INSECTS 



in Hempstead Wood to the north-west of Hailsham. It has also been 

 recorded from the neighbourhood of Battle. A black variety was taken 

 by Mr. H. Gorringe of Brighton in Abbots Wood some thirty-five years 

 ago and was acquired by the late Mr. F. Bond. The Small Tortoiseshell 

 {Vanessa urticce, L.) is common throughout the county. The Large 

 Tortoiseshell {V. polychloros, L.) is generally distributed in the county, 

 and Mr, Fletcher says that though for some years it was less common 

 than formerly, it is now greatly increasing in numbers. He observed 

 more hybernated specimens in the spring of 1902 than he had seen for 

 many years. The species has been reported from Abbots Wood Hails- 

 ham, Battle, Bognor, Brighton, Catsfield, Cocking, Hastings, Horsham, 

 Hayward's Heath, Hurstpierpoint, Lewes, Midhurst, Slindon, Stoughton 

 and Worthing, The rare Camberwell Beauty {V. afitiopa, L.) ' has not 

 unfrequently been taken in the county. A fine specimen was brought 

 to me alive in September, 1873, by a Brighton bird-catcher who had 

 taken it at Hassock's Gate. It was in such fine condition that it must 

 have been bred in this country. A second specimen was brought to me 

 about two years afterwards by some boys who had caught it near Burgess 

 Hill. Mr. Fletcher ^ reports the capture of a specimen near Burwash in 

 1900. The Painted Lady {V. cardui, L.)' is irregular in appearance, 

 but occurs in some years in the greatest profusion in clover and lucerne 

 fields, especially near the coast. The Red Admiral [V. atalanta, L,) is 

 common and generally distributed. The Peacock [V. io, L.) is generally 

 distributed and sometimes abundant though less common than formerly. 

 The White Admiral [Limenitis sybilla, L,) like many other butterflies is 

 reported to be decreasing in numbers,^ It has been reported from 

 a few woods in east Sussex near Battle, Northiam and HoUington. 

 The captures of single specimens have also been recorded from Abbots 

 Wood, Hayward's Heath and Plashet Wood near Lewes. Mr. W. M, 

 Christy says that it is not uncommon in some of the woods in west 

 Sussex between Chichester and the western boundary of the county. The 

 Purple Emperor {Apatura iris, L.) used to be common in some seasons in 

 Abbots Wood, Wilmington Wood and Gnat Wood. I have seen it 

 flying round the oaks and sitting in the muddy ruts in the road dividing 

 Abbots Wood and Wilmington Wood on the west from Gnat Wood and 

 Folkington Wood on the east, and possess specimens from the district. 



Note. — The Glanville Fritillary (Melitaa dnxia, L.) was, according to Mr. Fletcher, included in the 

 Fauna and Flora of Eastbourne, but this was undoubtedly an error. — H.G. 



1 See Ent. Mo. Mag. x. 139 (1873-4).— H.G. 



* Mr. Fletcher remarks : ' Very rare ; an occasional immigrant appearing in some numbers in 

 Great Britain at uncertain intervals, but does not seem able to establish itself as a resident even for a 

 short period.' — H.G. 



' The Comma Butterfly {Fanessa c-album, L.), which is a midland and west of England species, does 

 not occur regularly in the county, but, as in Kent, immigrants have occasionally been found. Mr. J. H. 

 A. Jenner reports it as having been taken singly at Southover, Horndean and Lewes. Mr. Edgell 

 records the capture of a specimen at Firle in 1887, and another specimen was recorded by Mr. Vine as 

 being taken between Bramber and Shoreham in April, 1887. Mr. Fletcher states that the species has 

 also occurred singly near Horsham, in Tilgate Forest, and near Guestling. — H.G. 



^ I have collected in the woods of east and north Sussex since I was ten years of age, but I never 

 saw the species in the county. — H.G. 



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