156 THE LEPIDOPTERA OF LEYTON AND NEIGHBOURHOOD.
blackthorn. I have often taken the larva in this way ; but I do not
know whether it is still to be found there, as for many years systematic
persecution of this species has been carried on by collectors and
dealers. Although the larva was fairly common at the period to
which these records refer, I only saw the butterfly itself on the wing
on one occasion : viz., on September 23rd, 1870, when I for some
time watched a female flying over the blackthorn and depositing eggs.
The butterfly probably escapes notice owing to its being mistaken
for a common Satyrid, which it much resembles on the wing.
Thecla quercus is the only other Hairstreak that I have taken in the
Forest. It was pretty common about the oaks between Monk's
Wood and Epping Thicks. Polyommatus phlaeas was common as a
garden and forest insect. Lycaena argiolus was also common both in
the garden and Forest. The earliest record of the appearance of
this butterfly in my notes is April 24th, 1869. L. icarus was common
in the garden, on the marshes, and in the Forest. L. aegon was
taken only at one locality ; vit., in the reedy swamps near the King's
Oak at High Beach. L. astrarche was taken occasionally in the
garden ; more commonly in the Forest.
Hesperidae. None of these butterflies were taken at Leyton ;
and the only species I have taken in the Forest are Syrichthus molva,
which I saw in considerable numbers in 1889 between Monk's
Wood and Epping Thicks, and, in the same part of the Forest,
Hesperia thaumas was occasionally taken. I have a distinct recol-
lection also of having seen Nisoniades tages and Hesperia sylvanus in
the Forest within the last few years, but these are not recorded in
the notes from 1869 to 1874.
One noteworthy fact respecting the butterflies captured in 1869,
is the exceptionally small size of some of the specimens. I have
now in my collection dwarfed P. rapae and napi, E. cardamines
(taken in lane at Chingford), V. atlanta and V. io (both taken in
the garden). Whether this character was prevalent generally, might
perhaps be ascertained by referring to the entomological records of
that season.
HETEROCERA.1
Zygaena filipendulae. This species was taken in the mea-
dows about Chingford rather commonly. I believe it still occurs
1 The sequence and nomenclature of the species of Heterocera adopted by Prof. Meldola is
that of Stainton's "Manual of British Butterflies and Moths" (1857). As this book is so well
known to entomologists, it is unnecessary to re-arrange the species in accordance with the more
modern lists.—Ed.