REPORTS OF MEETINGS 153
were observed resting on grass stems. A pupa of the Privet Hawk moth
was also found.
Tea was taken at Baird's Cafe and a room having been placed at the Club's
disposal by the proprietors, a formal meeting was held with Mr. Bernard
Ward in the chair.
Miss Mary J. Roland, of 101, Geldeston Road, E.5, was elected to mem-
bership.
An interesting discussion on the finds of the day ensued and thanks were
accorded to Mr. Richard Ward for his work in making the necessary arrange-
ments for the members to inspect this unusually interesting locality.
Ninety-two species of wild plants were recorded in flower. Most of
those seen were typical of chalk vegetation and included Melilot (Melilotus
altissima), White Melilot (M. alba), Fennel (Foeniculum vulgare), Red
Valerian (Kentranthus ruber), Blue Fleabane (Erigeron acris), Oxford Rag-
wort (Senecio squalidus), Great Knapweed (Centaurea Scabiosa), Musk
Thistle (Carduus nutans), Chicory (Cichorium Intybus), Hawkweed Ox-tongue
(Picris hieracioides), Yellow wort (Blackstonia perfoliata), Marjoram (Ori-
ganum vulgare), Twyblade (Listera ovata), Pyramidal Orchis (Orchis pyra-
midalis), Spotted Orchis (O. maculata), Bee Orchis (Ophrys apifera), Wild
Mignonette (Reseda lutea), and Weld or Dyer's Rocket (Reseda luteola).
VISIT TO HATFIELD FOREST (892nd Meeting)
SUNDAY, JULY 18TH, 1948
Even more than the usual interest in the weather forecast for the day was
evinced by the 15 members who gathered at Woodford for the motor-coach
trip to Hatfield Forest. The recent weather had been wet or dull and cold
and sunshine was essential if the butterflies which occur so freely in the
Forest were to be seen at their best. The morning was dull but the tempera-
ture was rising and bright intervals during the afternoon were expected.
At Bishop's Stortford Mr. Derek Ashwell, hon. secretary of the Bishop's
Stortford Natural History Society, who was to act as leader, met the party
and the coach then passed through Takeley Street to the Bush End entrance
of the Forest where it was left.
On entering the confines of the Forest, Ringlet and Meadow Brown
butterflies in good numbers were seen on the wing. A few specimens were
taken and an unsuccessful search was made for aberrations of the first species.
The marshy area to the north of the lake was then visited and considerable
time was spent in studying the interesting plants and birds to be found there.
Among the former Water Dropwort and Marsh Orchis were conspicuous
and among the latter several Common Snipe and Reed Bunting were seen
and heard. The Committee which administers the Forest for the National
Trust have very wisely erected barbed wire here to prevent the cattle from
destroying the bog flora.
Picnic lunch was enjoyed by the Shell House in the pleasing and sub-
stantial shelter erected in memory of the donor of the Forest, Mr. E. N.
Buxton, and his son. It was unfortunate that the weather was not good
enough for the Dragonflies to be on the wing, for 18 species have been
recorded around the lake and many would now be in season. As it was
the entomologists had to be content with specimens of Libellula depressa,
Enallagma cyathigerum and Pyrrhosoma nymphula.
After lunch a few momentary gleams of subdued sunshine gave the
visitors a taste of what the Forest could show in the way of butterflies. One
male Silver-washed Fritillary was seen on a thistle head and a number of
specimens of the White-letter Hairstreak were taken. Large numbers of
the chrysomelid beetle Haltica lythri Aub., both in the larval and perfect
states, were seen feeding on Epilobium hirsutum. A grasshopper of. a bright