THE LEPIDOPTERA OF ESSEX.
93
Uncertain and irregular in appearance, but generally distributed.
Some years, as 1879, abundant, in others quite absent. [Very common
at Woodford Bridge in 1877, and occurs in most years, more or less
abundantly, in the Forest districts.— W. Cole.] Ray says, "Occurs
with us frequently enough round Braintree and elsewhere" (H.I.
422 recte 122). Mr. Cole has in his cabinet a very beautiful aber-
ration of this butterfly, taken in his garden at Buckhurst Hill, on
June 11th, 1879. A similar specimen is figured by Newman
(B.B. 64) from Mr. Ingall's Collection.
Limenitis sibylla, L. White Admiral.
Geographical Distribution—Central Europe, Spain, and South Russia, England.
Larva—Green, with yellowish blotches, two rows of spines on back—reddish
at tips with black branches, brown at base—white streak on side ; head, red-
brown. Food—Honeysuckle ; preferably those plants climbing oak-trunks.
Imago—June and July ; hibernates as larva.
Rare, every year becoming more so; in woods.
" The graceful elegance displayed by this charming species when
sailing on the wing is greater perhaps than can be found in any
other we have in Britain. There was an old Aurelian of London, so
highly delighted at the inimitable flight of Camilla, that, long after
he was unable to pursue her, he used to go to the woods, and sit
down on a stile, for the sole purpose of feasting his eyes with her
fascinating evolutions" (Haworth ; Lep. Brit. i. 30).
" In its beautiful flight, when it skims aloft, it rivals the Purple
Emperor, which it strongly resembles in appearance. It seems,
however (unlike the latter), to avoid the sunbeams, for it fre-
quents the glades of woods, where it rapidly insinuates itself by
the most beautiful evolutions and placid flight through the tall
underwood on each side the glades, appearing and disappearing like
so many little fairies" (Rev. Revett Sheppard, of Wrabness, V.M.
121).
" For the first time in my life I saw this beautiful butterfly near
Colchester last July [1836], and its elegant appearance when on the
wing will not soon be effaced from my mind. It is vain to try to
describe it" (Edward Doubleday ; Ent. Mag. iv. 231).
" L. sibylla is only found when the 'slop,' or underwood is high,
and a considerable clearance in a small wood means sometimes the
all but total extermination of the species in that particular wood ;
but colonists from neighbouring woods soon restore the balance, so