A HISTORY OF ESSEX HADENID^ Eremobia ochroleuca was common and generally distributed in the county some twenty years ago, and after remaining more or less common for several seasons completely disappeared. During the past two years it has reappeared in the Southend and Maldon districts, and will very pos- sibly soon be common again for a period. It is probably a migratory species which has so far failed in its endeavours to become a permanent resident. Diantbcecia nana (conspera, Esp.) was taken at Epping by Mr. H. Doubleday. D. capsincola is common everywhere among Lychnis. D. cucubali and D. carpophaga are not uncommon. The larvae may some- times be found on Silene inflata and S. maritima^ but the former has not been seen for several years. Hecatera chrysozona (dysodea, Hb.) was for- merly very common about Coggeshall, where its larvae fed on lettuce flowers and seed, but the particular species of lettuce it mostly favoured is little cultivated there now and the moth is proportionately scarce. It has also occurred at Colchester, and larvae have been found on wild lettuce (Lactuca virosa) at Walton-on-the-Naze. H. serena is generally common, especially in the larva state on flowers of Crepis wrens. Polia Jiavicincta is often found at rest on walls and palings in the autumn. Epunda lutulenta is scarce and local, but in 1898 was taken in some numbers by Mr. Burrows at Mucking. Cleoceris viminalis may often be taken freely in the larva state on sallow. Miselia oxyacanthce^ Agriopis aprilina, Euplexia lucipara and Phlogophora meticulosa are common and occur throughout the county. Aplecta prasina (herbida y Hb.) seems to be scarce. Mr. Raynor took it at Warley, and it has several times been found at Colchester. A specimen bred there in a warm room on January 10, 1 90 1, was perhaps the first British Noctua to appear in the new century. A. occulta is a very uncertain and local species, but has been taken by Professor Meldola near Woodford, by Mr. Doubleday at Epping, and also at Colchester and Hazeleigh. A. nebulosa is frequently found on the boles of trees in woods and comes freely to ' sugar.' A. tincta is rare. Mr. Doubleday records it for Epping, and it has also been taken at Hazeleigh and Woodford. A. advena, though not common, is often taken at ' sugar,' and is very partial to dogwood flowers. Hadena adusta, H. frotea, H. dentina and H. trifolii occur generally. (H. atriplicis is given as an Essex species in Newman's British Moths.} H. dissimilis (suasa, Bork.) is found in many places on the coast, including Benfleet, Dovercourt, Northey Island and St. Osyth. H. o/eracea, H. pisi and H. thalassina are generally distributed and common. Some of the Essex forms of H. pisi are very beautiful. H. contigua is extremely local ; it was frequently found at Dedham up to 1890. H.genistce is generally distributed though far from common. XYLINID^E Xylocampa areola (lithoriza, Bork.) is generally to be found on posts and tree trunks in April. Xylomiges conspicillaris is a rarity in Britain, and only two specimens have been met with in Essex, one at Danbury and the other at Brentwood, both by Mr. Raynor. Calocampa vetusta is not
