Page:VCH Kent 1.djvu/232

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A HISTORY OF KENT It occurs in the London district and has also been found near Tenterden, Tonbridge, Canterbury, Wye, Ashford, Faversham, and in many other places in the county. Captain Savile Reid says it is rare about Yald- ing and Maidstone. The rare Camberwell Beauty {F. antiopa, L.) occurs perhaps more frequently in Kent — from its proximity to the continent — than in any other English county. Lewin, an old naturalist, reported that in the middle of August, 1789, he saw two specimens near Faversham, one of which he had the good fortune to take, and in the course of a week, he was agreeably surprised with seeing and taking many of them in the most perfect condition. Captures of this species have, during recent years, been made near Dover, Maidstone, Folke- stone, Charlton, Lee and Eltham.^ Mr. Goodwin says he has twice seen it near Wateringbury, and he records the capture of a fine speci- men on 18 August, 1898, at East Farleigh. Captain Savile Reid states that a specimen was taken near Yalding in 1889 and another speci- men in the same year near Maidstone. The Peacock {F. to, L.) was formerly an abundant species and generally distributed, but it has for many years past been gradually disappearing and has become in many places a comparatively scarce species. The Red Admiral (F. atalanta, L.) is generally distributed and often common even in metropolitan gardens. The Painted Lady {F. cardui, L.) occurs in some seasons all over the county, but is generally most 'plentiful in clover and lucerne fields, especially near the coast. The Purple Emperor [Apatura iris, L.^) formerly occurred in most of the oak woods in the Weald and elsewhere, but it has become rare for years past, and has entirely dis- appeared from many woods where it used to be abundant. It has long been extinct in the London district. I found it in abundance in 1876, 1877 and 1878 in Chattenden Woods, about four or five miles north from Rochester. It has however since died out or been exterminated there. It has also been taken near Tenterden, Pembury,^ Ashford, Wye, Canterbury, Selling, Sevenoaks, and various parts of the Weald. Mr. Goodwin says it formerly occurred in the Mereworth Woods near Maidstone and was common near Cranbrook in 1883. The Marbled White {Arge galathea, L.) is locally plentiful in many parts of the county. I have taken it in abundance in Eastwell Park near Wye, and it occurs commonly on the chalk near Wateringbury, Shoreham and Strood. It is abundant along the eastern and south-eastern coasts near Ramsgate, Deal, Walmer, Dover and Folkestone. The Wood Argus [Satyrus egeria, L.) is generally distributed in woods and lanes throughout the county, but according to Captain Savile Reid and Mr. Goodwin it is gradually disappearing. The Wall {S. tnegcera, L.) is

  • The most recent capture of Vanessa anltopa was made by Mr. A. H. Jones at Eltham in the

autumn of 190 1. ^ The occurrence of the White Admiral {Limcnith sybil/a, L.) has been recorded from Tenterden and also from the borders of Sussex. Mr. Farn says it was plentiful in Chattenden Woods in the late fifties, but disappeared about the same time as the Black-veined White. I have not heard of its cap- ture in this county during the last forty years, and do not think it can now be regarded as a Kentish species. — H. G. ' It was formerly common at Pembury, and m.iy still occur there. — H. G. 182