84 EPPING FOREST
faunal lists in almost all departments, have created
for our woodlands quite a reputation among field
naturalists. When it is remembered that Monk
Wood is but twelve miles, as the crow flies, from
the Royal Exchange, we may rejoice that it still
gives shelter to such notable insects (to mention
the moths only) as Macroglossa fuciformis (the
Bee-hawk Moth), Demas coryli (the Nut-tree
Tussock), Psilura monacha (the Black Arches),
Stauropus fagi (the Lobster Moth), and the noble
Emperor Moth (Saturnia carpini), alike remarkable
in the caterpillar and moth stages, and in the
wonderful structure of its cocoon.
The outspread of the birch tree in parts of the
Forest will tend to the advantage of the ento-
mologist, as it is a favourite pabulum with many
species of almost all orders. As a possible result
of this growth of birch woods, the beautiful and
rare Large Emerald Moth (Geometra papilionaria)
and the pretty Orange Underwing Moth (Brephos
parthenias), whose lively flight is so welcome in
the spring woodlands, have been noticed during
the last two years in a part of the Forest not nine
miles from the centre of London.
In common (alas!) with the experience of
naturalists in most counties of England, our Forest
butterfly fauna seems doomed to diminish ; yet
forty species (two-thirds of the British list) have
been observed within the last fifteen or twenty
years, and quite thirty-four butterflies may be
expected to gladden the eyes of the observant
rambler in and around the forest in this year of
grace 1897, provided we have, as we wish for and
deserve, perfect Diamond Jubilee weather. A
few butterflies, such as the two Silver-spotted
Fritillaries (Argynnis selene and euphrosyne), the
Large Tortoise-shell ( Vanessa polychloros) and the
Dingy Skipper (Nisoniades tages), seem to be
increasing in numbers; while the great growth of
the holly in many of the woods is undoubtedly
inducing the charming little Azure-blue Butterfly
(Lycana argiolus, whose larvae feed on the flowers
of the evergreen bushes) to enliven the sun-lit