A HISTORY OF ESSEX 



tremely common before the great drought of 1893, but smce then has 

 been very scarce, at least in the Colchester district. As it has been 

 found in immense numbers in the Fens of late, it may perhaps have 

 forsaken its former sunburnt haunts for a time for more congenial sur- 

 roundings. The Lappet (Lasiocampa quercifolia), though far from common, 

 is widely distributed, and may be sought for with a good chance of suc- 

 cess in any district where sloe abounds. The Emperor Moth (Saturnia 

 pavonia) is frequently met with in the larva state, and being gregarious 

 and polyphagous it is easy to obtain a good supply of the perfect insect. 

 The Scalloped Hook Tip (Drepana lacertinarid) has of late been absent 

 from Dedham and St. Osyth, where it was at one time not uncommon. 

 It has also been found at Warley and Epping, and probably occurs 

 periodically in most birch districts. The Pebble Hook Tip (D. falca- 

 taria) is common, and speedily avails itself of fresh opportunities for 

 extending its boundaries. The Oak Hook Tip (D. binaria) is generally 

 distributed among oaks, and seems to have been commoner recently than 

 it was formerly. The Beech Hook Tip (D. cultrarid] is found in some 

 numbers in Epping Forest and also more sparingly at Brentwood, but 

 has been assiduously sought for in vain in north Essex. The Chinese 

 Character (Cilix glaucata) abounds everywhere. The Sallow Kitten 

 (Dicranura furcula) and the Poplar Kitten (D. bifidd] are of general 

 occurrence but cannot be called common, the latter being much the 

 scarcer of the two. The Puss (D. vinuld) is common everywhere. The 

 Lobster (Stauropus fagi) is scarce, but seems to be found in all parts of 

 the county, especially where beech grows freely, as at Epping and Brent- 

 wood, but it also occurs in most of the larger woods. The Dusky 

 Marbled Brown (Glyphisia crenata) is extremely rare in Britain, but two 

 specimens were captured by Mr. H. Doubleday in Ongar Park Woods in 

 1839 and 1841. The Pale Prominent (Pterostoma palpina) is found 

 sparingly among poplars and willows. The Coxcomb Prominent 

 (Lophopteryx cametina) is common everywhere. The Maple Prominent 

 (L. cuculla) is scarce and local, but occurs pretty regularly on the boulder 

 clay to the north-west of Colchester. The Birch Prominent (L. car- 

 melita) has only been recorded from the Epping district, where Mr. 

 Doubleday occasionally met with it many years ago. The Swallow 

 Prominent (Notodonta dictcea) is fairly common among poplars, and the 

 Lesser Swallow Prominent (N. dictczoides), though scarce, is sometimes 

 found at Epping, Colchester, St. Osyth and elsewhere. The Iron 

 Prominent (N. dromedaritts) will frequently be found if well looked for on 

 birch and alder, from which its larva may be beaten in the autumn. 

 The Three Humped Prominent (N. trilopbus) is one of our greatest 

 rarities. The only known Essex specimen was bred by Mr. J. W. 

 Douglas on August 10, 1842, from a larva found on aspen at St. Osyth. 

 The Pebble Prominent (N. ziczac) is common in the larva state on 

 aspen, poplar and sallow. The Great Prominent (N. trepida], the Lunar 

 Marbled Brown (N. chaonid] and the Marbled Brown (N. trimacula) are 

 found in parks and oak woods ; they are widely distributed but always 



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