A HISTORY OF ESSEX PYRALWES PYRALIDID^E Cledeobia angustalis is found in many coast localities. Aglossa pin- guinalis occurs in houses, and though reputed generally common seems to be scarce in many places. A. cuprealis occurs sparingly at Colchester, Harwich, Hazeleigh and Southend. Pyralis costalis and P. glaucinalis are somewhat plentiful at Colchester, and the former is common in the Mai- don district. P.farinalis is generally common. Scoparia ambigualis abounds on tree trunks in woods. S. basistrigalis occurs at Dovercourt and Haze- leigh. S. cembrce is scarce, but has a wide range. S. dubitalis is common everywhere. S. conspicualis is reported for the Harwich district by Mr. Mathew. S. mercurella is generally abundant. S. ulmella has been found at Woodham Ferris by Mr. Raynor. S. cratcegella has been captured at Colchester and Epping. S. truncicolella occurs at Epping and Hazeleigh. S. angustea is found on several old walls at Colchester. S. pallida is a marsh insect that has been occasionally taken at Leigh and St. Osyth. Nomo- phila noctuella (hybridalis, Schiff.) is a frequent migrant ; it is generally distributed, and is sometimes very abundant, especially on the coast. Pyrausta aurata (punicea/is, Schiff.) was very common in the Colchester district a few years ago, but has quite disappeared. P. purpuralis, which was formerly scarce there, has become very common. P. ostrinalis has been found at Brentwood by Mr. Raynor. Herbula cespitalis is generally distributed, and is occasionally very common at Donyland and St. Osyth. Ennychia nlgrata (anguinalis, Hb.) was taken at Epping by Mr. Double- day. E. octomaculata is reported by Mr. Whittle to be rare near South- end. Endotricba jlammealis is common at Colchester, and probably far from rare generally. BOTYD^E Eurrbypara urticata abounds among nettle. Scapula lutealis is rare, but has been found at Epping by Mr. Doubleday and at Pitsea by Mr. Whittle. S. olivalis and S. prunalis are common. S.ferrugalis has a wide distribution, but is far from common ; it has been found at Colchester, Maldon, and in the Southend and St. Osyth districts. Botys pandalis has also been taken at Southend. B. ruralis (verticalis, Schiff.) abounds among nettles. B.fuscalis is common among Melampyrum. Ebulea crocealis occurs freely among Inula. E. verbascalis is sometimes common among Teucrium. S. sambucalis abounds among elder. E. stachydalis is not rare on the boulder clay near Colchester. Spilodes sticticalis can scarcely be considered a native, and only two specimens are recorded : one at Colchester in 1868 and one at Hazeleigh in 1 900. S. palealis became generally common in north Essex where it had not previously been seen about 18756, but totally disappeared after a brief period. In 1898 Mr. Laver noticed some larva? on the southern coast of the county, and the following year Mr. Whittle obtained some near Southend. In 1900 the species again made its appearance in the north, a single moth and a number of larvas being found near Clacton-on-Sea, and in 1901 Mr. Fitch took it at Burn- ham. S. verticalis (cinctalis, Tr.), though not very common, is widely 164
