The Reading Naturalist

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Published by the Reading and District
Natural History Society
1965

Price to Non-Members

Two Shillings and Sixpence

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THE READING NATURALIST

No. 17 for the Year 1963-64

The Journal of

The Reading and District Natural History
Seciety

President

Mr. Arthur Price

Hon. General Secretary Editor

Mrs. B. NM. Newman, Miss E. M. Nelmes,
25 Beech Lane, 2/ Westbourne Avenue,
Earley, Acton, W.3s
Reading.

EBéitorial Sub-Committee

The Editor, B. R. Baker, Miss L. E. Cobb, A. Price, Mrs. A. M. Simmonds,
Miss S. Y. Townend

Henorary Recorders
Botany: Mrs, B. M. Newman, Earley Cottage, 25 Beech Lane, Earley,
Reading, Berks.
Entonology: B. R. Baker, Esq., /iA Berkeley Avenue, Reading.
Geology: Professor H. L. Hawkins, F.R.S., 63 Tilehurst Road, Reading.

Mannals: M. G. Hardy, Esq, Department ef Zoolegy, The University,
London Road, Reading.

Ornithology: Dr. E. V. Watsen, Little Court, Cleeve, Goring-on-Thames, Oxon.

Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire

Naturalists! Trust

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

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Page
Obituary: Sir Arthur Russell 3
Meetings and Excursions, 1963-6) 4
Presidential Address: Change, progressive and regressive E. V. Watscn 6
Chemicals and Water-supplies H. L. Hawkins 17
Branchiobdella astani Odier (Oligochaeta C. J. Leeke 18

Annelida) in Reading and A. Price

Some Notes on British Leeches (Hirudinen) A. Price 19
British Clearwing Moths (Family Sesiidae) B. R. Baker 21
An Introduction and Interim Report on Syrphids J. H. Cole Zh

of the Reading area: a correction.
Weather records in 1964 A. E. Moon 28

Honorary Recorders' Reports

Entomology B. R. Baker 29
Ornithology E. V. Watson 3h,
Botany B. M. Newnan 38
Fungi at Kingwood Common (Supplementary Last) 43

General Observations:

Abnormality in the Water Spider
Argyroneta aquatica A. Price Lh.

Trichius fasciatus (L.) (Coleoptera) A. Price hh
Carabus auratus L. in Reading, Berks. A. Price dd

List of members - 45%

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Sir Arthur Russell

Sir Arthur Russell, Bt., who died at his home, SwallowfieH Park, on 23rd
February, 1964, at the age of 85, was an old and valued patron of this Society.
For many years we had enjoyed an annual visit to the grounds at Swallowfield
where the many fine and rare trees were a source of pleasure to our Members,
as was the peace and tranquillity of the surroundings. On all of these occasions
until ill-health prevented him, Sir Arthur personally escorted the party,
and many of us can testify to his kindness and interest in all our doings.

We shall all miss him very much, one of a generation of English lancowners
which is fast disappearing.

The Editorial

Human activities and numbers today encroach intolerably on the lives and
homes of the animals and plants of this country, and the stresses that they impose,
with natural hazards, form a theme that is developed in two of our contributions
and echoed at intervals throughout the Journal, notably in the entomological and
ornithological reports, with their appeals for records of species that have
recently declined. Through its membership of the Berks, Bucks and Oxon
Naturalists' Trust, the Society as a whole is attempting to avert or minimise
some of the man-made threats, but the work is urgent and the need for support,
both financial and by weight of opinion, is great, and we should not be satisfied
until each member of the Society is also one of the Trust in his om right.

If our wild life is declining, sour knowledge of it continues to increase,
and discoveries of species new to the area (in one instance to the country) re-
discoveries, and extensions to the range of species within the area are well
scattered through our pages.

It is a pleasure to thank our contributors and production team for their
painstaking work, and also the Director of the Museum and Art Gallery, Mr. T. L.
Gwatkin, who has again kindly provided the facilities.

Presentation to Mrs. Fishlock

During the Members' Evening on 3rd December, a presentation was made to Mrs,
A. Fishlock as a mark of members' esteem and gratitude for her great service to
the Society during the eleven years of her Secretaryship. Mr. Newman, naking the
presentation, referred to the efficiency with which Mrs. Fishlock had discharged
her duties and to the kind way in which she had welcomed him to membership when
he joined the Society nine years ago.

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Meetings, Excursions and Attendances, 1963-6)

The first meeting of the winter season was the Annual General Meeting, at
which Dr. E. V. Watson gave his Presidential Address, on "Change, progressive
and regressive", (58). Two evenings were devoted to members! exhibits and
communications (48 and 49) and one to a programme of nature films (50), and at.
another meeting, held jointly with and by invitation of, the Geology Club, the
film “Eruption of Kilauea" was shown (about 65). The lectures given at the
remaining meetings were "Some Malayan Reptiles", by M. V. Tweedie (51); "The
Use of Toxic Chemicals in Agriculture", by Sir H. G. Saunders (55); "Flowering
Succulents", by G. Rowley (44); Microfossils and their Uses", by Dr. P. Kaye (46)
and "Volcanic Eruption of Tristan da Cunha", by D. E. Baird (76).

Winter walks and meetings were held on 19th October, when the Forbury Gardens
Eldon Square Gardens and Mrs. Fishlock's Vinery at Clarence Lodge were visited (20).
November 2nd, Goring Heath to Pahgbourne (about 20); 7th December, Stolze Row;
4th January, Bear wood (8); 1st February, Finchampstead (24); and 7th March,
College Wood and Green Dean Wood (25).

The summer field meetings were as follows: 4th April, Beenham, for plants, etg,
(42); 18th April, Ashton Upthorpe, for pasque flowers (50); 9th May, Arborfield,
for bluebell woods (19); 11th May, the Freshwater Biological Station of Reading
University, by Invitation of the Reading Microscopical Society (a total of about
24.); 16th May, Arborfield to Winnersh, for rhododendrons, etc. (11); 27th May,
Purley to Pangbourne, riverside walk (8); 6th June, Cleeve, for chalk woodlands
(19); 17th June, Watlington Hill, plants and birds (cancelled owing to rain); 27th
June, Medmenham (18); 8th July, Reading University Agricultural Botanical Gardens
(20); 18th July, Thatcham reed beds, for insects, etc. (17); 22nd July, Folley's
gravel pits, Sonning, for birds (41); 1st August, Stanford Dingley, Jennetts Hill
and Blue Pool, for plants and geology (34); 12th August, Peppard woodland and
common (23); 22nd August, Wargrave to Sonning, riverside (27); 2nd September,
Burghfield gravel pits, for birds (20); 12th September Hazeley Heath, for plant
galls and plants (24); 26th September, Kingwood Common, fungus foray (40); 10th
October, I.C.I. Research Station, Jeallott's Hill, for a demonstration of the
collection and extraction of soil fauna (27).

The Young Naturalists' Evening held in the Town Hall on 4th March was attended
by about 600 children. Nearly 700 questions were submitted by pupils from Reading
schools, and a selection from them was presented by the Questionmaster, Mr. W. A.
Smallcombe, to a panel consisting of Professor T.M. Harris, Dr. K.H. Mann, Dr. L.B
Tarlo, Mr. Robert Gillmor and Mr. H.H. Carter, Ten prizes, of which eight were
given by the Natural History Society, one by Mr. Smallcombe and one by Mr. T.L. ©
Gwatkin, were presented by the Right Worshipful the Mayor of Reading, Councillor
J.C.H. Butcher to Christine Johnson, New Town Junior School, 11 yrs; M.B. Nathan
Stoneham Grammar School, 153 yrs; Michael Seymour, Whitley Park Junior Schod,

10 yrs; David Franklin, Cintra Secondary School, 13 yrs; Corinna Furse, St.
Joseph's Convent Preparatory School, 94 yrs; Colin Bliss, Norcot Rrimary School,

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10 yrs; Katherine Mann, Abbey Junior School, 10 yrs; David Cooke, St. James's
R. C. Primary School, 10 yrs; Louise Brown, St. Joseph's Convent Preparatory
School, 10 yrs; Stephen Coleman, Redlands Primary School, 11 yrs.

On the afternoon of 24th May, the Society again laid a Nature Trail at
Finchampstead Ridges, by kind permission of the National Trust. The number
of visitors could not be counted, but was of the order of 300.

New Flora of Buckinghamshire

Mr, P. R. Knipe of 'Charnwood', Marsham Way, Gerrards Cross, Bucks,
is hoping to compile a Flora of Buckinghamshire to replace Druce's Flora of
1926 and would be grateful for help from our Members. Will anyone who would
like to assist please write to him at the above address.

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Publications Received

Journal of the North Gloucestershire Natuvalists' Society
Bird Report of the North Gloucestershire Naturaiists' Society
South-eastern Naturalist

Middle-Thames Naturalist

Annual Report of the Southampton Natural History Society

Congress of the South-eastern Union

of Scientific Societies, 1965

The Congress for 1965 will be held at Folkestone, by kind
invitation of the Folkestone Natural History Society and the Corporation
of Folkestone, from 7th May to 9th May inclusive. There will be lectures
and excursions, and a Conversazione on the afternoon of 8th May.

Further particulars from our Society's Representative, Mrs. A. Fishlock,
Clarence Lodge, 93 London Road, Reading.

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Change, progressive and regressive

Presidential Address to Reading
Natural History Society, October, 1963

By Ee Nic Watson, B.Sc., Fibs, Baap

Change, progressive and regressive, what have I in mind, you may be
wondering. Progressive change you may feel. is what happens when your favourite
political party comes to power. Regressive change you associate with something
that you find has happened to your garden while you were away on holiday. Again,
are we not fond of reading, in our children's school reports, "has made good
progress", whereas we should be disturbed indeed if we were to read instead
"his regress (or regression) has been steady". Medical literature of course
refers to the progress of a particular disease (meaning that the disease is
getting on better and better, but without making reference to what is happening
to the patient); whilst something known as regression is a feature of certain
kinds of psychological illness; and this time it does refer to the patient.

We, as naturalists, must assuredly narrow the field of our interest this
evening and I shall, of course, be concerned wholly with change - of both
these kihds - in Nature, in communities, if you like to put it that way, of
plants and animals. In short, this is an ecological topic and mine will be the
address of one interested in ecology. Do we know what we mean by ecology ?
It is certainly a very wide subject - one might say an all-embracing subject -
for in a certain sense everything that happens to a plant or animal in a state of
nature - in the home where it lives, is a part of ecology. Literally, it is
the science of living things in their homes, and this includes nowadays a most
rigorous study and analysis of the environment. A treatise on ecology to-day
is apt to be full of tables, grapius, histograms and other intimidating things,
although let me hasten to admit that they seemed far less intimidating after
Mr. Newman's lucid discourse on them a year ago.

If ecology includes so much as to be almost without limits, my talk, quite
plainly, is going to be limited - both by the clock and by the fact that I am
going to ask you to think, during the next half hour or so, exclusively about
certain kinds of change that go on in Nature. And it is my hope that a few
facts, a few ideas, of interest may emerge. If they do not, the fault will be
mine; and I shall have failed you. Like the concerto my composition is divided
into three movements (though it resembles a concerto in nothing else). The
first movement concerns change in vegetation - in plant communities in fact.
The second has as its theme changes of status in certain bird species. The
third, into which the second merges, takes all Nature as its theme.

I suppose the man who laid the foundations of our knowledge and ideas
regarding progressive change in vegetation was the celebrated American botanist,

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F. E. Clements, in his great book "Plant Succession", which was published in
1916. It would be quite inaccurate to call him the first plant ecologist, but
he was in a sense the first person to ‘explain the rules of the game', the game,
that is, that plant life all over the world is playing. Clements believed that
great communities of plants were almost like individual living organisms. They
had a beginning, they grew to maturity and in time they were destined to grow
old and to die. But in any particular climatic region a particular community
which he called the "climax" would be capable of flourishing for a long period
of time, in some kind of equilibrium, provided it were not exposed to some
extraneous influence, natural or man-made, which could bring it to an untimely
end. When Clements spoke of Plant Succession he meant the tendency of all
vegetation, everywhere, to progress inexorably towards the climax. In a word,
the vegetation cover was never static, it was always changing, until such time
as tne climax community had become established and some kind of stability, or
equilibrium had set in.

Now when man first began to exploit the natural resources - the plant
resources - or the earth, great tracts of every land were covered by this
appropriate climax community. One thinks of the coniferous forests of northern
latitudes in both east and west hemispheres; of the climax deciduous forest
that once covered so much of Britain, temperate Eurasia and North America,
of the tropical rain forest that is climax for so many equatorial high rainfall
areas; or, by contrast, the sparse thorny vegetation that is climax for vast
areas of semi-desert, in Arizona and adjoining states of the U.S.A., in the
low-rainfall areas of Africa and so on. Along the narrow strip of coast in
northern California the giant Redwood tress were a climax community in which
individual members had stood, slowly growing, for 2,000 years. Another, equally
impressive, would be the gum (or Eucalypt) forest that from time immemorial
must have fringed the coastal strip of Western Australia.

In these and many other instances then, we have sceres.of apparent stability,
where often enough the vegetatior is dominated by plants of great size ( and
sometimes of great antiquity too), but where every component, plant and animal,
is playing a part in a mysterious whole that has a certain stability. I say
"mysterious" because we can but guess, in mary cases, at the precise part
played by all the diverse kinds of living organisms that make a home there. We
are right, moreover, to approach such a community with awe, for it has endured
for a very long time. Change, of course, there has always been, but immeasurably
Slow change, on the time-scale of the geologist. And every piece of climax
vegetation had first to grow out of something less impressive, by the slow,
progressive change which Clements called Plant Succession.

Now we may turn to our own country and examine quickly a few examples
of vegetation change that are in fact illustrations of plant succession. Cut
down the forest, destroy the climax, fire the land, rip off earth's green mantle
how you will, and you force Nature to start all over again. Sometimes a
voleanic eruption or a fire brought about by natural causes will do this; more

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often it is the work of man. I refer to sudden, catastrophic regressive
changes. Afterwards, just as night follows day, the slow process of succession
begins again; first re-colonisation by tiny algae, lichens, mosses perhaps;
soon annual herbaceous plants are conspicuous and quick-starting perennials
like 'fireweed', and then, more gradually, woody vegetation supervenes. At
least this is the familiar picture of events on fired land in the deciduous
forest zone in which we live. Green Dean wood, near Cane End, felled just two
years ago, was a sheet of magenta fireweed in bloom this summer. Ecologists
have technical names for the different stages and the different kinds of event,
but in truth all are examples of plant succession, or of progressive changes
that lead one back towards the climax.

When grazing is withdrawn from chalk downland the well-known and
diversiried 'scrub' of hawthorn, privet, dogwood and others will take hold,
and if we wait long enough and there is sufficient shelter and depth of soil
we shall see forest trecs taking their place amid the untidy thickets so formed.
Perhaps ash wiil come first, followed in time by beech. Very often a long-
term succession of this kind is not completed and in any event where potential.
forest land is concerned the planned management of the forester imposes a
pattern rather different from what we should find in natural conditions. Most
successions these days are not left long before man interferes with them. On
the northern slopes of Box hill in Surrey, dogwood scrub has been spreading
so successfully that the Conservation Corps have been called in to halt it.
And so the progressive change of Nature is set into reverse in the interests
of preservation of open grassland.

From this single exemple we can observe two rather interesteng points.
The first is that the conservator can never just conserve in the sense of
passively maintaining what exists already. He has to be constantly taking
steps to prevent a successional sequence which, were it allowed to go forvard,
would overthrow the regime he is setting out to preserve. We are told of a case
some years ago when some well-intentioned naturalists (belonging I fancy to
Nature Conservency staff, but I may be wreng in this), intent upon preserving
a rare plant, put a wire fence round it. Next year the rare plant was still
to be found - outside the fence, but within the enclosure nothing but tall
grasses could be seen, grasses whose vigorous grewth had outstripped and
overwhelmed the less thrustfull rarity. Very much the same sort of thing
indeed happened, on a much larger scale, on the Nature Reserve at Old Winchester
Hill, in Hampshire, where interesting species were fast diminishing in numbers
because of intense competition from grasses and shrubs, the whole area having
been protected from grazing, whilst outside, where the farmer's livestock
grazed in a controlled manner, the desirable short turf was maintained, with its
fascinating and diverse flora. This at least was the position about 1959. By
now I have no doubt steps have been taken to reverse it, and I mention it
merely to illustrate how complicated this whole business of conservation can be.

The second point is of less importance, but is worth mentisning because

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it bears directly on my title. It is the inescapable fact that what is
progressive change in the natural or plant successional sense is often
regression so far as our own immediate interests are concerned. Look again
at your herbaceous border after you have come back from your summer holiday.
You are not going to tell me you would describe it as having progressed. Yet
it has in Nature's sense. Go away for three or four years; then come back
and you will find a strip of flourishing scrubland. Go away for twelve or .
fifteen years and maybe a young forest will greet you on your return. 'Oh
dear', you will say, 'whatever has happened to my phlox and my lupine and that
dear little Geum that cousin Agatha gave me ?', and as you look sorrowfully
for your lost favourites amid Nature's rightful heirs to that land you will
be thinking how your once lovely border has 'reverted' or 'regressed' to a
wild thicket. Not at ail! In the great sweep of the plant ecologist's
definition this is just one more instance of progressive change in vegetation,,
surging onwards all the while towards the natural climatic climax. Tropical
gardeners who go off for a short holiday witness the same sort of sequence of
events going on at a much accelerated rate. Onlv now and again tne monotony
is varied by Nature taking a hand in the other direction, as when a tropical
storm literally washes the garden away. Then owner and ecologist can chant
in unison "This is indeed regressive change".

When the march of events involves the drying up of places that were once
wet the ecologist speaks of a hydrosere, and in most such systems there is a
long-term tendency for open water to give place to reed swamp, for reed swamp
to be succeeded by marshland, and for this in turn to change into a swampy
Woodland - with alders and willows and birches - to which ecologists give the
name of carr. Pearsall, by carefully mapping the extent of the different
piant communities at Esthwaite Water, and doing so again after the lapse of
fifteen years, was avle to point to significant changes of the kind I have
indicated. In short, lakes left alone will tend to fill.

How different though is the situation in the Reading area, where we are
all familiar with the numerous gravel pits. Here the sequence of events is
rapid and wholly artificial, governed as it is entirely by the speed and
patterh of excavaticn and dredging fer gravel. Within a season or two of the
field being taken over by the gravel company a whole new habitat is created -
many new habitats in fact - a sheet of open water, enticing spits of sand and
silt and gravel for waders to alight upon and be seen by enthusiastic bird-
watchers; wet muddy places where nice liverworts establish their modest
rosettes; then quickly in their wake a full-scale willow carr. Great crested
grebe, coot, moorhen an assortment of winter duck, sedge warblers, reed
bunting, feeding herons and passage waders, all these and many more make the
new habitats their home, because where the deep water and the sand spits and
the willow thickets are, there too the right foods and (for many) the
appropriate nesting places will be found. They little know that this is a
Spurious and fickle kind of plant succession, set in motion at the whim of a
gravel prospector and leading to a climax consisting of the tall masts of

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yachts varied by careering speed boats towing bronzed beauties on water skis.
Progressive er regressive ? A 'Hit' or a 'Miss' as they say on Juke Box Jury ?
Change it certainly is, and too rapid to be natural. And so far as my flippant
interjection goes I can only testify that for an unfortunate black term that

I watched a year or two ago, skimming in characteristic fashion the water of
Sonning Eye gravel pit when the speed boat sped by, it was a very near

'miss' indeed!

As naturalists we do well to be wary of the gradual encroachment on our
cherished gravel pits by the great sporting fraternities like the yachtsmen
and the water- skiers. I would submit that, worthy and perfectly defensible
though the interests of these people may be, where the life of a large and
once peaceful gravel-pit is concerned they are almost wholly in conflict with
our own.

If I may, I will now turn to quite another matter; to progressive and
regressive changes which befall the populations of particular species of bird.
Thus, for the next few minutes we shall be viewing things from the standpoint
of certain bird species and not of whole communities o* plants, One can
hardly be an ornithologist and fail to be interested in these changes -
changes of status they are often called - because in many instances they are
so rapid, and they may be very hard indeed to explain. I shall draw my main
examples from experience in two quite distinct and quite limited areas, the
one in Surrey between the Hascombe and ca hills, and the other on the
Isle of May, in the Firth of Forth.

Turning to the first area, I may say that I was pretty familiar with the
bird life of that part of rural Surrey thirty-five years ago. In those
far-off days the woodland bird communities were doubtless in many respects
much as they are today. One could see jays and nuthatches, tree creepers
and blackcaps, green and greater spotted woodpeckers, and other favourite
kinds of bird, and in favoured cuppices and spinneys we could hear the
nightingale of an evening in early summer. Visitors were dragged, unwillingly
at times I now suspect, to hear him too. I thought how lucky they were, but
now I am not quite sure that they always thought so. If one were to go back
and walk those old walks again, all this might well be much as it used to be.
A few more carrion crows and nagpies, I daresay, and subtle season-by-season
fluctuations in the numbers of some of the others.

But those wonderful stretches of open common, with their gorse and bramble
and bracken, those little fringes of rough grass and rushes, and the bramble
thicket that lay beside the railway of the Guildford-Horsham line - how
different would they seem today. For gone would be the red-backed shrike
that stood sentinel - in all his proud beauty of chestnut, lavender-grey,
delicate rose-pink and black plumage. Where once we could see perhaps three
or four in a mile or so of rough railway embankment, now we should see them no

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more. For the famed "butcher bird", well-known to our forbears, has become
quite a rare British species today. Again, the stonechats, perhaps the
most captivating of all the species that dwelt upon the commons, and of
which one could find a pair or two on even quite insignificant little
stretches of rough ground, they too have vanished from many of their old
haunts and I very much doubt if you would find any on Cranleigh Common,
Smithwood Common, Run Common or Rushett Common today.

In spring we used to hear the strangely hollow, haunting sound of the
wryneck, although I will admit that even then it was not plentiful in that
part of Surrey. The latest available reports suggest that this renarkable
bird which has fascinated bird watchers from the earliest times, this
unobtrusive, ventriloquist snake-bird (or cuckoo's mate), has so dwindled in
numbers that probably less than a score of pairs will have bred successfully
last season in the whole of Britain - and almost all of these in one small
district on or near the Kent-Surrey border. When I first came to Reading,
seventeen years ago, there were several places where it bred, but one by one it
has vanished from them all.

We do not know the causes of these regressive changes in the status of
species, formerly well-known and widespread. We do know, however, that in a
case like the wryneck the retrenchment began far back in the mid-nineteenth
century and that whet we have seen in recent years has been merely an accelera-
tion or the process.

Perhaps a little artistic licence may have entered into my description
of these changes in Surrey birds for although I knew the ground well many
years ago it cannot be claimed that I know it very well today. Lest you
hasten to point an accusing finger in my direction, let me hurry on to deal
with the Isle of May where the whole sequence of events is thoroughly well
documented. I am not now considering the fame of this Island (nine miles
from East Lothian and five from the Fife coast) as a place for migrants to
visit, but merely as an example of a rapidly changing population of breeding
species. What is after all a rather limited period of time - thirty years -
has seen quite remarkable changes. Let us examine a few of these.

The nesiing terns (or sea-swallows) have undergone strange vicissitudes
in that tims. It seems that during the nineteen-thirties, and certainly in
the early 'forties all four species were on the increase and by 1946 truly
astonishing breeding populations had been achieved, In that first full post-
war summer a most careful nest-by-nest survey was carried out by reliable
observers. They returned figures as follows: 5,000 to 6,000 pairs of common
and arctic terns combined, mostly the former; 1,700 pairs of sandwich terns
and, if I remember aright, around ten to a dozen pairs of roseate terns. I
should add that there was no suitable breeding terrain for the little tern, the
great mixed colony to which I have just referred making their nests on rough
rocky ground very adequately covered and cushioned by thrift, sorrel, chick-weed

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and other vegetation. I was on the island mysclf in June, 1946 and the sight,
I can assure you, was one to be remembered. So was the almost ceaseless
clamour of some 12,000 tern voices a sound to be held in the memory for a
very long time.

Go back to the island now - in the height of the nesting season - and
how many pairs of terns do you see ? Perhaps a few pairs of common terns may
settle and attempt to breed, but of successful tern breeding on the Isle of
May in the last few seasons therehas been none. Even by 1956, only ter years
after the peak, the colony had dwindled to a few hundred pairs of the common
species, all the sandwich and roseate terns having gone. Why should this be ?
Well, in this particular instance, we can point to a highly likely cause; for
the period of regression for one kind of bird has been the time of unexampled
increase for another kind of bird - larger, more powerful, more agressive. I
refer to the dramatic rise in numbers of nesting herring and lesser black-backed
gulls, and this despite repeated attempts to put some check upon them ty a
variety of mears including a systematic destruction of their eggs. They just
refuse to be kept down. Since they harry the terns and prey upoh their eggs and
young, it seems that here lies the chief explanation of the terns' decline.

There have been other changes too over this 30-year period. For example
the shag, from being a sparse breeder on the cliffs of the Isle of May has
built up its numbers to a population which is now probably well in excess of
six hunared breeding pairs. Almost anywhere on the cliff-girt parts of the
island coastline where you care to lie flat on the ground and peer over the edge
you will be greeted by the shag in attendance upon its massive nest, looking
rather resplendent as the sun catches its polished bottle-green or bronze-green
plumage, whilst it twists its sinuous neck and cocks a sea-green eye at you to
make sure you intend ne harm. Of course, it is unscientific of me to assume that
this is what it is doing, after Mrs. Snow's brilliantly penetrating studies of
shag behaviour, which have anpeared in recent numbers of "British Birds".
According to this authority, who worked for years upon the shags of Lundy Island,
almost every pose they adopt, or movement they make, is loaded with deep psycho-
logical implications. And so, unless we hold the key to the sign language of
birds we are in no position to decide whether it is saying "I hate you" or "I
Leve you", or just "I. eouldn"t care less”.

But we digress from our topic. Before we leave the Isle cf May, let me
refer to one more rather odd change of status. The European sparrow, which
like European man, so successfully colonised the greater part of North America,
having gained a foothold as a nesting species on the Isle of May has suddenly,
and quite mysteriously, lost it again. For from 1927 to 1946 about six pairs
remained as the more or less constant breeding population. In 1947, it appears,
nesting was unsuscessful and all through the last sixteen years the island has
been without resident sparrows.

Still thinking of changes in the status of various bird species, but moving
from the regional, or parochial level of observations to the altogether wider,

-13-

national scale we may consider the case of the peregrine falcon, a raptorial
bird of matchless splendour, indigenous to our islands and second to none in
its powers of flight. In recent years, as you are aware, this species has come
under heavy attack from the pigeon-fanciers; for the toll it takes of domestic
pigeons was thought to be so serious as to merit control of peregrine numbers.
Accordingly, in 1960, Nature Conservancy was asked to conduct an enquiry into
the present numbers and distribution of British peregrines, and this body
invited the British Trust for Ornithology to carry out the survey work involved.
Dr. D. A. Ratcliffe's report on the enquiry was published this June in the
pages of the B.T.0O. periodical, “Bird-Study". I regard it as a Report of
first-class importance, and I hasten to add that for anyone with the slightest
interest in the fate of one of our finest British birds it makes very sombre
reading indeed. You will see in a monent why this is so.

First let me emphasise that Dr. Ratclitfe's field investigations
were tremendously thorough. Of 718 different territories in which peregrines
have been know to attempt to nest at various times between 1930 and the present
day, no less than 600 were visited and examined in the course of the enquiry.
It is considered that an average annual level for the British breeding
population of this bird in the period 1930-39 was about 650 pairs. How does
the situation to-day compare ? The tale Dr. Ratcliffe has to tell us is one
of rapid decline in recent years. By 1961, 2/5ths of the pre-war population
had disappeared altogether and only eighty-two pairs are known to have reared
young. By 1962 the number of successful nestings had dwindled still further,
to sixty-eight, a mere thirteen per cent of all the territories that Dr.
Ratcliffe visited. Do not forget that quite a number of these stations had
been known to be peregrine eyries for hundreds of years. What has been
happening ? Unfortunately, most of you probably know all too well what has
been happening.. The key lies in the last two lines of point 4 in Ratcliffe's
summary. "Breakage and infertility of eggs, and sterility of the birds, often
precede actual disappearance of peregrines". |

I should interpolate the finding that even at the 1962 level of peregrine
population this raptor was estimated to be responsible for the destruction of
an annual total of 16,500 domestic pigeons, whish constitute seventeen per
cent of all prey teken over the country as a whole. That the peregrine would
not seem to stand exactly vindicated on the charge that set the wneels of
‘enquiry in motion is, however, quite overshadowed, in my view at least, by the
dark picture that has emerged of the declining population of a splendid bird
-of prey. When we probe into the chain of events that has Bone this about
we can hardly fail to be most deeply disturbed.

iets 2s. the “Sequence of events. A clever organic chemist, juggling with
the molecular structure of complex carbon compounds, hits upon something new.
This is what Otto Diels did when he discovered the substance now known as
dieldrin. This substance, swallowed, is five times as poisonous as D.D.T.
When absorbed through the skin in solution it is forty times as powerful a
poison as D.D.T. It belongs to a group of substances known as the chlorinated

sae

hydrocarbons. Aldrin and heptachlor are two others in the same family. The
second step is that, after appropriate tests, these new substances are
incorporated in dressings and sprays which are judiciously marketed so as to
attract progressive farmers and gardeners. They are applied, perhaps with a
specific pest in view, They strike in fact at all directions and small birds
eating grubs and seeds ingest tiny quantities of chlorinated hydrocarbons.

Now it is a feature of this family of substances that the body has no machinery
for breaking them dowmm. Thus their effect is cumulative. A little more is
taken in, then a little more again, perheps by a pigeon. The pigeon is struck
down by the lightning stoop of the pergrine and the dieldrin, or the aldrin or
whatever it may be, from the pigeon's body passes into the tissues of the
peregrine. That peregrine may not die, but it will never be quite the same
again. It has been shown for example that as little as one part per million of
dieldrin in its body tissues will suffice to impair fertility in the American
quail; four to five p.p.m. can be lethal.

Now you wiil see the significance of my remark about Ratcliffe's finding
that impaired fertility in peregrine falcons often preceded the disappearance
of the birds themselves, For the final link in the chain, the last sad fact to
clinch the case lies in the analyses that have been undertaken of addled eggs.
The bewildered mother bird was found still patiently incubating them long after
they should have hatched. On analysis they were found to contain, in one
instance cited, no less than five different deadly organic poisons of this
type, adding up to a total concentration of between four and five p.pP.m.

Where, we may well wonder, will it all end ? For let me remind you that
in every so-called progressive country in the world sprays and dressings con-
taining some of these, or other equally deadly new-found organic poisons are
being used, too often one fears, with little thought for, or knowledge of, their
far-reaching consequences. Pick up, as I did the other day, the Journal of
Agriculture of Western Australia, or of Queensland, and as the recommended
remedy against some insect pest you will see a preparation named which contains
dieldrin, or aldrin, in this or that concentration. This is no local phenomenon
but rather is it a world-wide campaign destined to upset what some of us still
like to call the Balance of Nature, and to do this on a scale never seen before.
Sharp-witted agricultural chemists may tell you to exercise more reason and less
emotion in viewing the whole question of pesticides. I would remind them that
it is not our sentimental imaginings but the cold facts which generate the
emotion. Naturalists the world over owe Miss Rachel Carson more than they can
say for her bold exposure of the position in the U.S.A. Withovt hesitation I
would place "Silent Spring" as among the most important books to have appeared
in recent years on the subject of natural history. When you have read it I
think you will agree with me that it is also one of the most Cepressing. In its
pages you can read of areas in the middle west where almost the whole
population of song birds has been wiped out by mass spraying from the air
against one rather trivial insect pest. You can read of lakes in matchless
mountain scenery on which the beautiful western grebe once nested in numbers,

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—15-

you Will learn how these waters now lie still and silent and grebeless, for
what seemed an infinitesimal dcse of the poison D.D.T. was found within the
fatty tissues of the dead grebes in the astonishing concentration of 1,600
pep-m. You can read of the sudden catastrophic decline in the breeding numbers
of the bald eagle, America's national bird, along that strip of the Florida
coast where it has nested successfully as far back as records go. Now nest
after nest lies with infertile eggs and few indeed are the nests from which
young fly.

I submit that we are face to face here with regressive change, not just
in this species or that, but in whole biological systems. And the irony of it
is that in the never-ending battle against specific pests and pathogens we
have other and better - andfar, far safer methods to hand. Read Hugh Nicol's
book, "Biological Control of Insects", and you will see some of the signal
triumphs in this fascinating field where the biologist (or ecologist) is
pitting one organism against another. The spectacularly successful control
of prickly pear, an alien plant that once covered vast areas of eastern .
Australia and was controlled through the importation of an insect predator
that fed naturally upon it, is but one example of many that could be quoted.
Read the last chapter of "Silent Spring" and you will hear of new, exciting
biological methods of control.

We do not have to delve very deeply to see that in time not only wild
birds, beautiful insects (like many of ovr butterflies), countless fish and
small mammals, and astronomical numbers of Jittle organisms that die unknown
and unlamented ~ not only these but our own livestock, our laying birds and
pedigree animals - these too will be affected by the sinister new compounds
which build up steadily in their bodies and disturb. the delicately balanced
mechanisms of enzyme action. We are throwing an alien spanner into the
intricate machinery of life itself. And what happens when we do this ? We do
not yet know fully what happens - we may have to wait years to see the full
results of our folly. But Miss Carson has many sinister bits of information
for us. Man too has on occasion after occasion been struck down by the
very poisons he has heralded as a boon. Evidence mounts that the dreaded
failure of the bone marrow which we know as leukaemia may be caused in this
way. He who has poisoned so much of wild nature thus ends by inadvertently
poisoning himself, Regressive change sets in, not this time in a plant community,
not this time in the status of a wild species like the peregrine, but in that
other kind of community, one composed of billions an billions of diverse cells
which live and work together for the lifelong welfare of an individual human
being.

Here, you may be saying, is where the naturalist steps aside and the
medical man moves in. But let us, as naturalists, not do so until we have
pondered very carefully the present situation. Sometimes the professional
biologist can take a leaf from the book of the non-scientist - the intelligent

_ layman - who happens to be deeply interested in, and appreciative of, the

natural scene. This is what I propose to do in my closing works. For I propose

-16-

to read to you what that astute poet, philosopher and critic Sir Herbert

Read has to say as he looks back over a life-time of experience. The book

he has written is in fact called "The Contrary Experience" and he is concerned
as we have beet to-night, with change, progressive and regressive. Tne chapter
in question is called "A dearth of wild flowers" and it is the last but one in
the book. He has been lamenting the vanished wild flowers of many a bank and
roadverge of his native Yorkshire, the countryside he knew so well in childhood
and to which he has returned more than half a century later. He compares the
old with the new and this is what he says: "Ali modern developments - weed-
killers, motor-cars, tractors, mechenization, tourism, the radio, the cinema,
urbanization (words as ugly as the things they signify) - have combined to
destroy the countryside that was evident to my innocent oye. There are
improvements ~ in housing, in health services, ii education - but the price that
has been paid for them is not only the destruction of a society that may have
been insufferably patriarchal, but the end of a way of life out of which what-
ever poetry and intelligcnce we possess arose as naturally as poppies and corn-
flowers from tne undisciplined earth. It has often been remarked how much of
the genius of England is associated with the country house, particularly the
parsonage. It is no less évident how muchdelinquency end crime are associated
with the modern city. It may not be the city as such that breeds such a sontrast;
it is more likely to be the alienation of sensibility that is the inevitable
consequence of mechanization. It is as simple as that: we have lost touch with
things, lest the physical experience that comes from a direct contact with the
organic processes of nature. The man who followed the plough felt a tremor
conducted from the shining thrust of the coulter in the earth along his arms
and into his heart. To dig, to harrow, to sow; to weed, to prune, to scythe;
to walk, to ride, to swim; to watch the birth and death of animals; to be
conscious of defecation and slow decay, bloom and rot; to participate with all
one's senses in the magical rhythm of the seasons - all these are svch
elementally human experiences that to be deprived of them is to become something
less than human. There has never been and never can be a civilization that is
not rooted in such organic processes. We know it - instinctively we know it -
and walk like blind animals into a darker age than history has ever known",

The philosophy of a pessimist, you will say, perhaps, but its essential
message is clear. Lest you should accuse me of closing on too sombre a note,
let me hasten to remind you that a "Silent Spring" in the sense of Miss Carson's
nightmarish vision - has not yet come. Nightingales and wrens and blackcaps
still sing in our land. It is for us, as naturalists, to try very hard to ensure
that, like the rose that blossoms in Ivor Novello's famous song, they do so
"till, the end of time",

=17-
Chemicals and Water-supplies

by
Prefessor Hh. L. Hawkins, D.Sc. Pit... F.G.5.

Geological Advisor to the Thames Valley Water Board

The discovery and production of supplies of pure water for domestic con-
sumption is becoming an increasingly difficult problem owing to the rapid
growth of population and the consequent multiplication of "built-up areas".
This development inevitably increases the demand for water and at the same time
restricts the areas rrom which uncontaminated supplies can be cbtained, It is
true that much can be done to rectify the quality of water that has already been
used; most of our rivers are by now diluted streams of sewage-effluent, but this
can be rendered safe and potable by simple, if expensive, means. Even the
apparently innocent and hygenic use of detergents creates problems that are not
yet solved. Most people will have seen the billowz: of froth that appear at weirs
and other places where river-water is agitated. There is, as yet, no evidence
to suggest that the consumption of detergents holds any serious danger for the
health of the consumer; if it did, "washing-up" would be a dangerous performence!

The application to the soil of lethal chemicals in the guise of
insecticides and weed-killers is a very different matter. Underground water
owes its normal purity to the beneficent activity of bacteria which "sterilize"
the rain-water as it soaks through the soil. If their numbers are reduced
(still more if they are completely destroyed) the impurities lying cn the ground
p2ss down undiminished, reinforced in their potentially deadly properties by the
diluted remains of the toxic chemicals. This means that water from springs and
wells requires sterilization by artificial means as much as river-water, and
even then may contain poisons to which no effective antidote is known. Of course
these chemicals will be in very “ilute solution, but many of them are of a
cumulative nature, being stored up in the tissues of the consumer until they
may reach dangerous concentrations. While admiring the zeal of the chemists

in encouraging fertility of the soil, one can but deplore their activity in

destroying it (for fertility applies to "weeds" as well as to the main crop).
Although application of weed-killers and insecticides may produce short-term
profits, the interference they cause in the cycle of natural processes is of a
sort that must ultimately defeat its own ends. Chemists are very learned people
(pernaps "clever" is a more appropriate term); but on one aspect of their
activities they are quite and inevitably ingnorant, for they have not been
tampering with nature long enough to be able to assess the long-term effects

of their operations.

One thing is certain; water is essential for life; the poisoning of wells
and springs has always been regarded as one of the most dastardly acts of which
men are capable. Somehow, and soon, the producers of our food must be taught
that one cannot serve even Man and Mammon.

«4Be

Branchiobdella astaci. Odier (Oligochaeta, Annelida. )

in Reading

By C. J. Leeke, B.Sc., A.M.I. (Biol.) and A. Price

This is the first authenticated record of this worm in Britain.
Specimens were obtained at an earlier date from Southampton University, but
these may have been obtained from imported crayfish.

On 18th May, 1964 five crayfish,
averaging 50 m.m. in lergth, were taken in a small stream near Burghfield
Bridge, Reading. These crayfish were taken to the Basingstoke High School for
dissection. During this dissection two girls discovered, on the gills of the
crayfish, five 'leech-like' specimens. These were later identified as
Branchiobdella sp. Dr. K. H. Mann of the Reading University subsequently
confirmed the fact that they were Branchiobdella and added that they were
B. astaci Odier, All of these specimens were sent to the British Museum (Natural
History) at its request.

On 21st May, 1964 three crayfish were taken in the same stream near
Burghfield Bridge, Reading, and two of them were found to be infested with this
worm. On 5th July, 1964, three crayfish were caught in the Holy brock near the
position of the one time Southcote Manor Farm, Reading. They were 40 n.m.

55 mm., and 68mm. in length. The 40 mm. specimen carried no worms, but both
the larger crayfish were infested. The 68 m.m. crayfish carried thirty-two
worms varying in length from newly hatched ones, 1.5 m.m. in length, to sexually
mature ones, 10 m.m. in length. In view of the presence of ail these worms in
addition to twenty-one viable eggs and forty empty cocoons, it may be reasonably
postulated that the whole life cycle takes place on the crayfish. On arriving
home, two sexually mature worms w>re discovered on the outside of the carapace
of the 68 mm. crayfish. These worms were possibly looking for another crayfish
to infest. So far no crayfish under 40 m.m. in length has been found to be
infested. On 17th October, 1964 eight crayfish, A. pallipes, all in excess of
90 mm. in length, were taken in an eel trap in the River Kennet, where it

flows behind Elgar Road. Three of these crayfish were infested with B. astaci;
the first by twenty cocoons and two worms between three and four m.m. in length;
the second by thirty-five cocoons and three worms, and the third by more than
one hundred cocoons and fifteen worms, All the cocoons were viable. The cocoons
of B. astaci measure 0.42 mm. x 0.35 mm. Ten of these cocoons were examined
to establish the number of eggs contained in one cocoon. In all cases the
cocoon contained a single egg. An attempt was made to hatch some of the eggs
which were removed from the gills of the crayfish, but this experiment was
unsuccessful.

Locomotion in B. astaci resembles that in Pisciocola geometra (L). The
leech, however, swims freely whilst the worm is unable to swim. The worm

i
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=49=

progresses by using the posterior sucker and the fleshy mouth as asecond
point of attachment. If looked at in a superficial manner as it loops around
a tank, it could be mistaken for the leech.

It has been suggested in many text books that Branchiobdellids are
parasitic. C. J. Goodnight states that he established by dissection that they
feed on unicellular algae and diatoms; these are carried to the worm by
the respiratory current of the crayfish.

It is hoped that further work can be done to sstablish the distribution
and the percentage of infestation, but crayfish are now rather scarce
following the heavy winter of 1962/3 and crayfish disease.

Bibliogvaphy —

Goodnight, C. J. (1940) The Branchiobdellidae (Oligochaeta) of North
American Crayfishes. Jllinois biol. Monogr.

Nl / OTD. Tie
Salensky, W. (1887) Developpement de Branchiobdella Arch. Biol
6 pp. 1-64
Moszynski, A. (1938) Oligochétes parasites de l'ecrevisse (Potamobius

astacus L.) de la Yougoslavie. Buli. Soc. sci.

Skop1 je 18 pp. 69-75

For keys:

Ude, H. (1929) Oligochaeta; in Dahl, Tierwel+ Deutschlands
45: pps 4=132.

Some Notes on British Leeches (Hirudinea)

By A. Price

| Feeding

After being used for pita ge a collection of the following leeches

was placed in an aquarium:- carga Sa eae (L.) (6 specimens); E. testacea
(Savigny) (1); Helobeel ia sta ae ; Glossiphonia complanata (L.) (5);

= G. heteroclita (L. No snails were poe in the aquarium at this stage;

iO

the only other animal present was a triclad, Dendrocoelum lacteum (Mull.).

The leeches were starved for a period of seven to ten days and during this time
the specimens of H.stagnalis were seen to have fed. The gut was clearly
visible and red in colour. The source of this fluid was Erpobdella. A few days
later some Tubifex worms were placed in the aquarium and Erpobdella immediately
fed. A leech would stretch out its anterior end, and when its mouth made
contact with one of the worms, it was swallowed with one swift gulp. Suction
seemed to play a part in this as no movement of the anterior was apparent.

One or two leeches did seize a worm by the middle indtead of the end, but they
did not succeed in swallowing a worr in this manner. A single leech would eat
at least a dozen Tubifex in a few minutes. On 28th June, 1964 some small
specimens of the snail, Limnaea pereger (Mull), were placed in the aquarium

and within one minute all the Glossipuonia were feeding on the snails. Although
there were more than sufficient snails to allow one leech to a snail, the
Glossiphonia fed two or three to a snail. The anterior end of the leech was
inserted between the snail's body and its shell.

On 16th June, #957, some specimens of the Horse Leech, Haemopis
sanguaisuga (L.) were taken in a grassy pond on the main rcad et Burghfield,
near Reading. One ot these leeches had a newt tadpole about 35 m.m. long
protruding from its mouth, Whilst I watched it in the net it completed the
swallowing of the newt tadpole,

In the River Loddon, very near to its source, on th November, 1961, I
took a trout some nine inches long. On this trout I found eight specimens of
the leech, Piscicola geometra (L.), evenly distributed over its body. How does
this leech penetrate the scales of the trout with a proboscis containing no
hard skeletal parts ? I have not found an answer to this questicn in current
literature,

Three specimens of the Medicinal Leech, Hirudo medicinalis L., were
obtained from France through the firm of R. Brooks & Co. (Medicinal Products)
of Covent Garden, for the purposes of photography. Whilst good slides were
obtained in a glass tank, no luck attended my attempts to photograph it feeding
on my hand. The camera and flash unit were set up but my 'star' would not
perform. Tales told to me by my older sister about the successful application
of leeches to troublesome chilblains had made me over confident. It seems that
my Medicinal Leeches were too well fed when I received them. This fact was |
Confirmed, when, due to the fact that I had to leave Reading for a few weeks,
I killed them and found that they had regurgitated large quantities of blood
into my pickling fluid. Hirudo can make one meal last from three to six
months; how convenient in these busy tines. |

Eggs and Young

The following leeches have been. seen,in their natural habitats, to carry }
eggs or young on their ventral surface:- Helobdella stagnalis, G. heteroclita |

G. complanata, Hemiclepsis marginata 0.F. Muller and Theromyzon tessulatum 0.F.

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ipa

Muller. When challenged by a specimen of Helobdella stagnalis, G. complanata
almost turned itself into a tube to protect its young. Some small specimens of
Hemiclepsis marginata, only 10 m.m. in length, have been seen on 17th August,
196k. carrying on their ventral surfaces between six and fifteen young. Both

eggs and young were yellow in the early stages due to the presence of yolk.

One very large specimen of T. tessulatum, about 45 mm. long, was seen to be
earrying eighty young on the ventral surface. The young were removed and counted.

This specimen was taken at Penybac Farm, Kidwelly, Carmarthenshire on 30th July,
196).

Leeches and Acid Water

Only on very rare occasions have leeches been found by the writer in
water with a pH concentration as low as 5.5. I have kept the cocoons of
Erpob@lla in water of pH 5.5 and found that the leeches do not hatch. I hope to
do a series of experiments to discover how long leeches will live in acid water.

Bibliography

Mann, K. H. and Watson, E. V. A Key to the British Freshwater Leeches
with notes on their Ecology. Sci Publi.
Freshwat. Biol. Ass. no. 14, 1954

Mann, K. H. Leeches (Hirudinea). Iheir Structure,
Physiology, Ecology, and Embryology.
Pergamon Press, 1962.

British Clearwing Moths
(Family Sesiidae)

By B. R. Baker, B.Sc., F.M.A., F.R.E.S.

Introduction

To the casual observer the insects of this family may appear to have little
in common with the more normal types of moth which he encounters, for it is
indeed true that in appearance clearwings have a marked resemblance to certain
wasps and ichneumon-flies. Their wings are narrow and, for the greater part,
devoid of scales - "clearwing" is therefore an apt description for any member
of the family. The abdomen, which may have bands of a bright colour according
to the species, is slender and its tip is furnished with a fan-like tuft of
scales, these are especially prominent in the male moths.

-20—

Although on structural characters clearwings are classified into a super-
family of the Micro-lepidoptera these insects are sought after by collectors of
both "macros" and"micros" by reason of their interesting life histories and
often large size (wing-span range 12 - 40 mm. ). Good accounts and coloured
plates are included in volume 2 of Richard South's book "The Moths of the British
Isles".

One of the absorbing interests of collecting clearwings is that there is no
easy way of taking the adults, such as light-trapping (they are day-flying moths),
and therefore one has to search for the immature stages or know the particular
positions and times of day where adults might be found. All the adult moths
emerge in the early morning, especially under the influence of sunshine, and may
be found sitting on tne foliage or trunks of certain trees and shrubs until
mid-morning (from 7 - 11 a.m. in the writer's experience). After this time the
moths are seldom seen unless the day is cloudy or wet when flight seems (not
unnaturally) to be inhibited.

Over 100 different species of clearwings are known from the Palaearctic
region and 15 have so far been discovered in Britein. Of these 15, 11 have
been recorded from the Reading area.

Life History

The eggs are laid in chinks of bark or on stems, end the caterpillars are
all internal feeders in the stems, branches and roots of various treés and
shrubs, or in the crowns and roots of certain low grcwing plants. The cater-
pillars cre maggot-like in appearance and whitish coloured. This whitish
eclouration is presumably correlated to the fact that the larvae are never
exposed in nature to the view of predators whereas other internal feeders such
as the Goat Moth, Cossus cossus (cre which makes a sometimes lengthy excursion
from its host tree to pupate, is deeply pigmented. Although feeding within the
solid wood, the larvae are nevertheless still preyed upon by birds. Some of the
alder stems at Pamber Forest, Hants, have been observed bearing numerous stab
marks where ‘trial digs' have taken place in the bird's attempt (often successful)
to locate larvae or pupao,. .

Insects whose larvae feed in the wood of trees are known to have lengthy
life-cyles, and that of many clearwings extends to two years.

The chief constituents of wood are cellulose and lignin, and whereas the
latter never seems to be digested by any species of insect, enzymes capable
of breaking down cellulose have been discovered in the mid-gut of many beetle
larvae. These cellulases are not yet know (as far as I am aware) from moth
larvae, ard little work, if any, seems to have been undertaken on clearwings
in particular. It may prove that the digestive enzymes of clearwings will
prove similar in composition to those of the Goat Moth, which, though able to
utilise reserve cellulose, is largely dependent on the starch and sugar in the

2 5-

wood, Such larvae have to excavate considerable tunnels in order to fulfil
their food requirements and the amount of available carbohydrate is probably

a limiting factor in the rate of growth. It is interesting to read that if
goat-moth larvae are fed upon beetroot the normal three year life-cycle is
reduced to a single year (Wigglesworth, 1953). It would be an intriguing
experiment to take such larvae as those of the poplar-fecding Hornet Clearwing
Moth Sesia apiformis (Clerck) and try them on a root-crop to determine whether
they too would mature in a single year instead of the normal two.

When fully developed, clearwing larvae pupate within the wood of their
foodplant (or in a specially constructed tube in the case of feeders on low
growing plants) - a thin membrare of bark being left intact over the opening of
the emergence tunnel. hese 'caps' may be coloured slightly at variance with
the general colour of the stems and thereby give some clue as to the position
of the pupal chamber - frequently however no colour guide is present.

The pupae have well chitinised heads for ascending the larval tunnel and
for rupturing the exit cap - rows of minute spines on the abdomen also assist
the pupa in its climb, and Yy means o1 these structures and a serew-like action
of the abdomen the pupa literally screws itself (for at least two-thirds of its
length) out of the stem before splitting and releasing the perfect insect.

Although adult clearwing moths are normally seldom seen the practice of
'sembling' will readily attract often large numbers. ('Sembling' is an easy
exercise and only involves taking a captive virgin female moth to a favoured
locality, putting her in a muslin cage suspended from a tree or bush, and waiting

for results).

Notes on Species recorded from the Reading area

Sesia apiformis (Clerck). The Hornet Clearwing: A large species reaching
40 mm. wingspan, decidedly horiuet-like in appearance. Larvae tunnel in
black poplars and aspens - usually well-grown trees. Two-year life-cycle.
Moths emerge at the end of the second week of June and may be seen resting
on favoured trunks, 7 - 8 a.n.
Localities: Poplars in fields of Bucknell's Farm, and in Coley Recreation
Ground, Reading. Scarce due to tree felling. Look for holes
(pencil diameter) at base of poplars - it must exist elsewhere
in our area.
Sphecia bembeciformis (Hubn.) Osier Hornet Clearwing: Another large species
35 mm. wingspan. Larvae in bases of well-grown sallows - especially those
growing in marshy areas. Two-year life-cycle. Moths appear throughout
July and sit low down on trunks just after emergence until mid-morning.
Localities: Marshy areas of the Kennet valley, also sallows at Burghfield
and Pamber Forest, Hants. Cut sallows noticed one spring
near Woolhampton indicated heavy infestation.

BO)

Aegeria spheciformis (Schiff.) White-barred Clearwing: Wingspan 28 - 30 m.,,
abdomen with a conspicuous white belt at base of first segment. Larvae
in stems and trunks of alder. Two-year life-cycle. ‘'Sawdust' issuing
from. bases of trunks indicates presence of larvae. Search in May when
'Sawdust' from fully grown larvae has dried paler in colour than the damp
orange dust which first-year larvae are still producing. Tunnel caps some-
times plum-coloured - bending of thinner stem - bases rupture some of the
caps and indicate emergence hole. Moths appear from end of May to mid June.
Localities: Pamber Forest, Hants; Wokefield Common, Berks. 'Sembling' has

produced very effective results at Pamber Forest, 1959, 1962.

Aegeria andrenaeformis (Lasp.) Orange-tailed Clearwing: Wingspan 15 - 18 mm.
Abdomen with two - yellow belts and orange tuft at tip. Larvae in stems
of wayfaring tree; at least a two-year life-cycle. Best time to search
stems is April anes bushes leafless and old emergence holes (blackened in
colour) more easily visible, Caps over emergence-holes often sink a little
lower than level of surrounding bark. Caps sometimes fall off revealing
reddish-coloured emergence hole (cf. black-coloured holes of previous years).
Localities: Berkshire Downs, Streatley area; slcpes at Hardwick, Oxon; slopes

neer Fawley Bucks.

Aegeria tipuliformis (Clerck. ) Currant Clearwing: Wingspan 15 - 18 mm. Abdomen
with four yellow belts in male, three in female. Life-cyle probably lasts
only one year. Larvae in stems of black and red-currant+ bushes, also in
gooseberry; sign of infestation - larval frass (excrement) issuing from
ends of shoots in early spring. Said to be the commonest British clearwing
occuring wherever currants are grown (not so in the writer's experience
around Reading).

Localities: Allotments at Tilehurst, Berks (Dr. L. H. Williams)

degeria ia flaviventris Staud. Sallow Clearwing: Wingspan 15 - 18 mm. The
most recently discovered clearwing in Britain (1926). Larvae in stems of
sallow, usually those 4 - 3" in diameter. In its second winter the larva
induces the sallow stem to form a pear-shaped gall about $" in width,
mostly evenly tapered (cf. galls of Saperda beetles, which are uneven).
Winter maths are the best time to collect the galls, the earlier the better
as birds also join in the search. It is a strange fact that galls seem to
appear only in odd-even winters - did flavientris evolve only at one time
back thrcugh the aeons of years and keep to a timetable ever since ?
Localities: Owlsmoor, Berks. Galls also noticed at Pamber Forest and Hook

Common, Hants.
N.B. This clearwing is very similar in appearance to the currant species
but can easily be separated by an inspection of the under-side of the
abdomen - flaviventris has a suffusion of yellow scaling cn ventral segments
) - 6 inclusive, whilst those of tipuliformis are almost entirely black
except between the rings.
legged

Jegeria vespiformis (L.) Yellow, Clearwing: Wingspan 18 - 21 mm. Abdomen well
ringed with yellow, tail tuft black in male, yellow in female, cross-bar
of wings orange in both sexes. Larvae live below the bark of oaks and are

ee
Se
- ee
—— - -

Spine

best detected in stumps from which the main tree has been felled the

previous year. frass issuing from between the bazk and other wood

indicates presence of larvae - stumps are best examined in May. Larvae
make tough cocoons below the layer of bark - one year life-cycle. Moths
emerge over a long period - May until late August.

Localities: Pamber Forest, Hants; Arborfield, Berks; and probably anywhere
in our area where oak felling has recently taken place.

Aegeria myopaeformis (Borkh.) Red-belted Clearwing: Wingspan 19 - 22 mm.

Larvae occur in the trunks and larger branches of neglected apple trees,

and often burrow under the bark at the edges of wounds. Adults with a

single red belt on the abdomen in both sexes. Reddish frass hanging from

eracks in the bark towards the end of winter indicates presence of this
species. Life cycle oreyear. Coooons are formed below bark in April.

Adults appear in May and June.

Localities: Although recorded from Reading gardens (Cocks and Dolton
Collection at Reading Museum) the writer has as yet rot
found this species locally in spite of a careful examination
of a particularly degenerate apple orchard shown to him dy
Mr. Arthur Price.

Aegeria culiciformis (L.) Large Red-belted Clearwing: Wingspan 22 - 25 mn.
Abdomen coloured as in the preceding species, but wing-bases with dusting
of reddish scales, Larvae occur in birch trees and bushes, mining between
the bark and the inner wood. Cut stumps left in the ground are particularly
easy sites for detecting larvae, whose frass is often visible as 'sawdust'
on top of the stump. By late April the larvae will have constructed
cocoons on the inner side of the bark - careful prising off this bark
wili leave the cocoons intact. Apart from the frass (which may have blown
away by pupation time), the only external sign of a tonanted stump is 2
small hole between bark and wood. This is the earliest species to emerge
in the year, appearing on the wing in early May.

Localities: Probably generally over our heathy areas, noted especially
at Burghfield and Padworth, Berks.

Aegeria formicacformis (Esp. ) Red-tipped Clearwing: Wingspan 20 - 22 mm.

Abdomen with red belt as in preceding two species, but clearly differen-

tiated by red tips on the forewings. Larvae occur below the bark of osiers

and other sallows and willows; they are said to prefer damaged wood. Borings
occur in twigs, branches and trunks but there is little external sign to
guide the searcher. The emergence holes of a previous season (Blackened
with age) are of some help. I am informed that this species occasionally
galls sallow stems in the manner of flaviventris, but have not yet been
fortunate to breed out any formicaeformis from stocks of galled stems.

Adults occur throughout June - in a poor summer emergences have been noted

as late as August.

Localities: Messrs. Cocks and Dolton found this species in our area as
witnessed by the collection in Reading Museum, but recent records
from Reading and district are lacking.

Dipsosphecia scopigera (Scop. ) Six-belted ClearWing; Wingspan 14 - 20 mm.
4&bdomen with seven yellow belts in male, six in female, wings prettily

=26-

marked with orange on inner and outer margins, cross-bar also edged with
orange on outer side. Larvae in roots of kidney vetch and bird's foot
trefoil - single year life-cycle. This species is best discovered by
working the grasses and other vegetation of chalky slopes with a sweep
net, i.e. this is one of the few instances where it is easier to obtain
adults instead of larvae or pupae. The books tell us that after finding

a few adults by sweeping it is far better to search the vegetation for

the resting moths thereby obtaining specimens in finer condition. From ny

experience the resting moths must be remarkably well hidden for I have yet

to discover one.

Localities: Discovered on a chalk slope near Fawley, Bucks, by our
members Mr. Jon Cole and Mr. Arthur Price. Subsequent invest-
igations have revealed a thriving colony. Also recorded from
the Berkshire Downs.

Species from other parts of Britain

Sciapteron tabaniformis (Rott.) The Clear Underwing: Wingspan 30 mn.

Abdomen with three yellow belts, forewings completely covered with blackish
scales, underwings clear. Larvae feed in the stems and branches of willows
and poplars, said to induce a swelling in the stem from which frass is
extruded. The moth flies in June and July but has been taken in Britain
only on rare occasions. Its occurrence in this country is said to be due
to the larvae being imported with Lombardy poplars. Records are knomfrom
Kent, Essex and Middlesex, all referring to last century. There are only
two published records for this century (Cosham, Hants, and Team Valley,
Durham); Bretherton (1951) has seen a specinan labelled "R. Swift, Tubney
Berks, June, 1924". Here then is an opportunity for original research in
our own area.

Aegeria scoliaeformis (Borkh) The Welsh Clearwing: Wingspan 33 - 34 mm.
Abdomen with a whitish belt and tip with a tuft of reddish scales. Larvae
occur on the inner bark of old birches, giving external frass as a guide
sign - life-cycle three years. Locally common in Scotland, Wales, southern
Ireland and northern England - also reported from Hereford and Wiltshire.

Aegeria muscaeformis Esp. The Thrift Clearwing: Wingspan 14 - 17 mm. Abdomen
with three whitish bands and a mid-dorsal whitish streak, Larvae in the
roots of sea thrift. Adults occur in late June and early July. Recorded
from the rocky coasts of Devon, Cornwall, Isie of Man, Aberdeenshire and
several places in Ireland. A little red patch of frass on the cushion of
thrift is said to be the guide sign to the larvae.

Aegeria chrysidiformis (Esp.) The Fiery Clearwing: Wingspan 18 - 20 mn.
Abdomen with two pale yellow belts. Forewings and tail-tuft orange-red.

Larvae in the roots of dock and sorrel. Adults in late June and early
July. Recorded mainly from Kent, especially Folkestone Warren.

Concluding Remarks

From the foregoing remarks it may be deduced that the enthusiast who
wishes to collect a representative number of our British clearwings must be

27a

possessed of a small portable carpenter's tool-set, an open season ticket on
British Railways and endless patience! In point of fact, with eleven of the
known fifteen British species occuring in our own district, the study of
clearwings can become an absorbing pastime, especially as much of the work can
be carried out during the winter months when field natural-history pursuits
can drop to a low ebb.

On the Continent, species of clearwing, yet to be discovered in Britain,
are associated with juniper, raspberries and several conifers; there is therefore
plenty of scope for the naturalist who would like to add to the meagre British
list of these interesting little insects.

Clearwing moths (adults) may but rarely come to the notice of competent
field naturalists unless a technique such as 'sembling' is tried. This, as
mentioned in the Introduction to this paper, is quite an casy experiment once
one ha8 bred out a female moth, and the sight of a small cloud of males appearing az
from nowhere will transform a perhaps dull textbook passage into a Long-remembered
observation of a natural happening which we would otherwise vrobably never witness.

Whatever your interests, when next in the country you observe a wasp,
look again, it may be a harmless moth!

References

Bretherton, R. F., 1951 Our Lost Butterflies and Moths. Ent. Gaz.,
23; 211-240

South, R., 1908 The Moths of the British Isles, Series II.
Warne., 1961 edition

Wigglesworth, V. B., 1953 The Principles of Insect Physiology 5th edition
Methuen

Intreduction and List of Syrphidae of Reading Area

A Correction by J. H. Cole, B.Sc.

| Syrphus compositarum Verrall and Chrysogaster macquarti Loew., which were
included in my list of hover flies (Dipt. Syrphidae ) taken in the Reading

area (Reading Naturalist 11, 1959), were unfortunately later found to have been
_Misidentified and should be deleted.

-28~

Weather Records in 1964,

By A. E. Moon

The data refer to Reading University Meteorological Station. A "rain day" is
@ day on which rainfall equals or exceeds 0,01 of an inch, The averages for
temperature refer to the period 1931-60, those fur the amount of precipitation and
number of rain days to 1916-50, and those for sunshine to 1921-50. For the
designation of frost and ground-frost days see Weather Records in 1961.

STATION — READING UNIVERSITY. HEIGHT ABOVE MEAN SEA LEVEL ~ 148 ft.

JAN. |FEB. (NAR, TAPR. | MAY UUNE JUULY |AUG. / SEP, [0CT. | NOV. [DEC.| YEAR
eNO dae tla isin a jetees (oad, [eee [poe ees Bese il I cdo ik Bhs il ns eke
TEMPERATURE MIN, 9845. [56,2 1564514148 | 48,9 61,6 [55,0 [53.5 | 49.5 [41.1 | 40.1 [35.6] “45.6

OF MEAN cennnnnsmaenaaf 8 wich 8 Oru A 2 nf A lnfusrt 20.5298 on 63.7 16224 159.5 148.7 | 47.0 |39.1| "50.5
| DIFFERENGE
FROM NORMAL 4303 $122 10,6 |-0.2 j+140 j=2-7 | +2.2 -0.2
77,77 | 84 | 86 | 72 | 69 | 60 86
TEMPERATURES: {DATE evenrtannenfnm renal aahen Sno MT N8 AL eo at ee ot Cee AUG. 26
25

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DAYS WITH
DAYS WITH

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HOURS woe? nd et ALL 3 ae
1.59 ]1,97 {2.04 |4.48| 5.89| 5.31| 7.

“PRECIPI TATION J Avo LING, capella Ne 0.51 10,62 [4,07 12,60) 1.62) 3.63) 1.14] 0.71 | 0.80 | 0.88] 1.23 | 2.06] 19.97

MAX.RAIN IN

1 DAY 0,18 10,23 11.36 | 0.34| 0.45} 0.78

paver et te [7 iis 14 [te | st pts [12 | te [aa [6 {17 | 12 Iupia
LONGEST RUN OF CONSECUTIVE |

[RAIN DAYS) Sch e ie ea lat BS 0) AE
LONGEST RUN OF CONSECUTIVE

[DEV OANS ath ah even ine eens Ise,

| SNOW OR SLEET

| ADA be oe le Pee AUB Nel On!

DAYS SNOW LYING

“AVERAGES | -
MEA N DA I LY MA X PIIEELIITL TELL)

TEMPERATURE |

AMOUNT L204 aes he 1.69 | 1.90] 1,86 |1,61 [2.53 | 2.20 | 2410 | 2.60 | 2.74 | 2630] 25072 _
LP te ie Semen aay
P S2.7 (10,0), 2.1208. 156.0] 195.3/210,0 |

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"THUNDERSTORM | DAYS OF THUNDER|.0....0, 11. = a oe oe | sO a et ea
| ACTIVITY ‘pays OF HAIL |

a i

ee
The Recorder's Report for Entomology
1963 - 64
By B. R. Baker
Order Orthoptera (Grasshoppers, Bush Crickets etc.)

The following records were all made on 30th June when the Recorder was
taken by Dr. Eric Burtt to observe nymphal Orthoptera in the Chilterns:

Omocestus viridulus (L.) Verdant Grasshopper
Stenobothrus Lineatus (Panz.) Lined Green Grasshopper
Chorthippus parallelu parallelus (Zett.) Meadow Grasshopper

All the above species were found in some abundance, either by searching or
by sweeping grasses, on the slopes above Ipsden, Oxon.

Leptophyes punctatissima (Bosc) Speckled Bush-Cricket. A good colony evidently

; exists west of Mapledurham close to where the Warren enters the east gate
of Hardwick Estate.

Tettigonia viridissima (L.) Great Green Bush-Cricket. This large bush-cricket
formerly existed in a colony close to the Hardwick Estate, but appears to
have been lost, probably associated with ploughing up of the chalk down and
recent hedge removal. It is therefore very encouraging to learn that Dr.
Burtt has discovered a new colony in the Ipsden area where the insect appears
to have a preference for ground having a good growth of Rest Harrow.

T, viridissima is often abundant on coastal downland, especially in Dorset -
records from inland areas are therefore always of interest. Should any
members discover a large green bush-cricket (2 - 24 in length) on any of
our local downs the Recorder would be pleased to ene the record. Nymph
observed near Ipsden, Oxon, 30th June, 1964.

Order Trichoptera (Caddis-flies)

Limnephilus xanthodes McJ,, Abundant on Cothill Fen, Berkshire, 6th June, 1964.

. This species had previously been recorded for the county by Rev. L. W.
Grensted, but in our work on this order over the past ten years we had
not been fortunate enough to discover L. xanthodes until this past season.

Order Lepidoptera (Butterflies and moths)

| Migrant Species

/

Vanessa atalanta (L.) Single specimens of this butterfly were noticed in widely

separated localities in May(24th, Finchampstead Ridges during our Nature
Trail; 28th, Stonehenge Common, Wilts; and 29th, Henfield, Sussex), thereby
indicating a widespread immigration. The species was well in evidence

in local gardens during the autumn, these being progeny from the earlier
immigrants.

FG

Vanessa cardui (L.) Painted Lady. This species visits Britain with much less
regularity than does the Red Admiral, but 1964 has been a good year for
both species. An early cardui was seen in Savernake Forest, Wilts. on
18th May, whilst in the more likely area of Dungeness Peninsula many were
observed in mid June. From such early arrivals one would expect later
Signs of a larger British bred population, and so it proved to be with
Painted Ladies present in town gardens on buddleias and michaclmas daisies
from August until early October.

Acherontia atropos (L.). Death's Head Hawkmoth. Two larvac were found feeding
on jasmine at Cray House, Harpsden Woods, Henley-on-Thames, on 16th
August (W. R. Vincent) and shown to us at the Muscum. These produced moths

on 23rd September. A further larva was found feeding on potatoes at Cholsey

Berks., on 13th August (E. M. Raynor) and brought to the Museum in a box
of soil on 27th August. The adult emerged on 9th October. There were
other reports of atropos from the Henley and Cholsey districts and had a
search of potato fields in those areas been possible it is very likely that
a number of larvae would have been discovered.

Herse convolvuli (L.) Convolvulus Hawkmoth. Two specimens of this immigrant
hawkmoth were brought to the Muscum during September:-
September 3rd - Whitehall Lane, Checkendon, ( A. E. Cox)

45th - Blandford Road, Whitley Estate, Reading, (G. Saunders)

Both specimens were fcomale and were subsequently released.

Macroglossa stellatarum (L.) Humming-bird Hawkmoth. A single specimen
recorded from Medmenham, Bucks, 13th June (T. Harman).

Nyctcrosea_obstipata (F.) The Gem. Medmenham, Bucks, 12th May (T. Harman);
single specimen.

Notes on Resident Species
Apatura iris cr. t Purple Emperor. A larva beaten from sallow at Pamber Forest
Hants, 30th May; an adult observed flying round oaks in the same locality,

19th July.

Odontosia carmelita (Esp.) Scarce Prominent Moth. Several specimens to light
at Padworth, Berks, 1st May.

Tethea or (Schiff.) Poplar Lutestring. Pamber Forest, Hants., 30th May

2); 26th June (2).

Lithosia quadra (L.) Large Footman.’ Pamber Forest, Hants., 18th July (2).
Probably better considered as immigrants as further specimens recorded from
Widespread localities in southern counties during July.

Eilema deplana (Esp.) Buff Footman. Pamber Forest, Hants., 18th July (4)
fn uncommon species around Reading according to records to date - possibly
colonies exist in unworked areas.

Amathes glareosa (Esp.) Autumnal Rustic. Recorded on several excursions to

' Pamber Heath, Hants., in early September (T. Harman and T. J. H. Homer).

Amathes castanea (Esp.) Neglected Rustic. Recorded on several excursions to
Pamber Heath, Hants., in early September. (T. Harman and T. J. H. Homer).

Parastichtis suspecta (Hubn.) The Suspected. Pamber Forest, Hants. Several
records in mid-July.

54s

Hapalotis venustula (Hubn,) The Rosy Marbled. Medmenham, Bucks. (1), 12th
_ dune. Pamber Forest, Hants. (1), 30th May. (T. Yarman). These are two

noteworthy records, and the first ones from our area. To record a new
species from such a well-worked locality as Pamber Forest is a rare event
these days. H. venustula is a tiny moth by 'macro' standards - this,
together with its habit of flying among bracken (under favourable weather
conditions) may explain its having been overlooked by more than one
generation of lepidopterists,

Trisateles emortualis (Schiff, ) The Olive Crescent. Medmenham, Bucks. (2),
27th June. (T. Harman). This rare species also appeared in at least two
other localities in the Chilterns in 1964 and we await with considerable
interest the investigations which are planned for 1965.

Perizoma bifaciata (Haw.) Barred Rivulet. Medmerham, Bucks. (1), 12th August.

T. Harman).

Colostigia multistrigaria (Haw.) Early Carpet. Aston Upthorpe Downs, Berks,
or 18th April. This specimen was tapped from a juniper bush by Messrs.
Price and Cole on the occasion of the Society's excursion to the Pasque
Flower ground. ‘The Downs seem an unusual locality for this species which
more normally frequents damp heaths and woodland - its foodplant (Galium)
is however present in quantity in dry vaileys on tne Downs and multistri-
garia may prove to be present in some strength. This moth has but
rarely been recorded at all in our area.

Buphyia cuculata (Hufn.) Royal Mantle. Pamber Forest, Hants. (1), 18th July.
Here we have the reverse situation to that quoted above, i.e. cuculata
has long been known from several Chiltern slopes but never (to the
Recorder's knowledge) from a large woodland area such as Pamber Forest.
The food-lant is again Galium spp.

Eulype hastata (L.) Large Argent and Sable. Pamber Forest, Hants. (1),
23rd May. Far less common now than in the early '0's.

Eupithecia insigniata (Hubn.) Pinion-Spotted Pug. Medmenham, Bucks, on several
occasions (T. Harman).

Dyscia fagaria (Thunb.) Grey Scalloped Bar. Pamber Heath, Hants. (eH 23ra
May, (T.-H: 2. Js Hs B. RB.) .

Cepphis advenaria (Hubn. ) Little Thorn. Pamber Forest, Hants. A very localised
species, usually to be found in only a limited area of the forest where
it continues to flourish.

Anagoga pulveraria (L.) Barred Umber. Pamber Forest Hants. (4), 30th May.
Order Coleoptera (Beetles) (TH: 2). 00. BD. Rabe )

The notes relating to this Order of insects have been submitted by
Mr. Arthur Price:-

3rd November The water beetles, Coelambus impressopunctatus Schaller (3)
and Rantus pulverosus (Stephens) en were found in a teneral
condition near Caversham Bridge.

8th December Twelve specimens of Agabus labiatus (Brahm) in an acid pond

: on Wokefield Common, Berks. This pond, which had been

'fished' on 8th, 19th, 29th September and again on 6th October

48th April

19th May
20th May
20th May
11th June

1ith July

48th July

Mr. Leatherdale reports that 196) has been a good year for plant galls
and mentions the following species of particular interest. ;

Order Hemiptera (Plant Bugs, Leaf Hoppers, Aphids etc.)

Pemphigus spirothecae (Pass.) The spiral galls of this species were found on
Populus nigra or P, serotina in Reading in late August (A. M. Simmonds).
‘Another species (P. gairi) has very recently been described by H. L. G.
Stroyan as causing similar galls, and it is as well to have authenticated
records of the older species (determination by Stroyan).

Livia juncorum (Latr.) Hazeley Heath, 12th September. A beautiful specimen
of the imbricated gall of this species was found on Juncus conglomeratus

Order Hymenoptera (Bees, Ants, Wasps etc.)

Aulacidea hieracii (Bouche) Although most of the Cynipid wasps cause galls

on Quercus, and to a lesser extent on_Rosa, a a few cause galls on
unrelated plants. One of these, A.hieracii (Bouche) on Hieracium sp.
was found at Hazeley Heath on 12th September. The galls were crammed
with mature larvae in a single, large chamber; the gall itself was
remarkably woody and proved difficult to section with a penknife.

Order Diptera (True Flies) Mr. Jon Cole has supplied the following list of
rare or scarce Diptera which, with three exceptions, were all noted in 1964:

intB

and yielded none of this species, dried up in early October,
By 8th December the pond again had water in it and the beetles
were present - by what means had they reached water, for it
is a well established fact that this species is incapable of
flight ? .

Otiorrhynchus clavipes (Bonsdorff). Aston Upthorpe Downs (2),
beaten from juniper bushes.

Deronectes latus (Stephens). Small fast flowing stream near
Tidmarsh, Berks. (1). This is only the second specimen.
encountered over a period of seven years.

Gyrinus marinus Gyll. Caversham Park near Reading, (6) from the
artificiai lake there.

Saperda populnea (L.) Woolmer, north Hampshire. Sallow galls
collected on a very snowy day (14th March), produced a fine
specimen of this longicorn beetle and a further example
on 6th June.

Strangalia macukta (Poda) A pair of these longicorn beetles
were found in copula on the occasion of our Junior Section
excursion to Mrs. Tucker's garden at Barkham Common, Berks.

Serica brunnea (L.) Pamber Heath, Hants. (BRB) Attracted to
mercury vapour light.

Stenocorus meridianus (L.) Thatcham, Berks. (J. H. Cole). A
Single specimen found on hogweed.

—33-

Tipulidae (Crane-flies)

Tipula nubeculosa Meig. Pamber Forest, Hants. 13th June, 1 female.

T. livida v.d. Whulp. Coneyberry Wood, Goring. August, 1963, 1 male. 2
females. This crane-fly was first discovered in Britian in 195) and has
since been found in several southern localities.

Limonia (Dicranomyia) lucida (de Meij.) Thatcham reed beds. 19th July, 1 male.

Rhagionidae (Snipe-flies)

Rhagio strigosa Meig. Streatley Hill, Berks. 23rd July, 1956; 23rd July, 1963.
2 females. This very interesting fly was first discovered in Britain on
Box Hill, Surrey, in 1954. The above records are the first from any
other locality.

Empididae

Stilpmnubila Collin Goring September and October, 1964. Numbers of this
minute fly in a greenhouse.

Elaphropeza_ephippiata Fallen Hartslock Woods, Oxon, 4th June; 3rd August,
5 males; 1 female,

Tachydromia leucothrix Strobl. Streatly Hill, Berks. ist Juiy. 1 female.

Tachypeza fuscipennis (Fallen) Hartslock Woods, Oxon. 13th May. A male bred
from grass roots found growing on a rotten stump

Trichinomyia flavipes Meig. Goring, Oxon., 3rd - 11th October. 3 males, 1 female.

Leptopeza flavipes Meig. Hartslock Woods, Oxon. 3rd June. 1 male.

Rhamphomyia (Amydroneura) hirsutipes Collin Goring, Cxon. 3rd October. 1 male.

Empis (Polylepharis) opaca Meig. Padworth Gulley, Berks. 9th May. 1 male.

Hilara lurida (Fallen) Hartslock Woods, Oxon. 13th May. A male bred from grass
roots growing on a rotten stump.

H, lugubris (Zett.) Pamber Forest, Hants. 13th June. 3 females.

Conopidae
Conops strigata Wied. Pamber Forest, Hants. 24th August. 2 males.

Conopilla ceriaeformis (Meig,) Pamber Forest, Hants. 24th August. 1 male. Both
of the above species are striking solitary wasp mimics whose larvae are
internal parasites of wasps.

Tachinidae
Alophora pusilla Meig. Goring, Oxon. 8th July. 1 male; Thatcham, Berks.
2/th August. 1 male.
The larvae of this species are internal parasites of the bugs Cydnus and
Chilacis
Echinomyia grossa (L.) Pamber Forest, Hants. 15th August (specimen seen).
A large bumble~-bee-like fly, all black except head which is yellow.
Locally common but not seen by J. H. C. previously in Reading area.
_ Trichopareia blanda (Fallen) Pamber Forest, Hants. 15th August. 1 female.
| Larvae parasitic in crana-fly larvae.
_Actia anomala (Zett.) Pamber Forest, Hants. 15th August. 1 male. Larvae are
| parasitic in certain Geometrid caterpillars. A northern and western species.

Calliphoridae (Blow-flies etc.)
| Parafeburia maculata Fallen. Goring, Oxon. 5th August. 1 female. Larvae

Bhim
parasitic in woodlice. Generally distributed, but rare.
Pachyophthalmus signatus (Meig. ) Goring, Oxon. ist July. 1 male. Larvae
in nests of bees or wasps. Widespread, but rare. '
Eggisops pecchiolii Rond. Hartslock Woods, Oxon. 3rd June. 1 female. Larvae
parasitic in snails.
Cynomyia mortuorum (L.) This striking blow-fly is scarce in southern England
but seems to have established itseif in Coneyberry Wood, Goring Oxon.
Here it has been observed in 1958, 1962 (pair in copula), and on several
occasions this year. The larvac are usually to be found in carrion.

The Recorder thanks all the contributors who have sent in material for
this report (their names are given against the appropriate records), and would
also express his indebtednees to the Director of Reading Museum, Mr. T. L.
Gwatkin, for allowing inclusion of those rccords kept at the Museum.

Report from the Recorder for Ornithology
By E. V. Watson

For a fuller account of bird observations in the Reading area members
are referred again to the appropriate Reports (for 1963 and 1964) of the
Reading Ornithological Club.

I have received a single large contribution from M. H. Carter of the
Reading Museum, and in view of its considerable interest it may usefully form
the main substance of this Report. Mr. Carter groups his observations by
related species and arranges them in the recognised ‘Wetmore’ order. His full
statement follows.

"Canada Geese have evidently enjoyed a most successful breeding season in
1964... The wintering flock at Sonning Eye Gravel Fit now numbers over 50
(first week November) and may still be increasing. With them at present is an
Emperor Goose which has escaped from the collection at Eversley. I first saw
it at Sonning Eye on 8th April and it continued to associate with Canada Geese
there until 7th May. For a while it attached itself to one of them, but as
the season advanced the bond between this ill-assorted "pair" became looser and
finally broke up, while the Canada pairs became more constant in their devotion.
Later in the summer the Emperor turned up with a Canada flock on the gravel pit
at Theale, where it remained at least until 21st October. On 28th October it
was back at Sonning Hye where it remains at the time of writing.

A small group of Mute Swans were heard "flying blind" in or over the fog

<3)"

at Emmer Green on 20th January, long after nightfall (7.15 p.m.) and more than
200 feet above the river valley.

1964. was memorable for an exceptionally heavy immigration of Quail. Once
a common summer visitor, during the present century Quail have become rare,
though still making annual appearances in a few favoured localities. During
1964. they were reported from many parts of the country. My first encounter
with the species was on Cobler Hill, overlooking North Stoke at the western
extremity of the Chilterns. Here I heard a calling male shortly before sunset
on 4th July. The possibility of meeting Quail nearer home had already been
raised by my wife, who reported seeing two birds "like very small Partridges"
from the car as they flew across the Peppard Road near the Sonning Common
sewage works. I listened in the area with negative results, but on 11th July,
while feeding my son's rabbit in my own garden at dusk, I heard the now familiar
"Qup-pip-pip" which I traced to a large field of barley on Chalk House Farn.
There was probably more than one male involved, and I continued to hear birds
there intermittently until 29th July.

Finally I went on 43rd August to Aldworth whence I walked northwards in the
hope of finding more Quail. It was not until 7.44 p.m. (G.M.T.) that I heard
one, on the western slopes of Lowbury Hill. The groups of calls lengthened
from 2 to 5, and increased in frequency from 1 to 4 groups per minute as the sun
was setting - it was half-way below the horizon at 7.46. ter 8.15 the
frequency slowly diminished, and at 8.17 a second male joined in with a burst
of 7 calls, followed by groups of 5 delivered at a rate of 3 a minute until
8.20, when both birds had slowed down to one or two groups a minute. They
continued calling at least till 8.40 p.m.

As I approached more closely, the calls sounded sharper in tone, approach-
ing the noise of a whip-lash, and at 25 yerds I could distinctly hear the
grunting "Greooweep" which preceded each group of calls. When I finally with-
drew, the calls remained distinctly audible up to 750 yds, when they were cut
off by an intervening ridge. Over level ground i think they would have carried
'half a mile at least, and even futher across a valley. I never saw a single
Quail throughout the summer.

The wintering flock of Lapwings on Bishoplands Farm, East of Sonning Common
was driven away by a heavy fall of snow on 15th February. By 18th February
the snow had cleared, but the only birds to return were the three pairs which
remained through the summer to breed.

\

The resident Moorhens on the pond behind the Post Office at Emmer Green
departed when the pond was contaminated with sewage following heavy rains early
in the year. At least one breeding pair returned during the summer, and on 25th
October I counted a record 14 Moorhens on this one small pond, which has also
been stocked with white domestic Ducks. Some of these have been reported killed
by boys, but the Moorhens, making expert use of dense cover on three sides of the
pond have survived. On Sonning Eye North (01d)Gravel Pit, on 7th October, I

-36-

watched two Moorhens fighting in the manner usually attributed to Coots. Each
bird sat upright on the water, kicking forwards with both legs and splashing
with the wings. I do not think either actually made physical contact with
With its opponent, but both must have endured a thorough wetting.

A flock of some 300 Lesser Black-backed Gulls gathered at Manor Farn,
feeding, as they so often do in the Reading area, on the rubbish dump, and
were seen on 18th September.

I have seen single Terns, probably Common Terns on passage, on two occasions
this year, each time heading West; once over the Thames at Christchurch Meadow
on 9th August, and once on 18th September over the Kennet near the railway bridge
carrying the branch line to Basingstoke. On the second occasion two birds
appeared in quick succession, but not so near as to be within sight of each
other. It is barely possible that a single bird circled round far from the
river and was seen twice, but despite a careful look-out I saw no sign that this
was the case.

A late Cuckoo, in very red juvenile plumage, was seen by myself and other
members of the Society on an island in the old gravel pit near the Cunning
Man at Burghfield on 2nd September.

A party of 5 Jays were chasing one another around Alder Copse, Tilehurst
on 8th January, calling and displaying. They were uttering a double Crow-
like croaking note, a deep "chuck" and a rattling call. The first and last
are no doubt the notes recorded in the "Handbook of British Birds" as typical
of ceremonial gatherings of Jays in spring, normally later in the year than
my observation.

Tree-creepers have become much more numerous in South Oxfordshire during
the last two years; possibly they have been encouraged by the fall ih numbers
of Woodpeekers and to a lesser extent of Nuthatches.

Two Grasshopper Warblers were heard, by myself and others, "reeling"
regularly at Chalkhouse Green, between Reading and Sonning Common during the
summer,

Goldcrests have still failed to recover from the winter of 1962-63.
My only records this year are from Central Wales and the far west of Wiltshire.

A juvenile Grey Wagtail has for many weeks been frequenting the Holy
Brook at the back of Gun Street. Though I have often heard it calling while
I was at work in the Museum store there, I never chanced to see and identify
it till October 28th; consequently the earlier occasions do not appear in my
records, though the bird cannot have been hatched before this summer. Pied
Wagtails are not uncommon in towns, but it is an unusual experience to watch
the Grey species bobbing along the metal roofs amongthe Sparrows (which were
unfriendly).

-4/7-

This has been a good year for the Yellow Wagtail along the Thames and
at Sonning Eye Gravel Pit.

The Corn Bunting, which has been nesting for years in the area of Bishops-
land Farm, has recently been extending its range. A chain of 8 occupied
territories now extends from Kidmore Lane, Sonning Common, eastwards to Marsh
Lane, Sonning Eye, and in 1963 I found singing males just south of Shiplake
I did not search this area in 1964."

These then are the contribution of one keen and active observer. It is
interesting to note that he feels able on a number of occasions to make judge-
ments about the changing status of a species - as with Tree Creepers, Woodpeckers,
and breeding Corn Buntings. Only very regular observations over a period could
enable him to do this. .

My own studies in this area have been so limited of late that I would
wish to add very little to the above.

I was interested to note Wood Warblers in song at Finchampstead Ridges
on the occasion of the Society's Nature Trail on 24th May. The species is rather
scarce in our area.

On returning to Reading on 22nd April I was glad to see a singing
Nightingale again established in an overgrown garden at Cleeve, Goring. It
continued to sing there until the end of May. On 24th April my first Tree Pipit
of the year was in full somg in trees beside the felled area of Green Dean Wood,
near Cane End. On 6th May Swifts were established back in Reading and a passage
oi Lesser Whitethroat visited my garden at Cleeve. (They are fairly generally
distributed summer visitors in our area as a whole, but do not stay in the garden
to breed).

A Xestrel, seen on three separate occasions in June, was encouraging in
view of the increasing scarcity of several of our birds of prey - 5th June,
Cleeve; 10th June and 21st, Streatley Golf Course. All records of birds of
prey which any member has should be reported to the British Trust for Ornithology*

Visits to Theale gravel pit on 25th May and 23rd September provided an
interesting contrast. On the first occasion there were Mute Swan and Coot each
With a trail of seven swimming young; a few pairs of Tufted Duck were about;
Sedge Warblers sang almost continuously and one produced a good imitation of the
sharp note of the Yellow Wagtail and the scolding note of the Blue Tit.

British Trust for Ornithology, Beech Grove, Tring, Herts.

cee

By 23rd September all was comparatively quiet. No longer were there Sedge
Warblers to sing. Breeding Coot had been augmented by others to make a flock
estimated at 130 birds of this species. A passage Lesse~ Black-backed Gull was
seen, and we were lucky to have a fleeting view of a Kingfisher - another
species reported to be on the decrease in many areas.

The finch family provided the ‘common ground' of the two occasions - these
and a few pairs of Great-crested Grebes and a handful of ordinary resident species
But whilst in May there was evidence of breeding Reed Buntings, Linnets and
Goldfinches, in late September the attraction was a big area of waste ground
covered with seeding weeds of many species, all brown and dry at the end of the
summer. I noted teazel (Dipsacus), various species of bistort and knotweed
(Polygonum) and of course thistles (Cirsium spp.) in plenty; and on all these
the large flock of Linnets and the smaller party of Goldfinches were feeding.

Reed Buhtings lingered in their breeding area.

On the same day (23rd September) a Green Sandpiper was seen at the Blue
Pool, Bradfield, having been reported to me a few days earlier by Mr. Michael
Hardy. Green Sandpipers are also rather regular visitors to Englefield Park
on autumn passage (see R.O.C. Reports).

Finally, as regards Mr. Carter's observations on Woodpeckers and Goldcrest,
I would add that I have seen Greater spotted Woodpecker from time to time, but
the Green Woodpecker more rarely, and the lesser spotted Woodpecker not at all,
in 1964. I also have in my notes no record of Goldcrests. Members' observations
on these species in the ensuing year would be greatly welcomed.

The Recorder's Report for Botany, 1963-64
By B. M. Newman

Despite the comparatively mild winter we had one of the latest springs of
the past decade, and the first spring flowers were little if any earlier than
last year. January, though mild, was very dry, and when damper conditions
prevailed in early March, lower temperatures which continued into the first
week of April hindered flowering. The first Lesser Celandine (Ranunculus
ficaria L.) and Windflowers (Anemone nemorosa L.) were seen on 30th March, when
the Wild nowdrop (Galanthus nivalis L.) was still in bloom. ‘Two months later,
on 31st May, the Anemone was still flowering on Silchester Common. The White
Dead Nettle (Lamium album L.) was seen on 3rd March, but this species had been
in bloom sporadically all through the winter.

~39-

Reports on Winter Walks and Field Excursions

Bearwood was visited on 4th January, and among the many exotic trees in the
extensive grounds, those especially noted were: Araucaria sp. (Monkey Puzzel);
Cryptomeria_ japonica D. Don; Picea smithiana Boiss.; Tsuga canadensis Carr. ;

Juniperis chinensis L.; Chamaecyparis sp.; Thuja orientalis L.; Sciadopitys
verticillata Sicb., et Zucc. (Umbrella Pine); P. polita Carr (Tiger-tail Spruce);

and Sequoia gigantea Lindl. et Gord. (Wellingtonia).

On the first excursion of the summer, through woods near Beenham, on
4th April, flowers were not abundant, but at least 17 species were recorded
in flower. They included Adoxa moschatellina L. (Town Hall Clock), Chrysospleniun |
oppositifolium L. (Golden Saxifrage), Oxalis acetosella L. (Wood Sorrel) and
Primula vulgaris Huds. (Primrose). The fungus Geastrum fimbriatum (Earth Star)
was found by the youngest member of the party.

The main cbject cf the excursion to Aston Upthorpe Downs on 18th April
was Pulsatilla vulgaris Mill. (Pasque-flower). Although only two flowers were
fully out, there was promise of very many more both inside and outside the
enclosure, On a walk through the chalk country around Cleeve on 6th June, the
Whole route was full of interest, from the Corn Bunting singing on a telegraph
pole as the party set out, to the flowers of Listera ovata (L.) R. Br. (Twayblade)
and Cephalanthera damasonium (Mill.) Druce (White Helleborine) seem later in
the afternoon.

The many aquatic and semi-aquatic plants noted during the walk along the
canal bank by Thatcham reed-beds on 18th July included Oenanthe fluviatilis (Bab.)
Colem. (River Water-Dropwort), Sparganium erectum L. (Bur= reed), S. emersum Rehm.
(Lesser Bur-reed), and Phragmites communis Trin. (Common Reed), some stems of
which contained pupae of the Spotted Wainscot moth. Near Thatcham Station a
few plants of Polygonum bistorta L. (Bistort) were found.

On the walk to the Blue Pool through the fields from Bradfield on 1st
August, Azolla filiculoides Lam. was seen in the River Pang, .also Elodea canadensis
Michx. (Canadian Pondweed), and Datura stramonium L. (Thorn-apple) was found
in an arable field. On the return walk, via Jennetts Hill, Silene gallica L.
(Small Catchfly) was found in a very weedy cornfield in much greater abundance

than in 1963.

|
i

|

The highlight of tho walk fron Wargrave to Sonning on 22nd August

was tho sight of oxtensive colonies of Cuscuta ouropaca L. (Croat Dodder),

parasitic on Urtica dioica L. (Common Stinging Nettle). Hitherto our records
have been mainly from the Oxfordshire side of the Thames.

The fungus foray, on 26th September, was again held at Kingwood Common,

using Dr. Somerville Hastings' garden and verandah as base, but owing to the hot,
_ dry weather of the previous weeks, fungi were not as numerous as usual. A short

list of new finds follows after this report.

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Road, Reading; also in Caversham (A.M.S.).
Iberis amara L. (Bitter Candytuft) Locally abundant in felled areas of
Freedom Wood, Bix (J.A.C.).
érieum ahdrosaemum L. (Tutsan) Medmenham (J.W.); Burnt Hill, Yattendon (M.F.).
H. humifusum L. (Trailing St. John's Wort) A plant seen cn Buckle bury Common
This species, never very plentiful, appears to be decreasing. It may
be overlooked (A.M.S
Silene gallica L. (Small Catchfly) Bradfield. Has increased considerably (A.M.S.)
Montia fontana L. (Winter Blinks) Finchampstead Ridges. Owing to its small
size this species is doubtless often overlooked. (A.M.S.).
Chenopodium polyspernun L. (Many seeded Goosefoot) . Weed of arable field at
Wargrave. Also on Corporation tips (A.M.S.).
Radiola linoides Roth. Heathiand track, Mortimer (H.J.M.B.).
Erodium moschatun (L.) L'Herit. (Musk Storksbill) Near Drayton St. Leonard's
Oxon., in a market garden manured with shoddy (D.M.).

*Impatiens capensis Meerb. (Orange Balsam) Folley's Gravel Pits (Society s
excursion) (L.E.C.).

*Impatiens glandulifera Royle (Policeman's Helmet) River Kennet between Pridge
Street and Berkeley Avenue (A.M.S.).

Genista tinctoria L. (Dyer's Greenwecd)Cleeve (Society's excursion) (L.E.C.).

Medicago falcata L. (Sickle Medick) Casual, Corporation tip at Small Mead,
One plant (A.M.S.).

Trifolium medium L. (Zig-zag Clover) Peppard, Oxon (V.A.P.).

*Coronilla varia L. (Crown Vetch) Peppard Common, outside a garden and
doubtfuliy wild. First observed in 1963. Appears to be well established
and extending its territory. (A.M.S.).

*Vicia tenuifolia Roth. Sijilar in growth to V. cracca L. but with purple
and white flowers. One plant in flower, November, 1963, on waste
as. ane to Fina Petrol Station, Caversham. Doubtless a casual

A.M.S

Lathyrus aphaca L. (Yellow Vetchling) An uncommon plant with leaves reduced
to tendrils, conspicuous broad leaf-like stipules, and small solitary
yellow pea-flowers. One plant growing between pavement and garden wall,
Hemdean Road, Caversham. Weeded out within a fortnight (A.M.S.).

Potentilla palustris (L,) Scop. About 1000 plants in shady bog near Qucens
Mere, Wokinghan. Confirms old record. Found by G. Hawkins (H.J.M.B.).

*P, recta L. (Sulphur Cinquefoil) Beside thedrive of Fuller's Pig Farm,
Burnt Hill, Yattendon. (M.F.).

Alchenilla vul aris L. (Lady's Mantle) Greenfield and College Woods, Pishill
: (Tao. ).

*Tolmiea menziesii (Pursh) Torr & Gray. Shady bog near Queens Mere, Wokingham
| Found by G. Hawkins (H.J.M.B.).

Daphne laureola L. Abundant in Greenfield and College Woods, Pishill (J.A.C.).
Torilis arvensis (Huds.) Link (Spreading Hedge Parsley) Once a common

cornfield weed in East Berks. Has greatly decreased. Two plants seen

| in a stubble field near Ruscombe (A.M.S.).
, Gallitriche obtusangula Le Gall. Abundant in Hungerford water meadows. Shoull
) be looked for elsewhere beside the Kennet (H.J.M.B.).
| Sison amomun L. ee Stone Parsley) Southern Hill, Reading; near Three-
mile Cross (A.M.S.).

md Dies

Carum carvi L. 12 plants in meadow near Peasemore, 1963 (H.J.M.B.).
Polygonum hydropiper L. (Water Pepper) Whiteknights Park (V.A.P.).
*Helxine soleirolii Req. (Mind-your-own-business) This tiny member of the .
nettle fanily (Urticaceae) fhourishes in camp shady situations. Abundant
in Wargrave churchyard. (A.M.S.). :
Salix alba L. (White Willow) Near Wargrave Recorded in error fron canal
bank near Burghfield Bridge in 1963. Reeord should be:- S. alba x
fragilis = 8. x rubens Schrank.
Pyrola minor L. (Common Wintergreen) Near Marlow Common (J.T).
Monotropa_hypopitys L. (Yellow Bird's Nest) Near Marlow Common (J.T.).
“Buddleja davidii Franch. (Purple Buddleia) Naturalised on waste ground,
Reading; railway bank west of Pangbourne (A.M.S.).
*Symphytun asperum x officinale = §. x uplandicun Nyman Near Loddon Bridge;
near Botton Farn, Bradfield (1963 records, confirmed by Dr. H. Bowen) (Alli
*Synphytum orientale L. (Comfrey) Hall's Lane, Shinfield (V.A.P.)
“Calystegia silvatica (Kit.) Griseb. (American bell-bind) Behind University
(Acacia Avenue) (A.M.S.).
Atropa_ bella-donna h. (Deadly Nightshade) Locally abundant in felled areas
cf Freedom Wood, Bix (J.A.C.).
Hyoscymus niger L. (Henbane) Folley's Gravel Pit, Sonning Eye (J.M.W.).
*Datura stramonium L. (Thorn-apple) Abbey ruins, Reading. (V.A.P.).
*<ntirrhinum majus L. (Great Saapdragon) Reading Abbey and adjacent nursery
gerden haa
Linaria_ repens (L.) Mill. (Pale Toadflax) Locally abundant in felled areas
of Freedom Wood, Bix.
Veronica anagellis-aquatica L. (Water Speedwell) River Pang near Bradfield;
river Kennet near Thatcham (A.M.S.).
*V. praecox All. About 100 plants on calcareous gravel at Standlake, Oxon.
Found by G. Maclean (H.J.M,B).
*V, filiformis Sm. (Slender Speedwell) Christchurch Meadow, Caversham (A.M.S.),
Lathraea squamaria L. (Toothwort) Plentiful at Ashampstead Green. Site
discovered by D. Leatherdale and subsequently visited by E. Nelmes and
L. E. Cobb. Not far from the Ashanpstead locality previously recorded
by Mrs. Simmonds, but distinetfrom it. (L.E.C.).
Mentha arvensis L. (Corn Mint) Near Bradfield; Wescot Down (A.M.S.).
M, x verticillata L. (Whorled Mint) Near Bradfield (A.M.S.).
M. x piperata L. Christchurch Maedow, Caversham (A.M.S.).3 ditch near
Mortimer Station (H.J.M.B.).
*M. spicata L. (Spearmint) (Christchurch Meadow, Caversham (A.M.S.).
Stachys arvensis (L.) L. (Field Woundwort) Potato field near Wargrave (A.M.S,).
Nepta cataria L. (Catmint) A few plants in hedge banks, East Hagbourne (H. Jeli
Adoxa moschatellina L. (Town Hall Clock) Beenham (V.A.P.).
Bidens cernua L. (Bur-marigold) River Kennet, Reading (A.M.S.).
B. tripartita L. (Three-Cleft Bur-marigold) Whiteknights Park, Reading (V. AP.)
Petasites hybridus (L.) Gaetm., Mey. and Scherb. Thames bank between Sonning
and Wargrave (A.M.S.).
Chamaenelum nobile (L.) All. (Chamomile) Hazeley Heath £A.M.S.).

ay Bon

Sagittaria sagittifolia L. (Arrowhead) River Kennet, Reading. A shy
flowerer (A.M.S.).

Butomus umbellatus L. (Flowering Rush) Wargrave (V.A.P.).

Stratiotes aloides L. (Water-soldier) Nettlebed (V.A.P.); Whiteknights
Park, Reading (H.J.M.B.).

*Allium paradoxum (Bieb.) G. Don. Dominant in places and spreading rapidly
in a copse at Adwell, Oxon. (H.J.M.B.).

A. ursinum L. (Ramsons) A large and flourishing colony near Magpie Farn,
Frilsham. First found ten years ago, but nct recorded as it was outside
the @n-mile limit. Revisited in May this year. (L.E.C.).

Leucojum aestivun L. (Summer Snowflake) Folley's Gravel Pit, Sonning Eye. bie.)

Epipactis leptochila (Godfery) Godfery Near Marlow Common (J.T.).

Epipogium aphylilum Sw. (The Ghost Orenid) Reported to have appeared in its
Bucks. locality (A.M.S.).

Spiranthes spiralis (L.) Chevall (Autumn Ladies Tresses) A large number on a
lawn at Peppard Common (A.M.S.).

Listera ovata (L.) R.Br. (Common Twayblade) Padworth (J.H.C.).

Platanthera bifolia (L.) Rich. (Butterfly Orchid) Pamber Forest (V.A.P).

Ophrys apifera Huds (Bee Orchid) At least e dozen at Nuney Green)

Orchis simia Lam. (Monkey Orchid) Four plants, two of which flowered, one
being a very good specimen (A.M.S.).

QO. ustulata L. (Burnt tip Orchid) Aston Upthorpe Downs (A.M.S.).

QO. mascula (L.) L. (Harly Purple Orchis) <A few plants at Arborfield (L.B.C.)

Dactylorchis maculata (L.) Vermeul. subsp. ericetorum (E. F. Linton) Vermeul.
Plentiful on Silchester Common (A.M.S.).

Bromus benekenii (Lange) Frimen. With Hordelymus europaeus (L.) Harz in
bare ground in beech wood near Upper Basildon (H.J.M.B.).

*Setaria verticillata (L.) Beauv. (Rough Bristle Grass) Sparingly, at Corpor-
ation tip, Small Mead, Reading (A.M.S.).

Fungi at Kingwood Common
(Supplementary List)

The following species, which are additions to the previous published lists
of fungi for Kingvood Common (Reading Naturalist nos. 12-16), were found at
the Society's Foray on 26th September, 1961. Dr. F. B. Hora very kindly made
the determinations.

Calocera cornea Ganoderma applanatum
Calvatia gigantea Grifola (Polyporus) sulphurea

Cortinarius pseudosalor Russula aeruginea

PH ee
General Jbservations

Abnormality in the Water Spider, Argyroneta aquatica (Arachnida)

Whilst at Woolmer Pond, Hants, on 14th March collecting sallow galls with
Mr. B. R. Baker, I took two specimens of Argyroneta aquatica Clerck, the
Water Spider. One of these specimens was quite normal but the other did not
possess a hydrofuge. They were both kept in captivity for about six weeks, d
during which time the normal spider moved quite rapidly and constructed a bell.
The spider without a hydrofuge was unable to hold a bubble of air on its
abdomen, was very slow moving and did not make a bell.

A. Price

Trichius fasciatus (L.) (Coleoptera)

This rare Lamellicorn beetle was taken on 26th July whilst it was in
search of a svitable part of a decaying log in which to oviposit. The log was
on the tide-line of the beach near Kicwelly, Carmarthenshire, and the beetle
finally chose old borings of the Lucanid beetle, Dorcus, in which to lay its oggs.

A. Price
Carabus auratus L. in Reading, Berks

On 17th July, 1964 I saw a living specimen of the above beetle, which was
taken in a cellar in the east of Reading. Mr. E. G. Taylor, who showed it to
me, said that he has seen specimens of this beetle in the cellar for about
five years. The elytra of a dead one was handed to me by Mr. Taylor on 23rd
September, so we have definite proof of two specimens. It does seem possible
that the beetle is breeding in the vicinity. The complete specimen is now
in the Reading Museua,

Carabus auratus is a continental species which is said not to breed in this
country. It will be of interest therefore to establish whether this is a
breeding colony or not. Fowler states that it is very doubtfully indigenous
in Britain and that specimens are imported occasionally with vegetables. A
small colony was found by Dr. Power and Mr. Brewer in 1863 between Hythe and
Sandgate. These seem to have been connected with a batch turned loose by
Mr. Walton some years before, The Reading colony, if such it is, will be studied

A.Price

On 26th November, 1964, since the above was written, Mr. Taylor produced
a further complete specimen of C. auratus, which he positively states, came from
his cellar three years ago. It had been kept in his laboratory since that
date and had been overlooked. We now have records of the beetle in this habitat
over three years, and the claim that the beetle breeds in this place gathers
strength A. Price

By i

Records and Contributions

Records for the Reports should reach the Honorary Recorders by the
Annual General Meeting or as soon as possible after it. Scientific names
shoul be very clearly legible; for botanical records, J. E. Dandy's nomen-
clature should be followed, and the author for each species included, where
possible.

General observations, not suitable for the Reports, and original articles
can be submitted to the Editor at any time up to the beginning of October;
prior notice would be much appreciated for the longer papers. All contributions
should be typed, with double spacing, or, if this is quite impracticable,
written clearly and logibly with widely spaced lines.

Reading and District Natural History Society

Honorary Members

Dolton, H. L., 356 Chester Street, Reading, Berks.

Hastings, Somerville, M.B., M.S., F.R.C.S., Brackenfell, Kingwood Common,
Henley~on-Thanes, Oxon.

Hawkins, Prof. H. L., D.Sc., F.R.S:, F.G.S., 63 Tilehurst Road, Reading, Berks.

Vear, T., 154 Shinfield Road, Reading, Berks.

Ordinary and Junior Members

Adcock, J. A., B.Sc., M.I.Biol., 10 Cheriton Avenue, Twyford, Berks.

Allen, Prof, P., Dept. Geology, The University, Reading, Berks,

Ashwell, Mrs. K. M., 7 Woodland Drive, Tilehurst, Reading, Berks.

Bagealey, Sohb.s (2. Putts, bane, barley, Rennes Berks,

Baggaley, Mrs. N. L. MY

fener, BD. R. B.Sc., B. Move a eds Mieatwce: alah Berpeley- HV GRNE Roadie: Berks.
Beaker, Mrs. H., i

Baker, Mark, W it tt tt ?
Balfour, A. P., F.L.S., V.M.H., 4 Baskerville Avenue, Sonning Common, Oxon.
Bambury, Mrs. R., Flat 8, Kestrel Way, Burghfield Road, Reading, Berks.
Beesley, A., 2/7 Western Elms Avenue, Reading, Berks.

meoid, Dr. D. A., 713 ere Road, Caversham, Reaeie. Berks.

Bell, Mrs., :

Bell, Miss J., " is = :

| Bentall, Mrs., PRS Pa, qh perce Woodcote Road, Caversham, Reading, Berks.
Bentall, Miss, " n

Bernard, Miss iBY 10 Deepdene Close, Reading, Berks.

| Blackwell, Mrs. E. R., 81 Wilderness Road, Earley, Reading, Berks.

Bowden, i, AAI pe gaa Road, fee Reading, Bore

Bowden, Mrs. KE.

|

ey

Bowen, Dr., H. J. M., M.A., 20 Winchester Road, Oxford.

Boxall, M., 27 Prospect Street, Reading, Berks.

Bramall, Mrs. A.M.K., Burden Cottage, Sonning, Berks.

Brooke, Miss R. A., 107 Ambrook Road, Whitley Wood, Reading, Berks.

Brown, G R., 41 Donnington Road, Reading, Berks.

Brown, Miss R. M. Berin's Ridge, Lower Basildon, Reading, Berks.

Bull, G A. 12 Warwick Road, Reading, Berks.

Bull, Mrs., 1! " tt " tt

Bunting, Prof, A. H., M.Sc., Dept. of Agricultural Botany, The University,
Reading, Berks.

Bustin, Miss J. M. 2 Stoneham Close, Cockney Hill, Reading, Berks.

Butler, Miss K, I., 18 Morgan Road, Reading, Berks.

Carter, Mrs. A., 289 Norcot Road, Tilehurst, Reading, Berks.

Carter, H., M.A., 82 Kennylands Road, Sonning Common, Oxon.

Chevasse, Rev. S. E., 18 College Road, Reading, Berks.

Clark, Andrew, 4 Penroath Avenue, Reading, Berks.

Clements, Mrs. H., 108 Kenilworth Avenue, Reading, Berks.

Clements Miss, M. J. W., " a " - ,

Cobb, Miss L. E. B.A., 55 Northcourt Avenue, Reading, Berks.

Cole, Js ASS Bok. Mies, 0 ee beloe a “HenLey-on-Thanes, Oxon.

Cole, Mrs., B.A., 7 :;

Cole, J. H. B.Sc., 60 Blvendon Road, yacnae? Goring-on-Thames, Oxon.

Cooke, Mrs. A. Gresham, Turgis Court, Stratfield Turgis, Nr. Basingstoke, Hants.

Cooper, Tb. Disvelinn CO Norcot Road, Tilehurst, ike Tee” Berks.

Cooper, Mrs. " is n

Cooper, J. E. Quantocks, New Wokingham Road, Crowthorne, Berks.

Cotterell, Mrs. N., Giles Farm, Stoke Row, Oxon.

Cowley, D. A. Elm pete Mill Lane, Shiplake, Henley-on-Thames, Oxon.

Cowley, Mrs. F. E. " - 3 u s

Cowley, Stewart " a " v “

Cromarty, A. S. Clevelands, Arborfield Road, renee tee Reading, Berks.

Cromarty, Mrs. J. C., B.Sc. , " « .

Dean, Miss L. R., 64 Cressingham Road, Reading, Berks.

Dengate, Miss A. M. 81 Wilderness Road, Earley, Reading, Berks.

Drinkwater, S. J., Kentons, 51 Tilehurst Road, Reading, Berks.

Eager, Stephen, 76 Redhatch Drive, Harley, Reading, Berks.

Eaton, Mrs. G. M. 12 Pembroke Place, Caversham, Reading, Berks.

Ebbels, D. L. 7 Cleeve Court, Streatley, Reading, Berks.

Ellis, Dr. Mae Ge, Mele Gr. Se, if R.C.P., Rose Cottage, Lower Wokingham Road, :
Crowthorne, Berks. i

Erith, Miss A, G., B.oe.,"FH.D., 70 Highnoor Road, Caversham, Reading, Berks. .

Fade, Mrs. L. M., 5 Chester Street, Caversham, Reading, Berks. {

Fishenden, Dr. Margaret, 2 Cleevenede, Cleeve Road, Goring+on-Thames, Reading

Fishlock, Mrs. A. Clarence Lodge, 93 London Road, Reading, Berks.

Flack, Miss 0., 198 Reading Road, Wokingham, Berks.

Fletcher, tea cee 8) pout Peake aes ont oe BoE ee

Fletcher, Mrs.

Ps ls

Frank, Mrs. C., Netherleigh, Riverview Road, Pangbourne, Berks.

Frank, Simon, hi " n " "

Frank, Philip, " tt iy " w

Frank, Timothy, " " '" "W "

Frank, Jereny, " " w ‘i W

fraser, W. S., F.L.5., F.R.M.S., F.C.S.,.Maple Cottage, Oxford Road, ‘Tilehurst,

Reading, Berks.

Fraser, Mrs., : "

Fulford, Mrs. W. E., 10 Morlands Avenue, Bath Road, Reading, Berks.

Gambles, R. M., West Warren, Wenper Road, Woodtey; paeins Berks.

Gambles, Mrs., u

Gibson, Mrs. K, ee The gent) ae Victoria Road, Mortimer, Reading, Berks.

Goldring, Dr., R., 4 Falstaff Avenue, ear Ss Reading, Berks.

Perdring, Mrs., A. B.,.BaAs, ."

Graham, Prof., A., Dept. of Zoology, The University, London Road, Reading.

Graves. D., The Filberts, Bath Road, Calcot, Reading, Berks.

Greenup, Miss R. B., Ashton, Heatherdene Avenue, Crowthorne, Berks.

Greenwood, E. F., M.Sc., 11 Crawshay Drive, Emmer Green, Reading, Berks.

Gwatkin, T. L., M.A., 14 Courtenay Drive, Emmer Green, Reading, Berks.

Harding, Mesa ds Con EDD... oe ae 31 Folder's Lane, Bracknell, Berks.

Harding, eae? SODRE Ee Peay Z

Hardy, M. G., M.A., Dept. of Zoology, The University, London Road, Reading, Berks

Harmsworth, Miss G., 28 Blossom Lane, Theale, Berks.

Harper, R. E., 6 Fernbrook Road, Caversham, Reading, Berks.

ferris, ,Frot., T..M., MA, F.R«d., F.L.5., Dept. of Botany, The University,
London Road, Reading, Berks. .

Harris, Miss J. I., 28 Chiltern Crescent, Earley, Reading, Berks.

Harvey, J. EB. M., 1 Queens Road, Reading, Berks.

Hawkins, Mrs. P. BE. L., Heather Ways, Wellington College, Berks.

Hawkins, Mrs., 63 Tilehurst Road, Reading, Berks.

Haycock, Miss M., Flat 14, 72 Brunswick Street, Reading, Berks.

Heather, F. L., 6 Pembroke Place, Cavershan, Roading, Berks,

Heather, Mrs., i " i

Hemken, E. C., The Abbey Bureau, 10/12 pares Victoria Street, Reading, Berks.

Hilder, BE. A., Cedar Cap Eeeey Wiltshire AXCHue, Crowthorne, Berks.

Hilder, Mrs., ry i,

Hinton, G. G., 215 Reading git Wokinghan, oblate

Homer, T. J. H., M.A., 39 Marmyon House, Phyllis Court Drive, Henley-on-Thanes.

Hotston, Miss J., 50 Norton Road, Reading, Berks.

Housden, Mrs. H. V., 9 Knowle Close, Upper Woodcote Road, Mapledurham, Reading.

Housden, Miss J. M. V., B.Sc., : y ,

Ievers, S. E., 26 Kidmore Road, Caversham, Reading, Berks.

Jenkins, Miss P. M., 24 Norton Road, Reading, Berks.

Jones, Mrs. J. D., Oakbank, Tanners Lane, Chalkhouse Green, Nr. Reading, Oxon,

Jones, Miss M., North Foreland Lodge, Sherfield-on-Loddon, nr. Basingstoke, Hants.

Jones,

Jones, Mrs.,

Kelly, N. L., B.Sc., Bank of Adelaide, 11 Leadenhall Street, London, E.C.3.

die

Kemp, B. R.. 62 Grosvenor Road, Caversham, Reading, Berks.

Key, Miss G. L., 244 Southcote Road, Reading, Berks.

King, J. H., 37 Thames Avenue, Pangbourne, Berks.

Lambden, Mrs. H. D., B.Sc., 74 Beech Lane, Barley, Reading, Berks.

Lappin, G., 45 Gloucester Road, Reading, Berks.

Leatherdale, D., F.L.S., F.R.E.S., M.Inst. Inf. Sci., Eastfield Lodge,
Whitchurch, Oxon.

Leeke, C. J., B.Sc., A.M.I.(Biol.), 1 Heathway, Chapel Hill, Tilehurst, Reading,
Berks.

Leeke, R. S., 7 Heathway, Tilehurst, Reading, Berks.

Leggett, Miss J., B.Sc., 7 Addington Road, Reading, Berks.

Levy, B. G., B.A., Ph.D., Slaters, Peppard Common, Oxon.

Loam, Miss I., 72 Recreation Road, Tilehurst, Reading, Berks.

Lukin, Mrs. R., Lockram House, near Mortimer, Berks. )

Lush, Miss G. M., 32 Matthews Green Road, Wokingham, Berks.

Lyon, Miss M. R., B.Sc., The Cottage, The Old Vicarage, Shinfield, Reading, Berks

Major, Mrs. J., 2 Eldon Road, Reading, Berks.

Marriott, Mrs. G., Flat 25, Crescent Court, Crescent Road, Reading, Berks.

Mason, Miss D., 21 Alpha House, Kendrick Road, Reading, Berks.

Matson, Miss B. N., 74% Park Road, Didcot, Berks.

Mayhew, Miss V., 36 Grove Road, Sonning Common, nr. Henley, Oxon.

Moon, A. E., F.R.Met.S., Dept. Geography, The University, Reading, Berks.

Moore, Mrs. M. L., 26 Shepherds Lane, Mapledurham, Reading, Berks.

Nannery, T., Shoreditch Training College, Coopers Hill, Englefield Green, Surrey.

Nelmes, Miss E. M. M.A., 27 Westbourne Avenue, Acton, London, W.3.

Newberry, Miss S. M. J., B.A., 24 St. Anne's Road, Caversham, Reading, Berks.

Newman J. F., B.Sc., Harley Cottage, 25 Beech Lane, Earley, Reading, Berks.

Newman, Mrs. B. M., “3 5 cs

Newman, John, ie . 5 76

Newman, Mrs. W., 52 Northcourt Avenue, Reading, Berks.

Nussey, Keith, 135 Kentwood Hill, Tilehurst, Reading, Berks.

Owén, Dr. H., Dept. Agricultural Botany, The University, Reading, Berks.

Padley, F. €., 2 Eldon Place, Reading, Berks. ;

Paul, Mrs. V. N., B.Sc., Overdale, Peppard Common, Oxon. .

Pearce, E., 9 Amity Road, Reading, Berks.

Pearce, Mrs.,

Pearmain, M. A., St. Patrick's Hall, Reading, Berks.

Pearse, Miss M., 6 Bishops Road, Reading, Berks.

Perey.» de i.) 2 ee EReNy, Ss Green, Road, aes Berks.

Percy, .Mrs..,

Phillips, Mrs. V. A., 42 Alexandra Road, Li seine Berks,

Phillips, Miss Marilyn :

Plowright, H. R. A.I.S.T., 8 Romany Lane, Tilehurst, Reading, Berks.

Pountoniid, By Os CUBES ea Road, Reading, Beit

Pointon, Mrs., i

Price, ic, 6 Mansfield Road, Reading, Berks.

Price—Jones, Dr.,D. 82 Shinfield Road, Reading, Berks.

Price-Jones, Mrs. " a v

ahiO=-

Quartermain, T., 8 Bridge Street, Caversham, Reading, Berks.
Quartermain, Mrs. A., ” si ‘ Hi
Seies Dr. H. E., B.Sc., pi ae Craythorne, 259 Shinfield Road, Reading
Ransom, M. C., Berks County Library, Abbey Street, Reading, Berks.
Read, J. D., Flat 4, 17 Erleigh Road, Reading, Berks.
Read, Mrs. ” ‘: iM "
Reynolds, Miss D., 26 Shepherd's Lane, Mapledurham, Reading, Berks.
Rhodes, J., N.D.H., 65 Beet os Road, Reading, Berks.
Rhodes, Mrs. B.Se., i
Rhodes, Miss Judith, iy % he r
Roffey, ins. J. Js, "426 Cockney Hill, Reading, Berks.
Rogers, Mrs. 33 Shepherd's Lane, Caversham, Reading, Berks.
Round, ©. D., B.A., 68 Old Bath Road, Calcot, Reading, Berks.
Scott, Miss R., 28 Westcote Road, Reading, Berks.
Scutter, Miss C., 1 Manhattan Place, High Street, Crowthorne, Berks.
Severn, Lady, Winterbrook Lodge, Wallingford, Berks.
Shelah, Miss H. R., 165 St. Peter's Road, Reading, Berks.
Simmonds, Mrs A. M., 45 Highgrove Street, Reading, Berks.
Smith, Miss H. W., Westbrook, Cutbush Lane, Shinfield, Reading, Berks.
Smith, Miss J. Robson, 136A Tilehurst Road, Reading, Berks.
Sparrow, J. N., Sehedl House, Sindlesham, Wokingham, Berks.
Swadling, Miss M. M., F.L.A., Berin's Ridge, Lower Basildon, Reading, Berks.
Taylor, Mrs. W. A. Norman, 143 London Road, Reading, Berks.
Thiel, Mrs. H. M., Torbreck, Oatlands Road, Shinfield, Reading, Berks.
Timmins, Miss Judith, 65 Fairway ape pees nel Boaate. Berks.
Timmins, Mrs. M. |
Timpson, ee Bey 53 Kidmore ao See a tee 48 Bee Berks.
Timpson, Miss Ruth, Hy
Tobias, Miss J. M., Ae a Drive, Harley, Reading, Berks.
Tofield, Mrs. 0., Ingaro, Stuart Road, Wash Common, Newbury, Berks.
Tolwortay, Miss A., 49 Bay Road, Bracknell, Berks.
Toole, Mrs. M. C., 24 Warborough Avenue, Tilehurst, Reading, Berks.
Toothill, Dr. Joyce, 32 Morgan Road, Reading, Berks.
Townend, Miss S. Y. B.Sc., 71 Berkeley Avenue, Reading, Berks.
_Treherne, Mrs. C., Yardley, 24 The Moors, Pangbourne, Berks.
Treherne, John, ¥ 5 ” " "
Trembath, ee 5 Thames Avenue, Pangbourne, Berks.
| Trickett, Miss S., 13 Tilehurst Road, Reading, Berks.
| Usherwood, Mrs., 37 Kenton 7 Barley, Boas, eee
| oo Peter, 2
Wear, J. R., 134. Shinfield Road, Reading, Berks.
Vincent, S., Woodlands, 46 Cockney Hill, Reading, Berks.
| Vincent, Mrs., y x . " "
Vincent, Malcoln, " ‘ ‘ n e
| Vincent, Mrs. V., Cray House, ie aee Woods, Henley-on-Thames, Oxon.
| Vincent, Charles, P. * " ; "
fmencent, William, A., " : " " i:

-50-

Waight, Miss F. M. 0., F.L.S., 139 St. Peter's Road, Earley, Reading, Berks.
Ward, J. A., Caretaker's Cottage, Gillotts High School, Henley-on-Thames, Oxon.
Warman, Miss A. T. 39 Winton Road, Reading, Berks.

Watson, Dr. E. V. Little Court, Cleeve, Goring -on-Thames, Oxon.

Watson, Miss J. M. 30 Westwood Road, Tilehurst, Reading, Berks.

Watts, Miss L., Crumplehorn Cottage, Inkpen Common, Berks.

West, Gerald, Coleman's Cottage, Spanish Green, nr. Basingstoke, Hants.
Williams, Dr. L. H., 389 Valley Drive, Gravesend, Kent.

Williams, Mrs. R. D., 22 New Road, Reading, Berks.

Williams, Susan, " " 7 ye

Wilkins, Miss J.¢ B.Se., 194 Reading,Rsad, Wokingham, Berks.

Wood, Dr. N., Elmhurst, Milestone Avenue, Twyford, Berks.

Wood, Mrs., " is i

Abbey School, Kendrick Road, Reading, Berks (Miss S. Mi. Hardcaslte, M.Sc.,
Headmistress)

Alfred Sutton Girls' School, Cumberland Road, Reading, Berks.

Carmel College Natural History Society, Carmel College, Mongewell Park,
Wallingford, Berks.

E. P. Ccllier Central School, York Road, Reading, Berks.

Forest School (The Biology Society), Robinhood Iane, Winnersh
M. C. Hayes Allen)

Henley Grammar School, Henley-on-Thames, Oxon. (The Principal)

Kendrick School, London Road, Reading, Berks.

Leighton Park School, Shinfield Road, Reading, Berks.

Reading School, Erleigh Road, Reading, Berks. (The Bursar)

Redlands Primary School, Lydford Road, Reading, Berks.

The Science Department, Reading Technical College, King's Road, Reading, Berks.

Southlands Girls' School, Basingstoke, Reading, Berks. (Miss W. Page, Senior
Science Mistress)

Whitley Park Junior School, Basingstoke Road, Reading, Berks (Mr. D.. W. Croker)

Berks (Mrs.

, ast yy . A, : - :