most marked in the east: 40 Parndon Wood NR, 1977 (VV); 51 Hatfield Forest, 1982 (JF); several,
1983 (JW): 71 Newland Grove NR. 1983 (RW); 92 Berechurch, 1982(JY); 01 offshore, between
Bradwell-on-Sea and Colne Point, rescued from the sea, 1980 (MC); Fingringhoe Wick NR. 1981
onwards (LF); 11 St Osyth, 1980 onwards (RWA); 13 Stour Wood, late 1970s (JBF); 22 Walton-
on-the-Naze, 1982 (JKW); 23 edge of Copperas Wood, 1983 (MEA).
Lasiommata megera (Linn.) (Pararge megera) The Wall
p26. Resident, widespread and common. This brown is generally distributed and, as a rule, is
common. Following the drought summer of 1976 it suffered a spectacular decline but it had staged a
full recovery by 1979.
Melanargia galathea (Linn.) Marbled White
p28. Resident, very local and scarce. Always virtually confined to the south of the County, this
graceful butterfly actually extended its range about 1950. appearing north of the River Crouch and,
further west, in the Brentwood and Ingatestone areas. Before 1960 a steady decline and contraction of
range set in, and for some years it has survived, in perilously low numbers, only in a very few restricted
localities in the Rochford Hundred *. 01 West Mersea, a vagrant in a garden on buddleja, 1976 (per
TB).
Hipparchia semele (Linn.) (Eumenis semele) The Grayling
p27. Resident, now very local and rare. Occasional wanderers apart, this species has always been
confined to parts of N.E. Essex (save that from 1948-53 it was found on the south shore of the
Blackwater estuary at Bradwell-on-Sea) and isolated but strong colonies existed at Fingringhoe Wick
and Colne Point NRs *. Since the mid-1960s it has declined dramatically and now seems to be
confined to the area immediately south of Colchester (92,02) where its numbers appear to be very low
indeed., although two unconfirmed reports from the north-east are being investigated.
Pyronia tithonus (Linn.) (Maniola tithonus) The Gatekeeper
p28. Resident, widespread and very common. This species is universally distributed except in the
extreme south-west and in some years approaches abundance in particularly favoured localities. At
the present time it is probably our commonest butterfly.
Maniola jurtina (Linn.) Meadow Brown
p27. Resident, widespread and common. Generally distributed but, although still common, this
well-known species is far less numerous than formerly. The loss or spraying of hayfields has, perhaps,
contributed most to its decline.
Coenonympha pamphilus (Linn.) Small Heath
p28. Resident, widespread and locally common. This small brown butterfly has also suffered from
loss or deterioration of suitable habitat but is still common in many grassy and heathy places.
Aphantopus hyperantus (Linn.) The Ringlet
p28. Resident, widespread and locally common. Found in woodland over much of the County, and
here and there in less well-timbered districts. Generally less in evidence than in the past but still
common in some localities.
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