72
NOTES.
Vanessa Antiopa at Walthamstow.—Mr. W. J. Argent informs us that
on May 24th last, Mr, E. J. Cullen found a "Camberwell Beauty" butterfly at
rest on an oak tree by the hollow pond not far from Whipp's Cross, Walthamstow.
The specimen, which was a female with one of the lower wings a little broken,
was shown while still alive to Mr. Downing, of Whipp's Cross, and to Mr. Cooper,
of Forest Gate.
Risso's Grampus (Grampus griscus) in the River Crouch.—On Sept.
5th, 1887, a specimen of this cetacean was discovered on the saltings on the north
side of this river. It was carried across to the other side and eventually boiled down
for the oil. Hearing of it lately, almost accidentally, I enquired what had become of
the bones. Fortunately these were not quite destroyed, and after they came into my
possession I submitted them to professor Flower, who kindly examined them for
me, and confirmed my identification of the species. As an Essex specimen of
this rare cetacean, it is worth recording in the Essex Naturalist, especially as
the Crouch river is the farthest point north and east at which this species of
Grampus has ever been found. It is also only the fifth specimen recorded from
the British coasts.—Henry Laver, f.l.s., Colchester, June 8th, 1888.
Rats Eating Wild Beet.—Last spring I found many plants of Beta-
maritima freshly pulled up along the sea wall here, and then thought it to be
the work of some bird ; this spring the same thing has been noticed commonly,
and from the tracks in the snow we have found that the depredators are the barn
rats, which must travel a considerable distance in search of the beets. They dig
up the plants and devour the crowns; and the beet must be a favourite food
of the rats, as some hundreds of plants have been destroyed by them during
the winter and spring. We know how fond rats are of the cultivated mangold,
and how difficult they are to dislodge from a clump of that plant, but I cannot
hear that it is generally known that they attack the wild beet also.—Edward A.
Fitch, Maldon.
Bats Flying in the Day-time.—This afternoon, about half-past two, I
observed a bat flying briskly for some time round the house and other buildings
here. It had no doubt been tempted out by the unusual warmth and brightness
of the day. As it flew several times within a yard of me, and as the sun shone
brightly on it, I have little hesitation in pronouncing it to be the common bat
(Scotophilus pipistrellus).—Miller Christy, Chignal St. James, April 13th,
1888. [We have more than once seen bats flying in the day-time, and Mr. Fitch
informs us that he lately saw them so engaged near Boyton Hall, near Chelmsford,
and also near Maldon.—Ed.]
Pied Stoats near Chelmsford.—During the past winter two pied stoats were
shot at Boreham by William Lines, keeper to Lieut.-Col. J. L. Tuffnell-Tyrell.—
Edward A. Fitch, Maldon.
Hoopoe at Grays.—A Hoopoe was shot at Grays about a month ago.
Neither the owner nor the taxidermish (in whose hands I saw it) had any idea of
the species to which it belonged. I see that a good many of these birds have been
observed or shot this spring. I also examined a Pintail Duck that was shot at
Stanford on March 13th.—Walter R. Sackett, Orsett, in "The Field,"
May 5th, 1888.
Golden Oriole in Essex.—On May 2nd last a fine male golden oriole
(Oriolus glabula) was shot by Mr. A. S. Pearson, in the parish of Belchamp
Walter, Essex. No other has been seen about the neighbourhood, either before
or since. It has been preserved by Mr. Rose, of Sudbury, and is now in the
possession of the Rev. Mr. Leaky, of Acton vicarage, Suffolk. I am indebted for
the foregoing information to Mr. Joseph F. Hills, of the Post Office, Sudbury,
who says that neither the claws nor plumage afford the least ground for believing
the bird to have escaped from confinement. Mr. Hills writes :—"Of course you
know that the golden oriole is imported in large numbers. I have been judge at
the Crystal Palace for cage-birds the last fifteen years, and also at our largest
shows in the kingdom, and in the course of my experience I have met with probably
hundreds."—Miller Christy, Chignal St. James, Chelmsford, May 28th, 1888.