A HISTORY OF ESSEX 



both species have their good and bad seasons, and a year of unusual 

 abundance is frequently followed by a period of comparative scarcity. 



The Queen of Spain Fritillary (A. latona) is a migratory species 

 which is seldom met with. According to Haworth only six British 

 specimens were known previous to 1818, when it occurred in some 

 numbers and was taken in many places, including Colchester (probably 

 by the late Dr. Maclean and Mr. L. Brock, who obtained specimens at 

 Berechurch). Several others were taken at Colchester from 1857 to 

 1868. It has also been reported from Braintree by Mr. B. Holland; 

 from Southend, where three were captured, by Mr. J. Russell ; and 

 from Rainham by Mr. F. Venables. A single specimen which occurred 

 at St. Osyth on September 14, 1881, appears to have been the last 

 found in the county. 



The Dark Green Fritillary (A. aglaia] is recorded by old authors 

 as occurring near Colchester, at Lexden Heath, Dedham Birch Wood, 

 Bromley Thicks, and woods at West Bergholt ; but all these localities 

 have undergone extensive changes, and if aglaia ever was a north Essex 

 species it must have long ago disappeared ; and there are no trustworthy 

 records from any other quarter, for though examples are occasionally 

 reported they always prove to be the next species. 



The High-brown Fritillary (A. adippe] is common at Colchester 

 and in several of the larger woods in the north-east of the county, but 

 seems scarce in the south, though the Rev. G. H. Raynor says it is not 

 uncommon at Brentwood and occurs sparingly at Hazeleigh and Wood- 

 ham Mortimer. It is also reported from the Southend district, and 

 appears formerly to have been frequently taken at Epping and Hainault. 



The Silver-washed Fritillary (A. papbia) is much more restricted 

 in its range about Colchester than adippe^ but is common in several 

 woods, including those at Donyland and St. Osyth. Mr. G. F. Mathew 

 reports it from the Harwich district, Mr. Raynor from Hazeleigh and 

 Warley, and Professor Meldola from Leyton. It has practically dis- 

 appeared from Epping Forest, where it formerly abounded. 



The Greasy Fritillary (Melitcea aurinia) was formerly found in 

 several localities near Epping, but since June, 1872, 'when three speci- 

 mens were taken near the Robin Hood,' no others have been seen. In 

 Newman's British Butterflies Colchester is quite erroneously given as a 

 locality for the species, and in the same work Mr. W. R. Jeffrey is 

 made responsible for its occurrence at Saffron Walden. 



The Heath Fritillary (M. athalid] according to tradition was 

 formerly found in several woods in north Essex, but in the latter half of 

 the past century it was practically confined to those ' woods bordering 

 the road from Colchester to Ipswich,' where Mr. Edward Doubleday 

 found it many years previously. In his day they were 700 acres in 

 extent and constituted one of the very best localities for insects in the 

 country, but now they are reduced to about 120 acres, which are strictly 

 preserved. In one of the woods athalia abounded till about 1890, 

 when, as more cover was required for game, the underwood was allowed 



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