lOO THK LKPIDOPTERA OF ESSEX. 



Four females, Withani, Sept., 1837, for the first time {Biirnell ; 

 M.N.H. [2] i. 602). Rare, generally in larval state, Hazeleigh, 

 Mundon {Ray nor ; T.E.F.C. iii. 38). Mundon Furze {Ray nor ; 

 Ent, vi. 264). Rev. J. W. Mills, E. Stuart and myself have seen it 

 there in some numbers. Colchester {Harwood ; E.\\\I. vii. 28). 

 Formerly in Highwoods and fields thereabouts, and Langham Lodge 

 Wood ; not taken recently {Hartvood). Kedington and Haverhill, 

 1833-5 {Gaze ; Ent. i. 278). 



Thecla w-album, Knoch. Black Hairstreak. 



Geographical Distribution — Europe, Central and South (except Spain and Por- 

 tugal), extending to Scandinavia, North, West and Central Asia. EnelanJ. 



Larva — Light green or reddish-brown (variable), yellowish or dingy brown 

 stripe on back, two oblique ill-defined yellow lines on side of each segment ; head 

 black. Food — Wych elm (^Ulmns montana'). Imago — July and August ; hiber- 

 nates as ovum. 



Rare and very local, seems to occur commonly in some seasons. 



" This species is usually esteemed a scarce insect in the neigh- 

 bourhood of London, and previously to the last season I never saw 

 it alive ; but the boundless profusion with which the hedges, for 

 miles, in the vicinity of Ripley were enlivened by the myriads that 

 hovered over every flower and bramble-blossom last July (1826) 

 exceeded anything of the kind I have ever witnessed. Some notion 

 of their numbers may be formed, when I mention that I captured, 

 without moving from the spot, nearly 200 specimens in less than 

 half-an-hour, as they successively approached the bramble-bush 

 where I had taken up my position" {Stephens ; I.B.E. Haust i. 45 

 note, 77). " For eighteen years I possessed four bleached specimens 

 only of T. W-album., having vainly endeavoured to procure others ; 

 when in 1827, as elsewhere recorded, I saw the insect at Ripley not 

 by dozens only, but literally by scores of thousands ! ! ! and, although 

 1 frequented the same locality for thirteen years subsequently, some- 

 times in the season for a month together, I have not since seen a 

 single specimen there" {Stepheris ; Z. v. 1616). Very rare, Epping 

 {E. Doiibleday ; Ent. Mag. iii. 285). Epping {S.M. i. 53). Very 

 abundant in Maldon district, extending from Danbury to St. 

 Lawrence. Imago on bramble flowers, larvae prefer wych elm 

 {Raynor ; T.E.F.C. iii. 38). I have seen it commonly at Hazeleigh 

 and North Fambridge. Several, Fambridge Hall Wood, 14th July, 

 1887 {Fitch ; E.N. i. 139). Common at lime flowers, St. Lawrence) 

 July 14th 1874, thirty taken in one day {Mills ; Ent. vii. 174). 

 Frequent on bramble hedge, Writtlc (//. Carder, N.H.f. iv. 102.) 



