A HISTORY OF ESSEX frequently met with on or near the coast than inland. The Large Foot- man (L. quadra} has been taken among other places at Colchester, Harwich and Hazeleigh, but was always rare, and has not been found recently. The Red-necked Footman (L. rubricollis), like most members of its family, is a somewhat uncertain species. It was at one time very abundant at Langham and Little Bentley, but is not of frequent occurrence now, though it may still be occasionally found in some woods in the Tendring Hundred. The Crimson-speckled Footman (Deiopeia pulchella) is a rare migrant which was captured at Epping in 1846, at Southend in 1882, and at St. Osyth, where Mr. Fitch found two specimens on June 6, 1892. The Cinnabar (Euchelia jacobcece] occurs sparingly in many places, but seems only to be well established and common in two or three localities in the Epping and Southend districts. The Clouded Buff (Nemeophila russuld) is scarce and local, but has been taken in Epping Forest by Professor Meldola, at Eastwood by Mr. Whittle, and near Brentwood by Messrs. Burrows and Raynor. It formerly occurred sparingly near Colchester, but has not been seen since 1867. ' The Wood Tiger (N. plantaginls] was not uncommon twenty years ago in one of the St. Osyth woods, but has died out or gone elsewhere. The Common Tiger (Arctia cajd) was until recently extremely common everywhere, but for several years has been very uncommon in the northern part of the county. The last time the larvas abounded they were largely infested with ichneumons, and it may very probably be to this cause that their present scarcity is due. The Cream-spot Tiger (A. villica] is now much commoner than it was formerly, especially on the coast, where the larvae in some seasons abound. Several specimens of a very beautiful and striking variety have been obtained by Mr. Mathew at Dovercourt, and other fine forms have been bred from larva? found else- where. The Ruby Tiger (Spilosoma fuliginosa) appears to be scarce and local, for it is only reported for the Colchester district in recent years, though there are old records of its occurrence at Epping and Witham. The Muslin Moth (S. mendicd) is found sparingly all over the county. The Buff Ermine (S. lubricipedd] and the White Ermine (S. menthastri) are generally common, but the Water Ermine (S. urticce) is scarce and local. It has occurred at Colchester and Frinton. The Ghost (Hepialus humult) is common in grassy places everywhere. The Wood Swift (H. sylvanus) may sometimes be found on the coast, but more frequently among bracken in woods. The Common Swift (H. lupulinus) abounds in all directions, and the Golden Swift (H. hectus) is common for a few minutes about sunset in damp places in woods. The Goat Moth (Cossus ligniperda], though still common, is less abundant than formerly, as large numbers of infested trees have been removed and the wood- peckers have been unremitting in their attentions to those that still re- main. The Wood Leopard (Zeuzera pyrina] is far from common generally, but occurs sparingly in many places, including Colchester, Ilford, Maldon 146
