180 NOTES—ORIGINAL AND SELECTED.
INSECTS.
Comparative numbers of Lepidoptera in Decreasing
Areas in Essex.—At the request of Dr. A. R. Wallace, O.M.,
F.R.S., I have made an estimate of the numbers of Butterflies
and Moths in restricted areas in Essex. The results may be
worthy of record. The total number of species, of all groups, in
Great Britain appears to be 2073, and in Essex, 1334. The
estimates for the smaller areas have been confined to the Macro-
Lepidoptera, as I have no complete records for the "Micros."
The column "A" means Essex, "B" is Epping Forest, an area
of about 6,000 acres, and "C" is my little garden at Buckhurst
Hill, a clear space behind the house 57 feet by 35 feet. Flowers
and fruit are grown. In collecting in the garden no artificial
attractions (such as light or "sugar") have been employed. The
insects were caught at rest, or by means of a net, or in the
larval state. In the larger areas all means of collecting have
been employed. Had this been the case in the garden far greater
numbers of Noctuae would doubtless have been recorded :—
In connection with the above it is well to mention that the
Flowering Plants in Britain are estimated at 1372, in Essex at
1011, and in Epping Forest, 450.—William Cole, Buckhurst
Hill, Essex.
BOTANY.
Vegetable Balls formed by Cladophora aegagropila.
At the meeting of the Club on May 16th, 1908, I exhibited on
behalf of Mr. E. M. Holmes, F.L.S., one of the balls formed by
the rather rare British fresh-water Alga, Cladophora aegagropila.
The specimen, which was in a dried condition and bad the
appearance of a dark green velvet pin-cushion about 31/2
inches in diameter, had been sent to Mr. Holmes for identifica-
tion from Horning, in Norfolk. I have myself seen great
numbers of these balls floating in the water of some of the
Norfolk Broads and waterways. Apparently they only occur
in the floating condition in the spring, but they can then be so