42
THE ESSEX NATURALIST
again, but not as commonly as last year. I have had two fully-fed larvae
brought in. The first was in a glass bottle, it had sweated terribly and died soon
after arrival. The second, on 9 October, had been dug up in the act of pupap-
tion; I expected this to die also but it successfully pupated and is now (30
October) in the process of being forced.
The most notable event as regards native species is the tabulation of other
localities for the beautiful Rose Plume moth (Euenaemidophorus rhododactyla
(Schiff.)). After a lapse of fifty years I was enabled to record this as an Essex
species last year on the strength of a specimen taken by my son while sugaring
with me in a wild spot in East Essex—a new extension of range, as its old
localities were in the Brentwood area. This year it has turned up in a garden
in Leigh-on-Sea, where it fed on a Crimson Rambler, and a specimen came
to a window of a friend's house in the Brentwood area, showing that it still
exists there. I am purposely vague as regard localities as this moth is on the
short list of those recommended for special protection by the Royal Entomo-
logical Society. I have no intention of taking any beyond one from each
locality for identification.
I am glad to say that the White Admiral (Limenitis camilla (Linn.)), Comma
(Polygonia c-album (Linn.)) and High Brown Fritillary (Argynnis Cydippe
(Linn.)) still manage to keep going in the local places which they re-invaded
just before the war. The Silver-washed Fritillary (A. paphia (Linn.)), however,
seems to have gone again and this is the first year since 1942 in which I have
not seen the Large Tortoiseshell (Nymphalis polychloros (Linn.)) in the
Southend area. The Silver-washed Fritillary is, of course, common enough in
several parts of Essex.
The Marbled White (Agapetes galathea (Linn.)) appears to be spreading a
little more. I saw it this year in several places by the side of the road between
Southend and Battlesbridge and it appeared for the first time on some rough
pastures on the north bank of the Crouch between Battlesbridge and Wick-
ford. The last is an undoubted extension of range as I visit these pastures
every year.
It appears to have been a good year for the Wood Leopard moth (Zeuzera
pyrina (Linn.)) in the Southend area. I found a very large and perfect female
drying its wings in a garden near my house and had two others, both hope-
lessly damaged, brought to me and have heard of a fair number of others
being taken locally. I regret, however, that the elusive Stout Dart (Spaelotis
ravida (Schiff.)) did not turn up again after last year's welcome re-appearance,
but the Sulphur Pearl (Loxostege palealis (Schiff.)) still persists in its chosen
localities.
One of my most interesting captures this year has been a melanic female of
the second brood of the Early Engrailed (Ectropis bistortata (Goeze)) in a
secluded Essex wood far from any large town; this form approaches in dark-
ness the well-known delamerensis. The spread of melanism in the Boarmia
group, particularly in distant woodlands, seems unaccountable to me, but it
has now been in progress for some years, notably in Boarmia roboraria (Schiff.)
in South Kent.