INSECTS the few examples noticed being doubtless immigrants from the continent, stragglers from the fens, or released captives. The Large, Small and Green-veined Whites (Pieris brassica, P. rapee and P. napi) abound in every direction. About twelve years ago more than a dozen larva? of the Large White were seen busily engaged feeding on savoys near Colchester on Christmas Day. The Chequered or Bath White (P. daplidice] is a very rare immi- grant, but has been taken at Berechurch by the late Dr. Maclean, at Colchester by Mr. Norman Halls, at Epping by Mr. Walter Nash and at Southend by Mr. V. E. L. Young. The Orange Tip (Eucblo? cardamines) occurs freely throughout the county, and occasionally very beautiful and striking varieties are bred or captured. In 1899 a form with lemon instead of orange tips was bred at Colchester, where during the previous summer many larva? were found in company with those of the Large and Small Whites, feeding on the seed vessels of the charlock in cornfields. The Wood White (Leucophasia sinapis), according to Dr. Maclean, was common in several woods near Colchester in the early years of the past century ; it also occurred freely near Epping in 1839 (J. English), but has rarely been seen in recent years, one at Donyland, one at Coggeshall and one in Ongar Park Woods being the only trustworthy records. The Clouded Yellow (Co/ias edusa) is generally scarce, but occa- sionally occurs in the greatest profusion. In 1877 it appeared to be the commonest butterfly throughout the county, and was fairly common in 1892 and 1900. The pale variety of the female (be lice) and interme- diate forms occur sparingly with the type in favourable seasons. The Pale Clouded Yellow (C. hyale] is usually much scarcer than its deeper coloured relative, but in 1900 the reverse was the case. Both are very uncertain in their appearances, but as a rule hyale is absent for much longer periods than edusa. It was plentiful in 1857, 1868 and 1875, and was then scarcely seen till 1892, after which it quite dis- appeared as an Essex species till 1 900, when it probably occurred in larger or smaller numbers in every clover and lucerne field in the county. In 1901 it again appeared sparingly in the northern and more commonly in the southern districts. The Brimstone (Gonopteryx rhamni) is common and generally dis- tributed. Hibernated specimens sometimes appear very early in the year if the weather be mild, and one was once observed on the wing in the High Woods at Colchester on Christmas Day. The Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary (Argynnis selene) is fairly com- mon and sometimes abundant in flowery places in woods. The first brood appears at the end of May, but is more numerous in June ; and in some localities there is frequently a second brood in August, the examples of which are far fewer in number and smaller in size. The Pearl-bordered Fritillary (A. euphrosyne) frequents similar places, but is more often found, and as a rule in larger numbers ; but i 137 18
