Oncocera palumbella since about 1870, when Professor Mendola took it oc-
casionally flying over the heathy parts of the Forest. Of the Pterophoridae (39),
Cnaemidophorus rhododactyla was taken by Machin in the last century and
could still occur, since it was noted as near as Chigwell in 1976 and 1978.
Butterflies
I shall now list all the butterflies; where no comment follows a name it is
because there are reliable contemporary records and there is nothing else to
add.
Hesperiidae (40). Thymelicus sylvestris (small skipper); T. lineola (Essex
skipper); Ochlodes venata (large skipper); Erynnis tages (dingy skipper);
Pyrgus malvae (grizzled skipper) has seldom been reported this century, though
it was recorded from a locality at Chingford up to 1960 (Corke, 1968).
Papilionidae (41). Papilio machaon (swallowtail) became established for a
year or two in the late 1840s, and Doubleday found larvae (Fitch, 1891). It is
probable that these were the progeny of an immigrant from the Continent rather
than the British fenland subspecies.
Pieridae (42). Leptidea sinapis (wood white) was exceedingly rare when
Doubleday wrote; he himself recorded only one, taken in 1835. It continued to
occur very sparingly until about 1850. Stainton (1859) asserted it was quite
common, but there is no evidence to support this statement. Of the immigrant
clouded yellows, Colias hyale has rarely been recorded, though it was plentiful
on Fairmead Plain in 1844 (English, 1886); C. croceus is seen more often and
was particularly common in 1928 (Mera, 1929). Gonepteryx rhamni (brim-
stone). Aporia crataegi (black-veined white), now extinct in Britain, used to
occur regularly till about 1850 and was finally seen at Wanstead in about 1879.
Pieris brassicae (large white); P. rapae (small white); P. napi (green-veined
white). Pontia daplidice (Bath white) has been recorded once only, a male taken
by W. Nash in 1866 (Fitch, 1891). Anthocharis cardamines (orange-tip).
Lycaenidae (43). Callophrys rubi (green hairstreak), listed here on the
evidence of a single specimen netted by Doubleday. Thecla betulae (brown
hairstreak) declined at the end of the last century, possibly through over-
collection of its larvae. Quercusia quercus (purple hairstreak) maintains its
status well in areas where there are oaks. Strymonidia w-album (white-letter
hairstreak) was recorded only by Doubleday who considered it very rare.
Lycaena phlaeas (small copper). Cupido minimus (small blue) was recorded
from what appears to be an unsuitable habitat by the V.C.H. Plebejus argus
(silver-studded blue) has also not been recorded since the V.C.H. Aricia agestis
(brown argus), considered common in the V.C.H., has not been found recently.
Polyommatus icarus (common blue). Lysandra coridon (chalkhill blue)
established itself temporarily in this completely alien habitat in about 1859.
Celestrina argiolus (holly blue).
Nemeobiidae (44). Stainton (1859) records Hamearis lucina (Duke of
Burgundy fritillary), but it seems to have been unknown to contemporary
37