32
THE ESSEX NATURALIST.
with week-end bungalows and beach huts. One rare species at
least has been exterminated there (Acidalia ochrata) (Bright
Wave) and the Aster-feeding Shark (Cucullia asteris) has lost
much of its best ground. The Sea Holly (Eryngium mariti-
mum), which used to be very prolific on the sand at the edge
of the shore at St. Osyth Beach, has suffered severely from the
depredations of the beach hut fraternity and motorists, com-
pared to which the slight ravages of the Tortrix, Argyrolepia
maritimana, in the roots have had little effect.
However, this is not intended to be entirely a jeremiad and
other experiences have been of more satisfactory nature. In
the autumn of 1931, larvae of the Fox Moth (B. rubi) were extra-
ordinarily abundant at St. Osyth Beach and 140 were collected
by two of us in less than half-an-hour, one evening, among rough
grass. As is well-known, this is a difficult insect to rear as the
larvae hybernate, but by using forcing methods a small series
was secured. The larva suffered much from the attacks of a
parasitic ichneumon and none was seen this year. The Essex
Emerald (P. smaragdaria) has its headquarters on Canvey Island
but occurs on other parts of the Essex Coast, south of Clacton ;
this year a new locality for it was found near Mersea. Colchester
"High Woods" have always yielded some good things and have
been worked this year from May onwards. Larva; of the Orange
Sallow (X. citrago) were very abundant on lime in May; oak and
sweet-chestnut stumps of trees, felled the previous year, yielded
larvae of the Yellow-legged Clearwing (S. cynipiformis). It was
satisfactory to find that the White Admiral Butterfly (L. sibylla)
still maintains itself, though it is by no means plentiful. The
Rosy Footman (L. miniata) is another denizen of the High
Woods, and a few were secured by beating. Later on, at sugar,
the Buff Arches (H. derasa) was a frequent visitor, the Bird's
Wing (D. scabriuscula) and the Lesser Satin Moth (C. duplaris)
also occurred. Sugar in the garden at Bocking yielded among
others, fairly commonly, the Dusky-Lemon Sallow (X. gilvago)
and the Red Underwing (C. nupta), also several each of the Sallow
(X. fulvago), the Orange Sallow (X. citrago) and the Large
Ranunculus (P. flavicincta).
The salt marshes chiefly in the neighbourhood of Salcot and
Virley were also worked through the season. In June the
Plume (A. Bennettii) was very abundant among the sea-lavender