INSECTS August 2, 1884, and there are specimens in the Saffron Walden Museum which Mr. Joseph Clarke says were caught in that neighbourhood. It does not seem to have occurred elsewhere in the county. HETEROCERA Moths SPHINGES AND BOMBYCES The Death's Head Hawk Moth (Acherontia atropos) is usually scarce, but occasionally the larvae and pupae are found in some numbers. In 1900 it was exceptionally common throughout the county. The Convolvulus Hawk (Sphinx convo/vu/i) seems to be found in larger or smaller numbers every season ; from its powerful flight no limit can be set to its range, and if looked for at dusk on a warm September evening it would probably be found everywhere. The Privet Hawk (S. /igustri) is also of general occurrence, and in the larva state frequently common on privet, lilac, ash and other trees. The Bedstraw Hawk (Deilephila galii) is nearly always rare, but occasionally occurs in some numbers. In 1888 its larvas abounded on various species of Galium all along the coast in August and September, and many Were found dead on the sands when the nights became cold. In previous seasons it has been found on Glarkia and (Enothra at Colchester, and has been recorded from several other localities. The last occurred in 1895 when five larvae were found between Brightlingsea and Clacton-on-Sea. The Striped Hawk (D. Iruornica) is an occasional migrant like the last, but is always very rare. Colchester, Mistley, Upton Park, Walton-on-the- Naze and Walthamstow are recorded localities. The Silver Striped Hawk (Chcerocampa ce/erio), another rare migrant, has repeatedly occurred, larvae having been found feeding on vine at Colchester, Coggeshall and Chelmsford, and perfect insects at Great Baddow, Chelmsford, Harwich, Walton-on-the-Naze and other places. The Small Elephant Hawk (C. porcellus) is very widely distributed, especially near the coast. The Large Elephant Hawk (C. elpenor) is occasionally found rather freely in the larva state on willow-herb and bedstraw in damp meadows at Colchester and sometimes in gardens on Clarkia and fuchsia, and doubtless occurs under similar conditions throughout the county. The Eyed, Poplar and Lime Hawk Moths (Smerinthus oce//atus, S. populi and S. tilice) are generally common among the trees and shrubs upon which their larvae respectively feed. The Humming Bird Hawk (Macroglossa stellatarum) occurs everywhere, and though usually scarce and sometimes absent from some districts for long periods is occa- sionally quite common, as was the case in 1899 and 1900. The Broad-bordered Bee Hawk (M. fuciformis) seems to be found in all woods where bugle and campion flowers abound ; its larva feeds on the honeysuckle and may sometimes be found in hedges. The Narrow- bordered Bee Hawk (M. bombyliformis), the larva of which feeds on Scabiosa succisa, is extremely rare and local. A single specimen was M3
