iP 7 - 4

27 APR (972 §

, The Reading Naturalist

a a cs ¥ ria) “CRAL re) .

No. 24

Published by the Reading and District Natural History Society 1972

Price to Non-Members

i 25p including postage A

THE READING NATURALIST

No. 24 for the year 1970-71

The Journal of The Reading and District Natural History Society

President:

Miss L. E. Cobb, "BSA!

Hon. General Secretary: Hon. Editor: Mase J, Toothilil, B.Se., Ph.D. Miss E. M. Nelmes 15 Birdhill Avenue 27 Westbourne Avenue Reading No ton, W235’. RG2 7JT 63L

Editorial Sub-Committee:

The Editor, B..R. Baker, Miss L. E. Cobb, A. Price, Miss J. M. V. Housden, Miss S. Y. Townend

Honorary Recorders:

Botany: Mrs. B. M. Newman, Harley Cottage, 25 Beech Lane, Ri sae Earley, Reading

Entomology: MrwvB. KR. Baker, 5 Dovedale Close, The Mount, Caversham, Reading

Vertebrates: Mr. H. H. Carter, 82 Kennylands Road, Sonning Common, Reading

Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire Naturalists' Trust:

Hon. County Secretary (Berks.): Mr. B. R. Baker, The Museum, Reading

CONTENTS

Editor's Note Meetings and Excursions, 1970-71

Presidential Address: "What makes a man?" C. J. Leeke

Pink frogs from black spawn

(Rana temporaria L.) A Priée

Some notes on the life-history of the Mullein Moth

(Cucullia verbasci) A. M. Sandels Wild plants of central Reading M. V. Fletcher

Some "Ramblings of a Nature Lover" W. A. Smallcombe

Honorary Recorders! Reports:

Vertebrates H. H. Carter

Entomology B. R. Baker

Botany B. M. Newman Monthly Weather Notes 1970 16 tAnD ELA Mgon Atmospheric Pollution 1970 A. E. Moon Monthly Weather Notes 1971 A. E. Moon Atmospheric Pollution 1971 A. E. Moon Membership

Page

13

16

17

25

28

33 42

4? 48 50 51

32

ee

We have been experiencing difficulty in setting material, and particularly the Annual Reports, through in time for inclusion in current issues of the Reading Naturalist.

The dates by which records and articles need to be sub- mitted are given below. To the Honorary Recorders:

All available records by September 30th. Supplementary records made about or after that date can be sent in up to the time of the Annual General Meeting, but

any received after this may be held over till the following year.

To the Honorary Editor: Original papers at any time up to the beginning of October.

Short reports and notes by

November.

= Oi of Meotings and Excursions 1970-71

Mr. C. J. Leeke delivered his Fresidential Address entitled “What Makes a Man" at the Annual General Meeting (atterdance 57). Two evenines were ievoted to merbers' exhibits, talks °nd slides (42 and 46), attention at one of them beine directed csrecially to books. Films were shown at two meetings (44 and 41), and teere wes an afternoon necting for the study of snecivens under the microscope (6). The lectures delivercd at the remainines indoor wectin:s were “Huropean Conservation Year", by t'rs. U. Fowen (20); "A Visit to the Galapa-os", by Wiss D. Mazon (46); "All Galloway is a Garden", by tir. R. Schardt (40); "Nicrian Hvisode - Veretation and Birdlife", by Dr. ™. V. Watson (35)s3 "Lichens", by Dr. K. L. Alvin (29) and "Meteorites", ty Dr. M. Yey (25).

Winter walks were held on 5th Decerber, Woodley for birds (attendance ©): Qth January, Eversley “ild ‘owl Garden (12); 6th February, Reading for lichens (13); 13th March, Clecve for

fosses (1).

The suxrer field meetines were: 17th April, Beenhnn woods (14); Ist May, Moor Corpse, Tidzarsh (c. 40), l2th May, Pangbourne College Woodland (c. 18); 15th May, Clayfield Corse, fiiwer Green (15); 26th Kay, Enslefield Park and Lake for bats (10); 29th ley, Cothill Fen (14); Gth June, Woods neer Marlow for birds includin= the nishtjar (15); 12th June, Urner Warzrave, Bowsey Hill ( ); 26th June, coach excursion te the Cotswolds end Bristol Channel (31); 3rij July, Collee Wood, near Gorin:, and Bix Sottom for the study of srasses ( ); 24th July, Kennet at Sulhempsteud for waterlife (21); 28th July, Central Reading for town plants and aliens (16); 7th Aveust, Thurle Down (3); 21st Auvust, Swyncorbe Downs (15); 4th September, Turville ill (31); léth September, RBucklebury Lower Common (15); ani 9th Cetober, Fun-us Foray at Kingwood (c. 40).

-3- The Presidential Address

and District Natural liistor October, 1970

to the Reading Society

The study of fossil man has rade sreat strides in the last twenty-five years and has become increasinly oxcitings with both tne discovery of several new species and new interpretations of old ones as “ore srecimens become available. In the last 100 years or so since Darwin destroyed the idea of the separ:te creation of each species and iired men to look for their own ancestors, and in particular the "missing link", interpretations of fossils have ranzed fron the erudite to the ludicrous. An example of tne latter was the description of an carly arphibian fossil as "the remains of sorie poor sinner drowned in tne flood" (Gritish Museum - Nat. hist.). JI hasten to add that the «suseurm hed fully sevoured the humour oi this century-old error.

This ms esa the ye crSEay in all biolosical Studies to be able to recognise unerringly the organism under observation. In the search for.the origins of man one is delving back in tine, with an increasin> paucity of specimens because, durint the critical veriod, the Miocene, apes flourished but the coniitions were not bd aaa ive to fossil makins, particularly in Africa,

mere it is now believed human orivzins occurred. ue reerer one a, tne cririns of a sroup, the sraller are tie differ- ences ketween it and related eroups. The scarcity of srccimrens reuces the ranve of form due to-a7e, sex and other causes vncertain, and it becomes extrerely difficult to judze: pr nerher a fossil is of one. -roup or another.

In order to understand sowethine of this problem the first task rust be to show tne relationship of the varicus Frivates.

CHART I (HiOMINIDAE ( (HGMINOIDEA ( PONGIDAR ( ( (SUB ( (HYLORATIDAE ( ( (ORDER _ (CERCCOPITHECOIDEA _ ( (SIMIAE (CEBOIDEA ORDER PRIMATES ) (SUB (TARSIOCIDEA ( { ORDER ( LEMUROIDEA ( tk

( FROSIMIT (TUFAIOIDEA

B, MELES A, Closed orbit, B. Open orbit.

a5 =

The Tupaioidea are tree shrews, close to the. besal insecti- vore stock. The five senera are widely distributed throushout the Par Fast.

fhe Lemuroids are smell to mediumesized, sostly noccurnal, orimates couprising three Malavasy farilies and one which occurs in the far ast and Africa, with altocether fiftcen gercra.

Tne Varsioidea is a ;roup containinz one fawily anu one cenus; there are three species and twelve subspecies. "hey occur on many islands of the Ialay Archipclazo

The Cercopithecoidea are Old ‘iorld ronkeys with six Asien ~enera, seven African senera and one “enus, Macaca, co: von to both recions.

fhe Old World (Catarrhine) monkeys have close, obliquely sositioneis nostrils that are casily distingvished fror tae flat and broadly spaced nostrils of the New world (Platyrrhine) wonkeys who also may have prehensile tails.

The llorinoidea are ran, and the man-like ares. The sroup conteirs three families; Hylobatidae, Gibbons, with two cenera comprisins seven svecies and seventeen subsrecies; Fonsidae, Gorilla, with three subsrecies, Chirpanzees (Pan), with two svecies ans three subspecies, and Orang Utan (Pongo) with two suvbsvecies,:and Yominidad, Man (fioni0) with one species. Of course many foscil genera. and specics are also inclv’ed in the Uorinoidea. — ‘ii

4s LeGros Clark pointed out it is inportent to dictircuish Clezrly between iorinoidea the larger croup and Vominidse, the fanily of ron... fiominid fossils have tne maddenin: habit of being not only svaree but also fragrentary, with a few welconre exceptions. It is therefore of prime importance to be sable to recognise ~rimate frasnents from other warnals and to distincuish horinid fror ponzid material.

The rost frequent finds are skulls, usually broken, jaws and teeth. In primate skulls, the orbits arc enclosed at tre back whereas they are‘open in other mammals (fis. 1): In noriin- ids the dental arcade ‘is arched, whereas in vongids it is square (fig. 2). Obviously smaller Spc sionts micht require. other disernostic criteria to identify them, such es the number and iors: of cusps on teeth (fig. 3). Tooth patterns chance slowly and . eee ana are so characteristic that Dr. Davidson Black vias able to name Sinanthropus pekinensis frori a sin-le tooth, before the marvellous finds in the cave at Choukouticn wore made. The oresence or atsence’ of a waxiilery fosse or a diasto:a, the Position of the foramen warsnum, the forr of nuchal crests (fie. 4) arc Also cxamrles of these criteria.

-§- FIG. 2 Pongid and Hominid dental arcades and palates.

Gorilla. Australopithecus Oho. prskeeer ty ~_

FIC S. ‘he occlueal surfaces of the left , lower second permanent molar ot A. Dryopithecus , a Miocene ape and B, Modern man. ;

The typical ¥b pattern The typical — 4 pattem of Dryopi thecus, . of Modern man.

_— FIG 4, Diagram to show the position of nuchal crests (dotted areas) in several hominoid. skulis (seen fram behind).

A, Pan,

B. Australopithecus.

c. Pithecanthropus.

dD, 10s

= oO =

Lacking series of fossils to show the range of for and “variations due to are, sex and other. causes, workers had 2reat

difficulty when faced with describins and namin= one fre:mcntary fossil, and the older the fossil ‘the srester-the diffiecvlty. If it was primate and associated with stone tools,.a-euphevicm for weapons, it was senerally accepted -as horinid., If not, then it was open to considerable variation in interpretation by ditfer- ent workers, and heated areuments were not unknown. As “ore fossils become available it is possible to revise ésrlier narinvs with some degree of confidence an:i so Pekin man is new considered to be the same as Java man and both are considered to be of pre-Neanderthal stock.

To aid in corparing anirals of different sizes, in order to determine whether they core within the ranse of form cf a par- ticulrer sroup or not, it is useful to express sone measurcrents in terms of otcers. Good examples of this are cranial indices in which 9 skull of any shape or form can be orientated ina standard way s0 that-measurements can be made and prozortions calculated which would have relevance to all specirvens. The. sxull is oricntated so that a streicht line from the orbit to the auditory meatus is horizontal, the Frankfurt plane, and measurerents are made perpendicular or parailel..to thet.vase (fics 5).

Palacontoloists have suffered from several traumetic exceriences. Not the least was "Piltdown ran", which was brilliantly exposed by LeGros Clark and Oakley, and of waich Howells anc others were so critical even before the last «reat ware In "Mankind So Far" Howells wrote that "FPiltdown fan" was the main imreiimnent to producing a farily tree for hurens.

Rarliert, at the end of the 19th century, Dubois save up sis teachine post in Holland to take a medical post in Jéve in orjer to search for the "missins link" where he belicved wankind had its orivzins, and most surprisingly, within two years, Jiscovered in the sands of the Solo river a cranium and «a femur, which he naced Pithecanthropus crectus. It was the bold statencat of a young self-confident ran which burst on the staid world of pfal- acontoLlogy lone before it was ready to accept thet aan walkes upri¢ht before he,.becarme sapient man. There were such arcuments as to whether the feviur belonzted to the skull, whether Pithecanthropus had achieved speech, whether, indecd, it was human or not, that Dubois retired with tis fossil froi the fray for twenty years.

By 1916 the -eneral uproar had subsided and Dubois" thesis that Pithecanthropus was an upricht hominid was accevted. then, in 1922, another youn man, xayrond Dart, an Australian «ho stucied in London und took a teachin: nost in South Africa, discovered the farous ‘taunzs child's skull, which’ he nase.

FIG 6.

A. Female gorilla skull.

Cranial indices shown in respect of gorilla skull and australopithecine skull orientated on the Frankfurt plane.

Bo Australopithecine skull...

= 10 -

Australopitheecus africanus and claimed as an anccstor of wodern mane It too was heavily criticised, so taat Dart withdrew from the seene for a number of years. The arguments were that a juvenile covld develop more. sirian features as it matured, it bac small canines because of youth, it had not been fully dev- eloped from the matrix and so the form of the teeth was not fully avparent, one skull was not enourh evidence, and the mixture of roek and Latin in the name was very bad forrn.

Dre Broom, a South African, found further austraio:ithecine remzins at several othcr sites ani in discussion with Dert, per suaced him to work up the fossiliferous breccia from contempor- aneous lincstone cave floors. i Ps,

Both Dubois ani Dart were attacked for yresumins thot their finds were hominid and not hominoid in the absence of stone tools. Men was. considered a tool raker, therefore any fossils not associated with stone tools were highly suspect. Notwitastandin:; that the stone tools themselves also showed an interestin evolution, it was nevor considcred that there rirenht- be 5 pre- stone culture, or.that man had experixented with othcr »atcrials. Thus it wes that the analysis of fossils fror the associated wreceia showed sore surrrisins results. Many baboon skulls were recovered, cach with a double, indented fracture to tne left sarictal recion. ‘hen snown to a police vatholocist, he commented thet "it looked like’ mayhem committed with an early blunt instru- uent", .Later it was found that the distal end of an antelope femur nicely fitted the injury. Tne conclusions to be Jrawn here sre that Australopithecus was a carnivore, thet he hunted and atc, amone others, taboons, that he was richt-hanided an! used the bones of Sis prey as wearons.

The bulk of the bones found were of herbivores 22: ‘Neon

analysed (Chort II) it cen be seen trist they were nivh'y selected.

Chart IJ. simplified list of non-nouinid bones Fron “akapanssat POSSil Zones Bovia hon=ovid

jertebra. 229 A oe

scapula 126 5

rurerus | 518 1i

Radius :f 550 5

Clns~ me TOZ 2

Tnnominate i Le , us

Tenur ' 1¢1 . 2

Vibia . i 183 2

Tarsal ‘carpal 209 u

- etacarpal 5350: 7

i etatersal 278 17

Phalanzes 43 Lk

Skull /rarts 108 8C

Horn core’ , . ae EG --

axilla T72 80

vandible 369 : : 11

- ll -

Few vertebrae and no ribs were present, yet these sre the nost numerous bones in a skeleton. Such bones as were found were numerically in direct proportion to their frobable usefulness; ferora, hureri, dentaries with teeth (herbivores - serspinc, carnivores - slittin7) an} so on. Sore were broken with use, but many showed consistent breakage such as vould hapron if they had been fashioned for a purpose. Indced, these bone ricces were shown to be extraordinarily like some welleauthenticsted bone implements made only 15,000 years aso at Kalkbank in the Cextral -Trensvanl.

Yet in spite of this similarity and the weight of the state istical cvidence, there was considerable antaronisr to Dert's "“Osteodontokeratic" culture of the cscutnern are. It was consiid- ered, and this was a view which had been. .avrlied to other cave finas of tris sort, that these nonerrirate tones represented the remeins of weals of hyaenas whicn had inhabited the caves at about the sare tine as the fossil primates. A considcrable weicht of opinion wes behind this view from wany erinent cal- aeentolorists including D. . S&S. Watson. Dart cheeked back the references to the hyaena theory to a German monk of the wid- “Ninetcenth century who had survested it to exrlain the sones often associ:ted with preehuran rerains in caves. He further enquired of rarie wardens, who know animal habits well, whether eodern hyaenas carry bones into their earths andj was sssured that they did not. One earth was extensively duz out and only the undavased bones of a tortoise were found. Now Dart rade a carcinal error. He stated that no hyaenas carry or curried henes into their caves or earths, Such a dosratic staterent was indecd impossible to vrove. fie night have been utle to convince reojle that his fossil bones were untouched by hyaen2s, but not that no such incidents ever occurred.

Jt wos very unfortunate that, just es Australonithecus had been welcomed into the horiinid fold, followins a study of the teeth by Gregory, its preestone culture was bein? disere:ited. In 1955 there was an Anthropolosical Convention in Livin:stone at whick Dart read his paper on the Cstecdontokeratic Culture of Australopithecus africanus. It receivei scant attention from those rrescnt, whe inclused L. S. 3, Leakey, and no-one bothered tc stén into the next room to sec the collection of bones laid out for inspection. A cursory ;slance would have shown that trese ¥Yossils were untouched by the rassive jaws of hyaenas, »robabdly the rost powerful bone. .crunchers amonm.gquarternary rarwols.

Tnere were no teeth marks whatever on ther, the only dsnacze was of a percussive neture. There would secm to be little ‘ovbt that the hundreds of fossil boncs carefully reoved fror: scveral tons of brecciz represented the srroury of an ancient meneape who had not yet lesrnt to knap flints, but who knew how to use those parts of an enirnal that bit or kicked him, and to select and store then avainst future use.

OW. =

It would seem that there has been a lot of erotional con- flict as well as scientific arzument and that the establishment woult not budee fron old views, nor assinilate new oncs without a consiverable arount of evidence. This is not altozether a bad trinc, but it does sometirecs mean that procress towards the truth aay be slower. The demolition of "Piltdown Man" was 4 steam- roller cracking a nut; drillinegs taken fror the jaw and skull were =hysically very diffcrent, two or three sizvilar simple tests early on would have saved a rass.of verbiaze. Even today Dart's "Dono, tooth and horn" culture is not cenerally accepted for his southern ape, although such inplsemrents are readily accerted for much later men who already had a stone culture.

surely the useful lengthenines of the reach by wieldin: a fomur or nurerus would commend itself to a priwitive wins more than usins a large pebble which would bring the hunter into danverously close proximity with the prey?

what rakes a man? In the words of Joad it depends what you erean by 2 rane

C. J. Leeke.

References

Ardrey, x. (1961) African Genesis. Collins, Lon<on.

Dart, a. A. with Craic, D. (1959) Adventures with the Nissinz Link. Hamish Hamilton, Lt1., Loader:

Noy, Me H. (1969) Fossil Man. Paul Hanlyn, Lonton. Towolls, Yi. it. (1944) Mankind So Far. Anerican Wuseuy of Nat-

ural History. Science Scries, Vol. 5 (U.S. Armed

_). Forces edn.) Doubleday “ Co., Inc., New York. LeGros Clark, #. F..(1958) distory cf the Primates. 6tu edn. ‘ ‘: British Museum (Nat. Hist.), Lonjon. Manter,! ds. J Jand Narier, Fy. H. (1967) A Handbook of Living Primates. Acaderic Press, Lonion. Oakley, ea Man the Toolraker. British Museusz (Nat. vist.) ; London. Third PonsAfrieun Conzress on rre-history = Livinestone, 1955. ed. Jy. D. pind icin iach Tiondon, 1957.

15 -

Pink Fross frow Black Spawn (Rana _terroraria L.)

by Arthur Price

On 14 March 1971 a pismented female fros, Marfcr, cauchter of Mickie, a rink (i.c. albino) double recessive (cc) male, and herself sinsle recessive (Cc) for vigrentation (Price, 1971)was placed in the north rond in the Froghouse with the 1967 ce male. Tne expected result of this mating was:

ce male x Cc female ------- Cc Cc cc cc

The frovs went into amplexus on 23rd March 1971 andi on 25th fParch 550 wl of black spawn was laid, 23% of which was fertile. A totel of 400 tadpoles hatched out of an expected 1,750. All of these tadpoles were pigmented but it was hoped that some of thez. would lose their melanin and tecome pink frojjs. This div not hapren, and about thirty pigmented frogs were placed in tue Froc- house to provide Ce breedins riatcrial for future years. The assenee of pink frozts could be explained by the fact that the expected 50% ce frors was in the 77% of the spawn that did not Hatch. It nsy*be possible to repeat this ratine in 1972.

fhe matines of the 1968/4 pievented ferale with hickie, ce male, resulted in the layine of 350 ml of fertile black srawn. On 25th March 1971 rost of the tadnoles which hatched covelene? norrally, ovt on 16th May, thirty-one lerless tadpoles, in which the welanin was breakint up into ratches, were isolate:. Three Similar tacroles were found on 30th May. By 27th June, the mélanin had entirely disappeared and on lith July six sink frors were feedine on aphids. te thus have pinx frozs seen to develop from black spawn, Sralleombe (1949) haa sutsested a sisiler eccurrence. All of these fross cied within two months of meta- worrhosis. The small nurchber of pink fross sucsrests cross-over as the cause of their lack of pisment.

After fertilisinre Yarfer"s black svawn om 23r7 areh' 1971, tne 1967 ce maie was offered to one of the 1968 ce female frovs. The result was imvediate azplexus. On 24th March, 100 "1 of white spawn was laid, 50% of which proved to be fertile. It develope? normally and by 17th July seven pink frors were thrivins on aphids and srall insects. Four y;ink frors were still clive on 2th November, the lercest being 40 wm lon= and wei: hins 6.76 =.

Twenty-one of the pink frozs bread from the 1967 ce enle ‘and tise 1966 ec ferele in 1970 sre still alive, but their rrorress in developrent 4s ‘slow “ue ‘to their ‘poor sivht and the fuct thet nore than the ortirur. number were retained in oricr to =rovide bréedin=‘stock for the future. ‘our of these frozs excecd 48 cur in Dength." So far only ‘one vele has been identifica but as fiftecn of the frogs are leés* than 47 re. in lenrth rore i ales could be scund later.

La =

In adfition to the thirty. hybrid pirmented frove (Cc) fron Marfer'’s sfawn of 1971, there are in the Trorhouse anrroxirstely wenty-four second year, pizrenated frocs froe the ratings

1968/10 wale x 1968 ce fewale

and these should certainly be Cc. . Four of the males, some over 50 mn lone, have been seen, two of which could bresd in 1972.. If ticse walcs cre crossed with sore of the 1966 ce feralcs the results covld be of creat interest.., The three older,, 7i,s:ented frovs in the Trovhouse, namely The Matriarch (96 wm, 85 ¢), 1965/4 female (80 “em, 49 ¢) and Marfer (75 rm, 535 =), arc hibern- ating in the water, under a stone slab in tne north ron’. Sore of the smaller frogs are hibernatines unjecr wooi out of the water.

Durin: a visit to the Highmoor xoad Pond on 2lst February 1971, seventeen dead and decayins frozs were tound. <iany were fenales, sore of which containc’ white snawn.,. irse Jefiery stutes that some dead frocs were. secn in the pond in January. A few has been ovened up ventrally; the pona does contein »olifish, newts and several pairs of the water-bectle Dytiscus ;o2rcinaiis L. Deed frogs heave also been reported from two other ponds ‘Jurin; tik Sere period end unaer similar circum:tances. This thenonenon could be explained by a deficiency of oxynen arcraveted by the continuvin: dceay of detritus in the pond throughout the :ild winter cf 1970/71. Only five clumps of waite srawn were found in this pond ir the spring of 1971. 411 of which were rensve" to 6, Jiansficld Road for study. Three clumps produce} 100 recess- ive todzoles which picmented as they developed, whilst .one smell clu; ylelded a suall number of .pink tadroles,.--none of swiich metacorvhosec.. A. percentaze of the samples were roturncd to the ronde

tho, fifth clump of.white spawn yielded a sicnificant per- entavc of pink tadpoles... This clump contained 275 #1, of spain and the resultins tadvoles were 75% recessive, which rismented, and 25% pink. - The ,.ink, tadpoles dineluded, ja highen vronortion of kinked tad-oles (Price. 1967) than is norral but those which were not «kinked sverarved 40 mz in lenoth. During rectanorphosic these froys exserienced «reat difficulty in foreinz the front les out of the operculum. Some did not succeed whilst tnoce which dil hac elcnched lers which were not functionel. This condition was confiruwes by two other naturalists who undertook to rear some of tris srawne A reat many frozs retanorcnosed3 none survived. The -rovortion, of the different types of tadpoles, in the 25% clump secng to confirr: the earlier sussestion that. the albino strain is xainteined in this .pond ,by, Ce .x .0c matings.

It, becune essential, during 197) that :tae Uirhmoor sioad wond snould be cleaned out. as it was becorins pro: ressively more -ollute by decaying detritus. , On 28th Cctober the vrond wis covcletely exptied, cleansed out and refilled with water. During

75 «

this oper:tion fourtcen adult, pigmented frocs were found, all oi which bore the chzracteristic black patenes of this strain. They were found in the mud around the lily roots and undor the rats of marginal vegetation. All fourtcen frogs were males.

Van Gelder (1971) states that he also found males and no ferxles ina vrond durin: the winter. wWe rust balance avainst this fact the discovery of dead females in the “irhaocr Rond Pond Jurins Jeaucry/ebruary 1971.

Surmary

le No pink frogs resulted fror the matine of Marfer, « Ce forale,) with the 1967 ce male in 1971.

ink frors were reared from black svrawn.

ciurp of white spawn from the Tlishnmoor oad Ponsa yiclded & eet tadpobéesta.e.-08 Coolk® Ce ratinre.

4. Four pink frovs were bred from the white spawn laic by 1968 -cce female rated with 1967 ce rale.

Aenin ry thonks are due to a ereat rurber of peorle who have helped. They also serve who only stand «und listen.

References

Van Géeldcr, J. J. & Hoedmakers Ii. C. M. (1971) Sound activityoand rizration durins the breedin = »criod of Rana temporaria li, Re. arvalis Nileson, Pelobates fuseus Leu,

and Re esculenta L. Journal of Animal sacolozy.40 no. 3, cd 74 aed : Pre D5G—*50G.

Price, A. Readines Naturalist Nos. 19 (1967), 20 (1968), 21: (19 65), 22 (1970), 23 (1971).

ee rte goW hia (1949). arbiais sin Runa temcorsaria Journal Sa sneides 49 NO» 3, Pp. 286.596.

oe

Sove Notes on the Life-history o of the

MULLEIN MOTH (Cucullia verbusci)

by A. NM. Sandels

At the end of June, 1969, sore thirteen strivin ly patterns? caterpillars were observed feeding on a cultivar of Vorbescur: blattaria (“oth Mullein) in the zssrden of "Stonceroft", C! Chirrin: Torton. As similar larvae had bcen secn previously feciinz on nigrum (Pleck Mullein) ana Serophularic aquatica (Water Fi-wort) they were identificd as Cuculiia verbasci L.

Harly in July,.two of the largest larvae were brou:lkt in- doors in order that the pupating stace might be observec. Soue of the food pl>nt and a container with soil was vrovided, ans within two iays both caterrillarse had constructec cocoocrs of earth and small stones "cenentec" torether with stranis of fine silk. ‘hey were oval, about 1%" x 1", and attached to cach othcr. By the riddle of July all the remaining caterpillars excc:t one hag disapveared = presumably they had’ cone to earth.

Yne two cococns were xept in an open contsiner on the kite cxen winJowsill ¢urins the ensuin: nine months. At tic end of Avril, 1970, a newly erersed roth, light fawn and brown in colour with very razed wins wirgins was seen flyins around tre kitchen Jichkt in the late cveninz. A second one everved a day or two later. About 2 week later the two roths were cliced ja the carly cvenins on the wopdy sters-of Potentilla fruticosa (Siru »dy Potentilla? in the near vicinity of the food-plant. She 1. oths blended well 8 the backround cf: fibrous — both had dis-

ppecred by the followins mornings.

A exreful watch was kept on the Mullein plant, and just over

a week later a nurber: of pale creen, domed and ribbedsecrirs, laid sincly, were observed, nainly on the, underside of the leaves.

By the end cf the fitst week in June sore sral] larvae, zbout %" lens, vale coloured and with aprerently dark naorizontél etri;es were seen, an! the evs had. vanished.. These larvae quic'ly increase in size, and soon the characteristic yellow >=tches and black warkinzg were visible, The larvae bean ty crntins the leaves of their food-plant, but as they increased in size they roved upwards to feed on the buds and flowers, for which at

nis stare they exhibit a ureference, thoucvh if these arc not obteineble they will resort azain to the folia;:e

Ry the end of June all the caterrillers had jisarpesred,

fone 1o earth, and thus head corcpleted their life-cycle undcr the ooservation of a botanist.

= a7 «

4969. July 7th. 2 larvae brouzht indoors (nearly fvll-fed) July 9th. both pupated. 1970. Avril 30th. one roth ererzed.

Nay 3rd. second mrcth had or er ed.

may LOth. moths placed outside.

May 19th. evrs seen on Mullein.

June 7th. small larvae apvesred.

June 10th. yellow ana black rarks visible unicr lens. June 26th. all larvee “one to carth.

WILD PLANTS OF CENTRAL «GADING

bye gi Wod Metcher

The weeds, 2liens end other wild _rlants of Reauin: constit- ute one of the rost colourful and distinctive “rov;:s in the loesl flora. Thouch often only represented oy swall nunbers of

the nugber of species is surprisingly larse.

In the 10 «r.. frid square containinz Readinz, about 700 S.ecies were recorded in Dr. Fowen's Flora of Berkshire. ..Tnis total is only equalled'in one other syuare, the one containin: poee Of Oxford. The’ total is*thnot fully rclevant since ib includes rany- plants. found in the country near xeadinz, ,tut ansent fror the centre of tne’ town. The oresert account is,of 2 ef@all arta of wasté cround, old houses-and -arders in the inner Svuburts, pounie?-to the West by London Street, to the South by Longon Ro»d,*to- the North by the kiver-Kennet;—end inclucing the rosés as far cast as the ‘Vechnical Collceze and Ceretery Junction. This’ crea, of less’than }° sq. kx.. has been built over for vore than © century, and contains very few-oririnal native! ;lantse Several interestins species which occur just outside thc crea | ars exeluces., Even so, over’ 150 Ssfecies-“ave-been seen, several are rare or even new to the county, and sone distinct couiunities seve formed. While rarities will receive a vention, .the bul of the account concerns the behaviour of the connwoner plents in sn entirely urban settin:.

Any list of-species.is bourd—to be arbitrary ir such an areca, for «at least threc reasons.—-First, wuck of the ~round consists cof rriveate zeardens, which are inaccessitle ana invis- ible to the public. Sevcral tlants kriown to'‘occur.bout not Vasivle fror any rublic richt of way kave been omitted. Second, the distinction between nutive, established, casual and

. -

.

ware u

wo OS we

J, specics arrear

cultivated clants is meanin-less in towns. Third &1l in the o;cn

or Secore extinct far more often than is. usu copntry.

As vicht be cxpeeted, there are many annuel or biennial

serecic Of the 132 mentioned, over fifty arc annual or biennial. About ehaety have secds which could te exrceted to travel lon: istanees by air, including many of the most successful specics,

es ,eciclly the Compositae ani Lpilobiuw spp, with a feathery parouse The larze nurber of foreizn introductions, about thirty-five, is noteworthy, also the fect that some of the cor-onest of these, esvecially the ubiquitous Senccio syuzlidus L. (Oxford racwort) ani Buddleje davidii Franch. (Buddleis) were unknown, or very ruch rarer a century 4:0.

The plsants will be mentioned in conncction with their rost haracteristic habitat. "Habitat" is rerhars too crend oa tern for the unrromisinsg niches to which these tlents are so well adanted. All the cormrunitics are fairly oven ones in which chenee arrivals can rain a foothold, and rany species are likely to be found cslrost anywhere.

The nomencleture (inelusin* most in-lish, mares) isc, with few exceptions, as in The Flora of tne British Isles, end esition,rby Ciapham, Tutin and Warburz.

m3, - 14

Tne banks of the Kennet are cesented, exeecrt for tic strix of “round cy .,ucen*s Re-d car. nark, on-weich is fous the only

senhienaturz1l veretation in the ares. Alnus -lutinoza (L.) Geertn. (Alder) is orly found here. There are cpt | trees and

secclin:s, tosether with Acer pscudoclatanus L. (sycamore) which aspears with monotonous abundance on att waste. -rounie Ynere is also en ash Fraxinus excclsior L., 4nd a corron sallow, S#lix cinerea SSP. “atrocinerea (Brot.) Silvs & Sobr. Toth are occusion- ally self-sown elsewhere. Thore gre sore characteristic water- side herts, includine Epilotiur hirsutur L. (creat hairy willow eee Serophularia ayuatica L. (water cetony) anu ce larce aterslc sec peli Pees Etet Curt. (sreat cond sed:ve). . Nuphan. lutes (L.) Se. (yellow water lily) srows sub:.ersed in tho. swift current heabeys The rouch turf here contains a few coon ’ erassland plants little seen elsewhere. These include Achille= villerol L. (yarrow), which has spread widely by .the cer nark, cyrericunm verforatur L. (corron St. John’s wort), Eypockocris radicats L. (eat’s ear), and Arrhenetherur eletius (Le) Jd. & C. Presl. (false oet srass). Euratoriun cannabinuni L. (hen; ceriweny) gay have oricinated ty the water but is abundant on este round nearby, and is a cclonist.of davp.erscks in the area thouch less often reaching seeding size in-such situations,

WALLS

The only flowerins plant charactcristic of brick walls is

‘halaric ruralis Gacrtn., Mey. & Scherbh. (ivy-leaved toadflax). cin. s perennial with a lone secdins season and with secd trois which dischar:e their secd into the crevices of the wall, it has on unigue civantasejover all other plants, which normslly beco%e estsblishned on walls by chance. However, the old lincstone Kallis ani crurbling oolitic lirestone around the houses ss fidon aoad suanort a few characteristic plants. ‘these are Cory?talis lutea (L.) DC. (yellow furcitory, Antirrhinur cajus L. ee

"ro cen)sad Centranthus ruber (L.) oC. Cred valcorian). Sy these walls have also been seen Gkhclijonius osjus Lé;(yrenter celandinc) @acgoParsly, Varictaria diffusa vert. & Kock..(walkl ipellitory),. Curysentaceur portheniur (L.) Bernh. (feverfew) is also corron-

.

cst in the-cardens of the lirestone houscs.

'=I 4 Fe

sporcs do not becoze extablishe: on the loose cry

effi. exce:. tin dump eracks agoni,eement or-bricks.s. sive .¢pecics hove been noted, all on walls. Pteridiun sguilinur (L.) <uhn (bracken) does; row,in two;zerdens, cossibly jrlantec, svt it is rore freuuent.in arstunte! form around croken, zuttcrs on wallss Ferhaps itj;urities washed down in the polluted town rsinwater enable it to survive in a norally.calesresus habitot. re commonest ferm secn on rost darr walls is Dryopteris filix-nan fu.) Schott (nate Fern}, TE is never well develoved, but sone- tires, fertile. .Cthcr eloselyrrseleted seecies rsyrpossievily cccur. Phyllitis scolo-endrium (L.) Newr. (hart's tonscue) is lose froguente A single vrlant of Aspleniur. trichomanes L. (°sidenhair splecnwort) on.a damp lireéstone wall iied hen. the <sutter stove was revcired., :Scattered tlonts occur ,in,other gartsjot exntral eGacine.* A. small colony ,of Folyvodiun. vulv-are J. (-olynody) “rows on 8 Slopine cement rockery wall in Rldon Gardona.

PAVIMEW? CRACE ¢)

a rn ne re ne

Thece are the rost!obvious niche in’all towns. Orly érall Yantie can “cvelop Tuliv,°ani they dre subject’ to woediss and Secasion: 1 extersination by weedkiller, esrecially at the heivht ofthe -rowins season. Thouch plants ’waicnh vain a hols have littic comnetition and enjoy constantly noist coil umicr the tare mae, few specics can maintain a’ vcrmanent population in ceverent erse<s aisne. Outstandinsly successful is Poa annua DL. (irnual Poa), which can be found in Central London, far fro. 2ny othe possible habitat. In kKeadins it is’ by far the corroncst pavee mentecrack vlant. Jt has relatively few secds, which -=re not adarted for wind dispersel,. On the other rand, it «rows ind secds throushout the year, and'‘can run to at Peant threc -enere- ations ir this tire. The isportance of this lon= sesson was JeZeastrated by a fine colony of Senecio sguelidus on a slopin: brick well in Sidrouth Strect, which was destroyed by wecdkiller in June 1957. This nlent secis throushout the year, and has

recovercd its forner ebundance. Savina procuzbens Le (“rcocunbent PCuclwort) has also reanpeared there, tut Conyza canadensis (L.) Cronge (Canndian fleabane), which produces a far lar-cr nurber

of seeds, thouch only between Auzust and October, wes extcrrinsted.

Nevertheless, saverent cracks are constantly recolonised from celsewhere. <Agrborne seeds are the “ost lixcly arrivals an? those trushing azainst walls and fallin= to their base have an advantaice. So perha;s go small or nointsd sage A whienscen lojve in tufts of ress. Common annuals Are Senecio syyu:lidus, Conyza_conaicnsis, Senecio vularis L. (. rounceel), Sonchus olerecéus bs ae thistle) and Stellaris media (L.) Vill. (chickweed). Srall willowherbs are coon, Epilo obiur irsutur, ie iontanue (Chesadldeneey: willowhorb), C. roseur Sehreb. Ceenll- flowcred willowherb), and ks tetra onur “Le sey. lavyi (7. Schultz) Leveillé (syuare-stemned willowherb) have been noted. Others probcbly occur. Chameencrion anvustifolium (L.) Secor.

1

(rosebay willowherb), thouch not common in si Pogue Sitat rearby,

has cee secn several tircs in Saverent cracks The ch#nce nature of cst arrivals is chown ty the reed Geney with which unex<ceted+:lants (ani‘thererare quite = let of ther) en Be

traced to. sw nearby “arden. |Such escapes ineluce Anenenc:hybrida Paxton (Jupancee ancvone), Chrysanthenun 2axirur Ration: (.°re suerite or Shasta daisy), Dicitalis surypurea* Li '(fox*love), Traceseantia virviniana L. and Verbascum tharsus L. (rullein). Perenn'al plants are less well rerreserntei. “Tarsxccun officin:le weber (Jandelion) is the commonest. It Si-ht be expected that the perennials wentioned later, with rnizoics able to crcep alcn= cracks énd survive ‘weedins weuld bé more coxtons rerhsps colonics of such ;lants receive individual’ ettention if trcy becore too successful. However, two revarkable olents with this hebit are known only in pave7ent deuaRe. Foth are -rasces. Pou subcoerulea Sx. is frequent in sevcral roads near Sidrouth Street. This species is recoried in *Plora of the’ british Isles" as Pe pretensis L. ssp. irrigate (Lindm.) Lindb. f., < ase ro aries by Dre Cs. Es Hubbari as invalids 'the plent is not con- siverec by sove botanists. as a specics distinct fror FP. yratensis. Tne keecine plents are vory similar’ to those identiiied as FP. subcocrules at Sonninz by Dr. Hucbard (See Grasses. Rentine Waturalist no. 23 (1971) ;. 28). Tae leeves are stron 1; hoodci, and when youns ors,,in.the local,..zlents,; stiffly erect #n2 con= cave with o-fronounce?’ dark blue tinze on the upper surfaces Setaria cconiculats (Lan,).Beauve, a tropical Areriean,rass, formed 2. -ood,coleny by a pouphei pez wall,in Sout: Strest. It wes, probably introduce.) in tirdsesd, persistel for two ycars, until 1970,.2an3 set,7ood seec...The,dark. rec ,anthers, arc,con= Sspicuous on youn: flover hoadcs fro: July»to_ September. Tie only otrcr nerenniazl srasses noted in :averent cracks “re Loliur ~erenne Le. (rerennisl rye -rass) ani Festuca rubra L. (res fescuc). Nema

- el -

GARDENS

Those are the cf the houses, the 650i] ensure a diverse

richest an

flora,

ronce riren

iorcste liany coryon wecds of

listed ,witzout. coment.

Carsella bursa-: Eats ‘wisr(hs Ll.)

Chenopodius albur L. (fat hen), BEuree) » .

eee creeane; Lariusa pur annua L. (annual vercury lettuce), Foly-onur

urens — Le (Buxbauri's ani ivy. spe comroner,). On herger “round (T: Cae cress) and Plantaso ma The annual

and Hordeur dominate dry isturbed.

mber of introduced as of thew echieve

mative in this. “roun, -(oziun popry) is rerer still. (cvenin™ prirrose) is bers of windblown seeds, period of atleast four (sari o1:}) is comvion, ani seedine scagon.

NUK:

planted. Del phiniur

Culenduila arvensis

orientale

eost obvious varicty of their occu: esrecially of neat rectan-les of sterile soil to incipient Gisturbed or arable land ecun, be aethusa cynapiuz.

He helioscopiea L. (sun epurec, rare), Galiun ourevs. Le (red dead Mercurialis rersicaria L. (spotted ;ersicaria), Urtica L.~{annual nettle), Veronica edwells; Arabidous jor Le (crest plantain) crasses Anisantha sterilis (L,) Nevski (barren brove), rurinun L. (wall barley) are also cor soils two or three ye

core interestins sarden sporadic Fapaver rhoéas Le, (ficld toppy) ais the, only Nowsh: NOt. COrron. Oenothera crythrosey,ala frequent, whieh in my ‘CarSe persists.in:tee,face Lon eyo: sore uniforely colcures flowers than those L. J. Gay (*arden larksrur) is sorcticcos

FPR

habitats. Tle e ana pve 4 aie

Gerdens

Ants, annuals. eyenno

burp fookis., cer:

Medic. (shepherd's purse),

(jetty sparine

Euphorbia peplus L.

nettle), muralis.(L.)TEeo.. (weil

HETsica, Loar sg,dhd) Ver cacra the latter is the

sis thaliana (L.) “eynh.

Aare rComEn oO and

On, ay

2ars after they neve been and striking annuals an? bie clants~ atnear in ~anden

sbundance on sisturbe: somniferur i.

Rorbas larce insted

Pe

its success ts sarden heve ver Calenitula officini: of woedin:, aide ropulations aiintg reecntly mardene

and

owes

naturalised

appeared in one

rlented, but is weil established in cardons nga? queens Road, snl is often encours-ed. lost puzzlin: is Eur horbia lathyrus (caper aback noted in threc places. Tie seed of the last two srecies cannot be very effectively disrersed,,and rany of their’ soradic aypesrances may be fronjylons dormant, seed. esa) naeviticks ra CAV. ‘(Kew-weed) has cxistea for at Least four years uy queens xoad, rut has not seread or becorc plenti ful. Ji.aticns -landulifera Foye’ (Policeran's hel-et) is Serecacin™ rabidly in ssverali BEGERES aiaed by its.explosive ecedrods, and Iripaticns rarviflora io coaty balsar:), cotabe digsnes for soue years onrthe old 2 ge Site, arscared in Sivscouth Street carden im 1971.” T have seca; both.srecics

coe ge on weste

-round in otuer towrs,

but. netywmety ic

re

Tie is

Te,

ilis at

ibs

x a

§524 .

WASTE GR2CURD

Tre interxittent enthusia of rany loesl -ardencrs iro viccs ideal conditions’ for ann dais an’ bienniais. ‘“nere nezlect is srolon«c4, ni esrecially’on the weste cround in Kewtown, 4 “guite different selection arpesrs. Ferennials, esvecixlly those with creetins rocts and stolons tecoze ifportant. Ti coorronest are ‘Aesorediur podacraria L. (ground elser), Acrostis stolonifcra (crecrin> bent), Aster noviebelzii L. (Michaelras (daisy;

cultivated forrB+gersisti cut cnly the "wild" fore with pele rauve. flowers about 1 em. in diaseter scers to arresr from seed}, Cirsius arvense (L.) Scop. (creevine taistle), Convolvulus arvensis Le (bindweed), Lariur albur’'L. (white dead nettle), Ruccx crisrus L. (curled dock), Solidaco curadensis Ls (olden rod), Trifoliur: rezens L. (white clover), ana Urticn ticles I. (stincin: ncttle)s Festuca rubra ‘is*¢cr2zon, and’ Nolevs*lanatns L. (Yorkshire. foz) is atund-nt. Other srecies véentionc: luter arc’ Also cotton) es«ecially’ where there’isséore traurlin., ora lot of rubbish’ or rubble... Less/counon are. Dictylis slorerata’L. (cock's-foot crass), Cirsiut vul) are (Savi) Ten. (specr ei tle), RULUS Grp. (bleckxbcrries, three recorjs, two of cvltivstcd forrs, tac third of 8. ulrifolius Schott.), Silene dioica (L.) itd by, (re? cerpion), S. vul-aris (Moench) Garkes (bladdcr ex: ion), Solanur dv et Te L.' (woody nizhtshade), Tussila-o ferinra L. (coltsfoot) and isolete? sterile or darae4 Cruciferne, incluijte ip Hbokrcdt 19 Diplotaxis and Sinapis es p. "qually consi jcuocus thourvh ruc ::ore rare, are‘ Foly*onurl-cuszijatur Sies. & AUCes, Cle: atis. yvitolba L. (treveller's joy), larchenocissus tricus-.

tdata (Sich. &'Zuce.) Flanch.:(Virvinia creecver) arn} Hu- ius Lupulus i. ner.

A scwuecession takes place as the cormon annuals arc crowded out of elivbut the sost° burren ‘patches’ of* rucbie or *evint, Wie rerénnial nerbs are in turn shaded out by bushes and trees. Sycamore is overwhelsin:ly abundant, Sarbucus’ nizra L. (elder) is common. “Sone jlur and apple, andooecasionnal-a6h, at tir. Puddleia secdlinss aré ¢orrmon. Thcy reach scedin: size. in three or four years,!and on hears of rortar or rubble beeo...' tre don= inent lant. ;

In‘’a lerre’varien between Ort's ond Ant! Kints xofc, nevlectei for over twerty yvoars, -a fairly steble*state hxns been reached, The alroset “ature pee pe a nearly all of sye>, ore, caste a: dense snade’ in whieh" little Frows. "In the 1alcs AePr= onnial «rasses forr av’denbe vat’ fror -whieh- 234-anbals—an lV youn tréts ‘ape ¢xeiuied, "The enotony OF this “round is *re-srkaupes

A*curicus shrub,‘ Lycitm hedirifolivuy Mill. (téa’ tree) is etundant?in a ‘srnall area’ of Newtown, trailin: over*old ¢nlis Gnd nears (OL* rabble.

AS23

here -re several srall corners or strirs of waste land, wore affeeted by trampling, tbut evlhe to support rore and biscer plants than .a wavenent crack. These often develorc a ehvracter af their own, partly as a matter of chonce, wvertly beenuce of the very. cafifercnt soil and wiercebinate.s! A few square .Pect of wrpound aear Tldon xoac, facins north, and little affected ty huxzan ficet or litter, susports a turf barvely of lestucn rubra. the herd conpreted cravel avainst 2 south-facing wall iv The Grove has an abundant and inereasin=: colony of fMalva ne lecta wallr. (dwarf rallow). Further out fror the save wall ic Matricariz matricerioides (Lecs.) Porter (vinearple weet), a Seall ennual very resistant to crushin> by fect or even err tyres, where!’the -round is due or Jisturbel, many -arden weeds auoeare The south edee of .~ueens oad car wark is a stri- of hard litter-strown rubble, and ite plents sxsy be influcneed by thear extosure to surrnerqbreezes off a lerve area cof hot’ tarwac, or otirre? up ty ‘the heavy passin’ traffic. Artecisia vulwaris Le (couswort), which seretires ~rows on cxpoeed nar’ wins of the A4 rovd, is abundant here, an’? Fooniculur vuleere Mill. (fennel)

rsisted end seeded \for severcl .yearseo The cresence of Herp acrimony here has alresdy-been notedactA few rlants or es Seen in tsven siall corners include Arctium “inus sep. 21 (leseer buriiock, frequent), Altheea rosea CBA) cuts,

HK

==

hack « soretizics; a relie@.Jfnom Yor er ward fens), Sisyr ori es (lie) Seos. (hedie rustard), 7 _& ° TAlsixe clover). Polysonur arenastru: Bor. (ernie leaves knote wwase)) icy corg:on or tramzled round, [.. aviculare Ue (shoteraue ) say nccure talve wey Muse efi 5 Ino Coo: ron wallow) de wiscerreid ay! oye riuble, ranzine from short=ste*i ed! or “vrostrate (: orecib stunted) fors, aa ne erect ulart avout Iwo hish with leaves less than 5 cme across and derk earrine flowers. fFlents wit pals cuneate leaves in, jweens woe eur pork way be Winctisced, hut Balvive Gp oe an towns cisht be: worth core attention.

‘

he trees are, with the few Exec: ‘tions _ rlented, tacuch isolated .uvwercus ilex Leo Hols oaki,. Taxus beccata I. (yew), en’ Ulius slabra Buds. (wych cli) ~ay preedate tee bullt- inves. with whics they sre associuted. Trees not yet renticne ef which scedlings, appear, with some, frequency, are Betuls Hendula roth (silver birch), Leburnur cyroides } sfic. (leburnu: ), and Robinia p esoudosneseia be (pceacis). Sceclings. of yew and cf Ilex Squifoliue Le (holly) have arpeared rany tines on fare. coil, especially calce iWeOUS Sold in ry, sarden,, (tts Boop they are baby wWiicly pisperse?, by bards, do. cot seer to find A Sah OE conditions elsewhere.

GARD 48D FCCD PLANTS pm a ale EN a

Food lents are often records: ,, out have, no clain to. he

eo24 =

considered neturalise’ here, since nene of ther have rersistc!. Tre fLcllowiny have been seen: votato, tomato, broad bean, and

the birdseed «rasses Panicus rileaceur L. (-illet), Fhalaris caniriensis L. (canary crass, not seen recently), Setaria virijiis (L.) Beauv. (ereen bristle srass) and Zea mays L. (Tnacien corn, weich rarely even flowers). More worthy of cention ure «arden plants which rersist for sany years, cut-lack the atility tc disverse tieir ceeds or form new colonies. A-on- these are Convellearia rajalis L. (lily-of-the-valley), Mentha sricata I.

steiriint) en! Oxalis Coryrbosa DC. VWATIVE SURVIVORS

The cliest vlart cocrunitics I have seen are in tne -ericns of the older ouses, especially ir the wellemeintaine.: turf cof Eldon Garcers, and of sore houses nearby. This ray huve Sxistes in its ;resent for: for over a century. Lellis veresnis L. (Jatsy), Cerastiur holosteoidjes Fr. (cozron mousceear chickweed) and Flantaso sedia L. (hoary plantain) heave been seen in this old turf. Apkanes arvensis L. (varsley piert) is cbrundsnt in part of tac lownm iu Eldon Genrdens.

The Jifficulty of -winins access to sore than a few cf “theee olG wardens cakes it irrossible to jud-e which oririnal (lente hove persisted. Several s!ecies not seen clsewnere “row near and vehind trinity Con-:rejational Church, cut jo rot suevest 9 vest~ ice of countryside. The native for: of tledera helix L. (ivy) hanes over wolls in khldon YVerrsace. Jt was ,;robably o-rescat in the hed-es of Ort's Farr 150 years asow My own “order then I first sew it in 1964 containe few plants, but svon> the were Cirenea lutetiana L. (encharter's nivhtshaie), Geur urvenu: L. (woot avenc), ani Vicla riviniana Rehb. ssp. rivinians (correa violet). ‘ouch rerely visible fro. the road, these «liantse cceur in sore cther carcens nearby, which were walles off fror a 7Feved PLt and, waste sround in the 1876s. On the, other han’, the:first two huve hookei seeds which coul’ casily be sap epee: ae ot Cloth= ins, or) carried by cats Une vbolet ia eSundstit an 'h' enrner by wetlin.:tom Houses eins everrrcoen ’t.is $11) cgui; res to survive agon? & tense ~rowth of other rlants, and havin’ e len” secdin: sengon cuul! rearncar efter occasional weedine. Watlir- ton Rouse wae tudilt in 1688, ain open country, anti it is terctin: to con- Sider the: violet as: one: of the oldest’ inhabitents. An isolated plant bas apreszret in a caverent crack in The Grove.

CLIMATE:

It is not clear how ruch the plants in the area ove to the local clisate, and tow ruch to the specialised habitats svsilable. Airberne pollution, inclucin’ dust, traffic fures, ani especially sulphur dioxide have an overwhelzings efiecet-on-the oss and lichen flora, but no cosparable effects on the hivher -lsnts. Sone species ray have srecislised rineral necds whicn sre Lest

a Oe

ret in polluted areas. ‘The drier and warcer clizate may be isvortant. Thouch the averase terperature is little hivher then in the nearby country, anc sprin; bulbs, for instance, re little ecsrlier then in the outer suburwvs, there are sore incorte ant effects. The heat stored in sunny brick walls an’ lost fro buildcines »rovides substantial rrotection frow frost. The lowe st sround minicus recorded in uy carden since 1964 «ss. been - 8° Ce, 2rd no sround frost has been recorded between 20th Avril ani 50th October. - Many roe -thee-year clants make better progress in winter then would be rossible in rost country areas, inerecasin further es cir advantare over yphants with a cre rostricted secdins season, and cature vlents of Calendula officinalis enc valva Sppe often cverwinter without vcuch daracre. In suvrer, the slower fall of tecverature in the evenin: durin? hot weather <ay help sore s:ecies. The scareity of dew is vory CaPrkKed.

Tt is worth repeatin® that’ no final list of slents is ross- in =n srea like this. There have been cany gissions, sore cor fon plants which’ soretimes aprear. Many of “the plonts ven- ticned have been seen in sirilar conditicns in other towrs and Ape »wrt SP = ae ea "town flora’. Individwal ‘snecie:' of his “flora joven E “to have complex end rugglin= ecclo-ic:1

us,’ dad sore of ei coviun shfies they form are as’ woll “arwed Me those in tony netural habitats. Yet slants in-towns heave yweecives little attention. A-closée study of thes -if slocst cortain to prove rewardin>.

Teshousd tase to. tnank Drs H, Je Ms Bowen, Dr. C, be Mubbard and Hr. C, C. Townsend for succestin~ ocr checkin: the nares of soe plants I have «athered.

Sore "Rarblines" of a One ‘Lover" oh ec SO 2 ES 0 Se SD oe ee AS

by We A. Svallcombe

As far back as ty ‘erory, serves ce, arythine that wricc1led oa flew, ottracte? ry attention., Flowers always oye eore | pretty", while colour and shanes intrisucd3 cee. Even now,, I ee eas seeine a lurva of 4 rrivet Hawk Hoth at the to oe 2 riuct twit, wist after =~ stor: of rain. It, oceued tort dattie wieces of the-reintow had becn daced at.a slant slonickts brizkt -recn trunk. Whatever was that curved horn for? was it poisonous? . The followin: dvwy found ::e tellin: my sehovl fellows - *t.the request cf .y teacher = about ry find. Every citere jallar thit I found went into a tin or jar with bits of Leaves ani thus craduslly the life histories .of the Garden Ti-cr, Buff brcine, Cabba~e Moth, anja host of others beea:.e a onatural cart

Pg et

of vy life..:*ith paternal, encovrazerent, I, collected hurdreds, cf larvae of, Peacock enji Srall Tortoiseshell butterflies in = huce ca gc, and then, on the, sunny. day cf hnatehin: cf the -old-sranrled woae, wondered at the ciracle of these lovely ineccts tekin« their first: flizht into the World.

Of course: I kept Silkworrs - in oy bedroor © in a eardboard box an’ fed ther uron, lettuce or gandelion leaves as thcre was no Mulberry tree near. The roths meted within seconde of .cnerr- in: fror the cocoons.: Tho cardboard box han .a charecteristic cerfune, which I thoucht.was the natural smell of silkwor’s, an” it was not until I handled 4 cardboard tox soe 70 years later tuat,J realised that it wAS tac carcvoard and NCT the silkworus taat rave the odour!

But life was rot all insects. Frozs, Tosds, Newts, Snakes and Lizards came, within cy experience.) J hed aderze ~et Tcac in the ereenhouse ani also a Green Ligurd fror Jersey; I uses to think end believe that they both knew re, 25 did. 2 Grass Snake 4S inches lont, which I found, in the Cotswolds. ‘When at last I c2auekt ait, there was 3 biz bulee .in, dts body, aml, leter on, it vorited a darse dead toad in ry Knagsack. Frozs, and Toads always seerc.s to oreed in Separate ponds uni these avpuibians Woul. spend the winter undernenth a larce waterbutt in the care Jene (My involvesicat with the albino frocs in Keadin=, you no dovukt have read atcut, and the research beings carrie? out by Mre A. Frice ct the rresent tine).

Rirds were fascinatins and also their son::s with which I beca:.e very familiar. Fow intrisued Jd was, when I hears «y, first Nichtin:ele, Cornerake, Nichtjar and the Gresshov er “ar ler$ Cave the day when I tracked a nishtincele to its nest in a eopees Those five clive=brown ecz7s in s rouchly built nest; what a sensation it was - it was beyond anythine to ce. J crert away and later caie back and heard the parents sins - I trie:' to whistle?! At hoce T kept.a Macpie, Jackdaw, Jay und a Son. Yarush - but not in caves -bockes upe» Lafed them well ‘ut wert when they in turn cdicd.

As T crew up I consorted with a fine, very 2 cd naturalist - Mre H. od. Charbonnier of Olveston, Glose. . iié “trucnt V:c a “pont deal, incltudins the wonderful weys of “Ants. These “J studies closely for a nurver of yeurs ard kent sore vrlive tetween sheets of sless. “Cne ‘queen ant live? ‘for Five years in ‘the arte ificial nest snd the workers turied ner efter she ha! been dead for nine ronths, tut until turicl she "was cleaned ench icy, altrouvh her body wee broken into several perts. within » few “outnis T had acded’a nurber of “ant syecies to Donisthor; e's list for Sovergset and Gloucestershire. (This person thouzht that T wes @ tan, but I was etill in ny teens) kntorolory was 2 -reat joy “to ree “One dey, ‘cut “aronz "the Burnet ‘moths, Ie Ht a Ula

veriety sant then aoolden-yellow) fort, ant froin the letter reise? soa:c larvse, tut to «y ‘issust, tecy were all taken aray ty ants - tne ants richt have thourht)thcy, were teslin: with tree larvae of the Ler-re Blue butterfly!

Pass iechyetees, tue fun thet ry Care onion ang fT ha: when we went “sucerincs™ for-coths ore evenini. On the way to tre sluoce ie, ~areh for ccllectins, we rurchase.! a srall,trottle of xis in a “wbhie house. We :ixed this’ sath ‘the tresele ir a s'seial tin, rien -y frbend ehicocesy Bo the front of Digg Got. icrintaor our cycles a-cin = it wes “<ettin: dark’ + J hed-cause to recuke

wo iraer: tor’ lareane ochand on] twice ne fell off. -is cycle. At

eee se -ascover:. tbat’ the Grelloof ithe rik. encoura ‘ec: Sec thc brush sevirel* ti cs = an fnek ns .cene Garsy cud fine meee Fell anto a strear while s.rplying tos tngoels VON ae On o xrltuw trees srter nelvin” to siikhee—uteeye cil frion’'s cotta-e ans @ iair of oversizc! trcusers werd va Le iy gchlow ertccoly ic tor Nis ow; Were, Sosmed a ively e, KE Parevie reacne -"FistGl at otcericht ainezrins.core lise traces then entorolocists.

he ¢ 3 cr

RE tiie ;erzoc*of 2y Tite, 1 Aid’ not know £pAs e the }useu: WoPld-was tc he ry fate = out it hes teen ané.ry naturc tsuck- epount Was" Lecn extericd ver ruch over,.the years... Trerc: is not Brace fiers *to table ebout Geolory and Archetols:y whieh vere to oa > a-coci dead of ny tires Crenits been e a oe Pete ag Zon an!’ interest tove.s. To exverience the antense,; lc 6eein? the fionkey, He: Truek, Tro! , bee phys haeer: ae Sthers, nee tart extracriinary flower, the Leafless aa oer

‘roWLalenesr’ Scavine “has been e@ thrill that no’ soney eovl' buy. nese ex crie°ces hove brou ht +e ints contact with cary kincred SPirite, -eSjle whor J resrect end admire. To the, win vst Be ean naefers, I" pay trabute.. TI trensure their .cr ory, for they Pave shared ‘with ce the réal’ joy of “rartlins” in its true recnin®.

e*conmeluie tiche few “sacbieres seus: reecut enforee! ,crisit in‘a *etrog™ ee SUbGles Of Carocres!c¢ within ry Vrews “Tire Siskins were *s*écislly welco:.e.

a 3 ct

PISCES

AMPHIBIA

REPTILIA

« PO ~—

Recorder's Report. for Vertebrates 1970 - 71

by H. H. Carter

ZK found a number of dead Pike Fsox lucius L. on the edse of Aldermaston gravel pit in the spring and autumn of 1971. Most were between 300 and 400 mm, (12 and, 16") lone.

Bufo bufo (L.) Toad. . Still comron at Hill's Meadow, Caversham. Only one seen at. Priestwood in last few years (Mrs. Dalton). One dead on Peppard Road south of Sonning Common, 22.3.71.

‘Rana _ temporaria L. Frog. Very scarce this year in

the Newbury area (RSJH). Breeding in large numbers at a pool in Mrs. Dalton's garden, Priestwood, Bracknell. About 50 dead on road, presumably killed on migration to breeding grounds, New Lane Hill, Tilehurst, 20.3.71. 5 dead there on 28.9.71. and 10 dead on 12.10.71. In the same period and area Sincle corpses were found in Furley and Long Lane on 26.9.71 and at Cane End on the Woodcote Road on 30.9.71 (all ZK = compare with very similar observ- ations last year.)

Anguis fragilis L. Slow-worn. A male about 275 mm (11") long in grass at Spring Lane near Swallowfield, 6.12.70. One at Chapel Hill, Tilehurst, 26.5.71 (ZK). One.at Coley Park, 28.6.71, and a juvenile there next day (Mr. Winchcombe). A male, feriale and several young ones in a garden rubbish heap at Pangbourne in August. One at Theale gravel pit,

248.71 (ZK).

Lacerta vivipara Jacquin. Lizard. A close view of one at Theale gravel pit, 2.4.71, and one at Aldermaston pravel pit, 2.5.71 (ZK). One caught in West Reading near the Bell inn, 24.8.71 (RLN). Several on Burghfield Common during the summer.

Natrix natrix (L) Grass Snake. One 400 mm (15") long, sunning itself on a gravel path at Upper Farn, Gatehampton, 6.7.71 (ZK). One about 16 mm (6") long caught at Ideal Casements Ltd., East Reading, in October. A female 875 mm (34) in length from the railway embanknent at Coley Park, 18.4.71 (BS). A very small one, presumably in its first year, at Spencer's Wood (PAB).

Vipera_berus (L.) Adder. Two in Cowpond Piece, Padworth, 2.5.71 (BRB).

MAMMALIA

Insectivora

Chiroptera

Carnivora

~029-~

Talpa_ europaea L. Mole. Many fresh molehills south of Pangbourne, 4.4.71; also in Crowsley Park, 30.6.71; dead moles at Twyford gravel pit, 13.4.71, Manor Farm, 19.6.71 and Theale gravel pit 19.9.71 (all ZK). liolohilisa at Galiorstree Co-ion, Peppard Con- rion, Sonning Cormon and/ Twyford in January aye webruary. All these sites are on gravel, and the saue is true of most of the other localities near Reading where moles have been recorded. . They also agree with earlier observations in being either river valleys or level uplands, the intervening slopes being unrepresented.

Sorex araneus L. Shrew. Several spring and autumn records in the Tilehurst area from ZK. (February, March, August and October). Heard at Chalkhouse Green, Marley Tile pits and east ¢«f Goring in April, Moor Copse and Sonning Comrion in May, Bishopsland Farm south of Sonning Common, 15.7.71. One dead at Pangbourne, 2.9.71.-

S. minutus L. Pygmy Shrew. None seen by 2K or myself. An adult male found dead at Bearwood, 11.4.71 by BIP, one at Southcote, 8.6.71 (AF).

Neomys fodiens Pennant Water Shrew. On bank of Kennet above Burghfield Bridge, 16.6.71 (BRB).

Erinaceus europaeus L. Hedgehog. 3 records in Tilehurst,y 4.4.71, lleSe7l and 2005071 (ZK) of which the first only was a road death. Common at

Newbury (RSJH) and Priestwood near Bracknell (Mrs. Dalton), 2 dead on the road at Spencer's

Wood, 29.5.71, one dead in Ermer Green, 8.7.71, one _ dead in Sonning Common, 1¢e.7.71, 2 dead in Caversham Heights, 22.7.71 and 3.9.71. As last year, the

species is still abundant but road casualties are less than formerly.

Pipistrellus pipistrellus (Schreber) Pipistrelle. One flying by day near Aldermaston Wharf gravel pit, 27.571; one flying round the Abbey ruins by day, 11.4.71; one at Chapel Hill, Tilehurst, 11.4.71, 19.9.71, five there 9.10.71 (all ZK). An unident- ified small bat near Birchen Copse, Riseley, 15.4.71, and two unidentified larse bats at dusk at Theale Bravel pat... Fes 7Lal Gk).

Vulpes vulpes (L,) Fox. Several records from the Sulham area: Lrori.i.te. 70. to, 6.5eAks. one seen at close range in Whiteknights Park at dusk, 10.3.71; four cubs playing and féeding on the remains of a farmyard goose at Hattonhill Shaw, Gatehampton,

= 280 w=

16.5.71; an adult seen repeatedly carrying an object in its mouth in Birchen Copse, Riseley, 30.5.71 (all ZK). A male killed by a car in Greys Green Road, Rotherfield Greys, 15.1.71 and collected by Mrs. Nawell.

Droppings at Heckfield Heath, 29.5671. One seen at Bishopsland Farm, south of Sonning Common, 13.9.71. One dead on the A4 by the Travellers' Friend, Calcot, 11.8.71:.and a female seen daily between 8 and 10 pem. in the observer's arden at Padworth, 44,972 69-2259 Zh +( MGR).

One seen at Warwick Road, Reading, 22.5.71 and 25.5271 (GAB).

-Meles meles (L.) Badger. Status in the Sulhan area unchanged, with the usual pattern of sone setts becoming disused and others developed. Not yet affected by forestry operations (ZK). A female (as usual) killed on the road, the B3024 near White Waltham, 28.3.71.. One dead at Downe House School, north of Newbury, where there is a sett in the grounds, 6.4.71. Two adults collecting bedding and two cubs playing at Stonycroft Plantation sett 20.00 = 20.50 B.S.T. on 8.4.71 (EMT).

Mustela erminea (L.) Stoat. One adult at Sonning “Eye gravel pit, 204.71 (2K):

M. nivalis L. Weasel. Four records from the Kennet valley (Theale to Aldermaston) 4.11.70 to 25.4.71. An animal at Binfield Heath, 8.7.71, displaying characteristic curiosity, making repeated forays from cover to watch the observer over 5 minutes;

one dead on A329 at Basildon; one crossing the Woodcote road at the Pack-Saddle, 28.8.71 (all ZK). One Hazelmoor Lane, Sonning Common, 24.1.71 One found dead at Swyncombe, 25.11.70.

Artiodactyla Cervus dama (L.) Fallow Deer. Nine in Hungry Hill Wood, Wormsley Park (Chilterns near Bucks. border), 16.12.70 (ZK). One of the dark phase at Goring Heath, 24.12.70 (AL). Six feeding in coniferous woodland at Nuney Green, 16.5.71 (ZK). Two seen feeding in field then crossed lane into Birchen Qopse,. Riseley, at 20.30 B.S.T. on 15.4.71 (ZK).

A buck with fine antlers in Bramshill Forest,

50a5 eth. Cab )e "=

A doe surprised at close quarters by the RDNHS excursion to Clayfield Copse, Emmer Green, made off across an open field to the north, where taere is no cover, 15.5.71. (Tracks had already been seen in Clayfield Copse but until we saw the animal

LAGOMORPHA

RODENTIA

- Si -~

I was hardly prepared to believe in the presence of deer in this small and much-frequented piece of woodland on the edge of a built-up area.) Tracks seen in Sulham Wood, 5.8.71 (ZK).

Muntiacus reevesi (Ogilby) Muntjac. One seen in Rumerhedge Bottom, Goring Heath, 2.2.71

(Mr. Taylor). One seen on several occasions near Berkeley Avenue Reading up to 27.6.71 (DW). A mansled corpse with short antlers by the Goring Heath road near Collesewood Farm was probably of this species, 1.10.71 (ZK). (Unidentified deer near Inkpen were probably

C. dama, 28.4.71 (RAR)).

Lepus capensis Pallas Brown Hare. One on fields near Marley Tile gravel pit, 27.10.70, two there, 270567, one’ 964.71 (ZK) .°° One there 30.4.71.

One by Theale gravel pit, 6.12.70 (ZK). Two at Manor Farm, 15.3.71, one there, 14.7.71 (ZK).

One at Sonning Eye pravel pit, 13.4.71 (2K).

One at Summerhouse Plmtation, Binfield Heath,

a. 7.7 BiGGK een many records from Bishopsland Farm south of Sonning Common. as usual, but less numerous than in some previous years (maximum TIVE. Ofe 29s lag dea) s

Many records from Berkshire Downs, maximum ten OD. Fa fal ee kas

Oryctolagus cuniculus (L.) Rabbit. 2K provide many records from all the areas where they have been most active during the year, principally the Sulham area, the Kennet valley from Marley Tile Pit eastwards, and the Thames valley from Goring to Twyford. Most of these relate to Single animals, a few to two or three together. Higher numbers were four at Theale gravel pit, 254.71, seven in Englefield Park, 25.8.71, eight at Burghfield gravel pit, 15.11.70, and over 15 in the ‘Sulham area, 8.5.71, and in Crowsley Park east of Sonning Common, 30.6.71 (also ten there Gh vio a7 La) Other records include many from the aréa between Sonning Common and Reading, and from the areas conered by ZK including ten at Marley Tile Pit, 30.4.71., 7-8 at Cane End, 16.5.71., and south of Reading at Burghfield Common and Heckfield Heath.

ZK report two cases of myxomatosis, at Sulham on 1.1.71. and at Theale gravel pit on 6.9.71.

Muscardinus avellanarius (L.) Dormouse. A col- ony of this species was discovered during 1971

= £2 «

in a hedge of

Symphoricarpus rivularis Suksdorf, Snowberry, near Tadley (LC). Most of the records of this species in recent years have been from the south- ern side of the Kennet Valley. It is also reported from the High Wycombe district outside the range of the RDNHS.

Sciurus carolinensis Gmelin Grey Squirrel.

ZK supply a total of 75 seen in the Sulhan- Tilehurst area during the year, but neve1 more than three at a time. They also found it common around Binfieid Heath:in July. Records were if anything more frequent during the winter months, when of course the animals (when active at all) feed more often on the ground and are easier to see when-in trees. My own impression is that the species occurs in virtually every wood in the Reading area where beech Fagus sylvatica L. or oak Quercus robur L. are present. Other Quercus spp. may also be able to support it but this I cannot confirm. Large numbers are found only when there are mature oaks in the vicinity.

Rattus norvegicus Berkenhout Brown Rat. Recorded by ZK at the Kennet Valley gravel pits and as road casualties elsewhere. (Theale, Pincents Hill, Appleford) Also seen dead on the Peppard Road as in past years.

Mus musculus L. ‘House Mouse. The only record received was from ZK - one dead at Chapel Hill, Ti lehuret, 16.7 «/l.

Arvicola_amphibius (L.) Water Vole. Several records from the Kennet valley in spring and autumn (ZK). Common on the Thames near the Nautical College boathouse, Pangbourne (JS).

Microtus agrestis (L.) Short-tailed Vole.

One in Cornwell Copse near Tilehurst, 1.1.71, and one ‘on a hedge-bank opposite Hill Copse, Sultiatt, 17.5571, Can) «

One at Gallowstree Common, 26.8.71, and one dead on the site of the old Southern Railway bridge over Vastern Road, Reading, 27.8.71.

Clethriononys eslareolus (Schreber) Bank Vole.

One sitting outside its hole in Barefoots Copse, DD ta(3'a (a

One dead at Theale gravel pit, 15.3.71. (both ZK).

- 33 =

Contributors:

B. R. Baker A. Lawson

Geo Ase Bela. R. L. Nicholls

P., A. Bowden B. T. Parsons

Mrs. L. Clarke R. A. Rutland

Miss A. Fletcher J. Sheringhan

M. J. Hitchcock B. Sturges

Mrs. R. St. J. Hawkins Mrs. E. M. Trembath Zdsislaw and Zbigniew Karpowicz Mrs. D. White

The Recorder's Report for Entomology 1970 - 71

by B. R. Baker

Order Plecoptera (Stone-flies)

Less than a dozen species of stone-fly have been recorded from the Reading area, for our lowland rivers and streams cannot duplicate those conditions afforded to stone-flies on rivers in the north and west of Britain. However, our River Kennet holds the quite impressive species Perlodes microcephala (Pict.). Male Perlodes have very abbreviated wings and specimens should be sought in the cracks of bridge piles, lock gates, etc. Two specimens were found on 20th April at 11.15 p.m. below the wooden bridge over the Kennet at Woolhampton; (see Reading Naturalist No. 13 for notes on this species at Woolhampton in 1960).

Order Odonata (Dragpn-flies)

The long spell of sunny weather from late August until mid- November provided ideal conditions for dragon-fly flight, and it proved possible, and enjoyable, to observe a number of species in some abundance. Our first record is, however, of an early summer species.

Gomphus vulgatissimus (L.) Club-tail Dragon-fly

Mr. Price and some members of his class, who had been work- ing the banks of the Thames near Earley Power Station on 29th May, were fortunate to find a fine example of this uncommon Species, which they presented to the Museum's reference collect- HON «

~ Sh — Aeshna mixta Lat. Scarce Aeshna

Mr. Gambles took a specimen on the occasion of the Society's excursion on 4th September; later in the month, 20th September, the species was numerous on a Kennet backstream beyond Southcote where females were observed ovipositing in stems of Typha at a point well above that of the present water level. The brilliant blue males of A. mixta were abundant on the gravel pits at Burghfield on 2nd October and a few were still present at the same locality on 23rd October.

The celebrated Fishpond on Wokefield Common was alive with dragon-flies when this locality was visited on 2nd October. Tk following species were seen:-

Aeshna cyanea (Muell.) Southern Aeshna; A. juncea (L.) Common Aeshna, (a single specimen); Sympetrum striolatum (Charp.) Common Svmpetrum, abundant, with pairs flying in tandem; and S. danae (Sulz.) Black Sympetrum. From Owlsmoor Bog near Crowthorne we record Orthetrum coerulescens (F.) Keeled

Orthetrum past their best on llth September, with A. juncea very fresh on the same date.

Order Trichoptera (Caddis-flies)

The odd looking little caddis Chaetopteryx villosa (F.) was noted along the banks of the River Pang within the Moor Copse Nature Reserve near Tidmarsh on 15th November, 1970. Specimens were still to be seen as late as 29th November.

Order Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)

Immigrant Species

Vanessa atalanta (L.) Red Admiral

Very few recorded, viz: Stratfield Saye, 12th May, and on Buddleia at Earley, 6th and 8th August (B.T.P.)

Vanessa cardui (L.) Painted Lady

A single specimen seen on Buddleia at Earley on ist September and another on Asters in Parkside Road, Reading, 5th October (B.T.P.).

Acherontia atropos (L.) Deaths Head Hawkmoth

A perfect example of this immigrant was brought to the Museum by Mr. Adrian Searle who had discovered the moth upon a line of washing at Clayhill, Burghfield on 27th August.

Herse convolvuli (L.) Convolvulus Hawkmoth

Mr. M. Palles-Clark of Leighton Park School reported an example of this uncommon immigrant being found at Tilehurst on lst or 2nd October.

« 2 =

Resident Species

Gonepteryx rhamni (L.) Brimstone butterfly

This butterfly is said to be the longest lived of any British species, its life frequently extending to a year. The Single brood appears in July or August and the butterflies usually enter hibernation shortly after emergence. However, we have records of three late-fliers in 1970:- a female seen in St. Peter's Churchyard on 5th November, and two males (locality not given) on 24th November. Given favourable weather brin- stones reappear again from late February onwards, but with the bitter weather of early March, 1971 (the 6th being the coldest March day for 30 years), it was not until 27th March that thése brilliant yellow butterflies were observed in Pamber Forest in any numbers.

Celastrina argiolus (L.) Holly Blue

Although not as frequently seen as in 1970, this species had quite a good year with several sightings across Caversham gardens between 2nd and 9th May and again on Ist August.

Strymonidia_ w-album (Knoch) White-letter Hairstreak

This little hairstreak has long been known from the Hardwick=Goring Heath area, and it is evidently still in strength in that region. From the same line of wych elms where we were shown our first larvae 25 years ago, it proved compar- atively easy to beat a quantity for breeding purposes on the evening of 13th May.

Euchloe cardamines (L.) Orange Tip

Observed in a garden at Earley on lst and 2nd June, and 3rd- and 4th-instar larvae found at Dunsden on 23rd June (B,T.P.).

Limenitis camilla (L.) White Admiral

This beautiful butterfly had a splendid season in 1971 and the Recorder:had never seen such quantities as were on the wing in Pamber Forest on 10th July. Specimens were still on the wing on 18th August (though obviously worn); careful searching produced a 3rd-instar larva on 6th September and a further example on 13th September (B.T.P.).

Apatura iris (L.) Purple Emperor

We have several records of this fine species: larvae from Pamber Forest on 29th May, 2nd and 6th June; a female imago observed sitting low down on an alder leaf on 17th July; a female flying around sallows on 18th July (R.L.), several males observed around oaks also on 18th July. Of special inter- est is the finding of a 3rd-instar larva by a aes search of sallows on 6th October (B.T.P.).

= 36 -

Argynnis aglaia (L.) Dark Green Fritillary Watlington Hill, several observed on 7th July, (B.T.P.). Aglais urticae (L.) Small Tortoiseshell

An extreme variety of this colourful species was observed by our President at East Hendred on llth September; Miss Cobb con- tinues in her note "Small Tortoiseshells became very numerous in late summer", (Varieties of this species are rarely encountered - the Recorder only ever sees normal ones}).

Leucoma salicis (L.) White Satin Moth

On 17th July a single example was attracted to mercury- vapour light on the Kennet bank petween Newbury and Thatcham.

Plusia_ chryson (Esp.) Scarce Burnished Brass Several examples to light 17th July, at the above locality. Gypsitea_ieucographa (Schiff.) The White-marked

A first record from Woolhampton reed-bed was made on 20th April; yet this locality has been worked frequently by local entomologists over the past 20 years without species ever being seen.

Bapta distinctata Herr. Schaff. Sloe Carpet

A single example taken at Dr. M. I. Crichton's Rothampsted trap at Mortimer on 22nd/23rd April. This is a notable record; apart from an example in the Sitwell Collection in Reading Museum (from near Wokingham) we have no previous indication of this moth's existence in the Reading District.

Aegeria formicaeformis (Esp.) Red-tipped Clearwing

Larvae were discovered in osier stumps at Woolhampton on 17th April, and several pupal cases from which adults had emerged were seen at the same locality on 3lst May. Careful searching low down among osier stumps revealed a newly emerged moth on 2nd June.

Aegeria myopaeformis (Borkh.) Red=belted Clearwing

Mr. Price and the Recorder. were both able to confirm the continuance of the colonies of this little clearwing in apple trees growing in gardens close to Redlands School. The peak emergence took place between eClst and 25th June.

Aegeria andrenaeformis (Lasp.) Orange-tailed Clearwing

Larval borings were discovered in way faring trees at Garson's Hill, Oxon. on 4th April. From one cutting taken an adult moth emerged on 19th May.

Aegeria vespiformis (L.) Yellow-legred Clearwing

Clearance of oaks is seldom welcomed by naturalists; we

- 37 -

merely record that felling near Oval Pond, Padworth, has created a favourable habitat for A. vespiformis and that larvae were discovered in the stumps when searched for on 5th May. These produced moths on e3rd and 29th May.

Order Coleoptera Beetles

Lucanus cervus (L.) Stag Beetle

Mr. W. L. South of Streatley wrote to the Museum with the following interesting observation: "About 10 a.m. on the 6th July I opened my kitchen door to the garden and was astonished to find 5 stag beetles in am empty 1% gallon bucket. They were crawling round but could not get up the slippery sides, and there was no room for a flying take-off. There were 4 beetles with thorns! ... ... but there was one beetle with no ‘horns'; I assume that the 4 were males and the 5th a female''. This inter- esting observation is indicative of the nocturnal flight activity of these large beetles which one is sometimes able to witness around dusk on a warm summer evening. (See Mr. Leatherdale's observations in Reading Naturalist No. 16. Ds 12). Me, Southtc observation relating to the sexes of the specimens is, of course, eorrect.

Order Diptera (True Flies)

The detailed list relating to this Order has been submitted to the Recorder by Mr. H. H. Carter and embodies records made on behalf of Dr. E. Burtt, Mr. Roger Leeke and by Mr. Carter hin- self. The Diptera is the second largest Order of British Insects and contains upwards of 5,000 species. The records sub- mitted, although numerous and frequently concerning common species, all merit inclusion in the Report. Except where indicated they relate to species new to the Reading Museum Collection of Diptera and it is very satisfying to know that this Order is now being worked by local entomologists.

Tipulidae,

Tipula_ pruinosa Wiedemann; female, 18.6.70, Gorins Heath (EB).

Limnophila meigeni Verrall; female, 14.7.71, Wokefield Common (HHC).

L. lucorum (Meigen); female, 14.7.71, Wokefield Common (HHC). Molonhilus griseus (Meigen); female, 20.5.70, Goring Heath (EB).

Trichoceridae. Trichocera fuscata Meigen; female, 20.9.70, Reading (EB).

T,. hiemalis (Degeer); male, 25.11.70, Reading (EB).

= 98 2

Chironomidae. Chironomus dorsalis Meigen; male, 13.10.70, female, 20. 10.70, Reading (EB).

Stratiomyidae.

Pachygaster leachii Curtis; female, 4.8.70, Wokefield Common (EB).

Acroceridae.

Acrocera_ globulus Panzer; female, 18.7.71, Pamber Forest (R. G. Leeke). This family has only three British species, which are seldom collected but are biologically interesting as brood- parasitoids of spiders.

Scenopinidae. ' Scenopinus niger (Degeer); female, 10.7.70, Reading (EB). Syrphidae.

Chrysogaster macquarti Loew; both sexes, 29.5470, Wokefield Common (HHC).

Criorhina ranunculi Panzer; female, 15.5.71, Nuney Green (EB). Microdon eggeri Mik; female, 6.6.71, Wokefield Common (EB).

Two further species of Syrphidae -

Syrphus lineola Zetterstedt and

Helophilus frutetorum F. have been discovered among older mater- ial taken in 1967 when they were confused with other species.

Ulidiidae. Ulidia_ erythrophthalma Meigen; male, 4.7,70, Goring Heath,(EB). Trypetidae.

Anomoia permunda (Harris) reported by R. G. Leeke without date or place. (This specimen is not in Reading Museum).

Hippoboscidae.

Stenepteryx hirundinis (L.); female, 1.7.71, Reading (Mr. Wyeth). Much less frequent in the Reading area than

Crataerina_ pallida (Latreille). The two species are brood- parasites of martins and swifts respectively.

Tachinidae. Lydina_aenea (Meigen); female, 29.7.70, Goring Heath (EB).

Macquartia praefica (Meigen); female, 30.6.70, Wokefield Common (EB).

3 =

Eumea westermanni (Zetterstedt); male, 22.6.70, Reading (EB). Winthemia_ quadripustulata (F.) a male and two females bred

from larvae of

Cucullia verbasci (L.) on display in Reading Museum. (From

B. T. Parsons at Earley.)

Actia crassicornis (Meigen); male, 8.8.70, Wokefield Common

(EB). Tachina erucarum Rondani; male, 27.8.71, Reading (EB).

Voria trepida Meigen; three females, 27. 8.70, Wokefield Common (EB).

Rhacodineura pallipes Fallen; male, 20.7.71, Reading (EB). Siphona maculata Staeger; male, 1.5.71, Goring Heath (EB). BS. cristata (F.); female, 351.7.71, Reading (EB).

Parafeburia maculata (Fallen); female, 17.8.70, Wokefield Common (EB).

Calliphoridae.

Melanophora roralis (L); two males, 22.6.70, Reading (EB).

Styloneuria discrepans (Pandelle); female, 8.7.70, male, 2? <O6 71. Reading (EB).

Pachyophthalmus signatus (Meigen); MaALeg 20s 7%e/Os of etate. 27.6.71, Reading. (EB).

Sarcophaga aratrix Pandelle; several records of both sexes 1970-1971 (EB, HHC).

S. carnaria (L.); males, 27.7.71, Goring Heath and 21. 9. Fis Wokefield Common (HHC).

This is the common species of the text-books, but is clearly much less numerous in our area than S. vulgaris Rohdendorf or S. subvicina Rohdendorf with which it was formerly confused. (The females are still regarded as inseparable.)

S. dissimilis Meigen; both sexes from Goring Heath, 22.7270 -, 30.7.70 (EB).

S. frenata Pandelle; female, 25.7.70, digits 29 >76 70, wosTae

Heath (EB).

S. haemorrhoa Meigen; male, 20.7. 71, Wokefield Common ree

female, 26.8.71, Goring Heath (EB).

S. haemorrhoidalis (Fallen); male, 4.8.71, females, 1.9.70 =

10.9.70, Reading (EB).

S. incisilobata Baaaoies male, 17.6.71, Wokefield Common (EB). S. nigriventris Meigen; females, 3.9.71, Goring Heath (EB).

eT

ae

S. scoparia Pandelle; male, 22.6.71, Wokefield Common (HHC).

S.« setipennis Rondani; females, 31.7.70, Caversham Park and 14.9.71, Goring Heath (HHC).

S. subvicina Rohdendorf; many records of both sexes 1970-71 (EB and HHC). The material hitherto ascribed to this species and S. carnaria (L.) in Reading Museum has been re-examined and proves all to belong to S. vulgaris Rohdendorf, a species intermediate between the two, long considered to be merely a sub-species of one or other of them until the accumulation of data on localities and dates showed that it co-exists with both and must be a full species.

Pollenia waria (Meigen); both sexes, 18-19.7.71, Reading, male, 3.9.71, Goring Heath (EB).

Muscidae.

Phaonia gobertii Mik; male, 27.9.70, Reading (EB). P. pallida (F.); many records in 1970-71 (EB).

. palpata (Stein); male, 25.5.70, female, 30.7.70, Reading (EB).

P. rufipalpis (Macquart); female, 12.9.71, Nuney Green (EB). P. serva (Meigen); male, 1.5.71, Reading (EB). : P. trimaculata (Bouche); male, 30.8.70, Reading (EB)..

Dendrophaonia querceti (Bouche); female, 22.9.70, male, 18.7-71, Reading (EB).

Pogonomyia_decolor Fallen; female, 20.7.71, pee Common

(EB). Ophyra_leucostoma “iis domain + exeiunea records in 1970 (EB and HHC). .

Hydrotaea_cyrtoneurina (Zetterstedt); males, 8.7.71, Nuney Green.(EB). Not new to the Reading Museum collection, but apparently a county record for Oxfordshire.

H. irritans (Fallén); female, 3.8.70, Wokefield Common. It is remarkable that this species should so long have escaped cap- ture: it is not only very abundant, but makes itself unpleasantly obtrusive.

H. occulta (Meigen); male, 9.10. 70, Reading (EB).

ee ancilla (Meigen);' male, 3.9.70, 2 College Road (EB). Apparently new to Berkshire.

M. discimana Malloch; male, 22.7.71, Goring Heath (HHC). New to Oxfordshire.

M. setifemur Ringdahl; female, 22.7.71, Goring Heath (HHC). New to Oxfordshire.

Pe Helina communis Robineau-Desvoidy; female, 20.7.71, Wokefield Common (EB). Hebecnema affinis Malloch; female, 24.9.70, Reading, (EB). igh vespertina (Fallen); females, 22.9.70 - 24.9.70, Reading

(EB). Spilogona denigrata (Meigen); male, 15.6.71, Wokefield Common (HHC).

Allognota agromyzina (Fallén); females, 21.9.70 and 9.10.70, Reading (EB).

Coenosia lineatipes (Zetterstedt); females, 30.8.70 - 16.10.70, Reading (EB). ,

C. tricolor (Zetterstedt); males, 16.9.70 - 1.10.70, female, 1.10.70, Reading (EB).

Caricea humilis (Meigen); females, 25.9.70 - 18.10.70, males, 28.8.70 - 1.10.70, Readinz (EB).

Piezura praminicola Zetterstedt; female, 15.10.70, male, (? date) 1971, Reading (EB).

Fannia armata (Meigen); several records of both sexes 1970 - 1971 (EB and HHC).

F. aequilineata Ringdahl: females, 4.9.70, males, 1.10.70, Reading (EB).

F. manicata (Meigen); male and female, 16.9. 71 = "7059. 71, Reading (EB).

F, pallitibia (Rondani); females, 4.9.70 - 22.9.70, Reading (EB).

F. polychaeta (Stein); three females, 16.7.70 - 22.7.70, Goring Heath (EB).

F. rondanii Strobl; male, 18.5.71, Nuney Green (HHC). F. similis (Stein); female, 22.7.71, Nuney Green (HHC).

We acknowledge our indebtedness to the Director of Reading Museum for allowing us every facility to incorporate such Museum records as we wished, and also express our best thanks to the following contributors:

De. Hae .<ouritt Mr. R. M. Genie Mr. H. H. Carter Mr. Roger Leeke Miss L. E. Cobb Mr. B. T. Parsons

ee Mie Lf. Crichton Mr. A., Price

sh

The Recorder's Report for Botany 1990. 2.32.

by B. M. Newman

Fewer records were received this year. Those sent in by the following members are gratefully acknowledged:- Dr. H. J. M. Bowen (HJMB); Mr. H. Carter (HC); Miss L. E. Cobb (LEC); Mrs. E. M. Trembath (EMT); Dr. J. Toothill (JT); Miss J. M. Watson (JMW).

The nomenclature and order are according to the "Flora of the British Isles" by Clapham, Tutin and Warburg, 2nd edition 1962. An alien taxon is indicated by an asterisk (*) and a new county record by’ a cross (+). English names in common use have been given where possible and more recently invented names are put in quotation marks.

Miss Cobb sent a record of Papaver hybridum, a plant des- cribed as rare in the "Flora of the British Isles" (Clavham, Tutin and Warburg), and said to be decreasing in Berkshire in the "Flora of Berkshire (H. J. M. Bowen).

Dr. Bowen sent lists of plants found on Woodley and Smallmead tips, and Mr. Carter a list of plants found in Nuney Green chalk pit. These plants are placed at the end of the report as they are more interesting considered together than as separate records.

Dr. Toothill has very kindly pointed out an error in the previous issue of the Reading Naturalist (No. 23). On page 35, the location for Chrysanthemum segetum L. should be "Field near Aston", and "Marshy ground near. the river Loddon" refers to. another plant, Thalictrum flavum L. which was accidentally omitted when my typewritten copy was made.

List of Members' Records

Asplenium adiantum-nigrum L. 'Black Spleenwort' Cuxhan. (ene§ aa

Asplenium ruta-muraria L. - Wail-Rue Cuxham; Little Milton. ( LEC )

Papaver hybridum L. = S ‘Round Prickly-headed Poppy ' | Cornfields below Tnurle Down. NHS walk. (LEC )

Fumaria micrantha Lag. Thurle Down. NHS walk. (LEC)

Viola odorata L. Sweet Violet Swyncombe Downs, near Worth Farm. ( LEC )

ee IBD

Hypericum montanum L. ‘Mountain St. John's Wort! Stonor Park. (HJMB)

*+ Silene muscipula L. One plant in pavement crevice at AERE, Harwell, Berks. (HJMB)

*Vaccaria_ pyramidata Medic. Garden at Caversham. Sent in by R. G. Messenger. (HJMB)

+Lavatera arborea L. Tree Mallow Flowered from seedling found at Woodley tip, Berks., in 1969. (HJMB) Geranium lucidum L. 'Shining Cranesbill'.

Bere Court Drive, Pangbourne. NHS walk. Found by Dr. B. Kemp (=MT)

Sanguisorba officinalis L. 'Great Burnet! One plant seen at Kennet Meadows, Sulhampstead. NHS walk.

(LEC) Daphne laureola L. Spurge Laurel - Wood near Quick's Green. (JT) Viscum album L. Mistletoe

On Maple, Hawthorn and Apple, Hamstead Park, Berks. (HJMB)

Thesium humifusum DC. ‘Bastard Toadflax' Widespread on chalk grassland at Gatehampton. ( EMT )

Myrrhis odorata (L.) Scop. Sweet Cicely Roadside between Stonor and Henley, well established. (HJMB)

Bupleurum rotundifolium L. Hare's-ear, Thorow-wax Prospect Street, Caversham. Mrs. Sambrook, 15.8.71. (HC)

Oenanthe aquatica (L.) Poir. 'Fine-leaved Water Dropwort! Sulham Pond. (EMT) cua

Foeniculum vulgare Mill. Fennel Roadside, May's Green, Oxon. (HJMB)

Polygonum bistorta L. Snake-root, Easter-ledges, 'Bistort'! By canal near Hamstead Marshall, Berks. (HJMB)

Anagallis arvensis L. Scarlet Pimpernel Pink form at Bradfield Common near the Bladebone. ( JMW )

Vinca minor L. Lesser Periwinkle Roadside (northside) near Quick's Green. Roadside (southside) near Thurle Grance. (JT)

Gentianella germanica (Willd.) Borner Swyncombe Downs, NHS walk. (LEC )

Gentianella anarella. (L,) Borner Felwort Swyncoribe Downs, NHS walk. (LEC )

Cynoglossum officinale L. Hound's-tongue Stonor Park, Oxon. (HJMB)

=. aia S

Cuscuta epithymum (L.) L. ‘Common Dodder' Chalk grassland, Gatehampton, and Sulham Woods: on. Lotus. (EMT )

Atropa_ belladonna L. Dwale, Deadly Nightshade Stonor Park, Oxon. and Blount's Court, Sonning Common, 30.10.70... (Mr. Taylor) —-¢HC)

Antirrhinum orontium L. Weasel's Snout, Calf's Snout Churchyard, Pangbourne. Lower Bucklebury Common, NHS walk. . (EMT )

Linaria repens (L.) Mill. 'Pale. Toadflax Thurle Down. NHS walk. (LEC )

Chaenorhinum minus (L.) Lange 'Small Toadflax! Thurle Down, NHS walk. Plentiful. (LEC )

Kickxia_spuria (L.) Dum. Fluellen' Thurle Down, NHS walk. Plentiful (LEC )

Kickxia elatine (L.) Dun. Thurle Down, NHS walk. Plentiful. (LEC )

Orobanche minor Sm. ‘Lesser Broomrape! Plentiful on rough chalk slope west of Stoneycroft Plantation, . Whitchurch, also in pasture, Hardwick Farm. ( EMT )

Verbena officinalis L. Vervain Thurle Down, NHS. walk. (LEC )

Salvia horminoides Pourr. Wild Clary Road verge, Whitchurch. Ten fine plants cut when in full bloom by road cutter. (EMT )

Lamium amplexicaule L. Henbit | Swyncombe Downs, NHS walk. (LEC )

Galeopsis angustifolia Ehrh. ex Hoffm. 'Narrow-leaved Hemp- nettle Swyncombe Downs, NHS walk. (LSC) Cultivated field, Tidmarsh. (EMT)

*Campanula rapunculoides L. "Creeping Campanula! Swyncombe Downs. (LEC )

Campanula glomerata L. ) ‘Clustered Bellflower! Swyncombe Downs, NHS walk. (LEC)

Legousia_ hybrida (L.) Delarb. Venus's Locking-glass Swyncombe; Thurle Down. (LEC )

Adoxa moschatellina L. . _ Moschatel, Townhall Clock. Flint House, Goring, 15.4.71. Wood by Marley Tile pit, 30.4.71 (HC)

Picris echioides L. 'Bristly Ox-Tongue' Little Milton. (LEC)

athe ec

*Nothoscordum inordorum (Ait.) Nicholson Middle Assendon, Oxon. Found by Mrs. V. N. Paul. (HJMB)

Iris foetidissima L. Gladdon, Stinking Iris Several plants in wood near Quick's Green. (JT)

Festuca heterophylla Lam.

Roadside through woodland near saeeeavtee Confirmed by Dr. C. E. Hubbard. (EMT-)

Hordelymus europaeus (L.) Harz. ‘Wood Barley' Layfields Copse near Ashampstead. (EMT )

Plants seen at Nuney Green chalkpit, all in about half an acre. (HC)

Iberis amara Le, Wild Candytuft; Polygala calcarea F. W. Schultz; Rhamnus catharticus L., Buckthorn; Sorbus aucuparia L., Rowan; Sorbus aria (L.) Crantz; Sorbus torminalis (L.) Crantz, Wild Service Tree; -Blackstonia perfoliata (L.).Huds., Yellow-wort; -Euphrasia nemorosa (Pers.) Walir.; Odontites verna (Bell.) pan? ’Red-Bartsia'; Prunella laciniata (L.) L; Cephalanthera "damasoniun (Mill.) Druce, White Helleborine: Anacamptis pyramidalis (L,) Rich., 'Pyramidal Orchid' - this lest species had several hundred blooms.

Plants seen at Woodley tip. (HJMB)

*+Impatiens balsamina L.; *Lupinus arboreus Sims, Tree Lupin; +Phaseolus multiflorus; *Verbascum phlomoides L.; *Salvia

horminum L.; *Guizotia abyssinica (L.f.) Cass.; +Tetragonia expansa expansa Murr. fu:

Plants seen at, Smallmead tip. (HJMB)

*+Amaranthus retroflexus L.; Chenopodium hybridum L.3 Sowbane; *Tropaeolum peregrinun. Le; Polygonum patulum Bieb.; *Cannabis sativa L., Hemp; *Guizotia abyssinica (Ini | Cass. s “+Tazetes erecta L.; African Marigold; Centaurea diluta Aiton; *Carthamus tinctorius L.; False Saffron.

-~ 16-- WEATHER RECORDS IN 1970 by A. E. Moon

The data refer to Reading University Meteorological Station. This is now Situatei | on the eastern side of Whiteknights Park. Records were discontinued at the main site in| London Road on 31st December 1967 after nearly 50 years of almost continuous recording, As the station is an entirely new siting, the averages for the main site station are no — longer applicable and are omitted from this summary. A "rain day" is a day on which rainfall equals or exceeds 0.01 of an inch. For the designation of frost and ground

frost days see Weather Records in 1961.

STATION — READING UNIVERS(TY, HEIGHT ABOVE MEAN SEA LEVEL - 226 ft.

{ten eTeresarereersews:

YER

Nov. | DEC. |

pw. [a dad wt| ws | 46. de 521 116, Bf 73.0 | 6942 | 70.8} 68,0 | 59.1 za bh} | Ne [Ml f “Hh? 3h | 323 522 | 529 | 19.8 | lh 1Se1 ar : AMINE 8258 22 | 22. ; MEAN 1) 21 38,5 | 39,2 6. 1, tH ee {awe aeons $38 the [195] 71.2) 17.0 | 17,9 | 10.2 [14,6 [12.6 | 10.5 ee ASS Ht, | 280025 ot | hal | 3008 | 36.7] MS | hod | W405 | 3948 | 36.8 | 3507 | 2805 | EXTREME er sere, al 22, 56 Tere UNE [we REY %. 2 ze 221,22) 20° | tT - ree Fe eee Es USS. Ny nap ieee “Tis [T8288 at Be 1 Pigee Wh Mode | Solars PR EOE To] DAYS WITH FROST 0, LE OF 13.~—4-15.— + -6-—f BF 0 | 0 = 258 aime 2 "GROUND FROSTY “19 Sts SC as aac aa ats fad Lcae : |

‘SUNSHINE. HOURS ae I HD 15.4, 7 13541 2 1223.3 | 27843 Lat es 6 {bel 104.6. | 62.9 Ou ce |

rr

ee ee i 23 |

u ee (00 RR al 109.98 a [s E35 ee SST TE i

Coeeesree ee Gel ovssoverttebinoetecddlali ceaceyreebrerres tf 1 A c peer rvereoery Aes eveegey ice grey ten yer / rt

PRECIPITATION AMOUNT. {3.01 12 1,88.4.1493) 1695.3 + 26 5 L2 2.61 | 2.68 2431 0.52 | 60. 420 29,12, 7 7 7 a

ins. (RAIN DAS" 26 187 et w/o me me leateat 12 ee a

[03 | ows | ots | 0,35 | Zt | 18,21 | 12 6 3 | dine)

_ DATE _ sin tats po ot , LONGEST RUN OF CONSECUTIVE i - i i 2 ’ # PAIN DAYS | 23 7 rain wake Ree me EA TE 1 eS ¥ ae Pee enreeneyrcs, | Cae aa ee ee Pitti 13 | 3 SHOW OR SLEET DAS 4 7 | 9) 7 i

DAYS SNOW LYING EE aa aaa

Til eadatetata: | eeeektit edad 2 i i ere eens 3 BONG i$ 3 ye ome rreeteedensenoeee

VISIBILITY | FOG AT Reha, 1900, MoT Se nO eae | Berar Dern ree ‘ = ‘ a rs : Tl eda aaa ll ’ | THUNDERSTORM [DAYS OF THINDER | Ot Obl elu Bnet nd nen mane Oa Parvo TP oo oe t ‘ i Renate i : : E i t i i : ssid

|

January

February

March April

E

June

July

August

- September

October

November

December

a7

MONTHLY WEATHER NOTES, 1970

A mild, dull and wet@month after a cold start. It was the wettest January since 1948 and the dullest Since 1955.

A rather cold but very sunny month; it was the sunni- est February since sunshine records were started in Reading in 1939.

Cold and rather wintry; the coldest March since 1962.

The cold weather of March continued into this month and it proved to be the coldest April since 1922 with 1936 the next coldest. Temperature reached 60°F for the first time this year on 16th.

A fine and dry month; it was the warmest May since 1964, driest since 1961 and the sunniest since 1966.

This was the warmest June since 1960 and the sunni- est since 1957. Thunderstorms in the evening of llth produced 2.38 inches of rain, 1.84 inches of which fell in 29 minutes in the hour ended 17.00 G@.M.T. and this can be classified as a "very rare" fall. Flooding occurred in the Pepper Lane- University-Christchurch Green areas. . The total rep- resents the heaviest fall recorded at theUniversity stations on any one day since reliable records began about 1920. . This rainfall ended a "dry spell" of

20 days. .

During a heavy thunderstorm, between 02.30 and 03.10 G.M.T. on the 8th, 0.42 of ean inch of rain fell in 12 minutes at O2 535. .

This was the sunniest August.since 1964, but the 20th

was the coldest August day since 6th, 1962 (57°F).

The coneet September since 1964. and the sunniest since 1966.

As October last year, this proved an unusually dry month, and temperature was a little above the normal.

Exceptionally wet; the wettest November since 1951 when the total was 6.64 inches. Six inches has only been exceeded twice before this in this month - namely 1940, 6.24 inches and 1929, 6.58 inches.

The driest December since 1963. The first snow of

the winter fell on Christmas Eve with a little snow lying on Christmas morning.

- 48.-

ATMOSPHERIC POLLUTION 1970

Measurements of smoke concentration and sulphur dioxide (SO,) are summarised in the following table. They constitute the results of daily measurements of smoke ana SOp2 pollution by air filter and volumetric method respectively from apparatus installed in the Geography Department, Reading University, at Whiteknights.

A star against a month indicates that the eleetricity Supply was interrupted at some time during the period in which the apparatus was in operation.

| Sulphur Dioxide (S05)

| 2 Concentration

Microgrammes per cu. m.

Smoke Concentration Microgrammes per cu. Mm.

' ‘ a '

Highest | Lowest

|

January {40/140 4th}4 0 llth | 115 | 264 4th §56 11th! [February | 33 | 95 14th|7 21st | 100 | 215 13th . 42 7th, 8th | Merch Led | 79 9th {5 20th, | 101 | 194 8th | 38 30th | | i | | i |April i 17 | 58 13th | 4 21st,22na GOP Lari 30 16th | | May (14 | 44 5th} 3 20th 91/165 Sth | 42 31st |

June* | 11°] 30 8th,)1 28th 81, 176 12th | 43 ~~ 2htn |

10th | : | July | 6 | 16 16th|0 26th,27th | 47 | 117 27th | 12 18th, | | ~2ist 12334 | August |

43 23rd 120 17th 134 26th

2 8th,9th Mm Ath 2 3rd

66 186. 21st 92 259 16th

September

| October

| November*

| 37 |

| :

27 59 246 26th

|

| December*

|

di ae | Year |

oe 20s SEL

| 80.4 250 .Jist | 26 19%h |

264 Ath | Te? 18th,

| | | |

! |

i M2 27th | O° | E5th | 70.1198 26th. | 38° 2. 76emm

| | | | | :

2k 0 26th 27th | July 15th | Aug.

! 150 9th ' Dec. | | H

q 9 58 e ane) H n Cap

as rte mcerrsssmn se nm meen cn were ney arn anepaeomow a ae nN RBM et ROTOR Ce NOS Nee OTe

DEQ a WEATHER RECORDS IN 1971 by A. E. Moon

The data refer to Reading University Meteorological Station. On 31st December

y) the station was moved to a new site on the level ground adjoining Bridges Hall

ig to building and development of the Plant Sciences grounds on which the station has i Situated for the past two years. Records began on the new site on 1st January this *s As in the past two years, this being a new site, the averages for the London Road : are no longer applicable and are omitted from this summary. A "rain day" is a day fee * rainfall equals or exceeds 0.2 mm. or more. (Rainfall measurement in milli-

ves was brought into force on 1st January this year.) For the designation of frost ground frost days see Weather Records in 1961.

IN = READING UNIVERSITY. HEIGHT ABOVE MEAN = Se ~ ue ft,

seantabieiier Smeeinanenee: SS nth eee fei og PS weeewewes Evevenvoeses eee ener es ew rewer ener ernest erarame

| aa es [65 | MTT | 53.2 | 83 62.5 | 73.) | 68.8 {80 E619 499! 480) 515

iN. AB. WAR, APR | MAY = UNE | JULY | AUS, SEPT.|_OCT. | NOV. | DEC, YEAR 4

i ae ont 4 fost Sk mex Shel | 34h | 391. TTasr aan “biped | bhe8 | B43 1.036 | He RATURES | WEAN, “Pat Post M15 heel | 53.9 | "55.6 | Pea “O18 Bel | 5345 | 43.1 | “Be, 03 | : E { a H ‘ mei 9 ea |e [ih | Ha, 1.8) 15,8 | 18,8 | 14.0 | BT o TBST a [GRASS MIN, Fil 27201 28.21 320.3 fee VETTE 48.0 FESS BANE ce) ee ae RENE . ae. EIT 5h i IeeEwenaen ‘9 : i tg! pea a ca cee ro3 a aT E REM AK. | 1 Feng ;él_ | a Dreeerersereee reere rerereres to Meath Ta ae APO OTEP ETE POTENT ORT ROEET OT | ; POQTOUL ETON ETTRONTT OT ErTEH eM RATURES =F DATE 15 a [ah 30 22 AT Ae 2% 1 rE tk ie i ry H

a a egg ge

: aa OE - E, RASS HIN, | sg Mt aed cleo Ge ECE a a Ee Ci A EA ae DAYS WITH FROST OT 8 A i

ae reneeeveere erradver grevervnvsereseer greeverneacrencatsatgooneeete ret Se ee a a mt GROUND FROST 15 | 0 | 22 | 15 ee ry va tn 17 em) Ce ee

ios elites Sininieneeaiiiimbinaaiaiials | rey eg : ary ee ae eee SIRE HOURS § SUM. | 3945: E 7847 109.2 129.8 2 1246.7 146.8 | 2S | 151.0 179.3 1494, i070 | 34,0: 1619.0 | ams, Pe ea ee

I DAILY EAN, | 1,27 | 2.81 [3,52 | 4033 | 7,96 4,09 | T9981 | 5.98 482 FEDAEE

sesazanemaonegmanssesiit bil SIUENGGEECAEUSSSTESMSLED SOUGHT TOETERETESREH cS DSEST se ripe 7 es heer ay Gomme ra Sas aa ear aa st SC UTATION | AMOUNT. | 91.6! 17.2 | . | 3x6 47.0 1953.| 19.0 | Buh | 805 | 569 36.2. 562. 26) | 9196 |

in, RAIN DAYS | 48 oKta _4e bp s)if nied! DO Hdooyl 111 | 9 1 (By

I "MAK. RAIN soererrenreresess + CLOT NEL OER- TOUS OT OrE ET Teereeers vente semecarqer: ETT ‘me scnieh iaenniiions seen ore eeenereceres perro oner: a ee dada ee

° i E ; :

LIN iow tah | 1H al a 4180, hd Shad | Tal | 18h 42 | i Aan 17,8 | tet Shel

| DATE 6 | | | a CRERERLEUSEAL Ee

NGET RUN OF CONSECUTIVE p Ons) i , Sone a ee ue ae re 1

SS a hat a A MS

na RUN OF CONSECUTIVE gat |

Sa a a EE Stes, Ee

| sogiser os e Soa __|__ DAYS SNOW LYING Pil ee | fe) b> t Oo en Oo [oO eethe:

ISULITY FOG AT

= ad Srerenereersermmrserrevceevnrssenvceeteererrcareverseececensecseserets cri oan . avery rere , ron yeeree Si TE rereervereeverseripconsereceerrerertenssvurnenrrargerreveversnecucerai brrvarrmertetcwseeneravarsesrireveiees A reo poe — a a Ca RR ie aia laa iaainaiiaatie astareerees = = ~

Mico eweee 22

fpecopeaa 0900 GMT. ee a ata a tae cae ae RIVIERA RTFOTTT OPT eats a eas aa ene HUNERSTORM FDAYS OF THUNDER FOO eed ame Pee ee ae:

cTUTY ONS OF HILT ta2 _ Thee es t a to o | a cc.

tT Te ERTERRERPCT Teer eRRCTTeTCOrETROTOEETE CERES <teytett <ruTerTEvETesuErTereTeHFeRY¥SEITTYE« >UERTEWITTTOTVPRVPVE ‘Ce S¥ OUT? 0IVRIFPUETES #ETPEFPTPBOYEGSPYTs TOONYEU EE PTREVIVE EC>WEYECTTTYF6 EOTOrTVENOTTIFETEYEOTETEVTVTSUTETITYUDEPeRSrTTY 10:4 VETO CCUFTDO SEITEN EVPETY FETVYIPESDOEOY STPPSEETTOT' ordhorerwvoysrecnretton souteeweorevreeveeveqoceveerasereereners.

August.

September

October

November

December

250, =

MONTHLY WEATHER NOTES, 1971

Very cold for first five days then mild with rainfall

' above average.

The driest February since 1965; average temperature and sunshine above normal.

A rather cold month with sunshine below average.

This was the dullest April since 1966. Temperature reached 60°F for the first time this year on 15th.

The sunniest May since 1956.

This was the coldest and wettest June since reliable records became available at the University in 1921. June 1935 was the previous wettest with 4.32 inches (109.7mm.). It was also the dullest June since 1956.

In contrast to June this month was the driest since 1955 and a drought period of 17 days ended early on

- 2lst.

Cool and with rather less sunshine than average.

A remarkably dry and sunny month; it was the sunniest September since 1964 and the aeoae since 1959. A drought period of 24 days _ ended on 24th.

This was the sunniest October since sunshine records

‘began in Reading in 1939 and temperature was well

above average.

The sunniest November since Readinzs sunshine records began in 1939 and the only November to reach or

texceba 100 hours in that period. The first air frost

occurred on 7th and ‘first snow of the present winter

Vion eord.)’.

The warmest December” Since 1954 and the driest since.

1963.

sai =

ATMOSPHERIC POLLUTION

LO 7a.

Measurements of smoke concentraTion and sulphur dioxide

(SO,) are summarised in the following table.

They constitute the

results of daily measurements of smoke and SO, pollution by air

filter and volumetric method respectively from apparatus installed in the Geography Department, Reading University, at

Whiteknishts.

Smoke Concentration Microgrammes per cu. Mm.

January February March April May

June

July

August

September

October

November

December

Year

3a

23

Highest

2

83

61 52 61

23 26

32

chy 154 101

166

193

end 22nd 7th ist 5th

2end 8th

25th

15th

29th

UND islam

5th

end Jan.

Lowest

6 18th

2 13th,14th

2 18th

1 2kth

0 29th

0 26th

1 24th,25th 5lLst

O lst, 12th 14th

0. 26th

1 17th,18th |

eo 2a

amma es

O 29th May 26th Jn. 1st,12th- 14th Aug.

26th Spt

Sulphur Dioxide (S0,) Concentration Microgrammes per cu. m.

Mean | Highest ie, eye ee Fs) 80 1546 ¢ fr Pith 85 166 29th 82 [or Let 63 223 Sth 42 21 22nd 66 136 3rd 49 108 25th 73 |. 24a 21st 75.-| 193 29th 91 219 llth Bo ig cen 71 | 375 13th

Jan.

Lowest

O 24th

6 14th 44 15th 21 9th

6 7th

. .. OOH

24 = 27th 31. 25th 27. «31st 25 26th: Ber 16th "45 end,3ra : 16th 32 © 29th |

O 24th

Jan.

[752 .

Membership

The following changes in membership have occurred since the publication of the Reading Naturalist No. 23.

Newly elected Honorary Members:

Dr. E. V. Watson, Little Court, Goring-on-Thames, Oxon. Miss J. M. Watson, 30 Westwood Road, Tilehurst, Reading.

Loss through death:

—

Miss J. M. Tobias.

Resignations and lapses:

S. E. Bland, C. J. Cadbury, Dr. Margaret Fishenden,

Mrs. J. D. Harrison, C. Horwood, Miss I. Loam, Mr. & Mrs. Lockwood, Mrs. Major, Miss E. N. Merrifield, Miss R. Parry, Miss B, Rand, P. Stapleton, Mr. & Mrs. Timmins & Miss J. Timmins, F, EH. Timpson & Miss Ruth & Miss Sarah Timpson, Charles Vincent, Miss Louise Vincent, Jeremy White,

Mr. & Mrs. J. H. White, Dr. & Mrs. G. W. Whittall.

L. H. Williams, Mrs. R. D. Williams, R. L. Winter.

Vhanges of address:

Dyczek, Christopher, 47 Argyle Street, Roading

Leatherdale, D., F.L.S., F.R.E.S., 19 Swanston Field, Whitchurch, Oxon.

Levy, B.G,, B.A., Ph.D., Tinepits Cottage, Whitchurch Hill, Reading.

New Members:

Adlam, Mrs., Moonrakers, Busgrove Wood, Stoke Row, Henley, Oxon.

Andrews, Mr. Patrick, 9 Wychwood Close, Earley, Reading

Benda, Pe, 3 Tupsley Road, Coley Park, Reading

Bristow, B., 34 Longmoor Lane, Mortimer Common, ake eng

Bristow, Mrs., | ot it tt "

Croghan, Mrs. M. A., 5 Woden House, Goring, Reading, Berks.

Davey, Miss T., B. Ses, M.A., M.I.Bicl., 17 Halpin Close, Calcot, nr. Reading, RG3 5RA

Finn, Miss Abigail, 130 Tilehurst Road, Reading

Harrigan, Dr. W., 68 Winton Road, Reading

Harrigan, Mrs., ¥ 7 yy i

Hartwell, V., 37 Byron Bese Barley, ee RG6 1EP

Hartwell, Mrs., ' ™ “

Jones, We, B.Sce, 9 Micklands Road, Caversham, Reading

Jones, Ian, " " "t " "

= 55 =

Knowles, Stephen, 17 Broomfield Road, Tilehurst, Reading

Leeke, Roger, 7 Heathway, Chapel Hill, Reading

Lewis, Miss P. E., 39 Salcombe Drive, Earley, Reading

Mayes, Miss A. E., B.Pharm., M.P.S., DA The Precinct, Milestone Way, Emmer Green, Reading

Olver, Miss Catherine, 5 Flaxman Close, Earley, Reading

Pretlove, Dr. A. J., 11 Kenilworth Avenue, Reading

Pretlove, Mrs., " ° m si

St. Joseph's Convent, Broad Oak, Upper Redlands Road, Feading

- £5

aakbineh »tgawdoLltT ,bhaot bLlofimoowg FL ,aedqesB ,#oL i" galfheot ,LILh Logudd )yewdeesn © ‘Pienon > teenie i aatbset »yolted sovinrd Sdmoolet e€ «-@ .f ait ,atwod snoteoltM ,tgonkoord ed Ae ,.2,4.M 1oMISdT.d ».d .A eek ,asyaM | vine | SiSbeet .ade1) rset , yaw ae naktbsol ,yolis ,saolD nemastt @ ,oattorte) satM ,2zevid, saitheoi ~oudevA dttowLined IL Yet “had Sovoltes® « Z w a, ee ie " enur . enT™ sevoltort, Rathsed »isok abnaslheh woqqU .an0 hood etnovacd a'dqesot .38

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k oe : < : ‘ : \ . | \ . : \ ; ) 2 : wy , - ar | " ia) | at . | 4 é ‘ : Cok WW, - | : %, j a | * . " r é | v | | ; iY tah | 2 - My | 7 . i i t . Cai ’ | | A . , | ‘ 7, | ; | ‘ 4 ‘ t * ; i | ; ’ i . ‘ | Z

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