terete Sees —— ee ee +f THE WILTSHIRE ARCHAEOLOGICAL AND NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY The Society was founded in 1853. Its activities include the promotion of archaeological and historical work and of the study of all branches of Natural History within the County; the safeguarding and conservation of the antiquities and the flora and the fauna of the region; the issue of a Magazine and other publications; excursions to places of archaeological and historical interest; and the maintenance of a Museum and Library. The subscription rate for membership of the Society is as follows: Annual Subscription £4, Family £6, Students £2.50, Junior £1.50. Enquiries about membership should be made to the Secretary of the Society, 41 Long Street, Devizes. NATURAL HISTORY SECTION The object of this Section is to promote the study of all branches of Natural History in the County by encouraging field observations, maintaining records, arranging field and other meetings and by putting observers in touch with each other. Particulars of the Section from the Honorary Treasurer. The subscription rate for membership of the Section is as follows: Single £2, Family £3. Observations should be sent to the Recorders: Birds: G. L. Webber, Esq., 66 Southbrook Extension, Swindon Flowers: Mrs. J. Swanborough, “Amberley,” Pew Hill, Chippenham Lepidoptera: J. N. d’arcy, Esq., 18 Westbury Road, Edington, Devizes Mammals, Reptiles and Amphibians: Mrs. M. Browne, Latimer Lodge, West Kington OFFICERS OF THE NATURAL HISTORY SECTION, 1978-79 Chairman: C. E. Jennings, Esq., 1 Perrys Lane, Seend Cleeve, Melksham. Hon. Secretary: Mrs. E. Stephens, 95 Leigh Park Road, Bradford on Avon. Hon. Treasurer: A. Edwins, Esq., 69 Countess Road, Amesbury. Hon. Meeting Secretaries: Mrs. M. Browne (as above), and P. J. Dillon, Monkton Lea, Winterbourne Monkton, Swindon Hon. Editor: R. S. Barron, Esq., Holly Cottage, West Lavington. Printed by Kingston Press, Bath The Wiltshire Natural History Magazine -.- ISSN. 0309-3468 Lip MM ; A VOLUME 73 1978 CONTENTS THE FISHERTON BRICKPITS; THEIR STRATIGRAPHY AND FOSSIL CONTENTS BY AUSTIN D,; DEEAIR AND/IMYRA.L. SHACKLEY -...00 0. Sc eo ee le wc lg eee 3 RE WVEALHER FORWOT 7: DY Tb ROGERS: oo. 2 eens ce ce we see aes Gel we vo ape 19 WILTSHIRE BIRD NOTES FOR 1976. RECORDER G. L. WEBBER, NOTES compiled by E.T. SMITH........ Beco alo taMie sil ation or shew! 5, aeleS 5 ie. oule) oe Silesia gs ess: Meese ees a! OP % 22 WILTSHIRE PLANT NOTES (38) compiled by JOAN SWANBOROUGH ...............--. 27 ENTOMOLOGICAL REPORT FOR 1977 complied bY JOHN CARCY 5 2. sts S 4 awe ales oh 29 MAMMAL REPORT by MARION BROWNE... 6 02000) ge be ec ce te we eee we ee ben te 32 AN APPRECIATION. RICHARD EMERY SANDELL............02.0 000 eee eee eee 41 OBITUARY. MISS STEVENSON by BEATRICE GILLAM..................---2-0-00- 42 FES ORNS osc vat MU es 1h i idea sc) ails Oe oe ae ae ee eae BC eee cous ce: dla: mle Gi saliay serious, i'n. els: aioe 42 , WBRARY . THE FISHERTON BRICKPITS; THEIR STRATIGRAPHY AND FOSSIL CONTENTS by JUSTIN B. DELAIR* and MYRA L. SHACKLEY** INTRODUCTION One of the most complete faunal assemblages yet discovered in British Pleistocene strata came to light last century in ‘brickearth’ deposits at Fisherton Anger, immediately west of Salisbury. Prominent among these fossils were the remains of a large series of mammals, the importance of which has long been recognized. The precise composition of the deposits has remained unknown since the term ‘brickearth’ is commonly used for a wide variety of sediments. A small foundation trench, exposed in 1976, permitted the “brickearth’ at Fisherton to be sampled. Analysis revealed it to be a floodloam capped by river gravels. : This paper attempts to consider the sites as a whole, trace the history of the principal discoveries, and deal with other coeval finds with which the Fisherton material should properly be correlated. THE FISHERTON BRICKPITS The early history of brickmaking at Fisherton and nearby Bemerton, and of the palaeonto- logical discoveries made there, is obscure, and until now no plan of the various pits has been issued. Unpublished records in Salisbury Museum (1), however, include a valuable sketch map locating all the brickpits active at Fisherton and Bemerton during the middle of the nineteenth century. It is reproduced here as Fig.1, and may be compared with Fig.2 which correlates the locations of the pits with the present Fisherton-Bemerton road network at comparable scale. None of the pits are now active, although artificial depressions and portions of embankments survive at several sites enabling the approximate limits of some of the old workings to be determined with fair confidence. Site investigations have revealed that the sketch map (Fig.1) is remarkably accurate. dommes tater) [\-3 Tr Ee eas foe Lb Bygg : a0. 200 Fig. 1 Facsimile photograph of hitherto unpublished sketch map of the Fisherton/Bemerton brickpits; original preserved in the Salisbury and South Wilts Museum. Parts only legible. The earliest recorded brick kiln at Fisherton was occupied by a Mrs Gooden (or Goodhind) as long ago as 1706 (2, p.187), but whether for brickmaking on a commercial scale is uncertain. Con- ceivably it was, for many of the houses erected in Salisbury in the 18th century were built of red and cream coloured bricks, the latter, so typical of later Fisherton bricks, probably coming from the Fisherton yards (3, p.8). It was not until 1826, however, that kilns and brickyards at Fisherton first became separately rated (2, p.187), although it seems clear that, despite the absence of earlier official records, organized brick production occurred at Fisherton well before that date, perhaps at several sites. The Salisbury Museum archives record the discovery of rhinoceros and mammoth bones at Futcher’s pit (see Fig.1) in 1824 (1, p.15), while Lyell, who, in 1827, was the first to publish on the occurrence of mammalian fossils at Fisherton, alluded to the existence then of “several pits” at Fisherton (4, p.25). Futcher’s pit was probably one of these, although elsewhere (2, p.188) we are told that Robert Futcher only made bricks between 1859 and 1880, evidently an erroneous statement. *Caledonian Land Surveys Ltd., **Institute of Archaeology, 19 Cumnor Road, Wootton, 35 Beaumont Street, Boar’s Hill, Oxford, Nr. Oxford, Oxon. Oxon. As discussed below, quite a large number of other mammalian fossils were found at Fisherton well before 1844 — the date of the next recorded reference to the Fisherton brickmaking industry (ibid.). In that year there were four pits: one west of Mill Road occupied by John Pike (not marked in Fig.1); two occupied by William Harding — one on the south side of Wilton Road where the Devizes Road leaves it (not shown in Fig.1), and one on the west side of the Devizes Road a little to the north of the first pit (apparently site 5 in Fig.1); and a “‘field” fronting the Wilton Road southwest of Harding’s second pit (site 5) worked by a Dr Richard Greenup and Thomas Napier (either site 4 in Fig.1 or the small adjacent pit marked ‘A’ in Fig.2). The exact location of Harding’s pit on the south side of Wilton Road cannot now be traced. Indeed, it may have been of limited extent since, as early as 1811, houses had been built on that side of Wilton Road west of its junction with the Devizes Road (op.cit., p.91). Another pit, sited almost opposite the old lunatic asylum (see Fig.2), seems to have ceased operations by 1844 (op.cit., p.188). \ Harding's \lower Bit L Fig. 2 Locations of former brickpits in the Fisherton/Bemerton area Interestingly, all the Fisherton brickyards active before 1844 seem, as far as is known, to have been located around the junction of the Wilton and Devizes roads (see Fig.2), brickyards not being opened up at Bemerton, further west, until after that date. It was from these early pits, including Pike’s pit and the more southerly of Harding’s two yards just mentioned, that all the earliest recorded finds of fossils must have come. During the mid-1850’s the railway reached Fisherton, a station being opened there in 1856-7 (op.cit., p.91). The excavations necessitated by the construction of the railway lines and station occurred in an area bounded in the south by Pike’s brickyard and in the north by the more southerly of Harding’s pits, and thus cut through. strata essentially similar to that exposed in those pits. Prestwich and Brown, who visited and prepared vertical sections of these excavations in 1854, noted the existence of several large brickpits on the slopes of the hill between Devizes Road and Wilton (given by them as Bath) Road (5, p.103), and in a vertical cross-section of the area indicated two as being then respectively worked by Messrs Darby and Harding (op.cit., p.102). It has not been possible to positively identify Darby’s pit on the Salisbury Museum sketch-map (Fig.1 ). In 1860, there was another brickpit opposite Fisherton Farm (Fig.2), although by 1880 it~ has been acquired and was worked by Harding (2, p.188); and about the same period a pit variously known as Sanger’s or Baker’s was active at the western end of what is now Hartington Road (pit 6 in Fig.1). In 1859 it was particularly productive of mammalian fossils (1, p.10), and again in the Spring of the following year (op.cit., p.11). By February 1859 a pit adjacent to Cherry Orchard Road (site 2 in Fig.1) was worked by a Mr Read, who was also the proprietor of a group of smaller pits (site 3 in Fig.1) opened about the same time on the north side of Wilton Road, nearly opposite Cherry Orchard Road (op.cit., pp.4, 17, 18). These, and most of the other aforementioned brickyards between the Wilton and Devizes roads, remained active throughout the following decade but thereafter declined as the ‘brickearth’ deposits became exhausted. THE BEMERTON BRICKPITS About 1860 we encounter the first records of brickmaking at Bemerton, for in the August of that year we learn of the existence of a brickpit, worked by a Mr Cook, “opposite” Bemerton Church (op.cit., p.20). This does not appear to have been the small brickyard allegedly worked by Cook and marked as Ic in Fig.1, but was probably the much larger pit due south of what is now St. Andrew’s Road (pit ‘B’ in Fig.2). Immediately north of this site were two pits (marked as 1a and 1b in Fig.1) that, although known as Farrant’s pits in 1861, were then actually worked by a Mr Futcher. Presumably they were owned by Mr R. Farrant — who built nearby Farrant House in 1848 (2, p.40) — but leased and worked by Futcher. If so, that would suggest that the aforementioned assertion that Futcher manufactured bricks only between 1859 and 1880 (op.cit., p.188) relates to Futcher’s Bemerton activities rather than to his Fisherton enterprises. By 1879, houses had been built between Wilton Road and the railway as far west as the Skew Bridge at Bemerton (see Fig.2), and by the end of the first decade of the twentieth century covered the sites of the old Bemerton brickyards (op. cit., p.40). This accords with the statement that, by 1903, almost all brickmaking had ceased in the Fisherton/Bemerton area as the hand-made bricks hardly paid to make (op.cit., p.188). The general extent of the Bemerton sites can still be made out particularly well. THE FISHERTON SEDIMENTS The geological map (Fig.3) shows two deposits of ‘brickearth’ higher in the Nadder valley and two nearer the centre of Salisbury. It is the southern of these latter deposits which yielded the fossils (and implements) discussed’ in this paper. To the writers’ knowledge the other deposits have never been worked, and no sections of them are visible. The resemblance of the shape of the deposits to paired river terraces is most marked, both being found on the northern flanks of their respective river valleys. The ‘brickearths’ are underlain by Chalk, but the headwaters of the rivers occur in areas of Cretaceous and late Jurassic strata to the north and west. I: Stratigraphy The first reference to the Fisherton deposits was made in 1827 by Lyell, who described the sediments as varying in thickness from 10—20' (3—6m) and divided by laminae occasionally separated by layers of fine sand or small flints. By far the greatest wealth of information from Fisherton was collected by Dr. H.P. Blackmore, of Salisbury, who recorded his observations and the locations of the various exposures in the so-called ‘Locked Notebook’ (presently in Salisbury Museum) and in the ‘Small Notebook’, a copy of which, transcribed by his successor Frank Stevens is in the same museum. The deposits were recorded as attaining a depth of nearly 30’ (9m) in Harding’s and Baker’s pits, the base often resting on light-coloured marls, full of land and freshwater shells (4), an observation confirmed by almost every later observer (5;6;7;8;9; 10; 11; and 12). Very little of the original deposit now remains in the area, so that Reid, writing in 1903 (9), commented that “so much of the brickearth has been worked out that many of the sections are obscure”, and was forced to quote the section published by Prestwich and Brown (5) nearly fifty years earlier. In more recent years a fortuitous gas pipeline trench at SU 124310 showed that neither gravel nor ‘brickearth’ survived over the Chalk at this location, although either might have been expected there from the rather confused geological map (Fig.3). A short distance away, at SU 126306, building excavations during 1976 revealed a small section of ‘brickearth’ capping gravels. Just below this height, the 175’ (53m) Bemerton terrace is still a marked topographic feature. “Clay with Flints” 0 Smiles “Brickearth™ “Valley Gravel” “Plateau Gravel” 5 kilometres Fig. 3 Drift deposits of the Salisbury area. 1: ChurchFields site 2: Pit near Brown’s House. II. Original sections Several drawings of original sections through the Fisherton deposits have survived (1). In the ‘Locked Notebook’, Blackmore often mentions that the beds tend to thin out on the northern (uphill) side, but that towards the south they may attain depths of 18’ (5%m). Fig.4a shows that the deposits consist mainly of soliflucted material, the present gradient of the hillside, 1-in-17, being amply sufficient for solifluxion. Beds 7 and 8 are soliflucted material and coombe rock, differing in composition with the relative amounts of chalk, gravels, and clays available. The ‘white brickearth’ of bed 6 is possibly a leached horizon, with the ‘red clay and gravel’ underneath representing the illuviation zone of the same deposit. This suggests that the ‘brickearth’ was weathered for a considerable period before being capped by coombe rock, which forms under rather more severe climatic conditions. Fig. 4a: unlocalised section. 9 Subsoil 8 Fine Chalk rubble and clay. 7 Flint gravel. 6 White brickearth. 5 Red clay and gravel. 4 Fawn Chalk and clay. 3 Disturbed white Chalk. 2 Flint and Chalk rubble stained brown with clay. 1 Undisturbed Chalk. A section (Fig.4b) exposed at Harding’s brickyard, where the deposit seems to have attained maximum thickness, was drawn in 1903 by Reid (9) on the basis of data published thirty-five years previously by Prestwich (8), and this showed the topmost beds (5 and 6) to again consist of soliflucted material. They capped ‘brickearths’ which reached a maximum depth of nearly 18’ (5%m), and were underlain by a light coloured marl which was probably a chalk meltwater deposit. The basal deposits of bed 2 again appear to be coombe rock. Fig. 4b: Harding’s pit (after Reid: 1903) 6 Earth and Flint rubble 5 Angular flint pebbles and Chalk in clay and brickearth 4 Brickearth, with some flint and chalk rubble 3 Light coloured fine marl with shells 2 Flint and Chalk rubble, sand and clay 1 Undisturbed Chalk Several further sections were recorded by Blackmore (1), and are here shown as Figs. 5a—Sc. N S 15ft 3 sort Fig. Sa: Futcher’s pit ° 3 Loose sand and gravel. ar Bae 2 Common 0 1 White clay Fig. 5b: Harding’s pit 9 Vegetable mould 8 Clay and gravel 7 Greensand band 6 Good brickearth 5 Dark vein containing pupae 4 Good brick earth 3 Fragments of Limnaea, Helix, ?Pupa 2 Dark brown vein (? vegetable) 1 Brickearth containing flints Fig. Sc: Harding’s pit (August 1862) 8 Topsoil 7 Gravel and clay 6 Good brickearth 5 Dark vein containing pupae 4 Thin dark vein (?vegetable) 3 Gravelly brickearth with few flints. 2 Thin dark vein (?vegetable) 1 Gravelly brickearth with few flints Ill: The 1976 Section During the Spring of 1976 a small section was disclosed by construction work at SU 126306 (Fig.6). This showed 27cm of much disturbed topsoil and rubbish, overlying 34cm of ‘brickearth’ resting upon ochreous gravels. The acute thinning out of the ‘brickearth’ at this point is very evident. Fig. 6: 1976 section through the deposits at SU 126306 3 Topsoil 2 ‘brickearth’ 1 Ochreous gravels IV: The ‘brickearth’ Sample The deposit consisted of a reddish-brown muddy sand, rather lumpy and cohesive, decalcified, and with a pH value of 6.1. After disaggregation a sample was examined under the binocular micro- scope and the remainder subjected to a detailed particle size analysis using the methods of Shackley (13). The resulting size distribution curve is shown in Fig.7. The coarse fraction of the sample included: several rather angular flint pebbles. The quartz sand grains were clean and also angular/ subangular in shape, only the larger grains exhibiting slight blunting. The sand grains showed little frosting except on the very small particles, which were weathered and more rounded. This suggests that the sand population was mixed, the fine sand fraction being redeposited and the coarse material (sands and gravels) being newly eroded. Neither the shape nor the surface texture of the grains suggests wind action. 8 The ‘brickearth’ consisted of over 50% gravel, derived from the underlying layers. The matrix deposit was very sandy, nearly half being fine sand (2.5—4@) with a cohesiveness imparted by 13% mud (12% being silt). This instantly eliminates the possibility that the deposit might be loess, has a much higher silt content, often over 50%; and when weathered the clay content increases at the expense of the sand fraction. However, although ‘brickearths’ are often regarded a priori as loess, many are rather shallow and, as in the present case, laid on fluviatile terraces. The Fisherton sediment is water rather than wind deposited, and shares many features in common with some of the New Forest ‘brickearths’, which have been identified by Swanson (14) as floodloams. One of these, at Gore, was laid on the 100’ terrace and capped by loess after it had ‘been weathered. It is not inconceivable that a similar series of events could have occurred at Fisherton, with the upper ‘loess’ being removed by weathering and quarrying. Should this prove the case, it might then account for the faunal change towards less thermophilous animals such as appear to have been preserved in the upper part of the deposit at Fisherton. mm as) L-4 rs) no °° no Ww a ¢ a oO Ww N 7) CLAY fe | _ eaeee | + t . . . . . . e 0) 0:01 O01 O51 5 10 20 70 95 99 999 Fig. 7: Particle size distribution in section at SU 126306 CUMULATIVE % OF SAMPLE History of the Fisherton Discoveries The earliest published reference to the occurrence of mammalian fossils at Fisherton appeared in 1827, when Lyell recorded bones and teeth of the elephant, ox, and rhinoceros (4). Lyell, who stated that these remains had been exhumed from ‘brickearth’, also mentioned that such discoveries were nothing new there even in 1827. We have already noted that rhinoceros and mammoth bones had been found at Futcher’s pit as early as 1824 (1, p.15). 1827 also marked the beginning of an eight or nine year period during which, according to records (op.cit., p.23), mammalian bones from the Fisherton brickpits were acquired by Dr Richard Fowler, physician at Salisbury Infirmary from 1796—1847. An antiquarian, Fowler took an active interest in establishing a museum at Salisbury — an event that occurred in 1861 — and deposited his Fisherton fossils in it early date. The specimens are recorded as having belonged to Elephas primigenius, Equus caballus, Cervus ?elaphus, Rhinoceros tichorhinus, Bos primigenius, and Bos longifrons (original identifications in 2, p.23). Regrettably, no information has survived concerning their place, or places, of discovery, the relevant bones now being difficult if not impossible to identify as Fowler’s material. It was probably because no museum existed at Salisbury in the 1840’s that Richard Owen — Britain’s first great comparative anaomist and normally a most diligent researcher — failed to notice mammalian fossils from Fisherton in his extensive surveys of British fossil mammalia in 1842 (15), 1843 (16), and 1846 (17). One surmises from this that (a) he inadvertently overlooked Lyell’s 1827 Y) paper, and (b) was unaware of the existence of Fowler’s specimens. That most of the early finds at Fisherton remained for many years little known outside of Salisbury seems undeniable, for no further printed references to them appeared until 1855, when Prestwich and Brown described field obser- vations at Harding’s pit (5). These had evidently been completed some while before the close of 1854, probably about the time when H.P. Blackmore — later the first curator of Salisbury Museum, and by far the most energetic collector of Fisherton’s fossils — found fossilized birds’ eggs in the Fisherton ‘brickearths’ (18). Prestwich and Brown recorded Cervus Elaphus, Bos longifrons, a large unnamed bovid, a horse, an elephant (probably Mammuthus), the tichorhine rhinoceros, and numerous molluscs, adding that most of the bones occurred in the lower part of the ‘brick-earth’ and in subjacent light-coloured fine marl (5, pp.103—4). In a paper read to the Wiltshire Archaeological and Natural History Society in August 1955, but not published until three years later (11), W. Cunnington of Devizes reviewed the Pleistocene mammalia of Wiltshire and listed Cervus elaphus, Elephas primigenius, Bos longifrons, Equus sp., and other mammals from Fisherton. There was, however, no reference to Rhinoceros, which, in view of the previously noted records, seems inexplicable. During the years immediately following, Blackmore appears to have been particularly active as a collector, for between 1855 and 1865 he procured enormous numbers of mammalian bones from the Fisherton and Bemerton brickpits (1). These were recorded as belonging to Felis spelaea, Hyaena spelaea, Canis vulpes, Sus ?scrofa, Equus caballus, Equus fossilis, Bison minor, Bison priscus, Bos primigenius, Cervus tarandus or C. guettardi, Lepus timidus, Lepus groenlandicus, and Spermophilus sp (19, p.395). Remains of the last named genus, together with those of Myodes torquatus, were first encountered in 1861, being assigned to the species S.erythrogenoides (20, p.465). Most of Blackmore’s specimens, which also included bones and teeth of Rhinoceros tichorhinus and Elephus primigenius, are still in Salisbury Museum. Other Fisherton mammalian remains are preserved at Bath, Bos sp. and Spermophilus erythrogenoides bones in the Institute of Geological Sciences (London), and various teeth and mandibles of Myodes and Anrvicola in the British Museum (Natural History). Some of these forms were listed by Stevens in 1864, when the occurrence at Fisherton of the bones of an ass or pony (Asinus ?fossilis) was noted for the first time (21, p.106). It is, therefore, somewhat remarkable that, although Lyell, Prestwich and Brown, Cunnington, and Stevens had all recorded bovine remains from Fisherton, Boyd-Dawkins omitted all reference to such material in his study of the British fossil oxen published the same year (22). In 1868, both Prestwich (8, p.23) and Stevens (23, p.110) independently listed the fossil mammalia of Fisherton, with minor nomenclatural differences, and with the omission of Asinus from the fauna. A much fuller statement, based almost entirely upon material in Salisbury Museum, appeared from Stevens’ pen two years later (10), and was separately restated later the same year (24). In 1874, Blackmore added several rodent species to the faunal list in his study of the arvicolidae (25). Various Fisherton and Bemerton specimens were referred to in passing by Hinton (26) and Reynolds (27) during the 1920’s and 1930’s, but neither dealt with the fauna as a whole, the last good statement on which appearing as long ago as 1903 (9, pp.67—8). This had, in fact, been compiled for Reid by Blackmore himself, and included the following animals. Bos bison Elephas primigenius Rhinoceros antiquitatis Bos taurus, var. primigenius Equus caballus Lepus ?variabilis Canis lagopus Felis leo Microtus nivalis Canis lupus Cervus elaphus Microtus ratticeps Canis vulpes Rangifer tarandus Myodes torquatus Hyaena crocuta Ovibos moschatus Spermophilus erythrogenoides Although incorporating then recent nomenclatural revisions, it is noteworthy that this list omitted Sus and Asinus — both previously reported from Fisherton — but included Canis lagopus and Ovibos moschatus for the first time. Palaeontological Anomalies Surviving records (1) mention the discovery by ‘Mr Dowding of the Jail’, in February 1859, of the vertebra of a Plesiosaurus in the ‘brickearths’. Sensu stricto, this genus is restricted to Rhaetic and Liassic formations of early Jurassic times, and, sensu Jato, occurs more or less constantly throughout the whole of the Mesozoic. Clearly a redeposited specimen, this vertebra must have been derived from any one of the Jurassic and Cretaceous formations present in the upper Wylye valley, being in all probability from one of the latter horizons as it appears to show cimoliosaurid affinities so typical of Cretaceous plesiosaurs. 10 A second anomaly is represented by ‘a fragment of a lower jaw with tooth of tiger’ from Harding’s pit (1). This is probably a mididentification of Homotherium (Dinobastis) latidens, the Lesser Scimitar Cat, known from various British cave deposits (Kent’s Cavern in Devon, and Pin Hole and Robin Hood’s Cave in Derbyshire) until the late Devensian. Relict populations probably survived in Britain long after the species had become extinct on the Continent; and since it seems to have preyed principally upon juvenile elephants, its presence at Fisherton would fit in with the ‘brickearth’ fauna there very well. Implements In addition to the aforementioned mammalian remains, and the molluscan fossils reviewed more fully below, Fisherton has yielded two human implements. Of these, one was illustrated by Evans in 1872 (28). Very importantly it was found in association with mammoth bones. The specimen, a Mousterian of Acheulean Tradition bout coupé handaxe with a very flat cross-section, was finely worked by well resolved flaking probably executed using a soft hammer (29). It was in a sharp condition, with marks of use on one edge, and had a white ‘porcelleneous’ lustre. Another identical handaxe was reported from the same location, but was apparently in too fragmentary a condition to merit retrieval. The association between these two bout coupé handaxes and the faunal remains is vital, as the bout coupé handaxe is the type ‘fossil’ for the beginning of the Middle Palaeolithic in England — occurring both at stratified dateable cave sites, within deposits of the 7.5m (Late Monastirian) raised beach, and as numerous isolated finds. The form acts equally as a cultural and typological marker for the British Mousterian industries, and enables correlations to be made between the rather crude provincial variant of the Mousterian of Acheulean Tradition found in England and the classic, better- made, series occurring in France and north-western Europe (29; 30, and 31). The Faunal Evidence The mammalian and molluscan fossils from Fisherton afford valuable indications of climatic and ecological conditions in the Salisbury area during the period under consideration. Of this evidence, the molluscan is possibly the more telling since molluscs possess less mobility than mammals and exhibit marginally less tolerance to specific climatic and environmental conditions. I: Mollusca The molluscan fossils discovered at Fisherton fall ecologically into three groups — land, marsh, and freshwater — although some species are present that can flourish in a combination of two of these environments (Table 1). Almost all the land species should occur in marshes, although this would not be their usual habitat. Pupilla, although a xerophile today, was a marsh species during the colder phases of the Pleistocene (Evans, pers. comm.). The fauna is therefore a mixed one combining species from several habitats, ultimately laid down in fresh water, while the land element indicates damp marshy conditions in a generally open landscape. Climatically, the molluscan assemblage is of a type generally associated with interstadial conditions. Many species, for example 3—5, 8, 10, 12-14, 16, 19, and 22—23 (table 1), are characteristic of the late Devensian in Britain, as at Cherhill and Beckhampton (32). A second group (2, 6, and 11) is absent from the late Devensian but occurs in earlier interstadials and, even more likely, at the end of the Ipswichian interglacial extending into the cool Pinus zone (h—i) (33; 34). Climatically and environmentally, the fauna is similar to that from the silt lens at Marden (35), which is probably of early Devensian age. The presence of Valvata and Bithynia probably indicate running water, but if this is so there are surprisingly few species characteristic of a true freshwater habitat (Evans, pers. comm.). II. Mammalia Possessing greater individual and collective mobility the mammalian fauna represents evidence of somewhat different, yet complementary, character and requires, perhaps, assessing on a broader base. Accordingly, it should be noted that remains of mammals have been recorded at various times from the following Salisbury localities adjacent to the Fisherton/Bemerton brickpits. (a) Fisherton Jail (Fig.2): many teeth and bones of Coelodonta antiquitatis were found last century when foundations were sunk for extensions to the old county jail — which stood immediately east of the junction of the Devizes and Wilton roads (5, p.104). Two teeth of this species (GSM 447 and GSM 449) from this site are preserved in the Institute of Geological Science, London, and two 1] further molars (SSWM 232 and 233) in the Salisbury and South Wilts Museum*. The latter collection also contains remains of Microtus oeconomus (SSWM 234) and Dicrostonyx torquatus (SSWM 235) from the same locality. Between 1870 and 1880 houses were built over the site of the jail (2, p.91) which had been demolished shortly before, but no additional bones are recorded as having come to light then. (b) Fisherton Railway Station (Fig.2): when foundations were dug for this station (it opened in 1856—7), a large number of unidentified animal bones were discovered at the base of loose whitish underlying clay. None of the bones appear to have been collected (1, p.29). (c) Near Fisherton Railway Station (Fig.2): a single tooth (SSWM 001) of Bos. sp., from gravel 10 feet below the surface, is lodged in Salisbury Museum. (d) Church Fields, Fisherton (Fig.3): in April 1862 a pit was opened to a depth of some 14 feet near the bank of the River Nadder. A generically unidentified cervid antler and an astragalus and fragmentary bones of Bos sp. (SSWM 652-6) and Bison sp. SSWM 746a—h) were obtained from an unrecorded depth (ibid., p.30). (e) Pit near Brown’s House, Church Fields (Fig.3): bones of Bos sp., Ovis sp., and Sus sp., were found in September 1862 during excavations for Mr James Brown’s house close to the pit (locality d) mentioned above (ibid., p.31). These remains, which have not been seen, suggest a post- Pleistocene faunal assemblage. (f) River Avon near Salisbury (Fig.3): a cetacean atlas was secured from ‘drift’ beds by Mr James Brown of Salisbury, who exhibited it at Bradford-on-Avon in August 1857 (36, p.251).. Woodward and Sherborn (37, p.382) apparently assigned the find to Siphneus sp. A portion of a large bone (SSWM 226), not improbably of a whale, from the Church Fields district of Fisherton, is preserved in Salisbury Museum. Surviving records (1) of the geographic and general stratigraphic distribution of many mammalian fossils collected from Fisherton and Bemerton between 1850 and 1865 include notes on the actual numbers of bones, or individuals, found at the different sites. These, together with the above mentioned discoveries, and a count of all known Fisherton/Bemerton mammalian specimens in various museums, makes possible a provisional estimate of the overall mammal population and the ratios of its component forms. Table 2 summarizes the known information; modern nomenclature has been adopted throughout, older names (psynonyms) appearing in parenthesis. These statistics reveal that bovids were far more numerous in the Fisherton fauna than other mammals, being followed by cervids and horses, and then (surprisingly) by mammoths and woolly rhinoceroses. As expected, carnivores were relatively uncommon. Rodents, however, were reasonably numerous and represented by arctic and subarctic species. * Abbreviated hereafter as Salisbury Museum. The available information, which could no doubt be considerably refined, thus confirms the conclusions independently reached in 1868 by Prestwich (8) and derivable from the evidence of taphonomy. The Fisherton mammals are a mixture of steppe and tundra forms. Taphonomy As Behrensmayer (38) pointed out, the amount of fragmented bone buried in any given sedimentary environment depends on the rate of sedimentation and the amount of bone introduced to that environment. The important factors which control bone input are actual abundance, carnivore activity, the proximity of bones to depositional environments, the rates of surface weathering, and the: dispersal potential of bones. The composition of the resulting fossil assemblage also partly depends on diagenetic factors. This particular assemblage bears few marks of carnivore activity, although the long bones are occasionally gnawed, and several of the specimens have been found articulated or partially so. Moreover, there is little evidence of rounding induced by water action, nor of the formation of bone dispersal groups. Importantly, at least two egg shells (both now preserved in Salisbury Museum) are known, one (possibly a goose egg) from 20’ below the surface of Harding’s pit, and the other of Anas boschas from 14’ feet below the surface of an uncertain Fisherton locality. (18). The presence of such delicate materials is additional evidence for postulating very gentle burial conditions. During periods of cold climate the various species of Anas are known to migrate southwards, and it is probable that both these eggs were laid by migratory birds during Spring months. This would accord well with the hypothesis that the ‘brickearth’ is a Spring melt-water deposit as the egg specimens would have required rapid but gentle emtombment in order to have been so beautifully preserved. 12 Conclusions Several British Pleistocene mammalian faunas are definitely associated with Mousterian of Acheulean Tradition types of implements. The Fisherton fauna is one of these. The presence in it of Arvicola is particularly interesting, since the genus occurs in the Middle Pleistocene (Wolstonian) at Greys and Ilford, and at La Cotte de St Brelade, all of which also yield Levallois industries of Ipswichian date. Interestingly, Arvicola and the Levallois industries disappear from the record until the Igtham horizon (39). The faunas associated with the typical Mousterian of Acheulean Tradition (M.A.T.) horizons of Périgord in the Dordogne consist of bovids or red deer, but at-La Cotte de St Brelade reindeer (Rangifer) is as important as auroch and there are indications of rather cold conditions. The La Cotte cave site would presumably only have been accessible to Man and the larger mammals at times of sub- stantially lower sea level. Other British M.A.T. faunas, such as have been found at Oldbury, Kent’s Cavern, and in the Hyaena Den at Wookey Hole, are also generally ‘cold’ in type, although there is a sufficient admixture of more thermophilous animals to enable a mixed steppe-tundra with woodland type of environment to be postulated — as against a strictly arctic biotype which would be associated - with a full glacial period. Both Kent’s Cavern and Oldbury have faunas that reflect an environment at the transition between glacial and interglacial conditions, the evidence from the first site pointing to a date soon after the beginning of the Devensian, and from the latter to a date connected with the first Devensian interstadial. The Fisherton fauna also appears to be complex and, in some respects, almost contradictory in its mixture of steppe and tundra animals; but it is likely that it represents an assemblage that lived in the conditions that existed either at the extreme end or at the very beginning of an inter- glacial, in particular the last (Ipswichian) interglacial. The molluscan evidence suggests that a substantial proportion of the fauna lived during the cool Pinus zone, which would be in excellent agreement with the mammalian. It is not improbable that the more thermophilous animals survived into the early Devensian. Archaeologically, it is known that the bout coupé handaxe form was manufactured in England only during the late Ipswichian/early Devensian period, the earliest finds being stratified within the deposits of the 7.5m raised beach. The terminus post quem for the exposure of this beach at Stone (Sussex) is zone f of the Ipswichian (33), and it has been suggested elsewhere (31) that the beach was formed during the last stages of the interglacial. On archaeological grounds the ‘brickearth’ must date to terminal Ipswichian times or to early Devensian times. This agrees admirably with the climatological inferences drawn from the faunal evidence. The presence of evidence for at least one period of very cold climate after the deposition of the ‘brickearth’ at Fisherton lends support to this hypothesis, and the ‘brickearths’ themselves seem to have consisted of meltwater deposits laid down as part of the Spring thaw, the water flowing down from some more northerly source. Acknowledgements The authors wish to thank the curator and staff of the Salisbury and South Wilts Museum for allowing access to the Fisherton material preserved there and for making numerous unpublished documents in their archives readily available; Dr Antony Sutcliffe and Mr A.P. Currant of the British Museum (Natural History), Dr C. Forbes of the Sedgwick Museum, Cambridge, and Mr R. Pickford of the Geology Museum, Bath, for providing information on Fisherton specimens in their collections; Dr. J.G. Evans, Cardiff, for valued advice on the mollusca; and Dr Antony Sutcliffe for kindly reading the manuscript. December 1977 (revised June 1978) 13 Fisherton (Table 1) Original Modern Environmental Notes Nomenclature _ Nomenclature Preference 1 Acme/Acicula lineata Acicula fusca, (Montagu) Land 1 fragment* 2 ?Carychium minimum Carychium minimum, (Miller) Land 1 fragment 3 Zua lubrica Cochlicopa lubrica, (Muller) Land A few (LD)** 4 Pupa muscorum/marginata Pupilla muscorum, (Linnaeus) Land A few (LD) 5 Helix arbustorum Arianta arbustorum, (Linnaeus) Land Numerous (LD) 6 »» — nemoralis Helix (Cepea) nemoralis, Tad N Ginnsca an umerous 7 ” rufescens Hygromia striolata, (Pfieffer) Land 8 ” hispida Be hispida, (Linnaeus) Land Numerous (LD) 9 ” hispida var. concinna ” hispida var. concinna (Jeffreys) Land Numerous 10 ” _pygmaea Punctum pygmaeum, (Draparnaud) Land Many, but not abundant (LD) 11 Zonites rotundatus Discus rotundatus, (Miller) Land 12 Helix fluva/Zonites fluvus Euconolus fulvus, (Miller) Land Plentiful (LD) e eee Retinella radiatuls, (Alder) Land One fragment (LD) 14 ” pulchella Vallonia pulchella, (Muller) Marsh/Land Numerous 15 Limax agrestis Agriolimax agrestis, (Linnaeus) Marsh/Land Numerous 16 Succinia oblonga ?Retinella arenaria, (Miller) Marsh 17 is putris ?Succinia putris, (Linnaeus) Marsh Numerous (LD) 18 ie elegans/gracilis ee sarsi, (Esmark) Marsh 19 Lymnaeus trunculatula Lymnaea trunculata, (Miller) Marsh/fresh Ac few water 20 Lymnaea palustris 2 palustris, (Miller) Marsh 21. Planorbis spirorbis Planorbis leucostoma, (Millet) Marsh 22 Pisidium fontinale Pisidium casertanum, (Poli) Marsh 23 ee obtusale s obtusale, (Lamark) Marsh 24 Valvata piscinalis Valvata piscinalis, (Miller) Fresh water Present 25 Bithynia tentaculata Bithynia tentaculata, (Linnaeus) eg Bs 26 Lymnaeus pep Sor tnnee Lymnaea peregra, (Miller) m4 a Rare 27 Planorbis carinatus Planorbis carinatus, (Miiller) os 2 28 Ancylastrum fluviatile Ancylus fluviatilis, (Miller) ies 2 29 Piscidium amnicium Piscidium amnicium, (Miller) rx ? Not numerous ” 30 =?Piscidium pusillum 31. Piscidium pulchellus nitidium, (Jenyns) pulchellum, (Jenyns) ” * possibly intrusive. ** LD signifies Late Devensian. Table 1: Mollusca from Fisherton. 14 Fisherton (Table 2) Bemerton — Fisherton oa Genera and species See & 2 ceoh Ora, ae es ° 3 ° (c = approximately) a 0 Carnivora: Panthera spelaea, (Goldfuss) (Felis spelaea) Crocuta crocuta, (Erxleben) (Hyaena crocuta) (Hyaena spelaea). Canis lupus, Linnaeus Canis sp. Alopex lagopus, (Linnaeus). (Canis lagopus) Vulpes vulpes, (Linnaeus). (Canis culpes) Cetacea: Genus indeterminate. Proboscidea: Mammuthus primigenius, (Blumenbach) 2 2 (Elephas primigenius) Perissodactyla: Coelodonta antiquitatis, (Blumenbach) 1 (Rhinoceros antiquitatis) (Rhinoceros tichorhinus) Rhinoceros sp. 1 Ovibos moschatus, (Zimmerman). (Bubalus moschatus) Equus sp. (incl. of Equus caballus, and E. : 2 fossilis of the literature) ?Equus sp. “‘Asinus”’ fossilis, Linnaeus. (Equus hydruntinus) Artiodactyla: Cervus elaphus, Linnacus Cervus ?elaphus, Linnacus Rangifer tarandus, (Linnaeus). (Cervus tarandus, and incl. C. guettardi) Cervid (genus uncertain) 1 Bos primigenius, Bojanus. (Bos taurus) 1 Bos sp. (incl. Bos longifrons specimens) Bison priscus, Bojanus Bison sp. Bovid (genus uncertain, but incl. specimens iden- tified as Bison “‘minor”’, Linnaeus) Ovis sp. Sus scrofa, Linnaeus Lagomorpha: Lepus timidus, Linnaeus Rodentia: Arvicola terrestris, (Linnaeus). (Arvicola amphibia) Microtus oeconomus, (Pallas). (Arvicola ratticeps) (Microtus ratticeps) Microtus nivalis, (Martins) Dicrostonyx torquatus, (Pallas). (Myodes tor- quatus). Lemmus lemmus, (Linnaeus). (Lemmus norvegicus) (Lemmus groenlandicus) Spermophilus major, (Linnaeus) (Spermophilus erythrogenoides) (Citellus erythrogenoides) Spermophilus sp. (species uncertain but incl. S. superciliosus, S. concolor, and S. mugosaricus). GENERA INDETERMINATE Brickpits Site 2 Ae NwWwr Site 3 Futcher’s pit (site 4) 30 Harding’s pit (site 5) NW See Ww Cal Baker’s (Sanger’s) pit (site 6) Other Fisherton Dr Fowler’s specimens c9 cl2 Railway Station excavations Church Field pits area localities “Fisherton”’ (sites unknown) Fisherton jail Totals Ww NR Rw c49 US 212 43} 7 KOOD OY DH HW BWW a 2 16 BIBLIOGRAPHY Stevens, E.T. n.d. Transcription of H.P. Blackmore’s ‘Small Notebook” (MS in Salisbury Museum). “Victoria County History of Wiltshire”, vol. vi, 1962 (Oxford). Lobel, M.D. 1969. “Historic Towns”, vol. 1, section on Salisbury (London and Oxford). Lyell, C. 1827. “On some fossil bones of the Elephant and other animals found near Salisbury’’, Proc. Geol. Soc. Lond., vol. 1, no: 3, pp.25—26. Prestwich, i; and J. Brown. 1955. “On a Fossiliferous Drift near Salisbury”, Quart. Journ. Geol. Soc. Lond., vol. xi, pp. 101-107. Blackmore, H.P. 1865. ‘‘Flint implements in the drift at Milford Hill, Salisbury”’, loc. cit., vol. xxi, pp.250— 252: Blackmore, H.P. 1867. “‘On the recent discoveries of flint implements in the drift of the valley of the Avon’”’, Wilts. Archaeol. Nat. Hist. Mag., vol. 10, pp.221— Prestwich, J. 18€8. “Geology of the Quaternary Deposits at Salisbury”, in ““Some Account of the Blackmore Museum: The Opening Meeting” (London), see pp. 22—35. Reid, C. 1903. ‘“‘Geology of the Country Around Salisbury”, Mem. Geol. Surv. Eng. & Wales. Stevens, E.T. 1870. “Flint Chips: A Guide to Prehistoric Archaeology” (London), see pp.15—30. Cunnington, W. 1858. “The Mammalian Drift of Wiltshire and its Fossil Contents’’, Wilts. Archaeol. Nat. Hist. Mag., vol. iv, pp. 129-142. Evans, Sir J. 1864. “On some recent discoveries of flint implements in drift deposits in Hants. and Wilts”, Quart. Journ. Geol. Soc. Lond., vol. xx, pp.188—199 Shackley, M.L. 1975. “Archaeological Sediments”, Butterworths (London). Swanson, E.H. 1968. “Pleistocene Geochronology of the New Forest”, Bull. Univ. Lond. Inst. Arch., vol. 8, pp.55—101. Owen, R. 1843. “Report on British Fossil Mammalia: Part I”, Rep. Brit. Assoc. Adv. Sci., Manchester, 1842), pp.54—74. Owen, R. 1844. Op. cit., Part II, loc. cit. (Cork 1843), pp.208—241. Owen, R. 1846. “‘A History of British Fossil Mammals and Birds” (London). Blackmore, H.P. 1854. “Remains of Birds’ Eggs found at Fisherton, near Salisbury”, Edinburgh New Philosophical Journal, vol. 54, pp.74—5. Blackmore, H.P. 1863. “British Fossil Mammalia and Flint Implements’, The Geologist, vol. vi, p.395. Blackmore, H.P. 1861. “Pleistocene Fossils”, loc. cit., vol. iv, p.159; also see H.P. Blackmore, 1874, p.465. eicyens) E.T. 1864. “Descriptive Catalogue of the Salisbury and South Wilts Museum” (Salisbury), see pp.1— 12. pee W. 1866. “On the British Fossil Oxen: Part I”, Quart. Journ. Geol. Soc. Lond., vol. xxii, pp.391—401. Stevens, E.T. 1868. “Report of the Blackmore Museum: Part III’, in “Some Account of the Blackmore Museum, Salisbury: The Opening Meeting” (London), see pp.105—238 Stevens, E.T. 1870. “Guide to the Blackmore Museum, Salisbury” (London), see pp.3—S. Blackmore, H.P. 1874. “On Fossil Arvicolidae”’, Proc. Zool. Soc. Lond., pp.460—471. Hinton, M.A.C. 1926. “Monograph of the Voles and Lemmings (Microtinae) living and Extinct”, Brit. Mus. (Nat. Hist.) Monog., vol. 1, 488pp. Reynolds, S.H. 1929. ‘““A Monograph of the British Pleistocene Mammalia”, vol. iii, pt. iii, Palaeontographical Society Monograph. 1933. Op. cit., pt. iv, loc. cit. 1934. Op. cit., supplement — Ovibos, loc. cit. 1939. Op. cit., pt. vi, loc. cit. Evans, Sir J. 1872. “Ancient Stone Implements. Weapons and Ornaments of Great Britain’’ (London). Shackley, M.L. 1977. “The bout coupe handaxe as a cultural marker for the British Mousterian industries”’, in “Stone Tools in synchronic and diachronic studies”, ed. R.V.S. Wright (Canberra). Roe, D.A. 1967. “A study of the handaxe groups of the British Lower and Middle Palaeolithic periods, using methods of metrical and statistical analysis, with a Gazetteer of British Lower and Middle Palaeolithic sites”’, unpublished Ph.D. thesis, University of Cambridge. Shackley, M.L. 1973. “A contextual study of the Mousterian industry from Great Pan Farm, Newport, Isle of Wight”’, Proc. I. of Wight Archaeol. Nat. Hist. Soc., vol. 6, pt. 8, pp. 542—554. Ean en oe “Periglacial deposits on the chalk of Wiltshire’, Wilts. Archaeol. Nat. Hist. Mag., vol. 63, pp. 120-126. ‘West, R.G., and B.W. Sparks. 1960. ‘Coastal interglacial deposits of the English Channel”, Phil. Trans. Roy. Soci. London, (B), vol. 243, pp.95—133. Evans, J.G. 1972. “‘Land Snails in Archaeology”’, Seminar Press (London). be Eee ics “The excavation of a late Neolithic enclosure at Marden, Wiltshire”, Antig. Journ., vol. , pp.177— : Anonymous. 1858. “A List of Articles Exhibited in the Temporary Museum at the Town Hall, Bradford, Aug. 11th., 1857”, Wilts. Archaeol. Nat. Hist. Mag., vol. iv, pp.249—252. Woodward, A.S., and C.D. Sherborn. 1890. “‘A Catalogue of British Fossil Vertebrata” (London). Behrensmayer, A.K. 1975. “The Taphonomy and Palaeoecology of Plio-Pleistocene vertebrate assemblages of Lake Rudolf, Kenya’’, Bull. Mus. Comp. Zool., Harvard (USA), vol. 146, pt. 10, pp.474—578 West, R.G., Lambert, C.A., and B.W. Sparks. 1964. “Interglacial deposits at Ilford”, Phil. Trans. Roy. Soc. Lond., (B), vol. 247, pp.185—212. APPENDIX A “THE FOSSIL MAMMALIA OF THE RIVER VALLEYS CONVERGING ON SALISBURY” by J.B. DELAIR* Down the years many finds of mammalian fossils, apparently coeval with those recorded from the Fisherton/Bemerton brickpits, have been made at neighbouring localities in the Avon, Nadder, Wylye, and Bourne valleys that meet at Salisbury. In view of the possibility that a proportion of the Fisherton/Bemerton fossils may have been drifted from further up these valleys by water (probably melt-water) action (1, p.25), it seems appropriate to review them here. a) b) c) a) b) c) d) e) I: THE NADDER VALLEY Quidhampton: a series of associated bones (SSWM 1088) of Bos primigenius were found 12—14 feet below ground level a few yards west of the electricity substation at Tinkers pit in 1956. South Burcombe: a lower molar of Mammuthus primigenius was discovered in gravel in 1863 (2, p.8). It is reputed to have been lodged in Salisbury Museum, where, however, it is now difficult to identify. Tisbury: remains of Rhinoceros and Bos primigenius (var. taurus) from river gravels are preserved in the reserve collection of the Institute of Geological Sciences, London. IT: THE WYLYE VALLEY Between Stoford and South Newton: a portion of a small tusk (SSWM 213) of Mammuthus primigenius was found some years ago in gravel at an unlocalized site between these villages. Wishford: an imperfect milk molar (SSWM211) of Mammuthus primigenius had been recovered from gravel adjacent to the River Wylye by 1864 (3, p.110). Steeple Langford: in 1949, a molar of Mammuthus primigenius was dredged from the bed of the tiver but was not preserved (4, p.251). Fisherton-de-la-Mere: a molar of Mammuthus primigenius was dredged from the river bed during the early years of World War II (ibid.). Its present whereabouts, however, is uncertain. Crockerton: a tusk, assignable to Mammuthus primigenius, was foundin a bed of clay at this locality some time before 1902 (5, p.167), although its subsequent fate is unknown. IIT; THE AVON VALLEY Bulford: Codrington (6, p.191) recorded Rhinoceros sp. and Mammuthus primigenius from the gravels of this locality, the former remains presumably including those exhibited by Cunnington at Devizes in 1853 (7, p.59), at Warminster in 1856 (8, p.268), and again at Devizes in 1874 (9, p.137), and which he ascribed to Rhinoceros tichorhinus (= Coelodonta antiquitatis) in 1858 (10, p.134). Durrington: a tooth of Mammuthus primigenius was exhumed from a gravel-pit at this locality on November 9th, 1920, and was shortly afterwards noticed by Stevens i(11, p.434). The: specimen is believed to have been lodged in Salisbury Museum, where, however, its identity is uncertain. Enford: an unregistered molar of Coelodonta antiquitatis from the Pleistocene drift gravels at this locality is preserved in Salisbury Museum. Manningford: a molar of Mammuthus primigenius from gravel beds here was exhibited by W. Cunnington at Devizes in September 1874 (9, p.137). Its present whereabouts is unknown. Pewsey: molars of Mammuthus primigenius, and a radius, ulna, and other bones of Equus sp., were obtained from gravel deposits in a cutting near the old Pewsey workhouse, at the headwaters of the River Avon, during the 1860's (6, p.172). * Caledonian Land Surveys Ltd., Wootton, Boar’s Hill, Nr. Oxford. 17 IV: THE BOURNE VALLEY a) Milford Hill: Leith-Adams (12, p.70) and Woodward and Sherborn (13, p.344) recorded remains of Mammuthus primigenius from this locality, although it is uncertain what became of them. b) Burbage: antlers of Cervus elaphus from gravel deposits at the extreme northern end of the Bourne valley were exhibited at Marlborough in September 1859 by Mr W. Bartlett of Burbage (14, p.258). The fate of these specimens is also unknown. V: SALISBURY PLAIN Unspecified bones of an elephant (probably Mammuthus) from “Salisbury Plain” were noticed as early as 1803 (15, footnote on p.7), and mentioned again by Cuvier in 1807 (16, p.303) and Buckland in 1822 (17, p.174). It is not known what became of them. Even though they were unlocalized it seems reasonable to suppose that they came from the gravels of one of the afore- mentioned valleys. It is immediately noticeable that virtually all the genera and species from the above localities are represented in the Fisherton/Bemerton brickpit deposits, and that all belong to the same fauna. The mammals from all these localities are therefore inseparably linked, being entombed in essentially fluviatile deposits at all the sites. REFERENCES _ Prestwich, J. 1868. “Geology of the Quaternary Deposits at Salisbury’’, in ‘““Some Account of the Blackmore Museum, Salisbury: The Opening Meeting” (London). Stevens, E.T. 1864. “Descriptive Catalogue of the Salisbury and South Wilts Museum” (Salisbury). Stevens, E.T. 1968. “Report of the Blackmore Museum: Part II”, in “Some Account of the Blackmore Museum, Salisbury: The Opening Meeting” (London). Anonymous. 1949. “Mammoth Remains in S. Wilts”, Wilts. Archaeol. Nat. Hist. Mag., vol. liii, p.251. Scanes, J. 1902. “Excursion to Warminster and Maiden Bradley, Saturday, June Ist., 1901’, Proc. Geol. Assoc., vol. xvii, pp.166—167. Codrington, T. 1866. ‘“‘Geology of the Hants and Berks Extension, and Marlborough Railways”, Wilts. Archaeol. Nat. Hist. Mag., vol. ix, pp.167—193. Anonymous. 1854. “A List of Articles Exhibited in the Temporary Museum at the Town Hall, Devizes, October 12th., 1853, Loc. cit., vol. i, pp.S7—67. Anonymous. 1857. “A List of Articles Exhibited in the Temporary Museum at the Town Hall, Warminster, August 5th, 1856”, Loc. cit., vol. iii, Pp.266—270. Anonymous. 1875. ““Loan Museum (Devizes, Sept. 8th., 9th., and 10th., 1874)”, Loc cit., vol. xv, pp.136—139. Pee a W. 1858. “The Mammalian Drift of Wiltshire and its Fossil Contents”, Loc. cit., vol. iv, pp.129— . Stevens, F. 1920. “Durrington Mammoth Tooth”, Loc. cit., vol. xli, p.434. 12. Leith-Adams, A. 1879. “Monograph on the British Fossil Elephants: Part Two’’, Palaeontographical Society Monograph, xxxv, pp.181—265. 13. Woodward, A.S., and C.D. Sherborn. 1890. “A Catalogue of British Fossil Vertebrata” (London). 14. Anonymous. 1860. “A List of Articles Exhibited in the Temporary Museum at the Town Hall, Marlborough, Sept. 27th., 28th., and 29th., 1859”, Wilts. Archaeol. Nat. Hist. Mag., vol. vi, pp.256—260. 15. Peale, R. 1803, “Historical Disquisition on the Mammoth” (London). 16. Cuvier, G. 1807. “Memoir upon Living and Fossil Elephants”’, Philos. Mag., vol. 26, pp.302—313. 17. Buckland, W. 1823. “Reliquiae Diluvianae” (Oxford). So 9 ID AR WH —_ _ THE WEATHER FOR 1977 by T.E. ROGERS Six out of the last seven years have been warmer than average and no less than seven years in the last nine have had below average rainfall. 1977 was reassuring in both respects, the mean temperature being only just above average, while the rainfall was well above the norm and went some way to make up for the drought year of 1976. It is interesting to consider the variations of temperature, rainfall and sunshine over the last decade: Deviations from mean annual figures Temperature Rainfall Sunshine Annual (Means: 8.79°C 827.4mm 1432 hrs) 1968 0 + 64mm —224 hrs 1969 0) =154 + 27 1970 0 — 99 + 88 1971 +0.3°C 67, +113 1972 a2 =, 81 1973 +0.1°C —189 +101 1974 +0.3°C +137 + 55 1975 +0.7°C = 192 +172 1976 +0.6°C —188 +249 1977 +0.2°C + 82 nil Decade balance +2.2°C —618mm +500hrs One cannot, of course, infer that these figures give any evidence for long-term climatic changes, but this table does show that the last decade has been a remarkably warm, sunny and dry period. We have to look back to the Edwardian era at the start of the Century to find a spell in any way comparable as far as rainfall is concerned, but even that decade (1900—1909) was cooler and duller than the period 1968—1977. It is difficult to escape the feeling that in Wiltshire the water table cannot be anything like as high as it has been and, notwithstanding the welcome wetness of 1977, it seems probable that we would not need a drought as long as that of 1976 to put our drinking water supplies into jeopardy again. January 1977 was cooler than usual with air-frosts on 15 nights, but there were no excessively low temperatures and, although snow fell on two or three occasions between the 10th and the 13th, amounts were not great and it did not persist for any great length of time. The third week of the month saw a pronounced warming, but a sudden cold snap brought the coolest night of the year on January 30th (—5.7°C or 22° F) followed by a little more snow next day. Rain fell on no less than 23 days in the following month, giving us the wettest February since 1951 and with only 6 air frosts it was very definitely a warm month too. This mild, damp spell was continued throughout most of March before a cold front from the north brought a bitter snap in the last week, with snow showers on the 28th of the month as if to warn us that Spring had not yet come. April was on the cool side with frequent fresh to strong westerly winds reaching gale force on the Ist and 2nd and again at times between the 22nd and 27th. Snow or sleet showers were common from the 7th to the 9th, but by the end of the month temperatures had picked up and thundery showers were experienced on the last two days of the month. May was changeable, being cool until mid-month and then mainly warm with some long sunny spells in the last fortnight. However, our visions of another lovely Summer were brought to a rude end by June which proved to be cool and wet as well as being the dullest since 1964! The rest of the Summer was indifferent. The hottest day of the year, a mere 26.6°C or 80°F (c.f. the 32.6°C or 91°F of 1976) was July Sth and August turned out to be the wettest since 1966. As if to compensate, September was very dry, but although there were one or two nice days, a lot of cloud resulted in a very meagre sunshine total. October was a little on the warm side, though otherwise normal enough, but the November 19 sunshine tally was quite remarkable, surpassing anything recorded at Marlborough where sunshine records go back to 1882. The first air frost of Winter did not arrive until November 17th and only 14 such frosts were recorded before the end of the year, about half the usual total. All told, it was a very mild end to the year and only the gale of December 23rd/24th (when a gust of over 100 m.p.h. was recorded at Hartland Point, North Devon) served to remind us that real Winter might not be far away. THE WEATHER FOR 1977 Month Av.Max Av.Min Mean Days of Air Max. Min. Mean for 133 Frost years J 516 ¢ 0.0°C 2.8°C 15 ALES CY * 5:92 a4 F 8.5 237 5.6 6 11.6 2.6 3.63 M 9.7 3.9 6.8 5 16.6 -3.7 5.03 A 10.9 2.6 6.7 11 15.8 -3.0 7.45 M 15.4 5:1 10.2 4 23.9 -0.7 10.46 J 1539 74 11.55 0) 244 4.1 13.68 J 20.6 10.3 15.4 0 25.6 4.3 15217 A 19.3 9.8 14.55 0 D4 7 52 15:11 S 16.7 8.5 12.6 0 20.8 1.9 Oa) O 12.4 TSS 10.0 0 18.2 0.7 9.10 N 9.2 3.1 6.1 9 16.0 -3.2 6.02 D 8.4 3.2 58 5 13.7 -1.5 3.65 Whole Year: Mean: 9.01°C 55 266°C = -5.7°C 8.79°C Months Daysof Rain Rainfall Mean for 133 Sun Sunless Days Mean for 94 years years J p91 87.4mm 78.4mm 41 .Ohrs 14 41.S5hrs F 23 135.5 61.5 199 10 63.6 M 21 100.8 58.3 89.1 9 111.8 A 17 goal 56.1 166.1 2 149.4 M 14 54.5 58.8 222a1 1 186.9 J 14 98.3 56.2 1219 fk 190.3 J 7 239, 62.4 211.4 ] 186.2 A 18 129%5 72:1 (154) 176.7 S 11 19-7 70.3 (101) 138.4 O iW 70.0 84.3 (106) 94.6 N a1 67.8 83.7 (100) 53-1 D 20 S72) 85.3 (43) ehh) Whole Year: 205 days 909.6mm 827.4mm 1436 hrs 1432.0 hrs 20 Month UZOMYPrIAZrsmO Totals for 1977 Yearly average figures: (Marlborough) N.B. Temperature ++ + + | +-Oo+O'O O° | ©: + 8.79°C (47.8°F) Rainfall 909.6mm (35.8ins) 827.4mm (32.6ins) Sunshine oro 1 oo!tir+o!]1oo + + 1436 hrs 1432.0hrs In all three columns: 0 signifies ‘average’; — means “distinctly below average’; —— means ‘very much below average’. The + and ++ signs have comparable positive meanings. 21 WILTSHIRE BIRD NOTES FOR 1976 Recorder: G.L. WEBBER Notes Compiled by E.T. SMITH It was hoped to bring together the notes for 1976 and 1977 in one report but the Wiltshire Ornithological Society, to whom we are grateful for those notes were not able to supply the 1977 information until later. Interesting records of Waders included five Dotterel near Pitton in early May, a bar-tailed Godwit at Coate Water in March and October and a black-tailed Godwit at Kent End gravel pit in August. This same pit had two Sanderling present in May and up to eight Little Stints during September and October. A Wood Sandpiper was at Wilton Water during April. Other birds of interest were the Osprey at Chippenham in late April and two of them in Ashton Keynes area in October, also the unusual number of passage Wrynecks from late August to early October, ranging from Malmesbury to Great Bedwyn. SYSTEMATIC LIST Abbreviations used: GP, Gravel Pit. SF, Sewage Farm. CWP, Cotswold Water Park. imm, immature. 5. Great Crested Grebe Podiceps cristatus Bred at Bowood Lake, Frogmore Pond, Shearwater, Steeple Langford and Ashton Keyens GP. 8. Black Necked Grebe Podiceps nigricollis A single bird at Coate Water 4—24 Feb. seen by many observers. 9. Little Grebe Tachybaptus ruficollis Bred widely on suitable waters. Autumn and winter flocks were at Coate Water, and CWP. 27. Gannet Sula bassana A sub-adult in a ploughed field near West Dean 2 Nov. 28. Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo Many records including 12 in flight Kent End GP. on Jan 9, from all parts of the County throughout the year. 30. Heron Ardea cinera The subject of annual counts since 1954 for the B.T.O. These show a steady rise from 1970 to 1974/5, the maximum being 142 occupied in nests in 1974. The 1976 census revealed only 107 occupied nests, the largest number being in a heronry of Great Bradford Wood with 32. Other large heronries are at Britford (15), Savernake (11), Bowood (16) and Ashton Keynes (17). 38. Bittern Botarus steilaris Single bird in flight near R. Marden 28 Mar. 48. Teal Anas crecca Widely reported. Flocks of 80 from Swindon SF and 78 in CWP. 47. Garaney Anas querquedula 3 records, all males, one at Swindon SF 7 Apl., another there on 13 Apl. and one at Kent End GP 22 Aug. 49. Gadwell Anas strepera Widely reported for the months Jan. to Mar. and Sept. to Dec. American Wigeon Anos americana Two males with tufted duck at the confluence of the Rivers Avon and Frome 30 Aug. Probably escapes. 52. Pintail Anas acuta A male and two females Ashton Keynes GP and a male at Kent End GP in March. A pair at Coate water 23 Apl. 53. Shoveler Anas clypeata Recorded from all major waters, mainly winter records, maximum number reported 18 at Corsham Lake during February. 54. Red crested Pochard Netta rufina Regular in CWP. A pair bred on an Ashton Keynes GP, also seen at Longleat, a male 25 Jan. and a female at Salisbury on the Avon 12 Nov. 56. Tufted Duck Aythya fuligula Bred at Coate Water, Chilton Foliat, Fonthill Lake, Shearwater and CWP. probably at Crofton and Tockenham. 57. Pochard Aythya ferina No breeding records but pairs summered at Coate Water and Fonthill Lake. Large numbers wintering in the county. 60. Goldeneye Bucephala clangula Many records up to April and from Oct. onwards. Maximum 12 at Pool Keynes GP in Feb. 64. Common Scoter Melanitta nigra One male, one imm., Corsham Lake 14 Oct. 4 females or imm. Coate Water 30 Oct., a single bird near Pewsey 16 Dec. Ruddy Duck Oxyura jamaicensis Adult male Corsham Lake 28 June, imm. there 29 Sep., imm. at Ashton Keynes GP 12 Sep. 69. Red-Breasted Merganser Mergus serrator Single female Coate Water 15 Feb. 22 70. 7. 78: 75. 16. 82. 85. 86. ville 95. 95): 100. 103. 104. 107. iO: di'S: Hy. 120. 13). 183. 134. 140. 142. 145. 147. 148. Goosander Mergus merganser 2 redheads Braydon Pond 17/18 Jan. and a single 25 Jan. Single redhead Coate Water 8 Feb. and 3 on 28 Nov. 2 at Corsham Lake 27 Dec. Single at Petersfinger 21 Dec. Smew /™. albellus Several records for Feb.. and Mar. from CWP, Tockenham and Corsham Lake. Shelduck Tadorna tadorna Records from CWP, Corsham Lake, Cricklade SF, Coate Water and Fonthill Lake. Greylag Goose Anser anser Throughout the year in CWP, maximum 6 in May and Aug. and 2 at Corsham Lake 21 Apl. White-fronted Goose A. albifrons 31 in flight near Ashton Keynes 31 Jan. 80 in flight, Neston. Small flock in flight Coate 25 Feb. Lesser White-fronted Goose A. erythropus An adult in riverside meadows of the Wylye near Bathampton House. 17—28 Mar. had not escaped from any known local collection. First record for the county. Canada Goose Branta canadensis Bred at Coate Water, Wilton Water, Axford, Chilton Foliat, Mildenhall, Lacock GP and Stanton Fitzwarren. Whooper Swan Cygnus cygnus A pair at Kent End GP 8 Feb. Bewick’s Swan C. bewickii Seen in Feb./Mar. and Nov./Dec. at Boscombe Down (9), near Trowbridge (5), Steeple Langford (3), Coate Water (8), Britford and Hilperton. Buzzard Buteo buteo Over 75 sight records and one definite breeding record from the South of the county. Sparrowhawk Accipiter nisus Over 180 sight records, 3 definite breeding records. Kite Milvus milvus One flying south over Wilton near Salisbury 31 Aug. Hen Harrier Circus cyaneus 38 males and 20 ringtails seen, the majority near Imber with others at Everleigh, South Marston, and Marlborough Downs. Osprey Pandion haliaétus One fishing in Avon at Chippenham 23—27 Apl. Two in CWP 10— 12 Oct. Hobby Falco subbuteo Over 40 sight records, 3 definite breeding records. First noted Trow- bridge 30 Apl., last one Wilton near Salisbury 27 Sep. Merlin F. columbarius Recorded near Imber Jan./Feb. and Nov./Dec., also at Cornbury Farm 11 Dec., Bishopstone 4 and 12 Dec., Farley 30 Dec., Tilshead 7 Nov., Steeple Langford 2 May and Colerne 8 May, 4 and 6 Sep. Kestrel F. tinnunculus Widely recorded. Red-legged partridge Alectoris rufa and Grey partridge Perdix perdix Both these species had a successful year. Quail Coturnix coturnix Heard calling and some seen Barbury Castle, Middle Winterslow, Edington, Hindon, Charlton Down, Allington Down, Knap Hill, Clay Hill, Smeathes Ridge, Wylye and near Westbury. Water Rail Rallus aquaticus Widely reported from suitable localities. Jan.-Apl. and Aug.- Dec. Oyster catcher Haematopus ostralegus Singles at Corsham Lake 29 Mar., Coate Water 3 Apl. and Ashton Keynes | Sep. Lapwing Vanellus vanellus Flocks over 1000 at Ashton Keynes, Winterbourne Bassett and Kent End GP in Jan., Netheravon Nov., Liddington 27 Sep., and Common Head 28 Dec. Ringed Plover Charadrius hiaticula First noted Coate Water 29 March and Kent End GP 30 March. Three pairs bred and reared young. Golden Plover Pluvialis apricaria Widely reported in flocks up to 1500 near Liddington, winter. Dotterel Eudromias morinellus 5 watched for 20 min near Pitton 2 May. Turnstone Arenaria interpres 2 singles in CWP Apl. and May 2 Coate Water 5 Sep. Snipe Gallinago gallinago Widely distributed in winter, breeding attempted at Lower Woodford and Littlecote. Jack snipe Lymnocryptes minima Singles at Littlecote 11 Apl., Gutch common | Oct. and 4 at Swindon SF in Jan.. and 2 in Apl. Woodcock Scolopax rusticola Present during breeding season at Bedwyn, Savernake, Chilton Foliat, Stormore Wood, Somerford Common, Red Lodge, Braydon, Whiteparish, Bentley Wood, Blackmoor Copse, Hound Wood, Ashley’s Copse, Grovely Wood, Collingbourne Wood, Chute Down and Spye Park. 23 150. 1Sile 154. 155% 156. 1572 159: 161. N62: 165. 171. 178. 184. 189. 193: 198. 200. 202. 22: PARTE 23. 235), 237. 241. 246. 248. 249. 292; 205). 258. ZO, 262. 264. 265. PAB 274. 24 Curlew Numenius arquata Noted during breeding season at Patney, Etchilhampton, Lyde- way and Red Lodge/Somerford Common areas. Whimbrel VV. phaeopus Calling at night over Neston 6 May. Blacktailed Godwit Limosa limosa One in winter plumage Kent End GP, 12 Aug. Bar-tailed Godwit L. lapponica Singles at Coate Water on 24 Mar. and 18 Oct. Green Sandpiper 7ringa ochropus Regular during winter in CWP and at Swindon SF. Wood Sandpiper T. glareola One at Wilton Water 28 Apl. and one at Kent End GP 15 Aug. Common Sandpiper Actitis hypoleucos First noted Coate Water 11 Apl. Last also seen there 10 Oct. Several other records last week Apl., first week May and again late July and Aug. Redshank 7. totanus Noted in breeding season at Littlecote, Britford, Great Dunford, Laverstock, Lower Woodford, Cricklade, Froxfield, Mildenhall and Ramsbury. Breeding confirmed at Coate Water and near Kent End. Spotted Redshank 7. erythropus Six records Mar./Apl. and Aug./Sep. from Coate Water and CWP. Greenshank 7. nebularia Records from Wilton Water 19 Apl., Coate Water 23—28 Apl., 7—10 May, 15—19 Aug., 22—25 Aug. 27 Aug.—3 Sep. and 6—7 Sept. Britford 27 Aug;. Axford 29 Aug., Steeple Ashton 27 Aug., Swindon SF 11 Aug., Kent End GP many times, Corsham Lake 16 Aug. Little Stint Calidris minuta Several records from CWP in June, Aug., Sept., and Oct. Dunlin C. alpina Regular Spring and Autumn in CWP and Coate Water, also at Britford and Steeple Langford. Sanderling C. alba 2 at Kent End GP 15 May. Ruff Philomachus pugnax Records in Feb. Mar. and Apl. from CWP and Coate Water, CWP in Sep. and Chiseldon Oct. Stone Curlew Burhinus oedicnemus 13 sight records, 5 pairs bred. Arctic Skua Stercorarius parasiticus 4 imm. flying south over Little Dunford 4 Sep. Great Blackbacked Gull Larus marinus Single sub-adult on ice at Westbury 14 Dec. Herring Gull L. argentatus 200 Pensworth rubbish tip 8 Dec., 40 near Kingston Deverill in Aug. Little Gull L. minutus 2 at Coate Water 3 Mar., one imm. there 22 Sep. First Summer bird at Kent End GP 22 May. Black Tern Chlidonias niger Coate Water 3 on 19 July, one 30 Aug., up to 11 Sep., Fonthill single 18—19 Sep. CWP in Sep. and Oct. Common Tern Sterna hirundo Coate Water singles 22, 27 Apl., 6 on 2 May, one on 16 May, 8 on 25 May and one on 7 June. In Autumn 2 on 30 Aug., 5 on 10 Sep., 24 on 22 Sep. Braydon Pond Single 31 May. CWP May June and Oct. Corsham Lake Single 5 Sep. Arctic Tern S. paradisea 2 at Braydon Pond 31 May. Turtle Dove Streptopelia turtur First noted 16 Apl. at Horton, last at Chisledon 30 Oct. Cuckoo Cuculus canorus First at Blackmoor Copse and Calne 10 Apl. and latest date Thornbill 16 Sep. Barn Owl Tyo alba Many sight records; only one definite breeding report. Little Owl A thene noctua and Tawney Owl Strix aluco No changes noted. Long-eared Owl Asio otus Reported from Sells Green 23 Jan., Chirton Gorse 11 Apl., Water Dean Bottom 16 Apl. and Swindon SF 28/29 Dec. Male calling at a breeding site in March. Short-eared Owl A. flammeus 7 at Imber during Jan. present until 28 Mar. 3 at Pink flower Gorse 20 Feb., 4 at Eveleigh Jan./Feb., 1 at Westdown Ranges 6/8 Apl., 1 at Breakheart Bottom, Chitterne 23 Oct., 1 at Haxton Down 31 Oct. and 2 there 14 Nov. Nightjar Caprimulgus europaeus Noted in Bentley, Hound, Norridge and Southleigh Woods. Swift Apus apus First at Pewsey 30 Apl. last at Stanton Fitzwarren 3 Oct. Kingfisher Alcedo atthis Records from all suitable habitat. Hoopoe Upupa epops | at Pinkflower Gorse 8 May. Green Woodpecker Picus viridis, Great spotted woodpecker Dendrocopus major and Lesser Spotted Woodpecker D. minor have all apparently increased in numbers. Wryneck Junx torquilla Singles at Lea 13 Aug., Westbury 27/30 Aug., Colerne 1 Sep., King- ston Langley 2/5 Sep., Swindon 3/7 Sep., Sutton Veny 4 Oct. and Great Bedwyn 9 Oct. Woodlark Lullula arborea Reported from rough ground at Coate Water 9 Feb., 28 Mar. and 24 Dec. Swallow Hirundo rustica First at Coate Water 2 Apl., last at Chippenham and Imber 1 Oct. 276. 277 293i; 295. 300. 302. 304. 307. 311. S17, 318. 320. 321. 322. 327 333. 335i: 343. 346. 347. 348. 354. 356. SO: 365. 366. 368. 376. S19. House Martin Delichon urbica First at Coate Water 2 Apl., last at Swindon 6 Nov. Sand Martin Riparia riparia First at Ashton Keynes GP 21 Mar., last at Coate Water 6 Oct. Bred at Calne SP about 50 pairs and in CWP about 220 nest holes. Great, Blue, Coal and Marsh Tits: Paras major P. caeruleus P. ater and P. palustris Decrease in numbers noted, especially autumn and winter. Willow Tit. P. montanus Acceptable records from Blackmoor Copse, Redlynch, Purton, Manton, Fyfield Down, Treacle Bolby, Cranham Hill, Brickhill Copse, Frith Wood, Pewsey and Oare. Bearded Tit. Panurus biarmicus Two at Lacock GP 9 Oct. Dipper Cinclus cinclus Reported from Coate Water, Ramsbury Kennett, By Brook, and R. Frome; probably bred Fonthill. Fieldfare Turdus pilaris Last in Spring Calne 1—3 May. First in Autumn at Wroughton on 30 Oct. Redwing T. iliacus Last in Spring Ashton Keynes and Chippenham 25 Apl. and Ramsbury 27 Apl. First in autumn Cricklade and West Lavington, 9 Oct. Ring Ouzel 7. torquatus 4 on downs near Winterbourne Bassett 5 Apl. Wheatear Oenanthe oenanthe First seen Trowbridge 15 Mar., latest Barbury 6 Nov. A juvenile at Imber 25 July. Stonechat Saxicola torquata Widely distributed winter. Bred at Imber, Porton, Grovely and West Lavington. Whinchat S. rubetra First noted Avebury and Calne 6 May, latest at Purton on 6 Nov. Bred at Chirton Gorse, and Imber. Redstart Phoenicurus phoenicurus First at Westbury and latest at Imber 28 Aug. Bred at Imber. Black Redstart P. ochruros A pair Jan./Feb. on waste ground near Swindon station and imm. bird there 5—17 Sep. Two broods reared at Bulford. Female with 2 juveniles at Netheravon 9 Aug. single birds at Fyfield Down 18 Apl., Urchfont 20 Mar., Middle Winterslow 14 Nov. and Larkhill in Jan. Nightingale Luscinia megarhynchos The subject of a nationwide survey. 51 observers in Wilt- shire found a total of 172 singing males. The largest numbers were at Brokers Wood 14, Sheepsbridge Bulford 10, Bentley Wood 10, Great Ridge Wood 8, Stanton Park Wood 8 and Shrewton Folly 7. Grasshopper warbler Locustella naevia First noted West Woods 17 Apl. and no late records. Reed warbler Acrocephalus scirpaceus First noted at Corsham Lake 21 Apl. where 7 pairs bred. Also bred at Petersfinger and Coate Water. Latest date there 28 Sept. Sedge warbler A. schoenobaemus First at Coate Water 3 Apl. and latest there 2 Oct. Blackcap Sylvia atricapilla Noted at Colerne during Jan./March and many records for Dec. Garden warbler S. borin First at Cole Park 25 Apl. and latest Dauntsey Woods 31 Aug. Whitethroat S. communis First at Chilton Foliat 24 Apl. and latest at Manton 24 Nov. Lesser Whitethroat S. curruca First at Coate Water 22 Apl. and latest at Winterslow 27 Sep. Willow warbler Phylloscopus trochilus First at North Newnton 5 Apl. and latest at Swindon 16 Sep. Chiffchaff P. collybita One record for Jan. at Broad Chalke then at Devizes 7 Mar. and latest at Swindon 13 Oct. Wood warbler P. sibilatrix Savernake 16 May, Pickets Wood 23 May, Langley Wood 27 May. Semley Common 2 June. and Redhorn Hill 26 July. Firecrest Regulus ignicapillus A pair at South Wraxall during Jan.. and a male at Fosseway 16—20 Sep. Spotted Flycatcher Muscicapa Striata First at Britford 6 May, latest at E. Winterslow 30 Oct. Pied Flycatcher Ficedula hypoleuca Single birds at Ramsbury 20 Apl., Roundway Covert 1 May, Larkhill 31 May, Kingshill Swindon 19 Aug., Winterslow 25 Aug., Queens Park Swindon 1 Sep. and Westdown Ranges 7 Sep. Tree Pipit Anthus trivialis First at Coate Water 16 Apl., latest at Covingham 8 Sep. Rock/Water Pipit Anthus spinoletta A bird, probably of the race A.s. petrosus at Coate Water during March and others of race A.s. spinoletta at Swindon S.F. 17 Mar., Coate Water 26 Mar. and 13 Apl. and in CWP on 4 Apl. 380. 381. 382. 384. 391. 394. 397. 401. 404. 408. 415. 421. 423. 425. 389. 26 Red/White Wagtail Motacilla alba Single birds, probably of race M.a.alba at Corsham 19 Mar. and 25 Apl. Urban roosts at British Leyland Swindon, National Westminster, Calne, Avon Rubber at Bradford-on-Avon and Market Place, Devizes. Grey Wagtail M. cinerea Still possibly increasing. Yellow Wagtail M. flava First in CWP 4 Apl., bred at Kent end, Swindon S.F. and Salisbury, latest at Coate Water 2 Oct. Birds showing characteristics of the blue headed race Mf. flava were seen at Coate Water 27 Apl.—S May and two very pale birds like Mf. beema also present. A female of Mf flava with a normal male at Britford 17 July and a male of M.f. flava at Salisbury 3 July. Great grey shrike Lanius excubitor One at Mannington 1 Jan., and one at Imber on same date. One at Devils Den 31 Oct. and on 7 Nov. Hawfinch Coccothraustes coccothraustes 2 in flight near Glos. border 14 July. Siskin Carduelis spinus Records from Jan. to Mar. from many places, largest number 40 at Hound Wood. One December record of 11 at Roundway Park. Redpoll Acanthis flammea Fewer records. Probably bred at Somerford Common. Bullfinch Pyrrhula pyrrhula A flock of 12 at Imber on 1 Jan. Crossbill Loxia curvirostra 2 males, 1 female Ancombe Bottom Longleat 23/25 July. 9 at Shearwater 31 Aug., 2 Sep. and 12/19 Dec. 3 at Gare Hill 25 Dec. Brambling Fringilla montifringilla Well distributed Jan.-Mar. largest flocks were 175 Ogbourne 11 Apl., 200 Bowood 4 Apl. and 300 at Lydiard Millicent 1 Feb. a few Nov. and Dec. records. Cirl Bunting Emberiza cirlus Bred at Winterslow two pairs rearing young. Reed Bunting £. schoeniclus Continues to colonize drier upland areas. Snow Bunting Plectrophenax nivalis Some bred on rough ground near Swindon station 22 Nov. Tree Sparrow Passer montanus Winter flocks of 80 at Tan Hill, 50 at Corsham 7 Feb., 150 at Coate Water 14 Feb. 50 at Britford 3 Mar. and 70 at Winterslow Nov./Dec. RINGING NOTE Starling Sturnus vulgaris A second year male ringed in Swindon Apl., 1971 was recovered dead at Aalton in Holland in Jan. 1975. Note many common species were recorded but are excluded from this report owing to lack of space. Some rare or unusual species have been excluded because of insufficient evidence of identification. WILTSHIRE PLANT NOTES (38) Compiled by JOAN SWANBOROUGH) (All records for 1977 unless otherwise stated) LIST OF CONTRIBUTORS BING! seysee ne Cotes. co 5 BS ee ude nna JB Waa nriSOm Ws cae roe deesy aes fe ewetds, oleae > TH Brits Museum... 2s Sie. oe eae BM PAV SHO TONG Sects sla are coe see «eda PJH MisstA® Carduss. 32s 6 bes 8 250 arcs sane AC MER Me ad eeeerrias tees cates esses, ae LFM Cie Chorley: fer ot ial Pc on CC BPAINEW DCE (ot tnckeues elseciaut) sia toe arated PN EMeClement:*' 2°). =. ite. (£5 2, eas EJC MrsukeyNicoligvay susan cs oc ts .6,sasenie. KN Marsh? Giirtis 2050. lo oo a hls pe oe EC JerPreslandy: acces ees uate cue 2 + else tes JP Mrs’ sDixon 652 Saree ess Set oe oe MD RepRan dallas ttiiaten shi neon cee slwce. ais RR Miss D.M. Frowde.............. DMF Ee Smithigreg 2 es aces ce aiies tke soe ss ES Miss'BiiGillame :. 6 fc... 5. 0s ese BG GoSmithe ea. ais co Anas ee GS” MissiPs Gough... )i.ee5 oat’. ror axe ie) ol owes PG MrsiJe Swanborough)2 2... 0.5 clea. JS DAGreeney ie ete ey aoe aintens DG GiSE Titcombi: 3220.6. Ba 8 fess G&ET Ae Grenfell iy. 28, eat ieee woo akele eas AG Ophioglossum vulgatum ssp. vulgatum L. Adder’s Tongue. 8. Grovely Wood (PG) Juniperus communis ssp communis L. Juniper. 9. Baverstock. (PG) Delphinium consolida L. Forking Larkspur. 1. Trowbridge. (JP) Ranunculus arvensis L. Corn Buttercup. 1. One magnificent plant on disturbed ground Trowbridge. (EC). Papaver lecoquii Lamotte. Babington’s Poppy. 2. Wall at Giddea Hall. (JS) Papaver somniferum L. Opium Poppy. 1. All shades from off-white to deep reddish-purple on building site Wyke Road, Trowbridge. (EC) Hirchfeldia incana (L.) Lagr-Fos. Hoary Mustard. 2. Derry Hill. (JS) Lepidium bonariense L. 2. Derry Hill (JS) det EJC Cardamine pratensis L. form with double flowers. 2. Manor Farm, West Kington and Churchyard West Kington for many, many years (JS) 8. Monkton Deverill (JP) Hypericum androsaemum L. Tutsan. 10. Berwick St. John. Baverstock (PG) Vaccaria hispanica (Mill.) Rauschert. 2. Derry Hill (JS) det. EJC Cerastium tomentosum L. Snow in Summer. 2. Well established on roadside at Henley, Box (RR) Sagina nodosa (L.) Fenze. Knotted Pearlwort. 2. In crazy paving at Colerne. (DMF, JS) det. EJC Minuartia hybrida (Vill.) Schischk.Fine-leaved Sandwort. 8. Near Church-end Ring (BG) Montia perfoliata (Willd.) Howell. 9. Paddock Wood at Tisbury (CC) Amaranthus retroflexus L. 2. Derry Hill. Ornamental garden of Chippenham car-park (JS) Impatiens glandulifera Royle. Himalayan Balsam. 2. Nr. Little Somerford Mill and Cowbridge (JS, AC) Genista tinctoria L. Dyer’s Greenweed. 1. Stert Valley (PJH 1976) 8. Wylye Down and Tytherington Down (BG) Ononis spinosa L. Spinous Restharrow. 8. Parsonage Down (BG) Medicago arabica (L.) Huds. Spotted Medick. 2. Derry Hill (JS) Melilotus indica (L.) All. Small-flowered Melilot. 2. Derry Hill (JS) Tetragonolobus maritimus (L.) Roth. Dragon’s Tooth. 9. Charlton Down (AG) 1976 Galega officinalis L. Goat’s-rue. 4. Alton Barnes (ES) Vicia lutea L. Yellow Vetch. 1. Trowbridge (EC) det BM Alchemilla vestita (Busev) Raunk. Lady’s Mantle. 1. Stert Valley (PJH) 1976 Poterium sanguisorba L. Salad Burnet. 9. Fonthill (PN) Poterium polygamum Waldst. & Kit. 2. By M4 Maintenance Unit at Clanville (JS) Sorbus aria (L.) Crantz. sensu lato. Whitebeam. 9. Dinton. Grovely Wood (PG) Cydonia oblonga Quince. 8. Imber (JS) - Sedum dasyphyllum L. Thick-leaved Stonecrop. 2. West Kington (RR) Ribes rubrum L. Red Currant. 10. Tollard Green (PG) Viscum album L. Mistletoe. 2. Notton (JS). 9. Tefford Magna (PG) Bupleurum subovatum (auct). Hare’s-ear. 2 Derry Hill (JS) det EJC Petroselinum segetum (L.) Koch. Stone Parsley. 1. Trowbridge (JP) pai | Ammi majus L. 2. Steinbrook Nurseries with carrots. Derry Hill (JS) det EJC Oenanthe fistulosa L. Water Dropwrot. |. Trowbridge (JP. JS) Ridolfia segetum. 2. Derry Hill (JS) det EJC Betula pubescens Ehrh. Downy Birch. 8 Burcombe (BG) Monotropa hypophegea Wallr. Yellow Bird’s-nest. 2. Monkton Farleigh (RR) Amsinckia intermedia Fisch & May. 2. Derry Hill. (GS) 1. Easterton, Market Lavington and Urchfont (TH) Symphytum asperum Lepech. Comfrey. 5. Track at Hawksgrove (JS) Trachystemon orientalis (L.) G. Don. 1. Erlestoke Woods (BG.PN.JS) Pulmonaria officinalis L. Lungwort. 2. Near Shockerwick Bridge (DG) Cuscuta epithymum (L.) Murr. Lesser Dodder. 8. Parsonage Down (BG) Hyoscymus niger L. Henbane. 1. Garden casual Trowbridge (EC) Verbascum lychnitis L. White Mullein. 1. Garden at Devizes (LFM) Verbascum nigrum L. Dark Mullein. 7. Garden at Pewsey (KN) Verbascum blattaria L. Moth Mullein. 2. Disturbed ground at Westinghouse Factory, Chippenham (JS) Mimulus moschatus Doug. & Lindl. Musk. 1. One plant on building site at Trowbridge (EC) Veronica anagallis-aquatica L. Water Speedwell. 2. Kingsdown and Weavern (RR) Veronica catenata Pennell. 2. Weavern (RR) Pedicularis sylvatica L. Lousewort. 1. Stert Valley 1976 (PJH) Lathraea squamaria L. Toothwort. 1. Bradford on Avon (DG) Orobanche minor var compositorum Pugsl. Lesser Broomrape. 2. Widdenham and Hazelbury (RR) Mentha sauveolens (L.) Apple-scented Mint. 6. Shalbourne (DG) Melissa officinalis L. Balm. 2. Colerne (RR) Galeopsis bifida Boenn. 1. In cultivated ground Great Cheverell (TH) Scutellaria galericula L. Scullcap. 6. Chisbury (DG) Teucrium resupinatum Desf. 2. Derry Hill (JS) det EJC Calceolaria chedidonoides Kunth. 2. Lacock allotment. (JB) det EJC Asperula arvensis L. 2. Derry Hill (ES, GS, JS) det EJC Sambucus ebulus L. Dwarf Elder. 3. Swindon (JP) Valerianella dentata (L.) Poll. 1. Grant’s Farm (JS). 4. Avebury Trusloe (EC) Galinsoga ciliata (Raf.) Blake. Gallant Soldier. 2. Steinbrook Nurseries (JS) Bidens cernua L. Nodding Bur-Marigold. 2. Conkwell (RR) Senecia viscosus L. Sticky Groundsel. 2. Monkton Farleigh (RR) Senecio vulgaris var.radiatus Koch. Rayed Groundsell. 2. Imported soil at Monkton Farleigh (RR) Solidago canadensis L. 8. Imber (JS) Erigeron acer (L.) Cronq. Blue Fleabane. 2. Shockerwick (RR) Erigeron canadensis L. Canadian Fleabane. 2. Derry Hill (JS) Onopordon acanthium L. Scotch Thistle. 1. Caen Hill Brickyard (C&ET) Centaurea diluta Aiton. 2. Derry Hill (JS) det EJC Alisma plantago-aquatica L. Water Plantain. 8. Imber (JS) Ruscus aculeatus L. Butcher’s Broom. 10. Bowerchalk. Ebbesbourne Wake (PG) Ornithogalum umbellatum L. Star of Bethlehem. 2. Derry Hill (GS) Galanthus nivalis L. Snowdrop. 10. Ebbesbourne Wake (PG) Tris foetidissima L. Stinking Iris. 10. Berwick St. John. Tollard Green (PG) Anacamptis pyramidalis (L.) Rich. Pyramid Orchid. 1. Midford (JP) Typha latifolia L. Great Reedmace. 8. Imber (JS) Carex pendula Huds. Drooping Sedge. 9. Grovely Wood (PG) Lolium multiflorum x perenne = L. x hybridum Hausskn. 2. Derry Hill (JS) det EJC Bromus inermis Leyss. 2. Derry Hill (JS) det EJC Calamagrostis epigejos (L.) Roth. Bushgrass. 2. Neston (JS) Zea Mais Maize. 2. Langley Burrell (AG. JS) WHITE FLOWERED VARIETIES Geranium pratense L. Meadow Cranesbill. 2. Roadside Christian Malford (JS) Misopates orontium (L.) Raf. Weasel-snout. 1. West Lavington (TH) Campanula rotundifolia L. Harebell. 2. Castle Combe (JS) Cirsium vulgare (Savi.) Ten. Spear Thistle. 1. Poulshot (MD) 28 ENTOMOLOGICAL REPORT 1977 by JOHN d@’ARCY After the exceptional year of 1976, this year has seemed an anti-climax and a disappointment in some respects, considering the quantity of insects was so promising. Moths and Butterflies generally emerged late and many of the Fritillary family, the Hairstreaks and Blues were much less common or hardly seen at all; only the Holly Blue was more numerous. It is encouraging that the White-letter Hairstreak was still seen in at least four separate places in the county, although much less evident than in 1976. However it is an elusive insect, easily missed and with a doubtful future considering the gradual elimination of its food-plant the elm tree. It was not a good year for migrants with but a scattering of Painted Ladies and no large quantities of Silver Ys and other late summer visitors. It is exceptional that two breeders of the Death’s Head Hawk Moth larvae managed to persuade them to emerge as adults according to their natural habitat nine months later and not by forcing them. Amongst the more interesting moth records that of the Downland Wainscot at a place further west than its known habitat is noteworthy, as is the sighting of the Black-streaked Pug for the first time, and the Blair’s Mocha for the second time in Wiltshire, both near Wroughton. The microlepidoptera of Wiltshire have in the past been omitted in the records and overlooked by most students. To begin to remedy this, some of the commoner species of the Pyralid family of moths found in Wiltshire have been added to this report, in the hope that more interest will be stimulated in this neglected group; they are admittedly difficult to identify, except with the help of Bryan Beirne’s British Pyralid and Plume Moths, published by Warne in 1952. I would like to thank all the contributors of these records, whose painstaking and compreh- ensive reports are a great source of information. CONTRIBUTORS CMRP Mr. C.M.R. Pitman, Salisbury SNHS _ Salisbury and District N.H.S. DB Mr David Brotheridge, Wroughton FM Mr. Frank Mead, Devizes JB Mr John Buxton, Malmesbury TDH = MrT.D. Harrison, West Lavington JdA Mr. John d’Arcy, Edington. BW Mr B.W. Weddell, Trowbridge SR Mrs. S.J. Rawlings, Box BG Miss Beatrice Gillam, Devizes AS Mr Alan Stonell, Devizes HGP = MrH.cG. Phelps, Warminster MHC Mr Mark Heath, Chippenham RT Mr R. Turner, Market Lavington PCS Dr Phyllis Clinton, visiting Savernake MB Mrs Marion Browne, West Kington SW Mr Stephen White, Trowbridge MF Mr Michael Fuller, Bradford-on-Avon MS Mrs M. Smith, Bradford-on-Avon CGL © Maj.Gen. C.G. Lipscomb, Crockerton . PHENOLOGICAL REPORT Average Date 1976 Difference Emergence Large White 25.4 25.4 + 0 Marbled White 25.6 9.7 -14 Meadow Brown 16.6 9.7 —24 Cinnabar N/E) 19.4 +30 Garden Carpet 30.4 22.5 =23 Brimstone Moth 115 Des + 0 Orange Tip Red Admiral Small Tortoiseshell Comma Painted Lady Purple Emperor White Admiral Marsh Fritillary Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary Dark Green Fritillary Silver Washed Fritillary Gatekeeper Holly Blue Brown Argus Small Blue Chalkhill Blue Purple Hairstreak White-letter Hairstreak Essex Skipper Death’s Head Hawk The Fox The Emperor Popular Kitten Black Arches Wood Tiger Northern Drab Black Rustic Deep Brown Rustic Dusky Sallow Vine’s Rustic Butterbur Double-lobed Downland Wainscot Blackneck Marbled White-spot Garden Dart Edinburgh Pug Haworth’s Pug Black-streaked Pug Lesser Cream Wave Small Blood-vein Maiden’s Blush Maple Mocha Blair’s Mocha Oblique-striped 30 A Selection of Species seen in 1977 Anthocharis cardamines Vanessa atalanta Aglais urticae Polygonia c-album Vanessa cardui Apatura iris Limenitis camilla Euphydryas aurinia Argynnis selene Argynnis aglaia Argynnis paphia Maniola tithonus Celastrina argiolus Aricia agestis Cupido minimus Lysandra coridon Thecla quercus Strymonidia w-album Thymelicus lineola Acherontia atropos Macrothylacia rubi Saturnia pavonia Harpyia bifida Lymantria monacha Parasemia plantaginis Orthosia advena Aporophyla nigra Aporophyla lutulenta Eremobia ochroleuca Caradrina ambigua Hydraecia petasitis Apamea ophiogramma Oria musculosa Lygephila pastinum Lithacodia fasciana Euxoa nigricans Eupithecia intricata Eupithecia haworthiata Eupithecia phoeniciata Scopula immutata Scopula imitaria Cosymbia punctaria Cosymbia annulata Cosymbia puppillaria Mesotype virgata JB 2:5, -AS. 17.5=25:5,) BG 77-5, RT 22.5, CMRP 22.4, MF 18.5, MN 14.5, BW 22.5 HGP 15.3, JB 29.10 BG 47 in Roundway Gardens 14.10, RT 62 in small area of thistles 28.7 BG 7.8, FM 8.8, MB 17.4, SW 4.9, RT 17.7, JB 8.8, MF 18.5 FM 13.9, JB 23.8, BG 14.9, SW9.8 PGS 30.7, MS 4.8, both in Savern- ake Forest DB 9.7, BG 11.7 FM 26.6, RT 2.6 SW 3.7 RT 30.7—21.8, BG 14.7, MF July HGP interesting variations July JB var subalbida 13.8 JB 1.5, till 21.8, AS 22.5, MB 19.5 J@A 30.4, BG 304 till 13.8, FM many sightings, CMRP 24.4—21.5 Jd’ A 29.5 MN 9.7, JVA 29.5—9.7, RT 7.5— 22) RT 21.8, BG 3.8 FM 8.8, MF 1.8, DB Larvae 7.6 FM 1.8, BG 26.7, DB 21.7, JB 18.7 MF 26.7, CGL July at Cotley Hill RT of 4 pupae dug up at Bromham in 1976, 1 emerged 13.6, TDH 1976 larvae emerged 29.8 Jd’ A 26.5 SNHS bred from Allington ova J@A 13.7 MHC 9.8 BG numerous larvae Milk Hill NNR 19.4, RT 26.6, TDH 12.6 Jd@A 19.4—11.5 JVA 17.9 JVA 179 DB 6.8, SR 3.8, Jd’A 27.7 DB 21.10 MHC 10.9 JVA 2.8 BW 15.8, Stoke Hill MHC 3.7 MHC 10.8 DB 5.6 MHC 1.7 MHC 8.8 DB 30.10 first in Wiltshire SR 10.8 TDH 15.7 DB 20.7 BW 22.7 DB 20.10 second sighting in Wilts DB 14.5 numerous Chimney Sweeper Grey Spruce Carpet V-looper The Phoenix Large Grey Ringed China-mark Magpie China-mark Mother of Pearl Garden Pebble Dotted Knot-horn Twin-barred Knot-horn Green-shaded Honey Garden Grass-veneer Elbow-striped Grass-veneer Common Grass-veneer Pale Plume Large White Plume Odezia atrata Thera variata Itame wauaria Lygris prunata Scoparia cembrae Parapoynx stratiotata Eurrhypara hortulata Haritala ruralis Mesographe forficalis Phycita roborella Homoeosoma sinuella Aphomia sociella Crambus hortuellus Agriphila geniculeus Agriphila tristillus Platyptilia pallidactyla Pterophorus pentadactylus SR 25.6 DB 17.10 BW 24.7 BW 3.8 BW 14.8 BW 14.8 BW 22.6 BW 3.8 BW 28.6 BW 5.8 BW 15.8 BW 28.6 BW 17.6 BW 3.8 BW 5.8 BW 15.8 BW 12.8 Si MAMMAL REPORT 1977 Compiled by MARION BROWNE The survey of Wiltshire Reptiles and Amphibians is still in progress. Publication will follow completion of the survey and it is not planned to produce an interim report. Records are urgently needed from all over the county; please send as many as possible to Mrs. M. Browne, Latimer Lodge, West Kington, Chippenham SN14 7JJ. During 1977 a total of about 1555 mammal records was received, all of which have been plotted on the distribution maps of the county. A selection of records is given in the following pages, with an indication of the total number received for each species. Several live trapping programmes were carried out, some of which continue during 1978. The results will be reported separately at a later date. Analyses of the contents of owl pellets from a number of sites will also be presented separately. 1977 in Wiltshire has been remarkable as a peak year for some small mammal species. Common shrew (Sorex araneus), wood mouse (Apodemus sylvaticus), bank vole (Clethrionomys glareolus) and field vole (Microtus agrestis) have been variously recorded as “very common’’, “abundant” or “swarming”; woodland has been described as “rustling” with the movement of small animals; observers have watched the activity of large numbers of shrews, and wood mice have been seen swarming on roads and road verges. Records of the harvest mouse (Micromys minutus) did not reflect this general trend; following a peak year in 1974, harvest mouse populations have declined, in Wiltshire, to a low level from which they do not yet show signs of recovery. Dormouse (Muscardinus avellanarius) surveys have shown that small colonies exist wherever the habitat is suitable. They are usually, but not invariably, found near hazel and most records are based upon the characteristic tooth marks on the opened nut shells; occasionally they have also been found in other habitats, depending on the availability of alternative food such as blackberries or beech nuts. Dense, tangled ground cover is essential for summer nest building. In Wiltshire, so far, the only plant species common to all the habitat data sheets is the Bracken fern (Pteridium aquilinum), which is frequently found in nest composition. Mammals and The Law The Otter (Lutra lutra) has been added to the schedule of wild creatures which are protected in England and Wales under the Conservation of Wild Creatures and Wild Plants Act 1975. From 1 January 1978 it is an offence to kill, injure or take an otter, and there are restrictions on the sale of otters, alive or dead, and of otter skins or skeletons. The status of the otter in England and Wales is the subject of current studies and surveys by the Mammal Society and the Nature Conservancy Council. However, long before these surveys are completed, it has become clear that the otter population of Wiltshire has declined to a level from which recovery will be difficult but, we hope, not impossible. The Field Committee of the Wiltshire Trust for Nature Conservation has set up a sub- committee to study the findings of field surveys, to consider suitable conservation measures, and to investigate the possibility of establishing an otter sanctuary in the county. Abbreviations: KAC, Kennet and Avon Canal; NHS, Natural History Society; TB, Tuberculosis (Bovine); juv., juvenile; g., gramme; km., kilometre; mm., millimetre; neg., negative; d, male; ?, female. 32 A Selection of Mammal Records 1977 Order Insectivora — insectivores Family Erinacidae Erinaceus europaeus Hedgehog 113 records from 27 10 km. Squares Live: 01.02, Kepnal (KN). 02, Notton, feeding (GMF). 03, Norton (JB). 04, W. Kington, in snow (MB). 04, Britford, in nest (HS). 05.05, All Cannings, at roadside (HA). 05, W. Kington, tangled in netting (KJ). 06, Southcott, in netting; 07, pregnant ? (KN). Trowbridge, garden (REP). 08, Stratford-sub-Castle, garden (BCHW). 09, Marlborough (BDC); Seend Cleeve (SV). Allington, 2 taking milk (DG). 10, Melksham Forest (BHA); Southcott, rescued from pool (KN). 22.11, Corsham, juv. rescued from road (JCR). TABLE I. ROAD CASUALTIES (KJB,MB,GD2,PJD,JF,KGF,RAG,VG,CCM,KN,PEN,PNN,JCR,SFR,JS,ST,JMW,LW,TW,WNHS) Family Talpidae Talpa europaea Mole 60 records from 27 10 km. squares Live: Avebury, 3; Avebury Trusloe (BT). 21.09, Aldbourne, chased by rat (PNN). Manton, in garden (PRH-L). 10.12, W. Lavington Warren, in tunnel (TDH). Dead: 04, Avebury Churchyard; Avebury Trusloe (RD). 06, Lockeridge (JEO). 13.06, W. Lavington, in lane (RT); Oxenwood, in garden (MJG). 25.07, Burderop Park (PNN). 08, Limpley Stoke (E & LS). 09, Manton House (PNN). 12, Codford, drowned in tank (KGF). Spoil heaps: Marston Meysey (FH). Winterbourne Monkton (JM). Cherhill (TW). Kingsdown (REP). Reybridge (JIW). Oare (SMG). Shalbourne (HE). Sutton Veny (GAH). Larkhill (BDC). Druid’s Lodge (JRB). Coombe Bissett (CA). Family Soricidae Sorex araneus Common Shrew 30 records from 17 10 km. squares Live: 05, Somerford Common (MCNHS). 25.07, Burderop Down (PNN). 07, Clouts Wood, huge numbers (JEO). West Woods, abundant (PRH-L). 22.06, Oxenwood (MJG). Live trapped: Malmesbury (EJMB). 07, Winterbourne Monkton (GD). 11, Bowood (APWT). Bottles: Roundway Down, 13 (AS2). Biss Wood; Norridge Common, 3; Black Dog, 3 (MB). Dead: 09, Aldbourne (PNN). 02.10, Bedwyn Common (WNHS). 03.11, Southcott, skull (KN). Killed by cat: S. Wraxall (JMW). 08, Great Cheverell, 6 (JMR). 09, Bratton (NEW). 33 Sorex minutus Pygmy shrew 14 records from 9 10 km. squares Live: Malmesbury (EJMB). Manton; West Woods, abundant (PRH-L). Bottles: 04, Roundway Down, 3 (AS2). 11. 12, Lacock, milk bottle (MH). Dead: 16.04, Southend Down (PNN). 13.06, Avebury (JM). 11.07, Winterbourne Monkton, on road (PJD). 18.11, Codford, on road; 25.11, on village hall step (KGF). Neomys Fodiens Water shrew 28 records from 6 10 km. squares Live: R. Kennet, Ramsbury to St. Martin’s, c.11; Mildenhall to Stitchcombe, 3. KAC, Honey Street to Wootton Rivers, c.10 (PRH-L). 16.04, New Mill (HEMK). Bottles: 11.12, Biss Wood, 2; Norridge Common; Black Dog Woods (MB). Order Chiroptera — bats Family Rhinolophidae Rhinolophus ferrumequinum Greater horseshoe bat Live: West Wiltshire, 03.01,33 (MB, MC). 06.01, cluster of 50 + 36 4 9 (RES, RR). Dead: summer, Derry Hill (ETS), ring sent to RES at Monks Wood. Rhinolophus hipposideros Lesser horseshoe bat Live: 03.01, Monkton Combe (MB, MC). 06.01, Winsley (PJH). Family Vespertilionidae Myotis mystacinus Whiskered bat Live: Malmesbury (EJMB). 06.01, Box (RES, RR). Myotis brandti Brandt’s bat Live: 06.01, Box, d (RES, RR). Myotis nattereri Natterer’s bat Live: 06.01, Box (RES,RR). Myotis daubentoni Water bat Live: 16.03, Box, in rock crevice (MB) 34 Eptesicus serotinus Serotine Dead: 09, Little Cheverell, in house (PNN) Nyctalus noctula Noctule Live: Malmesbury (EJMB). 18.09, West Kington (MB). Pipistrellus pipistrellus Pipistrelle Live: 28.04, Great Wishford, in garage (PJD). Summer, Britford, breeding ? (HS). 06.09, Winterbourne Monkton (JED). 13.09, Berwick Bassett (JR). Lockeridge (JEO). Dead: 19.09, Seend Cleeve (PJD). Plecotus auritus Common long-eared bat Live: 06.01, Winsley ; Box (RES,RR). 24.03 and 06.09, Winterbourne Monkton (JED). Whaddon, 8 in roof (SDNHS). 26.12, Aldbourne, in attic (PNN). Dead: 19.10, Winterbourne Monkton, 3 in attic (PJD). Order Lagomorpha — lagomorphs Family Leporidae Lepus capensis Brown hare 562 records from 35 10 km. squares all months Live: 01—04, Swindon, Calne, Marlborough, Devizes, Trowbridge, Pewsey, Warminster and Mere areas, c.130 while beagling (AJR). 04, W. Kennett (VW). Oare, many throughout year (SMG). 08, Sherrington Down (EJL). Newton Toney (DG). Newtown (BGW). Dead: 01—04, 7 killed by beagles (AJR). 02—10, dead on road, 10 (HA,MB,PJD,EH2). 02, Easton Clump area, 250 shot (AS2). 12.03, Southcott, 6 (KN). Oryctolagus cuniculus Rabbit 230 records from 34 10 km. squares all months Live: Easton (MEC). Winterbourne Bassett (JH). Aldbourne (PNN). Stockley, population explosion (HJC). Oxenwood (MJG). Chitterne (KGF). Kingston Deverill, common (E & LS). Kinghay, scarce (BGW). Lower Woodford (SMT). Newton Toney (DG). Britford (HS). Dead: 04, Manningford, upper jaw (KN); Avebury, skeleton (DA); Winterbourne Monkton, 4 juv. caught by cat (JM2). 07.05, Pew’s Hill, juv. carried by fox (MB). Myxomatosis: Clyffe Pypard; Lacock; Sandy Lane (JCR, VG). TABLE 2. ROAD CASUALTIES (MB,MEC,PJD,KN,PRS,WNHS) 35 Order Rodentia — rodents Family Sciuridae Sciurus carolinensis Grey Squirrel 234 records from 29 10 km. squares all months Live: Burderop (PNN,JEO). Berwick Bassett (MW). Avebury (LW). Bradford,.35; Bromham, 37 (E & LS). Avebury Trusloe (JF). Devizes, partially albino (PJD). Oare (SMG). Biss Wood (AS). Oxenwood (MJG). Lower Woodford (SMT). Idmiston (DG). Britford (HS). Dreys: 04, Castle Combe (EJL); Lackham, in conifer (MB). Conkwell Wood (AFJ). Dead on gibbets: Chittoe, 15 (E & LS). North Wraxall, 56; Calne, 3 (MB). Family Cricetidae Clethrionomys glareolus Bank vole 27 records from 14 10 km. squares Live: 14.07, Oxenwood (MJG). 25.07, Burderop Park, foraging; 21.09, Rough Hill (PNN). Nuts: 02.10, Bedwyn Common; Bagshot (WNHS). 15.10, Brokerswood (MEC). Ford (PT). Microtus agrestis Field vole 29 records from 14 10 km. squares Live: 08.03, Broad Town (BTSch.). 27.05, Stanton St. Quintin (MB). Fyfield Down, common; West Woods, abundant (PRH-L). Lockeridge, common (JEO). Dead: 01 — 03; 10 — 12, Neston, 14 trapped (JCR). 17.04, Codford (KGF). 09.08, Winterbourne Monkton, in swimming pool (PJD). 06.11, carried by weasel (JED). Bottles: Whiteshard Bottom (PNN). Holt; Lacock; Savernake; Norridge common (MB). Killed by cat: 16.08, Hullavington (KJ). 20.12, West Kington (MB). Arvicola terrestris Water vole 38 records from 12 10 km. squares Live: 20-04, Chippenham, R. Avon (ST). 09, Windmill Hill (JW2). 19.09, Coate (PNN). 03.10, Bradford-on-Avon, KAC (E & LS). Manton to Preshute; Mildenhall to Ramsbury, R. Kennet. Honey Street to Wootton Rivers, KAC (PRH-L). Signs: Berwick Bassett, upper jaw (SW). Littlecote, burrows (PJD). Family Muridae Apodemus sylvaticus Wood mouse 63 records from 20 10 km. squares Live: 02 and 03, Broad Town, II (BTSch.). 23.09, Aldbourne (PNN). 29.11, Amesbury, in building (JRB). 05.12, A361 Roundway Barracks to Beckhampton roundabout, swarming on road and verges in what appeared to be a mass migration (PJD, R & ST). Nuts: 04, Castle Combe (EJL). 10, Bedwyn Common; Eastcourt (WNHS). 10, Farley (MB). Dead: 08, N. Wraxall, killed by weasel (ES, MB). 12, Lavington, drowned in trough (TDH). Winter, Marston Meysey, 40 trapped (FH). Neston, 45 trapped (JCR). Killed by cat: 25.04, Avebury, 4 (PJD). 20.11, Warminster (KJB). 36 Apodemus flavicollis Yellow-necked mouse Live: 05, Swindon, 5 juv. caught by cat; one reared successfully (IJG). Dead: 27. 11, Biddestone churchyard, tail missing, believed killed by cat (MEC). Micromys minutus Harvest mouse Live: 01, Avebury, in corn (BT). Pew Hill, in house (JS). Ebbesbourne Wake, during harvest (BF). Nests: Devil’s Den, 2 in cornfield (PRH-L). . Mus musculus House mouse 15 records from 11 10 km. squares Live: 09.08, Winterbourne Monkton, in compost heap (PJD). 30.08, Widbrook, KAC towpath, 5 (E & LS). 18.09, All Cannings, in attic (HA). Kinghay, in garage (BGW). 24.09, Aldbourne, in garden; 26.12, in porch (PNN). Dead trapped: 01, Shalbourne, under mill (HE). East Kennett, in house (JCH). 11, Lavington, 2 in house (RT). Winter, Marston Meysey, in buildings (FH). Rattus norvegicus Common rat (Brown rat) 36 records from 16 10 km. squares. Live: 04, Wroughton (MW); Berwick Bassett (JR,LW). 18.09, Westbury Ponds (E & LS). Lavington, sewage outlet (RT). Kinghay, garage (BGW). 10, Southcott, 3 in stable (KN). Dead: 04, Littlecote (PJD). Lowden (JS) 02.10, Great Bedwyn, on road (WNHS). 11, Codford, 2 killed by cat (KGF). 10.12, Devizes, trapped in garage (RT). Family Gliridae Muscardinus avellanarius Dormouse 13 records from 9 10 km. squares Live: Savernake (JS). Nuts: Chilton Foliat (IJG). West Woods (PJD). Bagshot (WNHS). Fonthill; Gutch Common; Donhead Clift (EH). Winterslow (MB). Bottle: 20.10, Farley, death recent — no decomposition; lemonade bottle, aperture 18 mm. (MB). Order Carnivora — carnivores Family Canidae Vulpes vulpes Fox 107 records from 29 10 km. squares Live: 11.02, Oxenwood; 27.04, Westdown, scent marking; 04.06, + 2 cubs (RT). 07.05, Pew’s Hill, carrying rabbit (MB). 05, Somerford Common (RGR). 07, Yarnfield, 5 (MB). 08. Great Ridge, 2 having tug-o-war with squirrel (EJL). 11, Larkhill, on road (DF). Tracks in snow: 01.01, Sugar Hill Way (PNN). 14.01, at dustbin (KN). Dead: 10.01, Salterton Down, shot (SMT). 06.03, Beckhampton, skull tied to fence (RT). 12.03, Winterbourne Monkton, 2 °, TB negative (JED,GD). Family Mustelidae Mustela erminea Stoat 30 records from 16 10 km. squares Live: 01, Avebury (BT); Britford (HS). 03, Rowde, KAC towpath (E & LS). 04, Codford, on road (KGF). 07, Corsham (JCR). 08, Chisbury, on road (RT). 21.09, Rockley (PNN). Dead: 29.01, Chittoe, on gibbet (E & LS). 03, Southcott, upper jaw (KN). 07, Oxenwood (MJG). 08, Hullavington (KJ). 10, Derry Woods, on road (MB). Membury Fort (PNN). Mustela nivalis Weasel 33 records from 19 10 km. squares Live: 15.01, Westdown (RT). 03, Clyffe Pypard, on road (RAG). 14.04, Knoll Down (R & ST). 05, Somerford Common (RGR). 06, Burderop, killing rabbit (JEO); Savernake, chasing blackbirds (KN). 08, N. Wraxall, dragging wood mouse across road (ES,MB). 09, Newton Toney, crossing road (DG). 11, Winterbourne Monkton, carrying field vole (JED). Dead: 29.01, Chittoe, on gibbet; 13.08, Box Bottom (E & LS). 08.10, Hullavington, °, weight 74 g. (KJ). 21.11, Codford, on road (KGF). 03.12, Southcott, killed by dog (KN). Mustela vison Mink Live: 08, Monkton Combe (E & LS). Kinghay area, 3 on Sem tributaries (BGW). Tracks: 04, Knook and Serrington, near R. Wylye (KGF). Meles meles Badger 49 records from 16 10 km. squares Live: 03, Erlestoke, on road (HA). 04, Berwick Bassett; Winterbourne Monkton (JH); Warminster (DWR); West Woods, 2 (VG); Long Ivor Farm, on road (GH). 06, Westdown. adult + juv. at sett; Imber, on road (RT). 09, Liddington Hill, 2 foraging (PNN). Dead: 04.01, Conock, drowned in pool (BS). 03, Liddington Hill, at sett (PNN). Dead on road: 02, Kington Langley (CCM). 03, Seend (PEN). 04, Bishopstrow (KGF). Lutra lutra Otter Live: 30.04, Tisbury (KGF). Tracks: 09.04, Chilhampton (KGF). Dead: 05.11, Poulshot, in ditch. Report received by KGF, unconfirmed. Order Artiodactyla — even-toed ungulates Family Cervidae Cervus elaphus Red Deer Live: Savernake (PRH-L). Slots: 04.12, Hursley Bottom (PJD). 38 Dama dama Fallow deer Live: 04.06, Loxwell Farm, 7 (JCR). 30.06, Oakhill Wood (MJG). West Woods; Savernake (PRH-L,IJG). 29.07, Penstones Wood (DJ). 31.10, Great Wood, 3 ? on road (MB). Capreolus capreolus Roe deer Live: 01.01, Summer Down, 3 (RT). 02, Puckshipton (AJR). 07, Winterbourne Monkton, 6? (RD); Penstones Wood (DJ). 22.09, West Woods, ? + 3 juv. (PNN). 12, Imber, d (RT). Slots: 27.05, Somerford Common (RGR). Muntiacus reevesi Chinese muntjac Live: 29.07, Penstones Wood (DJ). Fewmets: 08.04, North Wraxall (EJL, MB). 39 B.H. Adams Miss D. Allen Sir Cristopher Andrewes H. Antrobus Countess Badeni K.J. Bradley Broad Town School J.R. Brown Mrs. M. Browne E.J.M. Buxton B.D. Castle H.J. Chivers Mrs. H. Clayton M. Collins Miss M.E. Compton Mrs. A. Corbett R. Daw Miss G. Delamain Mrs. J.E. Dillon P.J. Dillon G. Drake H. Ennion Mrs. B. Fergusson D. File Miss K.G. Forbes Mr. & Mrs. G.M. Foxwell Miss J. French Mrs. S.M. Gibbon M.J. Gould Mrs. D. Graiff I.J. Gray R.A. Greenaway Mrs. V. Greenaway T.D. Harrison P.J. Horton Miss J. Howard G.A. Howe F. Humphrys Mrs. E. Hunter Miss E. Hurrell D. James A.F. Jayne Mrs. K. Jenkins Dr. H.E.M. Kay P.R. Hamilton-Leggett Miss E.J. Lenton C.C. MacFadyen Miss J. MacFadyen 40 CONTRIBUTORS BHA DA CA HA JB KJB BTSch. JRB MB EJMB BDC HJC HC MC MEC AC RD GD2 JED PJD GD HE BF DF KGF GMF JF SMG MJG DG IJG RAG VG TDH PJH JH GAH FH EH2 EH DJ AFJ KJ HEMK PRH-L EJL CCM JM2 Miss J.L. Mantock Marlborough College NHS Mrs. J. Morrison P.E. Newbery P.N. Newton Mrs. K. Nichol Dr. J.E. Oliver R.E. Penny R. Ransome D.W. Roberts J. Rogers J.C. Rolls Miss S.F. Rooke Mrs. J.M. Richards R.G. Rugg A.J. Rycroft Salisbury & District NHS P.R. Saunders Mrs. H. Shortt A. Smith E.T. Smith Dr. R.E. Stebbings Dr. E. Steele Mr. & Mrs. E. Stephens Mrs. A. Summers Mrs. J. Swanborough B. Sykes P. Tasker A.P.W. Thomas Mrs. S. Thombon Mrs. S.M. Thomson Mr. & Mrs. R. Thornton B. Timbrell R. Turner S. Vatcher Miss J.M. Ward B.C.H. Warren J.I. Webb Brig. B.G. Wells J. White Miss T. White Miss V. Wild Miss L. Williams Miss S. Williams M. Wiltshire Wiltshire NHS N.E. Wynn Miss J. Yates RICHARD EMERY SANDELL — AN APPRECIATION Mr. R.E. Sandell, M.A., F.S.A., F.L.S., was found dead at his home in Potterne on July 10th. He was 68. Dick, as he was to his many friends, was educated at Sherborne and Worcester College, Oxford, where he read history. During the war he served in the R.A.F., working on radar, and afterwards was a member of the R.A.F. Auxiliary giving radar instruction to auxiliary firemen before their national service. He inherited his father’s wine business, but did not enjoy the world of commerce and, in 1956, he sold up and devoted the remaining 22 years of his life to the Wiltshire Archaeological and_ Natural History Society, in the capacity of Honorary Librarian, a position in which his extensive knowledge of local history and botany flourished and was of most use to others. Dick’s personal interest in local history and natural history was stimulated by his godfather, Sir Emery Walker. As the years went by these interests became the dominant theme of his life. He became a very competent botanist with a comprehensive knowledge of the British Flora and a wealth of amusing anecdotes about botanising expeditions with many eminent botanists. Frank Perring of the Institute of Terrestrial Ecology has said of Dick — _ “‘He was a shy man who never asserted his opinion loudly — he listened quietly to views and ideas and then did firmly and efficiently what he thought best. “IT met him first in the late fifties, when he was a regular member of plant mapping parties, particularly in the south. He was an easy, stoic companion — and after a few days of managing slightly tricky ladies it was always a relief to arrange a day out with Dick, with whom yesterday’s difficulties became today’s enjoyable anecdote — his laughter was always there just below the surface. “He was very modest about his botanical ability — far too modest. He really was a competent man in the field, and his interest in plants flowed over into his concern about the publication of the Supplement to Grose’s Flora of Wiltshire. His modesty allows no indication in that work of the efforts he made to see it successfully published and distributed, but without his backroom influence and diplomacy, this and many other notable works could not have been completed.” Mrs. Grose, in paying tribute to Dick, has also acknowledged the contribution he made towards the Flora — “We found his help invaluable when my late husband was compiling the Flora. I shall never forget the joyous look on his face when, at long last, the Flora was published and he brought us the first copy.” As a local historian Dick worked for two periods for the Wiltshire County Council in the early 1960’s as an archivist. Then from 1965 until his death he worked part time at the Salisbury diocesan records at the Wren Hall, Salisbury, without drawing a salary. He edited two volumes for the Wiltshire Records Society on /nclosure Awards and Tithe Apportionments. All who turned to him for help in their researches found him a rich vein of knowledge and encouragement. The Library at Devizes will be poorer without him. He will be remembered fondly for his knowledge, his honesty and generosity, his modesty and perhaps above ll for his witty, if sometimes satirical humour. We shall miss him. PJ.D.& C.B. 41 OBITUARY WINIFRED MARJORY STEVENSON (Steve) who died at Devizes on 7 August 1977 graduated in botany at University College, London and made the teaching of botany and biology her profession. She taught in Gosport before coming to Wiltshire in 1945 to teach at Chippenham Grammar School. She joined the Wiltshire Archaeological and Natural History Society in 1948 and, with a bicycle as her only means of transport, travelled many miles to attend botanical field meetings arranged by the Natural History Section in its early years. Later she led meetings in Bird’s Marsh, Chippenham and other wet places to collect mosses and liverworts, in which she specialised, for identification in the laboratory. During her residence in Wiltshire she became increasingly interested in the flora of the chalk downlands and, after she moved to Devizes in 1961 to teach at the Grammar School there, she had more opportunity for exploring the Marlborough Downs making an annual visit to Morgan’s Hill to enjoy its unique orchid community. Her name first appeared in Donald Grose’s Plant Notes in WAM in 1959. She served on the Section’s committee for fourteen years, on the parent Society’s committee for one year 1963/64 and, as County Plant Recorder, compiled the Plant Notes for 1969 and 1970. She gave valuable help in the restoration of the herbarium at the Museum and in a variety of projects organised by the Section. Her last contribution to Wiltshire botany was as a member of the committee responsible for producing the “Supplement to the Flora of Wiltshire” in 1975. Steve was a member of the Botanical Society of the British Isles and the Ecological Society for many years and supported several Wiltshire societies including the Wiltshire Trust for Nature Conservation, Council for the Protection of Rural England and Rural Studies Association. She was a regular student at evening classes and summer schools and was a devoted teacher until her retirement in 1970. There must be many of her ex-pupils whose lasting interest in some branch of biology was initiated under her guidance and inspired by her enthusiasm for this branch of science. It was very sad that failing memory prevented her from pursuing her interests more deeply in her retirement. Beatrice Gillam REPORTS Chairman’s Report of the Natural History Section for 1977—8 The section had a successful year with a good varied programme of field and indoor meetings. Most meetings were well attended particularly the talk by David Macdonald on “‘The Fox”. There was a small increase in membership and efforts are being made to publicise our activities so as to try to increase membership. The magazine was published on time thanks to the sterling efforts of our editor Mr. R. Barron. The quality of articles remains high and I consider the magazine a most valuable record for our section. The bi-annual bulletin has equally proved successful and | must record our thanks to Mr. P. Dillon for his efforts in producing this in addition to sharing the programme planning with Mrs. M. Browne and serving as Section Librarian. We are grateful to the parent section for allowing us library space in the re-arranged museum developments and we hope the library will be well used by members. The Committee have met regularly to consider the sections activities and are at present planning some fund raising events for the coming autumn. Publications have taken up some of our time and we are pleased to report that negotiations are well in hand to publish a reprint of Mr. Grose’s Wiltshire Flora. It is also hoped to publish a booklet on Amphibia and Reptiles later this year. It is anticipated that both will be published at no expense to the section but will result in some income from sales. Work continues on the draft for a book on Wiltshire Mammals which we hope may be published within two years subject to funds being available. We record our grateful thanks to Mr. Arnold Smith who retired as our treasurer last year but who served a further year on the committee to assist our new treasurer. We are pleased to acknowledge his long service with a token gift of our appreciation. In conclusion I would like to welcome Mr. Stuart Lane the recently appointed Assistant Regional Officer for the Nature Conservancy and we look forward to working with him. I would also like to thank my committee for all their support and hard work in the past year and I look forward to their continued support in the coming year. 42 Report by P.J. Dillon as Librarian, Programme Secretary and Bulletin Editor. Library Last year I reported that our newly formed natural history library had a nucleus of many good standard texts, together with several good runs of journals. It has continued to expand over the last twelve months, mainly as a result of donations of further journals, notably from Mr. R.E. Sandell, Mr. Arnold Smith, and Mrs. Seccombe Hett. Programme of Meetings Since my last report there have been thirteen field meetings — at Biddestone, Freeman’s Marsh, Sidbury Hill, Larkhill, Avebury Downs, Bratton, Calstone, Savernake Forest, Lackham, Eysey — (Cirencester), Orchardleigh, Fyfield Down and Bulford. I think this represents a fair distribution throughout the county. Unfortunately the meeting that I planned to the Faunal Remains Project at Southampton University had to be cancelled due to lack of support. Meetings at the ‘classical’ military sites — Sidbury and Larkhill — were very well attended, perhaps because of the added attraction of visiting land that is not normally accessible to the public. The two joint meetings with other societies were also extremely successful ventures. Last May we visited Freeman’s Marsh with the Abingdon Naturalists’ Society and the Westbury Naturalists’ Society and in October we had a Fungus Foray in the Savernake Forest with the Bedfordshire Natural History Society. A great deal of serious botanising went on at this latter meeting and a comprehensive list of fungi from the Forest was produced for the County Biological Records Centre. An extremely interesting Downland Symposium was organised by the Parent Society at Calstone and this covered aspects of the natural history, local history, geology and archaeology of the neighbourhood. There were five indoor meetings. One of these was another of the ‘workshop’ evenings held at Downland School under Mr. Stonell’s expert guidance when more bottle traps and nest boxes were produced. We also had a botanical slide evening arranged by Mrs. Swanborough, an illustrated lecture on the fox by David Macdonald and one on deer and forestry by Richard Prior, both leading specialists in their respective fields, and an illustrated lecture on the birds of the Chippenham/Calne area by Mr. E. Smith. Bulletin Two Bulletins have been produced in the last year, each carrying a programme of meetings, reports of meetings, section notices and other notices extracted from journals such as ‘Habitat’. Circulation of the Bulletin has been extended by numerous exchange and complimentary arrangements with other societies and natural history organisations both local and national. This has given the section a good deal of indirect publicity as well as attracting the odd new member. PUBLICATIONS BY THE WILTSHIRE NATURAL HISTORY SECTION The Flora of Wiltshire, by Donald Grose. Being reprinted. Supplement to the Flora of Wiltshire. Compiled and edited by L.F. Stearn. The Macrolepidoptera of Wiltshire, by Baron de Worms. The Geology of Wiltshire, a Field Guide, by R.S. Barron. 43 aa Sa BaPraeanaean ta apna Eas ae SENS erate 5 RAS A par 2 za Le a Px oe 3 esr Low ene (25st. oe 2 a See ee ; ste ot Ss sks a wena See oes c c= aoe arta ty Tap naan = Naa eee Tae es te a a = ae SOS LS Ss — an eee fee : ae . pee SS = a a pee eee ror ES eS