102 THE LEPIDOPTERA OF ESSEX.
be British I would never have given what I did for them. I got all I could, and was
much pleased with the opportunity of equally dividing them with you" (H. Double-
day in litt. to T. C. Heysham, March 22nd, 1836). This is all the information I
can find about this beautiful species, which is certainly now extinct, if ever it was
an inhabitant of our county, or even country].
[Polyommatus dispar, Haw. Large Copper. This equally beautiful species
probably never occurred in a state of nature but in the Cambridgeshire and
Huntingdonshire fens ; it has long been extinct. The following information of
its introduction into Essex is, however, interesting, and deserves notice here :—
" Mr. Doubleday formerly had a colony of these beautiful insects in his
garden at Epping, and the water-dock on which they used to feed is still
living" (E. Newman; Y.E. 13 ; B.B. 115). Edward Newman described the larva
and pupa of this butterfly (Ent. ii. 90), and says, "My acquaintance with the larva
and pupa was made, very many years ago, in Mr. Doubleday's garden at Epping,
where the very plant of Rumex hydrolapathum on which the larvae fed is still in
existence." From Sawtry, on June 6th, 1841, H. Doubleday writes, "In Holm
Fen, on the edge of Whittlesea Mere, I got about eighty caterpillars of the lovely
Lycaena dispar." In his next he says, "I hope to have some good specimens of
L. dispar, as I sent Edward about 120 caterpillars." On Nov. 20th, 1841, he
writes, "Becker, of Wiesbaden, is now in London. He was very anxious to get a
number of dispar, and I gave him sixty specimens." For some reminiscences of
this butterfly see Entom. xvi. 129.]
Polyommatus phlaeas, L. Small Copper.
Geographical Distribution — Europe, Asia to Himalaya and Japan, North Africa,
North America. Throughout Britain.
Larva—Apple-green, with a rose-pink stripe on back and sides (sometimes
indistinct), spiracles flesh-colour, head dingy-green or pale brown. Food—Dock,
especially sorrel-dock. Imago—April to October ; hibernates as larva.
Generally distributed and common throughout the county, but
by no means so abundant as was the case only a few years ago. In
Mr. Cole's cabinet is a f. specimen in which the copper-coloured
bands on the hind wings are reduced to a few dashes ; this specimen
was taken by Mr. H. A. Cole, on the roadside between the "Wake
Arms" and Epping, June 3rd, 1872. Mr. Dale had a similar speci-
men. (B.B. 115).
Lycaena aegon, Schiff. Silver-studded Blue.
Geographical Distribution —Europe, North and West Asia to Persia, and perhaps
Japan. Throughout Britain.
Larva—Bright yellow-green, blackish-brown stripe edged with whitish on
back, small brown plate on second segment, greenish-yellow lines at sides, whitish
line along lateral ridge; head black. Food—Common bird's-foot (Ornithopus
perpusillus). Imago—July ; hibernates as ovum.
Local, and in this county apparently almost confined to one
locality in Epping Forest.