INSECTS seasons has occurred in larger numbers than usual. P. smaragdaria the Essex Emerald was for many years a great rarity, Southend, South- minster and St. Osyth being its only recorded British localities ; but since the discovery of its food plant it has been found freely all along the coast from Southend to St. Osyth, which is the present known limit of its northern range. It is to be feared that this beautiful insect has been much too keenly ' worked for ' of late by the London and other collectors, who. should remember that though common at present its range in Britain is very restricted, and that altogether apart from direct human agency its struggle for existence must sometimes be severe. During a recent dry season at St. Osyth nearly all the food plants had been bitten or trodden down by cattle, and most of the larvas must necessarily have perished. lodis lactearia and Hemitbea strigata (t&ymiaria, Gn.) are common in woods and lanes everywhere. EPHYRID^E Zonosoma porata and Z. punctaria occur freely among scrub oak and are widely distributed. After a long period of scarcity they are again common at Colchester. Z. linearia (fri/inearia, Bork.) is plentiful among beech at Epping. Z. annulata (omicronaria, Hb.) occurs freely in many places especially on the boulder clay among maple. Z. pendularia is local and not common now, though it was formerly plentiful at Dedham and St. Osyth. ACIDALIID^ Asthena luteata is common among maple and is frequently found among alder. A. candidata abounds everywhere. A. blomeri was once captured by the Rev. C. R. N. Burrows at Wanstead this must have been a straggler from some other county. Eupisteria obliterate (beparata, Haw.) is rather common in the Colchester district and doubtless occurs generally among alder. Acidalia ochrata is extremely local, being only found at Southend and St. Osyth. A. dimidiata (scufu/afa, Bork.) and A. bisetata are common. A. trigeminata is scarcer, but may be disturbed from underwood and hedges, and captured on the wing at dusk in many localities. A. rusticata is a recent addition to the county list, and has only been found by Mr. Burrows and Mr. Whittle, who took it in the Southend district. A. dilutaria (inter jectaria, Bdv.) and A. virgu/aria (incanaria, Hb.) are generally common. A. ornata was once captured at Leigh by Mr. Walker, who took a single specimen in 1893. A.mar- ginepunctata (promutata, Gn.) is widely distributed and often common. A. subsericeata is somewhat scarce, but has been found more freely in the southern than in the northern portion of the county. A. immutata occurs at Southend and Leigh. A. remutaria and A. imitaria are generally com- mon. A. emutaria occurs sparingly in many coast localities. A. aversafa abounds everywhere. A. inornata is found frequently in woods. A. emar- ginata is very common, and Timandra amataria may be met with every- where, especially in damp places in woods. 159
