A HISTORY OF ESSEX both species have their good and bad seasons, and a year of unusual abundance is frequently followed by a period of comparative scarcity. The Queen of Spain Fritillary (A. latona) is a migratory species which is seldom met with. According to Haworth only six British specimens were known previous to 1818, when it occurred in some numbers and was taken in many places, including Colchester (probably by the late Dr. Maclean and Mr. L. Brock, who obtained specimens at Berechurch). Several others were taken at Colchester from 1857 to 1868. It has also been reported from Braintree by Mr. B. Holland; from Southend, where three were captured, by Mr. J. Russell ; and from Rainham by Mr. F. Venables. A single specimen which occurred at St. Osyth on September 14, 1881, appears to have been the last found in the county. The Dark Green Fritillary (A. aglaia] is recorded by old authors as occurring near Colchester, at Lexden Heath, Dedham Birch Wood, Bromley Thicks, and woods at West Bergholt ; but all these localities have undergone extensive changes, and if aglaia ever was a north Essex species it must have long ago disappeared ; and there are no trustworthy records from any other quarter, for though examples are occasionally reported they always prove to be the next species. The High-brown Fritillary (A. adippe] is common at Colchester and in several of the larger woods in the north-east of the county, but seems scarce in the south, though the Rev. G. H. Raynor says it is not uncommon at Brentwood and occurs sparingly at Hazeleigh and Wood- ham Mortimer. It is also reported from the Southend district, and appears formerly to have been frequently taken at Epping and Hainault. The Silver-washed Fritillary (A. papbia) is much more restricted in its range about Colchester than adippe^ but is common in several woods, including those at Donyland and St. Osyth. Mr. G. F. Mathew reports it from the Harwich district, Mr. Raynor from Hazeleigh and Warley, and Professor Meldola from Leyton. It has practically dis- appeared from Epping Forest, where it formerly abounded. The Greasy Fritillary (Melitcea aurinia) was formerly found in several localities near Epping, but since June, 1872, 'when three speci- mens were taken near the Robin Hood,' no others have been seen. In Newman's British Butterflies Colchester is quite erroneously given as a locality for the species, and in the same work Mr. W. R. Jeffrey is made responsible for its occurrence at Saffron Walden. The Heath Fritillary (M. athalid] according to tradition was formerly found in several woods in north Essex, but in the latter half of the past century it was practically confined to those ' woods bordering the road from Colchester to Ipswich,' where Mr. Edward Doubleday found it many years previously. In his day they were 700 acres in extent and constituted one of the very best localities for insects in the country, but now they are reduced to about 120 acres, which are strictly preserved. In one of the woods athalia abounded till about 1890, when, as more cover was required for game, the underwood was allowed 138
