
1 ' Remarks on the Drift in a part ot Warwickshire, and on the Evidence of Glacial Action which
it Affords,' Quarterly Journal of the Geological Society, xxiii. 208.
214
PERFORATED HAMMERSTONE FROM SUTTON COLDFIELD.
BRONZE DAGGIR FROM NEW HILTON.
PALEOLITHIC IMPLEMENT FROM SALTLEY
NEAR BIRMINGHAM.
To face page 214.
EARLY MAN
prophecy has already been fulfilled. Mr. S. S. Stanley of Leamington,
in a communication to the present writer, records the discovery of a
palaeolithic flake in river gravel at Walton. Other flint implements were
also found in the same gravel, and presumably they were also of the
palaeolithic age, but unfortunately they are now lost.
Sir John Evans, in his monumental work on stone implements, 1 is
able to record another palaeolithic discovery in the old gravels of the
river Rea at Saltley near Birmingham. It has been made of a brown
quartzite pebble and has been skilfully chipped to a point at one end
whilst the sides have been chipped to an edge. It was found in a bed
of sandy gravel composed mainly of small quartzite pebbles and a light-
brown sandy matrix. The bed also contains a few broken flints. The
discovery is in every way one of considerable importance.
Saltley is situated in the northern end of Warwickshire and con-
siderably beyond an imaginary line drawn from the Severn to the Wash,
which is generally considered to mark the northern limit of the area in
which palaeolithic implements are commonly found.
Among the implements found in the caves of Creswell Crags,
Derbyshire, were several roughly made of quartzite. This is exactly
what might be expected in a district where flint is rare, and the discovery
suggests the question whether there may not be many more remains of
the palaeolithic age in the Midlands and the north or England than had
hitherto been suspected. Sir John Evans, who has discussed this ques-
tion somewhat fully in his book, 2 inclines to the idea that further remains
in other materials than flint may reward searches among the ancient
gravel-like alluvial deposits of our northern rivers. There is a diffi-
culty in determining the age and characteristics of implements formed
of such substances as quartzites and many of the older rocks, arising
from the uncertain character of the marks of human workmanship upon
them and the slight degree of alteration due to weathering to which
they are susceptible. However, this imperfect evidence might be
checked or strengthened by a close attention to the succession and rela-
tive ages of the beds in which they occur.
THE NEOLITHIC AGE
It has been already pointed out that the neolithic age is sharply
separated from the palaeolithic age by a long interval of time. During
the neolithic age however the surface of the land had assumed its
present appearance. The river cfcMi period as it had formerly existed
was at an end, and the trees, plants and animals of the neolithic age may
be said to have been roughly the same as those we now have, except
that some species have been exterminated and others introduced by the
forces of civilization. There have also been some changes on the sea-
coast, by which the shore has been modified, since the first appearance
> The Ancient Stone Implements, Weapons and Ornaments of Great Britain, pp. 578-9, ed. a.
* Op. cit, pp. 580-1.
215
A HISTORY OF WARWICKSHIRE
of neolithic man, but these appear trivial when compared with those of
the palaeolithic age.
From what has already been said about the scarcity of flint in
Warwickshire, and the rarity of its use for the making of pakeolithic
implements, the reader will be prepared to find that the neolithic imple-
ments discovered in the same district have in several cases been made of
various materials besides flint. A hard local stone has been employed
for the manufacture of neolithic implements found at some of the
following places in Warwickshire :
Barton-on-tbe-Heatb. A celt formed of flint and thoroughly ground
all over so as to obliterate nearly all marks of chipping was found here
some years ago. It is 5^ in. long, 2^ in. broad and i in. thick, the
somewhat clumsy proportions being due apparently to the poor
character of the material employed. It is preserved in the museum at
Rugby School.
Hartsbill Common. A perforated axe 1 made of blue stone and
weathered superficially to an olive-green colour. It
was found in 1770 in or near a tumulus, but the record
is not very clear. In form it presents the peculiarity of
expanding at both the blunt and the sharp ends.
Lillington near Warwick, A small ground celt
of green stone, slightly over 3 inches long, now in
Warwick Museum. Found in 1900 by Mr. S. S.
Stanley.
Long Compton. A ground flint celt, completely
smoothed all over, was found some years ago at Long
Compton, and passed into the possession of Mr. M. H.
Bloxam, F.S. A. 2 It is described by Mr. Beesley 3 as
' a sacrificial celt,' but is evidently an implement of
the usual type.
Sutton Coldfield. A perforated hammerstone of
green stone, 3 inches in length. 4
CELT OF WHITE FLINT, Walsgrave - upon - Sowe near Coventry. A per-
hOUND AT LoNC COMPTON, r j r 11 J 11
WARWICKSHIRE. foratcd axe of green stone superficially damaged by
weathering, now in the collection of Sir John Evans.
A hammerstone, 3 inches long, made from a quartzite pebble, was
found at Ryton-on-Dunsmore, Coventry. 6
THE BRONZE AGE
The prehistoric period witnessed no more important event than the
discovery of metal. It is difficult, if not impossible, to understand all that
was involved in the introduction of bronze and the art of working it.
1 Bartlett's History and Antiquities of Mancetter, Warwickshire, p. 17, pi. 2, fig. 3; Evans' Ancient
Stone Implement!, p. 187, ed. 2.
* Fragmenta SepubbraKa, by M. H. Bloxam, p. i z. 3 The History ofBanbury, i. 7.
4 Op. cit. p. 224; Proc. Soc. Antiq. vii. 268, ser. 2.
' Evans' Ancient Stone Implements, p. 198, ed. 2. Ibid. p. 240, ed. 2.
216
u
EARLY MAN
Hitherto the only materials available for the manufacture of the
toughest and hardest tools had been flint and stone. The art of working
these substances had been carried to its utmost development ; but excel-
lent as some of the neolithic work undoubtedly was, the implements
were liable to be injured by use, and the fear of damaging an elaborately
wrought celt, for example, must have been a source of constant care to
the neolithic warrior or hunter. The need of some less brittle and more
pliable material for the manufacture of weapons and tools must have
been keenly felt before the discovery of metals was made.
How that knowledge was first acquired is not known, and perhaps,
seeing how great an interval of time separates the earliest age of metal
from our own, it will never be discovered. It has been suggested how-
ever that the discovery may have been made accidentally in those early
days when neolithic man cooked his food on fires made in shallow pits
dug into the ground. Such fires must have engendered sufficient heat
to melt certain metals, and may easily have given man the first idea of
smelting metals.
It is hardly likely that the discovery was made in this country.
The evidence, so far as it has yet been examined, goes to show that
the art of extracting copper and tin from their ores, and the skill of
blending them in such proportions as would give the requisite hardness,
were both acquired in some other part of Europe or Asia, or even
Africa. This is pretty clear from the fact that some of the earliest
metal objects found in the British Islands are evidently the work of
people skilled in the art of blending metals. 1
The earliest forms of bronze implements found in Britain are flat
axes or celts and small bronze hand daggers. Of the latter kind the
New Bilton dagger, which will presently be described, is a good example.
Early celts as well as daggers are composed of bronze of excellent quality.
At first metal would doubtless be very rare and valuable, but as
soon as native metallic ores were worked it is probable that there would
be a desire to reproduce in metal the heavy flint or stone celts which
had hitherto been the highest achievement of the tool or weapon maker's
efforts. For this purpose an actual stone celt was probably made to
serve as a model.
The remains of the bronze age comprise celts of bronze which have
evidently been cast in this way from stone originals, and they have been
thought to represent the earliest form in which metal celts were made.
The objection to such a theory is that they would require a large amount
of metal at a time when it was scarce, and it seems more probable that
they may be referred to a period when bronze was plentiful and easily
procured.
Bronze implements are sometimes found singly upon or near the
surface of the ground, but more often in the form of hoards below the
surface. Warwickshire does not furnish an example of this kind of
deposit, but there is no reason why a hoard of bronze objects should not
1 Munro, Prehistoric Scotland, pp. 177-8.
I 217 28
A HISTORY OF WARWICKSHIRE
be found during such excavations of the soil as may be made from time
to time.
The following bronze age antiquities which have been found in
Warwickshire are not very numerous, but they present several features
of interest.
The first recorded discovery of this character to be mentioned was
that of a ' brass sword and battle-axe,' which, as Dugdale ' relates, were
found within his memory near Nadbury Camp in Ratley parish. As
Dugdale's account was written before the year 1656,* this is a rather
interesting record of an early discovery of bronze age objects. In the
' brass sword ' and ' battle-axe ' it is not difficult to recognize a bronze
sword and bronze celt or possibly a palstave.
Sir John Evans, in his book dealing with the subject, 3 records three
or four other discoveries of this age in Warwickshire. One, a winged
celt, 7^ inches long, was found at Wolvey, 4 and was preserved in the
collection of Mr. M. H. Bloxam, F.S.A. In form it was similar to the
specimen depicted in fig. 54 of Sir John Evans" book. A palstave, of
which no definite particulars were obtainable, was also discovered at
Wolvey. 6
Mr. Bloxam records 6 the discovery of a 'British spearhead of
bronze, of a late type,' about the year 1825, near the site of a tumulus
called Pilgrim's Lowe, a little to the north-east of Rugby.
A small bronze hammer was found at Rugby, 7 and was preserved
in the collection of the late Mr. Bloxam. Perhaps the most important
bronze age discovery in the county was that of a bronze dagger, 9!
inches in length, at New Bilton 8 near Rugby. The accompanying
illustration 9 shows the details admirably. The two rivets at the base of
the dagger are still in position, and ' the corroded surface of part of the
blade shows traces of hair, probably from the lining of a sheath of hide
having been in contact with it.' '
Among the archaeological collections in the museum at Warwick
are several bronze age objects which presumably have been found in
Warwickshire, but nothing seems to be known about the precise locali-
ties of the discoveries or any other circumstances connected therewith.
Under these circumstances it will be impossible to mark the discoveries
on the map of prehistoric remains.
The objects consist of the following :
(i) A flat celt, 6 inches long, with expanding cutting edge, and
ornamented with panels outlined with dashes and zig-zags.
The Antiquities of Warwickshire, illustrated, 1656 ed. p. 420; 1730 ed. p. 541.
The date of the first edition of his book is 1656.
The Ancient Bronze Implements, Weapons and Ornaments of Great Britain and Ireland.
Op. cit. p. 75. ' Op. cit. p. 86 ; Proc. Soc. Antiq. iii. 129, ser. 2.
The Antiquities of Warwickshire (1875), p. 10.
Evans' Ancient Bronze Implements, p. 179 ; Proc. Six. Antij. iii. 129, ser. 2.
Evans' Ancient Bronze Implements, p. 245 ; Proc. Soc. Antiq. iv. 49-50, ser. 2.
Reproduced by kind permission from an engraving published by the Society of Antiquaries of
London.
10 Pro. Sof. Antiq. iv. 49, ser. 2.
218
POTTERY FOUND IN A SEPULCHRAL BARROW NEAR OLDBURV
CAMP, WARWICKSHIRE.
EARLY MAN
(2) A flat celt, 4^ inches long, with expanding edge and sharpened
at each end.
(3) A fine palstave, 5! inches long, with one loop and well de-
veloped stop-ridge.
(4) A palstave, 4^ inches long, broken at the smaller end.
(5) A palstave, 4 inches long, similarly broken.
(6) A palstave, \\ inches long, similarly broken.
(7) A small socketed celt, 2 inches long, with one loop.
(8) A celt-shaped piece of flat bronze, 4! inches long, probably a
modern forgery.
The series of three palstaves (4, 5 and 6), all broken obliquely at
the top end, is of great interest on account of the evidence it affords of
the uses to which bronze celts
and palstaves were put. Cer-
tain writers upon the question
have assumed, perhaps too
hastily, that they were all for
military purposes. Dugdale,
as we have seen, calls them
battle-axes ; but a careful ex-
amination of many specimens
has led the writer to the
opinion that many were car-
penters' tools, used for hewing timber and for cleaving and splitting
wood much in the same way as the rural maker of sheep-gates works.
Of the numerous examples of bronze celts and palstaves now pre-
served in the Rugby School Museum none apparently were procured
from Warwickshire.
A considerable advance in various branches of civilization is indi-
cated by the remains of the bronze age. The use of metal enabled
the husbandman to reap his
corn by means of metal sickles,
several of which have been
found in England. Oxen
were used for ploughing, and
several plants such as beans
and oats, not hitherto known,
were cultivated. The lathe
was used for turning stone
objects, and pottery of an im-
proved kind and ornamented by a series of impressed lines arranged in
zig-zag fashion was made.
The graves or sepulchral barrows of the bronze age were circular
in plan, and used for the interment of the cremated remains of only one
person. The earlier long barrows of the neolithic age were sometimes
furnished with a central chamber or cist of stone, and generally more
than one interment was made in each barrow.
219
POTTERY FOUND IN A SEPULCHRAL BARROW AT BRANDON,
WARWICKSHIRE.
A HISTORY OF WARWICKSHIRE
The contents of two bronze age barrows from the collection of the
late Mr. M. H. Bloxam are preserved in the School Museum at Rugby.
One at Oldbury, near Atherstone, was opened in 1835, when a sepulchral
urn of usual type with ornament produced by parallel incised lines, and
two smaller vessels, possibly a food vessel and drinking cup, were found.
The other was discovered during the work of constructing the Birming-
ham and London railway at a point about a quarter of a mile to the west
of Brandon station. Here also three vessels of pottery were found.
THE PREHISTORIC IRON AGE
The last age of the prehistoric period begins with the introduction
of the use of iron and ends with the appearance of the Romans on our
shores. It has been called the prehistoric iron age, but the term is not
strictly accurate, because although iron had come to be used for many
purposes for which hardness and sharpness were desirable qualities,
bronze was still used for personal ornaments, horse trappings, etc.
Moreover, a new fashion of decorative art arose, based probably upon
natural floral or foliage forms, and consisting of various combinations of
spiral and trumpet-like shapes. This style of decoration, which was
often executed in enamel on bronze and assumed a very remarkable
development in this country and elsewhere, is what has been called Late
Celtic art.
The prehistoric antiquities found in Warwickshire include some
good examples of this art. They consist of five circular and slightly convex
BRONZE Discs FROM CHKSTERTON-ON-FOSSWAY.
discs of bronze ornamented with spiral and enamelled work. They were
found at Chesterton-on-Fossway and are now in the museum at Warwick.
There are two types of ornament employed, but both, as will be seen
22C
EARLY MAN
from the excellent drawings 1 of the objects, are of characteristic Late
Celtic form. The purpose for which these discs were used was long a
matter of speculation among archaeologists, but Dr. Ingvald Undset, in
a paper published by the Royal Society of Northern Antiquaries* in
1890, conclusively proved that they were parts of the mountings of
metal bowls. They were attached to the bowl by means of a ring fur-
nished with a zob'morphic termination which served as a hook for
suspension. Some of these ring settings were discovered with the discs
and are now preserved in Warwick Museum. Mr. J. Romilly Allen,
F.S.A., who in 1898 contributed to the Society of Antiquaries of
London 3 a valuable paper on the metal bowls of this character found in
different parts of England, ascribes them to the end of the Late Celtic
period and the beginning of the Saxon period. 4
COINS OF THE ANCIENT BRITONS
Sir John Evans, in his well-known work on this subject, records only
one ancient British coin as having been found in Warwickshire. This
was of gold bearing on the obverse an object like a fern leaf or spike of
flowers, and on the reverse a horse, a circular wheel-like object, etc., and
the inscription VO-CORIO-AD (?). The coin, which was found at Stone-
leigh, was formerly in the possession of Mr. Llewellyn Jewitt, F.S.A.
Another gold coin, of a more common type, is however stated to
have been found at Southam. The particulars given are not very precise,
but it appears that one side of the coin was plain, and the other bore ' the
imitation of Philip's stater.' 6
MEGALITHIC REMAINS
The interesting megalithic group known as the Rollright Stones,
situated mainly in Oxfordshire, but partly in Warwickshire, consists of
(i.) a circle of about seventy blocks of stone, 100 feet in diameter ; (ii.) a
single upright stone of irregular form, known as the King-stone, and
standing to the north-east of the circle ; and (iii.) a group of stones called
the Whispering Knights, in a more eastern direction and at a greater
distance.
The Rollright Stones are mentioned by Camden and Plot, and have
been more minutely described by Mr. Arthur J. Evans, 6 who considers the
whole group to be the work of more than one period, but later than the
1 Here reproduced by the kind permission of the Society of Antiquaries of London.
1 Memoires de la Societe Royale des Antiquaires du Nord (1890), pp. 33-44.
1 Arch. Ivi. 39-56.
As it is probable that the Warwick discs may belong to the latter period rather than the former, the
subject will be more fully dealt with in the article on ' Anglo-Saxon Remains ' in this volume, and to
that the reader may be referred for a more particular account of them. If the actual time of manufac-
ture be within the Anglo-Saxon period, however, the origin of the ornamental forms with which they are
enriched must unquestionably be referred to an earlier period and probably to a time anterior to the
Roman occupation.
B Information given by the Rev. J. H. Bloom.
Talk-Lore, vi. 6-17.
221
A HISTORY OF WARWICKSHIRE
neolithic age, and possibly belonging to that of bronze or prehistoric
iron. These remains lie on a bleak exposed hill, more than 700
feet above sea-level, and are apparently connected with an ancient
roadway which at this point forms the boundary line between Oxford-
shire and Warwickshire, the circle lying within the borders of the
former county. The whole group belongs, in fact, more particularly to
Oxfordshire, and will be described in the volume which deals with the
prehistoric remains of that county.
TOPOGRAPHICAL LIST OF PREHISTORIC ANTIQUITIES IN
WARWICKSHIRE
The following is a brief list of the various places in Warwickshire from which prehistoric
remains have been obtained or where they still exist. Compared with some other counties it
appears unusually meagre, but it must be remembered that the superficial area of Warwickshire
is less than that of several other of the counties which are remarkable for their prehistoric
remains.
ATHERSTON, OLDBURY CAMP. Bronze age interment. Urns in Rugby School Museum.
BARTON-ON-THE-HEATH. Ground neolithic celt of flint, 5^ inches long ; now in Rugby
School Museum.
BRANDON. Bronze age interment. Urns in Rugby School Museum.
BRINKLOW. Prehistoric camp.
BROWNSOVER. Prehistoric camp.
CHESTERTON-ON-FOSSWAY. Late Celtic discs of enamelled bronze.
KENILWORTH COMMON. Chips of flint found in gravel near an ancient earthwork [Proc. Soc.
Antiq. vii. 267, ser. 2]. Rude celt of millstone grit [ibid. vii. 267-8 ; Arch. Journ. xxxiii.
371]-
LILLINGTON. Neolithic interment and settlement. Human skull, drinking cup and spindle-
whorl discovered by Mr. S. S. Stanley.
LONG COMPTON. Ground neolithic celt of white flint [Bloxam's Fragmenta Sepulchralia,
p. 12; Beesley's History of Banbury, i. 7]. Megalithic remains, known as the Roll-
right Stones.
NEW BILTON. Bronze dagger, gf inches long and 2j inches wide [Evans, Bronze Implements,
p. 245 ; Proc. Soc. Antiq. iv. 50, ser. 2].
OLDBURY. Chipped and ground neolithic celt found at Oldbury Camp [Dugdale, Antiquitiei
of Warwkkshirt (1730), p. 1081].
RATLEY. Nadbury Camp, a prehistoric earthwork : bronze sword and celt found there
[Dugdale, Antiquities of Warwickshire (1730), p. 541].
RUGBY. Pilgrim's Lowe, a sepulchral barrow (probably prehistoric) near Rugby. Bronze
spearhead. Small bronze hammer [Evans, Bronze Implements, p. 179 ; Proc. Soc. Antiq. iii.
129, ser. 2].
SALTLEY. Palaeolithic implement [Evans, Ancient Stone Implements, pp. 5789, ed. 2],
STONELEIGH. British coin [Evans, Coins of the Ancient Britons, Supplement, p. 488].
SUTTON COLDFIELD. Perforated hammerstor.e [Evans, Ancient Stone Implements, p. 224, ed. 2 ;
Proc. Soc. Antiq. vii. 268, ser. 2].
WALSGRAVE-UPON-SOWE. Neolithic perforated axe [Evans, Ancient Stone Implements, p. 198,
ed. 2].
WALTON. See WELLESBOURNE-HASTINGS.
WELLESBOURNE-HASTINGS WITH WALTON. Palaeolithic flake. Several neolithic flint chips
and flakes [Proceedings of the Society of Antiquaries of London, vii. 268, ser. 2],
WOLVEY. Bronze celt in the Bloxam collection resembling in form that figured in Sir John
Evans' Bronze Implements, fig. 54. Bronze palstave [Proc. Soc. Antiq. iii. 129, ser. 2].
222
HISTORY OF WARWICKSHIRE
ROMAN
Dw Ediubi irgii Gsogi-npHiral Jnjtitula
THE VICTORIA HISTORY C 1
J
EMAINS.
_. . not generally
Miscellaneous Finds < occupation
. The exact localities of many smaller finds are
not known precisely, and the positions of the symbols
on the map are therefore only approximately correct.
Ill'
THE COUNTIES OF ENGLAND
ROMANO-BRITISH
WARWICKSHIRE
I. Sketch of Roman Britain. 2. Sketch of Roman Warwickshire. 3. Places of settled
occupation : Cave's Inn, High Cross, Mancetter, Chesterton, Alcester. 4. Other
settled sites. 5. Roads. 6. Index.
i. SKETCH OF ROMAN BRITAIN
WITH the Romano-British period we begin to pass from the
prehistoric into the historic. But we do not reach at once
the domain of full history. We obtain guidance from the
allusions or narratives of ancient writers, but we still depend
very largely on archaeological evidence, and we cannot construct any
narrative history of our subject. This is partly due to the fact that our
knowledge is insufficient, but it arises still more from the nature of the
subject. Roman Britain was not an independent unit : it was only a
part of a vast and complex empire. Roman Warwickshire was still less
an independent unit. It was a part of Roman Britain and a part not
recognized as such by the Romans. In fact, the phrase Roman War-
wickshire, though convenient from its brevity, is strictly speaking a
contradiction in terms. When the Romans ruled our island, neither
Warwickshire nor any other of our counties was yet in existence, nor
was Britain divided into any districts geographically coinciding with
them. Neither the boundaries of the Celtic tribes nor those of the
Roman administrative areas, so far as we know them, agree with our
existing county boundaries, and students of the Roman remains found
in any one county have to deal with a division of land which for their
purposes is accidental and arbitrary. Warwickshire to the archaeologist
concerned with the Roman period is a meaningless area devoid of unity.
He can describe it but he cannot write anything like a real history of
it. It has seemed desirable, therefore, in the following paragraphs
to diverge a little from the plan followed by most county historians
in dealing with Roman antiquities. Hitherto it has been customary
to give a narrative of the chief events recorded by ancient writers as
1 For the following article I have searched the literature for myself and have visited the chief sites
and museums. I have to thank Mr. W. H. Stevenson and Mr. G. B. Grundy for various help, and also
Mr. Willoughby Gardner, the Rev. J. H. Bloom, Mr. S. Stanley, and others named below. I may add
that I have found the task of getting accurate information about details a far more laborious one than the
length of this article or the importance of the subject might suggest. In the result, however, I have
been able to include a good deal of unpublished material.
223
A HISTORY OF WARWICKSHIRE
having occurred in Britain, and to point out which of these events took
place, or may be imagined to have taken place, within the county. The
result is always to give an impression that somehow the county had in
Roman times some sort of local individuality and local history. We
shall here adopt a different plan, suggested by the recent developments
of topographical research. Utilizing the archaeological evidence, which
is now far better known and appreciated than it was a hundred years
ago, we shall try first to sketch briefly the general character of the
Roman province in Britain, its military, social and economic features.
We shall then point out in some detail how far the Roman antiquities
of our county illustrate this general sketch ; that is how far the district
now called Warwickshire was an average bit of Roman Britain.
The Roman occupation was undertaken by the Emperor Claudius
and commenced in A.D. 43. At first its progress was rapid. Within
three or four years the Romans overran all the south and midlands as far
as Exeter, Shrewsbury and Lincoln : part was annexed, part left to
' protected ' native princes. Then came a pause : some thirty years
were spent in reducing the hill tribes of Wales and Yorkshire, and
during this period the ' protected ' principalities were gradually absorbed.
About A.D. 80 the advance into Scotland was attempted: in 124
Hadrian built his Wall from Newcastle to Carlisle, and thereafter the
Roman frontier was sometimes to the north, never to the south of this
line. The ' province ' thus gained fell practically, though not officially,
into two marked divisions, which coincide roughly with the lowlands
occupied in the first years of the occupation and the hills which were
conquered later. The former were the regions of settled civil life, and
among these we have to include the district now called Warwickshire.
The troops appear to have been very soon withdrawn from them, and
with a few definite exceptions there was probably not a fort or fortress
or permanent military post throughout this part of our island after the
end of the first century. On the other hand the Welsh and northern
hills formed a military frontier-district, with forts and fortresses and roads,
but with no towns or ordinary civilian life. It was the Roman practice,
at least in the European provinces of the Empire, to mass the troops
almost exclusively along the frontiers, and Britain was no exception.
The army which garrisoned this military district was perhaps forty
thousand men. It ranked as one of the chief among provincial armies,
and constituted the most important element in Roman Britain. With
the military district however we are not now concerned. For our
present purpose it suffices to note its existence, in order to explain why
traces of military occupation are absent in Warwickshire. But we may
pause to examine the chief features of the non-military districts within
which our county is included. These features are not sensational.
Britain was a small province, remote from Rome and by no means
wealthy. It did not reach the higher developments of city life, of
culture or of commerce, which we meet in more favoured lands Gaul
or Spain or Africa. Nevertheless it had a character of its own,
224
ROMANO-BRITISH WARWICKSHIRE
In the first place, Britain like all the provinces of the western
Empire became Romanized. Perhaps its Romanization was com-
paratively late in date and imperfect in extent. But in the end the
Britons generally adopted the Roman speech and civilization, and in
our island, as in all western Europe, the difference between Roman and
provincial practically vanished. When the Roman rule in Britain ended
(about A.D. 410), the so-called departure of the Romans did not mean
what the end of English rule in India or French rule in Algeria would
mean to-day. It was not an emigration of alien officials, soldiers and
traders ; it was more administrative than racial. The gap between
Briton and Roman, visible enough in the first century, had become
obliterated by the fourth century. Probably the country folk in the
remoter parts of Britain continued to speak some Celtic during the
Roman period. But the townspeople and the educated seem to have
used Latin, and on the side of material civilization the Roman element
reigns supreme. Before the Claudian invasion there existed in our
island a Late Celtic art of considerable merit, best
known for its metal work and earthenware, and dis-
tinguished by its fantastic use of plant and animal
forms, its employment of the ' returning spiral ' (fig.
i), and its enamelling. This art and the culture
which went with it vanished before the Roman.
In a few places, as in the New Forest, its products
survived as local manufactures ; in general it met
the fate of every picturesque but semi-civilized art FIG. i. LATE CELTIC
when confronted by an organized and coherent cul- ORNAMENT ILLUSTRATING
. ,. T THE RETURNING SPIRAL.
ture. Almost every important feature in Romano-
British life was Roman. The commonest good pottery, the so-called
Samian or Terra Sigillata, was copied directly from an Italian original
and shows no trace of native influences ; it was indeed principally
imported from abroad. The mosaic pavements and painted stuccoes
which adorned the houses, the hypocausts which warmed them, and the
bathrooms which increased their luxury, were equally borrowed from
Italy. Nor were these features confined to the mansions of the wealthy.
Samian bowls and coarsely coloured plaster and makeshift hypocausts
occur even in outlying hamlets. 1
But though the Romanization was thus tolerably complete, it must
be further qualified as a Romanization on a low scale. The more
elaborate and wealthy features of the Italian civilization, whether
material or intellectual or administrative, were rare or unknown in
Britain. The finest objects of continental manufacture in glass and
pottery and gold-work came rarely to the island, and the objects of local
fabric rarely attained a high degree of merit. The choicer marbles and
the finer statuary are still rarer, and the Romano-British mosaics are
1 Compare R. Colt Hoare, Ancient Wilts, Roman jEra, p. 127 : 'On some of the highest of our
[Wiltshire] downs I have found stuccoed and painted walls as well as hypocausts introduced into the rude
^ t dements of the Britons.' The discoveries of the late General Pitt-Rivers fully confirm this.
I 225 29
A HISTORY OF WARWICKSHIRE
usually commonplace. Of organized municipal or commercial or admin-
istrative life we have but scanty traces. The civilization of Roman
Britain was Roman, but it contained few elements of splendour.
We may distinguish in this civilization two local forms deserving
special notice the town and the villa. The towns of Roman Britain
were not few, but, as we might expect, they were for the most part
small. Scarcely any seems to have attained very great size, according
to the standard of the empire. The highest form of town life known
to the Roman was certainly rare in Britain : the colonlce and municipia,
the privileged municipalities with the Roman franchise and constitutions
on the Italian model, were represented, so far as we know, only by five
examples, the colonies of Colchester, Lincoln, and Gloucester and York,
and the municlpium of Verulamium, and none of these could vie with the
greater municipalities of other provinces. Of other towns, probably
inferior in rank, there was more abundance, especially in the south and
east of Britain. These varied greatly in size. The larger ones, like Sil-
chester or Canterbury or Chichester, had walls to defend themselves, and a
forum built on the Roman plan and providing accommodation for magis-
trates, traders and idlers ; these towns doubtless possessed some form of
municipal life and may be described as country towns. Others were
smaller in various degrees, and in some cases, which will concern us in
Warwickshire, it is hard, on defective evidence, to decide whether we
ought to use the word ' town ' at all.
Outside these towns the country seems to have been principally
divided up into estates usually called ' villas,' and in this respect, as in
many other points, Britain resembled northern Gaul. The 'villa' was
the property of a large landowner who lived in the ' great house ' if
there was one, cultivated the land immediately round it (the demesne)
by his slaves and let the rest to half-serf coloni. The estates formed for
the most part sheep runs and corn land, and supplied the cloth and
wheat which are occasionally mentioned by ancient writers as products
of the province during the later Imperial period. The landowners may
have been to some extent immigrant Italians, but it can hardly be
doubted that, as in Gaul, they were mostly the Romanized nobles and
upper classes of the natives. The common assertion that they were
Roman officers or officials may be set aside as rarely if ever correct.
The peasantry who worked on these estates or were otherwise occupied
in the country lived in rude hamlets, sometimes in pit-dwellings, some-
times in huts, with few circumstances of comfort or pleasure. Their
civilization however, as we have said, was Roman in all such matters
as the better objects in common use or the warming and decoration of
the houses.
One feature, not a prominent one, remains to be noticed trade
and industry. We should perhaps place first the large farming industry,
which produced wheat and wool. Both were exported in the fourth
century, and the export of wheat to the towns of the lower Rhine is
mentioned by an ancient writer as considerable. Unfortunately the
226
ROMANO-BRITISH WARWICKSHIRE
details of this industry are almost unknown : perhaps we shall be able
to estimate it better when the Romano-British ' villas ' have been better
explored. Rather more traces have survived of the lead mining and
iron mining, which at least during the first two centuries of our era was
carried on with some vigour in half a dozen districts lead on Mendip,
in Shropshire, Flintshire and Derbyshire ; iron in the Weald and the
Forest of Dean. Other minerals were less important. The gold men-
tioned by Tacitus proved very scanty, and the far-famed Cornish tin
seems (according to present evidence) to have been worked comparatively
little and late in the Roman occupation. The chief commercial town
was from the earliest times Londinium (London), a place of some size
and wealth, and perhaps the residence of the special authorities who
controlled taxes and customs dues.
Finally let us sketch the roads. In doing so we must dismiss from
our minds the Four Great Roads which are mentioned in some early
English documents. Three of these four roads were Roman in origin,
but the fourth is not, and the idea of any such Four Great Roads is alien
to the Roman road system. We may divide this Roman system into
four groups all commencing from one centre, London. One road ran
south-east to Canterbury and the Kentish ports. A second ran west
and south-west from London to Silchester, and thence by ramifications
to Winchester, Dorchester and Exeter, Bath, Gloucester and South
Wales. A third, Watling Street, ran north-west across the Midlands
to Wroxeter, and thence to the military districts of the north-west ; it
also gave access to Leicester and the north. A fourth ran to Colchester
and the eastern counties, and also to Lincoln and York and the military
districts of the north-east. To these must be added two roads which
had no connection with London. The most important of these is the
Fosse, which cut obliquely across the island from north-east to south-
west, joining Lincoln, Leicester, Bath and Exeter. The other is the
Rycknield or Icknield Street which ran from Yorkshire past Derby and
Birmingham to join the Fosse in Gloucestershire. These roads must
be understood as being only the main roads, divested for the sake of
clearness of branches and intricacies ; and understood as such they may
be taken to represent a reasonable supply of internal communications
for the province. After the Roman occupation had ceased, they were
largely utilized by the English, but they do not resemble the roads of
medieval England in their grouping and economic significance. We
may rather compare them to our railways which radiate similarly from
London. In the following paragraphs we shall be concerned with the
third, fifth and sixth of these roads, Watling Street, Fosse and Rycknield
Street.
2. SKETCH OF ROMAN WARWICKSHIRE
Such in the main was that large part of Roman Britain in which
ordinary non-military civilized life prevailed. To that part Warwick-
shire belongs, and when we pass on to survey in detail the Roman
227
A HISTORY OF WARWICKSHIRE
remains discovered in the county, we might expect to meet the features
which we have sketched in the preceding paragraphs. To some extent
our expectation will not be disappointed. There certainly existed in
the district which is now Warwickshire a Romano-British civilization
of the normal type. But it was not at all normal in amount. Towns
and villages were few and very small, and most of them hardly deserve
such names at all. Villas were even less abundant. Industries were
wholly absent. Roads, though prominent and important, merely crossed
the district and do not affect its character. In general, the Roman
remains of the county are scanty and disappointing. Some allowance
must no doubt be made for the absence of exploration and excavation.
The spade has seldom been used for archaeological purposes in Warwick-
shire, and even the results of sporadic discoveries have been less
systematically recorded than in most of our counties. Some distinc-
tion must be drawn, too, between different portions of the county. The
south and east, the more open and fertile districts, were better settled,
apparently, than the west and north, which include the woodlands of
Arden. But on the whole we must admit that the county has to be
classed as one of the thinner spaces (if we may use the phrase) in
Roman Britain. Probably we may find the reason for this in the
general character of the English midlands during the Roman period.
The Romano-British civilization of the midlands differed markedly
from that of the surrounding districts. In the latter we meet with
striking embodiments of Romano-British life, such as the country towns
of Verulamium in Hertfordshire, Chesterford in western Essex, Castor
on the edge of Huntingdonshire and Northamptonshire, Wroxeter in
Shropshire, Gloucester, Cirencester, Silchester, each in its degree a
place of note. The midland area contained no such elements. Except
Leicester, its towns were far too small to be matched with any of those
just named ; indeed, they are hardly towns at all, and the whole
Romano-British life of the region was simple, plain and devoid of
character and salient features. The reason for this may perhaps be
found in physical facts. The midlands, though often described by
geographers as the central plain of our island, do not in reality form
a plain in the ordinary sense of that word. They form a complex dis-
trict which is especially notable for the low scale and small size of its
various physical features. Little of it is flat, but it has no high hills or
distinct ranges. Woods abound, but there are no continuous tracts of
forest. Rivers rise within it, but they reach no size till they have
passed its borders ; their valleys are small and shallow, and even their
watersheds are faint and ill-defined. It is a pleasant land, alike to those
that dwell in it and those that wander through it ; but, in the main,
it is not fertile, or suited to corn or sheep, and thus it contains very
little to aid the growth of towns or of a large agricultural population.
Its mineral wealth attracts a dense throng of inhabitants to one part of
it to-day, but that wealth was unknown in the Roman period. Then
too the woods, both those of Arden and others, were doubtless thicker
228
ROMANO-BRITISH WARWICKSHIRE
than now, and the little valleys less carefully drained. It is not hard
to understand why the midlands should have possessed a less richly
developed civilization than many other parts of the Roman province of
Britain.
This characteristic of Roman Warwickshire has been generally
but not always very accurately recognized. For the recognition has
been commonly accompanied by errors which tend to obscure the truth
and which deserve correction. Two quotations from previous writers
on Warwickshire will illustrate these errors and serve our purpose. The
first quotation is from one of the most famous of our county histories,
John Nichols' Leicestershire :
Arden was an extensive wild, solely appropriated to the pasturage of the Cor-
navian and Huiccian cattle, attended by their keepers, the Ceangi of the different
tribes. If we except a few hovels for the herdsmen, there were at that time no other
habitations save at some of those stations on the roads going through the Arden
(iv. 1028).
The Cornavian and Huiccian cattle and the herdsmen Ceangi are all
pure inventions, due originally to the fertile brain of William Baxter
and expanded by later writers. 1 We have no evidence that the Cornavii
lived in Warwickshire ; the Huiccii were not a British tribe at all, and
the Ceangi were not herdsmen but a tribe occupying what is now Flint-
shire. The one thing that is true in the passage is the general view
that the district was thinly populated, and even this is distorted out of
its true setting by the added errors.
A second quotation from a modern description of the county will
exemplify a different conception of the subject, which is free from the
definite errors of that just quoted, but is not itself correct :
The Roman occupation of this part of the Midlands appears to have been only
partial and chiefly limited to the camps along their roads, as the native tribes were
enabled by the natural characteristics of the thickly wooded district, which afforded
a secure ambush, to offer considerable resistance to the invaders.
This may have been true of the first ten or twenty years after the
original conquest, while the land was still unquiet and resistance still
rife. But a brief reflection will show that it cannot be true as a
description applicable to three and a half centuries. Such a situation
would quickly have been felt intolerable in the heart of a generally
civilized country. Moreover the actual remains found in Warwickshire,
which we shall now proceed to survey, give us no hint of roads per-
manently fortified by blockhouses and forests permanently occupied by
unconquered natives. They indicate, on the contrary, a normal and
peaceful life, which probably differed from the ordinary civilization of
Britain only in the scantiness of population and the lack of prominent
and distinctive features. Our next section, dealing with possible towns
and villages, will immediately illustrate this.
1 Baxter, Gloisarium Aniiquitatum Britannicarum (London, 1709), p. 73.
229
A HISTORY OF WARWICKSHIRE
3. PLACES OF SETTLED OCCUPATION
(Cave's Inn, High Cross, Mancetter, Chesterton, Alcester)
No Roman remains have yet been discovered in Warwickshire
which can be reasonably interpreted as the remains of a large or even
moderate-sized Romano-British town. On five sites however we meet
traces of permanent occupation which have been generally taken to indi-
cate the existence at least of hamlets, if not of very small towns, and the
evidence appears on the whole adequate to support this view. These
five sites are Cave's Inn, High Cross, Mancetter, Chesterton and Alcester.
All are on Roman roads, Cave's Inn and Mancetter on Watling Street,
High Cross at the crossing of Watling Street and the Fosse, Chesterton
on the Fosse and Alcester on the road called Icknield or Rycknield
Street; and most of them probably owe their origin to the roads.
Of the first three we happen to know the Roman names, but it need
only be pointed out that the knowledge of a name does not in itself help
us far towards ascertaining the character of a place, and the survival of
a name does not prove that a place was large or small or of any par-
ticular description.
(a) CAVE'S INN, TRIPONTIUM
Cave's Inn, once called New Inn, originally a wayside tavern but
now a farm, is situated on the extreme east of Churchover parish and of
Warwick county. It stands on the west side of Watling Street, which
here divides Warwickshire from Leicestershire, on a site that slopes
southwards to a stream, close to the point where the Great Central
Railway crosses the Street. The fields above, that is, north of the house,
have yielded various traces of Roman occupation. So long ago as 1657,
Elias Ashmole, journeying along Watling Street, wrote to Dugdale that
he had seen here much Roman brick and tile and had heard of Roman
coins ; the information came, however, a year too late to be inserted in
Dugdale's history of the county. In the last century Mr. M. H.
Bloxam called fresh attention to the place and recorded various objects
found from time to time, most of them in the course of intermittent
digging for gravel. These objects include bricks and tiles, window
glass (?), a rubbish pit rudely steyned with boulders ; further, abundance
of potsherds, including Samian and a pelvis said to be inscribed NDRICAN;
a bronze fibula, rings and stylus, and three coins a denarius of Nerva, a
' first brass ' of Pius, and a ' second brass ' of Faustina the elder. 1 Much
1 See Ashmole's letter in Nichols' Leicestershire, i. p. cli. and BibRotheca Toj>ogr. Britann. vii. 287.
Mr. Bloxam's accounts of the site are in the Birmingham Analyst, iv. (1836) 191 ; Fragmenta seful-
chraRa (privately printed, circa 1840-50), pp. 26, 35 ; Proc. oftheSoc. of Antiquaries, ser. 2, v. 303 and viii.
318 ; Transactions of the Birmingham and Midland Institute (Archaeological section), 1875, p. 35. In the
two first, he mentions also some interments which he omits in his later accounts. I suspect that these
belong to a post-Roman cemetery near Cave's Inn, which he at first considered Roman and afterwards
discovered to be of later date. Mr. C. Roach Smith, in his Collectanea jfntijua, i. 35-8, figures some
Roman pottery etc. from Cave's Inn shown him by Mr. Bloxam. Some fragments are in Rugby School
Museum (fig. 2). In examining the site, I noticed traces resembling a rampart and ditch, much worn ;
but these are very uncertain.
230
Fie. 2. ROMANO-BRITISH POTTERY (Rugby School Museum).
The larger urn is of a reddish ware, resembling, though finer than, flowerpot ware, and was found
Cave's Inn (p. 230). The smaller is ' Samian,' and was found at Long Lawford (p, 247).
To fact page 230.
ROMANO-BRITISH WARWICKSHIRE
else seems to have been found but not recorded for instance, by boys at
Rugby school and there is more to find. When I visited the site
recently, I found frequent fragments of pottery and brick in the gravel
pit and in the fields on both sides of the road, but particularly on the
Warwickshire side. None of these objects are remarkable. The only
one that I have thought deserving of reproduction is an urn of common
red ware, almost of flower-pot texture, but somewhat curiously orna-
mented, which is now in the Rugby School museum (fig. 2). Still, the
bricks and tiles and rubbish pit, taken together with the abundance of
pottery, seem to indicate a permanent inhabitation of the spot in Roman
times. As elsewhere in Warwickshire, we must wait for excavations
before attempting to define the character of the occupation. We might
expect to find that the place was a posting station or a wayside hamlet
or perhaps a village.
Obscure in character, the spot seems nevertheless to have a name.
The Antonine Itinerary (477, 2) mentions a ' station ' on Watling Street
called Tripontium, 12 Roman miles from Venonae and 8 from Banna-
venta. Many sites have been suggested for this ' station.' Camden
put it at Towcester, which he rechristened Torcester for the purpose,
in his usual arbitrary fashion ; but this is out of the question. Gale and
Morton more reasonably put it at Dowbridge on Watling Street, a mile
south of Cave's Inn ; Stukeley and Reynolds, at Lilbourne, still further
south ; Ward at Rugby ; and Salmon, eccentric as ever, at Edgehill.
None of these guesses are satisfactory. Except Towcester, they have
yielded no Roman remains ; except Dowbridge, they conflict violently
with the distances of the Itinerary. They are in reality guesses of
despair, due to an unfortunate confusion respecting Bannaventa. There
can be little doubt, in the present state of our knowledge, that Mr.
Bloxam was wise in identifying Tripontium with Cave's Inn. It is a
suitable distance from Venonae, which is High Cross (p. 232), and from
Bannaventa, which is near Norton, 1 and it is the only site which thus
agrees with the Itinerary and which has also yielded definite evidence of
some permanent occupation.
Its name differs from most Romano-British place-names in that it
is Latin and not native. It denotes the ' Three Bridges,' or the ' Bridge
with three arches,' and is formed like such names as Septimontium,
Trifanum, or Trimontium, which last was the name of the Roman fort
near Melrose, close to the triple Eildon hills in Scotland. There was a
Tripontium in Italy, an obscure hamlet near Forum Appi on the Appian
Way, now Torre Treponti ; there was also, at least in the middle ages,
a Tripontium in southern France near Aries. 8 The appropriateness of
the name to the ' station ' at Cave's Inn is not clear. Possibly the
Roman bridge over the neighbouring stream had some peculiarity which
has now long since vanished.
1 fictoria Hilt, tf Northamptonshire, \. 186.
- Corpus Inscriptionum Latin, x. p. 642 ; Ducange. English writers on ancient geography have
ignored both places.
231
A HISTORY OF WARWICKSHIRE
(&) HIGH CROSS
High Cross is a small hamlet, in which the parishes of Claybrooke,
Wibtoft, Copston and Wigston converge, on the edge of Warwickshire
and Leicestershire. It stands on comparatively elevated ground, with a
wide prospect towards the north-east. Here Fosse and Watling Street
cross, and this fact has given the spot an unsubstantial reputation as
being (in Stukeley's phrase) the centre of England. No traces of
Roman occupation are at present visible, but the writers of the sixteenth
and seventeenth centuries testify to considerable remains. Camden states
that foundations of hewn stone lay under the furrows on both sides of the
road and coins were frequently found. Burton in 1622 mentions 'many
ancient Roman coynes, great square stones and brickes and other rubble
of ancient building,' and describes the coins as ranging from Caligula
(A.D. 40) to Constantine the Great. Dugdale speaks of ' large stones,
Roman brick, with ovens and wells, coins of silver and brass,' and adds
that the earth of the site was darker and richer than elsewhere. Elias
Ashmole in 1657 saw a foundation measuring 12 by 18 feet, which he
took to be a temple. But later writers add very little except a few coins
a denarius of Mark Antony, another of Domitian, and copper of the
late third and the fourth century down to Gratian and it does not seem
possible now to decide the precise position or the size or the character
of the Roman settlement. 1 We can only say that our evidence indicates
permanent inhabitation of some sort perhaps a posting station, or
perhaps a village. The situation of the place, at the crossing of Fosse
and Watling Street, might suggest, at first sight, the probability of a
large settlement. This argument has not much weight however by
itself, and other cases might be quoted of Roman roads crossing with
even less of a settlement at the Four Cross Roads than we seem able to
trace at High Cross. In Hampshire, for instance, the road which runs
south-west from Silchester intersects near Andover that which runs
north-west from Winchester ; and though the neighbourhood was well
populated in Roman days, no definite traces of Roman inhabitation have
been noted at the actual crossing.
Whatever its character, its name at least is known. The Antonine
Itinerary * places Venonae at the point where Fosse and Watling Street
cross, and it also assigns to Venonae distances from other places known
1 Camden, ii. 297 (in Cough's ed. of 1806) ; Wm. Burton's Leicestershire, p. 72 ; Dugdale, i. 71 ;
Elias Ashmole in Nichols' Leicestershire, i. p. cli. and Bibl. Topogr. Britann. vii. 287. For later writers see
Stukeley, I tin. Curiosum, p. no, ed. z ; Horsley, Britannia Romano, pp. 385, 420 ; Nichols* Leicester-
shire, iv. 125. Mr. Goodacre of Ullesthorpe has a denarius of Domitian and a late (? fifth century) coin
from High Cross. Gough (Add. to Camden, ii. 303) and some later writers, mistaking Stukeley, have
transferred to High Cross some burial urns which were really found at Monks Kirby (p. 238). I have
omitted Camden's assertion that the site was once called Cleycester, because (as Dugdale observes)
Camden is the sole authority for it : it occurs apparently in no documents or charter, and is probably
Camden's own invention.
* Itin. Ant. 470, 4 ; 477, 3 ; 479, 4. The name occurs only in the oblique case Venonis : I
have followed common usage in assuming a nominative Venonae though, for all we can tell, it may
have been Venoni or Venona. The orthography Venonis seems preferable to Vennonis : Bennones,
Benonis are certainly corrupt forms. Some writers have evolved a tribe of Vennones, for which in
Britain there is no kind of authority.
232
ROMANO-BRITISH WARWICKSHIRE
to us Manduessedum and Bannaventa which agree satisfactorily with
the actual mileage. It is therefore natural that there should have been
general agreement among archaeologists since Camden to identify Venonae
and High Cross. 1
(c) MANCETTER
Eleven miles north-west of High Cross along Watling Street, and
east of the town of Atherstone, is the parish of Mancetter, and in it a
Roman site. Its name and the mileage of the Itinerary justify us in
identifying it with the Manduessedum of that document. 2 The now
visible remains consist of a rectangular earthwork, lying half on each side
of Watling Street, and therefore half in Leicestershire and half in War-
wickshire (fig. 3). The northern or Leicestershire part is or was called
FIG. 3. MANDUESSEDUM AND SURROUNDINGS.
(From the 6-inch Ordnance Survey, Scale I : 10560)
Oufort Bank, the other Castle Bank. The total dimensions of the two
are about 450 by 600 feet, and the total interior area is about 6 acres.
It has been generally assumed that this earthwork is of Roman origin,
and the assumption seems reasonable, though definite proof is wanting.
It is not clear however whether it represents the whole or a part only
of the Roman site. Stukeley, who visited it in 1725, heard of 'great
stones and mortarwork exceeding strong, much Roman brick, iron, and
1 Venonae, being on the edge of several parishes, has been variously described as being in Clay-
brook, or in Wigston, etc. Occasionally this variety of description has been mistaken for variety of
identification, and hence it has been sometimes wrongly asserted that the site is uncertain or disputed.
* Itin. Ant. 470, 3. It is a Celtic name (D'Arbois de Jubainville, Nomi gaulois chez Char, pp.
127, 131) : the last t is to be pronounced short.
I 233 30
A HISTORY OF WARWICKSHIRE
great numbers of coins, brass and silver and some gold ' all found,
apparently, inside the earthwork. Burton, a century earlier, thought
that the settlement extended far outside, and alleges foundations near
Mancetter church, half a mile to the west. He also cites coins from
various places bronze of Nero and the elder Faustina, found at Oufort
Bank ; a silver Vespasian, found near Mancetter church ; a Carausius,
found northwards in Witherley ; a ' first brass ' of Hadrian, found
towards Atherstone. Recent writers only refer vaguely to coins, and do
not increase our knowledge. 1 We have, then, evidence of permanent
occupation, its extent and character uncertain. We may reasonably
suspect a village or posting station. We might more rashly guess that
the earthwork was a fort built in the early years of conquest, dismantled
later and converted into a village. For certainties we must wait for
excavation.
It may be convenient to add that a Roman pottery kiln has been
found at Hartshill, two miles to the south, and alleged traces of Roman
road-paving at Atherstone both to be described in the index. It is
possible also that a Roman road may have run direct to Leicester through
Fenny Drayton.
The consideration of Mancetter has often been complicated by the
introduction of another neighbouring site. This is the oval ' camp ' at
Oldbury, near Hartshill. It has been called the ' summer camp ' of
Manduessedum or even Manduessedum itself. It is, however, not of
Roman origin and has yielded no Roman remains, while, so far as we
know, Manduessedum was not a military place such as would require a
'summer camp.'
(</) CHESTERTON
Chesterton, four miles south-east from Leamington, stands on the
Fosse, twenty miles south of High Cross. It is noteworthy, for, with
the exception of High Cross, it is the only site on the Warwickshire
part of the Fosse which seems to show traces of definite and permanent
occupation in the Roman period (fig. 4). Here on low ground, close to a
stream which skirts its western front, is an imperfectly rectangular earth-
work, girt with a substantial ditch and traversed by the Fosse. The
interior area probably measures 660 feet at its greatest length, 400 feet at
its least, and contains about 8 acres. 2 The proportions of the ditch, as
now seen, are very striking. On the north it is about 140 feet wide,
and its bottom is 1 3 feet below the level of the interior area ; on the
south the width is about 110 feet and the depth 9 feet. The original
ditch was probably much smaller than this. The site has been ploughed
in former times, and for agricultural purposes the sides of the ditch must
1 Camden, ii. 447 ; Burton's MS. quoted by Nichols, Leicestershire, iv. 1027 ; Dugdale, p. 1076
(coins) ; Horsley, p. 420 (coins) ; Stukeley, lur Boreale, p. 20. Benjamin Bartlett's Manduestedum
Roman urn (London, 1791 ; cited also as vol. ix. in Nichols* Bibl. Tofogr. Britann.) is little use. A survey
of 1812 is printed in the Irons, of the Birmingham and Midland Institute (Archatol. section), (1900), xxvi.
* As in all unexcavated 'camps,' it is not easy to decide where the interior area ended and the ram-
parts and ditch begin, and the unusual proportions of the ditch make this decision harder at Chesterton
than elsewhere.
234
ROMANO-BRITISH WARWICKSHIRE
have been ploughed down to a workable slope : thus the width of the
ditch would be largely increased, though its depth might be lessened.
But whatever allowance we make for this, it remains probable that the
original ditch was large and formidable. It has been generally assumed
that this earthwork, like that of Mancetter, is of Roman origin, though
no definite proof exists. Dugdale and others state that Roman coins
have been found within its area, and I am told that pottery and
FIG. 4. CHESTERTON CAMP.
(From the 6-inch Ordnance Survey. Scale i : 10560)
numerous coins, principally of the third and fourth centuries, have been
discovered in the fields around it. Burials and burial urns are also said
to have been met with near the ' camp,' and foundations a little to the
east of it. 1 Four enamelled bosses have also been dug up somewhere
hard by, but these, though often styled Roman, are of later date.
Chesterton thus closely resembles Mancetter alike in the size and
the position of its earthwork on a Roman road and in the uncertainties
which attend its explanation. The earthwork may be an early Roman
fort, abandoned as the tide of Roman conquest swept swiftly north. Or,
like Brinklow (p. 245), it may not be Roman at all. In either case, the
late coins and burials seem to suggest a wayside village in the third or
fourth century. But the spade alone can solve the problem. As for the
ancient name of its site, it is wholly unknown.
1 Dugdale, p. 470 ; West's Warwickshire (1830), p. 68 1 ; Builder, June 12, 1884 ; private in-
formation. For the measurements of the ditch I am indebted to Mr. G. B. Grundy.
235
A HISTORY OF WARWICKSHIRE
(e) ALCESTER
In its course through Warwickshire the Roman road called Icknield
or Rycknield Street passes the little country town of Alcester, lying
among flat meadows near the confluence of the Arrow and the Alne.
Leland and Camden recognized the site as ancient ; Dugdale was perhaps
the first who realized its Roman character, and since his time numerous,
though not very important, discoveries have been recorded. The
principal finds seem to have been made in the fields called Blacklands
which lie on the south and south-west of the present town, towards
the sewage works and the village of Arrow. Dugdale notes that
' old foundations, Roman bricks and coins had been frequently found,'
and that ' the greatest tokens of buildings ' occurred in Blacklands
and towards Arrow. The cemetery of the place lay apparently
between Alcester and Arrow, near the spot called Grunt Hill. Here,
for instance, was found about 1866 a stone cofHn with two skeletons
(one a later intrusion), which is now in the Warwick Museum, and
other graves and burial urns have been noticed, though not properly
recorded. Some noteworthy remains have also been discovered in other
parts of the town. The Rev. J. H. Bloom tells me that bits of paving,
thought to be Roman, were found when the Baptist chapel was built, in
the north-east of the town. A curious monument is built up in a wall
adjoining the rectory, west of the church. This is a much mutilated
torso, 42 inches long by 20 inches broad, with face flaked off and legs
lost. It appears to have represented a male bearded figure, dressed in a
sort of tunic or chiton ; the left leg is advanced, the left arm drawn
back, and drapery depends from the left shoulder (fig. 5). The whole
is too ill-preserved for safe interpretation, but it may, I think, be accepted
as Roman. Its origin is unknown, but it was doubtless found somewhere
in Alcester. Another interesting find was made about 1638 in the
same locality, and is thus recorded by the Rev. Samuel Clarke, rector of
Alcester and afterwards of St. Benet Fink, London, in a noteworthy
passage :
[At Alcester] in plowing and digging, even until this day, are found many
very ancient pieces of copper money, some of which I have, and among them one of
Vespasian with Judeea Capta upon it. When I was Rector there, about 1638, my
next Neighbour, whose house joyned to the Churchyard, being about to sink a Seller, I
lent him one of my men to assist him therein, and after they had digged about three
or four Foot deep, they Encountered with two Urns not far asunder. In the one
there was nothing but some ashes ; the other was full of Medals, set edglong as full as
it could be thrust : My man judging it only to be of that Copper-money which they
find so oft about the Town, set it carelessly upon the ground by him : And the Town,
consisting of Knitters, some of them coming to see the Work, picked out some pieces
of this Money : At last one brought in a piece to me, which upon tryal I found to be
Silver and thereupon sent for the Pot into my House : ... In the midst whereof I
found sixteen pieces of gold, as bright as if they had been lately put in, and about
eight hundred pieces of Silver, and yet no two of them alike, and the latest of them
above fourteen hundred years old : They contained the whole History of the Roman
Empire from Julius Casar till after Constantine the Great's time : Each of the Silver
pieces weighed about sevenpence, and each of the Gold, about fifteen or sixteen
shillings [Geographical Description of all the Countries in the known florid, by Samuel
Clarke (London 1671), p. 167.]
236
FIG. 5. FRAGMI;NT OF ROMANO-BRITISH SCULPTURE.
(Akester Rectory. Scale i : 10)
To face fagi 236.
ROMANO-BRITISH WARWICKSHIRE
Coins still abound in the town. In a recent visit to Alcester I was
shown six silver coins, of Hadrian, Sabina, Pius, Aelius Verus(?),
Faustine and Constantine, and twenty ' third brass' of about A.D. 250
380, and I have heard of many others of similar dates. 1 From all this
we may conclude that Alcester, at any rate during the latter part of the
Roman period, was a village or perhaps a tiny town built by the side of
a Roman road in a pleasant well-watered spot.
The Roman name of the place is unknown. The earlier spellings
of the modern name Alencestre, Alnacestre and the like contain a n
which has now dropped out, and this fact suggested to William Baxter,
early in the eighteenth century, that the Roman name was Alauna. His
theory was adopted by Bertram in his forgery of ' Richard of Ciren-
cester,' and has since passed into maps and guide books. It is, however,
a mere guess. Alcester appears in reality to derive its name from Alne,
the name of the river on which it stands, and Alne itself may be
descended from one of the very common Celtic names, Alauna, Alaunus
and their kindred forms. That, however, would not prove that a town
on the banks of the Alne was called Alauna, and, until more evidence
emerge, it will be wise to give the site no ancient name.'
4. OTHER SETTLED SITES
We pass from remains which seem to suggest hamlets or villages or
even a tiny town to remains which suggest something even smaller a
handful of isolated rural habitations. Of Roman villas properly so called
Warwickshire contains no ascertained instances. The villa system was
probably far less developed there than in many other districts. Not
only was the population thin throughout the midlands and the ground
largely covered with woods, but there was little in soil or climate to
encourage the two staple industries of rural Britain, sheep farming and
corn growing. We shall not therefore be surprised to find in Warwick-
shire few traces, and those faint ones, of villas or what may be villas. It
is only here and there that we encounter evidence suggestive of small
houses of the villa type. These houses are totally unexplored, like all
other Roman antiquities in the county, and opinions about them must
necessarily be conjectures, valuable (at the best) as working hypotheses.
Still, we may argue, from the tenuity of their recorded remains, that
they were small ; and we may not unreasonably presume that they
belonged to the same system which obtained over most parts of non-
military Britain. We have four instances to cite.
1 Leland (ed. Hearne), iv. fo. l68<* ; Dugdale, p. 761 ; Clarke, itt supra ; N. Salmon, New Surrey
('7301 P- 5 6 gold coin f Vespasian ; Gentleman's Magazine, 1785,11.941, urn from Blacklands ; Gough,
Add. to Camden, ii. 4.57, skeletons and coins on the Stratford Road ; Archerohgia, xvii. 332, burials in
Blacklands, 1812; information from the Rev. J. H. Bloom and others. Warwick Museum has a
sarcophagus found about 1866, and two urns (one containing ashes) from Blacklands. Mr. F. S. Potter
has coins of circa 250-400 A.D.
* Baxter, Gkssarium Antij. Britann. (London, 1719), p. 10. If the name ^Eluuinae in Cartularium
Saxonicum, i. 287, refers really to the Warwickshire Alne, the identification of Alne and Alauna becomes
definitely probable, but it seems very uncertain whether it does so refer (W. H. Stevenson)
237
A HISTORY OF WARWICKSHIRE
(1) Monks Kirby, six miles north of Rugby. Here Dugdale states
that foundations of old walls and Roman bricks (some of which he saw
himself) were dug up in his own time near the church. He mentions
also 'three or four heaps of earth in an adjoyning pasture' which he took
to be graves. John Morton, the historian of Northamptonshire, de-
scribes some burial urns found at Monks Kirby not long before 1712.
These urns were
reposited on a causey of broad pebbles running east and west : one of the largest
of them had a Christ's Cross coarsely painted on the outside of it. They were
each of them placed with their mouths dipping to the East and covered with a piece
of slate. Within were ashes and calcined bones and a mixture of earth. [History of
Northamptonshire (London, 1712), p. 30.]
Morton took these urns to be Roman and Christian, and the former is
probable enough, though the latter is out of the question. A similar
discovery or the same, misdescribed was made in 1716, when a dozen
Roman urns covered with Roman bricks were found in digging a vault
for the burial of Basil, fourth Earl of Denbigh. The three (or two) finds
taken together seem to suggest at least the possibility of a villa here. 1
The occurrence of the name Walton in the neighbourhood may or may
not increase the probability, for Walton and similar names, while they
sometimes refer to the existence of old walls, are sometimes due to quite
other origins.
(2) Snowford Bridge. Here, about 500 yards north of the bridge
and near the east bank of the river Itchin, in Long Itchington parish,
Roman bricks and tiles and common pottery have been often noticed, and
are still to be found, though no account of the site has ever appeared in
print. A few other small objects recorded from this parish may perhaps
belong to this site. 2
(3) Walton Hall. Here the grass field to the south of the house,
called the Town Field, has been supposed to contain traces of Roman
buildings. The Rev. G. Miller of Radway states that the late Sir
Charles Mordaunt told him of these remains, and the Rev. Osbert
Mordaunt states that Roman coins have been found there. The field
itself is somewhat uneven, as if something lay beneath, but there are at
present no surface signs of antiquities belonging to any special age.
(4) Kenilworth. Here Roman tiles have been found in or near the
Chase woods, about a mile west of the castle. Some specimens have
been in the Warwick Museum since 1858, and two are in the Andover
Museum. A label attached to the latter states that the tiles seemed, so
far as traced, to belong to two walls, each about 30 or 40 feet long,
meeting at a right angle. A writer in the Journal of the British
1 Dugdale, p. 74 ; Morton, p. 530 ; Stukeley, I tin. Curiosum, p. no, ed. 2 ; Nichols' Leicester-
ihire, ir. 1 26 note. The facts about the find of 1716 are not clear. Stukeley gives no place for it ;
Nichols gives ' the church of Newnham Paddox,' which might mean either the church of Monks Kirby
or a chapel at Newnham Paddox, the seat of the Earls of Denbigh. No one seems to know where the
fourth Earl of Denbigh actually was buried.
* Tiles in Warwick Museum ; tiles and potsherds found by Mr. H. Fowler and by myself ; inform-
ation from the farmer of the site, Mr. Abell of New Fields Farm. For the other objects, see Warwick
Nat. Hist, and Arcbatl. FieU Club, 1878 ; Warwick Archaol. Society's Reports, 1866, p. 23 ; 1878, p. 7.
238
ROMANO-BRITISH WARWICKSHIRE
Archceological Association^ 1877 (xxxiii. 281), alludes vaguely to Roman
coins as ' found lately in Kenilworth.'
With this inadequate notice we end our meagre list. Doubtless
there was never much villa life in Roman Warwickshire, but the care-
lessness of modern men has made that little seem even less.
5. ROADS
Romano-British Warwickshire, as we have described it, can hardly
have required many roads for its internal communications. But the
position of the county in the midlands is such that almost all who
wish to cross our island from south to north from London or Bristol
to Lincoln or Derby or Chester must necessarily touch at least its
borders. Accordingly three roads will here concern us : Watling Street,
the Fosse, and the Rycknield or Icknield Street. There are also some
branch roads, and some supposed roads which probably are not real.
We commence with the Rycknield or Icknield Street, because it
requires a somewhat longer discussion than the rest.
(a) NORTH AND SOUTH ROAD THROUGH ALCESTER
By Rycknield Street * I mean the Roman road, or perhaps the
continuous series of roads, which runs from the north past Derby, Lich-
field, Birmingham and Alcester to join the Fosse at Bourton-on-the-
Water. The Warwickshire parts of this route are easily traceable, and
are still largely in use as field-track or road, except in and near the town
of Birmingham. It is perhaps worth adding that its line scarcely ever
coincides with a parish or county boundary. Its course from north to
south is briefly as follows. It enters the county, running slightly west of
south, at the Street station on the Walsall and Water Orton branch of
the Midland Railway, and crosses Sutton Park. Here it almost but not
quite coincides with the present county boundary, and its easily distin-
guishable track has long been noticed by travellers and antiquaries. 8
From the corner of Sutton Park (Royal Oak inn), it is represented for
2 1 miles by an existing highway, but at the crossing of the Tame
Valley canal the highway bends, while the Roman road runs straight on,
coincides briefly with the county boundary, crosses the Tame at Holford
or Holdford, and so approaches Birmingham. Its course through that
city and its suburbs is uncertain. We shall return to it in the next
paragraph. Here we need only observe, first, that somewhere in this
lost section its direction shifts from slightly west of south to slightly east
of south, and secondly, that it may perhaps have here been joined by a
1 I may state here that I use Rycknield Street in preference to Icknield Street purely as a matter
of convenience. No doubt, if antiquity of usage is to be considered, the road was called Icknield Street
before it was called Rycknield Street. But it will be apparent from my arguments that I doubt whether
the road has any real and original right to either name ; and if we style it Icknield Street, we risk con-
fusion with the real Icknield Street in Berkshire and Oxfordshire. It seems best, therefore, to use the
name Rycknield as being no less correct (or no more incorrect) than Icknield, and as having the advantage
of being unmistakable. Probably it would be better still to avoid both names, were it not that preceding
writers and common custom cannot be neglected.
' Gentleman's Magazine, 1762, p. 402 ; 1797, i. 1 10-13.
239
A HISTORY OF WARWICKSHIRE
Roman road from Droitwich. 1 We recover its definite traces near
Stirchley Street and King's Norton, and thence its course is plain past
Beoley, Studley, Alcester, Bidford and Weston Subedge. Near the last
named village it mounts to Broadway Down and so reaches Bourton-
on-the- Water and the Fosse. Between Alcester and Bidford, it is repre-
sented by an interesting hollow way through fields, and its hard metal
has often been encountered by labourers. From Alcester, branch roads
may have diverged to Stratford and possibly also to Droitwich (p. 243).
The span of seven miles from Holford, north of Birmingham, to
Stirchley Street, south of it, is a more serious problem. It has long
vexed Birmingham antiquaries, and is perhaps insoluble. If the well
known lines of Rycknield Street from Sutton Park to Holford, and from
Alcester to near Stirchley Street, were produced straight on till they
met, we should obtain a road running south by west through the western
part of central Birmingham, passing a little east of Five Ways and a
little west of Edgbaston church, then changing its direction to south by
east near Stirchley Street, and so continuing towards Alcester. This line
has not, however, yet commended itself to any writer on the subject.
Stukeley, the first to notice the question in print, mentions a line which
lies a long way east of the direct line. He says that in or after 1725
he saw Rycknield Street running
by Moseley over a heath where the road appears now very broad, on the east side
of the rivulet Rea : it descends Camp Hill and passes the river by the present bridge
(Iter orea/e y p. 2l).
This line is too far east to be probable, and indeed it is obvious that
Stukeley simply took the Moseley Road to be the Roman line. The
plain inference is that no recognized line of Rycknield or Icknield Street
survived at Birmingham in Stukeley's time. Hutton, the old historian
of Birmingham, writing in 1780, suggested a different line, curving
away westwards. He describes the road as passing from Holford over
Handsworth Heath, by Hockley Brook, Warstone Lane, across the
Dudley Road at the Sandpits, down Ladywood Lane (since rechristened
Monument Lane), past the Observatory, and thence, leaving Harborne
a mile to the west, to Selly Oak. 2 He gives no reasons, and it is too
likely that he had no good ones. Stukeley's words suggest plainly that
no obvious and indubitable line for Rycknield Street survived in the
eighteenth century, and our confidence in Hutton's judgment is not
increased when we find him proceeding to trace the street to Burford,
Wallingford and Winchester. However, his line has been accepted by
most local writers, and in general the Roman road has been stated to
run by or near Trinity church, Birchfield, Villa Cross, Hunter's Lane,
Icknield Street, Monument Lane, Chad Valley and Metchley." The
1 Victoria History of Worcestershire, \. 212. The road is not so well supported by evidence as one
could wish. * Hutton, History of Birmingham, p. 142 (ed. iy8i)=p. 215 (edd. 1795, 1815).
s Howard Pearson, Birmingham and Midland Institute (Archzeol. section), 1890, xvi. 34 ; B.C. A.
Windle, ibid. xxv. 43. For much information bearing on the whole question (utilized in the rest of the
above paragraph) I have to thank Mr. J. A. Cossins, Mr. Jos. Hill of Perry Barr (who has told me
much about the ancient streets), Mr. Howard Pearson and Prof. E. A. Sonnenschein. They are not, of
course, responsible for the views that I have expressed.
240
ROMANO-BRITISH WARWICKSHIRE
evidence is not convincing. Neither discoveries of remains, nor the
local nomenclature, nor the physical features of the country really aid
us. No Roman remains have been found in Birmingham except a
few coins (p. 244), and coins help little in such a case ; so far as
they go, however, they favour a line east of Hutton's and nearer
the direct line mentioned at the outset of this paragraph. A piece
of ancient road was discovered about 1870 or 1875, near Chad Valley
House in Westbourne Road, Edgbaston, and Mr. J. A. Cossins, who
saw it, has told me that it was 5 feet underground, paved with large
pebbles of local gravel, and was not in line with the commonly supposed
direction of the Roman road. A well near Metchley, a bit of old road
near Harborne Park Road, and some horseshoe draining tiles found in
January, 1902, have all been called Roman, without the slightest reason.
Nor do local place-names help us. Icknield Port Road is unquestionably
a modern invention, and the title Icknield Street, as applied to the road
connecting Hunter's Lane and Monument Lane, is not demonstrably
old. Negative evidence is, of course, imperfect ; but I cannot trace the
title back beyond 1825, and in 1553 a part, at least, of this road seems
to have been called the Slade. The title Icknield Street may therefore
have been introduced as a result of Hutton's theory. Certainly, if old
names are to be quoted, Holloway Head should not be forgotten, though
that would favour rather the direct line indicated in the third sentence
of this paragraph. Nor again is it possible, amid the vast developments
of a great city, to reconstruct the original hills and valleys and judge
whether they were such as to divert a Roman road from its straight
course. That kind of judging is always a dangerous speculation ; in this
case it is best omitted wholly. After all, the straight course outlined
at the commencement of this discussion is the simplest, and in default
of other reasons the least improbable. Here we must leave the problem
unsolved. It is not inappropriate that a characteristically modern city
should have lost for ever the recollection of her most ancient road.
There remains another problem, almost as difficult as that which we
have just dismissed. For convenience we have called the road Rycknield
Street : we have now to trace out thie tangled history of that name. We
start from the similar name Icknield. Icknield Street, properly so
called, is an ancient trackway through Berkshire and Oxfordshire, of
which the course is still visible, and the name, under the form of
Icenhylt or Icenhilde Street, is attested in documents earlier than the
Conquest. It is not a Roman, but perhaps a British road, and so far we
have here no concern with it. But we are concerned with its name.
For when the antiquaries of the twelfth and following centuries began
to treat of the so-called ' Four Roads,' they got hold of the name Ick-
nield, obviously without knowing what exactly it meant. One of them
said that it ran from east to west which is roughly true and another
said that it ran from north to south. This latter was identified with our
road ; not, so far as we can tell, because of any local name, certainly not
because of any Iceni in the west, but probably because this road alone
i 241 31
A HISTORY OF WARWICKSHIRE
fulfilled the condition of a road from north to south. The views of the
antiquaries spread abroad, and two Icknield Streets came into ordinary
use as names, one for the Berkshire and Oxfordshire trackway, and the
other for our road. Now it is just this intrusion of Icknield into the
west that seems responsible for the appearance of Rycknield. That name
is a misreading of Icknield, spelt, as often, with a prefixed ' H.' Thus
much seems to be proved by the facts of the case. The first name given
to the road was Icknield Street, and that name occurs in documents of
the thirteenth century. A little later Rycknield emerges, first in the
writings of Higden. He, like all other medieval chroniclers, mentions
the ' Four Roads,' and he calls them Fosse, Watling Street, Ermine Street,
and Rykeneld Street. Here Rykeneld Street usurps precisely the
place which is given to Icknield Street by all Higden's predecessors and
indeed by many after him, and the simplest and most natural explanation
is that we have a misreading. 1 Hence arise two names for our road
Icknield and Rycknield. Both occur in charters and deeds, though the
former is the commoner and also survives in various local names. It is
the earliest, but by no means the only, instance in which the antiquaries
have given its current name to an ancient road.
The road has however other names. North of Alcester it is
occasionally called Headon or Haydon Way, and also Eagle Street
perhaps a corruption of Ickle, that is, Icknield Street. South of Alcester,
between Bidford and Weston Subedge, it is called Buckle Street, and
this is probably its oldest existing appellation. It is the modern form of
a name Bucgan or Buggilde Straet, which appears in documents earlier
than the Conquest, and which proves that the road was known in very
early English days, at least between Bidford and Weston. 8
(b] WATLING STREET, FOSSE AND OTHER ROADS
Watling Street is the name in use since Saxon times to describe
the Roman road which ran north-west from London past Verulamium
(St. Albans) to Viroconium (Wroxeter). Its course in general is certain,
and not least in Warwickshire, where most of it is a county boundary
and nearly the whole of it is still in use as a high road. It enters the
county from the south at Dunsland, 4 miles south-east of Rugby, and
from there to Mancetter it divides Warwickshire, first from Northamp-
tonshire and then from Leicestershire. Between Mancetter and Fazeley
1 So Thorpe. Guest, Origints Celtic*, ii. 220, tries to defend the antiquity of the word
Rycknield, but without meeting the real points of the case. The foundation charter of Hilton or
Hulton Abbey in Staffordshire (A.D. 1223) mentions a Richmilde or Rikenilde Street near Stoke-upon-
Trent Richmilde according to Dugdale's Mmasticon, v. 715 ; Rikenilde according to a seventeenth
century copy in the British Museum, Harleian MS. 2060 : I do not know where the original charter is.
This suggests that a street-name somewhat like Rykeneld existed in Staffordshire before Higden, and this
may help to explain Higden's statements. But that street near Stoke is far away from the road which
is now under discussion.
* On Bucgan, Buggilde, see Napier and Stevenson, Crawford Charter! (Oxford, 1895), p. 56.
The name Buckle Street is still known to the country folk within the limits mentioned in the text. For
instance, there are ' Buckle Street housen,' a mile north of Honeybourne railway station. The Ordnance
surveyors also insert the name on Broadway Down, but this (so far as I can discover by local inquiries)
is doubtful.
242
ROMANO-BRITISH WARWICKSHIRE
it runs through Warwickshire ; at Fazeley it crosses the Tame into
Staffordshire. Constant use through many centuries has presumably
destroyed almost everywhere its Roman paving. There is however a
story that during the sewerage works at Atherstone in 1868 the old
Roman paving was found at varying depths, marked with grooves of
chariot-wheels and laid in slabs like those in the Forum of Rome. What
truth underlies this tale is impossible and perhaps unimportant to dis-
cover. Certainly no such paving as that of the Via Sacra at Rome has
been found elsewhere in Roman Britain, and slab-paving of any sort is
rare on Romano-British roads.
(3) The Fosse is the name used since Saxon times for the road or
series of roads which ran from Lincoln past Leicester, Cirencester and
Bath into the west. Its general course is no less certain than that of
Watling Street. In Warwickshire it is still for the most part used as a
road or field-track ; for about half its course it forms intermittently a
parish boundary. It enters the county at High Cross, passes Street
Ashton, Stretton-under-Fosse, Brinklow (where perhaps later earthworks
have been thrown across it), Chesterton and Halford, and leaves the
county at Stretton-on-the-Fosse. Except at Chesterton, and perhaps at
Halford (p. 246), it traverses no sites known to have been inhabited in
Romano-British times.
The Romans seem to have drawn some distinction between the Fosse
from Lincoln to High Cross and the Fosse from High Cross southwards.
The former belonged to an itinerary route from Lincoln to London ; the
latter has no place in the Itinerary. The reason is not now discoverable
with certainty. It can hardly be connected with any distinction
between military and commercial roads for which distinction there
seems, indeed, to be no proper warrant. But it suggests that the
Romans did not regard the Fosse quite as we are inclined to do that is,
as a great through route from Lincolnshire into Somerset. It did serve
that end, but in Roman times that was not its principal purpose.
(4) Lastly, we have to mention two branch roads, both short and
doubtful. Possibly a road connected Alcester and Droitwich, though
the assertions often made about it are too positive and the appellation
often given to it, Lower Saltway, seems devoid of ancient authority.
The line of the existing highway between the two towns, both Roman
sites, is really the only evidence, and this, though not adverse, is not
conclusive in favour of the road. Another road may perhaps have run
from Alcester to Stratford. The existing highway between the two
places is singularly straight, and where it once diverges (near Alcester)
the straight line is taken up by a field-track. Moreover the name of
Stratford, as Mr. Stevenson assures me, is genuinely old and may really
indicate a Roman road. Unfortunately hardly any Roman remains,
except coins, have been found in or near Stratford (p. 248) ; and, sup-
posing the road to be Roman, there is no sort of indication of its further
course east of Stratford. On the other hand we may reject without
scruple the idea of a Roman road from Alcester to Warwick. No trace
243
A HISTORY OF WARWICKSHIRE
of this road exists, and no Roman remains have been found at Warwick
which would justify any such a road (p. 249).
6. MISCELLANEOUS : INDEX
Villages, houses, roads, indicate some form or other of settled
occupation. We pass on now to notice scattered finds, coins, potsherds
and the like, which we cannot refer to any definite place in the civili-
zation of Roman Warwickshire. Some of these finds, probably, are so
imperfectly known to us that we fail to catch their significance. Others
certainly seem to be due to chance. We shall therefore be content to
summarize these in the alphabetical list with which our article concludes
without wasting words on what must be idle speculation why or how
they came to where they have been found. This list is intended to
include all the principal sites on which Roman remains have been found,
or thought to be found, in Warwickshire. Such sites as have already
been fully described are indicated by references to the pages on which
the descriptions occurred. For the rest, the sporadic discoveries just
mentioned, I have briefly indicated the nature of the objects found and
the chief printed or other authorities for them.
The items of most interest are perhaps those relating to Birming-
ham, Bubbenhall, Eatington, Hartshill, Rugby, Stratford, Warwick and
Wolfhamcote. Had the county been better explored it is likely that
some, though not all of these, might have claimed a place in the earlier
sections of this article.
I have omitted from this list, and indeed ignored through this article,
a large number of earthworks which though often called Roman have
no claim whatever to be considered such.
ALCESTER. Village : see p. 236.
ALVESTON. See Tiddington.
ATHERSTONE. Alleged paving of Watling Street : p. 243.
ATHERSTONE-ON-STOUR. One 'third brass' coin of Constantine the Great [J. H. Bloom].
BADEN (BARDEN) HILL. See Stratford-on-Avon.
BEAUDESERT HILL. Alleged solitary fragment of Roman pottery, found 1807 : age doubtful.
Near Henley-in-Arden.
BICKMARSH. Coins of the Constantine period [J. H. Bloom].
BINSWOOD. Coins vaguely mentioned by J. T. Burgess [Proceedings of IVaruilck Field Club,
1873, p. u].
BINTON. Coin of Allectus [J. H. Bloom].
BIRMINGHAM. (i) Coins of Constantine period, found on the north side of Birmingham near
Holford or Holdford, where the Rycknield Street crossed the Tame. ' Camp ' near the
crossing, very doubtful [H. S. Pearson, Proceedings of the Birmingham and Midland
Institute (Archasol. section), 1890, xvi. 36].
(2) Roman coins (dates not recorded) found in constructing a sewer at the junction of
Dudley Street and Smallbrook Street, south of New Street Station [ibid.].
(3) Many coins one a bronze Vespasian, Cohen 457 found June, 1816, by a man
digging in a garden near the Jews' Burying Ground [Concise History of Birmingham,
printed by Jabet (ed. 5, 1817), p. 18]. As the maps of Hanson, Kempson, etc., show,
the Jews' cemetery in 1816 (and till 1823) was near wnat is now tne Worcester Wharf,
half way along Granville Street to the east of it.
(4) Gough [Add. to Camden, ii. 460], Reynolds, Brayley and Britton and others
mention a Roman bridge, castle and coins. But this is a mere misreading of a passage
in Hutton's History of Birmingham, p. 216, ed. 3. The remains really belong to Derby.
244
ROMANO-BRITISH WARWICKSHIRE
(5) An alleged ' camp ' at Selly Oak (now indistinguishable) and an alleged well near
Harborne seem to lack proof of Roman origin.
These finds show that Birmingham was not in any real sense an inhabited site in the
Roman period. Wm. Baxter [Glossarium Antiq. Britann. (London, 1719), p. 46], gave
the spot the name Bremenium, just as a guess, and the idea was picked up by Bertram
in forging ' Richard of Cirencester.' It has of course no validity and is totally unworthy
of credence : Bremenium itself was in Northumberland. For the line of Rycknield
Street across Birmingham see p. 240.
BLACKLOW HILL. Lord Algernon Percy of Guy's Cliffe has four coins (silver of Antony,
Pius, Commodus, bronze of Nero) which were found in a drawer, wrapped in a paper
marked ' Coins dug up at Blacklow Hill.' Other coins are believed to have been found
with them but are lost and the date of the find is unknown. Blacklow Hill (in Leek
Wootton parish) is close to Guy's Cliffe and Gaveston's Cross. [Unpublished.]
BRAILES. Potsherds [R. F. Tomes].
BRINKLOW. N. Salmon [New Survey (1731), p. 492] put Ratae here, but it is ;in impossible
idea. The earthworks here are certainly not Roman, as all will agree who have seen
them. The question whether the Fosse deviates to avoid them [Archaological "Journal,
xxxv. 114, etc.] can only be settled by excavation, but they seem to me to be planted
across it [Dugdale, 218; W. G. Fretton, ' Staunton Folio,' Birmingham and Midland
Institute, 1883, p. 35, plan of 1821 ; Archaeological Journal, xxxv. 113, xxxviii. 435
(horseshoes, miscalled Roman) ; Builder, June 12, 1884 ; Journal of the British Archaeo-
logical Association, xx ix. 40].
BROWNSOVER. Roman cinerary urn in chapel yard, recorded by Bloxam [Rugby, the School and
Neighbourhood (London, 1889), p. 195 ; and Rugby School Nat. Hist. Sac. Trans. 1884].
The ' camp ' here has no claim to be considered Roman.
BUBBENHALL. Seven inscribed tiles found 1877 in demolishing a building supposed to be 200
years old. The inscriptions are identical and are a reproduction of the inscription found
about the year 1600 at Bremenium (High Rochester), [Corpus Inscriptionum Latin, vii.
986]. The texture of the tiles, the forms of the letters and a mistake in the lettering
prove these tiles to be modern productions ; and comparison shows that they were
actually stamped with the block (or a duplicate of the block) used by Camden [Britannia
(1607), ed. 4] to illustrate the High Rochester altar. One tile was given to Trinity
College, Cambridge, one to Warwick Museum, where I have seen them [Notes and
Queries, fifth series, vii. (1877), pt. 2, pp. 28, 74, 133, 195, 436 ; Archteological Journal,
xxxiii. 452]. Sir John Evans (in Notes and Queries) first suggested the original of the
tiles, and Mr. S. M. Leathes, Fellow of Trinity College, confirmed this by comparing
the tile in Trinity College Library with the illustration in Camden. I imagine that the
tiles were fabricated early in the seventeenth century and more probably as a jeu d 'esprit
than as a forgery.
BUTLERS MARSTON. Coins are said to have been found in the parish. There is a farm
called Blacklands, but I am assured that nothing has ever been detected on it. See
Combrook.
CAVE'S INN. Hamlet on Wading Street : p. 230.
CESTERSOVER. Various assertions have been made that this is a Roman site, but it is probably
only a Saxon one. Stukeley [Itin. Curiosum, i. 112] mentions foundations, etc., at Old
Town, though without calling them Roman ; M. H. Bloxam in one of his earlier
papers [Birmingham Analyst, 1836, iv. 179] speaks of Roman pavements and burials.
But these, as he later saw, are Saxon [C. Roach Smith, Collectanea Antiqua, i. 38 ;
Bloxam, Proceedings of the Society of Antiquaries, viii. 322, ser. 2 ; Archceologia, xlviii. 337].
The late J. T. Burgess stated that Roman pavements and late Roman remains were
found during the construction of the Midland Railway from Leicester to Rugby in
1839 [Journal of the British Archaeological Association, 1873, xxix. 40]. But I can get
no confirmation of the statement though I have made local enquiries. The derivation
of the name is doubtful. Mr. W. H. Stevenson tells me that Dugdale's ' the eastern
over ' is wrong, and that a derivation from ' ceaster ' is unlikely.
CHESTERTON. Village (?) : see p. 234.
CLIFTON-ON-DUNSMORE. Skeletons, beads, a jewel mounted in gold and a bronze bowl-
handle, found in 1843, nave Deen called Roman [M. H. Bloxam, Associated Architectural
Society Papers, i. 229]. But the jewel was pronounced Saxon by Sir A. W. Franks and
probably the whole find is Saxon. Mr. Goodacre of Ullesthorp has some of the things.
245
A HISTORY OF WARWICKSHIRE
CLOUDESLEY BUSH. Tumulus on Fosse Way, two miles south of High Cross, now removed.
Dugdale (p. 92), Stukeley [Itin. Curiosum, i. in] and others took this to be the tomb of
one Claudius, and the impossible idea still lingers in some books.
COLESHILL. Copper coin of Trajan discovered among old foundations in Grimeshill field,
north of the town [Dugdale, p. 1006 ; hence Gough, Add. to Camden, ii. 461, and
others]. Possibly an unexplored Roman house.
COMBE ABBEY. See Peter Hall.
COMBROOK. Coins (i Victorinus, I Helena, 5 Constantine, I Urbs Roma) at Brokehampton,
near Butlers Marston [J. H. Bloom].
COMPTON, LONG. Two coins : ' first brass ' of Lucilla, ' second brass ' of Daza [Journal
of British Archttological Association, xvii. 75].
COVENTRY. 'Second brass' of Nero, also 'regular pavement' under Broadgate, taken to be
Roman in Gentleman's Magazine, 1793, ii. 787, and later writers. But as no other
Roman objects have occurred in Coventry the pavement may better be called medieval.
DUGDALE. Reynolds (p. 437) ascribes remains to a place of this name, but he means Coles-
hill.
EATINGTON (ETTINGTON). Many coins, including a ' second brass ' of the elder Faustina and
and Constantinian 'third brass,' bronze fibula. Samian ware (SATVRNINI -OF and
SENTIA M) found in Eatington Park [E. P. Shirley, Archaeological Journal, ii. 199, and
Lower Eatington (London, 1869), p. no ; J. H. Bloom]. These finds can be connected
with others made at Halford and in Worcestershire at Newbold-on-Stour, Talton,
Arnscote [Victoria History of Worcestershire, \. 22O ; Proceedings of the Society of Antiquaries,
ser. 2, iv. 231]. The whole seems to indicate a rather denser population here than in
most of Warwickshire.
FENNY COMPTON. Much pottery (Samian, pelves, grey-blue common ware, etc.) was found
in 1 88 1 in draining the ' Great Ground,' a field about half a mile south of the village on
the lane to Farnborough fields ; some pieces resemble wasters from a kiln. [Information
from E. R. P. Knott of St. Leonards, Burton Dassett, who showed me specimens.]
FOLESHILL. Two hoards of fourth century copper coins in earthen jugs, found December,
1792, and January, 1793. The former comprised 1800 coins of Constantine I. and
Magnentius ; the latter, larger coins, better preserved but fewer, of the same period
[Gentleman's Magazine, 1793, i. 83, and ii. 786, with plate of urn].
GOODREST. Coins vaguely mentioned by J. T. Burgess [Warwick Field Club Report, 1873,
p. 1 1]. Goodrcst is 3 miles north of Warwick and a mile west of Leek Wootton.
HALFORD BRIDGE. Coins of Gallienus, Probus, etc., found in a field called ' The Stones,'
now in possession of Mr. T. S. Potter [J. H. Bloom]. Other small finds ; see Warwick
Field Club Report, 1878. The remains noted in Gentleman's Magazine, 1792, ii. 785,
seem post-Roman. See Eatington, above.
HAMPTON-IN-ARDEN. See Knowle.
HARBOROUGH BANKS. Earthwork called Roman by Dugdale (p. 790) ; [Hannett, Forest of
Arden (London, 1863), p. 12] ; but. not Roman. In Lapworth parish.
HARTSHILL. Kilns found 1891-7 at the Caldecote quarries. Much pottery was noted in
and round the kilns, a little Samian and dark grey ware, but principally cream-coloured
pelves (mortaria] 10 to 15 inches in diameter stamped with various marks on the rims.
One in Warwick Museum has the stamp
/nine
which is obviously an attempt to make a stamp without troubling about the letters.
Prof. Windle records stamps VDIO and SAR R but I fancy that these were not really
so definite [Windle, Proceedings of the Society of Antiquaries, xvi. 405 ; Builders' Journal,
April 7, 1897 ; Warwick Field Club Report, 1897, pp. 27, IOO ; pieces in Warwick
Museum], Bartlett [Manduessedum Romanum, p. 15] records that in 1773 a tumulus
was dug up here and beneath was found a brick pavement 6 feet square with a hole at
each corner. I do not know if this belonged to another kiln [see also Nichols'
Leicestershire, iv. 1092, 1031 ; Brayley and Britton, p. 310].
246
ROMANO-BRITISH WARWICKSHIRE
The occurrence of small kilns for the local manufacture of pelves is common.
These ' mullers ' were cumbrous to transport and could not be used as wine jars or corn
jars. They were therefore seldom exported, but manufactured as need arose locally.
The manufacture on any one spot may have been a temporary affair of a few years. See
Corpus Inscrip. Latin, xiii. (3) p. 77.
HIGH CROSS. Village (?) : see p. 232.
HILLMORTON. Cup of grey ware, found in ballast-hole near canal [Rugby School Museum].
ILMINGTON. Roman potsherds and coins, also small earthwork of uncertain age, near Pig
Lane on Knebsworth Common [R. F. Tomes ; J. H. Bloom ; Warwick Field Club
Report, 1892, p. 59].
IPSLEY. Urn, of uncertain age [Archaeological "Journal, ii. 202]. 'Camp, not Roman
[Bloxam, Birmingham and Midland Institute (Archaeological section), 1875, p. 38].
ITCHINGTON, BISHOP'S. Coins, including denarius of Nero [W. Gardner].
ITCHINGTON (LONG). Indications of house : p. 238.
KENILWORTH. Indications of house, in the Chase woods : p. 238.
KINETON. Coins (i Claudius I., 4 Constantinian copper) in Bankey meadow on the north
side of the road from Kineton towards Banbury ; silver coin of Julian at Castle Hill
[E. P. Shirley, Proceedings of the Society of Antiquaries, iv. 92, ser. ij. The Rev. J. H.
Bloom also records coins of Pius, Gordian I. (silver) and A.D. 250-350.
KING'S NEWNHAM. Samian potsherd, bronze fibula, deer's horn, boar's tusk [Bloxam,
Birmingham Analyst, 1836, iv. 180],
KNOWLE. Hoard of 'third brass' (Gallienus, Salonina, Tetricus, etc.), in all 15 Ib. weight,
found in an urn in 1778 in the manor of Knowle [Archaologia, vii. 413 ; Gentleman s
Magazine, 1795, ii. 988 ; hence Bartlett, Manduessedum Romanum, p. 12 note, and later
writers].
LADBROKE. Frequent coins, especially near Chapel Ascot and Hodnell [W. Gardner].
LAWFORD. At Little Lawford, north of the Avon, three urns in circular cist of limestone found
about 1815 [Bloxam, Proceedings of the Society of Antiquaries, vi. 346, ser. 2, and Bir-
mingham and Midland Institute (Archaeological section), 1875, p. 36 ; see also his Rugby,
the School and Neighbourhood (London, 1889), p. 182].
Potsherds, including an odd-shaped vessel of Samian ware 2 inches high (fig. 2),
found on the south side of the Avon, in Long Lawford [Bloxam, ibid. ; Rugby Museum].
LEEK WOOTTON. Mr. J. T. Burgess mentions a ' Roman goddess ' as found here [Warwick
Field Club Report, 1873, p. 1 1], but I do not know what he means.
LIGHTHORNE. Coins (one of Allectus) near Warwick and Banbury Road [Ribton Turner,
Shakespeare's Land, p. 316 ; W. Gardner].
LILLINGTON. Potsherds found lately in gravel pit near church [Murray's Guide, p. 6 1 ;
Mr. S. S. Stanley]. Those I have seen are not Roman.
LOXLEY. Coin of Allectus found near Loxley House [Mr. Cove Jones].
MANCETTER. Village (?) : p. 233.
MARTON. Two silver coins [W. Gardner].
MEON HILL. Bloxam mentioned a ' camp ' and a ' magazine of Roman arms ' here, in the
Birmingham Analyst, 1836, iv. 185 ; later he gave them up.
MILVERTON. Earthen urn with about 200 'third brass' found 1885. About sixty which
were examined ranged from Gallienus to Probus [Numismatic Chronicle, 1886, p. 246 ;
S. S. Stanley, Warwick Field Club Report, 1888].
MONKS KIRBY. Villa and burials (?) : see p. 238.
NUNEATON. Hoard of over 40 denarii, 2 Republican (Cassia, Livineia), the rest ranging
from Vespasian to Marcus [Numismatic Chronicle, 1 88 1, p. 307]. A small hoard of a
common type : compare Arch&ologia, liv. 490.
OFFCHURCH. Lady Aylesbury has at Offchurch Bury a number of ' third brass ' of circa
A.D. 260400 and some minims, found probably in the neighbourhood : compare War-
wick Archaeological Society Report, 1876, p. 40, and Field Club Report, 1878, p. 2. The
alleged ' Roman capitals ' now in the porch of the Bury are modern.
PETER HALL. Two small bronze heads, cast hollow and filled with lead, presumably part of
a steelyard : found at Peter Hall near Combe Abbey. Samian potsherds (DIVIX) found
about 1840 in Combe Park [Bloxam in Associated Architectural Society Papers, i. 228, 229 ;
in Birmingham and Midland Institute (Archaeological section), 1875, p. 35, and in
Proceedings of the Society of Antiquaries, v. 303]. The heads are now in Rugby School
Museum.
247
A HISTORY OF WARWICKSHIRE
POLBSWORTH. Hoard of small Constantinian copper round in earthenware urn at Aucote in
1762 [Annual Register, October, 1762 ; Bartlett's Manduessedum Romanum, p. 12].
Large hoard of denarii of Vespasian, Hadrian, Pius, the younger Faustina and others,
found at Hall End in 1848 [Journal of the British Archeeological Aisociatitn, iv. 151].
Compare Nuneaton.
PRINCETHORPE. A denarius (DIVVS AVGVSTVS), small bronze head of bull, potsherds including
a fragment of Castor ware [C. Roach Smith, Collectanea Antiqua, i. 37 ; Bloxam,
Proceedings of the Society of Antiquaries, v. 303 ; Rugby School Museum]. The circum-
stances of the find are unknown. The objects have been recorded along with Saxon
remains to which they need not and ought not to belong. Princethorpe is close to the Fosse.
RUGBY. Plain hoop ring of bronze with Greek inscription on the inner or flat side of the
ring. Bloxam gives the inscription as Esunera Euneiske. Mr. W. T. Watkin, who
examined it carefully, read
ESYNEPA EYNAICXE
The sense in either case is not at all clear, and I do not suppose either reading is correct.
The ring was found about 1848 close to Mr. M. H. Bloxam's residence, St. Matthew's
Place, Rugby [Bloxam, Associated Architectural Society Papers, i. 229 ; Watkin, Archaeo-
logical Journal, xxxv. 67, 301 ; Ephemeris Epigraphies, iv. p. 21 1, No. 711. I do not know
where the ring is now ; the curator of the Rugby School Museum assures me it is not there].
Toy hammer of bronze found about 1848 not far from the ring just mentioned :
now in Rugby School Museum [Bloxam, ibid, and Birmingham and Midland Institute
(Archzological section), 1875, p. 36].
RYTON-ON-DUNSMORE. The 'Roman and British" urns found in 1848 [Archaeological
Journal, v. 217] seem all to be 'British.'
SALFORD PRIORS. Coins and perhaps a burial urn are vaguely mentioned in F. White's
Warwickshire and the volume of the Birmingham and Midland Institute (Archaeological
section) for 1895, xxi. 75.
SECKINGTON. The earthwork here cannot be Roman and the idea that the place is the
Roman Secandunum [Birmingham and Midland Institute (Archaeological section), xxvi. 89]
is ridiculous. No such name exists. For the earthwork see G. T. Clark's plan and
description in Archaeological Journal, xxxix. 373.
. SNITTERFIELD. Burial urn \JVarwick Archrtological Society Report, 1869, p. 30].
SNOWFORD BRIDGE. Villa : p. 238. In Long Itchington parish.
SOUTHAM. Coins (i Allectus, 2 Magnentius) found about 1850 in the Bury orchard
below the church ; 2 denarii of Vespasian, i of Geta, I copper of Probus (Alexandrian
mint) and others, found elsewhere in Southam [W. Gardner].
STOCKTON. Coins, cup or urn [W. Gardner].
STONELEIGH. Coins [W. Gardner].
STRATFORD-ON-AVON. About 110 copper coins, found (it is said) at Cross-o'-the-Hill, south
of the town, now in the Birthplace Museum ; about forty are said to have been found
before 1800, the rest between 1800 and 1856. They are of all dates from Germanicus
to Gratian, the later being commonest.
An urn of gold and silver coins (one of Magnus Maximus) is said to have been found
here, or near here, in 1786 [Gentleman's Magazine, 1794, ii. 507].
Mr. Cove Jones of Loxley has a gold coin of Valens, said to have been found in
Stratford. It may belong to this hoard of 1786.
About 1786 a Stratford labourer found a broken urn and three copper coins between
Baden (Bardon) Hill and the river Stour, i^ miles west of Stratford.
See also Tiddington (below) and for a possible road to Alcester, p. 243. Coins seem
unusually abundant round Stratford, but not other remains.
TIDDINGTON. Mr. Cove Jones of Loxley has about 100 copper coins said to have been
picked up at intervals from 1846-56 on the 'Church Leys,' Tiddington. They include
i ' first brass ' of Trajan, i ' first ' and i ' second brass ' of Pius, i Alex. Severus,
several small coppers of 250-80 A.D. and many of 280-380, especially Constantinian.
They may possibly belong to a hoard which had been broken up and scattered by the
plough before it was noticed and which was therefore picked up piecemeal.
Mr. Cove Jones has also one Constantinus said to have been found 1846 'on the
Church lands, i mile from Stratford towards Tiddington ' (? the same locality), and a
silver ring with four coins (i Constantine, i Magnentius) found on the ' Lench fields
between the Avon and the Stratford and Tiddington road in 1850.
248
ROMANO-BRITISH WARWICKSHIRE
WALTON. House (?) : see p. 238.
WARWICK. Some pieces of Samian (three in Warwick Museum, others penes Mr.
Thos. O. Lloyd) are said to have been found with bronze tweezers, ' tearbottles,' etc.,
in the Priory grounds. The details of the discovery have not been recorded, but the
tweezers suggest Saxon burials. [For such details as survive see Proceedings of the Society
of Antiquaries, 1867, iii. 472, ser. 2 ; Warwick Archaeological Society Report, 1867, p. 10
(each mentioning graves, but not the potsherds, tweezers, etc.) ; ibid. 1868, p. 23 (skulls
and Roman pottery presented to museum) ; Warwick Field Club Report, 1873, p. II,
1875, p. 12, 1876, p. 40.]
These potsherds appear to be the only Roman remains recorded from Warwick.
Reynolds [p. 469] refers to coins, but too vaguely to be of use. The reputed Roman
masonry under the clock tower in the castle seems not to be really Roman. The alleged
road to Alcester is equally unproven. Dugdale (p. 372 note) seems to have been right
in saying that Warwick was not a Roman site. Certainly the Roman name ascribed to
it by Camden and accepted by many later writers, Praesidium, is a mere guess, utterly
undeserving of acceptance. The only Praesidium known in Roman Britain was a small
fort in Yorkshire \Notitia Dignitatum Occid. xl.]. 1
WATLING STREET. Coins found in the Street, near Higham (i silver of Trajan) [Burton's
Leicestershire, p. 131].
WEIXESBOURNE. Burial urn found 1823 [Warwick Arck<eological Society Report, 1843, p. 12 ;
Warwick Museum].
WESTON-ON-AvoN. Samian and other potsherds, small bronze boar, coin of Domitian, three
Constantinian coins [Warwick Archaeological Society Report, 1866, pp. 1 8, 23 ; Warwick
and Worcester Museums].
WHITCHURCH. A 'third brass' of Tacitus, found 1901 []. H. Bloom],
WILMCOTE. Well (?), 9 feet diameter, regularly steyned ; containing horns and skulls of
animals, potsherds, coins ( I Aurelian). Other wells (or pits) near [Gentleman's Magazine,
1841, ii. 8l ; Journal of the British Archaeological Association, xxix. 41].
WOLFHAMCOTE. At Sawbridge (Salbridge) in 1689 a well was found 4 feet square; in it,
2O feet deep, was a large square stone with a hole in it, on which stood urns of grey
ware. Twelve of these urns were taken out whole, and about twelve others were
broken by the fall of a stone from above. Under the large square stone the well was
sounded to a depth of 40 feet more, getting narrower as it got deeper, but no bottom
was reached and apparently no more urns were found [Dugdale, p. 308 ; Stukeley,
Iter Boreale, p. 21 (vague) ; hence Gough, Add, to Camden, ii. 450 ; Reynolds, p. 460,
etc.]. The account suggests that the urns were all originally perfect and arranged pur-
posely in the well. Wells or pits containing urns which appeared to the finders to have
been purposely arranged have been found in many places [Victoria History of Norfolk, i. 29$,
296]. No satisfactory reason has ever been suggested to explain such a purposeful arrange-
ment, and some competent judges have ventured to doubt whether the finders have not
mistaken an accidental approach to symmetry for an intended symmetry of arrangement.
WORMLEIGHTON. Wooden coffin, made of a tree trunk, and coins of Constantine found
between Wormleighton and Staunton or Stoneton [Stukeley, Iter Boreale, p. 21 ; hence
Gough, Add. to Camden, ii. 450, etc.].
1 Mr. Henry Bradley \An English Miscellany presented to Dr. Funtivall (Oxford, 1901), p. 15]
conjectures that Warwick is the Caer Wrangon of Welsh tradition the Cair Guiragon or Guoeirangon
or Guoranegon of Nennius' list of xxviii. civitates. He takes Wrangon (that is, Gwrangon) to be the
name, not of a person but of the Avon. The list is so obscure that it is hard to argue about it, but one
would not expect to find in it a site which was not really occupied in Romano-British days.
It should be added that some nineteen Roman sepulchral inscriptions, now built into the wall of
a bathroom in the Spy Tower of Warwick Castle, have no connection with Warwick and are not of
Romano-British origin. Nothing is recorded of their origin save that they were found or detected when
the lower court of the Castle was levelled in 181 1, but one of them is known to have been elsewhere
in England in the eighteenth century, and their appearance and epigraphic characteristics declare that
they were brought originally from Rome. Great numbers of such inscriptions have been brought to
England by travellers on their ' grand tour ' or others, and many of these have been lost : some have
even made their way deep underground. When rediscovered, they have often been taken for Romano-
British antiquities (see the Victoria Hist, of Hampshire, i. 289, note 3 ; and my remarks in the Classical
Review, v. 240). The Warwick Castle inscriptions have been examined by the late Dr. HObner and
printed in the sixth volume of the Corpus Inscriptionum Latinarum : I have seen rubbings of all, and casts
of several are in Warwick Museum.
1 249 32
HISTORY OF WARWICKSHIRE
ANGLO-SAJ
r Ednibiirgfe Gefljfrnpliu-*! TojtUni.
THE VICTORIA HISTORY OF
N REMAINS.
REFERENCE
nterments
Miscellaneous Finds, Coin*, etc.
Scale
~- COUNTI ES OF ENGLAND
ANGLO-SAXON
REMAINS
IF account be taken of the original aspect and extent of Arden, the
Anglo-Saxon remains of Warwickshire now preserved in museums
acquire a coherence that is certainly exceptional, and an interest
that seldom attaches to isolated finds. A glance at the map will
justify the statement of a well-known local antiquary that sepulchral
relics of the pagan period are confined to the valley of the Avon.
Perhaps the only exception is near Atherstone in the north, which must
have been alien territory before the Anglian invaders from the north
and cast skirted the forest and founded the Mercian kingdom of the
midlands.
It is difficult in these days and in this country to appreciate the
sundering influence of such a forest as that which covered most of the
county between the Avon and the site of Birmingham. The enlarged
area of cultivation and the improved means of communication have
annihilated the obstacles that to a primitive population must have been
of immense importance. Friend and foe alike would find the transit
irksome if not dangerous ; and though great highways ran beside it,
Arden must have hindered intercourse between the dwellers to the north
and south of what is known to-day as Warwickshire.
Of the Rycknield Way nothing need here be said, as it only skirts
the western border of the county ; but during the post-Roman period
an important part must have been played in the over-running of the
southern midlands by the Watling and Fosse Ways that meet at High
Cross. The latter road runs through the centre of the earliest settle-
ments of the Teutons in the Avon valley, and not only determined to
some extent the area of their occupation, but also seems to indicate at
least one point at which the strangers entered the county.
Who these new-comers were may also be fairly conjectured from a
comparative examination of the data furnished by history and archaeology.
The Venerable Bede, who wrote at the beginning of the eighth century,
is our best authority 1 for the settlement of a people called the Hwiccii
or Hwiccans in the Severn valley. They seem to have been an offshoot,
and were certainly the neighbours, of the West Saxons ; and from the
extent of the pre-Reformation diocese of Worcester* it is permissible to
1 Ecclesiastical History, bk. ii. chap, z ; bk. iv. chaps. 13, 23.
2 The metropolis of the Hwiccan diocese (Kemble, Codex Diplomatics, No. xci.).
251
A HISTORY OF WARWICKSHIRE
fix upon the eastern border of Gloucestershire as the dividing line
between them so long as the West Saxon dominion centred in the upper
valley of the Thames. The general similarity of the pagan relics dis-
covered in the diocese is all in favour of a connection that is suggested
by geographical considerations. A conquering people whose chief desire
was to acquire the most fertile lands of the Britons would find no
obstacle at the point where the Avon enters Warwickshire ; and the
occurrence of a certain kind of brooch at Bidford 1 and at other points
further up the river shows a connection with the West Saxon Hwiccan,
while the diocesan boundary included the southern part of the county
with most of Worcestershire and Gloucestershire east of the Severn.
The first bishop of the Hwiccans was consecrated about 679, and it is
therefore to be expected that signs of paganism should here appear in
graves that on archaeological grounds may be assigned to the seventh
century. As the heathen practice of burying arms and ornaments with
the dead was gradually abolished, a lower time-limit is secured for the
generality of graves so furnished ; but there is something also to give
the earliest date for Teutonic burials in these parts. If the early entries
of the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle are to be trusted, the battle of Deorham
in 577 marked the establishment of the West Saxons in what was after-
wards to be the Hwiccan realm ; and a century later the conquests of
Ceawlin were ratified by the Church. It has been suggested 2 that
Fethanleah, the site of an important battle in 584, should be looked for
not in the neighbourhood of Chester, but rather in the Avon valley ;
and in the time of Offa, two centuries later, there was in fact a place
Fa-hhaleah not far from Stratford-on-Avon, which would be a likely spot
for a Hwiccan victory if the advance took place up the river valley.
The Fosse Way would also be a convenient route from the south-west,
and enable the Saxons to occupy the part of Warwickshire south of the
Avon that was long known as Feldon to distinguish it from the forest
district to the north.
What may be regarded as a link between Romano-British civiliza-
tion and the comparative barbarism of the Teutonic conqueror has come
to light in the county. This interesting discovery was communicated by
Mr. M. H. Bloxam to the Northampton and Warwickshire Architectural
Societies in i85i, 3 and was at that time attributed to the Romano-
British period. Eight years before, some labourers had been employed
to fill up an old gravel-pit about half a mile north-west of Newton
Lodge, in the parish of Clifton-upon-Dunsmore, and in levelling the
surrounding soil had found the remains of eight or ten human skeletons
buried a little below the surface. Among the objects deposited with the
bodies was the bronze handle of what in all probability had been a
Roman skillet, such as have occasionally been found in interments.
1 Two specimens of the saucer brooch are preserved in the museum of the Victoria Institute at
Worcester, but no particulars of the discovery are available.
2 By Rev. C. S. Taylor, Tram. Bristol and Glouci. Arch. Soc. (1896-7), p. 354.
3 Reports f Associated Architectural Societies (1850-1), Nortkants, p. 229.
252
ANGLO-SAXON REMAINS
A suggestion was indeed made that the handle belonged to a mirror, but
the find as a whole corresponds so closely with the relics from Des-
borough, Northants, 1 now preserved in the British Museum, that the
question may be regarded as settled. A flat handle is characteristic of
the skillets used by the Romans and apparently the Romanized Britons
for sacrificial purposes, 2 and the present example was 6 inches long and
an inch wide, terminating in a disc i inches in diameter, with a
raised knob in the centre. From a mere fragment of the rim the
diameter of the bowl was calculated to be about 6 inches, but the
Desborough specimen, which had a handle of the same length, was 10
inches across. The vessel would by analogy have had a depth of 3
inches, and in shape was intermediate between a modern saucepan and
frying-pan, though the bottom was slightly rounded.
In the same deposit was a bead of amethyst an inch and a quarter
long, which was said to be of lilac-coloured transparent pebble ; and
a black stone, just over an inch in diameter, set in a looped circlet of
gold, as was also an oval garnet, which measured rather more than half
an inch in length. Other objects of the precious metal were a barrel-
shaped bead of wire, five-eighths of an inch long and similar in shape to
two smaller beads of silver, and two ornaments of conical form about a
third of an inch in diameter, with a loop attached. Gold wire beads and
garnet pendants set in the same metal were also found with the skillet
at Desborough, only about eighteen miles from Clifton ; and the parallel
is too close to be entirely accidental.
An important discovery, which also finds a parallel in the adjoining
county, was made in 1824 on the line
of the Watling Street, about a mile
from Cestersover, between Bensford
(Bransford or Beresford) Bridge and
the turnpike road leading from Rugby
to Lutterworth. The road was under
repair, and the labourers excavated a
number of human skeletons which lay
buried in the centre and on both sides
of the road, at a distance of 1 8 inches
or 2 feet below the surface. With
them were found weapons, shield-
bosses, and spearheads varying from 6
to 15 inches in length and retaining
traces of the wooden shaft in the
socket ; knives and iron buckles,
brooches of various shapes, clasps,
rings, tweezers and feminine orna-
ments. The majority were of bronze, some few of silver, and there
CINERARY URN, CESTERSOVER
(CHURCHOVER).
1 Victoria History of Northants, i. 238.
* A list and details of such vessels are given by Mr. Romilly Allen in Arckttok&a Cambrensil,
ser. 6, i. 35.
253
A HISTORY OF WARWICKSHIRE
was also a variety of beads in amber and glass paste. One urn only
was discovered : this was well fired, had been turned on the lathe,
and was much ornamented. Close to the urn lay an iron sword, and
across the mouth an iron spearhead, 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 condition. 1
Of the objects figured from this site, two call for special mention as
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 2^ inches leaves little room for doubt
that it was the chape of a 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 it 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 a grave. The other piece of special interest is a circular
brooch of the same metal, 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, and frequently found in localities
yielding Anglo-Saxon relics. The original setting seems to have been a
carbuncle, either oval 2 or circular ; and while a find at Canterbury 3
shows a specimen associated with ornaments richly enamelled in the
Roman manner, the national collection contains examples of both shapes
from Roman and Anglo-Saxon sites. 4 The central cabochon has in most
cases been lost, but a glass-paste imitation is found on some of the
Roman examples ; while the Teutonic fashion was to cut
the stone or glass into thin slabs and set these on gold foil.
An interesting example of such work has been found near
Rugby, 6 and consists of a gold stud, now somewhat damaged,
with the centre ornamented in quadrants, and garnets in-
laid 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, 6 and may have been subsequently attached
as a P omme l to a sword-hilt, as rough holes at the bottom
and at two opposite points on the rim show that an
unskilled hand has fastened it by means of a wire or metal band.
Coloured drawings of other brooches found on this site are given in
Akerman's Pagan Saxondom, pi. xviii., including two long narrow speci-
1 Roach Smith, Collectanea Antijua, i. 41, where the cinerary urn is figured ; other objects on pi.
xviii. p. 36; Society of Antiquaries, Proceedings, ser. I, iii. 55 ; Bloxam, fragmenta SepulchraKa, pp.
5 2 . 53. 57 ; an( i Monumental Architecture and Sculpture of Great Britain, pp. 34, 44, 52.
2 A specimen found at Ragley Park and noticed below seems to have been of this description.
3 Roach Smith, Collectanea Antiqua, vii. 202, pi. xx. fig. 3.
* Long Wittenham and East ShefFord, Berks ; and Haslingfield, Cambs.
6 Preserved in the School Art Museum, and kindly lent for illustration by Mr. Thos. Lindsay.
6 Compare the Kentish jewellery, the Taplow buckle, and the Ardagh chalice.
254
ANGLO-SAXON REMAINS
mens of solid construction that are apparently of Anglian origin. Both
terminate in a conventional horse's head, and the smaller of the two is of
the realistic character noticeable on the earliest Teutonic imitations of
the Roman brooch in vogue during the fourth century, somewhat
resembling a crossbow. Of the others, two have some points of resem-
blance with specimens from Offchurch noticed later, and there was an
example of the quoit-shaped brooch, as well as of the horseshoe or
penannular form 1 similar to specimens found at Longbridge.
At Norton, twelve miles to the south in Northants, a very similar
burial place came to light about twenty years later, during the excavation
of a mound 2 or 3 yards wide and about a yard high, which ran by the
hedge along the Watling Street. The level at which the bodies had
been deposited was about 6 feet below the crown of the Roman road
and about 25 feet 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. 2
The burials on the Roman road do not however belong to the main
Teutonic district of the county, and more characteristic remains occur on
the other side of Dunsmore Heath, in the valley of the Learn. During the
construction of the Rugby and Leamington railway, Anglo-Saxon relics
were found, about 1850, in an artificial mound of earth at Marton.
Two of the urns then brought to light were bequeathed to Rugby
School Art Museum by Mr. Bloxam of Rugby, who gave an account 3
of this and other Warwickshire finds in 1851 ; and another urn,
about half the size, is now in the museum at Warwick, with three
shield-bosses from the same site. All were quite plain and of globular
form, the larger specimens being 8 inches high and of about the
same diameter, the smaller being 2 inches less. They were not made
on the wheel, and could be easily distinguished from Roman pottery,
specimens of which have also been met with in the county. The
contents too showed that they belonged to another period and another
people ; for besides fragments of bones, there were two spearheads
of iron and a fragment of the same metal, which was taken to be
part of a sword, 2^ inches wide. Neither the Romans nor the
Romanized Britons buried weapons with the dead, and the presence
of a long broad sword of the usual Anglo-Saxon type is quite in
keeping with the brooches which were happily recovered from the
mound. One was circular, with the face ornamented by means of a
punch ; this type is common enough in central England, and is not
confined to a particular district, as the saucer-shaped brooch appears to
be. Of this latter description there was a single specimen, found on the
top of some bones in one of the urns. This direct association with the
rite of cremation should be noticed, as even in the mixed cemeteries of
1 These are figured in Baron de Baye's Industrial Arts of the Anglo-Saxons, pi. ix. figs, i , 6.
* Arch&ologia, xli. 479 ; Victoria History of Northants, i. 234.
8 Reports of Associated Architectural Societies (1850-1), Northampton, p. 230.
255
A HISTORY OF WARWICKSHIRE
Fairford and Wittenham, brooches of this type are only known to occur
in unburnt burials, and are almost exclusively confined to an area in
which cremation was not the ordinary practice. A stray specimen has
indeed been found at Sleaford, Lines., 1 the only one from 242 burials,
six of which were by way of cremation. With this exception, Marton,
just south of Dunsmore Heath, and Norton, in the neighbouring county
of Northants, seem to mark the northern limit 2 of these brooches,
which from their occurrence chiefly in the Thames basin may be looked
on as peculiarly West Saxon ; and the discovery of a specimen with a
cinerary urn typifies aptly enough the intermingling of different tribes
on what in all probability was for some time the borderland between
them.
A brooch five inches long of pronounced Anglian type terminating
in conventional horse's head was found 3 with an iron spearhead and other
objects on the site of a supposed Roman station on the Fosse road at
Princethorpe on the north bank of the Leam. No further details were
supplied by Mr. Bloxam, but an ornamented fragment of Roman
pottery is figured on the same plate, together with what appears to have
been the butt of a spear ; these may
.',-'" """""r> possibly have been associated with the
A-;-'.'.'. ".'I.'-'--;?- brooch and spearhead in a burial of
-'.*"">--.".*_""*" "T_---7"."V *
the Anglo-Saxon period. Though
common enough in the eastern coun-
ties, this class of brooch is not other-
wise represented in Warwickshire, and
may be regarded in connection with
the few instances of cremation in this
county as indicating the presence of
a certain number of settlers or tempo-
rary occupants of the Leam valley who
were more closely related to the
Anglians of the north and east than
to the inhabitants of mid-England.
On the same highway six miles to the north, traces of the Anglian site
of cremation have also been found at Brinklow, 4 and the urn here figured
is from the glebe land there.
Ten miles to the south at Bascote, and about three miles from
the Fosse Way, Saxon spearheads, a javelin or two and a knife have been
found in quarrying for limestone, but no further particulars have been
recorded. 6 Westward beyond the Roman road, the site of the supposed
Saxon cemetery at OfFchurch flanks the direct road to Long Itchington,
south of the church ; and graves have been found as at Longbridge in
1 Archtfohgia, vol. 50, p. 388.
1 Two brooches, said to be of saucer shape (Wright, Celt, Roman and Saxon, p. 484), were found at
Driffield, E. R. Yorks, but according to one account (Collectanea Antique, ii. 166) were originally filled
with enamel and belong to another category.
8 Roach Smith's Collectanea Antiqua, i. pi. xix. p. 37. * Bloxam, Monumenta Sefulchralia, p. 59.
6 Journal of British Arch<tolo&cal Association, xxxii. 465.
256
CINERARY URN, ERINKLOVV.
ANGLO-SAXON REMAINS
digging gravel at the summit of the hill. Lack of supervision reduced the
archaeological value of the discovery, and the statements of the labourers
cannot be implicitly accepted. The ordinary shield-boss, knife and
spearheads were found ; but the brooches, 1 as usual, form the most inter-
esting portion of the find. All the objects enumerated, however, may
well have belonged to one or two interments, and do not in themselves
prove the existence of a cemetery. Of the three bronze brooches figured
in the original account, 2 one is of peculiar type. It is circular, in the
form of a dish, having in the centre a flat-headed stud that projects
about inch, while the edge of the slightly concave face is turned up
at a decided angle all round. The ornament, which has been altogether
lost, seems to have come away all in one piece, and may have consisted
of enamel, mosaic glass, or garnet cell- work. It is quite distinct from
the common saucer brooch and the type with embossed plate applied to
the face ; and most resembles a specimen found in a barrow at Driffield,
E. R. Yorks, and preserved in York Museum, though this was smaller
and had no stud in the centre. The second is of a more common form
(fig. 3), a flat disc with a swastika in open work. This is generally
regarded as the sign of the god Thor, and the three brooches of this
kind, like several found in Cambridgeshire, 3 had no doubt been worn by
adherents of the old faith.
The principal brooch (fig. 5) belongs to the ordinary square-headed
type, but is more richly ornamented than usual, and when gilt must have
been a striking addition to the costume. The chased portions present
the tangled succession of detached limbs of a quadruped so often seen on
ornaments of this period, but the attempt to represent the human
features in relief is unusual and in this case fairly successful. The
elaborate and well-executed decoration marks out this specimen as of
fairly early date ; but comparison with a very similar but still finer
example 4 found in Denmark, and attributed to the end of the sixth cen-
tury, 6 would justify us in assigning the brooch, and no doubt also the
Offchurch burial, to the middle of the succeeding century. There were
in addition two cruciform brooches of ordinary patterns, and a few beads
of amber and glass paste. Mention is also made of a small buckle of
silvered bronze and a girdle-tag of the same metal ; but more important,
as showing the currency of the period, are a number of minimi or
' third brass ' coins of the Constantine period. The evidence, however,
is vitiated by the suspicion that these were mixed up with others found
near the Fosse Way on an earlier occasion ; and, in any case, coins of
1 These have been kindly lent by the Dowager Countess of Aylesford, and two selected for
illustration.
* Journal of British Arcbteokgjcal Association, xxxii. 466. As one brooch is only given in section
and no scale is indicated, the illustrations are somewhat misleading.
8 Examples from Malton (British Museum), Linton Heath (Neville, Saxon Obsequies, pi. iii.) and
Barrington (Collectanea Antiyua, vi. pi. xxxiii.) ; also Islip, Northants (Society of Antiquaries, Proceedings,
ix. 90).
4 Figured in Sophus Mailer's NorJische Alterthumskunde, ii. zio.
5 By Sven Saderberg, who also figures the Danish brooch, in Anttquarisk Tidskrift /Sr Sverige, voL
xi. pt. 5, p. 28, and PrShistorische Blatter (1894), pi. xii.
i 257 33
A HISTORY OF WARWICKSHIRE
this description would not help to date the burial which on other
grounds may be referred to the close of the pagan period in this part of
England.
In the museum of the county Natural History and Antiquarian
Society at Warwick is a remarkable brooch l (fig. 6) found near the
railway at Emscote Road, in the parish of St. Nicholas, Warwick. It
is sometimes called the Myton brooch from the suburb of that name,
and was discovered about 1852 by a labourer while digging a gravel pit,
a section of which showed 2 feet of gravel overlaid by 9 inches of soil.
It is supposed that there were several burials in the same locality, but
no exact details are available, and all that is known about the find is
that the brooch was associated with a skull, a large bead of crystal, and
part of a silver ring ornamented with heart-shaped impressions made
with a punch.
The crystal * is of unusually large dimensions with facetted surface
and a central perforation that seems unnecessarily large for stringing as
a bead, and accords better with the common interpretation of these
objects as spindle-whorls. In this instance the edges show signs of wear,
but objects of this class were probably intended rather for use than
ornament, and the utilitarian nature of clay specimens with openings of
the same size is obvious.
The Warwick Museum also contains five* enamelled discs* which
are of special interest, as their origin and date are as yet unascertained.
Reference to the plate will render a long description unnecessary,
and a partial section (fig. SA) will show the character of the hook
attached to the ring surrounding two of the five pieces, the third of this
pattern being without the setting. The design (fig. 8) is the same in
all three, consisting of a graceful combination of three flamboyant spirals
or trumpet-shaped curves, the sunk ground having been filled with
enamels of two or more colours, including red and green.
These discs were used for attaching hooks to the side of a bronze
bowl, the animal head just overlapping the rim and thus enclosing a
loop perhaps for suspending the bowl by means of chains. So much may
be inferred from extant specimens of the Anglo-Saxon period, 5 as well as
from analogous mounts on Roman bowls or buckets of the fourth cen-
tury. 8 It is also clear that it was usual to insert another enamelled disc
within the foot-rim of the bowl, to be seen from below ; and the two
larger specimens found with the others at Chesterton, on the Fosse Way,
were doubtless so applied. The pattern in this case (fig. 9) consists of
eight closely wound spirals connected round a centre which was filled
1 A coloured drawing is given in Akerman's Pagan Saxon Jam, pi. xx. fig. I.
* Figured in Journal of drchttologic al Institute, ix. 179.
8 Earlier accounts however mention only four.
4 Two are illustrated by kind permission of the hon. curators.
5 A list of known examples has been prepared by Mr. Romilly Allen, whose illustrated paper in
Arch<tokga, vol. Ivi., should be consulted.
6 See for example Dr. Grempler's Der Fund von Sackrau (Breslau), pt. i, pi. iv. figs. 1,2; pts. 2 & 3,
pi. iv. fig. 6.
258
[ANGLO-SAXON REMAINS. FKOM WARWICKSHIRE
ANGLO-SAXON REMAINS
with red or white enamel like the ground, or with a gem of some kind.
All the Chesterton discs may possibly have belonged to the same
bowl, as the second large one might have been fixed to the bottom
inside ; but no traces of the thin bronze vessel remain, and there is no
detailed account of the discovery. 1 This is much to be regretted, as
further light on this subject would be most welcome to archaeologists.
At present the evidence is a tangle of contradictions, and only a ten-
tative conclusion can be arrived at in dealing with the Warwickshire
specimens. Such enamelled mounts with or without the bowls have been
found in eleven English counties, 2 and apparently only two specimens are
known from Ireland ; a yet in spite of the occurrence of five in Romanized
Kent out of a total of sixteen, and of their scarcity in Ireland, it is hard
to believe that they were not imported from beyond St. George's Channel.
Again, though one such bowl has been found in an east-and-west burial
on Middleton Moor, Derbyshire, another had been placed near the head
of a skeleton at the north end of a grave 4 at Barlaston, Staffs ; and
though this would leave their Christian origin in doubt, the discovery
of the Lullingstone bowl in Kent, and the constant occurrence of the
disc-designs in the early illuminated manuscripts of Ireland, render their
connection with the Church a practical certainty, while a negative proof
is furnished by their absence from cremated interments.
Assuming therefore, in spite of some indications to the contrary,
that the bowls were made or utilized by Christian ecclesiastics, it may
be conjectured that they were introduced into this country by the Celtic
priests of the Scotic mission, to whom we owe the conversion of the
greater part of England ; and if reliance can be placed on the accepted
date of the book of Durrow, the enamels may be referred to the seventh
century, when the earlier trumpet-pattern (fig. 8) was giving way to
the more purely Christian treatment of the spiral (fig. 9). But even if
all this be granted it still remains for the antiquary to specify the use
of these bowls and to explain why they are found not only in the
graves of men and women alike, but also with the arms and accoutre-
ments of the pagan warrior in England of the seventh century as well
as in a Norwegian grave-mound of the Viking period. 6
Ten miles to the south-west, where the Fosse Way enters the county
by Halford Bridge, two separate discoveries have been made, but as the
accounts are not very explicit and are devoid of illustrations, it is
uncertain whether either of them should be attributed to the Anglo-
Saxon period. In November 1790, three skeletons were found lying
from south to north, with a bed of limestone above and below, about
2 1 feet below the surface. The most careful burial of the three con-
1 Journal of Archtfological Institute, ii. 162 ; Journal of British Archaeological Association, iii. 282.
2 In addition, a small fragment from Morden, Surrey, in the British Museum, and a bird-shaped
mount with part of bowl from Basingstoke, Hants.
3 The designs are reproduced on title-page of J. O. Westwood's Facsimiles of Angk-Saxon and
Irish MSS.
* A plan is given in Jewitt's Grave Mounds and their Content!, p. 259.
6 A bowl of the same kind but without enamel is figured in O. Rygh's Norske Oldiager, No. 726.
259
A HISTORY OF WARWICKSHIRE
tained three weapons : a spearhead, a sword 21 inches long, with remains
of a wooden handle, and ' a small weapon with an iron handle.' This
last may possibly have been the boss of a shield, and the ' pieces of
broken armour ' l mentioned may have been other parts of the shield,
together with the customary knife. The second find occurred in 1858,
and is of a still more indefinite character. In a stone pit at Armscot
Field were found fragments of pottery in close proximity to horns of
the red deer. The ware was coarse and imperfectly fired, and had
neither been ornamented nor lathe-turned. It was however pronounced
' post-Roman, with more of the characteristics of Anglo-Saxon manu-
facture.' 2
To turn now to more satisfactory contributions to the history of
the district in pagan times. By far the most important discovery of
Anglo-Saxon remains in the county occurred at Longbridge during the
last days of 1875, and was fully described by Mr. Tom Burgess of
Leamington. 3 On the north bank of the Avon, about a mile due west
of Warwick at an angle of the Castle park, a cemetery was accidentally
revealed, and yielded relics that help to fill the gap left in the written
history of the time. They were presented to the nation by Mr. John
Stanton, and comparison of types assists in determining the affinities and
era of the people buried here and elsewhere in the Avon valley. The
skeletons were discovered about 2\ feet below the level green turf, and
not more than a foot in the coarse gravel of a slightly sloping bank that
had evidently been thrown up by the river when its course was wider
than at present. That the burials belonged to the early Anglo-Saxon
period there could be no doubt, for here were the familiar shield-bosses
of iron that protected the handle of the fighting man's ' war-board.'
Here too were the iron spearheads and knives that commonly occur in
male interments, and a number of brooches and ornaments that are more
characteristic of the other sex. It was not however thought to have
been a place of regular interment, and may have been on or near the site
of a battle ; for though some of the bodies lay with the head eastward,
others had evidently been interred in haste, with no regard to regularity.
Some in fact were found immediately overlying others, and their hap-
hazard disposal has been taken to show that these last were prisoners
or slaves that had been slaughtered over a chieftain's grave. 4 This is
little more than a conjecture, though some with indications of riches
had evidently been handled with great care. The position of the shields
as shown by the iron remnants varied considerably in the graves, and in
one case the boss was found above the skull. In this and other features
the present cemetery resembles in a remarkable degree a number of
interments opened on two occasions at Holdenby, Northants. 6 There
| Gentleman's Magazine, Nov. 1792, bm. 985. * Journal of Archaoh&cal Institute, xviii. 374.
Journal of British Arcb<rological Association, xxxii. 106 ; Journal of Arclxtohgical Institute, xxxiii.
4 w* J CCtS ' S g ' Ven In p "**&, Society of Antiquaries, ser. 2, vii. 78.
Ihis may possibly have been the case with two of the burials at Halford Bridge mentioned above.
rutona H,,tory of Northant,, i. 246 ; Miss Hartshorne's Memorials of HoUenby, p. 6 ; and
Athenaum, Nov. n, 1899.
260
ANGLO-SAXON REMAINS
also the bodies appeared to have been buried regardless of position, and
the personal ornaments were in many respects almost identical. For
instance, some iron rings of various sizes found with female skeletons
at Holdenby correspond with bronze examples at Longbridge, which
may thus be considered part of a woman's costume at the time. Signs
of wear on the inside go to show that the ring was firmly attached to
the clothing to hold something that hung from the waist. Again, some
of the brooches are strikingly similar, and are all represented in the
Holdenby find, as are also the key, commonly known as a girdle hanger,
and the small brooch of horseshoe form (fig. 4).
The sword and bronze-mounted buckets from Longbridge find no
parallel in the Northants cemetery already referred to, but are not of
unusual occurrence in that and other counties of England. The view
that swords were carried exclusively by the thane while the spear marked
the ceorl who fought on foot has never been disproved, and is in fact
supported by documentary evidence as well as by the comparative rarity
and magnificence of graves containing the sword. In this particular
case the weapon retained traces of the wooden scabbard and its orna-
mentation, and while at Bransford Bridge the bronze chape alone
remained, here the remains were sufficient to show the original form of
the handle and scabbard. The total length was 2 feet 10 inches, and
the blade was a| inches broad from the guard almost to the point. The
pommel seems to have consisted of two parts : a wooden bar surmounted
by a square piece of bronze brought to a point. Such pyramidal buttons
are rarely met with but are uniform in size and construction, and a
notable example may be seen in the British Museum from a grave at
Broomfield, Essex. The hilt and guard had decayed, but the narrow
bands of bronze at the mouth of the scabbard still remained in position,
as on specimens from Kempston, Beds, and the Isle of Wight in the
national collection.
The buckets, which are generally supposed to have contained food
or drink for the benefit of the dead, had certain peculiarities. In one
the ordinary staves of wood were replaced by bronze, ornamented on
both sides with beading and held in position by three hoops of the same
metal. Of the other two buckets, the larger one was j\ inches high :
its five hoops of bronze were fastened to the upright strips of plain
bronze by square-headed rivets, producing a chequered appearance, and
inside a piece of linen about an inch square was fastened to one of the
staves. The fabric was of excellent thread finely woven, and adhered
firmly to the wood, which was also in good condition and appeared to
be yew. Vessels of this kind are found either at the head or feet of
the dead, and are most frequent in the central parts of the country, from
Fairford to Peterborough and from Warwick to Devizes. Little how-
ever can be deduced from their geographical distribution, and it may
be that some future explanation of the linen patches will decide the
ceremonial significance of the buckets themselves.
The brooches however seem to furnish more exact indications of
261
A HISTORY OF WARWICKSHIRE
the territorial divisions which were imposed by natural features and
recognized by the Teutonic invaders and settlers of south Britain during
the post-Roman period ; and in the present case enable us to connect the
Warwickshire Avon with the upper valley of the Thames. West of the
Severn, history and archaeology alike point to the continued predominance
of the native element ; but, as already mentioned, geographical con-
siderations at that early date rendered tribal intercourse in this region
almost impracticable. While therefore there is nothing surprising in
the absence of early Anglo-Saxon remains on the right bank of the
Severn or in its valley above the Avon, every discovery in the south-
east of Warwickshire, of Worcestershire and of Gloucestershire adds
weight to the theory that here and in Oxfordshire was centred a tribe
or group of tribes whose funeral customs and personal ornaments mark
them off as a separate people.
It is to this district that the saucer-brooches are practically con-
fined, and of the common type, all in one piece with incised ornament
and gilt face, specimens were found at Longbridge. One pair had a
geometrical design in the form of a star, and on a couple more was a
band of spirals (fig. i), recalling the wedge-like engraving (the German
Keilschnitt) that is often met with on late Roman ornaments 1 (450-550).
As uncommon varieties of the saucer-brooch, may be mentioned two
specimens found with the largest of the three buckets already described.
They too were made out of the solid and gilt ; but while the others had
geometrical designs incised, these had a ring of the usual dislocated
quadrupeds surrounding a small piece of garnet, or glass intended to
resemble that stone so popular at the time (fig. 2). Once more a
parallel may be found in the neighbouring county of Northampton, for
a similar specimen from Kettering is preserved in the Northampton
Museum.
Further excavation produced a glass drinking cup, a part of which
in the British Museum shows it to have been similar in shape to one
found at Kempston, Beds, in 1863 ; also a cinerary urn of more than
usual size and with impressed ornament in chevrons on the shoulder,
now restored and preserved in the same collection.
But in point of magnificence the last grave opened at Longbridge
was the most important of all. Instead of the usual relics of a warrior,
were recovered the costly ornaments of a lady of distinction. Of her
skeleton nothing remained but a few teeth scattered in the ground, but
she had worn a cruciform brooch which in size * perhaps surpasses any
yet found in this country, but in workmanship is far inferior to others
of the same type, as for example one from Ragley Park presently to be
noticed. The deceased had also a silver bracelet formed of one strip
of metal originally 1 5 inches long, and bent so as to form a double hoop,
expanding on one side to a width of 1 1 inches, with six flutings. This
1 A. Riegl, Die SpStfSmische Kurt it-indiu trie in Osterreich-Ungarn, plates xvii.-jcrii.
* It is 7$ inches in length ; one found in North Trondhjem, Norway, and figured in Rygh's
Ninke Oldiager, No. 259A, measures over 9 inches.
262
ANGLO-SAXON REMAINS
may be compared with specimens in the British Museum from Malton,
Cambs, 1 and Long Wittenham, Berks, the ornament on all consisting of
stamped patterns produced by means of punches, as was that of another
piece of jewellery from the same grave. There was found a disc of
gold (fig. n) 2 inches in diameter, which had evidently been attached
to a necklace, 2 doubtless composed of the amber beads that also came to
light.
The bracteate, of which these are examples, is familiar to the
student of northern archaeology, and is mainly restricted to a certain
period and area. They are seldom found outside the Scandinavian
countries, and apart from specimens that clearly belong to a later date,
are referred unquestionably to the centuries between 450 and 650.' This
of course only limits the date of their manufacture, but it is unlikely
that so thin a disc of soft gold, exposed as it was to friction and accident,
would last more than an ordinary lifetime. The present example is
damaged near the loop and considerably rubbed, but a close examination
enables the design to be distinguished sufficiently to range it with a
particular Scandinavian series. It now weighs 5 dwt. 1 1 grains, and
has an embossed design, the concentric borders being executed by means
of punches. The stamps no less than the central device had doubtless
a religious signification, but for our present purpose the style of execution
is of primary importance. The row of dots near the centre is seen on
the large majority of specimens, and may be regarded as the lower out-
line of the helmet, which with the head it covered generally occupied
a large share of the field. Below was an animal resembling a horse,
though sometimes horns are distinctly visible. The figure which is
represented by the helmeted head is seen, like the horse, in profile, usually
to the left, and sometimes on either side of the rider are seen runic
characters and a bird of indeterminate character. This combination of
symbols has enabled some of the leading antiquaries of Scandinavia to
identify the figures and explain the symbolism from their voluminous
mythological records. Even if it were possible to decipher the present
specimen, its interpretation would here be out of place, for there can
be little doubt that the Longbridge bracteate was imported from Scan-
dinavia, and can only by accident throw light on the early condition of
the inhabitants of Warwickshire. Suffice it then to say that one of the
common types of the gold bracteate is here represented ; and as most
of them were connected with the legend of Sigurd, 4 and many bear
the swastika of Thor, their origin may be sought in the cult of
heroes, among whom the greatest ranked as the national deities of
Scandinavia.
It is possible to range the more common forms in order of chronology,
1 See also Collectanea Antique, vol. vi. pi. raiv.
s Figured in "Journal of Archeeok&cal Institute, xxxiii. 380.
8 Memoirei, 1850 60, p. 291 ; 1866-71, pp. 323, 361 ; Sophus Mliller, NorJische Alterthumi-
kunde, ii. 193.
4 Memoiret dt la Societl des Antiquairei du nurd, 1866-71, pi. xvii. figs. 4-1 1, p. 344.
263
A HISTORY OF WARWICKSHIRE
and a starting point is afforded by the rude but obvious imitations of
Roman coins that may be assigned to the fourth and fifth centuries. A
more native art that had profited from contact with Roman craftsman-
ship may be seen in the realistic treatment of national legends ; and the
degraded forms, which are certainly the more numerous, may be assigned
to the late sixth or early seventh century.
In the same grave at Longbridge was found a silver bracteate
(fig. 7) which is now fragmentary but was ornamented in a more
purely mechanical way by means of two punches. In spite of this
difference however it is contemporary with the specimen of gold which
may be taken to mark the open profession of paganism at the time of
this particular burial ; and as no obvious emblems of Christianity have
been found in the Saxon graves of Warwickshire, it may be argued that
some at least of the remains discussed in the present chapter may well
date from the seventh century.
Rare as bracteates are in this country, apart from the peculiar
examples frequently met with in Kentish graves, Warwickshire has pro-
duced yet another, which from internal evidence must be assigned to a
somewhat later date than those just described. This is now preserved in
the museum of national antiquities at Copenhagen, but its story was laid
before the Society of Antiquaries of London in 1774. It is of gold,
with a milled or cabled border (fig. 10), and was found on the neck of
a skeleton at the base of a grave-mound at Compton Mordock, now
known as Compton Verney, near Walton. In the same mound was
another skeleton with a second gold pendant, 1 which is ornamented with
applied gold wire, having in the centre a stone or glass-paste, and
closely resembling a specimen in the British Museum from Wye
Down in Kent.
A century and a quarter ago there were fewer opportunities of
comparison than now exist in the extensive museums of Scandinavia,
and there is ample excuse for a faulty attribution of this valuable relic
in the original account of its discovery. The mistake was indeed cor-
rected in 1855, and two years later the bracteate was published in the
Atlas 2 of the Copenhagen Museum on a plate devoted to specimens of
a similar character. The descriptive list of the collection was issued
in the MJmoires 3 of the northern antiquaries, and rightly compares the
Compton example with a sceatta that must however be regarded as
subsequent to the year 600 rather than as ' current among the English
Christians a little after the fall of the (western) Roman Empire.'
The Compton bracteate is an obvious imitation of a coin called the
sceatta, current between the time of ^thelbert's conversion and the
introduction of the penny by Offa of Mercia, some time after the middle
of the eighth century. This allows about 1 50 years for the coinage of
these small and somewhat thick pieces, numbers of which have been
' This and the bracteate are figured in Anhttohgia, iii. 371.
PI. iii. No. 31; the original sceatta is figured beside it.
Vol. for 1850-60, pp. 203-93 ; see especially pp. 232-3.
264
ANGLO-SAXON REMAINS
published ; and within these limits numismatists distinguish three styles 1
that seem to characterize successive periods. First in point of time
come the sceattas struck in imitation of Roman coins of the fourth and
fifth centuries ; then copies of Prankish money ; and lastly, examples
of Anglo-Saxon origin, that perhaps on one face betray their indebtedness
to Roman or Prankish originals, but otherwise reveal a growing sense
of independence on the part of the native moneyers.
The sceatta from which the Compton bracteate was derived belongs
to this last class, the roundels 2 on the reverse occurring down to the
time of Offa on other specimens that are known to be contemporary,
and the bracteate under discussion supports the view that the native
types of sceattas were the latest. Though the characters in imitation
of the Latin legend are meaningless, there is still some internal evidence
of date. A cross supported by two standing figures occurs on certain
Byzantine coins down to the twelfth century ; but as the sceatta was
in all probability current in Mercia at the time the bracteate was made,
there can be little doubt that the type was derived from coins of the
Eastern Empire struck between 650 and 750, especially by Constantine
Pogonatus (65968). Allowing a few years for the stages of trans-
mission, it is clear that the Compton burial cannot be earlier than the
last quarter of the seventh century.
Some characteristic relics were found with a skeleton about Easter,
1851, in the Mill field, nearly a quarter of a mile to the south of Aston
Cantlow church, and to the left of the road leading to Sydenham Ford. 3
The burial was upon the brow of a hill, about a foot beneath the surface,
the head raised somewhat above the feet. The skeleton was complete
and appeared not to have been previously disturbed, so that the objects
recovered may be taken to represent the complete array of ornaments.
The head faced the north, and the hands seemed to have been folded
over the breast. As neither weapons nor iron objects of any kind
accompanied this interment it may be supposed to have been that of
a woman, the ornaments consisting of two gilt saucer-shaped brooches,
one on either shoulder, a buckle lying on the chest, and below it a white
stone bead, which may possibly have been a spindle-whorl. Though
numerous coins and a paved pathway have been found at Mill Hill and
in the adjacent fields from time to time, there was no record of any other
interment of this period.
More than sixty years ago a female skeleton was discovered in the
boundary fence of Ragley Park at Alcester. 4 Associated with this were
some interesting antiquities of the early Anglo-Saxon period. The small
iron knife is usually found in graves of either sex, but the richness of
the ornaments and the absence of weapons alike testify to the sex of the
1 Catalogue of Anglo-Saxon Coins (British Museum), vol. i. p. xviii.
8 Examples in Catalogue of Anglo-Saxon Coins (British Museum), vol. i. pi. iv. figs. 2, 1 3 (reverse) ;
the cross with supporters occurs on same plate, figs. 4 (reverse) and 1 7 (obverse). All these are attributed
to Mercian kings.
3 Society of Antiquaries, Proceedings, ser. 2, iii. 424. * Ibid. v. 453.
34
A HISTORY OF WARWICKSHIRE
deceased. Two bronze brooches of the radiated type, just over three
inches long, are such as most commonly occur in Kent but are of con-
tinental manufacture, and, as imported articles, are occasionally found in
other parts of England, as for instance in Hunts, 1 Cambs, 2 Suffolk and
Lines.* What was described as part of an elliptical buckle is probably a
brooch of Roman make, set originally with a large stud of glass paste
in imitation of a carbuncle. The dimensions agree with those of a
specimen from the Anglo-Saxon cemetery at Long Wittenham, Berks,
and now in the British Museum ; while what was apparently a circular
example of similar character has been found in Warwickshire, and can
also be paralleled in the national collection. These may be regarded
as survivals from the Roman period of a pattern that the Saxon peoples
did their best to imitate ; but a remarkable specimen of native art came
to light in the same grave, and has been published in the Arcbaologia,
vol. xliv. pi. xviii. This is a bronze brooch 7 inches long, with the
front originally gilt and the ornament in relief much clearer than is
generally the case. It is of the square-headed variety, which is mostly
confined to the Midlands* but also occurs in Norfolk and the Isle of
Wight, while on the continent it is common in Denmark, Sweden and
Norway, as well as in south-west Germany. The ornament shows that
the English specimen is as usual comparatively late, and exhibits a
remarkable falling off from the best and earliest specimen attributed to
the early part of the sixth century. 8
The four angles of the head have slight projections, the upper ones
containing pear-shaped spaces left unengraved, which doubtless represent
the stones or glass pastes that are still found on the St. Nicholas speci-
men (fig. 6) and others from Norfolk. The lower part has three lobes
enclosing similar spaces and is joined to the head by a bow on which is
a circular stud, while from the top of the bow to the lower lobe runs a
ridge that has been considered an Anglo-Saxon characteristic. The
surface decoration consists of the heads and limbs of grotesque animals
constantly met with in that period, but an unusual feature of the Ragley
brooch is the occurrence of the perfect quadruped with the head turned
backward and the jaws gaping. Here and there also occurs what is
usually regarded as a rude representation of the human face.
It is possible that this large square-headed type, of which the
Ragley brooch is the best specimen in this country, is of Mercian
origin, 4 but more discoveries of the kind can alone settle the question.
Examples from unburnt burials at Chessell Down, Isle of Wight, and at
Brooke and Kenninghall, Norfolk, seem to be exceptional, and may well
belong to the period of Mercian supremacy in both districts dating from
the middle of the seventh century. 7
1 Journal of British Jnbitokgical Association, new ser. (1899), v. 346.
1 Neville, Saxon Obsequies, pi. 8. Both in British Museum.
* Leicestershire, Gloucestershire, Cambridgeshire, Northants.
8 Sven Soderberg, Prahistorische Blatter (1894), fig. 10.
1 This and several Isle of Wight types have, however, been found at Herpes, Dept. Charente,
France. 1 Victoria History of Norfolk, i. 345.
266
ANGLO-SAXON REMAINS
In 1812 the discovery of two urns in a piece of ground called
' Black Lands ' near Alcester was reported to the Society of Antiquaries. 1
At a little distance from the smaller of the two was found the skeleton
of a man ' measuring nearly 7 feet.' By his left side had been placed
a long straight sword, which upon being moved broke into fragments.
It is said that human skeletons had been frequently met with in digging
for gravel, and were generally about 3 feet below the surface. Roman
copper coins were of common occurrence in the fields adjoining the
town, and it is not at all certain that the urns mentioned above as well
as similar specimens unfortunately destroyed by the workmen were not
of Roman date and manufacture. In any case this is very slender
evidence that both methods of disposing of the dead were adopted by
the Teutonic settlers of the district, and it is now impossible to deter-
mine whether the urns were of the smaller kind commonly found in
unburnt burials of the Anglo-Saxon period, as no measurements or other
details appear in the account of the discovery.
Such are the discoveries that show a certain light on the post-
Roman occupation of the tract of country now known as Warwickshire,
or at least of the southern part of it which was watered by the Avon
and its tributaries and served by two Roman roads. Here are found
traces of a people that must have been in close contact with the
Teutonic conquerors of the southern midlands, from the lower Severn to
the Chiltern hills, and also of another tribe, more or less connected in
blood but probably advancing from the north-east coast, who burnt their
dead and foreshadowed the southern expansion of Mercia.
But an exception to the general rule has now to be noticed.
In a prehistoric barrow excavated in 1824 at Oldbury near Ather-
stone was found a secondary interment, which may without doubt be
referred to the Anglo-Saxon period. It was on the east side of the
barrow, which at the time of exploration was about 20 feet in diameter
at the base, rising in the centre to a height of about 15 feet ; and the
iron spearhead and shield-boss 8 which determine the character of the
grave were found with human bones 2 feet from the surface. This is
the usual depth for pagan burials of the Anglo-Saxon period, but the
mounds raised over them were seldom more than a foot or two above
the ground. In the first place, this locality is isolated from what were
undoubtedly the main seats of the Teutonic conquerors of the county
and appears to have a northern connection. According to one historian, 3
the Forest of Arden was bounded by an imaginary line from High Cross
to Burton-on-Trent, and Oldbury would thus be on the fringe of a
difficult district right in the path of an invader from the valley of the
Trent or Soar. That the interment in question is of a distinct origin is
further suggested by a feature that has been frequently observed in
1 Arch&ologia, xvii. 33*.
8 These are figured in Roach Smith's Collectanea Anfiqua, vol. i. pi. xiv. figs. ;, 6 (see also pp. 33, 38) ;
Bloxam, Monumenta Sepukhrafta, p. 22, where the discovery is said to have been in 1835.
s Wm. Smith, History of Warwickshire, p. 2.
267
A HISTORY OF WARWICKSHIRE
Yorkshire. The exploration of British barrows on the Wolds has
incidentally brought to light a number of secondary burials that must be
assigned to the Anglo-Saxon period. The absence of ornaments renders
a more precise date inadmissible, but with the Mercian kingdom the
political history of Warwickshire may be said to begin ; and where the
pagan relics of the grave cease to appear, the written page takes up the
record.
268
DOMESDAY SURVEY
Assessment of the county, p. 269 King's revenues, p. 270 Church lands, p. 273 Tenants-
in-chief, p. 276 Under tenants, p. 281 English predecessors, p. 282 Classes of men,
p. 284 Legal antiquities, p. 286 Warwick, p. 289 Rural economy, p. 291 The
Hundreds, p. 293 Identification of manors, p. 294 Duplicate entries, p. 296.
I
Warwickshire portion of the Great Survey is interesting
and fairly full. In proportion to area the county occupies
about as much space in Domesday as does Worcestershire to
its west, less than Northamptonshire and Leicestershire to its
east, but considerably more than Staffordshire. The chief features of
interest in its survey are found in the light it throws on local financial
administration, the names of the persons to whom it introduces us, and
the religious houses, English and foreign, holding land within its borders.
But as the Domesday Survey was before all a record of the assessment to
' geld ' (land-tax), it is with that aspect of its contents that the student
has first to deal.
Warwickshire was one of the hidated counties, that is, of those which
were assessed in ' hides ' ; but it actually adjoined on the north-east the
group of ' carucated ' counties of which Leicestershire is a striking
example. The assessment of these latter was based on units of six or
twelve ' carucates,' while that of the former was similarly based on units
of five or ten ' hides.' The duodecimal and the decimal systems were
brought into sharp contrast ; Leicester, when the king set forth to war,
sent him twelve of her burgesses ; Warwick sent him ten. It was, I have
urged, the Scandinavian region, the counties settled by the Danes, which
thus reckoned in twelves. 1 This conclusion, one may fairly say, is con-
firmed by the local place-names, such characteristic forms as Rugby,
Wibtoft and (Monks) Kirby being found close to the Leicestershire
border, as are Barby, Kilsby, and Yelvertoft in the adjoining and hidated
county of Northants. We may say, therefore, that Domesday bears
clear witness to the existence of a real dividing line between Warwick-
shire and Leicestershire, a line that marked the limit of racial conquest
and settlement.
But although Warwickshire was assessed in ' hides ' the basing of
its assessment on arbitrary units of five or ten hides is less obvious to the
eye than in several other counties. The proportion^ however, of such
assessments is too high to be accounted for on any other hypothesis. For
instance, in the adjoining Domesday Hundreds of ' Tremelau ' and
1 See feudal England, pp. 69 et seq.
269
A HISTORY OF WARWICKSHIRE
t
' Honesberie,' we note in the former with a total assessment, according
to Mr. Walker, 1 of 1 50 hides that Eatington (Upper and Lower) was
assessed at 20 (17 + i + I + hides, Walton at 15 (5 + 10), Compton
Murdak at 10 (7 + 3), Butler's Marston at 10, and Barford, Lighthorne,
Chadshunt, Wasperton, and Moreton Morrell at 5 each, thus accounting
for more than half the total assessment of the Hundred. In 'Honesberie '
Hundred Dassett was assessed at 25 (15 + 10) hides, Priors Hardwick
at 15, Fenny Compton at 10 (4! + 2 + 3?), and Arlescote, Ratley, New-
bold Comyn, and Mollington at 5 each, some two-thirds of the Hundred
being thus demonstrably assessed on the five-hide system. Where the
assessments are fractional and not suggestive of that system, it is probable
that groups had been formed, as we know to have been sometimes done,
to complete a perfect unit. As examples of the five-hide unit in other
parts of the county, one may take Church Lawford, Long Lawford,
Bishop's Itchington, Dunchurch, Stretton-on-Dunsmore, Radford Simele,
Bourton-upon-Dunsmore, Bubbenhall, and Wappenbury, each of which
was assessed at exactly 5 hides. 1 An interesting illustration of the
working of this system in practice is found in the charter of Henry I.
which reduced the assessment of Alveston in favour of the church of
Worcester, from 15 hides to 10, that is to say by one of these five-hide
units. 3 The arbitrary nature of such assessment is shown by this
example. Before leaving the subject of assessment we may note that
' inland,' which was land free from contributing to the 'geld,' is men-
tioned at Offbrd (in Wootton Wawen) and at Lighthorne.
The list of holders of lands is headed as always by the king, but the
manors in which he had succeeded his predecessor were few. In the
south of the county Edward the Confessor had held Bidford, with its
water meadows on the Avon, and Kington, 4 with Wellesborne Hastings
as its appendage (berewicb), Stanley with Kenilworth in the heart of
the county, and Coleshill in its northern portion, complete the list of his
possessions. These are distinguished from the rest of those which his
successor held at the time of the Survey, namely the forfeited lands of
Earl Eadwine, by two peculiarities. In the first place, the number of
plough-lands in each manor is omitted ; in the second, its value. We
know little of the system on which the returns were made for the king's
manors in io86, 5 but in the case before us the omission of values appears
to be due to the fact that in the preceding column they are, as one may
say, ' lumped in ' with other sources of revenue, all of which were
1 See 'The Hundreds of Warwickshire at the time of the Domesday Survey,' by Benjamin Walker,
A.R.I.B.A. (Jnrifxary, xxix. 146-51, 179-84). This valuable paper contains an analysis of each
Hundred.
1 The system of the five-hide unit occasionally affords a clue in the work of identification, as will
be seen from the notes to Mr. Carter's translation of the text.
' ' H. Rex Angl. comitibus et omnibus baronibus et ministris suis de Warewicasire salutem. Clamo
quietas imperpctuum Priori et monachis de Wirecestria v hidas de Alvestun de geldis et murdris et omni-
bus regiis exactionibus,' etc. Regiitnm Prieratiu B. M. Wig>rnensis (Camden Soc.) p. 85<.
4 jfXat Kineton.
It is noteworthy that in the transcripts of the original returns from the Cambridgeshire Hun-
dreds, which are so rich in detail, no information whatever is given on the royal manors, for which it
seems to be implied there was a separate return.
270
THE DOMESDAY SURVEY
1 farmed ' together. The evidence of Domesday that in this county, as in
the adjoining one of Worcestershire, royal manors were ' farmed ' as a
group is of very great importance as bearing on that system of the ' firma
comitatus ' which plays so large a part in early administration and
finance. 1 But the special and indeed unique value of the Warwickshire
evidence is that it carries back the system to days before the Conquest
and thereby flatly contradicts the Dialogus de Scaccario.*
In view of the extreme importance of these Warwickshire entries
one cannot too closely scan their exact wording. The royal revenue
from a county, apart from taxes, was derived normally from three sources,
(i) the king's lands ; (2) his rights in the county town ; (3) his profits
from jurisdiction (known as the pleas of the shire). There is no question
that under the Conqueror this last item was among the sources of the
farm * ; but I am of opinion that it was so also under Edward the Con-
fessor. For if the passage (in the footnote) be carefully read it will be
found to enumerate distinctly three sources of revenue : (i) the vice-
comitatus; (2) the burgus ; (3) the regalia maneria. Now in the adjoining
county of Worcestershire (fo. 172)* we find similarly enumerated three
sources : (i) the comitatus ; (2) the civitas ; (3) the dominica maneria regis 5 ;
and here, luckily, Domesday explains that comitatus stands for the profits
of the pleas in the courts of the county and the hundreds.' This then I
believe to be also the meaning of vicecomitatus among the sources of
revenue in Warwickshire under Edward the Confessor.
But the Worcestershire evidence helps us further in our study of the
Warwickshire payments. In both counties we find precisely the same
sums, 10 f r a hawk, jTi for a sumpter horse, and 5 to the queen, and
the Worcestershire evidence shows that they were paid in respect of the
profits of jurisdiction. 7 In Warwickshire, however, there is a further
payment of 23 'pro consuetudine canum,' for a parallel to which we
must turn to the adjoining county of Oxfordshire, which paid precisely
the same sum ' pro canibus,' in addition to the other payments, while
Northamptonshire, also adjoining, paid 4.2 ' ad canes.' In Bedfordshire
again 13 icxr. in all was paid by three royal manors ' de consuetudine
canum,' but this, as in the case of some Gloucestershire manors, is distinct
from the payment of such a due in respect of the whole county.
Recapitulating the evidence, we find that in 1086 the farm of the
royal manors and the pleas of the county brought in jointly (i) 145
pounds of weighed silver, (2) the above 23 f r the hounds, (3) the
i See Tie Ctmmtme tfLmdon and ttier Studies, pp. 71-3.
' Tempore regis E. ricecomitatus de Warwic cum burgo et cum regalibns maneriis reddebat IXY
libras, etc.' Compare Diabgts Je Scaccaria, ed. 1902, p. 36.
* ' The latter &rm included " pleas of the county," and thus is strictly parallel with the farm* on the
Pipe Rolls' (tad-)
See r.C.H. ITtrt. L
* ' Reddit ricecomes rriii lib. et r. sol ad pensum de cmtate, et de dominicis manerro regis
reddit cniii lib. et iiii sol ad pensum. De comitatu rero reddit xrii lib. ad pensum, et adhnc reddit
z lib. denariomm de xx in ora aut accipitrem norresc, et adhnc c solidos regime ad nnmernm, et xx"
>oL de xr in ora pro snmmario.'
* ' Hz xrii librae ad pensum et xri lib. ad nnmerum snnt de placitis comitatus et Hundreds.'
* See preceding note.
A HISTORY OF WARWICKSHIRE
additional 16 already described. 1 Beyond this, however, there was a
payment in those measures of honey which play so important a part in
the Crown dues of Domesday. And the nature of this payment is by no
means easy to ascertain. What Domesday actually says is that under the
Confessor the total payment was 65 and thirty-six sestiers of honey, or
24 Ss. 'for all the things that belonged to the honey,' 2 while at the
time of the Survey the render was twenty-four sestiers of honey ' cum
majori mensura,' and from the borough six sestiers the sestier, that is, for
fifteen pence of which the count of Meulan receives six sestiers and
5j. 3 Here at least we are on sure ground ; for at fifteen pence to the
sestier the count's share was equivalent to ten out of the thirty, that is, to
the comital third. 4 But this reckoning, it will be observed, is wholly incom-
patible with the sum of 24 8s. as the equivalent of thirty-six sestiers.*
The words, however, ' all the things that belonged to the honey ' seem to
point to the obscure ' consuetudines mellis,' which occur at Ipswich and
elsewhere in the three eastern counties. So far as the number of sestiers go
it is interesting to find that at Warwick the unit seems to have been six.
For while twelve sestiers were due from Gloucester, Oxford, Norwich and
Ipswich rendered six apiece. Colchester, however, and Thetford paid no
more than four each. 6
In addition to these sources of revenue derived from his predecessor,
King William had reserved for himself most of the forfeited estates of the
local earl. This was Eadwine, son and successor of Earl jElfgar of Mercia,
and grandson of the famous Earl Leofric, to whom the church at Coventry
owed many of its lands. Warwickshire was but one of the counties com-
prised in Eadwine's earldom, but his official rights and revenue for each
county were distinct. On these it was William's practice to seize when
the earldom was vacant by its owner's forfeiture. The third penny of the
pleas of the shire and that of the issues of the county town were the
normal perquisites of the earl ; that is to say, they were the share he
received of the local revenues if he received any. Here again the Warwick-
shire evidence is of institutional importance. For in the latest edition of
the Dialogus de Scaccario 7 the learned editors observe that
It would appear, therefore, that the third penny of the pleas is the final remnant of
the judicial functions of the earl, and is originally due to the Prankish empire.
Whether this imperial institution reached the England of Henry II. through William
the Conqueror, or whether it came with earlier importations from the same source,
admits as yet of no exact determination.
1 'Modo inter firmam regalium maneriorum et placita comitatus reddit per annum cxlv lib. ad
pondus," etc.
' xxxvi sextaria mellis aut xxiv lib. et viii sol. pro omnibus quae ad mel pertinebant.'
' ' Praeter haec reddit xxiv sextar' mcll' cum majori mensura et de burgo vi sextar' mell', sextar'
scilicet pro xv denar'. De his habet comes de mellent vi sext' et v. solid'.'
This was not, however, the ' earl's third penny,' which came from the pleas of a shire or the issues
of a borough.
The other money equivalent of the sestier, viz. in Wilts, is even lower than in Warwickshire, a
shilling instead of fifteen pence.
At Colchester, as at Warwick, the money commutation seems strangely high.
i Oxford University Press (1902), p. 205.
272
THE DOMESDAY SURVEY
Our record however states definitely that in King Edward's time ' the
third penny of the pleas of the shire ' was held with Earl Eadwine's manor
of 'Cotes' 1 (near Warwick). And this Warwickshire evidence is con-
firmed by that for Dorset, where the earldom had been held by Harold, to
whose manor of ' Piretone ' (Puddletown) there was similarly annexed the
third penny of the pleas of the shire. 1 These two entries are sufficient to
establish the fact that the institution of the earl's ' third penny ' of the
shire was older than the Norman Conquest.
The rights of Earl Eadwine in the borough of Warwick, which had
similarly passed to William, will be dealt with under Warwick itself, but
one may here note that of his manors the Conqueror kept in his hands
Brailes, Coton and Sutton (Coldfield) , while scattering ' Ulverlei,' Budbrooke,
Erdington, Aston, Myton and Bedworth among half a dozen tenants-in-
chief. Considerable as had been the earl's estates those of his house had
been larger still ; manors at Ipsley and Aston Cantlow had been held by
his father ./Elfgar, while his grandfather Leofric had denuded himself of
sundry rich lordships in favour of his great foundation at Coventry.
Domesday again records as the land of the Countess Godiva (Leofric's
widow) manors at Alspath, Atherstone, Coventry itself and other places.
The curious statement found under Oxfordshire that ' from the land of
Earl Eadwine in Oxfordshire and Warwickshire the king has >C IO 5>' 3
appears to be irreconcilable with the detailed valuations of his manors in
those two counties.
To the revenue derived from the lands entered under Terra Re<ris
o
we must add, at the time of the Survey, the ' farm ' of the manors which
Earl Aubrey and Countess 'Godiva' had held, and which had now escheated
to the Crown. 4 The first manor, also, entered under Hugh de Grentmesnil
is described as held by him ' de rege in custodia,' just as the manors of
Earl Aubrey were held by Geoffrey ' de Wirce.' It is well worthy of
notice that Domesday thus pointedly distinguishes escheated fiefs from
those forfeited manors of the local earl which had passed into the perma-
nent possession of the Crown. For it may have been even then, as it was
later, recognized that escheats should not be retained, but be granted
out anew.
Of ecclesiastical tenants-in-chief two bishops held lands within the
borders of the county in their official capacity. These were a Norman
prelate, Peter, Bishop of Chester, who had removed his episcopal seat
thither from Lichfield, and who held, in right of the latter church,
Bishop's Tachbrook in this county, and Wulfstan, the native Bishop of
Worcester, the great possessions of whose see extended from Worcester-
shire into Warwickshire. 6 His rival also, the abbot of Evesham, held
1 Hoc terra cum burgo de Warwic et tercio denario placitorum sirae reddebat T.R.E. xvii. libras."
' Huic etiam manerio Piretone adjacet tercius denarius de tola scira Dorsete. Redd' cum
omnibus appendiciis Ixxiii libras' (fo. 75).
' De terra Edwini comitis in Oxenef et in Warwicscire habet rex c lib. et c solid' ' (fo. 154).
See p. 276 below.
Bishop Wulfstan's manor of Alveston is dealt with on p. 287 below.
i 273 35
A HISTORY OF WARWICKSHIRE
five Warwickshire estates but failed to establish, as against Worcester, an
old claim to Stratford-on-Avon.*
This and other disputes in which the monks of Worcester were
involved help at times to illustrate the entries in the Domesday Survey.
In Warwickshire, they complained, they had lost in the days of Cnut
by forfeiture for delay, real or alleged, in the payment of the ' geld '
estates at Luddington, Drayton and Lapworth, three hides at Loxley
and a moiety of Milcote. 8 They had also been deprived of Bickmarsh
by Eadwine, a brother of Earl Leofric, 8 while Abbot ./Ethelwig of Eves-
ham had stripped them of the other moiety of Milcote. 4 It is only in
the case of Milcote that we can test their statements by Domesday. The
whole of it was held at the time of the Survey by Stephen the steersman, 6
and Domesday asserts that its former holders were Bishop Wulfstan and
an ./Elfstan. The story of the monks of Worcester is that Abbot ^Ethel-
wig, having obtained ^Ifstan's moiety of Milcote, 8 set himself to ac-
quire from Bishop Wulfstan the other moiety. 7 Succeeding in this by
guile, he obtained the whole, but Bishop Odo of Bayeux, they added,
seized on his lands at his death. Domesday, however, shows Milcote
held, as I have said, by Stephen and unconnected with Odo. The ex-
planation is, I believe, that Stephen who held in capite Little Dorsington
and Milcote 8 was identical with the Stephen who held as a tenant of the
Bishop of Bayeux at Brome (in Bidford) and at Arrow in the same
neighbourhood. 9 He may thus have acquired Milcote by gift of the
bishop. The Evesham monks classed Brome (now Broom) and Arrow
with Dorsington and the Milcotes as manors which Abbot ^Ethelwig had
acquired for his abbey, but which Bishop Odo had afterwards seized. 10
On comparing Domesday with the Evesham chronicle and the MS.
records of that abbey it is not clear how matters stood as between
the monks and Bishop Odo, but on one point the concordance is perfect ;
the only manor in the Survey to which a previous owner is assigned
is Wixford, and this is also the only one for which the chronicle give
us the details of ./Ethelwig's action. We read in the latter that it
five hides had been given to Evesham, about a century before Domesday
by Ufa, sheriff of Warwickshire, but that his son had been rashly allowed
to retain it for his life, with the result that it was not secured till^Ethel-
1 There is no allusion in the Warwickshire survey to his recent contest with the bishop, but the
monk Heming, in his cartulary, gives us the Worcester version, while that of Evesham is preserved
in the abbey's chronicle. At one stage of the controversy there was a ' plea,' described in Heming's
cartulary (ed. Hearne, p. 82), at which two barons of this county, Osbern Fitz Richard and Turchil
' de Warewicscyre ' were present to depose to the state of things before the Conquest.
Heming's cartulary (ed. Hearne), p. 278. Ibid.
Ibid. pp. 272, 279. Compare p. 280 below.
' Cum dimidiam partem, qua; ante a monasterio ablata fuerat, ipsius ville, quae Mylekota dicitur,
ab ipso, qui earn possederat, suis ingeniis, ut solebat, adquisisset.'
> These moieties are now known as Upper and Nether Milcote ; in the thirteenth century they
were known as Milcote-on-Avon and Milcote-on-Stour (Calendar of Charter Rolls, i. 284, 292).
They are both on the Gloucestershire border and indeed in Gloucestershire parishes.
This suggestion is confirmed by the fact that Brome, at least, descended with Milcote and Dor-
sington for some time after Domesday.
10 Cbronicm dt Evesham, pp. 95, 97.
274
THE DOMESDAY SURVEY
wig, in King Edward's time, ' a Wigodo regis barone digno pretio earn
comparavit.' It is this Wigot whom Domesday names as the holder
T.R.E.
An entry in the Survey relating to Lapworth may lead us to an in-
teresting discovery. All that we learn from Domesday is that at eight
places in Warwickshire, of which Lapworth was one, Hugh de Grent-
mesnil had been preceded by one or more men bearing the name of
Baldwin. But on turning to Heming's Cartulary (p. 267) we read that
the half-hide of which Domesday speaks had belonged to the church of
Worcester, but had been given, at a nominal quit-rent, by Bishop Briht-
heah to a certain ' Hearlewinus,' who had been his companion when he
took Cnut's daughter, Gunnild, to 'Saxony' for her marriage (1036).
Now Baldwin and Herlwin are strange names, names that in pre-Con-
questual England arrest attention. Can we connect them ? It is not,
surely, a mere coincidence when in Gloucestershire Domesday shows
us a * Baldwin son of Herlwin ' as the former holder of a substantial
manor in Bradley Hundred (fo. 163), or when in Bucks it mentions
' Turstin a man of Baldwin son of Herlwin ' (fo. 144-b. 1 ) Clearly
* Baldwin son of Herlwin ' was a man of note before the Conquest, and
when we find that Hugh de Grentmesnil had succeeded to lands of
'Baldwin' in a whole group of counties, Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire,
Warwickshire, Northamptonshire, Leicestershire, we can hardly any
longer doubt that this was Baldwin the son of Herlwin, and that he
had succeeded his father at Lapworth and in other places.
But the most richly endowed religious house in the county was
the local minster of Coventry. Of other English abbeys the posses-
sions were insignificant, Abingdon, Burton, Malmesbury, and Winch-
combe holding an estate apiece in chief. Under Turchil of Warwick a
small estate was held by St. Mary's church, Warwick. The endow-
ment of foreign monasteries had as yet only begun, but the abbey of
St. Evroul already held of Hugh de Grentmesnil a manor at Pillerton
(Priors), as did that of Preaux at Arlescote under the Count of Meulan,
while Geoffrey de la Guerche bestowed on the monks of St. Nicholas of
Angers lands at (Monks) Kirby.
To this last endowment there attaches exceptional interest, because
we have the text of the actual charter by which Geoffrey bestowed it.
Granted at (Monks) Kirby itself i July 1077, it specially mentions
Kirby church, which, as it was decayed, he had, we learn, rebuilt in
honour of St. Mary and St. Denis, and dedicated that same day in
presence of Peter the bishop, himself, as we have seen, a Warwickshire
tenant-in-chief. 8 As the charter is granted with the consent of ./Elfgifu
(Aheva) his wife, it is clear that we have in Geoffrey a follower of
William who really did marry what is called ' a Saxon heiress,' and that
' This is one of the entries omitted from Ellis' Indexes.
* For knowledge of this charter in the register of Burton Lazars' Hospital, which is printed in
Nichols" Leicestershire, vol. ii. appendix, p. 125, I am entirely indebted to Mr. A. S. Ellis' paper on
Geoffrey in his 'Landholders of Yorkshire, 1086' (TorkMre Arch. Journ.) To that paper also we
owe the solution of Geoffrey's origin from the genealogical work of Pere du Paz.
275
A HISTORY OF WARWICKSHIRE
she must have brought him his Warwickshire lands, for they had all
belonged to the same man. Geoffrey himself hailed from the border of
Anjou and Britanny, being lord of Pouence on its Angevin and La
Guerche on its Breton side. He appears to have died childless.
English abbeys in other counties which had obtained lands in War-
wickshire had done so in various ways. Burton owed its land at Austrey
to Earl Leofric, and Malmesbury its Newbold estate to the gift of Wulf-
wine its owner on his becoming a monk of that house. But the case of
Abingdon is the most interesting, for it illustrates the variety of versions
that are given of these incidents. The abbey's chronicle narrates that,
in the Conqueror's reign, a local magnate, Turchil of Arden, bestowed on
it lands at Hill and Chesterton ; l this gift the Conqueror confirmed by
his charter. 4 But it elsewhere states that the abbot obtained these lands
from 'the King.' 3 Neither of these versions accords with the evidence
of Domesday, which shows us the abbey holding Hill in capite, the abbot
having ' bought ' it of Turchil's fee, while under Turchil's own fief we
find two estates, of a hide each, at Chesterton entered as held of him by
the abbey, one of them being held in pledge (vadimonium).
Intermediate in position between church and lay landowners were
the Bishops of Bayeux and Coutances, who held land in their personal,
not their official capacity. In Warwickshire, however, their holdings
were not of much importance.
Early among the lay magnates we meet with two who had already
ceased to hold the lands entered as theirs in Domesday. One was ' earl
Aubrey ' and the other ' countess Godiva.' The former has been shown 4
to have been probably identical with Aubrey de Couci (' Coci '), and had
certainly derived his title from having been appointed earl of the North-
umbrians some years before. His lands, at the time of the Survey, in
Warwickshire as elsewhere, had been resumed by the Crown, and in this
county they are found in the charge of Geoffrey ' de Wirce,' a great
baron in Leicestershire, Warwickshire and other counties. As for
' countess Godiva,' Earl Leofric's widow, her estates had doubtless passed
to King William at her death. They lay in the north of the county
and are entered as farmed by ' Nicholas,' who appears to have been also
farming the manors of her son Earl jElfgar in Staffordshire. Most, if not
all, of her land, however, must have been subsequently granted to the
Earls of Chester, in whose hands it is found. 6
But all the local fiefs are dwarfed by those of the Count of Meu-
lan and of Turchil ' de Warwic,' which follow one another in Domes-
day and occupy between them no less than nine columns of the
' Turkillus quidam de Anglis, valde inter suos nobilis, in partibus Ardene mansitans, abbatis famt-
liaritate et fratrum dum nonnunquam uteretur, de patrimonio suo terras duobus in locis ecclesiae
Abbendoniae concessit' (ii. 8).
' Ibid.
'contulit a rege Cestertunam, Hull et Newenham ' (ii. 284). Another variant of this version is
found in the Testa de Nevill (p. 87) : ' W. Rex Bastardus feoffavit abbatem de Abindon de iiij virgatis
terrx in Hulle, que valet per annum iiij rnarcas per servicium faciendi wardam castr' de Wyndeshore.'
By Mr. A. S. Ellis in his paper on The Landholders of Yorkshire in Domesday.'
Dugdale, misled by the pseudo-Ingulf, made them inherit it from her by descent.
2 7 6
THE DOMESDAY SURVEY
record. Within a very few years these two fiefs were combined in
the hands of the first Earl of Warwick, and the great dominion thus
created, with Warwick Castle as its head, completely overshadows the
feudal history of the county. Something therefore should here be said
of the origin of these fiefs. At the time of the Conquest Roger de
Beaumont, a trusted friend and minister of the Conqueror, had two
sons, Robert and Henry, of whom Robert inherited, through his
mother, the Comte of Meulan, while Henry, very shortly indeed after
the Domesday Survey, was created Earl of Warwick. As early as
1068, when Warwick Castle was 'founded,' Henry was entrusted with
its keeping, 1 but he is not found in Domesday as a holder of land.
It was his elder brother, the Count of Meulan, one of the heroes
of the battle of Hastings, who held so large a fief in the county
in 1086. He, however, it would seem, had not been its first
holder. The cartulary of Preaux distinctly states that the five
hides at Arlescote were given to that house by Roger de Beaumont
himself, not by his sons 2 ; and we must therefore conclude that the
Count of Meulan (from whom the abbey held this endowment in 1086)
had inherited the fief (or, in any case, part of it) from his father. Its
subsequent devolution appears to be somewhat obscure, for, instead of
descending to Robert's heirs, it clearly passed to his brother Henry, who
became Earl of Warwick. This, indeed, is implied by the same cartu-
lary of Preaux, which states that the tithes of some Warwickshire manors
were added by Roger's sons, Robert, Count of Meulan, and Henry, Earl
of Warwick. 3 It is probable that the fief was transferred to Henry when
he was made an earl, and that his elder brother was compensated by the
large grants of other lands which we know he subsequently obtained.
It was also to provide Henry with lands suitable to his dignity that
he received the fief which had been held by Turchil 'of Warwick.'
This we learn incidentally from the chronicle of Abingdon Abbey,
which states that in consequence of this transference Henry claimed Hill
and Chesterton, which Turchil had given to the abbey, and had to be
induced by a sum of money to confirm the gift.* On what ground
Turchil (or his son and heir, Siward) was deprived of his extensive fief
we cannot tell ; but the fact that, in Mr. Freeman's words, ' he stands
out more conspicuously in Domesday than any other Englishman '
would be of itself enough to excite the cupidity of Normans. That
his house however was not doomed to such ruin and destruction as was
the fate of others is shown by the fact that his descendants held some
ten knights' fees under the Earls of Warwick. 5 Their long continu-
ance in the county, under Turchil's name of Arden, is of great interest
1 ' Rex itaque castrum apud Guarevicum condidit et Henrico Rogerii de Bellomonte filio ad
servandum tradidit ' (Ord. Vit.)
* Calendar of Documents preserved in France, p. 1 08. 3 Ibid.
4 'In comitatus supplementum Henrici Warewicensis comitis, regis Willelmi junioris, in sui imperil
principio, dono, patrimonium terrarum Turkilli de Ardene adjectum est ' (ii. 21).
Eighty years after Domesday Henry de 'Ardene' was holding 5 fees, and Hugh de 'Ardene'
5j of William, Earl of Warwick (ReJ Book of the Exchequer, p. 325}
277
A HISTORY OF WARWICKSHIRE
to genealogists, and affords an exceptional instance of the early adoption
of a surname. That their forefather was also known as Turchil ' de
Warwic ' was due, in my opinion, to his association with the shrievalty,
as in the cases of those houses which took their surnames from Salis-
bury and from Gloucester. For Turchil's father ^Elfwine had un-
doubtedly been sheriff, 1 though Turchil was not, when we meet with
him, which is doubtless why the surname of Warwick was not adopted
by his heirs. One has to insist that there is nothing either in the
chronicles or in Domesday to connect him with Warwick Castle or
with the earldom of the shire. If he succeeded his father as its sheriff
he was soon supplanted by Robert d'Oily, who was his under-tenant
in certain manors, two of which he held of him * in pledge.'
The predecessors of Turchil in his many estates had been several
different persons, among whom a Hereward appears as the holder of a
small estate at Ladbroke. Mr. Freeman, we gather, was unable to make
up his mind whether this was the famous Hereward or not a ; for my
part I can find no reason to suppose that it was. 3 In the case of only
four of Turchil's manors is it definitely stated that his father had been
his predecessor ; a goodly number were held of him by his own fellow-
countrymen who had held them 'freely ' themselves before the Conquest.
One of his under-tenants, Gudmund, is of interest as having been his
own brother, and an incidental allusion to ' Chetelbert ' under his manor
of Radford is explained by Mr. Eyton's proof that he also was a brother
of Turchil. 4
Dugdale, rightly I think, suspected that Turchil's was not the only
fief subordinated, after Domesday, to that of the Earl of Warwick. 8 The
fief, for instance, of William Fitz Corbucion must have been represented
by the ten knights' fees that his heir, Peter de Studley, held of the Earl
of Warwick in ii66. 8 I am not sure, however, that Dugdale was also
right in thinking that Salford Priors, which appears in Domesday as held
in almoin by Leveve (or Luith), the nun was similarly given to the
i See Ellis' Introduction to Domesday, ii. 496-7, and Freeman's Norman Conquest (1871), iv. 780.
1 'Thurkill kept his lands, which were largely increased by royal grants out of the confiscated estates
of less lucky Englishmen . . . among whom we discern . . . the greater name of Hereward ' (Norm.
Conj.iv. 189). 'Legend also has forgotten the fact which the document [Domesday] has preserved,
namely, that the hero of the fenland did not belong wholly to Lincolnshire, but that he was also a land-
holder in the distant shire of Warwick ' (ibid. pp. 455-6). Elsewhere, however, he admitted of the War-
wickshire entries that 'the Hereward of these entries may have been some other person' (ibid. p. 805),
though he urged that 'the mention of Warwick' (which he had not mentioned) in the legend draws
' incidental confirmation from Domesday ' (ibid. p. 809).
' Turchil's predecessor, however, may have been identical with the Hereward who held under the
Count of Meulan in 1086 three manors in the north of the county which he himself had held freely
before the Conquest.
4 The proof is an old translation in the College of Arms of a charter of 1072, which was printed
with annotations by Mr. Eyton in Staffordshire Collections, ii. 178, and which he rightly styled 'a priceless
document which in turn fortifies history and helps chronology.' It is a grant by Robert de Stafford,
and among the witnesses are ' Agelwinus Viscount,' 'Turkil, the sonne of Agelwinus,' ' Ketelbearne his
brother.' From this it would appear that the right name of Turchil's father was ^Ethelwine (' Agel-
winus'), and that he was still sheriff (vicecomei) of Warwickshire in 1072.
I have touched upon this practice in my Geoffrey de M andevllle (pp. 103-4). The charters
obtained by Geoffrey in Stephen's reign contain several instances of such subordination.
Rid Book of the Exchequer, p. 325.
2 7 8
THE DOMESDAY SURVEY
earl. There are interesting allusions to her tenure among the Kenil-
worth Priory charters, from which we learn that she consented to its
being granted to the priory after she had proved her right to it in the
court of Henry I. 1 But a charter of that king speaks of his having him-
self established, as against the Earl of Warwick, that the manor was held
of him in ' almoin,' Domesday's own expression.*
Of the other Warwickshire tenants-in-chief, Earl Roger (of Shrews-
bury) had for his under-tenant in three five-hide manors Rainald (de
Bailleul) whose holding, here as elsewhere, is afterwards found in the hands
of the Fitz-Alans ; and Earl Hugh (of Chester), who had for his prede-
cessor King Edward's Norman chamberlain Hugh, bestowed some land
at Pillerton on the monks from St. Evroul whom Hugh de Grentmesnil
had endowed there. Of this last Hugh, the seat of whose power was in
Leicestershire, the fief passed with his other possessions to the Earls of
Leicester, while that of Henry de Ferrers descended to his heirs the Earls
of Derby. The next two tenants-in-chief, Roger de Ivry and Robert
d'Oily, 3 are of interest for their alleged sworn brotherhood ; they cer-
tainly appear at times in conjunction, as, for instance, at Stow, Bucks,
which manor they held jointly of the Bishop of Lincoln. The question
implied by Domesday as to Roger's tenure of Cubbington in this county
should be compared with the entry on his Gloucestershire manor of
Hasledon, which had similarly, we read (fo. 268), been held of the Bishop
of Bayeux. Robert d'Ouilly was constable of Oxford and a great man
in that county, but, although in Warwickshire he held in chief one
manor only, he was, I think, its sheriff and the ' Robert ' who is alluded
to as farming the king's manor of ' Cotes,' as a sheriff would. For the
king's charter confirming the gift of Turchil of Arden to Abingdon
Abbey is addressed to him in a way that implies he was sheriff of the
county. 4
Robert de Stafford had in Staffordshire itself a fief so large that it
dwarfed even his great estate in Warwickshire. Three tenants with
Breton names, Brien, 6 Hervey, and Urfer, held of him in both counties,
and to these we may add in Warwickshire Ludichel and Iwein. Robert
Despenser, brother of Urse d'Abetot, is chiefly remarkable, in this county,
for having at some period obtained possession of Tamworth. 8 Robert
de Veci's possession of land in Warwickshire, as in Leicestershire and
Northamptonshire, is accounted for by his having been given the fief
of a Lincolnshire thegn, ./Ethelric the son of Meriet, who appears to
1 ' concessione et assensu Luithe monialis que idem manerium per judicium curie Regis Henrici
recuperavit' (Harl. MS. 3650, fo. i8d).
a ' quod fuit Livithe monialis, quod ego deracionavi adversum Rogeri comitem de Warewic fuisse de
elemosina mea quodque ipse Gaufridus (de Clintona) de eodem comite tenuit' (ibid. fo. 143).
* They derived their names from Ivry-la-Bataille (Eure) and Ouilly (Calvados).
4 Abingdon Chronicle, ii. 8.
He was the tenant of Ditchford. General Wrottesley says he was the ancestor of the family of
de Standon, the most important of the tenants of the Barony of Stafford, holding seven knight's fees of
Robert de Stafford in Staffordshire, Lincolnshire and Warwickshire (Hittoty of the Family of Wnttesley,
p. 7). In 1 1 66 Ditchford appears to have been held of his heir by Roger de ' Dicford ' (Red Book of
the Exchequer, p. 265) as two-thirds of a knight's fee.
Geoffrey de Mandevllle, p. 314.
279
A HISTORY OF WARWICKSHIRE
have been his predecessor in all his manors. His, therefore, is a good
example of a Norman stepping, as it were, into an Englishman's shoes.
It is also doubtless the explanation of Ralf de Mortemer holding the
solitary Warwickshire manor of Stretton Baskerville that his predecessor
there, ' Edric,' was the famous ' Eadric the Wild," whose lands in Here-
fordshire and Shropshire had passed into his hands.
William Fitz Ansculf (de Picquigny) was a Worcestershire baron,
whose seat was at Dudley Castle ; but William Fitz Corbucion, whose
seat was at Studley, held hardly any manors outside Warwickshire.
With Geoffrey de Mandeville, an Essex baron, and Geoffrey de la Guer-
che, who was great in Leicestershire and Lincolnshire, we return to the
principle of Normans being placed in the shoes of single Englishmen.
For the latter obtained the whole of the lands of a local thegn, Leofwine
possibly of Newnham, 1 while the former succeeded here as elsewhere to
the scattered estates of his predecessor Ansgar the ' staller.' Stephen the
steersman, though his name suggests that he was out of place in the heart
of England, 3 appears also in the great Survey as the holder of two houses
in Southampton, already an important port. Osbern Fitz Richard had
inherited from his father, one of Edward the Confessor's favourites,
Richard's castle in Herefordshire, and his Warwickshire lands descended
with the fief of which it was the head. He is followed by another
Herefordshire lord, Harold the son of Earl Ralf, from whom his castle of
Ewyas Harold derives its name.
The three barons who follow were connected with other counties.
Hascoit Musard was a Breton who had lands in Gloucestershire and
Derbyshire, and whose castle of ' La Musardere' in the former county
gave its name to Miserden. Nicholas the crossbowman (balistarius),
though he only held two manors in this county, had secured a goodly
number far away in Devonshire. 4 Distant also was the head of Nigel
de Albini's barony, which was at Cainhoe in Bedfordshire, although he
had a small estate in Leicestershire as in Warwickshire ; in the latter
county he was probably the ' Nigel ' who held a portion of Austrey as
tenant to Henry de Ferrers, while holding the larger portion as a tenant-
in-chief, an arrangement which, Domesday shows us, was then by no
means uncommon. 8
1 See Freeman's Norman Conquest (1871), iv. 738.
* The identity of this Leofwine is doubtful, the name being a common one. The fact that (the
Warwickshire portion of) Mollington had been held T.R.E. by the mother of Leofwine ' deNiweham,'
and that ' Niweham ' [Newnham] is in this county might seem decisive. But, on the other hand, Leof-
wine ' de Neweham,' who took his name from Nuneham Courtney, Oxon, was a Bucks tenant-in-chief
in 1086.
' But see p. 290 below.
The case of Nicholas illustrates the inter-relation of counties even when far apart. We learn
from the cartulary of St. Peter's, Gloucester (ed. Rolls Series i. 74), that in 1095 Odo Fttz Gamelin,
a Devonshire baron in Domesday, gave Plumtree in that county to that abbey. Between that date and
1 100 Nicholas ' de la Pole' exchanged it with them for his Warwickshire manor of Aylestone (' Alno-
destone'). As this manor was held in 1086 by Nicholas ' balistarius,' we can scarcely hesitate to pro-
nounce the two men identical.
For instance, even the Count of Meulan, who held two-fifths of Myton as a tenant-in-chief,
condescended to hold another two-fifths as 'of Turchil's fee,' that is, as under-tenant to that English-
man.
280
THE DOMESDAY SURVEY
* Cristina,' who appears as the holder of two manors in Warwick-
shire and one in Oxfordshire, was sister to Eadgar ^Etheling, king for a
moment of the English, and to Margaret Queen of Scots. Of her
valuable and extensive estate at Long Itchington it is expressly recorded
that ' the king ' (presumably William) gave it her, 1 though why he should
have so handsomely provided for this daughter of the native royal house
we do not know. Her name is followed by those of two of her humbler
country-women who are entered as holding their land of the Conqueror's
' alms.' A few Englishmen also are named as holding of the king, but
these will best be considered in connection with the fate of English
thegns in Warwickshire.
Richard the forester, whose name is entered as if he were a serjeant
rather than a baron, 3 was the forester of Cannock Chase and held a fief
in Staffordshire and Warwickshire larger than those of some of the
barons ; in Staffordshire, indeed, his lands are entered amongst those of
the other tenants-in-chief. It should be observed that in the Warwick-
shire Domesday he is thrice styled Richard the huntsman (venator) ; for the
offices of forester and huntsman were closely connected. In the neigh-
bouring county of Northamptonshire the baronial family of Engaine
combined a hunting tenure with a forestership in fee, and the Waleran
'venator' of Domesday in Hants and Wiltshire was also a forester in
fee. We learn a good deal from the 'Testa de Nevill, under Warwickshire,
about Richard and his descendants 3 down to Hugh de Loges who held
his office under Henry III., and are also given some detailed information
on his manors. It is expressly stated that he founded the church of
Chesterton and that his son and successor gave it to Kenilworth Priory.
At Kenilworth itself Richard had a holding entered separately from
the rest of his fief on account of its being a member of the king's manor
of Stoneleigh. 4 Its entry is immediately preceded by that of another
' member ' held by ' Albert the clerk.' This is that Albert of Lotha-
ringia who enjoyed the favour of William as of Edward, and whom
Domesday shows us variously styled, with interests in Herefordshire,
Rutland, Beds, Middlesex, Surrey, Kent, and at Windsor itself. 8
Having now dealt with the bulk of those who held their lands in
Warwickshire of the king himself, we will glance at two of their under-
tenants who deserve special notice. Saswalo, who held of Henry de
Ferrers the great manor of Lower Eatington, was undoubtedly the
1 We read in 'The laws of Edward the Confessor' (assigned to the reign of Henry I.) that Cris-
tina's land was given her by Edward and was afterwards held by Ralf de Limesi (' Cui Cristine rex
Eadwardus dedit terram quam habuit postea Radulfus de Limesi ' (Die Gesetze der Angelsachstn. By
F. Liebermann [1903], Erster band, p. 661;). The statement as to Edward seems to be mistaken, for
two of her manors had belonged to Earls ^(Elfgar and Eadwine, but her Warwickshire lands, as Dugdale
observed, certainly came into Limesi's hands.
1 In the schedule of names he heads a group as ' Richard and other thegns and Serjeants of the
King,' and he occupies in the text a corresponding position.
3 ' Willelmus Bastardus quando perquisivit Angliam dedit cuidam scrvienti suo Ricardo Cheven
(sic) tres partes de Cestreton cum aliis feodis pertinentibus ad Castreton (sic) ad custodiendam forestam
suam de Kanocper x marcas solvendas domino Regi pro ballia forestae,' etc. (pp. 86, 87, 51, 62, 93).
See p. 294 below.
See The Commune of London and other Studies, pp. 36-8.
I 28l 36
A HISTORY OF WARWICKSHIRE
ancestor in the male line of that family of Shirley by whom it has been
held ever since. 1 It is doubtful whether in all England there exists
another case of an under-tenant's manor so demonstrably descending in a
male line unbroken. That this descent can be established is partly due
to the fact that the holder of Eatington was an under-tenant on a very
considerable scale. He held of Ferrers in Derbyshire, in Northampton-
shire, and in Lincolnshire as well as here, and his holdings were repre-
sented in 1 1 66 by nine knight's fees. 1 As there has been some miscon-
ception with regard to the origin of ' Saswalo,' one may here explain that
there were certainly two (and possibly four) bearers of the name in
Domesday. The one who held in Oxfordshire and Berkshire under
Geoffrey de Mandeville was represented by Sewale s de Oseville in 1 1 66 and
probably bore that surname. Our Warwickshire ' Saswalo ' was then
represented by ' Sewaldus.' 4 It is clear, therefore, that Saswalo was only
a Latinization of a name represented now by ' Sewell.' That its bearers
were foreigners, not Englishmen, is shown by their having as predecessors
several different men and by the absence of the name in England before
the Conquest.
The other Warwickshire under-tenant who appears to have been
the ancestor of a still existing family is ' Rannulf,' who held at Kinwar-
ton under the abbot of Evesham. The researches of General Wrottesley
have left little doubt that ' Rannulf was the brother of Walter then
abbot, and that he was ancestor in the male line of the house of Wrot-
tesley. 6 This he has established by Evesham evidences, and his researches
have incidentally illustrated other points in the survey of the shire, as is
seen in this introduction.
At length we may approach the question of the native landowners
and their fate. Great obscurity still surrounds the process by which the
English holders were dispossessed by the strangers. The magnates, no
doubt, were dispossessed either at the opening of William's reign or, on
various pretexts, in the course of it. As a typical example we may take
the case of an English noble who has not yet been properly identified in
Domesday. Three at least of the Warwickshire manors that had passed
to Henry de Ferrers had been held by Siward Barn, who may also have
held the rest, for all we know to the contrary. In Gloucestershire Henry's
only estate, the valuable manor of Lechlade,* had been held by the same
man. Far away in Lincolnshire, in its north-west corner, Henry's only
manor in the county, where his tenant was the Warwickshire 'Saswalo,'
had been held by the same man, oddly disguised as 'Seubar' (fo. 353),
and he was claiming other land as having been his at Amcotts. 7 Now
1 This was demonstrated by Mr. Evelyn Shirley in his own history of his family.
1 Red Book of the Exchequer, p. 336.
Or 'Sewalus' (Red Book of the Exchequer, p. 345). Cf. Geoffi-ey de Mandeville, p. 231.
Or ' Sawaldus ' (Red Book of the Exchequer, p. 336).
See A History of the Family of Wrottesley of Wrottesley. By Major-General Wrottesley (re-
printed from the Genealogist, 1903).
'Siward bar tenuit' (169).
7 Henricus de ferrariis clamat super ipsum Goisfridum iij bov' terrac, hoc et terram Siwardbar
in Amecotes' (376b).
282
THE DOMESDAY SURVEY
in Lincolnshire (fo. 337!)) and in Nottinghamshire (fo. a8ob) Domesday
mentions him among those local magnates who enjoyed sac and soc, and
we can hardly doubt, therefore, that he was also the ' Siward ' who was
the predecessor of Henry de Ferrers in his only two Nottinghamshire
manors, Leake and Sutton Bonington in the south-west of that county.
He was probably also, therefore, the ' Siward ' who had preceded Henry
at some two places in Derbyshire, and the ' Seward ' or ' Siward ' whom
Henry had succeeded in three valuable Berkshire manors.
To finish with Siward while discussing him, we observe that his
lands about the mouth of the Trent did not pass to Henry de Ferrers,
although Henry, we have seen, claimed Amcotts. Another Warwickshire
tenant-in-chief, Geoffrey de la Guerche, who was great in the Isle of
Axholme, secured Haxey on the Lincolnshire and Adlingfleet on the
Yorkshire side of the county border at this point. 'Seiard bar' had some
outlying lands, in addition to all these, just to the west of Cromer ; but
neither Henry nor Geoffrey obtained a share of them. Now Siward
Barn, by that name, appears once on the page of history ; he was one
of those who came by ship, in 1071, to join the rebels in the Isle of
Ely, 1 but were forced to surrender to the Conqueror. Mr. Freeman,
without giving his reasons, calls him a ' Northumbrian thegn' and makes
him identical with the Siward who made his submission to William after
the latter's coronation. Among the magnates who submitted on that
occasion was a Turchil, who may not impossibly have been Turchil ' of
Warwick ' himself. 2
But the fate of the smaller holders under William is our difficulty.
Mr. Freeman seems to have held that in Warwickshire they fared ill.
It is painful, on looking through the Warwickshire Survey, to compare the vast
estates of Thurkill with the two or three other thegns of the shire who retained some
small fragments of their property. It is plain that here, as elsewhere, the men of the
shire at large were patriotic and paid the penalty in the confiscation of their lands. 3
Mr. Freeman, of course, was speaking only of Englishmen who still
held their land direct of the Crown ; the names of these, five in number,
follow that of Richard the forester in the place where Domesday enters
the English thegns, but, with the exception of a certain Leofwine, who
was possibly brother to ./Elfwine the sheriff, they had but small holdings,
When, however, we turn to the English under-tenants, we are
struck at once not only by their number, but by the frequent cases of
men who held under Norman barons the same estate that they had held
themselves in the days before the Conquest. This is a feature of the
Warwickshire survey which makes it contrast, it will be found, with
those of the surrounding counties. On some fiefs, such as those for in-
1 See the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle and also Florence of Worcester : ' Morkarus vero, et ^Egelwinus
Dunholmensis episcopus et SitvarJui cognomento Barn et Herewardus vir strenuissimus, cum multis aliis,
Heli insulam navigio petierunt.' Simeon of Durham makes the bishop and Siward come from Scot-
land.
1 Although his father was then living, Turchil is entered under Warwickshire as having held some,
lands himself under King Edward, so that he must have been of sufficient age to attend.
3 Norman Conquest, iv. 189.
283
A HISTORY OF WARWICKSHIRE
stance of Osbern Fitz Richard and Hugh de Grentmesnil, the under-
tenants are, as usual, Norman ; but on others the prevalence of English
names is worthy of careful study. As we might expect, the fief of Tur-
chil is the most remarkable in this respect. ' Bruning ' at Wigginshall,
four brothers at Wolfhamcote, four franklins at Birdingbury, Wulfric at
Walcote, Wulfcytel at Napton, 'Leuiet' and Godwineat Willoughby, and
' Hadulf ' at Binley, all continued to hold under him their own old
estates. Brihtric was still living, as before, on his land at Baddesley
Ensor.
Of Turchil's other English tenants, some of whom held two and
even three manors, we cannot speak so positively, for they may or may
not have been related to the Englishmen entered as their predecessors ;
in any case they seem to have been eighteen in number. One might
have suggested that, on Turchil's fief, the prevalence of English tenants
was due, either to smaller men ' commending ' themselves to their
fellow-countryman in order, under his protection, to escape confiscation,
or to his selecting English tenants for the lands he had obtained. But
the occurrence of the same phenomenon on the fiefs of Norman lords
is fatal to this explanation. On that of the Count of Meulan, which
immediately precedes his own, we find a Hereward holding under him
three of his old manors, Waltheof holding two, and Merewine holding
one, while five of his under-tenants also have English names, one of
them holding in three places. One of them, Salo, installed at Bulking-
ton, was clearly, as Mr. Carter points out, the Salo who had lost his land
at Bramcote adjoining. Robert de Stafford, again, had seven under-
tenants bearing English names, of whom two at least held their old lands
under him, while William Fitz Corbucion, William Fitz Ansculf, and
Geoffrey ' de Wirce ' are responsible for ten, each of them having at least
one seated at his old home. The case of Geoffrey's fief is of special
interest, because after stating that his manor of Hopsford had formerly
been held freely by his English tenant Wulfric, the record goes on to
tell us that all his lands had belonged to Leofwine (of Newnham ?).
Wulfric, therefore, had but exchanged an English lord for a foreign
one ; he must formerly have held under Leofwine, as he did now under
Geoffrey. Whatever may have been the cause of the prevalence of
English tenants, it leads us to believe that in feudal times a goodly
number of the Warwickshire gentry were probably of native origin.
It is singular, and in this connection appropriate, that while not a
single Warwickshire parish (except, perhaps, Brownsover) commemorates
in its name a Domesday baron or under-tenant of alien birth, Wootton
Wawen derives its appellation from Waga, a Warwickshire thegn who
held that manor and six others in days before the Conquest. 1
The variety of classes and even of nationalities named in the
Warwickshire survey is exceptionally large. On Robert de Stafford's fief
we have seen there were Breton tenants, and nine Flemings (JlanJrenses)
He was possibly the Wagen minister ' who attests a Worcestershire charter of Edward the Con-
fessor in Heming's Worcester Cartulary (ed. Hearne), p. 398.
284
THE DOMESDAY SURVEY
are mentioned on a manor of Osbern Fitz Richard. ' Francigenas,' who
occasionally occur, as at Haselor, are men of French birth, but I claim the
' francones homines,' who had weathered the Conquest at Birdingbury, as
English franklins. The actual term ' francolanus ' (franklin) does not, it
would seem, occur in Domesday, 1 nor indeed are ' francones homines ' met
with elsewhere in the record except in a reference to the * placita
franconum hominum' in the adjoining county of Worcestershire (fo. 175) ;
but there can be little doubt that the ' franci homines ' of Domesday has
the same meaning. Another term employed in the Warwickshire survey
is * taini,' applied, as at Pillerton and Lower Eatington, to members of the
agricultural community. Knights (milites) are similarly found grouped
with the peasant classes in a way that makes their real status very doubtful.
The priest again is regularly found (except in the case of some special
tenancies which will be dealt with separately) occupying the same position ;
but the fact that it is also occupied by men who were clearly above peasants
modifies any conclusion that might be drawn from the fact, and leads us
to doubt whether the plough-teams assigned to these groups of classes can
have been held by them as members of a village community. Some types
of these groups will illustrate their mixed character
LOWER EATINGTON PILLERTON ASTON CANTLOW
32 villeins 13 villeins 9 Flemings
i priest 23 bordars 16 villeins
25 bordars i 'francigena' i priest
1 knight 3 ' taini' i o bordars
2 ' taini '
61 40 36
COMPTON STRETTON BARFORD
45 villeins 8 villeins 2 knights
1 priest 3 bordars i priest
13 bordars i priest 4 villeins
2 knights i knight 1 1 bordars
61 13 18
We may compare this grouping with the frequent statement in Domesday
that a manor had been held by several sokemen, who prove, when details
are elsewhere available, to have varied not only in their tenure, but in the
extent of their holdings.
When we turn to the peasantry proper, we find not only the normal
villeins, bordars and serfs, but six of ' the small but interesting class of
buri, burs, or colibert? ' (of whom the status is undetermined) at Nuneaton.
We have also a ' brruarius ' at Chesterton, and bondwomen (ancilltz) at several
places. The bovarius and ancilla are of frequent occurrence in the adjoin-
ing county of Worcestershire, and I have shown that the former was the
servant who had charge of the oxen in the lord's plough-team, two of them
1 Monastic cartularies show it us in use in the twelfth century.
3 Maitland_'s Domesday Book and Beyond, p. 36.
285
A HISTORY OF WARWICKSHIRE
going to each team. 1 They were consequently closely connected with the
demesne portion of the manor, as were also the ancillce. In Warwickshire
the place of the bovarius is taken by the serf, who is normally spoken of
as on the demesne. The proportion, however, of the serfs to the lord's
plough-teams is by no means regular, although the opening entry for the
county shows us six ploughs and twelve serfs 'indominio.' An analysis of
all the entries, which I have made for this purpose, reveals the following cases
in which the proportion of ploughs to serfs is correct : 6 to 1 2, one ; 5 to
i o, one ; 4 to 8, one ; 3 to 6, three ; 2 to 4, twelve ; i \ to 3, three ; i to
2, thirty-three. This gives us a total of fifty-four cases as against 107 in
which the number of serfs is either above or below that which is required.
Students will recognize that, even so, the number of cases in which the
required proportion occurs is significantly large ; and there are several in
which it is closely approached. 2
The bondwomen are closely connected with the serfs, and indeed in
one entry (at Haselor) we find them grouped together. 3 They are men-
tioned in seventeen entries, relating to eighteen places scattered about the
county, and were about three dozen in number. At Thurlaston and at
Marston Jabbet on the fief of the Count of Meulan, there were respectively
one plough and two bondwomen, and one bondwoman and two ploughs
on the demesne, and there were no serfs.
Agriculture dominated so completely all other industries, that save
for a ' burgess' here and there who is entered as appendant to a manor, and
for the ' two smiths ' at Wilnecote, we have no other occupations outside
Warwick. It must be remembered, however, that Domesday gives us
only a partial picture of the national life ; it ignores Tamworth and
Alcester at least, and it tells us nothing of the urban life that must have
existed at Coventry.
Of priests we find mention in some fifty-five entries, and in a very
few instances two are spoken of. As I have said above, they are nor-
mally grouped with the peasants, but at ' Uptone ' two priests with their
two ploughs are entered separately. Apart from these parish priests,
Ansgot the priest had a hide at Bentley as a tenant of Geoffrey ' de Wirce,'
Robert de Stafford's tenant Ludichel is styled a priest in a charter, and
an unnamed priest held a virgate of land, under Turchil of Warwick, at
Ladbroke.
The Warwickshire survey does not throw much light on questions
of tenure, though under Harbury we have the strange statement that the
two Englishmen who had held the 4* hides ' had power to sell, but
could not depart (discedere) with the land.' This appears to imply that
they could not commend ' themselves with the land to another lord,
although they could sell it without obtaining the lord's leave, subject to
1 See the Introduction to the Domesday Survey in V.C.H. Wort. \.
1 In this analysis I have only counted those serfi who are quite clearly connected with the lord's
demesne.
' 'v inter servos et ancillas ' (244). I have explained in the Worcestershire Domesday, where the
phrase is common, how it should be read.
See p. 278, note 4.
286
THE DOMESDAY SURVEY
its commendation remaining unchanged. Subinfeudation by an under-
tenant occurs on two manors held of the Bishop of Bayeux by one of his
great vassals, Wadard ; and rent-paying tenants are mentioned at Myton,
where eight of them brought in 32 pence a year. Perhaps the most
interesting question connected with tenure in the county was that con-
cerning the Bishop of Worcester's manor of Alveston. A moiety of this
great manor had been held by Brihtnoth and ' Alwi,' but the county court
could not say from whom they had held it. As to the other moiety,
the position was very complicated ; the six sons of ' Bricstuin ' deposed
that they knew not whether their father had held it of the Bishop of
Worcester or of Earl Leofric, though he did service to (serviebaf) the
latter. They added that Archbishop Ealdred (of York, who had held
the see of Worcester) possessed extensive rights over this land, namely
sac and soc and * tol ' and ' teim ' and churchscot (cerset 1 ) and (the
profits of) ' all other (sic) forfeitures except those four which the king
has throughout his realm.' 2 As to themselves, 'they had held the land
of Earl Leofric and could betake themselves with the land whither they
would,' 3 that is, as the phrase is understood, could commend themselves
and the land to another lord. Bishop Wulfstan, on his side, boldly
asserted ' that he had proved his right to this land in a plea held before
Queen Matilda in the presence of 4 counties and had King William's
writs for it and the witness of the county of Warwick.' 4
It is very interesting to compare this passage in Domesday with the
bishop's charter, purporting to be granted three years later, by which
he devotes Alveston to the support of his monks at Worcester. For in
it he relates that he acquired the manor, ' which had long been wrong-
fully possessed by certain powerful men,' from the Conqueror at great
trouble and expense, 6 owing to the growing needs of his monastery.
Another plea is referred to towards the end of the Survey, where
we read that Leofwine, an English thegn, asserted that he held the
1 This due played an important part in the adjoining county of Worcestershire, where it was
received (as 'circset') by the abbot of Pershore from 300 hides in the form of loads of grain due at
Martinmas. The Bishop of Worcester was entitled to the same (as ' circset ' or ' cirsette ') from the 300
hides of Oswaldslaw, over which district he possessed most exceptional rights (see Introduction to the
Domesday Survey in V.C.H. Wore. i. 238). In Warwickshire he also drew 8</. a year from Lapworth
at Martinmas (the regular term) ' pro Chirchset ' (Registrum Prioratus B. M. Wigorniensis, p. ygb).
2 On this phrase Professor Maitland comments : ' These four forfeitures are probably the four
reserved pleas of the Crown that are mentioned in the laws of Cnut mundbryce, hamsocn, forsteal and
Jyrdwite. We may construe these terms by breach of the king's special peace, attacks on houses, ambush,
neglect of the summons to the host ' (Domesday Book and Beyond, p. 87).
s ' quo volebant cum terra poterant se vertere.'
' se hanc terram deplacitasse coram regina Mathilde in presentia iiii or vicecomitatuum et inde
habet breves regis Willelmi et testimonium comitatus Warwic.' The mention of the plea being held
before the queen (probably in the king's absence abroad) is of interest and importance. The use of the
word ' vicecomitatus ' for 'county' should also be observed.
' Consilio ergo inito cum optimatibus meis terram quandam xv hidarum, que Alfestun ab incolis
nominatur, multo tempore a quibusdam potentibus hominibus injuste possessam, maximo labore et
pecunie donatione a rege Willelmo seniore adquisivi ' (Registrant Prioratus B.M. Wigorniensis, p. 84, and
Heming's Cartulary of Worcester [ed. Hearne], pp. 418-9). In another part of the latter volume
(p. 407) it is given as an illustration of William's love for Wulfstan that, at the request of the bishop,
he gave him ' terram duorum cassatorum quae Cullaclif dicitur, et alteram xv cassatorum, quae Alfestun
nominatur.'
287
A HISTORY OF WARWICKSHIRE
larger portion of his land at Flecknoe of Bishop Wulfstan, ' but the
bishop failed him when the plea was held (in placito)^ and he found
himself, therefore, at the king's mercy. 1
There are numerous cases in Warwickshire in which purchase is
spoken of, and some in which land is entered as held in pledge (in vadi-
mom'o), that is, for money advanced. The abbot of Coventry is asserted
to have bought his land at Binley which had formerly belonged to
Ealdgyth, daughter of ./Elfgar, and wife of Griffith of North Wales of
Osbern Fitz Richard ; and it is a singular fact that, although this land
is entered in Domesday under his fief, not under Osbern's, Binley is
found long afterwards feudally dependent on Richard's Castle, the head
of Osbern's fief. 3 In Domesday itself there is nothing to show that
Broom (in Bidford) had been the subject of a similar transaction between
Osbern and jEthelwig, abbot of Evesham. But Dugdale has a curious
story, 'ex Coll. H. Ferrers,' that Bishop Odo, having obtained it, gave it
to Osbern Fitz Richard, who mortgaged it to Abbot ./Ethelwig for four
marks of gold, parting with it afterwards for good, as he could not repay
the money. It is added that, after the death of Odo and of /Ethelwig,
Osbern seized it again ' and withheld both the land and the money.'
The whole story is probable enough, but one cannot well reconcile it
with the evidence in Domesday Book. The Evesham chronicle only tells
us that Broom was one of the manors acquired by Abbot ./Ethelwig and
seized after his death by Odo. 3 It is possible that what really happened,
as to these manors, is that Odo contended they had been acquired by the
abbot * for his personal possession only.
Of the abbot of Abingdon's acquisition of Hill and Chesterton
I have already spoken. 8 An estate at Barston " is recorded to have been
sold by ' Ailmar,' its former holder, with the king's permission, to
' Alwin ' the sheriff, father of Turchil ; as the king must here be
William, this entry strengthens the evidence that ' Alwin ' was sheriff
under him. Of Radford we read that Ermenfrid, its under-tenant in
1086, had bought it of Chetelbert 7 and held it of the king in fee as
the king's writ testifies. This seems to imply that he claimed to hold the
land in capite, not as an under-tenant, on the ground that he had bought
it himself. It is on Turchil's fief also that we meet, at Myton, with
a somewhat similar difficulty ; the Count of Meulan is entered as
holding the land ' of Turchil's fee,' but it is added that ' R. Halebold
bought this land.' Robert d'Oily gave as his title to the only Warwick-
shire manor he held in chief that he had bought it ' by leave of King
William ' from ./Elfric its former holder. Robert must have had money
at his disposal, for we find him holding two manors of Turchil de Warwic
See also p. 296 below.
> Red Book of the Exchequer, p. 604, and Testa de Nevlll. In the latter the monks of Combe, not
of Coventry, are shown as holding at Binley of the Richard's Castle fief, which is wholly at variance with
all the history of the place as given by Dugdale. Nor, indeed, is it easy to understand what interest
Osbern and his heirs retained there.
* See p. 274 above. Compare p. 275 above. 6 See p. 276 above.
See p. 296 below. * Brother of Turchil the over-lord (see p. 278).
288
THE DOMESDAY SURVEY
* in pledge,' and he was also probably the ' Robert ' who held of William
Fitz Corbucion one of his manors in pledge. And we find him else-
where in Domesday thus acquiring land. Possibly he had wrung
money out of the burgesses of Oxford ; possibly he had farmed to his
advantage the royal manors of Warwickshire. 1
Before discussing the sources of rural wealth we may see what we
can learn from Domesday's account of Warwick. The great Survey is
always disappointing when it is dealing with the towns ; even of those
which it does not ignore its account is meagre and obscure. The two
points which it seems to have concerned itself with recording are (i) the
king's rights and dues, (2) the payment of the king's ' geld,' that ' geld '
which may almost be described as the raison d'etre of Domesday.
We should first note the position occupied by Warwick in the
Survey, implying that it stood in some way apart. Professor Maitland
has attached significance to the position thus assigned to county towns " by
Domesday ; it places them, he says, 'outside the general system of land
tenure.' And the cause of this he finds in what he terms ' the tenurial
heterogeneity of the burgesses.' At Warwick, says the record, ' the
king has 113 houses in his demesne, and the king's barons have 112,
from all of which the king receives his 'geld.' It then draws up a roll
of the houses held by the ' barons," and incidentally we may observe that
it accounts for 121, not for ii2. 3 We recognize every 'baron' on the
list as holding land of the king in chief somewhere in the county,
though we have to reckon as ' barons ' for the purpose not only the lady
Christina, but even ' Luith ' the nun. The record then tells us that all
these houses belong to the lands which the said barons hold outside the
borough and are valued with them. This is another distinctive feature
of county towns in Domesday, and it has given rise to much theorizing, 4
which has failed, however, to gain acceptance.
The difficulty in dealing with these houses is that, on analysing the
Survey, we can only discover in all twenty-three houses entered under rural
manors as appurtenant to them in Warwick. The Bishop of Worcester's
manors reveal seven houses instead of nine ; those of Ralf de Limesi
seven instead of nine ; those of Robert de Stafford four instead of six.
Of the other 'barons' Hugh de Grentmesnil has two instead of four, and
Turchil one instead of four ; William Fitz Corbucion alone has two as in
the borough list. The only explanation one can offer is that the missing
houses are included in the values of other manors without their existence
being mentioned. The vagaries of Domesday are endless/
Alveston and Bishop's Hampton, south-west of Warwick, are
credited with three and with four houses respectively ; Budbrooke,
1 The other local case of holding land in pledge is at Chesterton, to which I have referred on
p. 276.
3 Domesday Book and Beyond, pp. 176-7.
' This may be due to a scribal miscript, such as sometimes occurs in Domesday, 'cxii.' being
written in error for ' cxxi."
4 Domesday Book and Beyond, pp. 179-90.
6 Apart from these houses Hugh de Grentmesnil had ' two burgesses in Warwick ' appurtenant
to his manor of Mars ton.
I 289 37
A HISTORY OF WARWICKSHIRE
close to the borough, with seven ; Tysoe, far to the south, with
three ; and Atherstone-on-Stour, Billesley, Coughton, and Bearley, in
the west of the county, with one apiece. Pillerton in the south and
Wolverton near Warwick had also a house apiece. Four of these houses
were valued at eightpence a year each and some at fourpence, but
Ralf de Limesi's averaged a shilling each. Fourpence is markedly
common in Domesday as a unit of rent for houses in towns.
From the ' barons ' the record turns to those humbler folk, the ' bur-
gesses,' nineteen of whom, it tells us, had houses ' with sac and soc and all
customary dues and so held them in King Edward's time.' This, in Pro-
fessor Maitland's opinion, is a ' difficult ' passage, and he suggests that 'we
are likely to see here a relic of the ancient " house-peace," ' and of the due
payable to its owner for breaking it. 1 Only four houses are entered as
having been pulled down to make room for the castle (propter situm
castelli), but the fact that any had to be destroyed supports the view that
William founded, 1 rather than repaired, the stronghold.
The service by land and sea to which the burgesses of Warwick
were liable was represented, as in other cases, by a fixed commutation.
When the king went forth to war by land, ten burgesses joined him on be-
half of the whole body, and the man who was summoned and failed to go
had to pay five pounds, clearly thzfyrd-wite. When the king sailed against
his foes by sea, the burgesses could send him four ' bat-sueins ' or four
pounds in money. The liability of a town so far inland as Warwick to
provide mariners has been deemed a difficulty 3 ; but we have to
remember that at that period rivers were larger and vessels smaller.
In the adjoining county of Worcestershire we meet with Turchil,
'King Edward's steersman' (stirman, fo. 174-b), and Eadric, 'who
was in King Edward's time steersman (stermannus) of the Bishop (of
Worcester)^ ship and leader of his men in the King's service.' 4 We read
of William employing ships and ' buthsecarlas ' in his siege of the Isle of
Ely, and the Domesday entry on Malmesbury is worth comparing with
the Warwick one, for we read there (fo. 64b) of the town sending the
king twenty shillings ' ad pascendos suos buzecarl' ' or of one man going
thence in person. The Warwick ' batsueins,' in short, would serve as
mariners in the fleet, and the doings of the dreaded Danes had proved
that their long galleys could penetrate far up the English rivers.
With the king's dues from the borough I have already dealt, 5 but
Earl Eadwine's dues annexed to his manor of ' Cotes' present a point of
difficulty. For ' the borough ' is spoken of as if the earl received all its
dues." This he cannot have done, as the opposite column shows. I
1 Domesday Book and Beyond, pp. 989.
See p. 277, note i, above.
> Mr. Benjamin Walker in his ' Notes ' on the Domesday Survey of Warwickshire (pp. 4-5)
observes that boatswain, by which we understand a steersman or some sort of petty officer on board
a ship, would be very far from a correct translation of " batsuein " in the present case. . . . they
furnished his navy with four " Boat-servants," without implying that they possessed any knowledge
of navigation, which, indeed, could not be expected in inhabitants of such an inland town as Warwick.'
Heming's Cartulary, p. 82. See p. 271.
' Hec terra cum burgo de Warwic,' etc., etc.
290
THE DOMESDAY SURVEY
conclude, therefore, that by 'the borough' Domesday means that ' third
penny ' of the borough dues which was normally the earl's portion.
Another item helped to swell the 'income he received from ' Cotes ; ' a
hundred bordars paid him fifty shillings a year in respect of their gardens
' outside Warwick.' Gardening on this extensive scale is probably unique
in Domesday. 1
The realm described by Domesday is a realm in which the plough
is king. To the ordinary reader there is something irksome in the dry,
endless figures relating to the plough-land and the plough, and even the
expert has to confess that he does not fully apprehend their significance
or their intention. But whether or not the Conqueror and his ministers
proposed to revise the system of land taxation, it is clear that they
attached great importance to obtaining a record of the arable land and
of the ploughs at work on it. In Warwickshire the feature that seems
to call for special notice is the occurrence at certain places of a number
of plough-teams in excess of that for which the land was reckoned to afford
employment. At Bishop's Hampton, with land for twenty-two ploughs,
there were two, we find, on the demesne and twenty-four outside it.
Sowe, with its five plough-lands, had six plough-teams, and at Radway,
with its six, there were six and a half. Charlecote had land for five
ploughs, but on the demesne were two, and five outside it. That such
excess was not due to mere scribal error, but was recognized by the com-
missioners is shown by the case of Wolfhamcote, where there were two
plough-lands, ' and yet,' they add, ' there are there three ploughs.' The
same formula is used at Ladbroke, at Newton and at Holme, at each of
which there was one for half a ploughland, at Walcote also, which for
its one plough-land had two and a half ploughs, and at Lillington, where
the discrepancy was so great that for only half a plough-land there were
two ploughs.
The value of a manor varied mainly with the amount of stock on it
and especially of plough-oxen. When all the plough-oxen were gone,
the manor was described as ' waste," for the land could not be worked.
Of this ' waste ' land there was not much in Warwickshire. A ' hide '
at ' Rincele ' is so described ; a hide and a half at Kington, a hide at one
of the Marstons, and a virgate and a half at Weston appear to complete
the list, save for i hides at Harbury which are specially entered as laid
* waste by the king's army.'
Among the sources of rural wealth in addition to the ploughed land
were the woodland, which was very extensive, the pasture for the stock,
the watermills, and the meadows in the river-valleys. Although in War-
wickshire the woodland is reckoned by rough estimates of its area, and
not, as in certain other counties, by the number of swine it could feed, 1
its chief value as affording mast is implied by such entries as those at
1 But it mentions twenty-three men with gardens at Holywell, a suburb of Oxford.
" At Stoneleigh, however, the information is added that it could feed 2,000 swine, and at Cough-
ton there was reckoned to be pasture for 50 swine. At Kington by Claverdon it it reckoned in yet
another way, as worth ten shillings a year.
291
A HISTORY OF WARWICKSHIRE
Sutton Coldfield, Fillongley, ' Rincele,' Claverdon, Sowley, Bedworth,
Packington, 'Ulverlei' and Arley, where the phrase ' cum oneratur ' refers
to the mast it bore. At Erdington alone, near the Staffordshire border,
is the woodland claimed as * in defense regis,' that is, as set apart for the
king and his hunting ; but at Southam, at the other end of the county,
the woodland was ' in the king's hands.' A grove (grava) is spoken of
at Lighthorne and a spinetum at Weston, the latter being, probably, rather
a thorn-wood than what we now call a ' spinny.' There is an unusual entry
under Sowe, which records that the woodland of the king and of the abbot
(of Coventry) and of Richard the forester together, was three ' leagues '
long and i ' league ' wide. The ' league ' of Domesday, it is true, was
only a mile and a half, but one cannot insist too strongly on the utter
vagueness of such statements and the folly of treating them as exact.
The same remark applies to the ' hay ' (baia) at ' Donnelie,' ' half a
league long and the same in width,' a fenced enclosure for capturing wild
animals in what was then and long afterwards ' a wild Forest ground.'
Of profits from pasture and from meadow we hear less than usual ;
but at ' Cotes ' by Warwick they were valued at the large sum of 4,
perhaps owing to the nearness of the borough, for it was only in excep-
tional cases that either served for more than the lord and his peasants.
The mill is one of the very few features of the Domesday Survey
that can often be recognized to-day standing where it stood then. Indeed,
as Mr. Walker has observed of ' Offeworde ' :
In Dugdale's time the only indication of this place was a mill known as Offord's
mill ; this name has now disappeared, although the mill is still shown on the ordnance
survey maps. 1
Many mills at the time of the Survey paid their rent partly in kind,
especially in eels from the mill pond. Twenty-five eels went to the 'stich,'
of which measure a fixed number was usually due. Eels were due in this
county from the mills of Stratford-on-Avon, Alveston, Atherstone-on-
Stour, Wixford, Salford, Wootton Wawen, Spernall, Aston, and Barford,
while that of Wasperton produced no less than twenty shillings, 1,000
eels, and four (horse) loads of salt, and that of Binton was responsible
for four (horse)loads of grain, and three ' stiches ' of eels.
Salt, at that time a valuable commodity, was produced either from
saltpans on the coast or from inland brine-springs, as at Droitwich and
Nantwich. The six Warwickshire entries in which it is mentioned
deserve careful study, for, in my opinion, they all refer to salt obtained
from Droitwich, which is less than ten miles from the Warwickshire
border. This is expressly so stated in the case of Binton, where the
revenue of its lord, William Fitz Corbucion, included three loads (summas)
of salt from (Droit)wich, a and in that of Urse de Abetot's manor at Hill-
1 Some Notes en Domeiday Book, p. 37.
The load seems to have been a ' mitta ' of salt, for we read that the tenants of the church of
Worcester at Broadwas (Wore.) had to find horses, on Sundays, to carry salt from (Droit)Wich to
Worcester, and that each horse was to carry ' unam mittam ' (Registrant Ptioratnt B.M. Wigom'unsis,
P- 34")-
292
THE DOMESDAY SURVEY
borough, to which was appurtenant ' a saltpan in (Droit)wich, rendering
three shillings.' Urse was the great man at Droitwich, and appears to
have assigned salt from it to some of his manors. Therefore when we
read of Studley, the seat of William Fitz Corbucion, that it included
a saltpan rendering nineteen (horse) loads of salt, 1 we have to remember
that William also had interests at Droitwich in the salt, and that, conse-
quently, this saltpan was probably there, not at Studley. This is likely
to have been the case also with the saltpan entered under Haselor, a
manor of Nicholas, and with the salt rendered by Wasperton mill. The
other mention of salt is at Brailes, the render from which manor in-
cluded twenty (horse) loads.
The problem of the Domesday Hundreds of Warwickshire is
closely connected with questions of local identification. Where, as here,
there are several places bearing the same name Compton, for instance
one is often dependent on the Hundredal headings for distinguishing
one from the other. But in Warwickshire these headings are at times
omitted by the scribe ; the Hundreds themselves, moreover, were subse-
quently re-arranged ; and, lastly, the sequence, of Hundreds in the text
appears to me irregular.
To take the last of these points first, it must always be remem-
bered that we see in Domesday only a compilation, made from original
returns in the form of Hundred Rolls. The compiler is supposed to
have gone through these rolls for each fief in turn, picking out those
manors which belonged to its tenant-in-chief, so as to bring them to-
gether. For Warwickshire he first picked out the manors retained ' in
demesne,' and then went through the rolls again to collect those in
which the ' baron ' had enfeoffed his under-tenants. This is well seen
on the fiefs of the Count of Meulan, of Turchil of Warwick, and of
Hugh de Grentmesnil, where a space is left in the manuscript between
the two classes. Oddly enough, on the fief of William Fitz Corbucion
he reversed his normal order and placed the demesne manors last.
If this process had been carried out, as in some counties, with
regularity, the Hundreds would follow in a strict sequence which
would help us to identify a manor where the heading was omitted.
But a careful analysis of the fiefs shows that the sequence cannot be
relied on. Eight fiefs, it is true, show us the Hundred of ' Fernecumbe '
following immediately on that of ' Tremelau,' while ' Meretone ' pre-
cedes ' Stanlei ' in six cases ; but ' Bomelau ' appears twice before and
once after ' Meretone '; 'Stanlei' once after and once before ' Hones-
berie,' and ' Patelau ' once before and once after ' Berricestone.' '
For a study of the Domesday Hundreds of the county we are in-
debted to Mr. Benjamin Walker, 3 who has shown that they were ten in
number. It is one of our difficulties in Warwickshire that these have
1 See note 2 previous page.
J On the subinfeuded portion of Robert de Stafford's fief the Hundreds appear in this order :
Patelau, Stanlei, Bedricestone, Fernecumbe, Berricestone, Patelau.
' See 'The Hundreds of Warwickshire at the time of the Domesday Survey,' with map, in the
Antiquary, xxxix. 146-51, 179-84.
293
A HISTORY OF WARWICKSHIRE
all disappeared, their place being taken by four only, which bear differ-
ent names. Mr. Walker shows that Hemlingford Hundred practically
represents the Domesday Hundred of ' Coleshelle ' ; that Knightlow is
composed of the Domesday Hundreds of 'Bomelau,' ' Meretone,' and
' Stanlei' ; that ' Tremelau,' ' Honesberie,' * Fexhole,' and ' Berricestone '
form what is now Kineton ; and that ' Barlichway,' a name as old as
1176, represents the Domesday Hundred of ' Fernecumbe,' with the
addition of that Pathlow Liberty, the ' Patelau ' of Domesday, which
continued long afterwards to cut it in two. ' Berricestone,' according
to Mr. Walker's map, 1 was similarly cut in two, while ' Fexhole ' con-
sisted of two portions widely detached.
This is not the place in which to discuss the development of the
later Hundreds, the term ' Sipe socha ' as connected with them, or the
subsequent appearance as ' leets ' of the three Domesday Hundreds, 1
which went to form Knightlow. Such points as these, together with
the names of the places from which the Hundreds were called and where
their assemblies met, will be discussed under each Hundred. The very
boundaries of the Domesday Hundreds are by no means absolutely clear,
and although they are occasionally referred to in the notes to the text,
they are not of much importance.
The identification of Domesday manors is often a work of extreme
difficulty, but is one which cannot be shirked. Mr. Carter, fortunately,
in his notes to the text has been able to diminish the number of those
which have hitherto remained unidentified. 8 I do not propose, therefore,
to deal with the matter myself beyond touching on the cases of' Surland'
and ' Optone.' With regard to the former, our difficulty is that this
substantial manor is not mentioned, so far as we know, after Domesday,
although it ought to occur, as in the record, among the possessions of
Coventry Priory. Mr. Carter's suggestion that it represents the abbey's
portion of Coventry itself (which is not entered in Domesday) would
obviously meet this difficulty ; but Domesday distinctly places ' Surland '
between Grandborough and Birdingbury in ' Meretone' Hundred, which
is inconsistent with that solution. At present, therefore, I cannot sug-
gest where ' Surland ' was. As to ' Optone,' I agree with Mr. Carter in
rejecting Dugdale's guess (for it can have been nothing else) that it was
part of Kenilworth. 4 The only actual evidence we have is : (i) that of
Domesday, which tells us that ' Optone ' and Kenilworth were both
members of Stoneleigh ; (2) that of the Stoneleigh cartulary, which asserts
that in the time of Edward the Confessor the members of Stoneleigh
were Kenilworth, Baginton, Ryton, and Stretton. 6 Dugdale was ac-
1 See Antiquary, xzxix. p. 147.
' t ' Meretone ' and ' Stanlei,' as Dugdale shows, appeared for a time as Hundreds ' and then as
Leets, while 'Brmklow,' which appears to represent the Domesday Hundred of ' Bomelau,' did the same.
1 Compare Mr. Benjamin Walker's Some Notes on Domesday Book, p. 10.
Ibid. p. 37. Dngdale's words are : 'this being that part of Kenilworth which now the inhabitants
igh Town, and situate upon the ascent upon the north part of the Church.'
' Edwardus rex habuit in dominico suo hereditario manerium de Stonle cum membris, videlicet
Kenilworth, Bakyngtone, Ruytone, et Stratone,' etc.
294
THE DOMESDAY SURVEY
quainted with this statement, and pointed out, as confirmation or it, that
Baginton was included as a chapelry of Stoneleigh in a grant temp. Henry
II. ; but he did not draw from it what would seem to be the natural
inference, namely, that, just as Kenilworth to the west was a member of
Stoneleigh, so ' Optone ' must be sought somewhere in the three adjoining
vills of Baeinton, Rvton, and Stretton-on-Dunsmore to the east. Under
O J
Baginton and Ryton he rejects the statement of the same Stoneleigh
cartulary that they were given to the Ardens by Henry I., on the just
ground that Turchil held them as early as 1086. But if ' Optone' lay
within them, it might conceivably have been so granted, and its identity
thus lost in the manors they already held there. This, however, can
only be conjecture in the absence of further evidence.
If we could only be sure of the forms of Domesday names, the work
of identification would present less difficulty. But those we find in War-
wickshire are enough to show that we cannot. Barston is represented by
' Bercestone ' and by * Bertanestone.' * Berdingeberie ' occurs also, by
transposition, as 'Derbingerie.' Burmington is 'Burdintone ' in Domes-
day. Harbury is ' Edburberie,' but also ' Erburgeberie.' ' Filunger '
and ' Felingelei ' both represent Fillongley. * Ilmedone ' and ' Edelmi-
tone ' are variant forms of Ilmington. Both ' Tacesbroc ' and ' Tas-
chebroc ' stand for Tachbrook, as do ' Wara ' and ' Gaura ' for Over.
Willoughby masquerades as ' Wilebec,' ' Wilebene,' and ' Wilebere,'
and Wormleighton as ' Wimelestone,' ' Wimenestone,' and ' Wimere-
stone.' ' Worwarde ' and ' Volwarde ' are both considered to represent
Great Wolford.
In the midlands we have to be always on our watch for that
strange transposition of manors, which is one of the puzzles of Domes-
day. Just as two manors in the Staffordshire Hundred of Cuttlestone
have wandered into the Northamptonshire portion of the great Survey, 1
so we find surveyed under Warwickshire quite a group of manors on the
border of Staffordshire and Shropshire. On the Staffordshire side of it
are Essington, Bushbury, and Chillington in Brewood, all in the
Hundred of Cuttlestone ; on the Shropshire side are Quatt, Romsley,
Rudge, and Shipley near Bridgenorth. Under Warwickshire also we find
surveyed the important manor of Spilsbury in the west of Oxfordshire,
while of Mollington, a manor of ten hides where three counties meet,
five hides arc surveyed under Warwickshire, four under Oxfordshire
and one under Northamptonshire ! A parallel case is that of the
Overs, which lay on the border of Warwickshire and Northamptonshire,
William Fitz Ansculf s estate of one hide at ' Wavre ' being found under
Northants. In Northamptonshire also, we find the survey of Turchil's
manor of Sawbridge, of the Count of Meulan's estates at Berkswell * and
Whitacre, and apparently of Whichford, which is not mentioned under
Warwickshire in Domesday. 3
1 See y.C.H. Northanti, i., and p. 344 below.
! i.e. 4 hides in addition to the I hide under Warwickshire.
3 My ground for identifying Gilbert de Gant's manor of ' Wicford,' placed under Northampton-
shire by Domesday, with Whichford in the south of Warwickshire is solely that its church was given to
295
A HISTORY OF WARWICKSHIRE
The duplicate entries which are sometimes found in the great Survey
are of value for the light they throw on the methods of its compilation.
In Warwickshire the only certain example is afforded by Clifton, which
the scribes, as they sometimes did in such cases, dealt with in two places.
Turchil's father, jElfwine the sheriff, had bestowed the manor on the
church of Coventry, which had been despoiled of it by Earl Aubrey,
whose land, at the time of the Survey, was in the king's hands. The
scribes, when recording the Coventry manors, added at the foot of the
column an entry dealing with the case ; but they reckoned the manor
among those that Earl Aubrey had held, although a marginal note
alluded to the church's claim. We observe, on comparing the two
entries, that the case for the church is distinctly stronger in the first
of the two, the validity of ^Elfwine's grant and the wrongfulness of
the earl's action being clearly expressed :
CHURCH OF COVENTRY EARL AUBREY
fo. r)8b f- J 39b
' Huic ascclesias dedit Alwinus vicecomes ' Hanc terram dedit Alwin aecclesiae de
Cliptone conccssu regis E, et filiorum iuorum Coventreu pro anima sua T.R.E. Comes
pro anima sua et testimonia comitatm. Comes Albericus abstulit.'
Albericus hanc injuste invasit et aecclesias
abstulit.'
In the first of these entries we seem to be hearing the monks'
own story, while the second appears to be a marginal note based upon
the first.
Another case in which an estate is almost certainly entered twice
over is that, as Mr. Carter points out, of the 2\ hides held by Leofwine
at Flecknoe. These are first entered as held of the Bishop of Worcester
by Leofwine, and then, at the end of the Survey, appear as held by Leof-
wine (as he said, but failed to prove) of the bishop. Here, the tenure
being disputed, a duplicate entry, it would appear, was made.
Isdem episcopus tenet in Flechenho ii Lewin' tenet de rege ii hidas et dim. virga-
hidas et dim. virgatam terrae, et Lewin de eo. tam terrae in Flechenho. Terra est ii car.
Terra est ii car. Ibi sunt ii villani et i bor- Ibi est una cum ii villanis et i bordario et vi
darius cum i car. Ibi vi acre prati. T.R.E. et acris prati. Valuit x solidos. Modo xx.
post valebat x solidos. Modo xx" solidos solidos (fo. 2440).
(fo. 238b).
I have spoken of this dispute on p. 288 above.
It is thought that the two entries under ' Bertanestone ' (Barston)
may be duplicates, for the two surveys would be identical were it not
that the first gives 9 hides and 1 1 ploughlands, and the second 10 hides
and i o ploughlands. But the one shows us ' R. de Olgi ' holding the
manor of Turchil, while the other makes Robert the Despenser hold it
in demesne. The alternative, of course, is that we are dealing with two
moieties of what was one estate, as is certainly the case at Shuttington.
Bridlington Priory, which was founded by his son and closely connected with his house. It seems
difficult to account for the gift in any other way, but the manorial evidence does not seem to support
the identification.
296
THE DOMESDAY SURVEY
We have there a ' five-hide ' manor divided before the Conquest into
two equal moieties of 2| hides each, with an equal share of the wood-
land and of the mill in each ; but one moiety had three ploughlands,
and the other five, though their ' values ' were the same. One of these
moieties, it is clear, had again been subdivided, although it was reunited
under the Norman rule. For the feudal system arrested sharply that
process of disintegration which had exposed to crushing defeat at the
hands of knights and nobles a host of small landowners, of almost anarchic
yeomen.
29?
NOTE
The reader should bear in mind throughout that
the date of the Domesday Survey is 1086 ; that the
time of King Edward (here expressed by T.R.E.), to
which it refers, normally means the date of his death
(5 January 1066), and that the intermediate date,
which is spoken of as ' afterwards,' is that at which
the estate passed into the hands of the new holder.
The Domesday ' hide ' was a unit of assessment
divided into four quarters called ' virgates,' each of
which was reckoned to contain 30 ' acres' ; but these
were merely fiscal, not areal measures. 'Demesne'
was that portion of a manor which the holder (whether
a tenant-in-chief or only an under-tenant) worked as a
home farm with the help of labour due from the
peasants who held the rest from him. But when
the term ' demesne ' is applied to a fief, it denotes those
of its manors which remained in the baron's hands
and were not held of him by under-tenants. Of the
peasantry, the three main classes were, in descending
order, villeins, bordars and serfs. The classes above
them are dealt with in the Introduction. The essen-
tial element of the plough ('caruca') was its team of
oxen, always reckoned in Domesday as eight in number.
The ' league ' of the record appears to have been a
mile and a half long (see Introduction, p. 292).
It must always be remembered that when Domes-
day speaks of a place as held by a certain tenant, it
does not follow that the whole of it is thereby meant.
For the vills often comprised other manors which
form the subject of separate entries.
The notes of the text which are initialled J.H.R.
have been added by Mr. Round, the Domesday editor.
Those to which B.W. is appended are contributed
by Mr. Benjamin Walker, who kindly read the proofs.
298
NOTE TO DOMESDAY MAP
COMPILED BY BENJAMIN WALKER, A.R.I.B.A.
On the accompanying map the manors held by the king are
shown by red capitals ; those held by the chief ecclesiastical
tenant, the abbey of Coventry, by red small type ; and those
held by the chief lay tenant, the Count of Meulan, by black
capitals. The asterisk against some of the abbey's manors
indicates that the Count of Meulan also had an interest there.
For the sake of uniformity and convenience of reference the
modern boundaries of the county are given. These probably
differ but little from those in Domesday times except in the
extreme south, where the parish of Little Compton, formerly
belonging to Gloucestershire, has been transferred to Warwick-
shire. Neither the rivers nor the three great ancient ways,
the Watling Street, the Fosse Way, and the Icknield Street, are
mentioned in the Survey, but they are so necessary to the under-
standing of the map that they have been added.
The general positions of the ten hundreds into which the
county was divided in Domesday times are shown upon the map ;
but as the rubrication of the Survey is not sufficiently accurate to
enable them to be reconstructed with certainty, no attempt has
been made to indicate their boundaries.
In those cases where Domesday Book records a name in two
or more different forms only one of the variants can be given on
the map.
The natural characteristics of the district are well shown by
the varying density of the names upon the map. This density
is greatest in the fertile valleys of the Arrow and the Avon, and
least in the forest district of the Arden in the west and north-
west of the county.
In fixing the position of manors the church has been the guide.
The manors of Rincele and Werlavescote are not marked on
the map, as their positions could not be identified.
o
z
o
O
a
o
a
o
WARWICSCIRE
IN THE BOROUGH OF WARWIC(K) the king has in his demesne 1 13
houses and the king's barons have 1 12, 1 from all of which the king has
his geld.
The Bishop of Worcester (Wirecestre) has 9 messuages (masuras).
The Bishop of Chester 7. The Abbot of Coventry 36, and 4 2 (of these)
are (laid) waste to make room for the castle (profiler situm castellt). The
Bishop of Coutances has i house. The Count of Meulan (Mel/end] (has)
1 2 messuages. Earl Aubrey had 4, which belong to the land which he
held. Hugh de Grentemaisnil (has) 4, and the monks of Pilardintone
[Pillerton] have i from him. Henry de Fereres has 2. Harold 2.
Robert de Stadford [Stafford] 6. Roger de Ivri (iuri) 2. Richard the
huntsman (uenator) I. Ralf de Limesi 9. The Abbot of Malmesbury i.
William Bonuaslet i. William son of Corbucion 2. Geoffrey de
Magneville i. Geoffrey de Wirce I. Gilbert de Gant 2. Gilbert
Buili 3 i . Nicholas the crossbowman (balistarius) i . Stephen Stirman i .
Turchil 4. Harold 2. Osbern son of Richard I. Cristina i. Luith
the nun (monialis) 2. These messuages (tnasurce) are appurtenant to the
lands which the same (ipst) barons hold outside the borough and are
there taken into account (appre ciantur) . Besides these above-mentioned
messuages there are in the same (ipso) borough 1 9 burgesses, who have
19 messuages with sac and soc and all customary rights (consuetudimbus)
and thus had (them) T.R.E.
In the time of King Edward the shrievalty (vicecomitatus) of
Warwic(k) with the borough and with the royal manors paid 65 pounds
and 36 sestars (sextaria) of honey ; or 24 pounds and 8 shillings in place
of all (dues) pertaining to honey.
Now, what with (inter) the farm of the royal manors and the pleas
of the county, it pays yearly 145 pounds by weight, and 23 pounds for
the customary payment for dogs (consuetudine canum), and 20 shillings
for a sumpter-horse (summario), and 10 pounds for a hawk, and 100
shillings to the queen for a benevolence (gersumma).
It also pays 24 sestars of honey by (cum) the greater measure and
from the borough 6 sestars of honey, a sestar to wit for 1 5 pence.
