that the habitat was 'a very peculiar one' for I. pumilio, and that the record was 'open to
doubt'. There are no other reports of the species from Essex.
Lestes virens (Charpentier. 1825)
This species was included in H. Doubleday (1871). as 'rare" among gravel pits'. A
sceptical editorial note was added by R. McLachlan, who subsequently wrote
(McLachlan. 1884) that the species was doubtfully British. Aware that he was casting
doubt upon "the late Henry Doubleday's discrimination' he pointed out 'the great
difficulty that often attends the determination of the species of Lestes'. W. H. Harwood
(1903) was no doubt echoing McLachlan's judgment when he noted the species as
'doubtfully British', its only claim to appear in his list being that 'Mr. Doubleday
believed several specimens had been taken by himself at Epping' (Harwood. 1903).
Gomphus vulgatissimus (Linne, 1758) Club-tailed Dragonfly
This very local species inhabits moderate to slow-moving reaches of a very few rivers
(the Severn. Thames. Wye. Arun and some of their tributaries) in the southern and
midland counties. The species was first recorded for Essex in E. Doubleday's list (1835).
and the only subsequent record was given by H. Doubleday (1871). He reported it as
'very common at High Beech, and occasionally seen at other places near Epping' (1871).
Doubleday's record was repeated by Lucas (1900b), Harwood (1903), Pinniger (1933)
and Longfield (1949b). Pinniger (pers, comm.) recalls some scepticism about
Doubleday's records of this species in discussion with W. J. Lucas many years ago.
However. Pinniger's recent experience of of G vulgatissimus in the Thames valley leads
him to give more plausibility to the Doubleday records. Certainly, the recent
observations by Kemp and Vick (1983) of the species on the Thames and Severn
indicate a strong tendency of newly emerged individuals to disperse away from water,
and to make use of nearby woodland and scrub. They point out that individuals have
been recorded up to 10 km. from their rivers of emergence, so that Doubleday's
observations of the species at High Beech could indicate a past breeding colony on the
Lee Navigation, a mere three km, or so distant.
Oxygastra curtisii (Dale, 1834) Orange-spotted Emerald
This species formerly occurred on the Moors River in Hampshire, but has long been
supposed extinct in Britain. Doubleday believed he saw a specimen of it. but was unable
to catch it (Doubleday. 1871). R. M. McLachlan subsequently commented (1884) that
Doubleday may have seen Somatochlora flavomaculata, but this seems hardly more
believable than Doubleday's own proposal. It seems to me possible that the confusion
may well have been with G. vulgatissimus.
Orthetrum coerulescens (Fabricius. 1798) Keeled Skimmer
This is a local species of wet heathland, sphagnum bog and moorland. There is one
record only for Essex. The Campion brothers took a single male in Epping Forest, near
Chingford, on July 22nd, 1900 (Campion and Campion. 1906b). Both E. B. Pinniger
(1933) and C. Longfield (1949b) referred to the Campion brothers' record. I have no
other indications of the presence of the species in our county.
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