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the scrub at bay. It was at one time dotted
with encroaching hawthorn bushes, but now has
quite an interesting grassland flora. John
Dobson noted our only damsel-fly of the day, the
common azure damsel-fly, in some numbers,
usually at rest in the vegetation behind
Fairmead Pond. We also disturbed a number of
china—mark moths, with very beautifully marked
wings. The larvae are interesting in that.
they are aquatic. Oval sedge and marsh
thistle were also noted in the vicinity of the
pond.
Fairmead Pond itself provided us with the star
turn of the day - not actually apparent until
the sun came out - the clouds cleared
momentarily and the sun appeared and this
prompted the edible frogs into action. At
least 3 were heard. They have an extremely
loud, sharp croak, rising to a crescendo. You
could probably have heard them at least a third
of a mile away! The males, which provide this
rasping croak, have vocal sacs to enhance the
volume. It is not native to Epping Forest and
the ones we saw had been deliberately
introduced: just one of a number of times this
species has been introduced into Forest
ponds. Henry Doubleday (the 19th century
Epping Naturalist) released some and there was
a well—known colony in the Whipps Cross area in
the 1940's and early 50's.
Moving on, the edible frogs close, but native,
relatives, the toad (a young one, picked up and
admired!) and frog were noted. In a ditch by
the road the uncommon, and very poisonous,
umbellifer Oenanthe crocata, (one of the
dropworts) was spotted. Very few butterflies,