MOTH HUNTING IN ESSEX IN 1932.
31
,, cinereum Ald. 6 valves.
,, nitidum Jenyns. Common.
,, henslowanum (Shepp.). Common.
Anodonta anatina (Linn.). Fragments.
Unio tumidus Retzius. 2 valves.
,, littoralis Cuvier. Common.
Cardium edule (Linn.). Common.
Though a much smaller list than that from Clacton, yet
these two deposits are clearly of the same age. The abundance
of the two species of Paladilhia is noteworthy. The form which
has been identified as P. radigueli Bourg. is the more abundant
form in the lower bed, while the converse is true of the upper
bed. There are only four English deposits where the two forms
occur together: Chislet, Kent ; Woodston, Northants, and
Clacton and Lion Point, Essex ; in all these slightly estuarine
conditions are present, so that it would appear that P. deani
(Kend.) is really a brackish water form. All the shells are well
developed and some examples are extremely large ; one specimen
of Ancylastrum fluviatilis (Mull) being 9 mm. in diameter.
One may reasonably infer that the climate was similar to that
of the present day and that the country through which the
ancient river flowed was well-wooded and that there was but
little marshy land in the immediate neighbourhood.
MOTH HUNTING IN ESSEX IN 1932.
By WILLIAM S. GILLES, F.E.S.
SOME of the best localities in Essex, alas, are rapidly being
spoiled by the extension of building and the facilities
offered by the motor-car. Fortunately the 'Forest' is secure
from attack, but some of the large woods and the coastal areas
have suffered severely. Compared with former days, game
preserving has had an injurious effect, as the undergrowth, being
allowed to grow up to provide cover, has diminished the growth
of many plants which provide the sustenance of some of our
interesting species.
The coast between Clacton and Colne Point, which 10 or 15
years ago was a gloriously unspoilt bit of country, is now covered