250 THE ESSEX NATURALIST.
ORIGINAL NOTES.
Nestling Bluetits Fed by a Hen Sparrow.—I am indebted to Miss E. Daniel
for the following notes on Bluetits occupying a nesting box in her garden at
Walthamstow : the box had been fastened to a tree there four years ago and
has been used by a pair of Bluetits every spring since. This year (1944), on
May 14th, after the box had been cleared out, a fresh nest was made, chiefly of
moss, by the hen bird, her mate showing interest and excitement, but not helping
her. She laid eggs and while she sat on them was often fed by the cock bird. On
May 18th the eggs hatched, and from then to May 24th both parents were busily
occupied with feeding the nestlings : the food at first consisted of white grubs,
and later of green-fly and small caterpillars. On May 25th the hen Bluetit dis-
appeared : the cock bird continued to feed the nestlings assiduously all day for
a week, but they were left alone at night. On June 1st a hen Sparrow, watching
the nesting box from a branch close by and apparently listening to the
squeaking inside, made several attempts to prevent the cock Bluetit from feeding
the young, but later collected greenfly, hopped awkwardly to the small
perch on the nesting box and fed the youngsters too. On June 2nd both the
Sparrow and cock Bluetit fed the nestlings, but gradually their demands grew
less until they ceased. On June 3rd the nesting box was opened and four dead
nestlings were found inside. Evidently cold at night and insufficient food during
the day had been more than they could bear. It is interesting that the maternal
instincts of the Sparrow led her to help the motherless Bluetits as far as she could.
G. Lister
Heath Fritillary.—This rare butterfly is carefully preserved in a small wood in
South-East Essex (one of the very few localities in this country where it now
occurs), where I saw half-a-dozen specimens flying over the cow-wheat which is
the chief food-plant of the larva. G. Dent.
White Admiral Butterfly.—It is pleasing to record the spread of this species in
Essex : indeed, it is extending its range throughout Southern England, I saw
fair numbers of the butterfly in Hatfield Forest in July (1944) and a single individual
in Epping Forest, where also others have been reported. G. Dent.
OBITUARY NOTICES.
Sir David Prain, C.I.E., C.M.G., F.R.S., etc., who died on March 16th,
1944, was President of the Club from 1930 to 1932, and remained a respected
honorary member until his death. His Presidential Addresses, dealing with the
history of Cinchona Bark, Woad, the "races" of Wheat, and "Biology and
Human Society," will be remembered as masterpieces of erudition and presenta-
tion : but the abiding memory of Sir David to all who knew him will be of a
most kindly, gentle personality, "A verray parfit gentil knight" in all truth.
Sir W. Gurney Benham, F.S.A., F.R.Hist.S. For many years a member of
our Club, of which he was a Member of Council since 1928, Sir Gurney Benham,
whose death occurred on May 13, 1944, at age 85, will be remembered as one
who took an active share in our affairs, as also in the wider arena of public life in
Colchester, where his chief interests centred. His public activities and his anti-
quarian lore are too well known to need recapitulation here : let it suffice to
record our sincere regret at the loss of so distinguished a member and so amiable
a man to those who enjoyed his personal acquaintance.