NOTES ON COLLECTING. 



49 



would attract hibernating moths. The result was that Scojxdnsnma 

 satdlifia and Orrhodia vaccmii turned up in some number,-^, but O. li(/ida, 

 which had not put in an appearance until October 27th, had entirely 

 vanished. These two were all, and there was not a single belated 

 example of any non-hibernating species. 



Hi/bernia defoliaria males were in countless numbers all over the 

 leafless undergrowth in the wood, and mostly still in excellent condition, 

 but whereas, six weeks earlier, H. aurantiaria and fJ . defoliaria had 

 been present in almost equal numbers, now no aurantiaria were seen, 

 not even a single worn one, although I searched for them very care- 

 fully. The only other species seen was Cheimatobia bnimata, common, 

 but not nearly so plentiful as defoliaria. 



H. aurantiaria is evidently a short-lived species compared with 

 H. defoliaria, which was plentiful in October, some ten days before 

 aurantiaria put in its first appearance. — -Russell James, Ongar Park 

 Cottage, Ongar. February 5th, 1919. 



Some Lepidoptera of an Essex Wood. — Having taken a summer 

 cottage near Ongar, I have had the opportunity of working one of the 

 local woods. 



In the little time at my disposal I have been much interested in 

 noting the difference in the local fauna from that of Epping Forest, so 

 near at hand. 



My knowledge of the district is as yet somewhat superficial, but I 

 have already come across a considerable number of species that I have 

 never met with in a very long experience of Epping Forest. On the 

 other hand, many of the Forest species are absent, although, of course, 

 further research may remedy this deficiency. 



Two of the most striking instances are Boarmia roboraria and 

 Lymantria monacha. These may occur sparingly in the Forest, 

 although unknown to me, but in my local wood the former abounds 

 and the latter is quite reasonably common. B. roboraria, moreover, 

 is an exceedingly interesting race, practically every specimen very dark, 

 and the transverse markings largely obscured. Of all the specimens 

 seen, only a single one — a male — was of the type form, and the numbers 

 are astonishing. 



On the first evening that I discovered their existence (June 28rd), 

 I found seventeen males and two females sitting on oak trunks in the 

 course of an hour, in one case three on a tree, and all in exquisite 

 condition. They continued in these numbers for a week or so, and 

 then quickly declined, the last occurring on July 4th ; but only eight 

 females in all. 



Lymantria monacha is very late, and freshly emerged females were 

 found on oak trunks as late as August 19th, and a full-fed larva on 

 July 4th. The specimens are rather large and strongly marked, but 

 not strikingly dark. 



Another tree-trunk species not known to me in Epping Forest is 

 Acidalia inornata, not at all uncommon, also Lobophora halterata, and 

 earlier, a great abundance of Tephrosia extersaria and Cidaria silaceata. 

 Among summer Noctuae taken, Dicycla oo, of course, is a,n Epping 

 species, but as far as my knowledge goes, Cymatophora or, C. duplaris, 

 Orthosia suspecta, Noctua imibroaa, and Cleoceris viminalis are not. I 

 shall refer to these species later on, when dealing with treacle. The only 



