Page:VCH Essex 1.djvu/198

 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