168 NOTES.
and little could be done spite of the most strenuous exertions.1 The ferae naturae,
the birds and insects were quickly driven out by the smoke and heat; two baby
Nightjars (Caprimulgus) were rescued as they lay helpless on the ground, the mother
watching and following them as they were carried to a place of safety, and a
deserted pheasant's nest containing five eggs was noticed just on the confines of
the fire. It was curious to see the great numbers of grasshoppers which were
steadily leaping out of danger before the advancing flames. Our obliging guide,
Keeper Butt, lost his holiday, as inclination and duty of course compelled him
to remain with his fellow keepers to encourage and direct the efforts of the
corps of beaters. Some of our members were much smoke begrimed and
scorched, and we were glad after a time to beat a retreat to our rendezvous
at the British (or Cowper's) Camp at Loughton, noticing on the way many Green
Woodpeckers and Jays. On the camp a marquee had been erected by our
excellent caterers, Messrs. Riggs and Sons, of Chingford, and the cool provisions
and cheering tea were highly appreciated after the great heat, natural and arti-
ficial, of the afternoon's walk. Another forest fire was burning at the eastern end
of the camp, which called for renewed exertions on the part of some of us, and we
were told of a third near the "King's Oak" at High Beach.2
After tea an Ordinary meeting (the 79th) was held, Prof. R. Meldola, F.R.S.,
Vice-President, in the chair. Messrs. Hermann Cohn, Robert Lodge, and Robert
N. A. Wallinger, were elected members of the Club. An address on the methods
of Collecting and Preserving Land and Freshwater Mollusca, of which a summary
is given at page 169, was then delivered by Mr. J. E. Harting, F.L.S., F.Z.S.
(Editor of the "Zoologist"), who illustrated his remarks with a large diagram showing
a scheme of arrangement of the families and genera, and a series of specimens of
British species contained in glass-topped boxes.
A hearty vote of thanks to Mr. Harting was carried on the proposal of the
Chairman and Mr. Walter Crouch, and a few observations made by members
present relating to the subject of the address will be found appended to it at page
175. A walk to the Loughton Station through the deepening twilight in the woods
concluded a pleasant meeting.
Dicycla oo, L., in Epping Forest.—I have taken a nice series of Dicycla oo,
at "sugar" in Epping Forest, including a fine dark specimen, the first capture
being on July 12th. I have also taken Eurymene dolobraria, L., on the Forest.
—Charles Oldham, Woodford, July 25th, 1887.
1 This became one of the most serious fires that has occurred for years. It was burning
fiercely all Saturday night, and was still smouldering on Sunday evening ; the keepers and
watchers were out all night in endeavouring to restrain the mischief. A very large extent of
beautiful heathy ground has been destroyed, and hundreds of young birches killed. The grievous
damage done (spitefully and revengefully done it is feared) has roused a deep feeling of regret
and indignation in the district.
2 There can be little doubt but that some at least of these fires are caused wilfully, and we
had almost ocular proof of this. We entered Cowper's Camp at the north-eastern corner, and
certainly no fire was then to be seen at that spot. About ten minutes afterwards two of our
party retraced the route to look for a member who had lost his way, and were astonished to see
in the close thicket of one of the small hollows just outside the camp an incipient fire of a dozen
yards or so in circuit, which was of course quickly dealt with and extinguished. The spot was
away from the path, but visible from it, and no fire or smoke was there a few minutes before,
and we could not help connecting its outbreak with three hobble-de-hoy species of the genus
"cad," who had passed us on our first entrance into the Camp. The Superintendent of the
Forest has offered a reward of £20 for the detection of any incendiary, but that is not enough;
a large reward, say £100, should be freely advertised, and some mounted detectives placed on
duty to catch the evil-doers in the act; above all, every effort and watchfulness should be
exercised by all well-wishers of the forest to aid the authorities in ascertaining and punishing the
perpetrators of these dastardly crimes.