A HISTORY OF ESSEX 



The Clifden or Dartford Blue (L. bellargus) is stated by Mr. Joseph 

 Clarke to have certainly been taken once or twice near Saffron Walden, 

 where there are old specimens in the museum presumably of local 

 origin. 



The Chalk-hill Blue (L. corydori) is rare in Essex though common 

 elsewhere. Previous to 1860 it occasionally occurred on the railway 

 embankments near Colchester, while several specimens were once met 

 with in the High Woods, though none had been found there previously 

 or have been seen since. It seems to have been common near Epping 

 about 1859, and single specimens were taken in 1885 and 1892. The 

 latest records are one example at Havering-atte-Bower by Miss Ger- 

 trude Pemberton-Barnes in 1899, and one at Great Horkesley in 1901. 



The Azure Blue (L. argiolus) is widely distributed, but often scarce 

 in some districts; but in 19001 it appeared in far greater numbers 

 than had ever been observed before, and seems to have abounded every- 

 where. 



The Mazarine Blue (L. semiargus) appears to be almost extinct in 

 England, but is reported by Mr. Joseph Clarke to have been formerly 

 taken near Saffron Walden. 



The Small Blue (L. minima) is reported from the Epping district by 

 Messrs. J. A. Clarke and W. Machin, and Mr. Joseph Clarke records a 

 single specimen captured by himself ' a mile south of Walden.' 



The Duke of Burgundy (Nemeobius lucina) is uncommon and local. 

 It is however sometimes met with in several woods in the Tendring 

 Hundred. Mr. Raynor finds it sparingly at Woodham Ferris, and 

 Mr. Howard Vaughan found it at Eastwood near Southend. 



The Grizzled Skipper (Syrichtbus mafoce) is widely distributed and 

 common in many places. 



The Dingy Skipper (Nisoniactes tages) seems to have always been 

 considered a common insect in Epping Forest, where Professor Meldola 

 and Mr. W. Cole found it in abundance in 188990 ; but previous to 

 1893 only a single example had occurred in the Colchester district. In 

 that year several were found in the High Woods, and since then it has 

 been quite common. Mr. G. F. Mathew states that it also occurs near 

 Harwich. 



The Small Skipper (Hesperia thaumas] is abundant everywhere in 

 rough grassy places. 



The Essex Skipper (H. lineola) is common all along the coast, but 

 does not seem to be found far inland. Before 1890 it was mixed up in 

 our collections with the previous species, of which it was considered to 

 be a variety, till Mr. Hawes when looking over the plates of Lang's 

 Rhopalocera Europte found it to be distinct. 



The Large Skipper (H. syhanus) is the most generally distributed 

 species of the family, and is common everywhere from the end of May 

 till August. 



The Silver-spotted Skipper (H. comma) is reported from Danbury 

 by Mr. Fitch, who states that three examples were taken there on 



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