Page:VCH Kent 1.djvu/233

From Wikisource
Jump to navigation Jump to search
This page needs to be proofread.

INSECTS generally distributed, but Mr. Charles Fenn says it is gradually dis- appearing from the London district. The Grayling (S. seme/e, L.) is locally common on the chalk hills ; Mr. Fenn says it occurs plentifully near Deal and Folkestone, and I have taken it near Dover. The Mea- dow^ Brown [S. mmra, L.) is generally common in meadows, marshes, and on the hillsides. The Large Heath {S. tithoi^us^ L.), so common in most places, is not universally distributed in the county, for according to Mr. Webb it does not occur within eight miles of Dover. I have not found it near Dover or Walmer, but it is reported from Bekesbourne near Canterbury and other parts of the county. Mr. Fenn says it is not common as a rule on the coast, and that it is fast disappearing from the neighbourhood of London. The Ringlet {S. hyperanthus) is not scarce in the county and has been taken commonly near Sevenoaks, Shoreham, and in most of the woods in the Weald. The Small Heath {Chortobius pamphilus, L.) is everywhere common in fields, marshes and hillsides. The Green Hairstreak [Thecla rubi, L.) is generally distributed in suitable places, but has disappeared from the London district. Captain Savile Reid says it is common on the chalk hills near Yalding and Maidstone. The Purple Hairstreak {T. quercus, L.) is generally distri- buted in oak woods in the county, but has disappeared from, or become very scarce in, the London district. Mr. Fenn records it from Chatten- den and Chislehurst, Colonel Irby from West Wickham, and Mr. Goodwin says it is common near Wateringbury. The White Letter Hairstreak (T. w-album, Knoch.) is in some years very common in many parts of the county. I have found it abundantly in and near Chattenden Woods and elsewhere in the neighbourhood of Rochester, Mr. Goodwin reports it from Gravesend. The Brown Hairstreak (T. betulce, L.) has been recorded from woods and lanes about Sheldwick, Dartford, and from Darenth Wood and Birch Wood. From the two latter localities it has long since disappeared. Colonel Irby informed me that he had taken it commonly on the railway banks near Ham Street Station, between Appledore and Ashford. Mr. Sydney Webb states that it also occurs in some years in numbers between Canterbury and Selling. The Small Copper {Polyommatus phlceas, L.) is generally distributed throughout the county. I have never met with the Silver Studded Blue {Lycana agon, Schiff.) in Kent, but Mr. Arthur Rose informs me that he takes it commonly on the chalk near Seven- oaks. It also occurs, or occurred, on Tunbridge Wells Common, in Frant Forest near Tunbridge Wells, and on many parts of the downs, particu- larly throughout the Dover district. It is also reported as formerly oc- curring in Darenth and Birch Woods. The Brown Argus (L. agestis, Hb.) is generally distributed in the chalk districts throughout the county, and the Common Blue (L. alexis, Hb.) is common in most places on the chalk, sand and clay. The Adonis or Clifden Blue (L. adonis, Fb.) is locally abundant on the chalk near Shoreham, Folkestone, Dover, Deal, Chilham and elsewhere. The Chalk Hill Blue (L. corydon, Fb.) is generally distributed in the chalk districts and is abundant in 183