INSECTS 



The Speckled Wood (Pararge egeria) was common in the eastern 

 counties in the middle of the past century, but ere its close had vanished 

 completely from nearly all its former haunts, though Mr. B. G. Cole 

 found it still common in Epping Forest about 1890. Why it dis- 

 appeared is a mystery, for it was common in nearly every copse and 

 shady place, and abounded in some woods where it was quite unmolested 

 by collectors. 



The Wall (P. megcera) is common everywhere in grassy places, 

 though the spring brood is usually much less numerous than that which 

 appears at the close of the summer. 



The Grayling (Satyrus seme/e) is with us very rare and local. 

 Stragglers turn up occasionally, and have occurred at Dedham and 

 Colchester, where after an interval of many years a single specimen was 

 found on September 9, 1900. Probably it abounded on some of the 

 extensive heaths and moors that surrounded Colchester in past times. 



The Large and Small Meadow Browns (Epinephele janira and . 

 fit&onus), the Wood Ringlet (E. byperanthus] and the Small Heath 

 (Ccenonympha pamphilus) are all abundant and widely distributed. 



The Brown Hair-streak (Thecla betula) is common some seasons in 

 Epping Forest, but scarce elsewhere. It is recorded from Hazeleigh by 

 Mr. Raynor and from Mundon Furze by Messrs. Raynor, Fitch and 

 others. Previous to 1860 it was found sparingly on blackthorn hedges 

 to the north of Colchester and at Langham, but has not been seen there 

 in recent years. 



The White Hair-streak (T. iv-album) appears to be found wherever 

 the wych-elm grows, and is so very generally distributed that it is need- 

 less to mention any special localities. In favourable seasons it is fairly 

 common, and sometimes abounds. 



The Purple Hair-streak and the Green Hair-streak (T. quercus and 

 T. rubt) are common and generally distributed, the former in oak woods 

 and the latter in rough places where broom and furze grow freely. 



The Small Copper (Polyommatus phloeas) is generally common during 

 the summer, especially on the coast. Silvery white, pale golden, nearly 

 black, black-banded and other varieties have at various times been found. 



The Silver Studded Blue (Lycana agon) occurs freely in one or two 

 places in the Epping district, to which it seems to be entirely restricted. 



The Brown Argus (L. astrarche) has recently become one of our 

 commonest butterflies. Previous to 1896 it was quite a rarity in the 

 neighbourhood of Colchester, but in that year many thousands of speci- 

 mens might have been taken ; for they abounded in all directions, and 

 the species has continued to hold its ground since, though in lesser 

 numbers. Mr. Fitch had previously taken it commonly at Purleigh 

 and on Osey Island, and Mr. Raynor at Warley, and it is probably at the 

 present time generally common in the county. 



The Common Blue (L. icarus] is abundant everywhere, especially 

 on the coast, where vast numbers may be seen at rest on grass stems 

 towards the close of the day. 



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