I04 THE LEPIDOP'IERA OF ESSEX. 



Lycaena bellargus, Rott. Clifden Blue. 



Geographical Distribution — Central and South Europe, extending northward 

 to Scandinavia, West Asia, North Africa. In Britain absent from Scotland and 

 Ireland. 



Larva — Deep full green covered with black specks bearing black bristles, two 

 yellow stripes on back and yellow st.-ipe at sides ; head dark brown. Food — 

 Hippocrepis, bird's-foot trefoil (Lotus J, &c. Imago — May and June ; hibernates as 

 larva. 



Mr. Joseph Clarke informs me that this species has certainly 

 been caught once or twice in the Saffron AValden district. I can find 

 no published record. 



Lycaena corydon, F. Chalk-hill Blue. 



Geographical Distribution— (ZQ.x\\.x-2i\ TiViA South Eu- ope, West Asia. England, 

 not Scotland or Ireland. 



Larva — Light bright green covered with black specks bearing light brown 

 bristles, two yellow stripes on back and yellow stripe at sides ; head dark brown. 

 Food — Various papilionaceae, especially Hippocrepis^ bird's-foot trefoil, kidney 

 vetch and trefoil. Imago — June to August ; hibernates as larva. 



Almost exclusively confined to chalky soils, consequently rare and 

 very local in Essex. 



Also recently observed by Mr. Dale near the town of Newport in 

 Essex {Ray ; H.I. 131). Saffron Walden {Jeffrey ; B.B. 132 ; Cat. 

 S. W.M. 50). Six, Saffron Walden {Clarke). I have never taken 

 this myself, but was told that a pair had been caught in a garden at 

 Sudbury {W. D. King?; F.S./., Dec, 1838). Colchester, 1859 

 {Harwood ; E. W.I. vii. 28). Very rare, Colchester, one or two on 

 the railway banks only. About a dozen in High Woods, Colchester 

 [1870]; not seen before or since {Harwood; B.B. 132). Several, 

 Epping Forest, 1859 and previously {J. W. Downing : E.W.I. v'\\. 

 51). About 1859 it appeared in an open part of Epping Forest and 

 a year or two afterwards was common in several localities in the 

 neighbourhood — some of them five or six miles apart. It was 

 plentiful near Loughton and in clover-fields at Epping {H. Douhleday ; 

 E.M.M. iii. 91). Observed here and therethrough the Forest, 1866 

 {E. Newman ; B.B. 132). One, Loughton, July 29th, 1885 {E. B. 

 Bishop ; Ent. xviii. 242). One male, between Leigh and Southend ; 

 " It was probably a railway excursionist from Purfleet " ( Vaughan ; 

 ■ E.N. iii. 126). I have no record of it from the Grays district, but 

 it doubtless occurs there. Rev. G. H. Raynor writes : " Stray 

 specimens have been taken at Childerditch, probably stragglers from 

 Grays where the species occurs regularly." 



