NOTES—ORIGINAL AND SELECTED. 131
all males, with one exception. It is probable, if the weather improves, that the
butterfly will increase in numbers ; but I fear we cannot now anticipate a repetition
of the prodigious flights of 1887. Cynthia cardui (summer brood) has appeared
in very great numbers, frequenting the Black Knap-weed fringing the cornfields
and lanes near the sea ; patches of this plant with dozens of this insect, and "Red
Admirals," "Blue," "Copper," "Wall," and "White" butterflies settled on and
flitting about the blossoms in the sunshine, sometimes presented a marvellous
spectacle of ever-changing colour.—W. Cole, East Mersea, August 15th, 1892.
Monotropa hypopitys (Yellow Birds-nest) in Epping Forest.—On
examining a bundle of letters from the late Mr. James L. English, I find that on
July 26th, 1887, he sent me specimens of Monotropa from Epping Forest, which
he had just gathered, probably from some spot in the forest near Epping. The
observation is worth recording, as the plant is rare in Essex, only two stations
being given by Gibson : namely, Audley End and Danbury.—W. Cole, Buck-
hurst Hill.
Damasonium stellatum in Epping Forest.—Mr. Britten writes as
follows in the "Journal of Botany," for August, and although it is true that
the specimen found by Mr. Powell had been wilfully introduced (see ante, p.
117), Mr. Britten's remarks are interesting and suggestive :—"It is unfortunately
only too certain that this pernicious practice of plant-introduction has been
carried on lately, but I think it at least possible that the case of Damasonium may
be one of survival. When living at High Wycombe, in 1867, I found the plant,
in no large quantity, in one pond on Naphill Common. It decreased in abund-
ance during the next year or two, and I searched for it in vain in the neighbour-
ing ponds. On revisiting the place in 1890, I found it in its old habitat, and
also, in much greater abundance, in a pond and marshy ground at some little
distance. This year the plant is exceptionally luxuriant in this latter pond, the
specimens floating in the water at some distance from the margin being the
largest I have ever seen. There is no reason to suspect an introduction in this
case ; and it would be interesting to know whether Damasonium is one of the
plants which disappear for a time and then re-appear. It was formerly frequent
in the Wanstead and Epping Forest districts (see 'Flora of Essex,' p. 326), and
Mr. Powell says it was 'found in Wanstead Park soon after it was thrown open
to the public' The 'English Botany' figure (t. 1615) is from a Wanstead
specimen, and Sowerby gathered the plant 'frequently in Wanstead Park' ; and
Edward Forster notes on his specimens in Herb. Mus. Brit., 'In ponds and
gravel-pits on the forest between Walthamstow and Wanstead.' I am inclined
to doubt whether Mr. Powell is right in classing Damasonium as now existent in
the forest area as an alien, but the lamentable action lately taken renders it
impossible to come to any satisfactory conclusion."
Local Scientific Societies' Committee of the British Association.—
We understand that successful meetings of this Committee took place during
the Edinburgh Congress of the Association. Prof. Meldola, who has usually
acted as Delegate of the Essex Field Club, was Chairman of the Committee, and
Mr. T. V. Holmes (who is now Secretary) represented the Club. The subject of
Local Museums was brought forward, and will probably form a leading item in
the Agenda for the next year's meeting.