88 THE LEPIDOPTERA OF ESSEX.
Larva—Black dotted with white ; spines ochreous, white on sides. Food—Plan-
tain, wood sage and speedwell. Mr. Harwood found it on cow-wheat (Melampyrum),
probably its general food-plant, and foxglove. Imago—May to August ; hibernates
as larva.
Rare and very local, frequenting heathy spots in woods.
Benjamin Wilkes found the larvae "feeding on common heath"
in Tottenham Wood, about the middle of May, 1745 (Eng. M. and
B. p. 58 pl. cxii.) Hartley Wood [St. Osyth], (Jermyn ; V.M. 65).
Near St. Osyth, July 1845 (J. W. Douglas ; Z. iii. 1089). "Woods
bordering road from Colchester to Ipswich" (d (E. Doubleday) ;
Ent. Mag. iv. 231). Colchester (E. Doubleday ; B.B. 48). Common
but very local, Colchester, 1867 (Harwood ; E.M.M. iv. 162).
"Now restricted to one wood" [Dedham Birch Wood] (Harwood;
B.B. 48). Dark varieties from Colchester (Harwood ; Proc. E.S.L.,
7th March, 1870). Formerly Highwoods, Colchester, very rare, and
twice in field close to town (Harwood). "I may here mention
that an attempt was made by Mr. Harwood to establish a colony of
M. athalia in a wood about fifteen miles from one of its haunts
in Essex, where its food plant (Melampyrum pratense) abounded :
but though the insect fairly established itself for a few seasons, from
some cause or other, after changing its habitat from one clearing to
another in the wood, it disappeared, and has not since been seen in
that locality as far as I am aware" (G.J. Grapes ; Ent. xix. 177).
Ongar Park and High Beach in 1839, "but never seen in after
years" (English ; E.N. i. 110). Epping, has occurred (S.M. i. 47).
One, Epping Forest (R. Tyssen ; E.W.I. ii. 115). Series from Essex
exhibited (R. South ; P.S.L.E.S. 1885, 34). Two, Witham, June,
1837 (E. H. Burnell, M.N.H. (2) i. 601).
Vanessa c-album, L. Comma.
Geographical Distribution—Europe, Asia (except polar regions). Local in
England and Ireland, rare in South and East England, absent from Scotland.
Close ally in North America.
Larva—Grey-brown, red patch on back of anterior segments, broad white stripe
on back of posterior ; spines brown and white, red on sides. Food—Hop, current,
elm, sloe, and nettle. Image—September to June—hibernating.
Very rare, if not now extinct in the county, like the hop
industry.
" Many years since it used to occur in profusion at Epping ; I
cannot give any date, but it was when I was a mere child — I should
judge about 1817 or 1818. Two or three of the specimens taken