4 7
the morning, six members turned up and were
rewarded with dry and reasonably sunny
conditions. The main purpose was to record
Lepidoptera but the rain had driven roosting
adults into deep cover from which they were
not easily dislodged. However, 46 species
were identified, ten of them common butter-
flies. The incidence of recording in this
10 km square (TL 43) is low average for the
county, amounting to just over 500 species,
compared with over 1,000 in the neighbouring
TL 53. Consequently there was scope for
additions and five species (three macros
and two micros) were added to the list for
the square, the most interesting being
Ancylis laetana (a micro) and the popular
lutestring (Tethea or), both recorded from
larvae feeding on aspen .
Observation of flora is less dependent on
weather and several interesting plants were
seen. The roadside verge opposite the
entrance to the wood is designated as a
nature reserve because of the presence of
crested cow-wheat (Melampyrum cristatum).
This colourful semi-parasite, which is
illustrated in colour in Jermyn's Flora of
Essex, was in full flower, and is doing so
well that it now extends beyond the bounds
of the reserve. The rides were also full
of interest. High Wood must be one of the
best sites in Essex for betony (Betonica
officinalis) , which intermittently carpeted
the ground. Another botanical find was
the round-leaved (or broad-leaved) fluellen
(Kiksia spuria).
A. M. EMMET