166
NOTES.
Inula helenium, Linn., near Fyfield.—Has the Elecampane been recorded
from the Fyfield district lately ? I found a fine specimen on August 1st, between
Fyfield and Willingale, and thought that it might be worth noting.—R. Paulson
(Hackney Nat. Hist. Soc), August 3rd, 1887.
Essex Alga.—While fishing in the ponds near Forest House, Leytonstone, I
found floating about among the weeds considerable quantities of a coloured alga,
which I take to be the Pleurococcus roseo-persicinus of Cooke. This plant has, it
appears, received no less than eight different names from different authors. It is
described and figured in Grove's "Synopsis of the Bacteria and Yeast Fungi,'' and
named there Cohnia roseo-persicina, and classified with the Schizomycetes.—
Alfred P. Wire, Harrow Green, August 2nd, 1887.
Stone Mites (Petrobia lapidum, Koch).—The tiny eggs of the stone-mite may
now be found in countless numbers on stones and other substances lying on the
numerous pieces of waste ground all around Leyton, Essex. These eggs, which
are about the hundredth part of an inch in diameter, are very pretty objects when
examined under a microscope. They are disc-shaped, and lie horizontally on the
stones generally in rows or lines, the lower side of the disc being elongated down-
wards and contracted to a foot, which is cemented to the stone. The upper part
of the egg forms a lid which is easily detached. This lid is circular, and reminds
one of an old shield with a boss in the centre and radiating indentations all round.
On bruising the eggs a blood-red liquid exudes and stains the stones and fingers.
—Alfred P. Wire, Harrow Green, August 3rd, 1887. [This mite was formerly
called Trombidium or Tetranychus, but was formed into a new genus, Petrobia,
by Mr. Andrew Murray ("Economic Entomology, Aptera," page 118). The
fairy-like eggs have often been observed, and are figured in Loudon's '' Magazine
of Natural History," and in "Science Gossip" for 1867, page 126- When first
hatched out of the eggs the mites are little red six-legged creatures, but afterwards
become eight-legged. In the south of France Duges found it in families in the
light down which clothes the underside of the leaf of the plane-tree. In autumn
he found it under stones in the public walks, in entire families, which led him
to think that, at that season at least, it quitted the trees in order to multiply
more securely. See also "Entomologists' Monthly Magazine" for 1864-5, and
1867-8, for interesting details. We shall be glad to know whether the eggs or
mite have been noticed in abundance this year in other parts of Essex,—Ed.]
Woodcock (Scolopax rusticula, L.) Nesting in Epping Forest.—Although
these birds are not unfrequent visitors to the Forest in the winter months, the
absence of springs, and the hardness of the soil are unfavourable to them, and
they are never numerous where cattle have access. They do not therefore generally
remain long, but as remarked by Mr. E. N. Buxton ("Epping Forest," p. 98),
instances have been known of their staying through the summer, and breeding.
On the 6th April last, when accompanying Mr. Buxton in pursuit of jays (whose
numbers in the interest of other birds required thinning), four woodcocks were
flushed in different parts of the forest, possibly one of the birds may have been
moved twice, but having regard to the date, this augured well for their remaining
to breed, and it was with much satisfaction that, so lately as the 6th August
last, when out with the members of the Club, I had ocular proof that at least
one brood had been reared in the Forest this summer. While walking at
twilight in the neighbourhood of the Loughton Camp, I came suddenly upon
an old woodcock and two full fledged young ones. They all rose at my
approach within a few yards of me, but the young ones not being strong on
the wing, dropped again within a very short distance, and very likely might have
been caught without much difficulty. The old bird on rising crossed in front of
me, and fluttering along the ground, acted the part of a wounded bird to perfection,
in her attempt to distract my attention from her young. Twenty yards further on a
roe deer sprang up from some thick cover, and quickly dashed away, and in the
stillness which succeeded the crash of dry fern, heather, and underwood, the curious
jarring notes of the goatsucker or nightjar were distinctly heard. Such rural sights
and sounds as these so near London were as remarkable as they were gratify-
ing.—J. E. Harting, August 11th, 1887.