72 THE ESSEX NATURALIST
Immigrants
Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui L), Red Admiral (Vanessa
atalanta L.), Humming-bird Hawk-moth (Macroglossum stella-
tarum L.), Silver Y moth (Plusia gamma L.) and Nomophila
noctuella Schiff. Very abundant.
The Pale Clouded Yellow (Colias hyale L.) appeared late; it
was first noticed at the beginning of September. Seen chiefly in
lucerne fields, it was not very common, but the sexes were equally
numerous and in such situations it continued general until
October 7th. One male was seen at Battlesbridge on Septem-
ber 23rd flying straight across meadows, apparently changing
its location.
The Clouded Yellow (C. croceus Foure.) was first seen, males
only, in mid-July. By August both sexes were abundant every-
where throughout the Rochford Hundred, not only in clover and
lucerne fields but in every meadow and even in lanes, single
insects appearing in gardens and roads at Westcliff and in
Chalkwell Park. The variety helice first appeared in mid-
August and then occurred sparingly with the type until
October 13th when the last, newly emerged and very slightly
crippled, was seen at Battlesbridge. The type was last seen
on October 20th—three worn males at Battlesbridge. That
night a sharp frost occurred and none was seen the following day.
The Vestal moth (Rhodometra sacraria L.) was seen in only
one field in the district. A fresh female was taken on Septem-
ber 6th and on 7th and 14th about a score were seen. A week
later the stubble had been burnt and ploughed. Every form
figured in Barrett appeared, the form with the wings flushed all
over with pink being very rare.
Margaronia unionalis Hubn. This very rare Pyralid moth
came to light in a bathroom at Leigh-on-Sea on August 28th.
As the larva feeds on the olive tree, the moth—a male in perfect
condition—must have been a direct migrant.
The Small Mottled Willow moth (Laphygma exigua Hubn.).
A perfect specimen on September 18th.
Species New to Essex
Webb's Wainscot moth (Nonagria sparganii Esp.). Not
uncommon in very restricted localities.
Calamotropha paludella Hubn. Common in restricted
locality. Rather dull forms, showing none of the silvery varia-
tion found in the Norfolk Broads. Only known to me previously
from Cambridge, Norfolk, Suffolk, Sussex and the Isle of Wight.
Schoenobius gigantellus Schiff. Re-discovered in Essex. As
far as can be traced this species has not been taken since Howard
Vaughan found it at Leigh-on-Sea from 1870-80.