294 THE ESSEX NATURALIST
Wainscot (Leucania vitellina (Hubn.)) was found in the trap on the 10th, the
rather surprising total of eleven specimens (both sexes) occurring between
that date and 12 October. Among the resident butterflies, the Peacock
(Vanessa io (L.)) was very abundant at the end of August, there being literally
hundreds in some lucerne fields. The Marbled-White (Agapetes galathea
(L.)) was more abundant than usual and seems to be well established in several
places north of the River Crouch.
Mr. W. P. Seabrook's note on the Grayling (Eumenis semele (L.)) (Essex
Nat. 28, 211) as a newcomer to the Frinton area, applies to this district also.
A single specimen was seen in 1948 and several were noted in 1949 and 1950.
Probably the very poor weather after June, with almost constant wind and
much cloud by day, made butterflies appear scarcer than they really were,
while the lack of sun and comparatively low temperatures must have affected
adversely the larvae from the immigrant species, with consequent reduction
in numbers of the autumn broods.
Butterflies at North Fambridge in 1950,—30 April produced the first
rarity—a Large Tortoiseshell in good condition at rest. I was able to
photograph it in colour.
7 May. Commas, Whites, and one Large Tortoiseshell seen.
9 May. Orange Tips appeared.
13 May. The first Red Admiral seen, also a few Orange Tips, Small
Coppers, and Blues.
28 May. The first Painted Lady, in perfect condition, feeding at flowers,
also a Brimstone, a Comma, and Walls in plenty. Butterfly numbers
steadily increasing.
9 June. The first Humming Bird Hawk was feeding at Valerian in the
garden and there were very few days up to the second week in October on
which this delightful migrant was absent. Strangely enough, I did not find
a single larva of this moth throughout the season in spite of regularly search-
ing Lady's Bedstraw in all the places where it can usually be found. It would
be interesting to know if other enthusiasts had similar negative results.
On the night of June 19 a female Convolvulus Hawk was feeding at honey-
suckle in my garden. Silver Washed Fritillaries appeared in small numbers
on 3 July in the local woods and my diary records that on 4 July Humming
Bird Hawks were seen in large numbers. Hardly a minute passed without
two or three dashing into the flower patches and after a minute or two's
steady feeding, flashing away, always in a northerly direction.
Throughout July the local woods and also as far away as the famous
Hartley Wood and Colchester woods were regularly visited on sunny days,
but sad to relate only poor results were obtained. Silver-washed Fritillaries
and White Admirals were found in sadly depleted numbers and in some woods,
where the former species was abundant three years ago, none was observed.
Purple Hairstreaks were in normal numbers but White-letter Hairstreaks
and Green Hairstreaks were entirely absent. The White-letter was to be seen
in thousands three years ago all over this part of Essex.
14 July. The first Clouded Yellow passed across our farmland and on
the 19th a Marbled White was observed at Sow Thistle flowers.
5 August. The first Grayling which I have ever seen in this village was
feeding on Purple Buddleia flowers. Four more were seen at St. Osyth by
a friend on the Sunday following.
21 August. A very large Convolvulus Hawk at flowers. Two more
which appeared on the 26th stayed for over a week and visited a large bed
of Tobacco flowers every night.