REPORTS OF MEETINGS
357
Mr. Bernard Ward having been elected Chairman, he first thanked Mr.
A. Pettifer, b.sc, who had very kindly attended the meeting to advise
upon Bryophytes and had been most helpful to members throughout the
day.
Mr. Pettifer stated that he had thoroughly enjoyed the day, although
mosses were, of course, poorly developed owing to the dry spring, and were
seen in good form only in the boggy places. A total of about 40 species
had been identified, perhaps the most interesting being Aulacomnium
palustre found on Galleywood Common. Woodham Walter Common, with
its northerly sheltered slopes, stream-side and extensive bogs, had produced
the greater number of species.
Mr. Pratt then commented on the birds. About 27 species had been seen
and heard during the day. None of these was in any way remarkable.
It was disappointing not to have heard the Wood Warbler, but pleasing
that a guest should have recorded the Lesser Spotted Woodpecker in
Woodham Walter Common.
The Chairman then thanked Miss Jones and Miss Roberts for the care
with which they had planned a. most enjoyable day. Regarding his list
of flowering plants, he commented on the pleasure afforded by the plants
which were now completing their flowering before the leafing of the trees
shaded them for the rest of the summer.
Mr. Bartrop said that the only mammals noted were a live Common
Shrew and, on Galleywood Common, a dead Rabbit, victim to myxomatosis.
Mr. D. Chapman had recorded Large White, Small White and Small
Tortoiseshell butterflies and several queen Bumble-bees, probably Bombus
terrestris.
The meeting then ended, and, taking leave of those who had come by
car, the coach party set off for home via Great Baddow, Chelmsford and
Margaretting—a journey which was completed in the evening glow of the
sun which had shone throughout the whole of the day.
Spring Meeting in Epping Forest (984th Meeting)
SUNDAY, 15 MAY, 1955
Thirty-eight members met at Chingford Station for this meeting in
Epping Forest. The weather was fine, and conditions throughout the day
were well suited to the main purpose—that of the study of bird song.
The route lay across Chingford Plain, and during the first part of the
walk there was plenty of Chaffinch and Skylark song, while House-Martins,
Jackdaws, Starlings and Crows were seen. Passing along the edge of Hawk
Wood on the way to Pole Hill, Song Thrush, Yellow Hammer, Willow
Warbler, Robin and Blackbird songs were heard and many Swifts were fly-
ing over the ridge. The obelisk due north of Greenwich Observatory was
visited and some time was spent in the sunshine looking across the reservoirs
and east London to St. Paul's Cathedral, plainly visible in the haze. A cock
Linnet was singing on a Hawthorn here, and members were able to get
good views of the bird in full plumage. A Small Heath and a Wall butter-
fly were seen, and many males of the "longhorn" moth Adela viridella
were flying on the sunny side of the Hawthorns. The females of the species,
easily to be distinguished by their much shorter antenna?, were not yet to
be seen.
Turning north, the route then lay along the slopes overlooking the Lea
valley, and here a Whitethroat gave a fine display of song on the wing as
he mounted high over the thorn bushes. Chiffchaff and Hedge-Sparrow