Page:VCH Sussex 1.djvu/215

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INSECTS local and rare in the county. It was formerly' common in Frenchlands Wood, and has also been recorded from Abbots Wood. The Brown Hairstreak [T. betulce, L.') is reported to be local and not common in the county. It has been recorded from Charlton Forest by Mr. Edgell, from East Marden by Mr. Christy, from the Holmbush by Mr. Vine, from Eartham by Mr. Fletcher, and also from Horsham, Partridge Green, Slinfold, Henfield and Newick. The Small Copper [Polyommatus phlceas^ L.) is common and generally distributed all over the country, in fields, meadows and on hillsides, and in the rides of woods. The Silver Studded Blue [Lyccena* cegon, SchifF.), although local, is abundant on some of the heaths of the county, as in Ashdown Forest, Tilgate Forest and St. Leonards Forest. Chailey, Hayward's Heath, Goodwood Park, Hurston Warren, Lewes and Upmarden have also been named as localities. The Brown Argus {L. agestis, Hb.) is common in many places on the chalk, as between Brighton and Lewes, about Pyecombe and the Devil's Dyke, Cocking, Eastbourne, Beachy Head, Hastings, Slindon and on the downs near Emsworth. The Common Blue [L. teams , Rott.) is gener- ally distributed throughout the county on chalk, sand and clay, and is often plentiful. The Adonis or Clifden Blue (L. adonis^ Fb., or bellargus, Rott.) is locally common on the chalk. I have found it in abundance in HoUingbury Combe, between Brighton and Lewes, in Bible Bottom and on Cliff Hill near Lewes, and between Eastbourne and Beachy Head. It is also recorded from Repton Down, Broadwater, Hastings and from near Shoreham. The Chalk Hill Blue [L. corydon, Fb.) is much less local than the last-named species and is generally abundant on the chalk. The Mazarine Blue (L. acis, Fb., or L. semiargus, Rott.) has been long extinct, if it ever was a resident species. Mr. Fletcher states that two specimens were taken many years ago near Chailey^ and were in the collection of the late Mr. Unwin of Lewes, and that another specimen was taken in Abbots Wood " in July, 1881. The Small Blue (L. alsus, Fb., or L. minima^ Fuers) is locally abundant on the chalk downs, and sometimes on the shingle beaches of the coast. It used to be ' Mr. Fletcher says : ' Local and rare, if not extinct. The localities given by Newman {fiiit. Butt. p. 1 10) are Frenchlands Woods, abundant ; Abbots Wood and in Sussex, generally.' Barrett says, 1893 (Brit. Lcp. i. 47) : ' Scarce though formerly more common in Sussex.' I have never taken or seen the species in the county, but having regard to the vast increase in its numbers during the last four or five years in Essex, Herts, Gloucestershire and Surrey there can be little doubt of its occurrence in Sussex at the present time. — H.G. '^ This species is often common in the larval state without being observed in the perfect state. The larvae can be obtained in numbers in the New Forest, but the butterflies are rarely seen on the wing. I have bred many dozens of specimens from New Forest larvae, but never saw the butterfly there, though I have seen it commonly on bramble blossoms near Liss and Petersfield, Hants. — H.G.

  • Polyommatus virginirece has been recorded as having been captured in the county near Burling

Gap on 4 August, 1891. — H.G.

  • Lycana btetica, L., is not established in the county, but is an occasional immigrant. Mr. Fletcher

says that 'a specimen was taken at Brighton by Mr. McArthur on 4 August, 1859, and another at Bognor in 1 880' (Tutt. Brit. Butterflies, p. 194). Another specimen was reported from Brighton in 1890 {Ent. XX. 1901, p. 361) and two more near Hastings in August and September, 1893 (Ent. xx. 1901, pp. 301-27). — H.G. ^ Jenner in Proc. Etistboume Nat. Hist. Soe. 1885-6. ' Entomologist, vi. 135. — H.G. I 169 22