A HISTORY OF ESSEX 



CABERID.E 



Cabera pusaria is found commonly in all parts of the county ; its 

 variety rotundaria is extremely scarce. C. exanthemata abounds among 

 sallows. Bapta temerata is far from common, though it is very widely 

 distributed. B. bimaculata (taminata, Hb.) has been taken in Epping 

 Forest by Messrs. Clark, Machin and Prout. Aleucis pictaria was 

 originally discovered at Colchester in 1 842, and was for many years 

 supposed to be a great rarity, but is now known to occur freely among 

 blackthorn in several English counties. 



MACARIID^E 



Macaria notata is scarce and local, but has occurred at Dedham, Lang- 

 ham, St. Osyth, Brent wood and South end. M. liturata was somewhat 

 common at Langham and Colchester before the larches on which it fed 

 were cut down. Halia vauaria is moderately common in gardens among 

 currant. 



FIDONIID-ffi 



Strenia clathrata and Panagra petraria are generally common. Nu- 

 meria pufoeraria is frequently found among hazel in woods. Fidonia lim- 

 baria (conspicuafa, Schiff.) was formerly fairly common among broom on 

 the railway embankments and in the cuttings at Lexden and Stanway, 

 but owing to the practice which has prevailed in recent years of firing 

 the herbage this excessively local insect has been exterminated there and 

 now seems in imminent danger of disappearing from Britain. Dr. Batters- 

 hall Gill records it from Grays in 1869. Emafurga atomaria may probably 

 still occur where any extent of heather is left. It was found in some 

 numbers at Layer-de-la-Haye a few years ago, and Mr. Burrows reports 

 it as occurring in the Stanford-le-Hope district. Bupalus piniaria is found 

 among Scotch fir at Alresford, Birch and Brentwood, and is probably of 

 general occurrence. Minoa murinata (euphorbiata, Fb.) is scarce and local, 

 but has been found in the Southend and St. Osyth woods. Scoria lineata 

 (dealbata^ Lin.) was found freely on the slopes at Leigh by Mr. Bouchard 

 and Drs. Boswell Syme and Battershall Gill previous to 1860, but is 

 now extinct there. A single specimen was captured by Captain B. 

 Blaydes Thompson at Burnham-on-Crouch on July 25, 1900. Sterrha 

 sacraria is a rare migrant which was once captured near Reed Hall, 

 Colchester. Aspilates ochrearia (citraria, Hb.) is common on the sea 

 walls and coast sands in the northern part of the county. A. giharia 

 occurs at Southend. 



ZERENID^E 



Abraxas grossulariata sometimes abounds among currant and goose- 

 berry bushes in gardens and also on blackthorn hedges. Very beautiful 

 yellow and other forms are sometimes met with. A. syhata (u/mafa, Fb.) 

 is found rather freely at Laindon, and Messrs. B. G. Cole and C. Oldham 

 have taken it in Epping Forest. Ligdia adustata and Lomaspilis marginata 

 are common everywhere. 



1 60 



