INSECTS in Hempstead Wood to the north-west of Hailsham. It has also been recorded from the neighbourhood of Battle. A black variety was taken by Mr. H. Gorringe of Brighton in Abbots Wood some thirty-five years ago and was acquired by the late Mr. F. Bond. The Small Tortoiseshell {Vanessa urticce, L.) is common throughout the county. The Large Tortoiseshell {V. polychloros, L.) is generally distributed in the county, and Mr, Fletcher says that though for some years it was less common than formerly, it is now greatly increasing in numbers. He observed more hybernated specimens in the spring of 1902 than he had seen for many years. The species has been reported from Abbots Wood Hails- ham, Battle, Bognor, Brighton, Catsfield, Cocking, Hastings, Horsham, Hayward's Heath, Hurstpierpoint, Lewes, Midhurst, Slindon, Stoughton and Worthing, The rare Camberwell Beauty {V. afitiopa, L.) ' has not unfrequently been taken in the county. A fine specimen was brought to me alive in September, 1873, by a Brighton bird-catcher who had taken it at Hassock's Gate. It was in such fine condition that it must have been bred in this country. A second specimen was brought to me about two years afterwards by some boys who had caught it near Burgess Hill. Mr. Fletcher ^ reports the capture of a specimen near Burwash in 1900. The Painted Lady {V. cardui, L.)' is irregular in appearance, but occurs in some years in the greatest profusion in clover and lucerne fields, especially near the coast. The Red Admiral [V. atalanta, L,) is common and generally distributed. The Peacock [V. io, L.) is generally distributed and sometimes abundant though less common than formerly. The White Admiral [Limenitis sybilla, L,) like many other butterflies is reported to be decreasing in numbers,^ It has been reported from a few woods in east Sussex near Battle, Northiam and HoUington. The captures of single specimens have also been recorded from Abbots Wood, Hayward's Heath and Plashet Wood near Lewes. Mr. W. M, Christy says that it is not uncommon in some of the woods in west Sussex between Chichester and the western boundary of the county. The Purple Emperor {Apatura iris, L.) used to be common in some seasons in Abbots Wood, Wilmington Wood and Gnat Wood. I have seen it flying round the oaks and sitting in the muddy ruts in the road dividing Abbots Wood and Wilmington Wood on the west from Gnat Wood and Folkington Wood on the east, and possess specimens from the district. Note. — The Glanville Fritillary (Melitaa dnxia, L.) was, according to Mr. Fletcher, included in the Fauna and Flora of Eastbourne, but this was undoubtedly an error. — H.G. 1 See Ent. Mo. Mag. x. 139 (1873-4).— H.G.
- Mr. Fletcher remarks : ' Very rare ; an occasional immigrant appearing in some numbers in
Great Britain at uncertain intervals, but does not seem able to establish itself as a resident even for a short period.' — H.G. ' The Comma Butterfly {Fanessa c-album, L.), which is a midland and west of England species, does not occur regularly in the county, but, as in Kent, immigrants have occasionally been found. Mr. J. H. A. Jenner reports it as having been taken singly at Southover, Horndean and Lewes. Mr. Edgell records the capture of a specimen at Firle in 1887, and another specimen was recorded by Mr. Vine as being taken between Bramber and Shoreham in April, 1887. Mr. Fletcher states that the species has also occurred singly near Horsham, in Tilgate Forest, and near Guestling. — H.G. ^ I have collected in the woods of east and north Sussex since I was ten years of age, but I never saw the species in the county. — H.G. 167
