NOTKS — OKR-.IN.M. AND Slil.IiCTlil ). I3I 



all males, wiili one exception. It is probable, if the weather improves, that the 

 butterfly will increase in numbers ; but I fear we cannot now anticipate a repetition 

 of the prodigious flights of 1887. Cynthia cardui (summer brood) has appeared 

 in very great numbers, frequenting the Black Knap-weed fringing the cornfields 

 and lanes near the sea ; patches of this plant with dozens of this insect, and " Red 

 Admirals," " Blue," " Copper," " Wall," and " White " butterflies settled on and 

 flitting about the blossoms in the sunshine, sometimes presented a marvellous 

 spectacle of ever-changing colour. — W. Cole, East Mersea, August 15th, 1892. 



Monotropa hypopitys (Yellow Birds-nest) in Epping Forest. — On 

 examining a bundle of letters from the late Mr. James L. English, 1 find that on 

 July 26th, 1887, he sent me specimens of Monotropa from Epping Forest, which 

 he had just gathered, probably from some spot in the forest near Epping. The 

 observation is worth recording, as the plant is rare in Essex, only two stations 

 being given hy Gibson : namely, Audley End and Danbur}'. — W. COLE, Buck- 

 hurst Hill. 



Damasonium stellatum in Epping Forest. — Mr. Britten writes as 

 follows in the " Journal of Botany," for August, and although it is true that 

 the specimen found by Mr. Powell had been wilfully introduced (see ante^ p. 

 117), Mr. Britten's remarks are interesting and suggestive : — " It is unfortunately 

 onl}' too certain that this pernicious practice of plant-introduction has been 

 carried on lately, but I think it at least possible that the case of Damasonium may 

 be one of survival. When living at High Wycombe, in 1867, I found the plant, 

 in no large quantity, in one pond on Naphill Common. It decreased in abund- 

 ance iluring the next year or two, and I searched for it in vain in the neighbour- 

 ing ponds. On revisiting the place in 1890, I found it in its old habitat, and 

 also, in much greater abundance, in a pond and marshy ground at some little 

 distance. This year the plant is exceptionally luxuriant in tiiis latter pond, the 

 specimens floating in the water at some distance from the margin being the 

 largest I have ever seen. There is no reason to suspect an introduction in this 

 case ; and it would be interesting to know whether Daniasoniutn is one of the 

 plants which disappear for a time and then re-appear. It was formerly frequent 

 in the Wanstead and Epping Forest districts (see 'Flora of Essex,' p. 326), and 

 Mr. Powell says it was ' found in Wanstead Park soon after it was thrown open 

 to the public' The 'English Botany' figure (t. 1615) is from a Wanstead 

 specimen, and Sowerby gathered the plant ' frequently in Wanstead Park ' ; and 

 Edward Forster notes on his specimens in Herb. Mus. Brit., ' In ponds and 

 gravel-pits on the forest between W'althamstow and Wanstead.' I am inclined 

 to doubt whether Mr. Powell is right in classing Damasonium as now existent in 

 the forest area as an alien, but the lamentable action lately taken renders it 

 impossible to come to any satisfactory conclusion." 



Local Scientific Societies' Committee of the British Association. — 

 We understand that successful meetings of this Committee took place during 

 the Edinburgh Congress of the Association. Prof. Meldola, who has usually 

 acted as Delegate of the Essex Field Club, was Chairman of the Committee, and 

 Mr. T. V. Holmes (who is now Secretary) represented the Club. The subject of 

 Local Museums was brought forward, and will probably form a leading item in 

 the Agenda for the next year's meeting. 



