176 THE ESSEX NATURALIST. 
Among the Noctue there is a series of 7 Acronycta auricoma 
taken in Balcombe Wood, near Brighton, but without date. 
This insect has either been absent from Britain or particularly 
scarce for some years past. 
A series of Dicycla Oo from Epping Forest was taken in 
1870-71 and 72. Although this insect has apparently disappeared 
from the Forest, it has always been noted for its erratic occur- 
rence, and I see no reason why we should not see it again in the 
Forest if conditions become favourable. There is a very nice 
specimen of Catocala nupta with pale red underwings, from 
East Mersea 
The Geometridé are well represented. Among some of the 
more conspicuous is a serles of Angerona prunaria from Epping 
Forest, comprising most of the known forms, and some with only 
slight indications of a band, which is unusual. 
Some of the specimens of Nyssia hispidaria taken in Lords 
Bushes, Epping Forest, in 1902, show a decided melanic tendency, 
as also do two specimens of Biston hirtarra, taken in the Forest 
in 1904. Amphidasys prodromaria is represented by some very 
fine as well as somewhat dark specimens, but Betularia specimens. 
from the Forest are typical. ‘These I should conclude were not 
recent captures, as at the present day there are many. more of — 
the black form, var. Doubledayaria, in the Forest, than there 
are of the typical speckled form. 
Then we have a long series of Tephrosia biundulana, taken 
in the Forest from 1868 to 1904, which are all of the typical 
form. This species, as all entomologists know, is very much 
given to melanism in the neighbourhood of manufacturing 
districts ; it was not until May 1918 that I took a melanic 
specimen in our Forest. It is difficult to account for the darken- 
ing of certain insects at the present day, but it is an undoubted 
fact, and the fact is emphasized when looking through a collec- 
tion of this kind, which was largely obtained some 50 years ago. 
There is yet another very unusual capture to note, and that is. 
Sterrha sacraria, taken by Mr. B. G. Cole, near Chigwell, on 
toth August 1879. This species is described by South as a 
migrant, but in view of the fact that many of the recorded 
captures have been inland, I should incline to the opinion that the 
species 1s absolutely British, but that its habits are still very 
little known. 
It only remains for me to congratulate the Club on the 
acquisition of such an extensive and interesting collection. 
