16.
EPPING FOREST WALK by M. Hanson
The fine weather we have had this summer
seems to have brought about a proliferaLLon of
insects. During much of this time I was on
vacation from college and hence able to go out,
collect and observe insects and other aspects
of natural history. Most of my observing is
done locally in the Buckhurst Hill and Loughton
area. The forest, if one Keeps one's eyes open,
provides a good natural history most of the time,
but this year seems to have been rather excep-
tional for insects.
Starting off from Buckhurst Hill in the
early afternoon on Sunday 18th July the weather
was hot (29 C in the shade was later measured
in the forest) with a few clouds in the sky but
the generally warm sunny weather was obviously
much liked by the bees and grasshoppers which
were buzzing and chirping and making a rather
pleasant symphonic backdrop everywhere I went.
The walk proper started off near the Roe-
buck Hotel and proceeded down the narrow grassy
ride adjacent to French's Farm. This is always
a good spot for butterflies and I was not
disappointed for here feeding on bramble flowers
were Meadow Browns, and a single Wall Brown, a
Peacock, a Common Blue, Holly Blues and Small
Skippers. I noted flying in the grassy areas
many Small Heaths and Essex Skippers recogni-
sable by the entirely black tips to the
antennae. There were also several Small Coppers.
On another bramble bush a little further on I
noted Small Whites, Green Weined Whites and I
also disturbed a female Purple Hairstreak, a
very prominent iridescent blue patch being
noticed on the forewing.
They are quite a difficult butterfly to
observe continuously in the field because of