80
THE ESSEX NATURALIST
An Indian Butterfly at Forest Gate. In The Entomologist (vol. 79, p. 268)
it is reported that Mr. B. Lowi captured in his garden at Forest Gate on
July 25th, 1946, a specimen of the Ceylon form of Papilio hector L.
Bath White Butterfly in Essex. In The Entomologist (vol. 80, p. 193),
Mr. A. F. Common reports that he saw a Bath White (Pontia daplidice L.)
at Westcliff-on-Sea on July 9th, 1947.
A Moth new to the Essex list. In The Entomologist (vol. 80, p. 206),
Mr. H. C. Huggins reports on the Pyralid moth Anania nubilalis Hubn. in
south-east Essex. This moth has hitherto been considered a rare vagrant,
so that great interest attaches to the writer's observations on a breeding
colony at Benfleet which was probably founded in 1937 and existed for
seven years but which is now extinct. That the moth can withstand the
utmost vagaries of our climate now seems certain, as an account is also
given of its presence in 1946 and 1947 in other colonies between Shoebury
and Leigh-on-Sea and on Canvey Island. The larvae pass the winter in the
stems of mugwort, which is the food plant of the species.
Epping Forest Plants. On May 12th, 1947, seven plants of Solomon's
Seal (Polygonatum multiflorum) were seen at one station in the Forest ; two
of these plants were well advanced in flower bud. the others being smaller
and younger. One plant of Lily of the Valley (Convallaria majalis) was
found in bud in May 15th among numerous plants of the same species at
an old-established station. Two flower-stems of Water Avens (Geum
rivale) were found on the same day at a spot where later there were seen
seven flowering stems. A group of plants of Bistort (Polygonum Bistorta)
showed seven flower-spikes in bud, but at a second group there was no
evidence of flowering. Barberry (Berberis vulgaris) was in flower at two
places. At a later date Claytonia alsinoides and the Small Yellow Balsam
(Impatiens parviflora) flowered abundantly. Meadow Cranesbill (Geranium
pratense) was not seen in flower, but later one plant was found with fruit.
Comfrey (Symphytum officinale), both cream and purple flowered, has
recovered from damage suffered during the war. Spikes of Adder's Tongue
(Ophioglossum vulgatum) occurred in widely separated areas. On September
6th about seventy flowering and seeding plants of Flowering Rush (Butomus
umbellatus) were counted at one pool, where a few flowers of Arrowhead
(Sagittaria sagittifolia) were noted amongst many plants. On this day
Barberry was in fruit; Bogbean had been much trampled on account of the
low level of the water, and Purple Loosestrife (Lythrum Salicaria) had been
somewhat severely cut. Marestail (Hippuris vulgaris) is well established in
one pool.
J. Ross.
Solomon's Seal occurred abundantly at another station, but when seen
on May 26th the stems were small and young with no obvious signs of
bloom. On the same date I found Menyanthes trifoliata flowering well at
High Beach, but it did very badly at the culverted pond north of Ambresbury
Banks where it was trampled as the pond was rather low. Carex pendula
was flourishing in the same pond. I found two spathes of flower on Acorus
Calamus at an old station not far from the Forest. Thelypteris palustris
(Dryopteris Thelypteris) did quite well in its old station, where also Valeriana
dioica gave quite a fair show of plants, but at the time of my visit it was too
early for flowers. Ceterach officinarum was seen in some abundance on
the south-west brick revetment of a bridge.
B. T. Ward.