176
THE ESSEX NATURALIST.
Among the Noctua there is a series of 7 Acronycta auricoma
taken in Balcombe Wood, near Brighton, but without date.
This insect has either been absent from Britain or particularly-
scarce for some years past.
A series of Dicycla Oo from Epping Forest was taken in
1870-71 and 72. Although this insect has apparently disappeared
from the Forest, it has always been noted for its erratic occur-
rence, and I see no reason why we should not see it again in the
Forest if conditions become favourable. There is a very nice
specimen of Catocala nupta with pale red Underwings, from
East Mersea
The Geometridae are well represented. Among some of the
more conspicuous is a series of Angerona prunaria from Epping
Forest, comprising most of the known forms, and some with only
slight indications of a band, which is unusual.
Some of the specimens of Nyssia hispidaria taken in Lords
Bushes, Epping Forest, in 1902, show a decided melanic tendency,
as also do two specimens of Biston hirtaria, taken in the Forest
in 1904. Amphidasys prodromaria is represented by some very
fine as well as somewhat dark specimens, but Betularia specimens
from the Forest are typical. These I should conclude were not
recent captures, as at the present day there are many more of
the black form, var. Doubledayana, in the Forest, than there
are of the typical speckled form.
Then we have a long series of Tephrosia biundularia, taken
in the Forest from 1868 to 1904, which are all of the typical
form. This species, as all entomologists know, is very much
given to melanism in the neighbourhood of manufacturing
districts; it was not until May 1918 that I took a melanic
specimen in our Forest. It is difficult to account for the darken-
ing of certain insects at the present day, but it is an undoubted
fact, and the fact is emphasized when looking through a collec-
tion of this kind, which was largely obtained some 50 years ago.
There is yet another very unusual capture to note, and that is
Sterrha sacraria, taken by Mr. B. G. Cole, near Chigwell, on
19th August 1879. This species is described by South as a
migrant, but in view of the fact that many of the recorded
captures have been inland, I should incline to the opinion that the
species is absolutely British, but that its habits are still very
little known.
It only remains for me to congratulate the Club on the
acquisition of such an extensive and interesting collection.