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 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 148