64
NOTE.
A Naturalist's Ramble in Hainhault Forest in 1852.—
The following interesting account of a visit to Hainhault
Forest just at the period of its destruction is extracted from
Kidd's Own Journal of Saturday, August 14th, 1852 (vol. ii., page
109). It may be read in connection with the late Mr. English's
notes on Hainhault in our Journal of Proceedings, vol. IV., pp.
cccii-iv.
"I have ever been one of those who love a forest ramble. I have loved them
from my boyhood, and they have formed some of the happiest epochs of my life.
To-day (July 4th, 1852) being fine, I rose betimes to gratify my wishes. I was
not disappointed. The morning was ushered in by an unclouded sky ; and
though lather hot, it proved to be one of those fine days that we who love nature
so much admire, perhaps the more so on account of their scarcity.....
But I am digressing, and Hainault is yet to be leached. So after a substantial
breakfast I began my pilgrimage. But first, I may as well state the particular
branch of Nature that formed the impetus to my ramble—that branch was
entomology, a science that from a boy I was passionately fond of. ....
My ramble was not a solitary one; I had a friend to accompany me that had
once 'dabbled' in the science. Our road lay across the Harsh through Temple
Mills . . . . to Wanstead Park Wood, the scene of my earlier rambles,
Truly this is a pleasant spot, and one I was loth to leave, with its open flats,
dotted here and there with a few trees and shrubs, its shady thickets hard by;
but above all, its noble avenue of elms leading to the park. Several of these
trees, this season, were bored by a species of beetles, probably the Anobium
striatum. The caterpillars of the Lackey Moth were also very numerous,
covering the bushes with their webs. Several of the commoner species of
butterflies were abundant; indeed it is a locality that will well repay a ramble to
those who, like myself, are partial to the insect tribes. In June, we have here the
Ino statices, or 'Green forester,' a very pretty moth, and a very local one. the
Dypterygia pinastri or 'Bird's-wing' is another local moth, found here in June,
and may be taken by sugaring the trees of an evening, as may also (in July) the
'Copper Underwing' (Amphipyra pyramidea) and numerous others; indeed, if
I were to enumerate the Hawk Moths and Coleoptera, I should be guilty of
trespassing too far on your valuable space. Leaving this locality, we rambled
down the Chigwell Road, cheered by the song of the birds on either side, till
about noon, we arrived at Hainault. Before entering the forest, we partook of
refreshment at the 'Crown and Crooked Billet,' situated on the top of the hill. I
merely mention this here on account of the fine view obtainable over the
surrounding country from the gardens beside the house. Leaving this place, we
entered the Forest, so celebrated for its number of oaks—alas, now no more !
The cupidity of man has laid them low; and by the side of where they Once
stood so nobly, there they lay, their bare poles bleaching in the sun. They say
it is necessary to clear the Forest; a lover of Nature cannot but regret it. The
insects found here are numerous in the extreme. In beetles we have the
Calosoma inquisitor, Adhelocnenia nubila, Toxotus meridianus; all from the
oak; in June, the first abundant. In July Gnorimus nobilis; Rhagium
bifasiatum; and numerous otheis. In Lepidoptera, in July, we have the Rose
Wing (Callimorpha rosea), the Wood White Leucophasia sinapis. I could
go on enumerating the species, but I must conclude, I have already encroached
too much on the space of your delightful journal.....Our ramble we
pleasantly concluded by returning across the fields; many of which were
beautifully ornamented by waving forests of wheat. There was indeed a land of
promise. I hope it may be fulfilled.—A Lover of Nature."