THE ESSEX FIELD CLUB.
239
MUSCI.
Pottia truncata, L.
Barbula laevipila, Brid.
Physcomitrella patens, Hedw.
Webera carnea, L.
Mnium undulatum, Hedw.
Atrichum undulatum, L.
Fissideus taxifolius. L.
Leucodon sciuroides, L.
Thuidium tamariscinum, Hedw.
Eurhynchium myosuroides, L.
Eu. swartzia, Turn.
Hypnum cupressiforme, L.
H. purum, L.
These treasures having been duly "bagged," and the straggling botanists
called together, as the shades of evening fell the ramble Maldon-ward led
through Hazeleigh Hall Wood, a glorious spot for the naturalist, and one
comparatively unworked. The birds frequenting the wood are numerous, among
others the Green Woodpecker being especially abundant. As stated above, the
botany of the wood has hitherto been quite unnoted, but the Rev. G. H. Raynor's
paper on the Macro-Lepidoptera of the district (see "Trans. Essex Field Club,
vol. iii., pp. 30-47") has called attention to its entomological riches. One of
the most interesting of the butterflies occurring is Thecla w-album, a very local
species.
As recorded in the report of the December meeting, a few nights "sugaring"
in the wood afterwards enabled us to add one or two species to Mr. Raynor's
list, and Mr. Fitch's own researches have added eight species—these additions may
be conveniently recorded here :—
ADDITIONS TO THE LIST OF THE MACRO-LEPIDOPTERA
OF THE MALDON DISTRICT.
Hesperia comma, L. Rare ; Danbury.
Arctia villica, L. Two specimens ;
Maldon Hall.
Asphalia (Cymatophora) diluta, Fb.
Hazeleigh Wood. Common at "sugar."
Neuronia popularis, Fb. Common at
light; Maldon.
Agrotis corticea, Hb. Abundant at
Maldon.
A. tritici, L. Common at Maldon.
Anchocelis litura, L. At "sugar" in
Hazeleigh Wood.
Odontopera bidentata, Clerck. Several;
Hazeleigh Hall Wood, Maldon.
Acidalia emutaria, Hb. Not rare;
Maldon, Northey Island.
Eucosmia certata, Hb. One speci-
men ; Hazeleigh.
The trees in the wood include much maple (Acer campestre), spindle (Euonymus
europaeus), hawthorn, dogwood (Cornus sanguinea), guelder-rose (Viburnum
opulus), elm, beech, oak, and hornbeam; not forgetting the abundance of hazel,
the nuts just ripening, which pleasantly recalled the derivation of the name of
the parish (Saxon, "Hazel Pasture.") The broom (Sarothamnus scoparius)
suggested some small remnant of Glacial-sand or gravel; and the blackthorn,
the abundant low-growing and seldom-flowering honeysuckle, some undetermined
brambles, and the dewberry (Rubus caesius), were among the most shrubby species.
The curious Butcher's-broom (Ruscus aculeatus) was not uncommon in the upper
part of the wood.
The marshy character of much of the ground was indicated by such plants as
Lychnis flos-cuculi, Spiraea ulmaria, Galium uliginosum, Pulicaria dysenterica,
Gnaphalium uliginosum, Juncus bufonius, and Callitriche; whilst among more
ordinary sylvan species were Viola-au-canina, Lychnis diurna, Ajuga reptans,
Glechoma hederacea, Lamium galeobdolon, Stellaria graminea, Hypericum humi-
fusum, II. perforatum, H. hirsutum, H. tetrapterum, and H. dubium ; Geranium