TUB ALGAL FLORA OF THE RIVER LEB 193
We believe that the Toad (Bufo bufo) is very common in Essex,
but apart from our Epping Forest records we have only reports
from Dunmow, where it is stated to be common, Gt. Baddow,
Bishops Stortford, Chingford and Buckhurst Hill.
With regard to the three species of newt we have records from
Rochford, Billericay, Brentwood, Harlow and Bishops Stortford
concerning the Common Newt (Triturus vulgaris). Apart from
Epping Forest the Palmate Newt (Triturus helveticus) has only
been reported from Billericay.
The Great Warty Newt (Triturus cristatus) has been reported
from Galleywood, Gt. Baddow, Peldon and Abberton near Col-
chester and we have found a large concentration in a deep pond
in farmland at Rochford. When this pond nearly dried out in the
summer of 1961 a trial netting was made and it was found to
contain hundreds of immature Warty Newts.
It will be seen that a very extensive effort has been made to
try to ascertain the reptile and amphibian population of the
county. We feel that all members of the Club can be of great
assistance by forwarding to the Recorder any records they may
have or can obtain. In this way we could build up a picture of
where the various concentrations of these interesting creatures
are, or on receipt of a record the team can investigate more
intensively the given area.
References
Fitter, R. S. R. (1949). A Check List of the Mammals, Reptiles and
Amphibia of the London Area (1900-1949). London Nat., 28:
98-115.
Wheeler, A. C. & Malenoir, G. (1959). A First Report on the Reptiles and
Amphibians in Epping Forest (1958-59). Essex Nat., 30: 179-188.
The Algal Flora of the River Lee
3. Volvocales and Chlorococcales
By E. M. F. Swale and J. H. Belcher
(Freshwater Biological Association, Ambleside, Westmorland)
This list is based on the results of an investigation of the
plankton of the River Lee (Swale, 1962), a general account of
which has been published by Swale (1964). The river was sampled
at weekly or fortnightly intervals over a period of more than two
years from five stations between Rye House and Waltham Lock
and from one at Roydon on the Stort. A brief note on the physical
conditions in this section of the river and its tributary has already
appeared in this journal (Swale and Belcher, 1959).
All the species were found in the plankton samples, though
they are undoubtedly also present on the bottom. Although the
diatom Stephanodiscus hantzschii is the dominant organism in