A HISTORY OF ESSEX seeds of Angelica, but has been scarce recently. E. absinthiata is common. E. minutata has occurred at Epping and Dedham, and probably is generally distributed on heath. E, assimilata is sometimes common among currant and hop. E. tenuiata has occurred at Epping, Harwich, Southend and St. Osyth. E. subciliata is recorded from Leigh as ' rare ' by Mr. Howard Vaughan. E. lariciata is not uncommon among larch in the Colchester district. E. abbreviata is found generally on oak boles and boughs and also at sallow flowers. E. dodoneata has been taken at Epping by Dr. Gill, at Loughton by Mr. Machin, and near Harwich by Mr. Mathew, but is a scarce insect in the county and far from common elsewhere. E. exiguata is generally distributed. E. sobrinata is not uncommon at Donyland, and has been captured at Woodford by Mr. E. B. Bishop. E. togata is rare ; Mr. Mathew records it from Harwich, and Mr. Prout captured a specimen at Higham Park in 1892. E. pumilata is common. E. corona fa sometimes occurs freely about Colchester, especially on the boulder clay. E. rectangulata is common in gardens and orchards. Lobo- phora sexalisata (sexa/ata, Vill.) occurs among sallow at Colchester, Haze- leigh and St. Osyth. L. halterata (hexapterata^ Schiff.) may frequently be found at rest on boles of aspens and poplars, and is widely distributed. L. viretata is rare, but has been taken at Epping and Walthamstow, and Mr. Laver once found a specimen at Colchester. L. carpinata (lobulata, Hb.) has been found several times at Donyland and St. Osyth. L. poly- commata is in a list of Epping insects by Mr. Edward Doubleday, pub- lished in the Entomological Magazine^ vol. iii. (1836). Thera juniperata is to be found at Donyland, where it does not appear to be very common. T. variata and T.firmata both occur among larch and Scotch fir. The former is common and generally distributed, the latter scarcer and more local ; but Mr. Burrows has taken it rather freely, and it has also been found at Birch and Berechurch. Hypsipetes ruberata seems to be scarce in the county judging by the paucity of records. It occurs sparingly at Colchester, where the specimens are more richly coloured and of a larger size than most of those from other parts of Britain. H. trifasciata (im- plu-viata, Hb.) is not very common, but may be usually found among alder. H. sordidata (e/utata, Hb.) abounds among sallow everywhere. Melanthia bicolorata (rubiginata, Fb.) was common among alder at Col- chester and Langham a few years ago, but is now extremely scarce. M. ocellata is common everywhere among Galium molluga and G. verum. M. albicillata, though far from common, appears to have a wide range. Melanippe hastata is local, but has been taken at Southend, Brentwood, Messing and St. Osyth. M. procellata is not scarce on the boulder clay near Colchester ; Professor Meldola has found it at Southend, and Mr. Mathew has taken it at Harwich. M. unangulata and M. rivata are some- what common locally. M. sociata, M, montanata and M. fluctuata abound everywhere. Anticlea cucullata (sinuata, Hb.) is extremely rare, and the only recorded capture was made in Epping Forest by Mr. A. H. Waters in May, 1896. A. rubidata has a wide distribution, and has for three or four years been comparatively common after a long period of scarcity. 162
