# Midland Naturalist/Volume 01/Lepidoptera and Their Captors in the Midland Counties

Lepidoptera and Their Captors in the Midland Counties.
By the Rev. C. F. Thornewill, M.A.
The Lepidoptera of the Midland district have not hitherto received the same amount of attention which has been bestowed upon the same class in other parts of England. It is true that some of the greatest names among practical entomologists are to he found among the midland collectors. The name of the Rev. Joseph Greene must always command respect as that of the great authority on, and almost inventor of, pupa-digging, while another brother of the cloth, the Rev. H. H. Crewe, stands unrivalled in his practical knowledge of the puzzling genus Eupithecia. And another midland naturalist, Mr. Edwin Brown, of Burton, whose collections have lately been dispersed in consequence of his lamented death, stood equally high with either of the above named for general acquaintance not only with the Lepidoptera, but with Coleoptera, Diptera, and indeed almost every family of the multitudinous race of insects. It is not then, for want of able and experienced collectors that this district falls below some other, as for example the London, New Forest, and Devonshire districts, from the Lepidopterist’s point of view.
Nor again is it for want of sufficient material to work upon, the midland counties include, indeed, many purely manufacturing neighbourhoods, where it is hardly to be expected that Lepidoptera should flourish, (though, for the matter of that, one enthusiastic collector pursues his avocations with great success with a very short distance of the Staffordshire Potteries;) ​but it includes likewise some localities which have been, and are likely to remain, amongst the best hunting grounds in England. Cannock Chase, the grand habitat of G. Hicifidia, is rapidly disappearing from the list of these localities; but Sherwood, Needwood, and Charnwood Forests still remain to delight the heart and furnish the cabinet of the ardent collector; and the Peak of Derbyshire, with its extensive moors, deep dales, and purling streams, has as yet been very little explored by entomologists. It is quite within the range of possibility that many new habitats, as well as species new to the district, may be discovered by midland collectors, if only they will travel a little out of the beaten tracks, and hunt for themselves, instead of following altogether in the steps of others. There is no assignable reason why the grand "catch" named above—(G. Hicifidia)—should not be found on the moors of North Derbyshire, or why C. bicuspis should be regarded as almost confined to the neighbourhood of Burton-on-Trent. The writer of the preset article, during a sojourn of about ten days in the Peak in June, 1877, took forty-five different species of Micro-Lepidoptera, some, of course, common enough, but others quite sufficiently good to be worth having in any collection; and this, too, within a very limited extent of country. Nor should it be forgotten that considerably more than half the larvæ of A. alui, recorded in the "Entomologist" as having been taken during the autumn of last year, were secured by midland entomologists, the Rev. T. W. Daltry, of Madeley, having taken no less than seven, the Rev. H. A. Stowell, of Breadsall, three, and six or seven others (including the present writer) one each. What is principally needed, in order to secure an efficient and systematic working of the district, is something like union and inter-commmunication among workers in the same field, which should convert them from a body of irregular skirmishers into an organized army. There ave plenty of individual collectors, first-rate localities, and ample materials to work upon. Almost every sub-division of the midland district possesses a Natural History Society, numbering its members from tens up to hundreds. But out of these many—to speak mildly—take but little interest in any branch of natural history, while far more devote their attention to other portions of the study, and the students at Lepidoptera are (generally speaking} few and far between. Even such a society as the North Staffordshire, with its 300 members, reports that in the matter of entomology its entire work for a year has been done by a single individual.
It is hoped, then, that the establishment of the Midland Naturalists' Union, with its annual gatherings, its combined excursions, and—last but not least—its monthly organ in the press, may contribute powerfully towards the existence of a more satisfactory state of things in this, as in all other branches of Natural History. Observers will become cognizant of each other's existence and particular line of study; they will have the opportunity of meeting from time to time on the field or in the annual gathering, and exchanging—as naturalists love to do—experiences of the past, and hints for the future; and many observations, which otherwise might have never seen the light, upon the habits and characteristics of different species, will he permanently recorded for the benefit of collectors and students in general. When we consider how many discoveries have been made, with relation to the habits of our moths and butterflies, during the last few years, and when, too, we find (as we may easily do by the perusal of any standard work upon the subject) how much yet remains to be discovered, it becomes pretty clear that there lies before the entomologists of the midland district an extensive field, upon which they have only to enter to reap a ripe harvest of laurels for themselves, and—what is of far more importance—of useful information for all lovers of animated nature.
​The president of a certain Natural History Society, in one of the southern counties, remarked the other day, in the course of his annual address, that his society “had exhausted the district!" The accuracy of his remarks may reasonably be doubted. But certainly no such opinion can be expressed with regard to this part of the country. Even among the Macro Lepidoptera, there are several of our local rarities whose "life-history" still remains to be written. The earlier stages of G. Bicifolia, if known at all, are so only to a privileged few. A. iireits, in spite of the labours of Mr. Brown and others, remains to a great extent a puzzle. B. biewspis would probably be far mere frequently found if some competent observer would devote himself to examining into its habits, and informing his brethren 'anent' them. C. avranmpeltia, though probably far from scarce in certain localities, is still looked upon as such, mainly because the majority of collectors are unaquainted with its habits in the earlier stages. And so with many other insects. There is surely something better to be done, in such a field as this, than the mere amassing of a collection, It may fairly be doubted whether a cabinet of Lepidoptera, is in itself such a desirable possession. What we really want are observers—men of the stamp of Thomas Edward, the hero of Mr. Smiles' fascinating book—who will note with a keen eye the characteristics of the insects inhabiting their own special locality, and add to the general stock of knowledge by recording their characteristics for the information of their brethren. We hope that many such records as these will find their place, before long, in the pages of the Midland Naturalist; and, if this be the case, it is certain that our own district will soon be as well worked, and as thoroughly organised for the steady of Natural History in all its branches, as any part of England.
This work was published before January 1, 1930, and is in the public domain worldwide because the author died at least 100 years ago.
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