96 THE ESSEX FIELD CLUB.
Sewardstone Meads in May-time.
Drawn by Henry A. Cole.
Leaving Chingford Station about three o'clock, the party proceeded by Bury
Path to the Woodman and Bury Wood, where a halt was made for the capture of
larvae, by beating the bushes into an open umbrella, and some remarks were made
by the hon. secretary, Mr. W. Cole. Attention was called to the grievous
damage being done to the oaks in the forest by caterpillars, which Mr. Cole
pointed out were mainly of two kinds, the greatest culprit being that of the small
green oak moth (Tortrix viridana), one of the leaf-rolling caterpillars, which was
engaged in speedily defoliating many trees, and covering the branches and
trunks with layers of silk. Another very injurious caterpillar was that of the
winter moth (Cheimatobia brumata), so called because it comes out in the perfect
state in November, one of the "loopers," or Geometridae. Thousands of these
could be seen on the oaks and hornbeams. Mr. Cole also exhibited and talked
about some of the spring butterflies and other insects likely to be seen that
afternoon.
Thence by Davis's Lane, the Sewardstone Road was reached. By the way a
pretty but ill-smelling plant, the "Ramsons," or wild garlic, was pointed out, a
plant for which Bury Wood is notable, and a station for the "traveller's-joy"
(Clematis) was shown, the plant being rare in this part of the Forest, probably
owing to the absence of chalk in the soil; near Epping, where the Chalky Boulder
Clay appears, it is plentiful.
A little way past the "Fox and Hounds" the field-path through The Meads