In the order Pectinibranchiata, _Neritina fluviatilis_, the only

representative in England of a genus of world-wide distribution, has

occurred in the river Tame at Aston, but the writer believes is not

now to be found there. One of our two species of Paludinidæ, _Paludina

vivipara_,[64] _Bythinia tentaculata_, _B. Leachii_, and _Valvata

piscinalis_ make up the list of operculate water snails.

Among the Limnæidæ examples of the following genera occur. In the

genus Planorbis we find all the species except _Planorbis lineatus_,

excluding of course _P. dilatatus_ (Gould), which only occurs at

Manchester, having been introduced on cotton from America. The

epiphragm formed by _P. spirorbis_, in summer, when the solar heat has

dried up its habitat, is a singular item of its economy. It is supposed

that this habit enabled _P. dilatatus_ to reach our shores. _Physa

hypnorum_ and _P. fontinalis_ are both represented; they are charming

inhabitants of an aquarium, their habit of thread spinning,[65]

especially in the young state, makes them lively creatures; the lobed

mantle of _P. fontinalis_, nearly enclosing the shell, gives a peculiar

character to the animal.

Of the six species of Limnæa[66] which occur, it will not be needful

to mention more than one, which is the rarest with us, viz.: _Limnæa

glabra_. Both species of Ancylus are moderately common.

Of terrestrial Mollusca we enumerate the following Limacidæ--_Arion

ater_, _A. hortensis_, _Limax marginatus_, _L. flavus_, _L. agrestis_,

_L. arborum_, _L. maximus_, and as before said one of the Testacellidæ

viz., _T. Haliotidea_. Among the Helicidæ of course the common kinds

are all present. Of the genus Zonites we have the following species:

_Zonites cellarius_, _Z. glaber_, _Z. alliarius_, and its var.

_viridula_, _Z. nitidulus_, _Z. purus_, and its var. _margaritacea_,

_Z. radiatulus_, _Z. nitidus_, _Z. excavatus_ (one only, at Knowle),

_Z. crystallinus_. Among the smaller species of Helix, attention may

be called to the following: _H. aculeata_, a minute spiny coronet; _H.

pygmæa_, the smallest of known Helices; _Helix fusca_, taken in two

localities only, at Knowle and Selly Oak. Of the four species of Pupa

found in Britain, two only occur, _Pupa umbilicata_ and _P. marginata_.

Of the latter species a colony of the white variety has been found

inhabiting a wall at Cleeve Prior, Worcestershire. Only two out of our

eleven species of Vertigo have occurred, viz.: _Vertigo edentula_ and

its variety _columella_, and _V. pygmæa_. Two Clausiliæ are found,

_Clausilia laminata_ and _C. rugosa_. It is somewhat singular that of

the four species inhabiting this country the last named is ubiquitous,

while _C. Rolphii_ and _C. biplicata_ are local. The writer has taken

the rare albino form of _C. rugosa_, at Selly Oak. That exquisite

shell, _Cochlicopa tridens_, var. _crystallina_, has been taken in

three places; the type is largely distributed in our neighbourhood,

whereas in others it is rare, while _C. lubrica_ is widespread

in England. _Achatina acicula_, dead shells only, Dudley Castle.

_Carychium minimum_ is commonly distributed.

In giving this outline of the Molluscan Fauna of our neighbourhood,

the writer has called attention to the valuable papers on Embryology by

Professor E. Ray Lankester, as shedding great light on the affinities

of the Mollusca with other groups.

CHAPTER IV.

Insects.

BY W. G. BLATCH.

The neighbourhood of Birmingham, and in fact the Midland district

generally, has never been considered particularly rich in either the

number or variety of its insect productions, and it is a fact that

a collection of Midland species, of whatever order, shows very wide

gaps, both in genera and species, when compared with one formed in the

east or south of England. Nevertheless, the Midland Counties are not

entirely barren in this respect, and a catalogue of the insects known

to occur within a radius of twenty miles of Birmingham would be a very

respectable one. During the last few years a large number of very

interesting species have been discovered, and there can be no doubt

that with more workers and greater enthusiasm considerable additions

would continue to be made. By extending the radius somewhat our list

would embrace a good array of species which seem to be peculiar to the

Midlands, such as _Bembidium adustum_, _Eutheia clavata_, _Euplectus

nubigena_, _Teredus nitidus_, _Macronychus quadrituberculatus_,

_Hylecœtus dermestoides_, _Tropideres sepicola_, _Bagöus diglyptus_,

_Notodonta bicolor_, &c., &c. At any rate these insects have not

hitherto been detected in any other British localities. It is much to

be regretted that local entomology suffers greatly from two untoward

circumstances, viz., the lack of students and the want of a carefully

compiled list of species of the several orders. The publication of a

catalogue of local insects as far as our present knowledge extends,

would undoubtedly tend to stimulate the intelligent pursuit of this

study, and it seems surprising that such an important work has not long

ago been undertaken by the Natural History Societies of the district.

Having regard to the limited space allowed for this paper its object

will, perhaps, best be secured by giving as full a list as possible,

of the rarer and more interesting species belonging to the two most

popular orders, viz., the Coleoptera and the Lepidoptera, together with

some of the localities in which they occur. With few exceptions the

references will be to insects which inhabit the twenty miles radius, a

wider range being taken only in specially interesting cases, but even

then it will be impossible to give anything like an adequate idea of

the beetles, butterflies, and moths of the district.

To prevent the possibility of error it should be stated that the

nomenclature adopted is (for the beetles) that of the “Catalogue

of British Coleoptera, by Matthews and Fowler, 1883,” and (for the

butterflies and moths) “Synonymic List of British Lepidoptera, by

Richard South, 1884.”

COLEOPTERA.

This order is well represented; certain localities in the district are

favourable to their existence and economy, and many rarities occur.

Only one Cicindela (_Cicindela campestris_) inhabits our district

and that is generally distributed and plentiful, especially in sandy

places. The curious and elegant _Cychrus rostratus_ is often found

under stones and loose bark at Dudley and Bewdley, and the handsome

_Carabus nitens_ and its congener _C. arvensis_, may be taken on

Cannock Chase, both species being now very scarce. _Elaphrus riparius_

and _E. cupreus_ occur not uncommonly in wet and boggy places.

_Notiophilus substriatus_ (generally a sea-side species) may be found

occasionally on Cannock Chase, and so also may the curious _Nebria

livida_. This latter beetle was first discovered on the Chase by Mr.

J. T. Harris, and the writer has verified its occurrence there many

times. It is a remarkable fact that this is the only known instance of

this species inhabiting an inland locality--its head quarters being

at Bridlington Quay and two or three other parts of the north-east

coast--it lives in the argillaceous cliffs, and on Cannock Chase it is

met with in a similar formation.

Of the curious genus Dyschirius two species only appear to have

settled in our neighbourhood, viz., _D. æneus_ and _D. globosus_, both

occur at Bewdley and on Cannock Chase--the latter also at Coleshill and

Sutton Park.

The genus Bembidium is well represented, 33 of the 50 British

species and varieties being taken in the Birmingham district. A few

may be named: _B. rufescens_, under bark and in damp places; _B.

quinquestriatum_, on walls at Smallheath and Olton; _B. Mannerheimii_,

Knowle, Bewdley, Cannock Chase; _B. articulatum_, Knowle, Bewdley; _B.

nigricorne_, Cannock Chase; _B. monticola_, Bewdley; _B. Stephensi_,

Sutton Park; _B. prasinum_, Bewdley. In this connection the writer may

perhaps be allowed to refer to the finding by himself of _B. adustum_

in large numbers at Tewkesbury. This species was previously represented

only by a very few old specimens, and had not been found for more than

40 years, until he had the pleasure of re-establishing it.

_Patrobus assimilis_ is found sparingly on Cannock Chase; _Trechus

discus_, _T. micros_ and _T. secalis_, are plentiful in the river banks

at Bewdley; _T. micros_ occasionally turns up at Smallheath amongst

bones placed in the garden as a trap for Homalotæ; _T. obtusus_ has

occurred at Bewdley and Cannock Chase, and in the latter locality the

writer once found a few examples of the rare _T. rubens_.

The important genus Pterostichus has many representatives: _P.

versicolor_, at Solihull, Sutton Park, and Cannock Chase; _P. lepidus_,

Cannock Chase; _P. picimanus_ and _P. anthracinus_, Bewdley; _P.

minor_, Coleshill and Cannock Chase; _Platyderus ruficollis_ seems to

be generally distributed, but scarce. _Amara fulva_ may frequently be

taken under stones in sandy places at Sutton Park, Cannock Chase, and

Bewdley; _A. consularis_ at Sutton Park and Hopwas Wood; _A. spinipes_,

at Dudley and Bewdley; _A. patricia_, Cannock Chase; _A. acuminata_,

Sutton Park; _A. lunicollis_, Small Heath, Sutton, Cannock Chase, and

Bewdley; _A. continua_, _A. communis_, and _A. ovata_, at Knowle,

Coleshill, and Bewdley.

_Badister sodalis_ is to be had at Dudley and Bewdley. All the species

of Calathus occur, and _Taphria nivalis_, a closely allied beetle,

turns up now and again, singly, at Small Heath, Knowle, Bewdley, and

Trench Woods. The Anchomeni are fairly well represented, and it seems

very likely that additional species may yet be added to our local list.

The following may be selected as most worthy of notice: _Anchomenus

oblongus_, Bewdley; _A. atratus_, Coleshill, Cannock Chase, and

Bewdley. A single _Lebia chlorocephala_ was captured in hedge rubbish

near Acock’s Green. _Dromius quadrisignatus_ is a Sutton Park species,

being found rarely under bark of Oak trees. _Blechrus maurus_, which

seems decidedly out of its reckoning in a Midland locality, has been

taken at Bewdley and Leamington. All the species of Metabletus occur,

and are pretty generally distributed. _Cymindis vaporariorum_ inhabits

Cannock Chase, where it may be found lurking under the heather and

loose stones, but is not abundant. In the same locality the curious

_Miscodera arctica_ may, in some seasons, be met with in plenty. Two

species of Chlænius occur, viz.: _C. vestitus_ at Bewdley, and _C.

nigricornis_ at Cannock Chase. Of the extensive genus Harpalus, the

following species may be cited, it being understood that several of the

commoner forms exist here in great abundance. _H. puncticollis_, Dudley

and Bewdley; _H. griseus_, Cannock Chase; _H. tardus_, Sutton Park and

Bewdley. The pretty little _Acupalpus exiguus_ and v. _luridus_ may be

obtained by searching the Sphagnum on the margin of Coleshill Pool. All

the Bradycelli, except _B. placidus_ and _B. collaris_, are plentiful

in the district, and in certain spots, such as Cannock Chase, they are

extremely abundant. _Anisodactylus binotatus_ occurs on Cannock Chase,

but is not often to be found.

The water beetles are pretty numerously represented in the district

generally, the best localities for them being Coleshill, Sutton

Park, Cannock Chase, and Bewdley. It must suffice to mention a few

of the rarer or more striking kinds, _e.g._, _Brychius elevatus_,

at Yardley and Knowle; _Haliplus cinereus_, at Knowle; _Hydroporus

septentrionalis_, Bewdley; _H. marginatus_, Knowle; _H. picipes_,

Cannock Chase; _H. lepidus_, Knowle, Bewdley, Cannock Chase; _H.

duodecimpustulatus_, Bewdley; _H. assimilis_, Sutton Park, Knowle,

Cannock Chase; _H. dorsalis_, Yardley, Knowle; _H. marginatus_,

Knowle; _H. nigrita_, Knowle, Bewdley; _H. monticola_, Cannock

Chase; _H. neglectus_, Cannock Chase; _H. umbrosus_, Knowle; _H.

augustatus_, Knowle; _Ilybius ater_, Knowle, Cannock Chase; _I.

guttiger_, Coleshill; _Agabus Solieri_, Knowle; _A. affinis_, Sutton

Park; _Gyrinus caspius_, Hopwas; _Hydrobius picicrus_, Knowle;

_Laccobius sinuatus_, Knowle; _L. alutaceus_, Knowle; _L. minutus_,

Cannock Chase; _L. bipunctatus_, Cannock Chase; _Limnebius nitidus_,

Knowle, Bewdley; _L. picinus_, Knowle; _Chætarthria seminulum_,

Cannock Chase; _Helophorus æqualis_, Bewdley; _H. Mulsanti_, Bewdley;

_Hydrochus augustatus_, Knowle; _Hydræna palustris_, Bewdley; _H.

nigrita_, Knowle, Bewdley; _H. atricapilla_, Knowle; the rare

_Leptinus testaceus_ has been taken at Needwood in the nests of

wild bees. _Agathidium nigripenne_ Sutton Park; _A. lævigatum_,

Knowle, Dudley; _A. atrum_, Yardley, Sutton Park, Cannock Chase; _A.

seminulum_, Coleshill, Knowle, Cannock Chase; _A. varians_, Knowle; _A.

rotundatum_, Cannock Chase; _A. convexum_, Hopwas Wood; _Amphicyllis

globus_, Bewdley; _Leoides orbicularis_, Cannock Chase; _Anisotoma

picea_, Cannock Chase; _A. litura_, Knowle.

Several of the Burying Beetles--Necrophorus and Silpha--occur

generally in the district, as also do many of the Cholevæ. Colons

are conspicuous by their absence--only two species having put in an

appearance, viz: _Colon dentipes_, Knowle; and _C. brunneum_, Knowle.

The interesting groups of Scydmænidæ and Pselaphidæ are remarkably well

represented, but room can be found for only a few of the rarer species:

_e.g._, _Scydmænus exilis_, Sutton Park, Hopwas Wood, Cannock Chase,

Bewdley; _S. angulatus_, Cannock Chase; _S. hirticollis_, Sutton Park;

_Eutheia plicata_, Budden Wood, _E. Schaumii_, Smallheath, Knowle;

_E. Scydmænoides_, Knowle (abundantly); _E. clavata_, new to Britain,

discovered by the writer in Sherwood Forest; _Bryaxis impressa_,

Coleshill; _Euplectus punctatus_, Knowle, Bewdley, Cannock Chase; _E.

nigricans_, throughout the district; _E. nanus_, Edgbaston, Bewdley,

Cannock Chase; _E. bicolor_, Sutton Park, Hopwas Wood, Cannock Chase,

Bewdley; _E. nubigena_, a very distinct species, new to Britain,

discovered by the writer in Sherwood Forest in 1885.

The Brachelytra have not had much attention paid to them in the

Midlands, the group being a very large one, and the species mostly

difficult to determine. These insects are plentiful in the district

and many rare forms occur. A few only, comparatively, can be here

specified:--_Ischnoglossa corticina_, Olton, Sutton Park, Old Hill;

_Thiasophila angulata_, Hopwas Wood, Bewdley (Ants’ Nests); _Dinarda

Markelii_, Bewdley (in Ants’ Nests); _Atemeles emarginatus_, Bewdley

(in Ants’ Nests); _Ilyobates nigricollis_, _Callicerus obscurus_, _C.

rigidicornis_, Knowle; _Tachyusa scitula_, Bewdley; _Ocyusa maura_,

Coleshill; _O. picina_, Sutton Park, Bewdley; _Oxypoda exoleta_,

Smallheath, _O. recondita_, Budden Wood (Ants’ Nests, _Formica rufa_);

_O. sericea_, new to Britain, Smallheath, Edgbaston, Knowle.

In the genus Homalota there are 160 British species, of which the

writer has, up to the present, found 93 in the Birmingham district.

The following may be noted: _H. currax_ and _H. insecta_, Bewdley;

_H. pavens_, Smallheath; _H. eximia_, Bewdley (previously only found

on banks of Scotch rivers); _H. luteipes_, Bewdley; _H. sylvicola_,

Coleshill, Cannock Chase, Bewdley; _H. monticola_, Smallheath; _H.

curtipennis_, Sutton Park; _H. autumnalis_, Knowle, Old Hill, Bewdley,

Middleton, near Tamworth; _Gymnusa brevicollis_ and _G. variegata_

occur on Cannock Chase, the latter also at Sutton Park; _Megacronus

inclinans_ may be found at Bewdley, and _M. cingulatus_ at Sutton

Park and Cannock Chase; _Staphylinus latebricola_ (in Ants’ Nests),

at Sutton Park and Bewdley; _Philonthus fulvipes_, Sutton Park;

_Ancyrophorus homalinus_, Bewdley; _Trogophlœus halophilus_, Hopwas

Wood(!); _Deleaster dichrous_ and var. _adustus_, Bewdley; _Geodromicus

nigrita_, Bewdley; _Deliphrum tectum_, Knowle; _Acidota crenata_,

Coleshill; _A. cruentata_, Sutton Park; _Coryphium augusticolle_,

Sutton Park, Knowle, Hopwas; _Homalium Allardi_, Smallheath; _H.

punctipenne_, Edgbaston, Sutton Park, Knowle, Bewdley; _H. deplanatum_,

Knowle, Cannock Chase; _H. brevicorne_, Knowle; _H. gracilicorne_,

Sutton Park, Hopwas Wood; _H. salicis_, Sherwood Forest; _Phlœocharis

subtilissima_ and _Prognatha quadricornis_, Sutton Park, Needwood.

Many of the Trichopterygidæ are found in profusion, including a good

number of rare species. _Ptinella testacea_, _P. denticollis_, _P.

aptera_, and _P. angustula_, are all plentiful in various parts of

the district, from Smallheath and Knowle to Cannock Chase and Bewdley

Forest. _Pteryx suturalis_ is also generally distributed and fairly

abundant. Several good species of Trichopteryx occur in hot-beds

at Knowle and Edgbaston, and also on the river banks at Bewdley.

_Millidium trisulcatum_ sometimes swarms in one spot at Knowle.

_Ptenidium Gressneri_, a new British species, may be mentioned as

having been captured in 1885 at Sherwood Forest. _Triplax russica_

abounds on Cannock Chase, and _T. ænea_ may be taken sparingly at

Needwood. The very rare _Teredus nitidus_, after being lost sight of

for nearly 50 years, was again found in Sherwood Forest by the writer

in 1884 and 1885. _Myrmetes piceus_, Hopwas Wood, Bewdley; _Gnathoncus

rotundatus_, Cannock Chase; var. _punctulatus_, Knowle; _Abræus

granulum_, Salford Priors; _Plegaderus dissectus_, Cannock Chase,

Salford Priors; _Epuræa augustula_, Sutton Park; _Cryptarcha strigata_

and _C. imperialis_, Knowle; Rhizophagus: nine of the species occur in

the neighbourhood of Birmingham, and the tenth, _R. cœruleipennis_ has

been taken at Matlock; _Thymalus limbatus_, Cannock Chase; _Psammæchus

bipunctatus_, Coleshill, Sutton Park; _Antherophagus nigricornis_,

Bewdley; _A. silaceus_, Marston Green, Bewdley; _A. pallens_, Solihull,

Bewdley; _Myrmecoxenus, vaporariorum_, Edgbaston, Knowle; _Scaphidium

quadrimaculatum_ may be taken at Cannock Chase and Bewdley; _Diphyllus

lunatus_, in the same localities and also near Knowle; _Byrrhus

fasciatus_ and _B. dorsalis_, at Cannock Chase; _Georyssus pygmæus_,

Bewdley. The remarkable beetle, _Macronychus quadrituberculatus_,

should be included in this list, its only British habitat being the

river Dove, near Burton-on-Trent.

Coming now to the Lamellicornia, the following species may be noted:

_Lucanus cervus_, Bewdley; _Dorcus parallelopipedus_, Bewdley, Cannock

Chase, Salford Priors; _Aphodius tesselatus_ and _A. porcus_, Sutton

Park; _Ammœcius brevis_, Bewdley (banks of Severn); _Trox sabulosus_

and _T. scaber_, Bewdley and Cannock Chase; _Hoplia philanthus_,

Bewdley, Knowle, &c. Of the Serricornia, a few examples may be given:

_e.g._, _Agrilus augustatus_ and _A. laticornis_, Bewdley; the

brilliant _Trachys troglodytes_, quite a Southern species, which the

writer has on several occasions captured in an old pasture at Knowle;

_Elater coccinatus_, Sherwood; _E. pomorum_, Cannock Chase; _E.

balteatus_, Coleshill, Sutton Park, Bewdley, Cannock Chase; _Athöus

rhombeus_, Sherwood; _Corymbites pectinicornis_, _C. cupreus_, and var.

_æruginosus_, _C. æneus_, Knowle, Bewdley, Cannock Chase; _Sericosomus

brunneus_ and v. _fugax_, Cannock Chase; _Hydrocyphon deflexicollis_,

Bewdley; _Scirtes hemisphæricus_, Cannock Chase; _Lampyris noctiluca_

is spread over the whole district, but is most abundant in Bewdley

Forest; _Malachius æneus_ is found at Knowle, and _Haplocnemus

impressus_ at Sutton Park; _Clerus formicarius_ occurs at Salford

Priors; _Hylecœtus dermestoides_ and _Sphindus dubius_ at Cannock Chase

and Sherwood Forest; _Niptus crenatus_ and _Hedobia imperialis_ occur

at Knowle.

Of the Longicornia, it must suffice to mention the following:--_Prionus

coriarius_, Aston and Cannock Chase; _Callidium alni_, Knowle; _Clytus

mysticus_, Bewdley; _Pachyta collaris_ and _P. octomaculata_, Bewdley;

_Strangalia quadrifasciata_, Bewdley and Cannock Chase; _S. nigra_,

Bewdley.

Many of the Donaciæ are plentiful, perhaps the most interesting local

species being _D. affinis_, which is found at Knowle.

_Clythra tridentata_ and _C. quadripunctata_ inhabit Bewdley Forest,

but _C. tridentata_ is very rarely met with. _Cryptocephalus coryli_,

_C. punctiger_, and _C. fulcratus_ may be beaten out of birches on

Cannock Chase, and at Chartley the Scotch species, _C. decempunctatus_,

has been taken.

_Salpingus ater_ is at Knowle, and _S. castaneus_ at Coleshill

and Cannock Chase. The curious _Notoxus monoceros_ is abundant at

Kidderminster and Bewdley.

Among the Rhynchophora the following may be noted: _Platyrhinus

latirostris_ and _Anthribus albinus_, Salford Priors; _Tropideres

sepicola_, Budden Wood (unique); _Choragus Sheppardi_, Salford

Priors; _Apion Hookeri_, Knowle and Trench Woods; _A. filirostre_,

Trench Woods; _Cænopsis fissirostris_ and _C. Waltoni_, Cannock

Chase, also on Hartlebury Common; _Cleonus sulcirostris_, Erdington;

_Cœliodes geranii_ and _C. exiguus_, Bewdley; _Amalus scortillum_,

Bewdley, Salford Priors; _Magdalinus barbicornis_, Bewdley;

_Rhyncolus gracilis_, Sherwood Forest is noteworthy; _Phiœophthorus

rhododactylus_, Bewdley; _Scolytus destructor_, Yardley; _S.

intricatus_ and _S. rugulosus_, Bewdley; _Xylocleptes bispinus_, Sutton

Park and Malvern.

LEPIDOPTERA.

This order has received the lion’s share of attention from local

collectors, with the result that a very fair proportion of the

British Micro-Lepidoptera has been discovered in the district.

The Micro-Lepidoptera have, however, not been looked up with any

enthusiasm, and consequently our knowledge of the extent to which these

interesting little moths occur about us is extremely limited.

The Rhopalocera include all the common species, and also a few which

are always considered desirable by every collector. At Bewdley,

_Aporia cratægi_ used to be found, and doubtless could yet be obtained

if carefully sought for. _Leucophasia sinapis_ flies more or less

abundantly at Bewdley Forest and Trench Woods; it has also been

occasionally taken in woods near Knowle. _Colias edusa_ always an

erratic species, sometimes visits the Midlands, and has been captured

at Yardley, Coleshill, Knowle, and other places. _C. hyale_ also turned

up once or twice in the district. _Gonopteryx rhamni_ is generally

distributed and plentiful. _Argynnis selene_, _A. euphrosyne_, _A.

aglaia_, _A. adippe_, and _A. paphia_ occur near Knowle, and at

Bewdley they are all found in great abundance; the variety _valesina_

has likewise been captured in the Forest. _Melitæa aurinia_ is not

rare in certain spots near Knowle and Bewdley. _Vanessa C. album_ may

occasionally be seen flying in the streets of Birmingham, especially in

the region of Sparkbrook and Moseley. _V. polychloros_ flies at Knowle.

_V. antiopa_ has several times been captured at Bewdley; and _V. io_,

_V. atalanta_, and _V. cardui_ are met with throughout the district.

The occurrence of _Limenitis sibylla_ has not been heard of nearer

than Church Stretton, but _Apatura iris_ has been taken in woods not

far from Coventry and Leamington. _Melanargia galatea_ is a common

butterfly at Salford Priors and Trench Woods. _Epinephele hyperanthes_

is abundant at Bewdley. The southern limit of _Cænonympha typhon_

appears to be Chartley Moss, where the butterfly (both light and

dark forms) is anything but rare. _Thecla betulæ_, _T. W. album_,

_T. pruni_, and _T. quercus_ fly at Trench Woods; _T. quercus_ also

near Knowle, at Bewdley, &c.; and _T. rubi_ is extremely plentiful at

Sutton Park and Cannock Chase. _Lycæna argiolus_ is found in several

localities near Birmingham, but abounds in the Holly Woods at Sutton

Park. _L. semiargus_ used to be taken many years since, close to

Birmingham, but seems to have become quite extinct.

In the division Heterocera the following list of selected

species with localities must suffice to represent the moths of

the district:--_Acherontia atropos_, Knowle, Dudley, Bewdley;

_Sphinx convolvuli_, Birmingham (frequent); _S. ligustri_, Knowle,

Sutton, Bewdley; _Deilephila galii_ and _D. livornica_, Birmingham

(occasional); _Chærocampa celerio_, Birmingham (1868); _C. nerii_,

Birmingham (1869); _C. porcellus_, Sutton Park; _C. elpenor_, Solihull,

Hockley Heath; _Smerinthus ocellatus_, _S. populi_ and _S. tiliæ_ are

found throughout the district. _Macroglossa stellatarum_ affects all

our localities; _M. fuciformis_ and _M. bombyliformis_ may be found

near Knowle.

_Ino statices_ at Olton, Marston Green, Knowle; _Zygœna filipendulæ_

var. _chrysanthemi_, Bewdley Forest; _Lithosia mesomella_, Knowle,

Bewdley, Cannock Chase; _Euchelia jacobææ_ used to be found at Saltley;

_Nemeophila russula_ and _N. plantaginis_, Sutton Park, Chartley Moss;

_Spilosoma fuliginosa_, Knowle; _S. mendica_, Smallheath; _Cossus

ligniperda_, throughout the district; _Zeuzera pyrina_, Knowle;

_Heterogenea limacodes_, Trench Woods; _Leucoma salicis_, Knowle;

_Psilura monacha_, Sutton Park; _Orgyia gnostigma_, Bewdley, Coventry,

Cannock Chase; _Saturnia pavonia_, Sutton Park, Cannock Chase;

_Drepana sicula_, Trench Woods (one larva 1885); _D. binaria_, near

Knowle; _Dicranura furcula_ and _D. bifida_, near Knowle; _Pterostoma

palpina_, Knowle; _Notodonta bicolor_, Burntwood, Staffordshire; _N.

dictæa_, _N. dictæoides_, _N. dromedarius_, _N. zizac_, _N. trimacula_,

Knowle, Bewdley; _Thyatira derasa_ and _T. batis_, Knowle, Sutton

Park; _Asphalia flavicornis_, Knowle, Hopwas Wood, Cannock Chase; _A.

ridens_, Hopwas Wood; _Acronycta tridens_, Knowle (larvæ on Elm Trees);

_A. leporina_, Knowle; _A. aceris_, Smallheath; _A. alni_, Smallheath,

Edgbaston, Sutton Park; _Nonagria arundinis_, Knowle, &c.; _Gortyna

ochracea_, Knowle, Bewdley; _Agrotis suffusa_, Knowle; _A. ripæ_,

Bewdley; _Triphæna ianthina_, _T. fimbria_, _T. interjecta_, Yardley,

Knowle, Bewdley, Trench Woods; _Amphipyra pyramidea_, Knowle; _Panolus

piniperda_, Sutton Park; _Tæniocampa gracilis_, Yardley, Knowle;

_Anchocelis lunosa_, Kidderminster; _Xanthia citrago_, _X. fulvago_,

_X. circellaris_, Knowle; _Eremobia ochroleuca_, Acock’s Green,

Yardley; _Dianthæcia cucubali_, Sparkbrook, Knowle; _Hecatera serena_,

Bewdley Road, Kidderminster; _Polia chi_, throughout the district;

_Aplecta tincta_, Knowle, Bewdley; _Hadena glauca_, Sutton Park,

Cannock Chase; _Xylocampa areola_, Knowle; _Calocampa vetusta_, _C.

exoleta_, Knowle, Sutton Park; _Xylina ornithopus_, Knowle; _Cucullia

verbasci_, Knowle, Bewdley; _C. chamomillæ_ and _C. umbratica_,

Coleshill, Knowle, Dudley; _Habrostola tripartita_ and _H. triplasia_,

Knowle; _Plusia interrogationis_, Cannock Chase; _Anarta myrtilli_,

Sutton Park, Cannock Chase, Bewdley Forest; _Heliaca tenebrata_,

Sparkbrook, Knowle, Bewdley; _Chariclea umbra_, Coleshill; _Erastria

fasciana_, Trench Woods; _Phytometra viridaria_, Knowle, Coleshill,

Sutton, Cannock Chase, &c.; _Euclidia mi_ and _E. glyphica_, Knowle,

Bewdley, Trench Woods; _Catocala nupta_, Knowle, Bewdley, Bromsgrove;

_Brephos parthenias_, Bewdley, Cannock Chase; _Epione apiciaria_,

Knowle; _Venilia macularia_, _Angerona prunaria_ and _Eurymene

dolobraria_, Bewdley Forest; _Pericallia syringaria_, Smallheath, Hall

Green, Knowle, Bewdley; _Selenia lunaria_, near Birmingham, _Nyssia

hispidaria_, Sutton Park; _Biston hirtaria_, Cannock Chase; _Amphidasys

strataria_, Knowle, Sutton Park; _Hemerophila abruptaria_, Edgbaston,

Knowle; _Boarmia roboraria_, Bewdley, Cannock Chase; _B. consortaria_,

Knowle, Bewdley, Trench Woods; _Tephrosia punctularia_, Cannock Chase,

Trench Woods; _Gnophos obscuraria_, Bewdley; _Pseudoterpna pruniate_,

Knowle; _Geometra papilionaria_, Knowle, Bewdley; _Phorodesma

pustulata_, Solihull; _Zonosoma porata_, _Z. pendularia_; Erdington,

Knowle, Bewdley, Trench Woods; _Asthena luteata_, _A. candidata_,

_A. sylvata_, Knowle; _A. blomeri_, Hoar Cross; _Acidalia fumata_,

Chartley; _A. inornata_, Chartley, Cannock Chase; _Timandra amataria_,

Knowle; _Bapta temerata_, Trench Woods; _Macaria liturata_, Hopwas

Wood, Cannock Chase; _Bupalis piniaria_, Knowle, Sutton Park, Hopwas

Wood, Cannock Chase; _Minoa murinata_, Bewdley Forest; _Aspilates

strigillaria_, Bewdley, Cannock Chase, Chartley; _Abraxas sylvata_,

Hopwas Wood; _Eupithecia venosata_, Sutton Park, Cannock Chase;

_Lobophora halterata_, Trench Woods; _L. viretata_, Sutton Park (some

seasons very abundant); _L. carpinata_, Hopwas Wood; _Thera variata_,

Sutton Park, Hopwas Wood, Cannock Chase; _Hypsipetes ruberata_, _H.

trifasciata_, Solihull, Sutton Park, Bewdley; _Melanippe hastata_,

Knowle, Bewdley; _Anticlea sinuata_, _A. rubidata_, _A. badiata_, _A.

derivata_, Knowle; _Camptogramma fluviata_, Knowle; _Cidaria miata_,

Knowle; _Carsia paludata_, var. _imbutata_, near Birmingham.

CHAPTER V.

Microscopic Fauna.

BY THOMAS BOLTON, F.R.M.S.

The writer in drawing up the following summary of the local Microscopic

Fauna, knowing how limited a space is allowed, has in several of the

families given only the more rare and remarkable species which have

come under his own observation. The organisms included in this division

are abundant all round Birmingham; in the canals, reservoirs, and

rivers, in the swags and catchpits, amongst the spoil heaps of the

“Black Country,” and in the numerous clay-pits on the farm lands.

INSECTA.

It is desirable to call attention to the identification of the larvæ

of the Trichopterous insects _Agraylea multipunctata_ and _Oxyethira

costalis_, by Messrs. Kenneth J. Morton and Robert McLachlan. The

perfect insects were bred from larvæ collected in this district, as

referred to in the “Entomologists’ Monthly Magazine,” May and June,

1886. So many problems in the life history of insects, having aquatic

larvæ, remain unsolved, that it is desirable that microscopists should

pay more attention to this subject.

ARACHNIDA.

The curious Diving-bell Spider, _Argyroneta aquatica_, is found in the

pools at Sutton Park; and a great variety of species of the Water-Mites

is generally distributed. Mr W. Saville Kent reports that several

specimens received from this district are new to science.

Tardigrada, viz., _Macrobiotus Hufelandii_, and other species, may be

found almost everywhere, if carefully looked for amongst damp moss and

decaying algæ.

CRUSTACEA.

In this class should be mentioned the freshwater Crayfish, _Astacus

fluviatilis_, not of course a microscopic organism; but if it were

omitted here it would 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 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 Wood-louse, _Asellus vulgaris_, 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.

ENTOMOSTRACA.

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_,

_Macrothrix roseus_, and _Ilyocryptus sordidus_.

POLYZOA.

These are generally distributed; _Alcyonella fungosa_, _Plumatella

repens_, _Fredericella sultana_, and _Paludicella Ehrenbergii_ cover

the root-fibres under the banks of the River Avon, at Evesham.

_Lophopus crystallinus_ is occasionally found in the brooks to the

south west of Birmingham. _Cristatella mucedo_ is often very abundant

in the larger reservoirs at Sutton Park, Barnt Green, Olton, &c.

Fredericella and Paludicella, have several times been seen in the town

water supplied by the Corporation.

ROTIFERA.

The district appears to be very rich in these organisms, and a

good number of new species from this locality are enumerated in the

admirable Monograph on this family now being published by Dr. C.

T. Hudson and Mr. P. H. Gosse. In the five parts already published

(July 12th, 1886), they record one hundred and ninety-two species,

of which ninety-eight have been found in this district, twenty-two

being new species. Of the fifteen Flosculariæ eight species have been

found here, viz., _Flosculariæ regalis_ (new), _F. coronetta_, _F.

ornata_, _F. cornuta_, _F. campanulata_, _F. ambigua_, _F. calva_,

and _F. mutabilis_ (new). _Stephanoceros Eichhornii_ may sometimes

be seen quite clothing the water weeds in the canals and pools. The

always attractive building Wheel-animalcule, _Melicerta ringens_, is

occasionally present in abundance in the canals, rivers, and pools all

over the district. The writer has taken _Melicerta conifera_ several

times. _Melicerta tubicolaria_ was found by Dr. Hudson in Sutton

Park, and has since been found in other localities in this district.

_Limnias ceratophylli_ is very generally abundant. _Limnias annulatus_

has been found in two places. _Œcistes cystallinus_ is common, and

_Œ. intermedius_ not uncommon. Although beyond the radius, it may

be interesting to note that _Melicerta Janus_, new to England, was

taken in one of the Shropshire meres, by the writer on the 23rd of

June, 1886. It had only been found in Scotland before, by Mr. Hood,

in 1880. The new rotifer, _Œcistes umbella_, was found by Mr. A. W.

Wills, together with the rare _Œ. pilula_ in a pool at Sutton Park.

The charming clustered rotifer, _Lacinularia socialis_, only appears

in the hot summer months, but was surprisingly abundant last year in

the River Avon at Warwick, literally clothing the weeds with life.

This rotifer was in fair abundance a few years back in the Barnt Green

Reservoir, and last year in the neighbouring canal. The still more

charming free-swimming clustered rotifer, _Conochilus volvox_, is more

generally present, but is not always easy to detect, on account of its

transparency and continuous quick movements. The writer has taken this

rotifer in the pools at Sutton Park with a muslin net in such abundance

as to form quite a jelly at the bottom of the net. He also found a

new species, _Conochilus dossuarius_, in 1884. Of the Philodinidæ,

the following have been found--_Philodina roseola_, _P. citrina_, _P.

megalotrocha_, _P. aculeata_; _Rotifer vulgaris_, _R. tardus_, _R.

macroceros_, _R. macrurus_; _Actinurus Neptunius_, _Callidina elegans_,

and _Adineta vaga_. The rare and pretty little _Microdon clavus_ may

be found swimming about in Coleshill pool. Asplanchna, Synchæta,

Polyarthra, and Triarthra, may be netted in enormous numbers in the

summer months, especially in all the canals and larger pools, and they

occasionally abound in the smaller pools and even in ditches, together

with a great variety of the creeping ones, such as Philodina, Rotifer,

Notommata, Brachionus, Anuræa, &c. The wonderful variety of these

living together in a small ditch in Sutton Park is reported upon in a

short paper read by the writer before the Birmingham Natural History

and Microscopical Society in February last, and published in the

“Midland Naturalist,” July, 1886. _Hydatina senta_ and _Rhinops vitrea_

may be looked for amongst the _Euglena viridis_ often seen luxuriating

in farm yard drainage. The abnormal species, _Pedalion mira_, was found

at Knowle in 1884, in fair abundance. The spiny _Anuræa longispina_ was

found at Olton Reservoir very soon after it was first discovered in

America, and it soon afterwards abounded in the town water, and may be

found in most large reservoirs.

ANNELIDA, ETC.

Some interesting examples of the Oligochæta have been found in

this locality, most of which have been identified by Professor E.

Ray Lankester or Mr. E. C. Bousfield, and of these the following

are noteworthy--_Chætogaster limnæi_, and _C. diaphanus_, _Nais

hamata_, _N. lurida_, _N. appendiculata_, and _N. barbata_; _Stylaria

parasitica_, _Dero digitata_, _D. obtusa_, _D. Perrieri_, _D. limosa_,

and _D. crassa_; _Salvina serpentina_, and _Ælosoma quaternarium_. The

Cercaria (the larva of a fluke) which infests the common Water Snail,

_Limnæa stagnatis_, is occasionally found; also _Mesostomum rostratum_,

_Derostomum vorax_, _Planaria lactea_, and _Piscicola geometrica_.

HYDROZOA.

Both _Hydra vulgaris_ and _H. viridis_ are of course found everywhere.

_Cordylophora lacustris_, which is usually more abundant in brackish

water, was found last year in the canal at Hamstead, near Handsworth.

The writer has found it in the Stourbridge canal, and in the River

Stour. Some years back the writer heard of a canal boat being docked at

Dudley Port which was found to be clothed with this Hydrozoon as with

velvet.

SPONGIDA.

The freshwater sponges, _Spongilla fluviatilis_ and _S. lacustris_, are

abundant, but no one has taken up the subject in this district, to work

out the different species into which this genus is now divided.

INFUSORIA.

When Mr. W. Saville Kent was preparing his manual on this subject,

he was supplied with a great variety of specimens from this district,

many of which proved to be new ones. The following are worthy of

mention: _Anthophysa vegetans_, _Rhipidodendron Huxleyi_, _Spongomonas

intestinalis_; various _Codosigæ_ and other Choano-flagellate

monads, including _Salpingœca Boltoni_, Kent, (new); _Euglena acus_;

_Dinobryon sertularia_; _Synura uvella_; _Uroglena volvox_ (very

general); _Distigma proteus_; _Hemidinium nasutum_; _Peridinium

tabulatum_; _Ceratium longicorne_; _Nassula ornata_; _Trachelius

ovum_; _Spirostomum teres_, and _S. ambiguum_; _Stentor polymorphus_,

_S. Barretti_, _S. cœruleus_, and _S. niger_; _Folliculina Boltoni_,

Kent (new.) The writer has found several free swimming Tintinnus,

not corresponding with any that Mr. W. Saville Kent enumerates;

_Didinium nasutum_; _Trichodina pediculus_; _Scyphidium Fromentellii_;

_Spirochona gemmipara_; _Vorticella chlorostigma_, and _V. monilata_;

_Carchesium polypinum_, and _C. epistylidis_; _Zoothamnium arbuscula_;

_Vaginicola tincta_; _Thuricola folliculata_; _Cothurnia imberbis_;

_Ophrydium versatile_, _O. Eichhornii_, and _O. sessile_; _Stichotricha

remex_; _Atineta lemnarum_, _A. grandis_, and _A. mystacina_;

_Dendrosoma radians_.

RHIZOPODA.

The following have been found: _Amœba proteus_, _A. verrucosa_, _A.

radiosa_, and _A. villosa_; _Ouramœba vorax_; _Lithamœba vorax_,

Lankester (new); _Difflugia pyriformis_, _D. spiralis_, and _D.

corona_; _Cyphoderia umbella_; _Arcella vulgaris_; _Actinophrys sol_;

_Raphidiophrys pallida_, and _R. elegans_; _Actinosphærium Eichhornii_;

_Acanthocystis chætophora_; _Archerina Boltoni_, Lankester (new);

_Clathrulina elegans_, and _Biomyxa vagans_.

PART V.

BOTANY.

INTRODUCTORY REMARKS.

BY WM. MATHEWS, M.A.

In attempting to describe the more interesting features of the

indigenous Flora of the neighbourhood of Birmingham, it is necessary

to define the limits of the district intended to be included. A circle

of 20 miles radius, with the Town Hall as its centre, has been found

convenient as an approximate boundary. This will enclose portions of

the three counties of Warwick, Worcester, and Stafford, which meet at

a point on the south-western edge of the Borough, and a small part

of the County of Salop. The latter, with the exception shortly to be

mentioned, will be excluded from consideration. On the other hand, the

radius must be extended about two miles on the south-east to take in

the town of Stratford-on-Avon, and about the same distance on the west

to take in the woodlands west of the Severn from Shrawley Wood to Wyre

Forest near Bewdley. A part of the Forest is in Salop, and to this

extent only is the latter county admitted. The district thus defined

contains an area of about 12,500 square miles. It includes the towns of

Birmingham, Sutton Coldfield, Tamworth, Nuneaton, Coventry, Leamington,

Warwick, Stratford, and Alcester, in the County of Warwick; of

Bromsgrove, Droitwich, Stourport, Bewdley, Kidderminster, Stourbridge,

Halesowen, and Dudley, in Worcester; of Wolverhampton, Walsall,

Penkridge, Cannock, Rugeley, and Lichfield, in Stafford.

The vegetation of any district depends partly on the nature of the

soil, as determined by its geological structure, partly on altitude and

drainage areas, and partly on the character of the surface, whether

water, bog, heath, arable, pasture or woodland. The geology has been

treated of in a previous part of this volume. It will be sufficient

to say here that the red rocks of the Trias occupy by far the largest

portion of the area, and that calcareous soils are rare. An elevated

line of country, commencing north of Wolverhampton, runs in a southerly

direction, by Sedgley, Dudley, and the Rowley Hills, to Frankley

Beeches and the Upper Lickey, where it attains an altitude of about

900 feet above the sea. This is the great water parting of central

England which divides the drainage areas of the Trent and Severn. From

the Lickey, a line of lower elevation runs in a westerly direction

and divides the tributaries of the Trent from those of the Avon. The

subordinate river basins and surface characteristics will be noticed in

the special articles.

A brief outline of the history of the Botany of the Midland Counties

may be useful to students, and is therefore included in these remarks.

It commences with the honoured name of William Withering, one of the

most eminent of British Botanists. Born at Wellington, in Shropshire,

in 1741, he practised as a physician in Birmingham, where he died in

1799. The first edition of his well-known “Botanical arrangement of

British Plants,” in two volumes, was published in 1776; the second,

in three vols. in 1787; the third, in four vols. in 1796. It passed

through five further editions, in four volumes, after his death.

Numerous references to localities in the neighbourhood of Birmingham

are contained in these volumes.

Scarcely less distinguished was Thomas Purton (1768-1833), surgeon,

of Alcester, the author of “The Midland Flora.” The first two volumes

of the work appeared in 1817, the third in 1821. They contain copious

descriptions of local habitats in the counties of Warwick, Worcester,

and Stafford.

Nash’s “History of Worcestershire,” 1781, contains (Introduction

p. lxxxix.) a list of forty-three rare plants, two only of which,

_Vaccinium Oxycoccos_ and _Comarum palustre_, recorded as growing at

the Lickey, belong to the Birmingham district. The Supplement (1799)

has a further list of forty-seven plants, four of which belong to the

district.

The late W. G. Perry, bookseller, of Warwick, published at Warwick,

in 1820, the first Flora of that county, under the title of “Plantæ

Varvicenses Selectæ.” He also contributed to the Magazine of Natural

History, Vol. iv., p. 450, 1831, a list of some of the rarer plants of

Worcestershire, chiefly from the neighbourhood of Kidderminster and

Bewdley.

The “History of Stourbridge,” by William Scott, Stourbridge, 1832,

contains a list of plants from the neighbourhood of that town, in the

counties of Worcester and Stafford.

For a knowledge of the plants of the immediate vicinity of Birmingham,

and particularly of the once celebrated “Moseley Wake Green,” Botanists

are chiefly indebted to the late William Ick, Secretary of the old

Philosophical Society of Birmingham. Mr. Ick published two lists; the

first in “The Analyst,” for 1837, Vol. vi., p. 20; the second in the

“Midland Counties Herald,” Aug. 1838.

The present Mrs. Avery, then Miss M. A. Beilby, was a frequent visitor

to Moseley at about that date, and has obliged the writer with a list

of the rarities gathered by her at Moseley Bog and Common in 1835 and

1836.

A list of some of the rarer plants of the neighbourhood of Birmingham,

by Saml. Freeman, appeared in the first series of the Phytologist, Vol.

i., p. 261.

The Rev. W. T. Bree, Rector of Allesley, near Coventry, was a

well-known Botanist. He contributed to Purton’s Midland Flora, to

the Magazine of Natural History, and to the first series of the

Phytologist, many notices of the plants of the northern part of his

county.

The first volume of the last named serial, 1844, pp. 508-514, contains

an account of the ferns of Stafford, Warwick, and Worcester, from the

pen of the Editor, the late Edward Newman.

The second series of the Phytologist, 1855 to 1863, was edited by the

late Alexander Irvine of Chelsea. Several plants from the neighbourhood

of Clent and Churchill are recorded by the Editor, in an article on the

“Botany of the Clent Hills,” Vol. ii., p. 385, April, 1858.

The Studies of Warwickshire Fungi, made by the late Mrs. F. Russell, of

Kenilworth, will be noticed in the article on that group of plants.

The County Botany of Worcester has been associated for upwards of half

a century, with the name of the veteran Worcester Botanist, Mr. Edwin

Lees. His first observations, made in conjunction with the late Dr.

Streeten, were published in Hastings’s “Illustrations of the Natural

History of Worcestershire,” (1834). These, together with a further

list supplied by him to the late H. C. Watson, are incorporated in

the Catalogue of Worcestershire plants in “The New Botanists’ Guide,”

(1835). The same work contains lists of the plants of Warwick and

Stafford. In 1867, Mr. Lees published his “Botany of Worcester,” the

only complete record of the flowering plants and ferns of the whole

county, which has yet appeared. His “Botany of the Malvern Hills,”

which has passed through three editions, relates to a part of the

county outside the limits of the Birmingham district.

The plants of the north-east of the county are enumerated in the “Flora

of the Clent and Lickey Hills,” by the present writer. First edition,

1868; Second Edition, 1881. He has been indebted for assistance to many

friends, too numerous to mention in this notice.

“The Natural History of Stafford,” by R. Garner, 1884, contains a list

of the rarer plants of that county. Our more recent knowledge of its

botany is due to Dr. Fraser, of Wolverhampton, whose discoveries are

published in the Reports of the Botanical Record Club, 1873-1883. These

reports contain also many district records communicated by the Editor,

Dr. F. Arnold Lees, and by Mr. J. E. Bagnall.

The modern geographical botany of Warwick is the work of members of

the Birmingham Natural History and Microscopal Society, and especially

of Mr. J. E. Bagnall, Mr. A. W. Wills, and Mr. W. B. Grove. The

volumes of “The Midland Naturalist” have been enriched by numerous

papers from these Botanists, for one of which, the monograph on the

Pilobolidæ, published in Vol. vii., 1884, the Darwin Gold Medal of the

Midland Union of Natural History Societies was awarded to Mr. Grove.

Those relating to the Botany of the county are, by Mr. Bagnall, “The

Distribution of the Roses,” (Vol. i, 1878), “The Moss Flora,” (Vols.

ii. and iii., 1879-80), “The Hepaticæ,” (Vol. iii., 1880), and “The

Flora of Warwickshire,” (Vols. iv.-ix., 1880-86); by Mr. Wills, “The

Desmidiæ of Sutton Park,” (Vol. iii., 1880); by Mr. Grove, “The Fungi

of the neighbourhood of Birmingham,” (Vols. v.-vii., 1882-84.)

The works of the late Hewett Cottrell Watson, the founder of the

Science of the Geographical Botany of Great Britain, must not be

passed over. Those containing provincial or comital records, besides

the new Botanists’ Guide already mentioned, are the Cybele Britannica,

1847-1872; Topographical Botany, 1st edit., 1873-4, 2nd edit., 1883.

It may be interesting to mention that a Students’ Garden for economic

and medicinal plants was laid out in 1882, in the Edgbaston Botanical

Gardens, from the plans of Professor Hillhouse, of Mason College, and

that a Students’ garden of British plants has been laid out, in the

present year, in Cannon Hill Park, from the plans of Mr. J. W. Oliver,

teacher of Botany at the Midland Institute. For the establishment

of the latter garden, students are indebted to Mr. Alderman White,

chairman of the Baths and Parks Committee of the Town Council.

County boundaries have been so generally adopted as the limits of local

Floras, that it has been thought desirable to adhere to them, and to

tabulate the plants separately for Warwick, Worcester, and Stafford,

whenever the materials at command have admitted of this division. The

flowering plants and ferns present no difficulty, but with respect to

the lower forms of vegetation it has not always been found possible

to determine their comital distribution. The plants indigenous to the

district are described in the following articles:--

The Flowering Plants and Ferns by Mr. J. E. Bagnall, assisted, as to

Worcester, by the editor of the section, and, as to Stafford, by Dr.

Fraser. The Mosses, Hepatics, and Lichens, by Mr. J. E. Bagnall. The

Algæ, by Mr. A. W. Wills. The Fungi, by Mr. W. B. Grove.

CHAPTER I.

The Flowering Plants, Ferns, &c.

BY J. E. BAGNALL, A.L.S.

The flowering plants, ferns, and fern allies of the Birmingham District

will be described, as stated in the Introductory Remarks, under the

heads of the three counties of Warwick, Worcester, and Stafford. The

total flora of the district comprises upwards of 1,116 flowering plants

and ferns; of these 844 are native, 143 are varieties, 14 aliens, 42

colonists, and 73 are denizens. The nomenclature adopted is that of the

7th edition of the “London Catalogue of British Plants.”

WARWICK.

The Warwickshire portion of the district comprises the greater part

of North Warwickshire, with a portion of South Warwickshire. It is

watered by the Tame, with its affluents the Rea, Cole, Blythe, Bourne,

and Anker; and the Avon with its affluents the Leam, Sow, Alne, and

Arrow. The greatest elevations occur at Hartshill, Dosthill, Corley,

Alne Hills, and Arrow, none of which exceed 550 feet above the

sea. As a whole it is well wooded, but the woods are usually small

and not productive of the rarer woodland species. Heath lands are

mostly reclaimed, and the more extensive marshes and bogs drained,

hence ericetal and bog plants are rare. It has been divided into the

following sub-districts, bounded by the water partings of the river

basins:--I. TAME, II. BLYTHE, III. ANKER, IV. AVON, V. SOW, VI. ALNE,

VII. ARROW.

In presenting an account of the rarer plants as full a list from each

sub-district (as space permits) will be given, but many of the plants

cited for one or other sub-district may also be found in one or more of

the others.

The plants marked by an asterisk* before the name are probably extinct.

I. TAME.--This sub-district embraces all those portions of the Tame

valley not drained by the Blythe or Anker, and includes Sutton,

Middleton, Water Orton, Kingsbury, Shustoke, and Arley. The country is

generally flat, but is slightly elevated on both right and left banks,

near Arley, Middleton, Dosthill, and Shustoke. In this district about

750 flowering plants and ferns are recorded; among the more rare are--

Ranunculus fluitans, R. Lenormandi, R. Lingua; Nymphæa alba;

Viola palustris; Moenchia erecta; Ornithopus perpusillus;

Comarum palustre; Rubus Schlechtendalii, R. rosaceus; Rosa

sphærica; Callitriche obtusangula; Parnassia palustris; Galium

uliginosum; Valeriana dioica; Chrysosplenium alternifolium;

Dipsacus pilosus; Carlina vulgaris; Carduus nutans; Leontodon

hirtus; Jasione montana; Vaccinium Vitis-Idæa, V. Oxycoccos;

Menyanthes trifoliata; Mentha rotundifolia; Calamintha Acinos;

Scutellaria minor; Pinguicula vulgaris; Polygonum maculatum;

Empetrum nigrum; Salix fusca; Juncus diffusus; Scirpus

pauciflorus; Eriophorum vaginatum; Carex dioica, C. curta, C.

Ehrhartiana, C. lævigata, C. fulva; Agrostis nigra; Botrychium

Lunaria; Nephrodium Thelypteris; Chara opaca.

II. BLYTHE.--The Blythe, which rises on the borders of East

Worcestershire near Earlswood, takes its course through Solihull,

Knowle, Hampton-in-Arden, Packington, and Coleshill, to its confluence

with the Tame, near Whitacre; with this is included the Cole, running

through Marston Green and Coleshill. This sub-district is mostly flat,

the soils are usually sand, marl, and clay. Heath lands occur near

Earlswood and Coleshill; bogs and marshes near Coleshill and Barston.

The recorded flora is about 820 flowering plants and ferns, the

following being the more noteworthy:--

Thalictrum flavum; Aquilegia vulgaris; Drosera rotundifolia;

Cerastium arvense; Sagina ciliata; *Elatine hexandra;

Hypericum elodes; Geranium pyrenaicum; Genista tinctoria;

Vicia tetrasperma; Rubus suberectus, R. adornatus; Rosa

micrantha, R. surculosa, R. obtusifolia, R. Reuteri; Pyrus

torminalis; Cotyledon Umbilicus; Œnanthe crocata; Chærophyllum

Anthriscus; Sambucus Ebulus; Carduus pratensis; Anthemis

arvensis; Bidens cernua, B. tripartita; Solidago virga-aurea;

Lactuca muralis; Hieracium umbellatum; *Pyrola media; Linaria

minor; Limosella aquatica; Veronica Buxbaumii; *Orobanche

major; Mentha piperita; Stachys ambigua; Myosotis repens, M.

sylvatica, M. collina, M. versicolor; Lysimachia vulgaris;

Littorella lacustris; Populus canescens; Lemna gibba;

Potomogeton rufescens; Orchis Morio; *Gymnadenia conopsea;

Narthecium ossifragum; Rhynchospora alba; Scirpus multicaulis,

S. cæspitosus; Carex elongata; Agrostis canina; Calamagrostis

lanceolata.

III. ANKER.--The Anker rises about 3 miles S.E. of Bedworth, drains the

country about Bedworth, Nuneaton, Atherstone, Polesworth and Tamworth,

and enters the Tame at Tamworth. The country it waters is usually flat,

but on its left bank at Hartshill and Polesworth there is rising ground

about 500 feet above sea level. In this sub-district the Warwickshire

coalfields occur, and it is possibly due to the great prevalence of

smoke that its flora is meagre and the plants often depauperated. The

recorded flora is about 680 flowering plants and ferns, and among the

more rare are:

*Myosurus minimus; Cardamine amara, C. impatiens; Viola

Reichenbachiana; Stellaria aquatica; Tilia parvifolia;

Rhamnus catharticus; Genista tinctoria; *Vicia sylvatica;

Prunus insititia; Potentilla procumbens; Rubus calvatus, R.

mucronulatus, R. Bloxamii, R. foliosus, R. Bellardi; Rosa

andegavensis, R. bibracteata; Epilobium roseum; Œnanthe

fluviatilis; Cornus sanguinea; Matricara Chamomilla;

Wahlenbergia hederacea; Atropa Belladonna; Veronica polita;

*Orobanche elatior; Rumex pratensis; Salix pentandra, S.

rubra; Sparganium neglectum; Sagittaria sagittifolia; Butomus

umbellatus; Potamogeton pusillus; Epipactis latifolia;

Fritillaria Meleagris; Scirpus acicularis; Nardus stricta;

Ceterach officinarum; Equisetum maximum; Chara Hedwigii.

IV. AVON.--This sub-district includes that portion of South Warwick

within the area not drained by the Leam, Sow, Alne, and Arrow,

including Milverton, Stoneleigh, Warwick, Stratford-on-Avon, Bidford

and Salford Priors. This valley is beautifully undulating and

well-wooded, watered by many minor streams, with very varied soils and

usually highly cultivated. Its flora is peculiar from the absence of

bog and heath plants, the records comprising about 970 flowering plants

and ferns, of which the following are the rarer:--

Ranunculus parviflorus; Papaver strigosum, P. Lecoqii;

Sisymbrium Sophia; Erysimum cheiranthoides; Cheiranthus

Cheiri; Diplotaxis muralis; Viola odorata; Dianthus Armeria;

Hypericum dubium; Medicago maculata; Astragalus glycyphyllus;

Trifolium subterraneum, T. scabrum, T. fragiferum, T.

filiforme; Vicia lathyroides; Potentilla argentea; Rubus

Guntheri, R. tuberculatus; Rosa stylosa; Poterium Sanguisorba;

Geum intermedium; Epilobium tetragonum; Petroselinum segetum;

Senecio erucifolius; Crepis biennis; Solanum nigrum;

Mentha cardiaca; Myriophyllum alterniflorum, M. spicatum;

Salix Hoffmanniana, S. Helix; Potamageton flabellatus;

*Carex Bœninghauseniana; Carex acuta, C. pendula; Agrostis

spica-venti; Bromus commutatus.

V. SOW.--The Sow, rises near Astley, and receives tributaries, draining

Combe fields, Brinklow and Sow Waste on the east, and Allesley, Corley,

and Kenilworth on the west. The high land about Corley divides the

watersheds of the Tame and Avon. The flora of this sub-district is

about 691 flowering plants and ferns, the more noteworthy being--

Ranunculus penicillatus, R. radians; *Arabis perfoliata;

Geranium columbinum; Rubus humifusus, R. hirtus, R.

Balfourianus, R. Guntheri; Rosa Doniana; Epilobium obscurum;

Myriophyllum verticillatum; Callitriche hamulata; Saxifraga

granulata; Pimpinella magna; Silaus pratensis; Arctium

intermedium; Serratula tinctoria; Inula Conyza; Erigeron

acris; *Lactuca virosa; Campanula patula; *Cuscuta Europæa;

Verbena officinalis; *Mentha gentilis; Nepeta Cataria; Lamium

maculatum; Cynoglossum montanum, C. officinale; Chenopodium

rubrum; Potamogeton obtusifolius, P. mucronatus; Acorus

Calamus; Paris quadrifolia; Calamagrostis Epigeios; Lolium

temulentum; Aspidium angulare; Chara contraria.

VI. ALNE.--The Alne, rises near Tanworth on the west border of

Warwickshire, the high land there forming in part the watershed of

the Avon and Tame. Its course is through Henley-in-Arden, near here

it is joined by an important tributary draining the country between

Henley, Lapworth, and Rowington. This sub-district is somewhat hilly,

the Alne Hills being the highest elevations. It includes Tanworth,

Henley-in-Arden, Bearley, Alne, Wilmcote, Claverdon, Hatton, Rowington.

The Lias soils prevail in southern part of the district. The flora is

about 745 flowering plants and ferns, the following being the more

rare--

Clematis vitalba; Ranunculus Drouetii; Helianthemum vulgare;

Viola hirta; Geranium pratense, G. pusillum; Melilotus

officinalis; Lotus tenuis; *Lathyrus Aphaca, L. Nissolia;

Spiræa Filipendula; Agrimonia odorata; Rubus thyrsoideus; Rosa

rubiginosa; Sison Amomum; Caucalis daucoides; Galium tricorne;

Valeriana Mikani; Scabiosa columbaria; Carduus acaulis;

Centauria Scabiosa; Anthemis nobilis; Arctium majus; Picris

hieracioides; Helminthia echioides; Gentiana amarella; Linaria

spuria, *L. repens; Thymus Chamædrys; Ophrys apifera; Juncus

obtusiflorus; Avena pratensis; Bromus erectus; B. secalinus;

Chara longibracteata.

VII. ARROW.--The Arrow enters the county near Redditch, and takes its

course through a narrow hilly valley to its confluence with the Avon at

Salford Priors, passing on its way Studley, Alcester, Arrow, Wixford,

and Broome. This sub-district is well wooded; the soils are mostly

Keuper marls and sand, with Lias soils prevailing about Wixford. The

flora has not been fully worked out, but the record is now about 706

flowering plants and ferns; among the more noteworthy are:--

Ranunculus circinatus; Berberis vulgaris; Sinapis nigra;

Silene noctiflora; Euonymus Europæus; Trifolium striatum; Rosa

spinossisma; Pyrus communis; *Sedum Telephium; Ribes nigrum;

Bupleurum rotundifolium; Torilis infesta; Adoxa Moschatellina;

Viburnum Lantana; Carduus crispus, C. Eriophorus; Campanula

glomerata, C. Trachelium; Specularia hybrida; Chlora

perfoliata; *Hyoscyamus niger; Linaria Elatine; Calamintha

menthifolia; *Marrubium vulgare; Galeopsis Ladanum, G.

versicolor; Centunculus minimus; Chenopodium polyspermum,

C. hybridum; Polygonum Bistorta; Daphne Laureola; Carpinus

Betulus; Salix triandra; Orchis pyramidalis; Spiranthes

autumnalis; *Epipactis palustris; Chephalanthera ensifolia;

Iris fœtidissima; *Allium oleraceum; Juncus Gerardi; Carex

divulsa, *C. distans; Kœhleria cristata; Schlerochloa rigida;

Brachipodium pinnatum.

WORCESTER.

The Worcestershire portion of the district extends from Oldbury and

Yardley in the north, to Abbot’s Morton on the south. It is watered by

the Cole and Rea, tributaries to the Tame, by the Stour and Salwarp,

tributaries to the Severn, by the Severn itself, and by the Arrow and

minor streams tributaries to the Avon. A range of hills about eight

miles long runs across the country from north-west to south-east, and

articulates with the central water parting at Bromsgrove Lickey. It

includes Clent, Walton and Romsley Hills, Frankley Beeches, the Upper

and the Lower Lickey, and rises in Walton Hill, to a maximum height of

1036 feet above the sea. The Worcestershire portion of the district

has been divided into the following eight sub-districts, distinguished

by the Roman numerals I. to VIII. It has not been found convenient in

every case to adopt water partings as sub-divisional boundaries.

I. REA. II. CLENT AND LICKEY. III. STOUR. IV. EAST SEVERN. V. WEST

SEVERN. VI. SALWARP. VII. ARROW. VIII. AVON.

I. REA.--The north-east angle of the county, drained by the Rea and

Cole. Surface strata, red marl, occasionally covered by modern drift.

The flora of this sub-district has, unhappily, mainly an historical

interest. Moseley Wake Green and Bog, drained and enclosed in or about

1840, and now partly built upon, formerly produced the following

rarities:--

Viola palustris; Drosera rotundifolia; Dianthus deltoides;

Alsine tenuifolia; Radiola millegrana; Hypericum elodes;

Comarum palustre; Parnassia palustris; Helosciadium inundatum;

Hydrocotyle vulgaris; Carduus pratensis; Vaccinium Oxycoccus;

Menyanthes trifoliata; Pedicularis palustris; Scutellaria

minor; Anagallis tenella; Centunculus minimus; Narthecium

ossifragum; Rhyncospora alba; Eriophorum vaginatum; Triodia

decumbens; Molinia cærulea; Nephrodium Oreopteris; Osmunda

regalis; Lycopodium Selago; Equisetum hyemale.

Most of the above plants are certainly, and all probably, extinct. The

same may be said of--

Thalictrum flavum; Coronopus Ruellii; Lythrum Salicaria; Ribes

alpinum; Œnanthe fistulosa; Veronica Anagallis; Triglochin

palustre; Butomus umbellatus; recorded from other parts of this

sub-district.

The rarer plants now existing within it are:--

Ranunculus pseudo-fluitans; Chelidonium majus; Cardamine amara;

Nasturtium amphibium; Nasturtium palustre; Epilobium roseum;

Sium augustifolium; Adoxa moschatellina; Galium uliginosum;

Hieraceum umbellatum; Campanula latifolia; Limosella

aquatica; Stachys palustris; Rumex Hydrolapathum; Narcissus

pseudo-narcissus; Lemna trisulca; Sagittaria sagittifolia;

Scirpus setaceus; Carex vesicaria, C. pseudo-Cyperus;

Alopecurus fulvus; Triticum caninum.

II. CLENT AND LICKEY.--The Clent and Lickey Hills, with the head waters

of the Rea and Arrow, and upper valley of the Stour to Stourbridge.

Surface strata; Water stones, Bunter soft red sandstone and Pebble

bed, Permian breccia, Permian clays and sandstones, Coal measures,

Silurian and Cambrian rocks of the lower Lickey. This sub-district is

extensively wooded, especially in the basin of the upper Stour above

Halesowen.

The rarer plants are--

Ranunculus circinatus, R. auricomus, R. parviflorus, R.

arvensis; Corydalis claviculata; Lepidium Smithii; Cardamine

amara, C. impatiens; Barbarea stricta; Nasturtium amphibium;

Erysimum cheiranthoides; Cheiranthus Cheiri; Reseda luteola;

Viola palustris; Polygala depressa; Moenchia erecta;

Spergularia rubra; Hypericum Androsæmun, H. humifusum; Geranium

sylvaticum, G. lucidum; Rhamnus Frangula; Ulex Gallii; Genista

tinctoria; Ononis arvensis. O. campestris; Melilotus arvensis;

Trifolium medium, T. hybridum; Ornithopus perpusillus;

Orobus tuberosus; Prunus Avium; Geum rivale, G. intermedium;

Rubus macrophyllus, R. Sprengelii, R. hystrix, R. rudis, R.

Kœhleri, R. fusco-ater, R. rotundifolius, R. tenuiarmatus, R.

diversifolius; Rosa mollissima, R. tomentosa, R. subglobosa, R.

Watsoni; Agrimonia Eupatoria, A. odorata; Alchemilla vulgaris;

Sanguisorba officinalis; Poterium muricatum; Pyrus Aucuparia;

Epilobium angustifolium, E. obscurum; Callitriche stagnalis;

Peplis Portula; Ribes rubrum, R. nigrum; Chrysosplenium

alternifolium; Adoxa moschatellina; Hydrocotyle vulgaris;

Sanicula Europæa; Pimpinella magna; Silaus pratensis; Pastinaca

sativa; Torilis infesta; Viscum album; Sambucus nigra; Viburnum

Opulus; Asperula odorata; Valerianella dentata; Dipsacus

pilosus; Inula Conyza, I. dysenterica; Matricaria Parthenium;

M. Chamomilla; Doronicum Pardalianches; Senecio erucifolius;

Carlina vulgaris; Serratula tinctoria; Centaurea Scabiosa;

Lactuca muralis; Hieracium murorum; Campanula latifolia;

Erica tetralix; Vaccinium Myrtillus; Erythræa Centaurium;

Chlora perfoliata; Convolvulus sepium; Cuscuta Trifolii;

Orobanche major; Lathræa squamaria; Linaria Cymbalaria, L.

repens; Pedicularis sylvatica; Veronica montana, V. Buxbaumii;

Calamintha Clinopodium; Scutellaria galericulata; Lamium

Galeobdolon; Galeopsis versicolor; Stachys Betonica; Myosotis

sylvatica; Cynoglossum officinale; Primula caulescens;

Lysimachia vulgaris, L. Nummularia; Chenopodium Bonus-Henricus,

C. olidum; Polygonum Bistorta; Euphorbia amygdaloides; Humulus

Lupulus; Salix pentandra, S. aurita; Paris quadrifolia;

Tamus communis; Orchis Morio; Gymnadenia conopsea; Neottia

nidus-avis; Habenaria bifolia; Epipactis media; Narcissus

pseudo-narcissus; Sagittaria sagittifolia; Butomus umbellatus;

Allium ursinum; Colchicum autumnale; Juncus squarrosus; Luzula

pilosa; Potamogeton rufescens, P. perfoliatus, P. crispus,

P. pectinatus; Carex pulicaris, C. remota, C. pallescens. C.

strigosa, C. pendula, C. pilulifera, C. fulva, C. lepidocarpa,

C. sylvatica, C. pseudo-Cyperus, C. binervis; Triodia

decumbens; Molinia cærulea; Festuca gigantea; Bromus erectus;

Nardus stricta; Equisetum maximum, E. sylvaticum, E. hyemale;

Nephrodium Oreopteris, N. spinulosum; Aspidium aculeatum, A.

angulare: Asplenium Trichomanes; Blechnum boreale; Botrychium

Lunaria; Ophioglossum vulgatum; Lycopodium clavatum.

Diplotaxis muralis; Buplerum rotundifolium; Hyoscyamus niger;

Linaria Elatine; Borago orientalis have occurred as casuals.

_Narthecium ossifragum_ and _Drosera rotundifolia_ formerly grew at

the Lower Lickey. The former was destroyed by drainage about 1854,

the latter has been recently extirpated by collectors. _Ceterach

officinarum_, which grew in great abundance on the garden wall at the

Leasows from 1850 to 1884, was destroyed soon after the latter date.

III. STOUR.--Country from the foot of the Clent Hills to the east bank

of the Stour, near Kidderminster. Surface strata--Waterstones, soft red

Bunter, Pebble bed. This sub-district is distinguished by the steep

scarps of the waterstones, the sandy soils of the soft red sandstone,

and the numerous pools on the brooks which flow from the Clent Hills

into the river Stour. The rarer plants are--

Rananculus circinatus, R. fluitans, R. Lenormandi; Aquilegia

vulgaris; Chelidonium majus; Nasturtium palustre; Cardamine

amara; Barbarea præcox; Thlaspi arvense; Teesdalia nudicaulis;

Viola palustris; Sagina ciliata; Arenaria leptoclados;

Cerastium aquaticum, C. semidecandrum; Spergularia rubra;

Malva moschata; Hypericum dubium, H. humifusum; Geranium

columbinum; Erodium cicutarium; Trifolium arvense, T.

filiforme; Ornithopus perpusillus; Potentilla argentea;

Comarum palustre; Rubus suberectus, R. affinis, R. umbrosus,

R. rhamnifolius, R. Lindleianus, R. diversifolius, R.

ternuiarmatus; R. spinosissima, R. mollissima; Lythrum

Salicaria; Epilobium angustifolium. E. obscurum; Myriophyllum

spicatum; Ceratophyllum aquaticum; Bryonia dioica; Sedum

Telephium, S. album; Ribes rubrum, R. nigrum; Saxifraga

granulata; Chrysosplenium alternifolium; Parnassia palustris;

Hydrocotyle vulgaris; Sium angustifolium; Conium maculatum;

Galium uliginosum; Valerianella olitoria; Gnaphalium

sylvaticum; Anthemis arvensis; Tanacetum vulgare; Bidens

tripartita, B. cernua; Carduus nutans; Leontodon hirtus;

Hieracium murorum, H. umbellatum; Jasione montana; Campanula

patula; Menyanthes trifoliata; Echium vulgare; Myosotis

versicolor; Solanum nigrum; Verbascum Thapsus, V. nigrum, V.

virgatum; Veronica Anagallis, V. polita; Pedicularis palustris;

Verbena officinalis; Salvia verbenaca; Mentha sylvestris; M.

piperta; Calamintha menthifolia, C. Acinos; Nepeta Cataria;

Rumex Hydrolapathum, R. pratensis; Polygonum Bistorta, P.

pseudo-dumetorum; Anacharis Alsinastrum; Orchis mascula,

O. latifolia, O. incarnata; Alisma Plantago; Polygonatum

multiflorum; Luzula sylvatica, L. pilosa; Typha augustifolia;

Acorus Calamus; Sparganium ramosum, S. simplex; Potamogeton

zosterifolius, P. flabellatus; P. lucens; Zanichellia

palustris; Scirpus sylvaticus; Carex axillaris, C. disticha, C.

muricata, C. paniculata, C. Boeninghauseniana, C. pilulifera,

C. pseudo-Cyperus, C. ampullacea, C. paludosa; Nardus stricta;

Aira caryophyllea, A. præcox; Avena pubescens; Festuca

sciuroides, F. Myurus; Bromus erectus; Triticum caninum;

Equisetum maximum; Asplenium Trichomanes; Ceterach officinarum.

_Camelina sativa_, _Silene anglica_, _Anthoxanthum Puelii_, have been

found as field casuals. _Mimulus luteus_ is established in the brooks

at Churchill. _Medicago maculata_, _Xanthium spinosum_, _Polypogon

monspeliensis_ were growing in 1875 on wool waste at Hoo Mill.

_Sium latifolium_, which grew in Blakedown Pools, in Purton’s time,

has been long extinct in that locality. _Osmunda regalis_, which

grew in this sub-district in 1852-3, has disappeared. _Asplenium

Adiantum-nigrum_ and _Scolpendrium vulgare_ have been all but

exterminated.

_Elatine hexandra_ and _Hydropiper_, reported by the late Mr. Alexander

Irvine in a “Mill Pond near Churchill station,” in 1857, have not been

seen by any other botanist.

IV. EAST SEVERN.--Country from the west bank of the Stour to the east

bank of the Severn near Bewdley and Stourport, including Hartlebury

Common east of Severn, below the junction of the Stour at Stourport.

Surface strata: Waterstones, Bunter sandstone and Pebble bed, Permian

breccia, Coal measures, Old red sandstone; covered at Hartlebury

Common and elsewhere with modern drift. The sand and bog plants of

Hartlebury Common are the most interesting features of the flora of

this sub-district. It contains--

Ranunculus fluitans; Teesdalia nudicaulis; Brassica

Cheiranthus; Viola canina; Drosera rotundifolia; Cerastium

arvense; Spergularia rubra; Radiola millegrana; Erodium

maritimum; Geranium pratense, G. lucidum, G. pyrenaicum;

Trifolium striatum, T. arvense; Ornithopus perpusillus; Vicia

lathyroides; Potentilla argentea; Comarum palustre; Rubus

suberectus, R. fusco-ater; Rosa spinosissima; Pyrus torminalis;

Lythrum Salicaria; Sedum dasyphyllum; Cotyledon Umbilicus;

Hydrocotyle vulgaris; Helosciadium inundatum; Œnanthe crocata;

Chærophyllum Anthriscus; Lonicera Caprifolium, L. Xylosteum;

Valerianella carinata; Carduus nutans; Hypochæris glabra; Inula

Conyza; Erigeron acris; Campanula Trachelium; Erica tetralix;

Monotropa hypopitys; Menyanthes trifoliata; Myosotis collina;

Verbascum Lychnitis, V. virgatum; Nepeta Cataria; Veronica

scutellata: Salvia verbenaca; Calamintha menthifolia, C.

Acinos; Scutellaria minor; Marrubium vulgare; Rumex maritimus;

Potamogeton polygonifolius, P. obtusifolius; Juncus squarrosus;

Rhyncospora alba; Eriophorum augustifolium; Scirpus fluitans;

Carex curta, C. pilulifera, C. divulsa; Agrostis canina;

Triodia decumbens; Nardus stricta; Equisetum sylvaticum;

Asplenium Adiantum-nigrum; Botrychium Lunaria; Lycopodium

clavatum, L. inundatum.

_Melilotus alba_, _Carum Carui_, _Arnoseris pusilla_, _Crepis

Nicænsis_, _Linaria minor_ have been found as casuals near the Railway

Viaduct over the Stour, south of Kidderminster, and _Centaurea

solstitialis_ at Hartlebury; _Lycopodium complanatum_ was gathered on

Hartlebury Common in 1836, but has not been seen since.

V. WEST SEVERN.--Country west of the Severn, from Wyre Forest on the

north, to Shrawley Wood on the south. Surface strata: Waterstones,

soft red Bunter, Permian breccia, Coal measures, Old red sandstone.

This sub-district extends somewhat beyond the twenty miles radius. It

is chiefly remarkable for the large area of woodland known as Wyre

Forest, which produces a number of rarities not found elsewhere within

the County. Part of the forest is in Salop. The following list includes

plants from both counties:--

Thalictrum flavum; Ranunculus fluitans; Aquilegia vulgaris;

Cardamine impatiens; Nasturtium sylvestre; Polygala vulgaris;

Saponaria officinalis; Hypericum montanum; Tilia parvifolia,

T. grandifolia; Geranium sylvaticum, G. sanguineum; Rhamnus

catharticus, R. Frangula; Vicia sylvatica; Spiræa salicifolia;

Pyrus torminalis; Rubus saxatilis, R. villicaulis, R. hirtus,

R. pyramidalis, R. Guntheri; Rosa mollissima, R. micrantha;

Sedium Telephium; Galium erectum; Hieracium murorum; Campanula

latifolia, C. Trachelium; Pyrola media, P. minor; Gentiana

campestris; Mentha Pulegium; Pedicularis palustris; Melampyrum

pratense; Scutellaria minor; Myosotis repens; Lithospermum

officinale; Centunculus minimus; Juniperus communis;

Convallaria majalis; Orchis latifolia; Gymnadenia conopsea;

Habenaria chlorantha, H. viridis; Epipactis latifolia, E.

palustris; Cephalanthera ensifolia; Neottia nidus-avis;

Spiranthes autumnalis; Scirpus pauciflorus, S. setaceus;

Eriophorum latifolium; Carex pulicaris, C. divulsa, C. fulva,

C. montana, C. strigosa; Melica nutans; Nephrodium Oreopteris;

Equisetum maximum, E. hyemale.

A single tree of _Pyrus domestica_, once a celebrity of Wyre Forest,

and reputed the only wild one in Britain, was destroyed by fire in

1862. _Spiranthes æstioalis_ has once been gathered in the great bog in

the Forest; _Coronilla varia_ occurs as a casual on the right bank of

the Severn, about a mile above Bewdley.

VI. ARROW.--Country between Barnt Green and Redditch, surrounding

the village of Alvechurch. With the exception of a small patch of

Waterstone, this sub-district is entirely on the Red marl. Several

large reservoirs belonging to the Worcester canal are situated within

it.

The following are its characteristic plants--

Ranunculus Drouetii; Lepidum ruderale; Viola palustris; Drosera

rotundifolia; Lotus tenuis; Rosa micrantha, R. sub-cristata,

R. Hailstonii, R. Borreri, R. bibracteata; Rubus adornatus, R.

thyrsoideus, R. pilosus; Lathyrus Nissolia; Pyrus torminalis;

Epilobium angustifolium; Myriophyllum spicatum; Valerianella

dentata; Anthemis arvensis; Artemisia Absinthium; Serratula

tinctoria; Carduus crispus; Campanula patula; Myosotis repens;

Pedicularis palustris; Limosella aquatica; Veronica Anagallis,

V. scutellata; Primula caulescens; Anagallis tenella; Euphorbia

amygdaloides; Rumex Hydrolapathum; Triglochin palustre;

Butomus umbellatus; Sagittaria sagittifolia; Acorus Calamus;

Potamogeton polygonfolius; Ophrys apifera; Juncus squarrosus;

Eleocharis acicularis; Scirpus setaceus; Calamagrostis

Epigejos; Nardus stricta; Equisetum sylvaticum; Ophioglossum

vulgatum; Chara flexilis.

VII. SALWARP.--Country from the S.W. foot of the Lickey Hills, to the

Salwarp below Droitwich. Surface strata: Red Marl, Waterstones. The

most noticeable features are the extensive tract of woodland known as

the Randans, and the Salt Works of Stoke and Droitwich. The latter have

rendered the canals and streams in the vicinity more or less saline.

The characteristic plants are--

Geranium lucidum, G. Pyrenaicum; Rhamnus catharticus; Dipsacus

sylvestris; Sison Amomum; Scandix Pecten-Veneris; Picris

hieracioides; Senecio erucifolius; Carduus crispus; Inula

Conyza; Vaccinium Myrtillus; Melampyrum pratense; Plantago

media; Scirpus Tabernæmontani; Calamagrostis Epigejos; Aspidium

angulare; Nephrodium spinulosum; Lycopodium clavatum.

_Polypodium Dryopteris_, and _Cystopteris fragilis_, which grew at

Catshill up to 1861, are believed to be extinct. The plants of the

saline waters of Droitwich deserve separate mention. They are--

Lepidum ruderale, L. latifolium; Spergularia salina: Apium

graveolens; Samolus Valerandi; Glaux maritima; Juncus Gerardi;

Sclerochloa distans.

VIII. AVON.--The country about Feckenham on the streams tributary to

the Avon, is situated partly on the Lias, and partly on the Red Marl.

It is the only one of the eight sub-districts in which the Lias occurs.

The following plants are principally characteristic of the calcareous

soil of the Lias--

Trifolium fragiferum; Lotus tenuis; Melilotus officinalis;

Astragalus glycyphyllus; Lathyrus Nissolia; Poterium muricatum;

Sison Amomum; Conium maculatum; Pastinaca sativa; Torilis

nodosa; Picris hieracioides; Helminthia echioides; Campanula

latifolia; Lithospermum arvense; Daphne Laureola; Ophrys

apifera.

A large tract of bog land known as Feckenham Moor existed in this

sub-district in the time of Purton, and produced the following plants,

recorded in his “Midland Flora”--

Parnassia palustris; Hydrocotyle vulgaris; Carduus pratensis;

Pinguicula vulgaris; Triglochin palustre; Alisma ranunculoides;

Schœnus nigricans; Cladium Mariscus.

The moor was drained many years ago, and its plants are all extinct.

STAFFORD.

The Staffordshire portion of the district extends from Upper Arley,

on the west to Penkridge and Rugeley on the north, and to Tamworth

on the east. The parish of Dudley, which, although in Worcester is

entirely surrounded by Stafford, will be treated as part of the latter

county. The principal elevations are the Silurian Hills of Dudley

Castle, 550 feet, and of the Wren’s Nest, 500 feet above the sea,

situated on the central water parting. West of these are Kinver Edge,

550 feet, and on the east Barr Beacon, 654 feet. It is watered on

the west by the Severn, on the north and east by the Trent and Tame,

and other tributary streams. It produces on the whole an interesting

flora, notwithstanding the fact that the South Staffordshire Coalfield

with the collieries and iron works, so destructive to vegetation, is

included within its limits. The sub-districts adopted are: I. SEVERN,

II. TRENT, III. TAME.

I. SEVERN.--This sub-district comprises Upper Arley, Kinver, Enville,

Dudley and Sedgley, with much of the country W. and N.W., of

Wolverhampton. The Coal measures extend over a considerable area, and

Silurian limestones and shales occur about Sedgley and Dudley.

The more interesting plants are:--

Ranunculus circinatus, R. fluitans, R. parviflorus; Berberis

vulgaris; Sinapis nigra; Cardamine amara, C. impatiens;

Teesdalia nudicaulis; Viola palustris; Saponaria officinalis;

Silene Anglica; Cerastium arvense; Sagina ciliata; Hypericum

Androsæmum, H. dubium, H. humifusum; Geranium pyrenaicum,

G. columbinum; Erodium moschatum, E. maritimum; Euonymus

Europæus; Rhamnus catharticus; R. Frangula; Genista tinctoria;

Ulex Gallii; Melilotus officinalis; Ornithopus perpusillus;

Vicia sylvatica, V. lathyroides; Prunus insititia, P. Padus;

Sanguisorba officinalis; Potentilla argentea; Comarum palustre;

Pyrus Malus, var. mitis; Saxifraga granulata; Chrysosplenium

alternifolium; Helosciadium inundatum; Œnanthe fistulosa,

Œ. crocata; Torilis nodosa; Chærophyllum Anthriscus; Viscum

album; Viburnum Opulus; Carduus nutans, C. eriophorus, C.

pratensis; Carlina vulgaris; Gnaphalium sylvaticum; Doronicum

Pardalianches; Inula Conyza; Solidago virga-aurea; Hypochæris

glabra; Leontodon hirtus; Picris hieracioides; Helminthia

echioides; Hieracium umbellatum; Campanula Rapunculus, C.

patula; Monotropa hypopitys; Gentiana Amarella; Chlora

perfoliata; Atropa Belladonna; Verbascum Thapsus, V. Lychnitis,

V. Thapso-lychnitis; Linaria Elatine; Limosella aquatica;

Mimulus luteus; Nepeta Cataria; Scutellaria minor; Galeopsis

Ladanum; Echium vulgare; Lithospermum officinale; Myosotis

sylvatica; Cynoglossum officinale; Parietaria officinalis;

Ulmus montana; Chenopodium polyspermum; Salix decipiens,

S. cærulea, S. vitellina, S. undulata, S. purpurea, S.

Woolgariana, S. acuminata, S. laurina; Sparganium neglectum;

Orchis mascula, O. Morio, O. latifolia; Epipactis latifotia;

Colchicum officinale; Carex pulicaris, C. pallescens, C.

strigosa, C. pendula; Poa nemoralis; Nephrodium Thelypteris;

Botrychium Lunaria; Lycopodium clavatum.

II. TRENT.--Comprises much of the country lying N. and N.E. of

Wolverhampton, including Codsall, Penkridge, Cannock Chase, Rugeley,

Abbotts Bromley and Alrewas. Much of this sub-district has a sub-Alpine

character in its physical features and flora, and is beautifully

undulated throughout. The rocks are mainly Triassic, but the coal

measures prevail over a considerable area. The more rare plants are:--

Thalictrum flavum; Ranunculus circinatus, R. trichophyllus, R.

Drouetii, R. Baudotii v. confusus, R. Lenormandi, R. flamula

var. pseudo-reptans, R. Lingua, R. hirsutus, R. parviflorus;

Caltha Guerangerii; Actæa spicata; Papaver Rhæas v. strigosum;

Chelidonium majus; Thlaspi arvense; Erysimum cheiranthoides;

Arabis perfoliata; Nasturtium amphibium; Viola palustris, V.

Reichenbachiana; Drosera rotundifolia; Polygala depressa; Tilia

parvifolia; Montia fontana; Prunus Padus; Potentilla argentea;

Rubus rhamnifolius, R. villicaulis, R. Schlechtendalii, R.

Sprengelii, R. Bloxamii, R. rosaceus, R. infestus, R. Guntheri,

R. Bellardii; Rosa scabriuscula, R. tomentella; Epilobium

roseum; Hippuris vulgaris; Chrysosplenium alternifolium;

Hydrocotyle vulgaris; Œnanthe fistulosa, Œ. Phellandrium;

Bidens cernua, B. tripartita; Hieracium maculatum; Wahlenbergia

hederacea; Vaccinium Oxycoccus, V. Vitis-Idæa, V. Myrtillus;

Menyanthes trifoliata; Mentha piperita; Lamium Galeobdolon;

Myosotis palustris; Pinguicula vulgaris, Lysimachia Nummularia;

Anagallis tenella; Polygonum Bistorta; Rumex maritimus;

Empetrum nigrum; Salix pentandra, S. triandra, S. Forbyana,

S. Smithiana, S. holosericea, S. hyppophaefolia; Typha

angustifolia; Potamogeton lucens; Fritillaria Meleagris;

Narthecium ossifragum; Scirpus lacustris, S. sylvaticus;

Eriophorum angustifolium, E. vaginatum; Carex dioica, C.

curta, C. disticha, C. muricata, C. pilulifera, C. binervis,

C. pseudo-Cyperus, C. vesicaria, C. ampullacea; Calamogrostis

Epegeios; Milium effusum; Molinia cærulea; Avena pubescens, A.

fatua; Triticum caninum; Nardus stricta; Osmunda regalis.

III. TAME.--This sub-district, includes Walsall, Lichfield, Shenstone,

Barr and Handsworth. The surface rocks are Trias, Permian and Coal

measures, and the limestones of Walsall, Rushall, and Hay Head. The

greatest elevation is Barr Beacon. Both the source and the mouth of the

Tame are within the limits of this sub-district. The principal plants

are:--

Thalictrum flavum; Arabis perfoliata; Cardamine amara, C.

impatiens; Nasturtium sylvestre; Teesdalia nudicaulis; Reseda

Luteola; Silene noctiflora; Malva moschata, M. rotundifolia;

Erodium cicutarium; Genista Anglica; Lathyrus Nissolia;

Orobus tuberosus; Prunus insititia, P. Padus; Geum rivale;

Rosa subglobosa, R. micrantha, R. collina; Rubus suberectus,

R. rharmnifolius; Pyrus Aria; Sedum Telephium; Saxifraga

granulata; Chrysosplenium alternifolium; Parnassia palustris;

Helosciadium repens; Myrrhis odorata; Apium graveolens;

Œnanthe crocata; Dipsacus pilosus; Valerianella dentata;

Galium Witheringii; Carduus nutans, C. pratensis; Anthemis

nobilis; Erigeron acris; Campanula Trachelium, C. latifolia,

C. patula; Solanum nigrum; Linaria minor; Veronica Buxbaumii,

V. montana, V. scutellata, V. Anagallis; Limosella aquatica;

Pinguicula vulgaris; Utricularia vulgaris; Lysimachia

vulgaris; Centunculus minimus; Parietaria officinalis;

Ulmus montana; Salix pentandra; Acorus Calamus; Epipactis

palustris; Convallaria majalis; Typha angustifolia; Lemna

gibba; Narthecium ossifragum; Colchicum autumnale; Scirpus

sylvaticus, S. cæspitosus; Carex pallescens, C. pseudo-Cyperus;

Calamagrostis Epegejos, C. lanceolatus; Milium effusum; Avena

pubescens; Triticum caninum; Asplenium Ruta-muraria; Aspidium

lobatum; Osmunda regalis.

CHAPTER II.

The Mosses, Hepatics, and Lichens.

BY J. E. BAGNALL, A.L.S.

In describing the rarer Mosses, Hepatics and Lichens, to be found

within the district, the materials at command are not sufficient

to admit of so minute an analysis of distribution as that given

for the flowering plants in the preceding pages. For the mosses

four sub-districts will be adopted: I. WARWICK, TAME; II. WARWICK,

AVON; III. WORCESTER; IV. STAFFORD. For the Hepatics and Lichens,

the enumeration will be restricted to Warwick only; information for

Worcester and Stafford not being within reach. The nomenclature of the

Mosses and Hepatics is that of the “London Catalogue of British Mosses

and Hepatics,” 2nd Edit., 1881. The nomenclature of the Lichens is that

of “The Lichen Flora,” of the Revd. W. A. Leighton, 1871.

MOSSES.

The Moss Flora of the whole district under review, so far as records

are available, is about 272 species and varieties; that of Warwickshire

alone being about 261. Its comparative poverty may be attributed,

partly to the absence of great elevations, partly to the prevalence of

smoke over large portions of the district, and partly to the draining

of bogs and marshes, and reclamation of heath lands.

I. WARWICK, TAME.--This sub-district includes that portion of the

country watered by the Tame and its affluents, the Cole, Blythe,

Bourne, and Anker. The following are the more noticeable mosses.

Sphagnum fimbriatum, S. squarrosum, S. rubellum, S. papillosum,

S. cymbifolium, var. squarrosulum; Systegium crispum; *Dicranum

spurium, D. fuscescens, D. majus; Campylopus flexuosus;

Archidium phascoides; Pleuridium alternifolium; Leucobryum

glaucum; Sphærangium muticum; Pottia minutula; Trichostomum

tophaceum; Tortula aloides, T. marginata, T. rigidula, T.

spadicea, T. insulana, T. tortuosa, T. subulata, T. papillosa;

Encalypta streptocarpa; Racomitrium canescens; Zygodon

viridissimus; Ulota intermedia; Ephemerum serratum; Funaria

fasciculare; Bryum pallescens, B. roseum; Mnium rostratum,

M. stellare, M. subglobosum; Polytrichum gracile; Fissidens

adiantoides, F. exilis; Leucodon sciuroides; Amblyodon

dealbatus; Philonotis fontana; Homalia trichomanoides;

*Hedwigia ciliata; Brachythecium albicans; Eurhynchium

speciosum, E. Teesdalii; Plagiothecium sylvaticum, P. elegans,

P. latebricola; Amblestegium fluviatile; Hypnum commutatum,

H. exannulatum; H. Cossoni, H. vernicosum, H. falcatum, H.

giganteum, H. stramineum, H. revolvens.

II. WARWICK, AVON.--This sub-district includes that portion of Avon

within the area, and its affluents, the Sow, Alne, and Arrow. The

following are the more rare mosses:--

Sphagnum auriculatum, S. subsecundum; Gymnostomum tenue;

Dicranum montanum; D. scoparium; Campylopus pyriformis;

Pottia intermedia, P. cavifolia, var. incana; Tortula rigida,

T. ambigua, T. atro-virens, T. Brebissoni, T. lævipila, T.

intermedia, T. papillosa; Grimmia crinita; Orthotrichum

saxatile, O. stramineum, O. tenellum, O. leiocarpum, O. Lyelii,

O. rivulare; Leptobryum pyriforme; Bryum pendulum, B. murale;

Mnium undulatum; Polytrichum formosum; Fissidens Lylei, F.

incurvus, F. pusillus, F. inconstans, F. tamarindifolius;

Cryphæa heteromalla; Anomodon viticulosum; Thamnium alopecurum;

Climacium dendroides; Camptothecium lutescens; Scleropodium

cæspitosum, S. illecebrum; Brachythecium rivulare; Eurhynchium

pumilum; Rhynchostegium tenellum; Hypnum Lindbergii, H.

stellatum, H. chrysophyllum, H. cordifolium, H. splendens, H.

brevirostre, H. loreum, H. palustre.

III. WORCESTER.--The moss flora of this sub-district has not been

published; but the moss herbaria of Mr. Mathews and the writer afford

records of about 127 species. Many of these have already been recorded

for Warwick, and are therefore omitted here. The following, which are

mainly from the Stour sub-district, are the more noteworthy:--

Sphagnum auriculatum; S. cuspidatum, S. intermedium; Dicranum

scoparium; Leucobryum glaucum; Pleuridium nitidum; Pottia

Wilsoni, P. intermedia; Tortula cuneifolia, T. convoluta;

Encalypta vulgaris, E. streptocarpa; Racomitrium aciculare,

R. lanuginosum, R. fasiculare; Ptychomitrium polyphyllum;

Ulota intermedia; Orthotrichum Lyellii; Ephemerum serratum;

Physcomitrella patens; Amblyodon dealbatus; Philonotis

fontana; Leptobryum pyriforme; Bryum pendulum, B. roseum;

Mnium stellare; Aulacomnium palustre; Fissidens exilis, F.

adiantoides; Fontinalis antipyretica; Neckera crispa; Homalia

trichomanoides; Pterygophyllum lucens; Climacium dendroides;

Brachythecium populeum; Rhynchostegium murale; Hypnum

commutatum, H. palustre, H. chrysophyllum; *H. scorpioides.

IV. STAFFORD.--The record given in Garner’s Natural History of

Staffordshire, of the mosses of that county, refers to localities

which are all outside the area. Hence it is impossible to do more than

mention the rarer species collected by myself, mostly within a ten mile

radius of Birmingham, and a few additional records supplied by Dr.

Fraser. They are as follows:--

Dicranella cerviculata, D. rufescens, D. crispa; Dicranum

Scoparium, D. palustre, D. majus; Pleuridium nitidum; Tortula

Hornschuchiana, T. ambigua, T. aloides; Didymodon rubellus;

Pottia lanceolata, P. intermedia, P. minutula; Ephemerum

serratum; Encalypta streptocarpa; Philonotis fontana; Bartramia

pomiformis; Webera carnea, W. annotina; Bryum pendulum, B.

atro-purpureum, B. cuspidatum; Polytrichum strictum; Fissidens

adiantoides; Tetraphis pellucida; Entosthodon fasciculare;

Brachythecium populeum, B. albicans; Eurhynchium murale,

E. Teesdalii; Plagiothecium elegans, P. undulatum; Hypnum

intermedium, H. chrysophyllum, H. vernicosum, H. giganteum.

HEPATICÆ.

The Hepaticæ and Lichens are poorly represented, and as no available

record of these plants occurs, only those of the Warwickshire portion

of the district will be given.

Of the Hepaticæ only about 41 species have as yet been found, the more

noteworthy being:--

Fossombronia pusilla; Madotheca platyphylla; Radula complanata;

Scapania nemorosa, S. irrigua; Plagiochila nemorosa; Aplozia

crenulata, A. sphærocarpa; Gymnocolea inflata; Jungermannia

ventricosa; Cephalozia byssacea, C. Starkii, *C. curvifolia,

C. connivens; Trichocolea tomentella; Metzgeria furcata;

Aneura multifida, A. sinuata, A. pinguis; Lunularia cruciata;

Conocephalus conicus; Anthoceros punctatus, A. lævis; Riccia

glauca; Ricciella fluitans.

LICHENS.

So far as experience serves the Lichen flora of the district appears

to be very limited. From Worcestershire I have seen no records except

that probably exhaustive one by Mr. Edwin Lees in his “Botany and

Geology of Malvern,” where we find about 240 species recorded for

the Malvern district, but outside the area under notice here. For

Staffordshire, Garner records about 51 species, few of which are

localised, and those few are outside the area.

In Purton’s “Midland Flora,” a fair record is given of these plants

for the Midland district, several of the species there recorded are,

however, now either assigned to other orders as algæ or fungi, or

are considered to be imperfect states of other lichens. So far as it

is possible to judge from Purton’s records, and the observations of

the present writer, the Lichen flora of that part of Warwickshire

within the area here adopted comprises about 100 species, of which the

following are some of the more noticeable:--

Collema nigrescens; Calcium trichiale, C. hyperellum, C.

trachelinum; Trachylia tympanella; Cladonia alcicornis, C.

furcata, C. rangifera, C. uncialis; Stereocaulon paschale;

Usnea hirta; Alectoria jubata; Evernia furfuracca: Ramulina

fraxinea, R. fastigiata; Cetraria aculeata; Peltigera

rufescens, P. polydactyle; Sticta pulmonacea; Parmelia

olivacea, P. caperata, P. lanata, P. perlata; Physcia ciliaris,

P. pulverulenta, P. stellaris; Pannaria pezizoides, P. nigra;

Lecanora candelaria, L. pruinosa, L. parella, L. atra, L.

sulphurea, L. ferruginea; Urceolaria scruposa; Pertusaria

communis; Phylictis agelæa; Lecidea æruginosa, L. quernea,

L. parasema, L. fusco-ater; Graphis scripta, G. serpentina;

Opegrapha atra, O. notha; Arthonia astroidea, A. Swartziana;

Verrucaria gemmata, V. epidermidis, V. nitida.

CHAPTER III.

The Algæ.

BY A. W. WILLS.

The great class of Algæ includes the sea-weeds, together with a large

number of plants, mostly of microscopic size and of simple cellular

structure, which abound wherever fresh water is found, whether in the

form of running streams or stagnant pools, or even as covering damp

surfaces of ground.

A broad subdivision of the Algæ into three groups has been generally

accepted by botanists, these being the Rhodosporeæ (red-spored),

Melanosporeæ (dark-spored), and Chlorosporeæ (green-spored). The marine

genera are distributed over all three of these groups; the freshwater

ones belong almost exclusively to the last. The classification of

the freshwater Chlorosperms is by no means satisfactory, but it is

impossible to discuss it within the limits of this article.

It is to be regretted that scarcely any of the botanists of Birmingham

have made the Algæ their special study; hence the information at our

disposal is insufficient to enable us to group the recorded species

with reference to their occurrence in the several adjacent counties.

This is, however, the less important because the distribution of

this class of plants is not dependent, to the same extent as that

of Phænogams, either on climate or soil, though it is probably not

altogether independent of either. Their abundance, therefore, is in

pretty direct proportion to that of such spaces of water as afford

favourable conditions for their growth.

Hence, as the neighbourhood of Birmingham is mostly characterised by

light and porous soils, the habitats in which Algæ are to be found are

somewhat restricted. There are, however, two conspicuous exceptions.

The tract of land about seven miles from Birmingham, known as Sutton

Park, embraces a singular variety of scenery and presents conditions

highly favourable to algoid growth in the shape of clear springs and

streams, large sheets of water, and a considerable area of peaty bogs.

Again, the mining district of South Staffordshire and Worcestershire,

popularly known as the Black Country, affords among its pit-banks a

great number of pools which are seldom dried up even in the hottest

summer, and many of which are partially fed by water from adjacent

mines or engines. Their number has been much diminished during the last

few years by the operations of the South Staffordshire Mines Drainage

Commission, but is still very large and these constitute a rich hunting

ground to the student of freshwater Algæ.

The brief notes which follow must be regarded merely as an indication

of the general character of this branch of the Midland Flora. Any

attempt systematically to enumerate the recorded species would far

exceed the necessary limits of this notice.

The great group of so-called Unicellular Algæ is universally

distributed, and the familiar forms included under the ill-defined

genera of Pleurococcus, Glœocystis, Tetraspora, Pediastrum, &c., are

found abundantly in this district wherever conditions favourable to

their growth are present. Among these low forms may be mentioned

_Apiocystis Brauniana_, parasitic on larger Algæ in stagnant pools;

the extremely rare _Mischococcus confervicola_, recorded as found near

Stafford, and _Polyedrium tetrahedricum_ found on decaying leaves in a

small pit near Sutton. _Ophiocytium cochleare_, until lately regarded

as a very scarce plant, is not uncommon in similar habitats.

The remarkable _Hydrodictyon utriculatum_, popularly known as “Water

Net,” appeared some years ago in Blackroot Pool, Sutton Park, in

enormous quantities, but shortly disappeared and has not been seen

there since. It has also been recorded by Mr. T. Bolton as found in

Bourne Pool, near Aldridge.

The large tribe of Volvocineæ is represented by the well-known

forms of Gonium, Pandorina, and Eudorina, and by the typical _Volvox

globator_, which, as is its wont, occasionally appears in some of

the pools of the district in great profusion, only to vanish as

capriciously. Mr. Bolton has recorded the rare and interesting _Volvox

globator_ ♂,--the _Sphærosira volvox_ of Ehrenberg--as occurring in the

small pool in the gravel pit near Blackroot Pool, Sutton Park.

Passing to the Zygnemaceæ, Vaucheriaceæ and other filamentous Algæ,

we find a large number of species of Zygnema, Spirogyra, Zygogonium,

Mesocarpus, Staurocarpus, Vaucheria, &c., occupying ditches, small

pools and other stagnant waters; it is scarcely possible to take a

bottleful of water from these stations in summer and autumn without

finding examples of the curious modes of reproduction characteristic of

these genera.

In running streams and in the still ponds of the district the long

fronds of Enteromorpha, the dense tresses of brilliant green Cladophoræ

and the graceful tufts of Stigeoclonium and Chætophora abound. The

exquisite _Cœtophora endiviæfolia_ reappears at intervals in Keeper’s

Pool, Sutton Park; this species has also been found by Mr. Bolton in an

old gravel pit at Hill Hook and in Earlswood reservoir.

The elegant _Bulbochœte setigera_ is met with in small fragments in

stagnant pools, and the singular _Coleochœte scutata_ is to be found

adherent to submerged water weeds.

The tepid waters of the South Staffordshire coal district are specially

favourable to the growth of Oscillatorieæ, which form on their margins

immense sheets of the deepest green velvet.

Several species of Batrachospermum (among which _B. atrum_ is locally

the rarest, having been found at Halesowen only) occur in small masses

in clear streams, but they must be regarded as somewhat scarce plants.

_Lemania fluviatilis_ should be mentioned as common in the Avon and

Severn, and the very rare _Bangia atropurpurea_ as occurring on a water

wheel in the former river at Stratford-on-Avon, although these habitats

are somewhat beyond the limits contemplated in this sketch.

The Diatomaceæ of the neighbourhood do not appear to have been the

objects of systematic study, and the only species of special interest

which we remember to have found is the wonderful _Bacillaria paradoxa_,

well known as a remarkable microscopic object from the strange manner

in which its linear frustules glide over one another, so that the whole

plant is incessantly assuming a different form. It has been found by

Mr. Bolton, along with many other species, in a disused arm of the

canal near Albion Station, and by the writer in a small stream near the

same spot. A careful search would doubtless result in the discovery of

a large number of representative species of this class.

In conclusion, we turn for a moment to the very beautiful tribe of

Desmidieæ, and, although the district by no means abounds in the peaty

bogs which are their especial haunts, a goodly list of ordinary species

has been recorded. Sutton Park is the best locality for these plants,

and in addition to the commoner forms of Micrasterias, Euastrum,

Closterium, &c., which are here found in abundance, this habitat has

yielded many rare and several new species, among which the following

are worthy of special notice, viz.:--_Micrasterias papillifera_, _M.

Cruxmelitensis_, _M. angulosa_, _M. denticulata_, var. _lichmoides_,

and _M. Americana, forma major_; _Cosmarium coronatum_, _Closterium

directum_, _Cl. angustatum_, and _Cl. Pritchardianum_; _Penium

closteriodes_, _P. Jenneri_, and _P. Nägeli_.

A more detailed list of species is inadmissible, but the foregoing

brief sketch will suffice to show that the Freshwater Algæ of the

neighbourhood are tolerably abundant, and by no means devoid of

interest.

CHAPTER IV.

The Fungi.

BY W. B. GROVE, B.A.

The district of which Birmingham is the centre is in some ways

peculiarly interesting to a British Mycologist. It was the scene of

the labours of two students of British Fungi who will always hold an

honourable place in the history of the development of the science in

this country--William Withering and Thomas Purton.

Withering was in his time (1741-1799) the foremost physician of this

town. He lived for many years at Edgbaston Hall, a residence still

situated among picturesque scenery just on the edge of the town, and

then no doubt a wilder and more productive spot than now. Many species

and varieties of Fungi new to Britain or new to science rewarded his

constant researches in the park surrounding the hall, and some of the

forms which he described still linger in this retreat. Packington Park,

about ten miles from the town, is another locality frequently quoted

by him; in fact by far the great majority of the species found by

Withering himself came from these two places.

Withering enjoys the distinction of being one of the earliest

authors on the British Flora, who devoted to the Fungi a space even

decently comparable with that devoted to the Flowering plants. In

his “Arrangement of British plants” (3rd edition), 1286 species of

Phanerogams are recorded, and 566 of Fungi, which thus fill more than

one-third as much space as their superiors in rank.

Thomas Purton was a surgeon of Alcester, a town about 18 miles from

Birmingham. In his “Midland Flora” (1817-1821), he gives descriptions

of over 400 species of Fungi, found chiefly in the neighbourhood of

Alcester, especially in Oversley Wood and Ragley Park. He provides

moreover excellent coloured engravings of 35 species. Since the whole

number of Flowering Plants recorded by Purton from the Midlands is only

798, it will be seen that he surpasses Withering in devoting more than

half as much space to the Fungi as to the Phanerogams.

Mrs. Russell, of Kenilworth, made, a few years since, a nearly

exhaustive study of the Hymenomycetes of Kenilworth, Stoneleigh, and

Warwick, and bequeathed to the British Museum her valuable series of

over 300 coloured illustrations. But with this exception little has

been done recently to elucidate the Fungi of the neighbourhood of this

town, until the subject was taken up, within the last few years, by Mr.

J. E. Bagnall and the writer. On reckoning up the number of species now

known to occur in this district it will be found that they considerably

exceed 900. It is probable that the district is as productive as any

other in the smaller and microscopic kinds, but the larger species of

Fungi are, with few exceptions, not to be found in any great abundance.

From want of sufficient material, it is not possible to treat this

group successfully, as has been done with the Phanerogams, according

to the counties. It will be preferable merely to string together short

notices of a few of the more remarkable or uncommon kinds, according to

the orders into which the class “Fungi” is divided. The names are those

of Stevenson’s “Hymenomycetes Britannici,” so far as it is published,

and of Cooke’s “Handbook” or “Grevillea” for the rest.

The first and most conspicuous of these orders is the Hymenomycetes,

the mushroom and toad-stool family, of which the common mushroom

may be taken as the type. These are all distinguished by having the

spore-bearing cells arranged in a more or less continuous exposed

surface, even or variously folded. In the more typical species, this

surface assumes the form of the flat laminæ which are termed gills. Of

these, _Agaricus nitidus_ has been found at Coleshill Pool; the yellow

variety of _Ag. cepæstipes_ at Sutton Coldfield; _Ag. polystictus_ and

_Ag. pessundatus_, near Kenilworth; _Ag. stans_ in Edgbaston Park;

_Ag. virgatus_, both there and at Coleshill Pool; _Ag. inornatus_ at

Kenilworth; _Ag. tuba_, at Middleton; _Ag. ditopus_, there and in

Edgbaston Park; _Ag. platyphyllus_ frequently in and near Sutton Park;

_Ag. rancidus_ at Middleton; _Ag. pullatus_, at Coleshill Pool; _Ag.

leucogalus_, at New Park, Middleton; _Ag. electicus_, on rush stems in

Sutton Park; _Ag. subpalmatus_, at Kenilworth and near Studley Castle;

_Ag. petaloides_, var. _spathulatus_, at Oversley; _Ag. volvaceus_,

_Ag. speciosus_, and _Ag. umbrosus_, at Kenilworth; _Ag. jubatus_,

near Barnt Green; _Ag. heteroclitus_, many striking and well developed

specimens at Sutton Coldfield; and _Ag. lanuginosus_, in Oversley Wood.

_Ag. horizontalis_ is said by Purton to be “not rare” near Alcester,

and he records _Ag. erinaceus_ and _Ag. pezizoides_ from the same

locality. _Ag. echinatus_, with its remarkable blood-red gills, is

found frequently at Sutton Coldfield. At this point in the systematic

order comes in the mysterious _Ag. versicolor_ of Withering, of which

he found only a few specimens in Edgbaston Park, and which has never

since been seen by any other author; yet neither Fries nor the others

venture to omit it, because Withering gives so clear and unmistakeable

a description as almost to preclude the possibility of error. _Ag.

luteonitens_ and _Ag. sarcocephalus_ have been found at Kenilworth;

_Ag. udus_ is common in Sutton Park and the neighbourhood, and is also

found among the Lickey Hills, accompanied in the latter place by the

variety _polytrichi_. _Ag. areolatus_ has been found at Warwick; _Ag.

atrorufus_ at Sutton; _Ag. retirugis_ at Kenilworth and Middleton; and

Bolton’s _Ag. cinctulus_ (“History of Funguses,” tab. 152), which is

omitted by Fries as possibly incorrectly figured, is said by Purton to

be “not rare” near Alcester.

Of the genera allied to Agaricus, the rare species found here are

rather few. The district seems to be especially ill supplied with the

larger Cortinarii. Scarcely more than thirty species of this genus

are recorded, of which the following may be mentioned:--_Cortinarius

cyanipes_, from Kenilworth; _C. callochrous_, from Edgbaston; _C.

scaurus_, from Packington; _C. violaceus_, which seems to have

been found by Purton; _C. callisteus_ and _C. ochroleucus_, from

Kenilworth; _C. sanguineus_, in Sutton Park; _C. bulbosus_, from

Oversley; _C. armillatus_, at Coleshill Pool; _C. brunneus_ (recorded

only by Withering among British authors), in Packington Park; and _C.

hemitrichus_, in Sutton Park.

The other gilled genera may be briefly dismissed. _Gomphidius viscidus_

and _G. glutinosus_ have both occurred in the district. Lactarii are

not uncommon. _L. deliciosus_ is frequent in a certain part of Sutton

Park, and is recorded by both Withering and Purton; it also occurs at

Hagley and at Bromsgrove Lickey, but is very local. _L. turpis_, of

large size, abounds in several woods in the neighbourhood of Sutton;

_L. cilicioides_, _L. uvidus_, _L. hysginus_, _L. zonarius_, _L.

pyrogalus_, _L. glyciosmus_, and _L. camphoratus_, in addition to the

more common species, have all been found; as also _Russula delica_, _R.

rosacea_, _R. citrina_, _R. lutea_, and the very rare _R. drimeia_,

_Hygrophorus chrysodon_ and _H. russo-coriaceus_ have been found

at Kenilworth; Purton found the pretty little _Marasmius Hudsoni_;

_Lentinus tigrinus_ is recorded by Withering, from Packington Park;

_L. adhœrens_ by both Withering and Purton; and _L. lepideus_ and _L.

cochleatus_ have been met with several times. _Panus conchatus_ was

found by Withering at Edgbaston, and by Purton at Studley, and the

writer has found _P. torulosus_ in Packington Park.

Among the pore-bearing Hymenomycetes, the most striking and rare

is _Boletus (Strobilomyces) strobilaceus_, found at “the Valley,”

Bromsgrove, in 1861. _Boletus badius_ is rather common, and is an

edible species. The rare _B. parasiticus_ has been found at Middleton;

_B. striæpes_ and _B. olivaceus_ are also on record. The writer has

found the true _Polyporus frondosus Fr._ once in Sutton Park, and fine

specimens of _P. giganteus_ in Edgbaston Park. Purton records _P.

heteroclitus_ from Oversley, and _P. molluscus_ is occasionally found

at Sutton and Coleshill Pool. The curious _Ptychogaster albus_, which

is now usually considered a conidial form of a Polyporus, called _P.

ptychogaster_, has occurred in Sutton Park on stumps of firs. _Trametes

gibbosa_ is found at Sutton; _Dædalea confragosa_ in the coppice near

Windley Pool; and the edible _Fistulina hepatica_ is occasionally met

with on old oaks in Sutton Park, Hagley Park, and elsewhere.