46 THE ESSEX NATURALIST
magnificent insects occurred locally. I do not see why the Purple Emperor
should not be found in our woods. If they were in the county years ago, why
not now?
Swallow-tail butterfly in Essex.—A female of the Continental form of this
species (Papilio machaon L.) was taken on Canvey Island on 7 August 1950 by
Barrie Whitley (Entomologist, 84, 106).
Silver-washed Fritillary.—David Cunningham reports (Entomologist 84,
112) that he saw two specimens of this butterfly (Argynnis paphia (L.)) in one
wood and at least five in another wood in the Saffron Walden district in 1949.
Book Review
Wild Wings, by Frank Stuart (1951). London: Victor Gollancz. 14s.
In writing a book about birds the author is faced with the problem of con-
veying his ideas in the inadequate language of man. Inadequate because this
medium is designed to express human emotions, and to interpret the behaviour
of wild animals in terms of human emotion renders the author vulnerable to a
charge of being unscientific.
Mr. Stuart has used his very considerable knowledge of wild things to
describe a year in the life of a Pintail drake and his companions. The method
adopted steers skilfully between the dangerous rocks of anthropomorphism
and the shoals of arid fact. The story is one of almost continuous danger and
hardship and the still imperfectly understood age-old forces which drive birds
to face their hazardous journeys.
Many readers will be encouraged by this work to study the beautiful and
wary duck, to decide for themselves whether Mr. Stuart is right or wrong in his
interpretation.
R.W.
Report of Council for 1951
During the past year two more kindred societies have been welcomed in
becoming affiliated with the Club. They are the South-East Essex Natural
History Society and the Natural History Society of the Thurrock Technical
Institute.
As will be seen in the separate reports, the indoor meetings at West Ham
Municipal College have continued to be well attended, very varied in their
scope, and full of interest.
During the year eight field meetings were held in various parts of the coun-
ties of Essex, Suffolk and Hertfordshire. Although the summer was excessively
wet the weather was graceful and kind on almost every field day. Visits were
made to the forests, the chalkland, the marshes and the parklands of the
county. In August the Club visited Flatford Mill in Suffolk. The Flint Trade
Way meeting took the members into the pleasant lanes of Hertfordshire and