Journal of Proceedinys. xlv 



part of the ancient Forest of Essex. Hard by was a meadow locality for 

 adder's-tongue (OpJiiofjlossum) and Orchis Mario, known well to Mr. 

 English, round the borders of which some splendid plants of Equisetum 

 were growing. Keturning to the Forest, we crossed a bog where the 

 white-rot (Hydrucotyle vuliiare) abundantly illustrated a dei)arture from 

 the normal foliage of umbelliferous plants, and here a few sj)ecies of FiDipi 

 were noted, liuasula vesca, with its rosy pileus ; Marasniius urcns, a 

 poisonous species with a very pungent odour ; A(jaricus fuHcipen and A. 

 ajjpendiculatus — common, but welcome when other forms are not to be 

 found. Here also we met with Stereum inirpureuin, an unusual sight at 

 this season of year ; usually the plant is only found in perfection during 

 the winter time. Passing onward through a rushy swamp, which in 

 spring is always gay with flowers, notably Galtha palustris, we cross the 

 new road to Gayne's Park and enter the fields known as the " Lawns," 

 where in days gone by Mr. English tells us the larvcs of the burnet moth 

 {Z y (jcBtia JilipenduJa) used to swarm, and where at early morn the vagrant 

 cuckoos could be seen feasting on the unsuspecting caterpillars. From 

 the "Lawns" we enter the fine woods, which, although contiguous, are 

 known by the several names of Gaynes Park Woods or "Birchen Copse," 

 Hawk's Hill and Ongar Park Woods. Having previously noted Bartsia 

 eu-Odontites and the yellow rattle {RJiinantiius crista-galli), we now come 

 upon a third of the semi-parasitic Scrophulariads, the cow-wheat 

 {Melampyrum pratense) ; and in a ditch, then dry, near the site of the 

 "Centre-tree" (now a thing of the past, but the seven rides or "wonts" 

 converging still mark the spot), was abundance of the skull-cap 

 (Scutellaris yalericulata), with the wood pimpernel and the money- wort 

 {LysimacJria nemorum and Numviularia). Here Mr. English, from a well- 

 remembered spot, obtained abundance of the rose-bay {Epilobium 

 angusti folium), E. Jiirsutuvi, E. paluHtre, and E. obscunuii being also 

 noted during the day ; whilst their graceful ally, the enchanter's night- 

 shade {Circcea lutetiana) was abundant. On the trunks of the oaks we 

 noticed many specimens of the fine moth, the "black arches" [Liparis 

 monacha), and one or two of Epunda viminalis ; whilst among the 

 butterflies the fresh Gonepteryx Rhamni, some Vanessidce, "gate-keepers," 

 " blues," and " skij)pers" were welcomed as very old friends. The alders 

 yielded many specimens of a remarkable stalked gall on the upper side of 

 the leaves, the work of one of the Phytopi or gall-mites (perhaps 

 Ce2)h(iloiieuni jrustidatwii, Bremi.) ; and on the majiles were thousands of 

 the reddish leaf-galls of another mite {Gepludoneum myriadeion), and the 

 wild roses bore "bedeguars" in abundance. Taking theEj^ping ride, one 

 of the seven, we descended the hill, noting the fungus Lactarius pipeiuitus 

 on the banks, regained the Coopersale Forest, and then made for the 

 gravel-pits. Here Hottonia palustris, we were told, had once been 

 common, but had aj^parently been exterminated by the gravel-digging. 

 But we found a nice SpJiaymtm bog, containing abundance of a plant 

 somewhat rare in South Essex, — Menyaiithes trifoliata, — the eathory 



