THE LEPIDOPTKRA OF ESSEX. I07 



deep green. Food — Nolens^ brume and other grasses, in spun-logellier leaves. 

 Imago — July ; hibernates as larva. 



Common throughout, especially in the marshes. Newman says 

 {B.B. 175): "In Essex it occurs in open swampy places that are 

 covered with rushes." [Very common in the " rushy plains " in 

 Monk's AVood, Epping Forest. — B. G. Co/e.] 



Hesperia lineola, Ochs. Narrow-lined Skipper. 



Geographical Distribution — Europe, North and West Asia (except polar regions) 

 North Africa. 



Larva — Bright green, five yellow lines on back and sides ; head reddibh. 

 Fo:)d — Grasses. Imago — July ; hibernates as larva. 



Mr. Hawes brought this forward as a British species in the 

 " Entomologist " for January, 1890, upon the strength of three males 

 taken in July, 1888, "in one of the eastern counties," really in 

 Hartley Wood, St. Osyth. It has since occurred in several counties 

 and commonly in Essex, but is local, though widely distributed ; 

 hitherto overlooked. 



South-east Essex, in 1889 {Carrington ; E/it.\\m.^, 72). Frequent 

 in Essex, 1885-8 {A./. Spiller ; Ent. xxiii. 56). On marshes near 

 Benfleet and Shoeburyness i^F. G. Whittle ; Ent. xxiii. 57, 99) 

 Mr. Bloomfield exhibited two specimens taken in Essex in 1888 at 

 South London Entomological Society, Feb. 27th, 1890 {Ent. xxiii. 

 142). Numerous specimens, Leigh, July 25th, 1890 {South; Ent. 

 xxiii. 264, 296). Southend, in 1882 {Bouttell ; Ent. xxiii. 296). 

 Pale variety from Shoeburyness {Nussey ; Ent. xxiii. 296). Long 

 series on the marshes at Leigh (Tui^^we// ; Ent. xxiii. 320). St. 

 Osyth, common ; single specimen near Chappel (Ifaru'ood). Bures 

 ( F. Gerrard). 



Hesperia sylvanus, Esp. Large Skipper. 



Geographical Distribution — Europe, except extreme north, North and West 

 Asia to the Amur, and perhaps to Japan. Close ally in North America. 

 Throughout Britain. 



Larva — Pale bluish-green, indistinct darker line on back, paler line above feet ; 

 head, crim:on-bro\vn. Food — Hairy woodrush, couch, cocksfoot and other 

 grasses, in rolleJ-up blades. Imago — May, June and August ; hibernates as 

 larva. 



Common and generally distributed in the uplands and woodlands; 

 more common than the Small Skipper. 



Hesperia comma, L. Silver-spotted Skipper. 



Geogruphual Distribution — Europe, Asia. Close ally in North America. 

 England. 



