NOTES AND OBSERVATIONS 37
White-letter Hairstreaks and White Admiral butterflies, and the following
moths: Lobster, Black Arches, Least Black Arches, Emperor, Ruby Tiger,
Oak Eggar, Large Elephant Hawk-moth, Plusia festucae.
G. Dent.
In a contribution to The Entomologist for May, 1946, Mr. J. A. Simes,
who lives in Loughton, records that single male specimens of the Silver-
washed Fritillary (Argynnis paphia Linn.) and the Dark Green Fritillary
(Argynnis aglaia Linn.) visited his garden, the first in August, 1945, and the
second in the same month of 1943. Though other specimens of the large
Fritillaries have been seen in the Epping Forest district of recent years,
they are of very infrequent occurrence there, and it is to be hoped that
they may re-establish themselves as have the White Admiral and the Comma.
C. B. Pratt.
The Clouded Yellow Butterfly, (Colias croceus Foure). In spite of the
inclement weather, which has proved inimical to many native butterflies,
this species—an immigrant and unable to survive our winters—appears to
have succeeded in attaining a widespread distribution throughout the country
during the summer of 1946. Specimens were taken at High Beach on
11th August, and at Chigwell Row on 6th October. I also recorded six
specimens at Eastbourne on 21st September, and I was given a specimen
taken at Spurn Head, Yorkshire, on 4th September.
C. B. Pratt.
Brachypterolus (Heterostomus) vestitus Kies. This beetle, first recorded
in Britain in 1929, appeared during 1946 in my garden at Wanstead. The
eggs were laid upon the flowers of Antirrhinum, the larvae fed upon the
stamens and, when mature, entered the soil for pupation. I can find no
record of the occurrence of this species in Essex.
Stenopelmus rufinasus Gyll. I found this beetle feeding on Azolla
filiculoides in the pond at Hainault. The species was first recorded in Britain
in 1921, and does not appear to have been recorded in Essex.
E. E. Syms.
Woodlarks in South-West Essex. According to British Birds, woodlarks
were seen in Hainault Forest in 1945, and probably bred there. I am
told that the species was seen there again in 1946 and that the nest was
found. In 1946 woodlarks were reported in the parish of Chingford during
the early months of the year, but this part of Epping Forest becomes populous
at times and the birds were not seen there after Easter. Subsequently,
however, they were seen in the parish of Loughton and were recorded from
time to time in that area.
J. Ross.
Early arrival of Yellow Wagtails in Essex. Mr. John Brown reported
to me that he had seen a number of these birds on Barking Level marshes
on 14th March, 1946. This is considered to be a very early date indeed.
Richard Ward.
Sparrow-hawk in Wanstead Garden. On 16th January, 1946, at 2 p.m.
a sparrow-hawk was observed on the lawn and quite close to the house.
It was plucking and feeding on a sparrow, standing on its "find."
Unfortunately I did not see the "kill." As far as I could see from its size
and breast-colouring, it was the female bird. The weather was very cold at
the time.
R. F. Bromley.