A HISTORY OF SUSSEX 



Many specimens have been taken on the south-eastern edge of Gnat 

 Wood by 'sugaring' the tree stems. Dr. Hodgson (formerly of Brighton) 

 told me that a few years ago he found eight or nine larvae of this species 

 on one sallow bush in Abbots Wood. The species occurs in most of 

 the oak woods in the Weald. It is reported from Ashburnham, Battle, 

 Buxted, Isfield, the Holmbush and Tilgate Forest. From west Sussex it 

 has been recorded from the neighbourhood of Bosham, Harting and the 

 Hundred of Manhood, also from St. Leonards Forest near Horsham, 

 and from Ticehurst. The Marbled White {Arge galathea, L.*) although 

 local is abundant in many localities, especially along the coast between 

 Eastbourne and Seaford. It also occurs in profusion in Abbots Wood 

 and the adjoining woods and fields near Hailsham. It has also been 

 recorded from Firle, Sompting, Tilgate Forest, Horsham and Charlton 

 Forest. The Wood Argus {Satyrus egeria, L.) is generally distributed 

 in woods and lanes, but is less common than formerly, Mr. Jenner 

 says it is disappearing from many localities. It is reported as being 

 generally common in west Sussex, as near Cocking, Bury, Charlton 

 Forest, Midhurst and in the Slindon Woods. The Wall Butterfly 

 {S. megcera, L.) is generally distributed and often abundant. The Gray- 

 ling [S. semele, L.) is common both on the sandy heaths and on the 

 chalk downs. The Meadow Brown {S. ianira, L.)* is abundant every- 

 where in meadows and on hillsides, and the Large Heath {S. tithonus, 

 L.) is common everywhere throughout the county by hedgerows, road- 

 sides and in woods. The Ringlet [S. hyperanthus, L.') is not so gener- 

 ally distributed as its congeners, but is locally common in woods in 

 both east and west Sussex. I have found it in abundance in the 

 woods near Hailsham, and Mr. W. M, Christy has reported the occur- 

 rence of the variety arete near Stoughton. The Small Heath {Chorto- 

 bius pamphillus, L.) is everywhere common in fields, woods and on 

 heaths and hillsides. The Green Hairstreak [Thecla rubi, L.) is not 

 uncommon in rough pastures, woods, and along hedgerows. Mr. Fletcher 

 says it is especially common where Genista tinctoria abounds. It used 

 to be abundant amongst the whitethorn bushes on the east side of Gnat 

 Wood near Polegate. The Purple Hairstreak (T'. quercus, L.) is not 

 uncommon in oak woods in both east and west Sussex. I have seen 

 it swarming in Abbots Wood around the tops of oaks. The White 

 Letter Hairstreak {T. w-album, Knoch.) is said to be at the present day 



* Danais plexippusyh. has been occasionally taken in the county. Mr. Fletcher says of it : 'A 

 very rare immigrant. At Hayward's Heath in 1876 (£»/. ix. 265) ; at Kcymer in the same year (£«/. 

 X. 73) ; at Worthing two seen and one taicen in August, 1887 ; one seen at Eastbourne in 1 890.' 

 (Tutt. Brit. Butterflies, 370).— H.G. 



' Mr. Fletcher says that there appears to be a partial second brood on the wing in the late summer 

 and early autumn. Specimens with irregular whitish patches on the wings are reported from Polegate, 

 the neighbourhood of Emsworth, and from Charlton Forest. — H.G. 



^ The Marsh Ringlet {Camnympha tspkon [Jat'us], Rott.) was formerly recorded as having occurred 

 in Ashdown Forest. This is doubtless an error. The species is confined in the United Kingdom to 

 some parts of Scotland, Ireland, north Wales, Cumberland, Westmorland, north Lancashire, Cheshire, 

 Durham, Yorkshire and north Staffordshire. — H.G. 



