138 THE ESSEX NATURALIST
should be confined to Wanstead Park, and I should be grateful if
anyone noticing symptoms of such an attack on Sycamore
elsewhere would advise me.
THE LARGER WINTERGREEN IN ESSEX
A New County Record
BY GULIELMA LISTER, F.L.S.
THIS plant, Pyrola rotundifolia L., was found growing in
some abundance under trees, near Grays, Essex, in August,
1948, by Mr. Richard Ward. It appears to be a new record for
Essex. Three localities for it are given in Henslow and Skepper's
Suffolk Flora, 1860, where it is described as "very scarce." In
Hooker's Students' Flora of the British Isles, ed. 2, 1878, the
characteristic features of P. rotundifolia are given as the orbicular-
obovate leaves, the ascending stamens shorter than the long
decurved style and the minute erect stigma lobes—all of which
features are seen in the Grays plant.
NOTES AND OBSERVATIONS
The Future of Audley End House. Members, especially those who have
visited Audley End with the Club, will be pleased to learn that the preserva-
tion of this great Essex mansion has been assured. It has been purchased
from Lord Braybrooke by the Ministry of Works who will maintain it as an
ancient monument. It is intended that the state rooms will be opened to
the public and that eventually the rest of the mansion will be used for educa-
tional conferences. The purchase includes 100 acres of parkland and the
16th-century stables.
The ancient Abbey Farm, once used as almshouses, has been virtually
presented by Lord Braybrooke to the Chelmsford Diocesan Board and is to
be adapted by them as a residence for retired clergymen.
Lepidoptera in the Southend district in 194S. The Water Ermine moth
(Spilosoma urticae Esp.) used to be taken here by Whittle, but I have
no recent records. I was therefore very pleased to take one at light on
July 11th.
The Cloudy Hop Pearl moth (Anania nubilalis Hubn.) is still spreading.
It has turned up locally in several new places and has reached the shores of
the Roach and Crouch, where I took it in two localities in which it was not
found two years ago.
The Oleander Hawk moth (Daphnis nerii L.). A very large specimen of
this rare immigrant was found sitting on a motor in Leigh-on-Sea, and given
to Mr. V. G. Robson, who passed it on to me. Unfortunately it was kept
from October 1st to 4th before being handed over and during this time it
broke about 3/4 inch off each upper wing. I was informed that it was abso-
lutely perfect when caught and it is still a very good colour.