ne The Reading Naturalist No. 28 Published by the Reading and District Natural History Society 1976 Price to Non-Members 25p 3 THE READING NATURALIST No. 28 for the year 1974-75 The Journal of The Reading and District Natural History |. Society President: Dre inl des lie Bowen, Lite A.; Hon.;General Secretary: | a1? pee = +a ORs dat tor: fees J. Toothill, B.Se., Ph.D. ...Miss E..M. Nelmes. 15 Birdhill Avenue Dormers - Reading — 194 Cainscross Road RGe 7JT Stroud Glos. bes tad be Sub-Committee: The Editon, B. R: Baker, Miss L.: E. Cobb, A* Price, Miss J. M. V. Housden, Miss S. Y. Townend HQpoRery Recorders: Botany: Mrs. 2B. M. Newnan, Earley Cottage, 25 Beech Lane, Earley, PRASINE, Entomology: Mr. B. oe 25, Metleck Road, Caversham, Reading Vertebrates: Mr. H. H. @artew, 82 Kennylands Road, | Sonning Common, Reading - Contents. Meetings and Excursions, 1974-75 _ Presidential Address: Flies Variation in a mixed population of banded snails (Cepaea spp.) ‘ on Swyncombe Down, near Reading A Study of the Vocalization of the Tawny Owl (Strix aluco L.) Vocalization of the Tawny Owl - a note A Visit to Malaysia Supplement to the list of the Lepidoptera of Moor Copse Nature Reserve Notes ; Rutterflies in a Suburban Garden Rhynchodemus terrestris (A land planarian) A Fungus new to Britain Fungi at Wasing Wood Honorary Recorders! Reports: Botany Entomology Vertebrates | Weather Records in 1975 Monthly Weather Notes, 1975 °° Atmospheric Pollution, 1973 Membership i a H . Carter H. Smith Martin Brown . J. Leeke J. Leeke R. Baker Ei. Cobb CG. . Cotton P, Warrick Andrews M. Newman R. Baker lal = Carter | E. Moon Moon E. Moon Page 10 19 EIS fe Meetings and Excursions 1974-75 The first of the winter evening meetings was the Annual General Meeting on October 17th, at Which the President delivered his Presidential Address on Flies (attendance 43}. Other lectures given during the winter were 'Primroses, Cowslips and Oxlips', by Dr. M. Keith-Lucas (42); ‘Insect Flight’related to Weather’, by eer, A. Davey (37); 'Toadstools, Lime and Fire’, by Dr. F. B. Hora (45); 'Rabies', by Professor.C. Kaplan (30); ‘Birds of the Reading Area’, by>Mr. C.°B. Cole (51);, sand. 'Agriculture..in,the Himalayan Kingdom of Nepal', by Mr. A. B. Shrestha (34). The. BBC Horizon film 'The:Wood' was. shown by Dr. J. Philips at another meeting (64) and there were two Members’ Evenings of .Films, Talks and Exhibits (53 and 55). There were also a joint meeting with the Berkshire,» Buckinghamshire and. Oxfordshire Naturalists' Trust. (56) and a Berkshire, paoiki neva msha-pe and Oxfordshire meeting at ee a ctuaiuel Wi bikers walks were taken in the Pangbourne. area on November 16th (17)s;in Englefield, Park, for trees and birds, on December 14th; at Reading gravel pits, ..for, birds, on February eth (20): and in the Mortimer and; Aldermaston area for mosses on March. 8th (23). A microscopieal afternoon was held at 6. Mansfield Road, Reading, on January llth, (11). The sumer field excursions were to Mongewell Heath for ° Helleborus wiridis on April, LOth..(31+).; .,6tratfield See 20. even ing sexcursion ‘for. fritillaries and bats, on April 30th P20.) 2 Wargrave Marsh Reserve on May 3rd .(47); Wytham Wood, Oxon., on May 10th (23); Sulham Woods, an evening excursion, on May 21st (c. 20); Aston Upthorpe Reserve, for Orchis..ustulata, on May 31st (25); Buttlers Hangings Reserve,, West Wycombe, for chalk flora and butterflies, on June 14th (20); Burghfield to Tile Mill, an evening excursion, on June 18th (c. 18);:>.Snelsmore Common, a joint meeting with Newbury Field Club, on June 28th (359 + 9); Wicken Fen and Devils's Dyke,.a coach, Excursion, on.July 5th (30); Wittenham Clumps, a joint meeting with Abingdon Natural History Society; on, July 12th,(16-+.28);..Hungerford Meads, an ancient field system with a»rich natural flora, on July 26th .(20);. Moor Copse Reserve, a late evening meeting for moths, on.August lst (18). Cock: Marsh, Marlow, on August 9th (14); South Hill Park nature ‘trail sand hota land at Caesar's Camp, Bracknell, with . Crowthorne Natural History Society, on August 23rd (2); Pangbourne Heath, an evening excursion on August 27th (16); Hook. Common, on September 6tha(21); + Thatcham Marsh, on September 20th. (ec. 30); Windsor Forest, a fungus foray, on Oetobes 4th (18 members and 9 others); and Wasing Wood, a fungus foray, on October 18th (c. 40). ae Flies The Presidential Address to the Reading and Distriet Natural History Society 17th October 1974 by H. H.,.Carter The Diptera are a group more highly specialised for flight than any other order of insects, so much so.that whereas these other orders may contain dragonflies, mayflies, stoneflies, caddis flies, butterflies and the like, the simple name 'Flies' has been appropriated to the Diptera alone.” Reduction in weight, always a matter of the first importance for flight, has been achieved in two ways. The insect as a whole is frail and lightly sclerotised, not relying on its exoskeleton for protection, although the profuse development of spiny bristles in some higher Diptera may have a protective function. Secondly there has been reduction or loss of certain organs ‘throughout the order. Most obviously, the hind wings have been converted into halteres, organs which detect any movement of the body in three dimensions. This sensitivity to movement has enabled the flies to develop great agility and precision in flight, including ability to hover, to a degree not found in other orders. The antennae, thread-like and trailing in the primitive and relatively slow-flying Nematocera, have become compact, with short broad basal segments and a hair-like arista in the higher flies, without any loss of sensitivity to odours. The power of scent is acute and of prime importance for locating food (as can be seen from the rapidity with which flies come to an odoriferous bait), mates, and suitable sites for oviposition. Flies also have gow? Sight, but no special organs of hearing. : The mouthparts are also reduced throughout theYorder. Biting jaws, necessarily massive in: themselves and requiring equally massive musculature and points of attachment have given way to suctorial apparatus. Only in a few bloodsucking families with a partly aquatic life cycle are the mandibles retained, and here they are reduced to extremely slender piercing stylets. Generally the maxillae are also reduced, -and all that remains of the original insect mouthparts are the labial palps, organs of touch and taste which remain indispensable because of the inability of an insect to see what it is eating by reason of the position and structure of the eyes. Fly larvae are also highly specialised in structure although not always in feeding habits. All sare without legs, and only the more primitive forms retain a head with sensory organs and biting mouthparts. The larvae of higher flies are headless maggots with hardly any obvious external structure apart from the possession of a front and back end. As in the adults, any mouthparts present are secondary developments. The basic larval habitat, and the one to which the majority ~ D « of species have remained faithful,’ is wet decaying vegetation. From this, adaptive radiation has proceeded along several paths; through mud to a fully aquatic life; through living plants to leaf- mining and gall making; through rotting animal remains to animal dung, scavenging (from which probably brood parasitism has evolved), predation and internal parasitism. Fully free-living larvae are very uncommon, being found mainly among the aphid- eating members of the STE RaLAS Brood parasitism and internal parasitism have been SiStSE independently by many different. families of Diptera, and-the host range is even Wider than in’the parasitic Hymenoptera. The hosts include-mammals, birds, amphibians, all the larger orders of. terrestrial insects, Arachnida, centipedes, crustaceans (only the terrestrial woodlice), worms and ‘land Mollusca. The ‘only’ major : limitation is the ‘inability of adult flies to penetrate the aquatic habitat in search of hosts’ on whith to lay eggs. Probably only the nematodes, which are free from this’ Peer rey nOny have a wider host range. ‘Although small in size, the Diptera are often conspicuous by ‘their brilliant colouring. Sometimes this senves an obvious function, ‘as when it. mimics aposematic bees and wasps, but in many families iridescent © ‘or metallic colouring is frequent and serves no obvious purpose, but nevertheless ee. interest and pleasure to the gall of the group. a ke Variation ina mixed population of banded snails (Cepaea spp.) on pi eg Down, near eee by R. H. Smith. Genetic polymorphisms are of great interest to evolutionary biologists as they represent situations where the forces of natural. selection have reached a balance such that two or more distinct forms (morphs) are maintained together in a population. The banded snails Cepaea nemoralis (L.) and C. hortensis (Muller) are well- known for. the variation they show in shell-colour (basically yellow, pink or brown, but with many intermediates) and the pattern of the dark brown or black longitudinal bands (up to five, on each whorl which, if present, may sometimes be fused). Most populations con- sist of at least two colour and banding classes (Cain and Sheppard, 1954), although there are some localities such as parts of the Marlborough Downs where large areas contain only one form (Cain and Currey, 1963). There are many reasons why a balanced polymorphism may be maintained (Maynard Smith, 1970). although it is still not clear which factors are responsible in the case of Cepaea. However, it is known that selection. by visual.predation modifies the proportions of different forms (Cain and Sheppard, 1950) and the impact of the thrush (Turdus philomelos (L.)) is relatively easy to assess because of the bird's habit of smashing the shells on a stone or some other suitable "anvil". Comparison of the broken shells with a representative sample of snails from the live population will reveal whether the birds find proportionally more of the morphs that are conspicuous in that particular habitat. Cain and Sheppard (1950, 1954) showed that, in general, pink, unbanded snails were at an advantage in beech-wood leaf litter whereas yellow, banded snails were least conspicuous to thrushes in downland grass and hedgerows. The colony chosen for study was in an area of rough herbage flanked by a beech-wood on Swyncombe Down to the north of Reading (grid reference SU 670917), just off the Icknield Way. On 3/5/1974 the anvils (found mainly under bushes) were cleared of broken shells and a number of living snails were collected by second year Zoology students from Reading University. Because the broken shells could have accumulated over several years, a second collect- ion was made on 25/4/1975 so that the second sample represented snails that had been killed during the year. No attempt was made to distinguish between the two species of Cepaea since identifica- tion without dissection is often doubtful (Quick, 1952). Several different banding patterns were present, but no brown shells. The data are summarised in the table; banding patterns have been classified as either effectively unbanded (top two bands on each whorl missing) or banded. : Living Dead 2 a Sd A 2 ge a SS ES Total’ Oe Obs cis exteree) eh we Gore oper’ 15on tie 2s 1974; 67 10 6 5i be Ow SQ ang 7 | 560 | Lo7Slabarmepte.4 6 | 267 125 2 L | 527 » Total! 166. .33) dia, dd:-whbSineben. F 8 1087 | Y - yellow, P - pink, B= banded, U - effectively unbanded <5 The data were subuwclassified in various ways, and chi-squared tests were used to discover whether the observed frequencies differed significantly from those expected under different null hypotheses. The results of the analysis can be briefly summarised as follows:- 1. The data for the two years are significantly different because in 1975, there were more living YB and PB and less dead PU. and PB than in 1974. Despite these: differnces, the rest of the conclusions are qualitatively the same for both years! data. /-@. Snails with pink shells are more likely to be preyed upon than those with yellow (averaging over banding patterns). 3. Snails with unbanded shells are more likely to be preyed “upon than those with banded (averaging over colour). 4. - In addition to the separate effects of 2. and 3., there is selective predation against. PB (PU. may be maintained by migration from the adjacent beech-wood where it is probably less conspicuous). 5. In the “anvil population" of shells, there is no association between colour and banding whereas the living snails include more YB and PU than would be expected if colour and banding were independent. These results are in agreement with those of Cain and Sheppard for a similar area nearby (Christmas Common). Yellow snails with bands are certainly less obvious than other forms on short turf, so it is not surprising that YB is the commonest.morph. . The continued maintenance of the other forms is not explained, however. The presence of pink, unbanded snails is probably a result of migration from the beech-wood but, since the genes controlling colour and banding are known to be closely linked (Cain et al, 1968), there are clearly unknown selective forces involved maintaining YU and PB in the, population. There are- many other predators besides thrushes, for instance rabbits, which are common in the area. I have observed slow-worms (Anguis fragilis L.) investigating a moving Cepaea nemoralis with their tongues and then retiring, even though a snail extended from its. shell looks as inviting as the small slugs that slow-worms devour SO voraciously, so some of the snails may exude a noxious substance which could be related to the visible polymorphism, possibly indirectly through their food-plant. Coloration will also have Secondary effects on heat gain and loss through radiation, but whether or not this is a biologically significant factor still has to be assessed. References Cain, A.J. & Currey, J.D. (1963) Differences in interactions between selective forces acting in the wild on Gens Cepreae Nature 197, Ah 2 Cain, A.J. & Sheppard, P.M. (1950) ddvesvian inthe pélytiorphie 14a snail pa al nemoralise Heredity beg 275° — 29,5 Cain, A.J. & ie 9 tg et Me (195%) Notural selection in re Genetics 39. 89=116) Comps Sheppard, PeM., & King, JelM.B. (4968) “The eecatieies of some morphs and. bposick diy of a nemoralis (Le) Phil. Trans. roye Sov | Series B’253, 383 - 396 — Maynard Smith, J. (1970) The causes of polymorphism. Symp. ZO0~e Soce 26, 371 = 383 Quick, H.E. (1952) A key to the identiPication’ of the shells of the land snails of the Reading area. Reading Naturalist no. 4, 1 - 10. ce ee et ee et ee ee A Study of the Vocalization of the: Tawny Owl (Strix aluco Le ) by Se lmrtin Brown One of our more common owls is the Tawny Owl, Strix aluco L., a nocturnal bird more often heard than shy but how mich do we really enw about the vocabulary of this beautiful owl ? It seems not very much. “Even - | Shakespeare who was often thought to be a booa naturalist mis-interpreted the me | song of the Tawny Owl as, "Tu-whit, tu whoo". In fact what he nob rabieias probably two Towny Owls calling, a eth singing, "Hooo000-hoee hodchoddded " ond a femle probably replying with a sharp, "Kewick". When combined this gives us a, "Hooooco-kewick-hooohoohooo0000" which is very similar in auditory effect to, “Tu-whit, tu-whoo " if exaggerated by a not too careful listener. Tawny Owls are drab in colour compared to other birds and because they are nocturnal they have no need for elaborate colourful plumge for territorial threats and displays. Obviously this is because they would not be visible clearly. However other faculties have been elaborated to make up for this lack of colour and to assist in communication. These include the broad development of the owl's vocabulary thus helping it to distinguish | between the sexes, and a well developed sense of hearing. Not only has | the Taymy Owl to make up for the lack of expression through a colourful plumage and to communicate physical expressions through the darkness of the night, they must also be able to penetrate the night with their calls, so that they my converse with other owls and hopefully find a suitable | companione | To enable the Tawny Owl to penetrate the night and communicate over long distances without the calls being absorbed by the trees and other obstacles, the owls have utilised calls and songs in the lower sound=-frequency spectrum. Sounds of higher frequencies are more quickly absorbed by trees and other obstacles and therefore their audible range is much shorter. Within a single year Tawny Owl vocalizations may be divided up into two subsequent periods, both of which correlate very well with the beginning and’ end of the breeding season. The first period of song builds up to a peak in mid-January: when thé owls are establishing territories and mating. This precedes the peak of the breeding season which is from the second week of March to the second week of April. Once the eggs are laid and the young are hatching there is a decline in the amount’ of calling. ~The second period builds up to a peak after the fledging of the young. This peak is about September when the young owls are véry vocal and trying to establish themselves with ‘their own territories ° against the other west established aay In the evening Tawny owls generally begin calling just after” susset until it-is dark. After dark they have begun hunting for their prey, and the amount of vocal activity it seems decreases somewhat. But quite frequently there are sudden outbursts when the owls in a large area all begin calling in chorus or you may have a pair of owls that begin calling furiously at each other as a scuffle breaks out. When Tawny Owls do have reason to call during the day it is ager because they have been disturbed or are being mobbed by maller birds, in which case there will be’ arlot’ of clatter from ici smaller birds. The weather has a very marked effect upon “the vocal activity of Tawny Owls. Vocal activity is greatest, amounting to over sixty per cent, on clear nights with little or no cloud, and in these situations it is usually calm and sound-carries very well and is audible over great distances. Ovér ‘thirty per cent of the calls are made on overcast nights, and the remaining percentage accounts for bad weather including fog, mist, drizzle, rain and snow. The meen Owl has as wide a vocabulary as any other bird, if not much wider. There are two very common calls which are known to most people. These are the sharp “kewicking" and the eerie "hooting" calls. Of these two calls the "hooting" has ‘the greater number of variations. There are also many other calls which are far from well-known and the number of- variations of igi calls are mainly FS EE uninest: edithe ears on paper is a very difficult process but the "hooting" calls are fairly easy. The most common of these is the "Hoooo00000000-Hooohooohooohoo000", and the "Hoooo00000000". There is also a shorter version of "Hoooooo". These three calls form the basis for other "hooting"-calls. These are just some of $ig3 the variations: "Hoooc00-Hooohooohooo0c0", "Hooohooohoooo0o", "Hoooo000000hoohochooo0000", "Hooococ0-00", "Hcooocc00=-00-0", and a "“Hoooohooo00000", which sounds like the cat-call whistle of "Whit- wheeoo!''. If you hear an owl calling this; you begin to wonder who taught it! Some of the "hooting" calls end in.a-quiet warbling. However it is possible that all hoots end with this as it may depend on how near you are to the owl as to whether you can hear the term- inal warbling. Calls of this description include: "Hoooo0000- Hoooeo9000000000F, "Hoooo000000=00", "Hoovc0000000", "Ho0000000-0000" and.a "Hoooo-Hooohocohooo000000", The under- lining represents the warbling phrase. And finally there are the warbling "oooo's", whining "hoots", and a "milk bottle hoot", which sounds as if. you were blowing over the lip of a milk bottle at a much lower frequency. Of the "kewick" calls there are two.common variations, a "kew", and a) "wick" call. Other calls heard are whining-like calls. and the following rarely heard calls of "twink", a barking "“woick", a "weeoo", a "woorak", a "cuck-cuck-cuckoo", a. "quorking" and some screeching noises. Bill snapping is hardly vocal but is, I think, relevant as it is used in communication by young owls at rest.as a threat to possible intruders. It is also used by angry owls. The most difficult part of studying bird vocalization is the interpretation of the calls and songs, and this part is still far from complete. However, I shall attempt to translate the. meaning of these calls and songs based on that which I have learnt so far. _»» The well-known ‘'Hoooo00000000-Hooohooohooohooooo" occurs throughout the year and is, I think, the. song of the territorial male... It is frequently heard as "Hooooo0co00c00" which is also probably of territorial significance. The shorter "Hoooooo"! although not so frequently heard is also heard throughout the year, and its meaning is probably similar to the longer version. All the other “hoots" apart from the warbling hoot are not very common and I am unsure of their interpretation. This also applies to the warbling "hoots" and most versions are uncommon except "Hoooc0000000" which occurs throughout the year. Of these “hoots" one can soon deduce that there are several basic "hoots" which are common and many variations which are infrequently heard. The "whining" calls. and "hoots" occur primarily in the months of February, March and April and are associated with the breeding season. . From this I would assume that they have definitely some- thing to do with breeding and I. have heard these calls made by two owls each getting closer to each other. As they get closer together there is more whining and some clattering in the branches, so possibly the calls are made prior.to mating. The calls prob- ably serve as some form of appeasement to each partner. as both sexes are naturally aggressive towards each other. - The "woick" barking call, the "twink", the "woorak", the aoe "“cuck=cuck-cuckoo", the "kew', the "wick" and the "screeching" calls are all fairly rare colts to be heard and their meaning is unknown to me. The "weeoo" call is also uncommon but has been recorded throughout the year and the common "kewick" call is also heard throughout: the year... The "kewick" call could possibly be a contact call-as it is ashame pnd sharp, whereas BORE song is of a oe duration. Fe: rr as This need T hope, a given. some aes ‘of ee types and meanings of the Tawny Owl-songs and calls. IL hope soon to carry out more extensive studies, when, firstly, I have obtained a | better understanding. of the Tawny Owl's behaviour from the other researchers, and secondly, when I have obtained some suitable playback equipment. With a better understanding of their behav- iour and.the ability .to record the, behavioural-reactions due to playbacks, I should be able to-decipher more easily. the meanings of songs and calls. In addition, I would like to make spectro- graphs of each vocalization and use this method to identify each owl individually, and to use it.for comparisons... Any help from those working in ‘similar fields would be gratefully received. ‘ I wish to acknowledge the help of the following persons: Mr. Ron Kettle’ ‘of the British Library of Wildlife Sound, the late ie AT 9 Field; KR. W. Greener and Douglas’ Bowery all of whom lll ae copies of their tapes on Tawny ae T‘am 2780’ Sta¥etad for the assistance of Peter Holden’ ante * “the Young Ornithologists* Club, who ran a survey on Tawny Owls, and all those ‘who took part. pi also wish to thank Ruth Murray, Graham Hirons and David Glue. 1 Para m Bibliography : Bunn, D,..S.(1974)..The voice ofthe Barn Owl. British. Birds 67, 463-501.) i } ‘on , | Sparks, J..& Soper, T. (1970) Owls. Their natural and ‘unnatural history. ee ty von Victor Wendland, (1972) Zur Biologie des Waldhauzes (Strix aluco). Die Vogelwelt 93, Heft 3, 81-91. Bayne, CG. S..(1975): Call of the birds. . Bird Life, March- April: part. ; = Vocalization of the Tawny Owl - a note My. owl,-WOL, frequently uttered a low warbling note without hooting and. would, sometimes reply when I. imitated this. .I took it to be conversational.sounds between two birds. close. together.. C.J. Leeke - 10 = a Visit to Malaysia 1975. RY Curis 4 Leeke Te arr We fain! Mn Seige eriaeaslle sabe cine my friend and ex- colleague Ted Bicknell came home ‘on leave from Malaysia, and stayed a while with us. He said, "Why don't you come out to us next summer?" We tossed this rather daring, hitherto unthinkabl:-, notion about more in fun than resolution, until February when we consulted British Airways and bought tickets. Then a nail- abutting wait for the reply to our query’. "Did you really mean Lt?'" After a combined course of passive and Kevavé immunisation against a variety of tropical pathogens, some useful briefing from our friends on’ clothing and armed with difficult-to-come-by items as gifts, we boarded flight B.A. 930, four hours’ delayed by a strike of caterers, and were airborne at 23.30-6n July l2th. The flight was technically uneventful, but aesthetically sheer delight. -Illuminated London fell away rapidly in an awe- inspiring climb; then. the electric filigree of some European towns passe@ slowly by six miles below. The dawn came towards us from Asia Minor. First,.a light streak in the eastern sky.rapidly extending in a long, shallow curve as the horizon marked the silhouette of a round Earth. Then this widened to an enormous crescent as far as the, eye could See. Finally the huge,blood red orb appeared = below the dark silhouette! It was cloud cover following: the more solid. curvature. beneath. In minutes the fierce sun was above the clouds and the -rarified atmosphere offered insufficient protection; so regretfully the blind was lowered ard we slept until the only landfall at Bahrein. An hour later we followed Concorde into a brilliant sky over the Persian Gulf with its toy ships and white-tipped waves. TJ. slept as Bombay slid slowly by and awoke to see a large, brown river carrying monsoon water towards Madras. The- broken clouds followed exactly the shape of the sub-continent, the golden strand forming a narrow border as India too was left behind. The sun was setting over the densely: wodded.Nicobars and it was dark when fourteen hours from London we touched down at Kuala Lumpur in the rain. With thé temperature and humidity. both above’ 80, the hand baggage seemed twice as heavy as it had in London. A furlong and a lot of sweat later, we’ entered the.immigration. lounge, with a hundred others, to find we should have filled in forms on the plane. Soon the room was littered with perspiring travellers con- centrating on questions like nationality?, from?, to?, why?, and many of a more personal nature. We sat on our baggageys. only the first score had room at the tables, many sat on the floor. Then the queueing to be interviewed by humourless young men, who had seen it all before. As I pushed our documents forward, the young man gave me a distinctly boot-faced look, which was depressing; had we forgotten something? As I mentally checked off the items, my eye caught a notice, on the wall, which stated clearly and simply that visitors without visas could stay for - J4 «= seven days and this period was not extendable. Who had told us we did not need visas? Then the young man asked "How long do you intend to stay?" I felt rather foolish as I said:that our return flight was booked for August 3lst. He then stamped our passport and wrote August 3lst on the certificate and actually smiled as he said "Enjoy your stay". Knowing the worst was over we waited, with a feeling of elation, ‘for our luggage to arrive at the carousel. .The humidity and heat which had’ become so oppressive in the throng now meant. nothing because, somewhere among the thousands of faces looking for relatives and friends, we knew two faces were looking for us. I picked up our two heavy’ cases.and said to an official. by the door "I will come back for the hand luggage" and stepped through. “Immediately, I was relieved of the load by our friends and went back for the rest; the man at the door politely said goodnight to us and we were whisked away. It was.a marvellous ‘feeling as we drove off in’the night. “Of course", said my “friend, cree know, you just: walked right ue the customs?" The house was fyds of surprises. The’ fish west and fountain beneath the open’ stairway was’ put to practical use by Suki, the Malay dog’ that looked ‘like a’ short-haired terrier that did not quite oS Crufts. A three-inch — swam with The Bold eAen A loud 6a clothe — one of Muriel's tooled capper pictures heralded the appearance of one of the several "lounge lizards" in the house. These geckos were usually active from dusk onwards catching unsuspecting moths, sometimes laying their eggs down the backs of ‘armchairs *and one gecko was~»found by Suki in an advanced state of sae ig under .the carpet. Clive, the youngest» of the boys, caught a. ieee: flying ant for me and put it on. the side’ while we had tea. When.we looked for it later it was being carried down the vertical edge of the cupboard by a multitude of‘minute black ants. (It was like a. light aircraft béing manhandled by a crowd of people. We-watched fascinated as it rounded the moulded overhang before proceeding more rapidly across the floor, out of the door, and down a crack between the flags of the aahig There was a larger species of» black antiwhich also scavenged crumbs from the dining area but the two species never met. I think they deliberately avoided each other. Pheromones must be quite important to their survival, not only guiding them safely home but also Mie gaye them sie avoid the disaster oF being carried orf. 'In the garden there was another species of anti, even bigger, ‘living ina nest made of deaves in a tree. These brown, tree ants were quite arrogant, and with: good reason;. they had a most pain- . ful way with them but fortunately much ‘of their _travelling was along the overhead 5 al aga cables. Hye oT On wet evenings “the lawn, composed of a peculiar, coarse, creeping grass’ would be visited by many large spiral snails, up to four inches long, seeking the tender shoots of cherished plants a and retiring before dawn ioe sists hase of the pede or the compost heap. : ‘ Dawn ‘came about.6 a.m. and within a:.few minutes the 'scribb- ling' song of. the yellow-vented bul-bul could-be heard; this was an extremely common bird everywhere we went. .Usually the first birds to call were the local fowls, not far removed in appearance from the réd jungle fowl, some-of:which still.exist on the out- skirts of the city.” It. Would: not~be long before. the loud calls f common mynahs could be heard. as they swaggered about-in the brash fashion of the Starling tribé. The pleasant whistling of the. magpie robin soon followed and: the day-was properly launched. This bird is a thrush, as is our robin, but its nearest relative is the shy, melodious peyote savers: times heard but never seen. Other birds seen in ner around aw garden were black-naped orioles, fairly common and a splendid sight. whether in flight or feeding -on some fruiting tree; but since all trees at all times have some yellow Leaves, there being no marked seasons, they were remarkably inconspicuous when at rest. Common ioras regularly fed on insects in the willow trees. These sparrow-sized yellow and black birds were a-delight to watch as they, poked into cracks in the bark and searched behind leaves. Tree-sparrows thought. they were house-sparrows’ as ‘they squabbled over scraps thrown on the lawn, while a hen sunbird of unknown identity busily, sucked from the blue flowers of the creeper in the hedge. House-swifts screamed about their nest under the eaves as they rushed about the business of feeding their two offspring. Always where there were suitable thickets not too close to houses there were jungle crows and the smaller, sleeker house- crows, comparable to our carrion crows and jackdaws. .Near lakes. there was often to oe seen the magnificent white-throated : kingfisher, a large bird, eleven inches long: with contrasting chocolate-coloured head and belly and dazzling white throat and with gleaming blue back, wings and tail. It seems its diet includes large insects and small: reptiles as well as fish because it would often perch away from the water edge to cast an-eye over the Ashes eet a vegetation. If we could get along the road to some: secondary jungle . before dawn it was possible to see many other birds; an old dead tree was of absorbing interest to a golden-backed woodpecker and the brilliant copper-smith barbet could be seen on-a high perch giving out its monotonous tonking call. A harsh:cry attracted attention to a racket-tailed drongo,.a wonderful sight as it. flew by, and a loud’ scolding chatter (which might have been made: by. a large magpie) came surprisingly from a small “squirrel. ; ‘A little further’ down ‘the road was a spot favoured by a troupe of Long-tailed macaques. These bélong to the crab- renting @roup but were a long way from. the’sea. The.adults. were light... gingery-brown on the back ahr dae to grey but the new:babies were black. en eee Lae a mile from the house stands the National Museum, a pleasant building with a strongly eastern aura,, which houses .a ... fascinating ‘collection of many interests. Under its wide eaves a = Lena noisy colony of green glossy mRGoRE TE had suspended their nests after the fashion of swifts. --For*’me the Wied te inti age le: was’ full of high lights but perhaps the visit, to Taman Negara; the National Park, must shine -above the rest... Seventeen of.us, led bya’ young Chinese called John, set off: by minibus from the Majestic. Hotel forecourt at 7 asm. By about mid-day we had reached Kuala Lipis, very near the centre of the peninsula’, for lunch at the rest house. On-the way we had seen two siamangs climbing a strangling. fig.near the roadside’ and a smart-looking cinnamon bittern hunting: ina paddy. field.' The most spectacular sight was a rhinoceros hornbill: whichi flew low across the road just in front of us. This splendid, bird is. ekg ‘Peet long. The: minor road from Kuala Lipis soon became a dusty: single- track and then petered out on the banks. of the brown Pahang river. From here our movement was to be by boat or on foot; at one time the boats would have. been paddled, now, powerful outboard motors drive the forty-foot craft along at fifteen knots. »We unloaded the minibus and there, about fifty feet below, were the two boats, their tin roofs gleaming in the sun. We descended the irregular steps ,cut in the slippery clay bank and held up by old logs and boards with ‘some difficulty, My: impediment& consisted of a) grip, a leather hold-all containing camera, lenses and meter, a cine camera, a pair of 10 x 50 binoculars, a cassette recorder. and a Chinese frying pan. It was this last item that caused a lot of amusement, to some because they recognised it and wondered what I was going to cook, to others because it was unfamiliar. When. I told.these people it was a panei £0 reflector, there was a baffled silence on -all sides. : ; After bie jolting of, the rae ees over at Uae ‘erg Less than desirable road surface, the smooth" progress by, river was 2a pleas- ure in spite of the roar of the engine echoing. back from the primeval rain forest and the drizzle that had begun to slant into our faces. : The thirty miles were full of interest. Bamboo fish- traps could be seen at each kampong and canoes of various sizes. to suit children or adults, water buffalo grazed with the hump- backed dwarf cattle, and countless bee-eaters hawked insects from favoured. perches. ° The white-throated kingfishers each. had, their’ beat and a huge stork-billed kingfisher eyed -us warily. from a fallen tree. ‘Three southern pied, hornbills flapped and glided across the river to a lofty perch and watched’ ‘curiously as we roared by. A grey-headed fish eagle prepared for a nap in a big tree, ignoring the noise completely. Red-rumped swallows and the big fork=tailed swifts skimmed over the water at twice our speed. After two and a half hours. we eeinarced at Kuala Tahan and carried our gear up a hundred-foot bank and were directed to self- contained chalets designed :for two or four persons. This was ‘unexpected ‘luxury, electric light from a large. diesel generator, * showers, anda: pleasant dining hall; but there. was little time to admire the mod..cons. ‘There was time only for a quick sortie, in the rain, which had:become heavier, to:view prospects for the .next day. Then it was. dinner time and soon became dark. After dinner I) (with Brian Leonard from Singapore) collected wo Jala insects. Large flying ants, ephemerids, cicadas, praying mantids, venomous night-flying bees were among. the hordes that came to the verandah lights. The ubiquitous geckos were there too and so was a large spider that couldvhide in’ the joints betweén bricks or in the rebates between boards by stretching the first two pairs of legs forwards and the last two backwards, in.a seemingly unnatural pose; but it did. achieve the spider's narrowest shape this way. At midnight the generator was switched off and having lit the insect-repellent coil I went to: bed: leaving the light. switch on so that the generator would wake me at five: This worked well and I was able-to get to a suitable place in time for the dawn. activity at 6 a.m. After breakfast at: 8 a.m. we walked along a jungle track to a suitable place for swimming and on the way, in a clearing around an Orang Asli Kampong, we saw a tiny rufcus- backed kingfisher - which shone like burnished ~gpeibiiay in the sunlight as Lt. MeSeEe chm ye The Orang Asli are nostri c, labtirtiei nes but they had left this fairly new settlement a few days earlier because a tiger was hunt- ing wild pig too‘near for comfort. These people lead a primitive existence ard are the only ones allowed to-hunt in the National Park. They collect fruits and other parts of plants for their various needs and hunt birds, monkeys, deer and other small animals for the pot with blowpipes. The shelters they erect are woven coconut leaves on bamboo: frames which. are then fixed to make triangular huts about four feet high. It was not surprising that they had moved on with such’ poor protection. That evening the camp was visited by a pair of sambar which had learned of pickings to be had behind the cookhouse. They had become tame enough for children to stroke them but lived in the forest nearby where presumably the activity at the Park head- quarters and the noise of people and machines would keep tigers .., . away. Again after dinner some more insects were collected and three large ants seemed to be having a gossip’on a light gl” be}. for a long time they stroked each others! antennae. Again bedtime came with lights out and I awoke just before the-lights came on at 5 am. This was a good morning for birds. A*pair of southern pied hornbills watched with mild interest while I manoeuvred the camera, three black magpies noisily sorted out a domestic triangle and a delightful pair of blué-rumped parrots were biting the leaves from a tree to clear a way to the fruits’ which they tore open. The sticky pulp was dripping from their beaks, but they .ate only the. seeds. Several green pigeons were moving through the trees to a nearby frniting trée and a shama filled the forest with its powerful melodious séng, as the usual Ds hour of con= densation dripped from the trees. - After breakfast we travelled by boat upstream to Kuala Kenyam, which was an exciting two hours as there were seven sets of rapids to negotiate; The sound of baling was often heard; It was prudent to have a plastic mac back to front across the knees so that it could be jerked right over one's. head, when white water came splashing'in, ‘to protect the cameras and: recorder. Just as we approached the tail of one set of rapids the engine cut out; the boatmen reacted quickly to paddle and pole us into the lee of some large boulders, where the fault was remedied. . a At the top of the steps where we: disembarked at Kuala Kenyam was a tulip tree covered in red flowers that :were crinkled as if made of paper. There were about. three dozen spider hunters. feeding and squabbling about. the tree» These birds are speckled, predominantly brown, about the- size of a-thrush and with a long curved, probing beak. For about.an hour we watched them and © suddenly they were gone. A young southern, piedshornbill sat in a tree waiting for its mother. but she was. disturbed and did not: come. Eventually ~ ‘she’ called from a tree about a buadFad yeugs Se and* ‘the young: bird flew nad Sean herai 2! | el The iua nenee- ~ong" eall of, a hill adie Mecca ee the. settlement but it was impossible to. get the- direction accurately enough for any, hope of seeing: the. bird. It was an. excitingly ‘vigorous’ sound. On ohne’ of my excursions across a clearing, which. ‘ome Malays had been fencing for. their animals, a pair of ‘quail, exploded in-my facé ‘as ‘I’ nearly: stepped on them. Later, when.a party which had walked to see some caves returned, they fed the local fowls with the leeches, which were. adhering to their. jungle boots’ and trousers. - Only one: person was bitten by a leech, which found its way inside her shirt and attached.itself to her navel. Fortunately, these injuries bleed well and ‘so clear out possible infectror. ‘Tt can take up iio. three or. fseur chours to stop. © After a light evening meal a “See of about ten male fairy blue-birds appeared around the hut. They seemed to be catching Some ‘insects as ‘they chased about uttering sharp calls for about five minutes.’ Then they too disappeared as quickly as: they came. A pair ‘of green broadbills were seeking a roost and just) when it seemed all diurnal birds’ would have gone to bed-a huge rhinoceros hornbill flew over at trée-top level. ‘This must -rank as my best bird-watchinghalf- hour. EFT: “204 Four -of us sat up for another hour or‘so and watched the tropical rain pelt down from a cloud that had obliterated-the sun- set. Then, as there were no lights here, we-retired.carly.+ This was probably a mistake, as bE was geared to about five hours! Sleep. When I awoke I was*sure that it was coming light. so I climbed out of the mosquito net and dressed quietly, trying not ‘to disturb anyone else. Then, stealthily, I.crept out with my; “camera, recorder, Chinese frying-pan sound-reflector and binacu- ~ lars; but John, the Chinese guide, was alight sleeper and quietly said "It is only quarter past two,- you know'', Then I made my second mistake by going back’ to bed; where’ the late nights. and early mornings caught up with: me and I: hat: to be wakened to catch the aaa back penne the main vitae for Pugs co anid As tivobfers 4 prot ite a grand finake - ti this marvellous visit to Taman Negara,’ the "cherry" tree behind the dining room was,. visited, not ‘only by the’ usual collection of birds, but also a. group of fairy blue-birds which gleamed like porcelain figures in the bright sun... The cocks are like blackbirds, but with a stunning blue crown, nape, back and rump. . Best of all was a family of ‘YHinocéros hornbills, huge, black and white, with yellow and red casque above ‘their large yellow bills. The cock flew off but ‘the hen remained to’ feed the manele young bird with the ridreulousty small fruits. -~ 16 - The journey back to Kuala Lumpur seemed much shorter than the journey out and we soon joined the federal highway which carried us into the city centre where for several miles, the primeval forest had been replaced by secondary growth, largely composed of steel and concrete of: hake height o¢ and. sndetenmsnat? culture. Given €Hé dhanéé, ‘the ‘plants ae Malaysia grow luxuriously, being favoured by near optimum condittons-all the year.. No part of the peninsula is more than about seventy miles from either the Indian or Pacific Ocean, so rainfall is: always. adequate and temperature does not vary much from 30 C. The climax vegetation is largely tropical rain forest, even: on'the highest hills, except in some coastal regions where coconut palms or mangroves. flourish. Because high winds are rare, trees can grow tall, straight and fairly slender. “Many forest trees have trunks which tower smoothly and elegantly above their, buttresses for. one hun- dred’ and fifty feet or: more before producing any branches. Everywhere there are epiphytes, ferns, pitcher plants, orchids and mosses. The lethal: strangling figs may be seen ain ‘the cities as well as in the forests sending down their lianas from even the highest trees; eventually killing off the host, its rotting trunk replaced with a multiplicity of roots. A wealth of climbing plants, such as we struggle to keep alive as house plants, grow rampantly. i : . Forest clearings soon become populated with tall lalang grass and a variety of other herbs, as well as small shrubs and the. . inevitable tree seedlings that would take over if grazing and nibbling animals did not keep them down. Roadside verges are cut ‘at irregular intervals and..become a‘habitat for.delightful creep- ing ferns, sensitive plants and a tangle of many others. Malacéa, a day trip:from Kuala Lumpur, is an,ancient. town ‘with a turbulent history, refleeted in the variety of.architecture that has accumulated over the centuries. A glance over the sea wall anywhere along the esplanade.shows some;other changes that have occurred. The yellowy+brown, muddy water.and the thousands of mudskippers. are probably remnants.of.a.one-time mangrove swamp, long since drained and burned off.: A hundred miles .to,.the north “at Kuala Selangor the mangrove. swamps are being. burned and drained today. Tts4e — ‘progress, 198 The east coast’ is femoris for: its uation Green corttee ‘and the great Pacific leatherbacks may be.seen burying their eggs on selected beaches, from April’ to September. Young men and. boys. - keep a look-out for them, careful not to turn them back. As soon as a female has hauled up far enough and begun to dig, she reaches the point of no: return; then it. is safe to collect a. small fee from’ ge ag and to eabhen clase to watch. We arrived at ‘such a beach at Hee ah 10. 30. pe Me aa prepared for a wait of unknown .duration. The beach consisted of coarse sand and extended for a couple.of miles in-each direction, then outcrops of rocks separated it. from the next beaches. .I had been up and about since 5 a.m. and was glad that a small lad was doing the leg work for us. So we settled on the warm. sand and watched the full moon rising high over the South China Sea and ot, Tei listened to the soughing of the waves as the tide approached its peak. The warm breeze that ruffled ‘the palms: combined with every-" thing else to make’ me feel ‘very drowsy. I waS:vaguely aware that two of the ‘Bicknell. boys ‘had asked: for.the car’keys to get a drink and some time later ‘there seemed to be a bit of bother. After some "to-ing and fro-ing", I became aware that they had... locked the keys in the car and the spares were ten miles away in © the chalet. Fortunately; a combination of a slightly open window and a piece of wire enabled the situation to be remedied just as news of a turtle arrived. It was a green turtle a quarter of a mile wway. We walked along the narrow strip of wet sand as the tide receded;’ the dry sand was too mobile for comfort. When we came to the tracks, about three feet wide, as though a miniature tank had emerged from the sea, we followed them, marvelling at the effort these animals make to propogate their species. The turtle was lying in a saucer-shaped hollow about five feet in diameter and eighteen inches deep, with a deeper trough in the centre in which the eggs lay, round, white and dented. She began filling in almost at once and was oblivious of several people quite close, one with a flash gun. ‘With considerable power she made great sweeping motions with her flippers, shooting the dry sand backwards and sometimes, if she hit a root, high over our heads. Every two or three strokes, she would rest with a loud sigh; continuing she not only moved slowly round but also Slowly forward. In this way she moved a vast amount. of sand and left a disturbed area about twelve or more feet in diameter. This would normally have entailed a great deal of digging to find the eggs, but the wily lads had marked them with a stick, replaced several times as she knocked it down, They began digging them out as soon as she began’ to move back to the séa. The whole process takes two or ‘three Monies and it must be very exhausting for an animal so adapted for locomotion in water. I felt relief and genuine pleasure as. she regained her natural element. She must have felt much the same as the warm water buoyed her up and removed the sand from every scale and groove, especially to have the sand-plastered, gelatinous "tears" washed from her eyes, - Di , Most of the eggs laid find their way at dawn to the food markets, but it is not all-in vain... The Government has restricted | beaches from which the eggs are collected only by officials who re-inter them in batches of fifty. Each batch is labelled ona stick with a record of the female, if tagged, and the date. In this way, one-hundred thousand eggs are protected each year. If there are not enough:collected, some are bought with the aid of the World Wildlife Fund. The eggs take fifty-four days to hatch and, two days before they are due, the batch is surrounded bya barrier of half-inch-mesh wire netting about one foot in diameter. The young usually emerge at night; collections are made at mid- night and at dawn. Each collection is immediately taken out by boat and dispersed widely to make it-more difficult for predators to catch them. Swimming in Malaysia is superb for people as well as for = eae turtles. Every hotel of note and many houses have.splendid out- door pools. The rivers near their sources are clean enough for swimming and are especially g00d fun at waterfalls. That is, if you do not object to swimming in water the colour of freshly brewed tea. For me; the sea was in a special.class, warm, buoyant, salty and with frequent patches of stagshorn coral among which brilliantly coloured wrasses, striped angel fish, yellow-tailed fish, abudefdufs (portly and pompous looking) and small spotted groupers could be seen nervously inspecting one's feet. At any sudden movement they would all vanish into the sharp coral forest. to appear again when their curiosity overcame their fear. It was on the way home from Penang that we saw lotus "lilies" growing in a roadside drain. I was looking for these in a reach- © able position, having seen about half an acre of them in the lake gardens at Taiping. I hoped to obtain.a fruit, like a squat ice-cream cornet with small holes in the top. ssid capsules were held on individual stems about two feet above-the water and pre- sumably disperse seeds by a censer mechanism. We stopped the car and I walked back to see whether I could get one. The plants. were in a broad drain, but there was a narrow ditch and a small bank covered in dry, dusty grass on my side. So, choosing a place where I could step over the narrow ditch, I did that. What a sur- prise. The bank proved to be non-existent, the dry, dusty grass gave way and I was sprawling on a heaving mass of very wet veg- etation. I could feel nothing solid at all and was in'water up to my knees and elbows. Since every force has an equal and opposite one, I was unable to get out. Every time I tried to stand the vegetation sank deeper. However, by this time Ted had overcome his laughter enough to render me assistance, but i did not reach the totus. Arriving back in Kuala Lumpur, a city of interesting con- | trasts, we saw:- blocks of high rise flats and. dingy rooms over - small shops which themselves contrast with giant Emporia, dubious looking hotels and luxurious towers like the Kuala Iumpur H*1ton or the ultra modern cighteeh storey Federal Hotel: topped by its revolving restaurant. The quaint old mosque which sits at the geographical centre of the city where the two,rivers meet - the name Kuala Lumpur means muddy river mouth and they both are - has a timeless dignity in common with the magnificent new National Mosque of which the Muslims are justly PESee 3 The fine National voaceatrs. like the new te Lacie) Mosque, , although modérn has retained the: Moorish influence and:looks right. in Malaysia. So too'do the City Offices, the General Post Office, the Secretariat: offices and the. fine railway station, -all built. — during the Vi¢torian era by the British, and I felt a flicker of | pride that we had done, something well. But, , in case we should become too carried away by .our pride, I should like to: leave you with this quote from the Guide to Malaysia, "Before. construction of a new building could begin, the plans had_ to. be-.submitted to the U.K. for approval. The plans for the Railway. Station were rejected until another design of the roof was made, capable of holding three feet of snow", 219 = Supplement to the list of the Lepidoptera of Moor Copse Nature Reserve by B, R. Baker Nomenclature as per Kloet and: Hincks, Check List of British Insects, Second Edition (Revised), December; 1972. Eulithis prunata (L.) Perizoma bifaciata (Haw. ) Bupithecia.centaureata CD,/ te aed E. icterata (Vill.) Aplocera efformata (Guenée) Ennomos quereinaria (Hufn.) Lymantria monacha (L.) Noctua interjecta (Hilbn.) Xestia sexstrigata (Haw.) Hadena rivularis (Fabr.) Tholera cespitis (D. & S.) Gryphia domestica (Hufn.) Mormo maura (L.) Ipimorpha subtusa (D. & S.) eenes scolopacina (Esp. ) Mesoligia furuncula (D. & S.) Erétiobia ochroleuca (Dy & Se) Hoplodpina ambigua (Di & Si). Catocala nupta (L.) Schrankia costaestrigalis (Stephens) The PHoenix Barred Rivulet Lime-speck. Pug Tawny Speckled Pug Lesser Treble-bar August Thorn Black Arches Least Yellow Underwing Six-striped Rustic The Campion Hedge Rustic Marbled Beauty Old Lady The Olive Slender Brindle ms Cloaked Minor Dusky Sallow Vine's Rustic Red Underwing Pinion-streaked Snout This brings the species total fop the Reserve to 306. = 20° é Butterflies in a Suburban Garden Members who have seen the study of insects in a suburban garden by D. F. & Js Owen in Envirogmental Conservation 2 (1) or the notice of it in the part of Habitat for June 1975 will have noted that fifteen species of butterfly were recently caught in a suburban garden in Leicester and that this represents about two-fifths of the species recorded at Monks Wood since 1960 and about a quarter of the British list. Reading this prompted me to get out my notebooks and see how many species I have noted in my garden in south Reading over the years. I find that, including a queried but I think almost certainly correGt record of a Painted Lady in 1949, the total is exactly fifteen. Even if that record is incorrect, a Painted Lady that I saw this summer a few gardens away may well Have visited me while I was out. My visitors have included both the Orange Tip and the Comma, which the Owens were particularly encouraged to see as they associate them with the countryside, though I must say that I have always regarded the Comma as a garden butterfly. The other species I noted were the Large, Small and Green-veined Whites, Brimstone, Speckled Wood, Gatekeeper, Wall, Small Tortoiseshell, Red Admiral, Peacock, Small Copper and Holly Blue. L. E.. Cobb Rhynchodemus terrestris (A land planarian) Rhynchodemus terrestris wac found beneath a stone in an area of permanent pasture in Whiteknights Park, Reading, on 6th March, 1975. Reeords of land planarians are very few, probably because they are not even known to exist by most zoologists and when seen the superficial appearance is not unlike that of a slug. ‘This may well be the first record for Berkshire. D..C. F. Cotton a ee Lepiota Igni-Volvata, a fungus new to Britain vey I was delighted to realise that fungi would make a fascin- ating extension, by a month or so, of my hobby to photograph wild flowers and, accordingly, set out cycling on the 17th October 1975. to comb the area Peppard-Stoke Row-Cane End, seek- ing fungi. . Finding. it quite beyond my limited botanical knowledge to sort them all out when I got home, I decided to risk being snubbed by Dr. F. B. Hora (whom I had never met) and to ask him — to help. In the event I found him charming and extremely helpful. He immediately picked one fungus from my collection and put it to one side, reeling off all the others and writing the names down for me. Three days later Dr. Hora phoned me to say that the one picked out was apparently so rare that it had never -been recorded in Britain before, that he had communicated with Dr. D. Reid who confirmed, that he had no record of it at Kew, aS having been found in Britain and, accordingly, my name was Be iis down as the kien at Kew Herbarium. It was first recorded in France in 1948 and is considered very rare. On the 24th October we both set out for the Wyfold area to find it again, as Dr. Hora wanted samples for drying in order to. be able. to send to other botanists, and we were success- ful. (Dried specimens tell botanists all they want to know, it seems.) "igni-" indicates that the base of the stipe, shaped rather like a human foot, has faint reddish markings when. DRY... UO. Pl Warrick Fungi found on the Foray to Wasing Wood (0.8. 583632) “near: Aldermaston on October 18th 1975 “by P. Andrews Identifications are by Dr. F; B. Hora. Species names of Agarics and Boleti are taken from the current British Check List, except in the case of Cortinarius mucifluus sensu J. Lange, which represents an emendation of that list (see. notebelow). “ Agaricus bitorguis Armillaria mellea Amanita citrina Boletus badius . citrina var. alba bovinus ' muscaria ; speek - chrysenteron rubescens 28, One 45 bteneddgis = Cai Boletus granulatus piperatus scaber subtomentosus variegatus Cakocera viscosa Cantharellus cibarius tubaeformis Clitocybe clavipes dicoior | Collybia cirrhata or cookei distorta ; maculata peronata Cortinarius alboviolaceus cinnabarinus elatior mucifluus sensu J. Lange torvus Fistulina hepatica Gymnopilus penetrans Hebeloma longiceudum sinuosum Heterobasidion (Fomes) annosum Hy grophoropsis aurantiaca Hypholoma fasciculare Inocybe fastigiata it Kuehneromyces (Pholiota) mutabilis Laccaria laccata Lactariug. blennius chrysorrheus hepaticus , quietus rufus tabidus turpis vellereus Lycoperdon perlatum Marasmius androsaceus Mycena galericulata galopus sanguinolenta Paxillus involutus Piptoporus betulinus Pluteus salicinus Psathyrella conopilea gossypina hydrophila Russula caerulea . cyanoxantha emetica fellea knauthii mairei ~ ochroleuca sardonia Sparassis crispa Tricholoma nudum rutilane Xylaria hypoxylon Dr. Hora adds the following note about Cortinarius mucifluus sensu J. Lange: The Wasing Wood specimen matches exactly with J. Lange's description and coloured plate.and there can be no doubt about the identification. What was originally meant in the literature by C. mucifluus has never been settled and interpretations are commonly referred to C. pseudo-salor, a species first described by J. Lange, who thus clearly considered the two species to be distinct. There is much to be said for abandoning the name C. mucifluus as being ambiguous and giving a new one to J. Lange's interpretation:of it. - Until this is done, the above citation can stand. Reference Dennis, R./W. G., Orton, P.. D. & Hora, F. B. (1960) New Check List of British Agarics and Boleti. Trans. Br.°Mycol. Soc., 43 suppl. Sa > The Recorder's Report for Botany 1974-75 by B. M. Newman This report has been made possible by the work of members who have kept records of the plants they have seen during the year, and once again their efforts are gratefully acknowledged. They are all regular contributors and their records are’ initialled. o Numbers: of wild plants inevitably decrease as habitats dis- appear under roads and buildings, but there are still plenty to. interest an enthusiastic observer. When the bull-dozers depart the road verges and gravel pits provide new habitats soon colon- ised by plants, and even rubbish tips have .provided nea hunting grounds. Among the rarer plants recorded this year are the Marsh Gentian, still flourishing at “Hook Common .and the Six-stamened Waterwort found oe Sandhurst although thought: to be extinct in the area. ' The nomenclature and order are according to the "Flora of the British Isles" by Clapham, Tutin and Warburg, and an alien taxon is indicated by an asterisk ( *).. The English names are from "English Names of Wild Flowers", the recommended list of. the Botanical Society of the British Isles. Records were sent by:- Mr. P. Andrews (PA); Dr.:H. J.-M. Bowen (HJMB); Miss L. E. Gobb (LEC); Mr. M. Sell (MS); Dr. J. Toothill (JT); Mrs. E. M. Trembath (EMT). List of Members! Records Juniperus communis L. © Juniper Seedlings along the old railway cutting at Chilton. -(HIMB) Helleborus viridis L. Green Hellebore fas 9} Near Nuffield. » Lis i ated L620 : 2 .akde) Aconitum napellus agg. ©" | Monk's-hood elytoe Roadside near Downe House, Cold Ash. — ( HIMB ) Ranunculus circinatus Sibth. Fan-leaved Water-crowfoot In old gravel. pit, Sandhurst. «- ef: iand- (HJMB) Ranunculus trichophyllus Chaix Threadleaved Water-crowfoot Cock Marsh, 9th August. — (EC) Thalictrum flavum L. Oe Common Meadow-rue A very fine display’ along both sides of a drainage: ditch after lengthy flooding of Pang water. meadow at Pangbourne. (EMT ) Ceratophyllum demersum L. Rigid Hornwort bere In old gravel pit, Sandhurst. . | bey (HJMB) Rapistrum rugosum (L.) All. Bastard Cabbage On rubbish at Norris Green Tip, Woodley. « : (HJMB) Rorippa islandica (Oeder) Borbas Marsh Yellow-cress Cock Marsh; 29th June. | .» CLEC) ~ 2 « Hypericum androsaemum L... Tutsan, Railway bank near Pangbourne Station. (HJMB) EBlatine hexandra (Lapierre) DC 'Six-stamened Waterwort On mud and floating in old gravel pit, Sandhurst. Found by R. C. Palmer, though believed to be extinct in v.c.22. ( HJMB ) ‘Montia perfoliata (Willd.) Howell Springbeauty Reading; second week in April. - “ CLEC) Chenopodium ficifolium Sm. Fig-leaved Goosefoot On rubbish at Noriis Green Tip, Woodley. | (HJMB) Malva neglecta Wallr. ; Dwarf Mallow Sonning, 7th September. Cente (LEC ) ‘Impatiens capensis Meerburgh © Orange Balsam Sonning, 7th September. } . (LEC ) Impatiens glandulifera Royle Indian Balsam Sonning, 7th September. ho (LEC ) Trifolium fragiferum Be i Strawberry Clover Cock Marsh, 9th August. rnd i (LEC ) ‘*Soronilla varia L. Crown Vetch Recently disturbed soil, Childe-Beale Trust, Basildon. (EMT ) Pyrus communis L... © . . Wild Pear Windsor Forest. Found by E, E. Green. ~ . (HJMB) Saxifraga granulata Da ' Meadow Saxifrage Below the Ridgeway, near Chilton. (JT) Chrysosplenium oppositifolium L. Opposite-leaved Golden- By streams in Hamstead Park, saxifrage . near Newbury. _wf (HJMB) Mortimer, 8th March. (LEC ) Peplis portula L. Water-purslane On muddy shore of gravel pit, Sandhurst. - (HJIMB) Callitriche intermedia Hoffm. snterdonsaees ‘Water- starwort In old gravel pit, Sandhurst. . (HJME) Viscum album L. Mistletoe Huta: On Tilia. South Hill Park, Bracknell. fi (JT) Hydrocotyle vulgaris L. .°. Marsh Pennywort . nua Cock Marsh, 29th June. -H84 bIod , st “wo Laon ee Smyrnium olusatrum L. |. Alexanders: | On railway bank near Readane West. Found by:Miss. E. “Robson. (HIMB). Oenanthe fistulosa L. Tubular Gtk aie cae Cock Marsh, 29th June. | (LEC) . Oenanthe aquatica (L.) Poir. pee Saved Water-dropwort Cock Varsh, 29th Junce cr omet (LEC) Mercurialis annua L. fe Annual ‘Mercury On rubbish at Norris Green Tip, Woodley: (HJMB) Polygonum mite Schrank oF Theta) Water-pepper * Shiplake, 28th September |: rit (LEC ) Fagopyrum esculentum Moench _ Buckwheat’. Shiplake, 30th August. sett (LEC) ~ 25.4 quercus petraea (Mattuschka) Liebl. Sessile Oak. Fairly common with many saplings, on Snelsmore Common. (HJMB) Pyrola minor L. Common Wintergreen Woodland near Ascot. Found by R. C. Palmer. ~ (HJMB) Hottonia palustris L. Water-violet Cock Marsh, 29th June (LEC ) Marsh Gentian Gentiana pneumonanthe L. 2 i Hook Common, 6th September, flourishing in large numbers at this old site. (LEC) Nymphoides peltata (S.G.Gmel.) O.Kuntze Fringed-Water-Lily Well established in Whiteknights Lake. (PA) Antirrhinum orontium L. Lesser Snapdragon Grassland, Hardwick estate. (EMT ) Veronica scutdlata L. Marsh Speedwell Cock Marsh, 29th June. ALEC); Pedicularis sylvatica L. _ Lousewort Pangbourne. A fair ae this gol mS: (EMT) Calamintha_ agscendens Jord. Common Calamint | Hardwick, 24th August. (LEC ) Betonica officinalis L. Betony Ashampstead. On felled woodland tracks. (EMT ) Campanula _trachelium L. “Nettle-leaved Bellflower A fine colony on bank of railway cutting west of Tilehurst station. Bidens cernua L. Shiplake. 26th ee. Bidens tripartita Le Shiplake, 30th August. (EMT ) Nodding Bur-marigold (LEC ) . nahi Buremarigold (LEC) Galinsoga parviflora Cav. Gallant Soldier, é Earley. Roadside near Shepherd's House Inn. (HJMB) ~ Galinsoga ciliata, (Raf.) Blake Shaggy oo Roadside, Bramshill. Yt. at. weather Tussilago. farfara L. Colt's-foot Burghfield, 8th February. i ‘Erigeron glaucus Ker-Gawl One clump by the railway near Tilehurst. Chrysanthemum segetum L. © Sulham. Ina barley field. Chrysanthemum vulgare (L.) Bernh. . Bridleway, Greathouse Woods. Onopordum acanthium L. a casual. in a grassy field near a oo FCBEC Beach Aster TEq a pusme onteute) “Corn Marreolad’°~ ; : adiaeiaa i Tansy..— sass (EMT) Cotton Thistle ee as Se €entaurea diluta Aiton Woodley. On rubbish at Norris Green tip. Potamogeton obtusifolius.Mert. & Koch In old gravel pit, Sandhurst. Zannichellia palustris L,. In old gravel pit, Sandhurst. ‘(HJMB) Blhnt-leaved -Pondweed (HJMB) Horned Pondweed CHIMB) = Sie ‘Asparagus officinalis L. _ Wild Asparagus On railway bank near Pangbourne Station. (HJMB) Allium ursinum L. : Ramsons On Berks. and Hants. banks of the river Whitewater near Riseley. . . (PA) Unhill Wood. CIT) . Dastylorchis fuchsii (Druce).Vermeul. Common. Spotted- -orchid - Lower Ba. ildon. Seventy-one good flowering spikes on embankment created during roadworks in 1965. (EMT ) Xalla palustris L. | bh i Near Ascot station. Found by R. C. Palmer. (HJMB) Eleocharis wcicularis (L.) Roem & Schult. Needle Spike-rush Old gravel pit, Charvil. Forming a dense sward in old gravel pit, Sandhurst. (HJMB) Molinia caerulea (L.) Moench Purple Moor-grass Colonising one corner of a gravel pit at Charvil. (HJMB) "ichinochloa crus-galli (L.) Beauv. - Cockspur On rubbish at Norris Green tip, Woodley. (HJMB) Botanical Records for 1973-74 omitted from the Reading Naturalist No. 27 Ophioglossum vulgatum L. - Adder's Tongue Wick's Copse, Oxford. N.H.S. walk. (MS) Ranunculus auricomus L.. : “Genie hess Buttercup In woods near Ashampstead. N.H.S. walk. A (Ms) Aquilegia vulgaris oe Columbine Wick's Copse, Oxford. N.H.S. walk. (MS) Thlaspi arvense L. . Field Penny-cress. Burghfield. Very large colony on newly formed bank to x gravel pit. BU OL (MS) . Cardamine amara L. - Le Syd ee Bitter-cress _ In ditches and. on banks alongside river Thames, Streatley « - to Moulsford. N,H.S. walk. ' ~~ (Ms) Silene noctiflora L. dies Night+flowering ae Several large plants in a field of Catchfly = Lucerne near Aston Upthorpe. nat (MS 2s 8 Astragalits glycyphyllos asia id ' Wild Liquorice A fair number of plants near Wick's Copse, Oxford. N.H.S. walk. (MS) Cotoneaster horizontalis Decaisne = _——-_ Wall Cotoneaster — Several plants at Chinnor Hill, at a fair distance from gardens. N.H.S. walk. (MS). Covoneaster microphyllus Wall. ex Lindl. Small-leaved Cotoneaster Well away from gardens at Chinnor Hill. N.H.S.:walk. (MS) = -29 a Chrysosplenium « alternifolium L. ".. Alternate-leaved Golden One plant in bloom, Greenhan .. Saxifrage Common, near Newbury. — (MS) Carum carvi L. Caraway Two plants at Wick's Copse, near Oxford. (MS ) Pyrola minor igh : Ad Common Wintergreen A colony of plants in a wood near Marlow. (MS) Primula veris L. x vulgaris Huds. Common Oxlip. One plant in woods near Ashampste®d. N.H.S. walk. (MS) Pentaglostis sempervirens (L.) Tausch Green Alkanet Some fine plants at Burghfield gravel pits. — (MS). Cuscuta epithymum (L.) L. © Dodder Very large patch parasitic on Urtica dioica (Common Nettle) on roadside at Bix Bottom. . (MS) Atropa belladonna L. . | Deadly Nightshade Large colony along verges, Warren Bank. N.H.S. walk. | (MS) Lathraea squamaria L. Toothwort A large colony growing on Corylus avellana y(Haget2 in woods near Ashampstead. N.H.S. walk. ia (MS) Acinos arvensis (Lam. ) Dandy Basil Thyme A large colony on disused railway line near Hermitage. N.H.S. walk. (MS) Campanula glomerata L. : . Clustered Bellflower In full bloom at Streatley on May 19th. a (MS) ‘Petasites japonicus (Sieb.,& Zucc.) F. Schmidt Giant Butterbur A well. established.colony at a riverside site near Hungerford. Ornithogalum umbellatum Le. . Star-of-Bethlehem A small colony by a lock near re ae ata well established away from gardens. N.H.S. walk. (MS) Leucojum aestivum ae | Summer Snowflake Large colonies on islands in the river Thames, Streatley to Moulsford. N.H.S. walk. ; (MS) Epipactis purpurata Sm. ‘Violet Helleborine . One plant in woods, Chinnor Hill. N.H.S. walk. Roadside colony at Stoke Row. cw plant had at least sixty flowers on one stem. © A fine plant at Lambridge Wood. | (MS) Epipactis phyllanthes G. E. Sm. Green-flowered Helleborine A small colony in Lambridge ‘Wood, near Marlow. SOU SCMED) Orchis apifera Huds. Bee Orchid Several ecm in the Pepeumapis at Chinnor. N.H.S. walk. (MS) Orchis morio L. seins Green-winged Orchig A large colony, with shades from white to deep purple, near Greenham Common. (MS) » 26 4 The Recorder's Report for Entomology 1974-75. by B. R. Baker Order Odonata (Dragonflies) ° Agrion virgo (L.) Demoiselle Agrion River Enborne, near Woolhampton, lst and 14th June. Enallagma cyathigerum Charp. Common Blue Damsel-fly . In the Water Garden, Moor Copse Nature 4 eres 15th’ and 29th June. (KIT) ME, Gomphus vulgatissimus | CEL) . Club- tail Dragon=fly . Vastern Road, Reading, 23rd June. This speeimen, noticed dead in the road, had presumably been hit by a passing vehiele but with little visible damage. aa} i Aeshna grandis (L.) Brown Aeshna ; Many noticed on the river Kennet between Thatcham station and Bull's Lock on 25th August. Order Ephemeroptera May-flies Baetis scambus Eaton Moor Copse Nature Reserve, a male on 2nd October. (HHC ) Order Hemiptera (Plant-bugs, Leaf-hoppers, Aphids, etc.) Acanthosomatidae Cypostethus tristriatus (Fabr.) Juniper Bug A single example from the Redlands area of Reading, November, 1975. Found by Mr. C. Bell, 60 Blenheim Gardens, Reading (AP). We have had 'town' records reported in.earlier isskes of Reading Naturalist and presume this bug, normally resident on downland, is existing on some garden form of Juniper or other alternative. Miridae Polymerus nigrita (Fallén) Moor Copse Nature Reserve,*10th July. (HHC ) Teratocoris saundersi Douglas and Scott® Moor’ Copse Nature’ boas Reserve, 22nd August. (MC) Lygaeidae Scolopostethus decoratus (Hahn) “Wokefield Cisnthidin® 8th. ati aseeh (HEC).. Cercopidae Neophilaenus campestris (Fallen) Aldermaston, 23rd September. | a “CHHC) - Order Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths) Barly Appearance of Hibernators Aglais urticae (L.). Small Tortoiseshell Butler's Lands, Mortimer, 28th February. (BTP) os BE Notes on Immigrants Vanessa atalanta (L.) Red Admiral eT No carly records received this year. Bracknell, 27th August. ::- (MJD). Manor Farm, Reading, 7th September. (DUFC). Barley, . 22nd September. (BITP) Mapledurham, 22nd September (KET) e+ Cynthia cardui (L.). | Painted Lady This immigrant also appeared spasmodically and then, only when the season was well advanced. Northcourt Avenue, Reading, 14th August. (LEC) Earley, 25th August. (BTP) Hook Common, 6th September. (LEC) Manor Farm, Reading, 13th pin altel my -(DCFC ) Grove Hill, Reading, 14th August. (PS) Macroglossum stellatarum (L.) Humming-bird Hawk-moth It is many years since we have had records of this species in. the Reading area, 1975 has produced two:- In the garden of 2 Welland Close, Tilehurst, 21st September; a specimen observed several pps aegis areérmedn feeding at buddleia. (MRWS) ai | In the garden of 20 Glebe Road, Purley at 5 p.m. on 2nd October. Hovering over and darting around buddleia. (KIT) | Notes on Resaddent Species (Butterflies) esperia comma (L.) Silver-spotted Skipper a Berkshire Downs, at Ai aid Watlington Hill, numerous on 30th July. (BTP) Callophrys rubi (L.) Green Hairstreak. Aston Upthorpe Downs, 31st May. (BTP) Strymonidea w-album (Knoch) White Letter Hairstreak Bradfield, 3rd August. (KVP) hf Lycaena_ phlaeas (L.) Small Copper This species seems to have benefited from the hot summer and has been recorded from numerous localities, the records in October Retate to a third brood:-,..; bo bt | Purley, 20th, 21st September (KID). Kidmore End, 9th October OMIT). ae Farm, Reading, 7th September (DCFC). Theale, 20th October (DCFC). Crowthorne, 22nd August (MJD). Wokingham, 29th July. Gatehampton, lst August. Earley, 3rd August.: Silchester, 7th August: RIE dw Padworth, 14th July. Tadley, 19th June. (PS) pang Lysandra_coridon (Poda) Chalkhill Blue rire: Watlington Hill, 30th July. Gatehampton, lst August (BTP). Bozedown, 28th Tey! (PS) of Celastrina argiolus (L.) ‘Holly Blue. ue : Allcroft Road, Reading, 26th April. Silchester, 19th May, Earley, 27th July. (BTP) Purley, 19th August. (KIT) Hamearis lucina (L.) Duke of Burgundy Fritillary . Aston Upthorpe Downs, 3lst May. (LEC ) Apatura iris (L.) Purple Biepcas. Pamber Forest, 25th oaty a female seen flying over sallows. (BTP) ="30 « Argynnis aglaja (L.) Dark Green Fritillary Gatehampton, 24th June. Watlington Hill, 30th July. (BTP) Haughurst area, 26th July. Wolverton, 29th July, Padworth, kth, 15th July. > (PS) fd3 bovi Melanargia galathea (L.) Marbled White : Mapledurham, loth, 18th, 23rd July. (KIT) Hartslock, 19th July. (KIT) Watlington Hill, 30th July. Harlock, 1st August. (DTP) Wolverton, 29th July. (PS) a Hipparchia semele (L.).. Grayling Silchester Common, 7th August. (BTP) Crowthorne, .22nd August. (MJD) Aldermaston, 7th..July. (PS) Notes on Resident Species (Moths) Conopia_ myopaeformis (Borkh.) Red-belted Clearwing This little clearwing is probably resident as a colonist of apple trees in many gardens in Reading. Our records over the past decade relate to gardens in the east of the Town; these records are therefore also some measure of the distribution of our members who have remembered to scrutinise their apple trunks on sunny days at the end of June. 1975 sightings were:- 2 College Road, Reading, 30th June. (EB) .25 Matlock Road, Caversham, 13th July. _-Chloroclysta citrata (L.) ‘Dark Marbled Carpet Padworth, Sth, 29th August. (PC, PH; RW) Perizoma bifaciata (Haw.) Barred Rivulet Moor Copse Nature Reserve, lst August. (PC, PH, RW) Goring Jc: Heath, 29th July. Eilema deplana (Esp. ) Buff Footman Padworth, 8th August. (PC, PH, RW) Cucullia absinthii (L.) Wormwood Shark Thatcham Moor, July. (PD) A notable record, the second for the. County. ily aga Cosmia diffinis (L.) White’Spot Pinion — Padworth, 15th, 29th August. °(PC, PH, RW) Mesoligia literosa (Haw.). Rosy Minor Padworth, 8th August. (PC, PH, Rw ) Archanara dissoluta (Treits.') ‘Brown Veined Wainscot Woolhampton, 25th July. This wainscot was first recorded for Berkshire in:1974 from the Kennet reed beds at Thatcham. It is evidently a new-comer to the district and-is presumably breeding as further specimens were recorded at Thatcham in 1975. (PD) Hoplodrina_ambigua (D. & S.) .Vine's Rustic Padworth, 5th S Moor Copse Nature Reserve, 17th August. eptember. (PD) Chilodes maritimus (Tausch.) Silky Wainscot Until 1975 records of this-species from the Kennet. Valley reed beds were scant, but on each of the following dates several examples of this little wainscot were attracted to mercury vapour lights at Woolhampton:- 14th, 17th, 20th June; 19th, 25th July. Diachrysia_chryson (Esp.) Scarce Burnished Brass Woolhampton, 19th July. = 31: = Parascotia fuliginaria (L.) Waved Black Moth Woolhampton, 19th July. Order Hymenoptera (Beés, Ants, Wasps, Saw-flies and : Ichneumon-flies) bie Siricidae .. tea f* 19 Sirex juvencus (L.) male, 3rd August, Curridge Corner, Hermitage. (SFC) Tenthredinidae Eutomostethus punctatus (Konow) Moor Copse Nature Reserve, 20th May. (HHC) Tenthredo omissa (Foerster) : oe Moor Copse Nature Reserve, 12th August. (HHC) This is a’new county record. ie Nematus bipartitus Lepeletier Moor Copse Nature Reserve, my August. (HHC) Ichneumonidae Cratichneumon rufifrons (Gravenhorst) -Wokefield Common, 24th June. (HHC) Cynipidae Synergus gallaepomiformis B. de Fons. Chalkhouse Green, 3rd June. (HHC) Formicidae Leptothorax acervorum (Fabr. ) Moor Copse Nature Reserve, 10th July. (HHC) Sphecidae Diodontus luperus Shuckard ~ Wokefield Common, 24th June. (HHC). Nysson trimaculatus (Rossi) Reading, 25th July. (EB) Prosopidae Prosopis hyalinata (F. Smith) Reading, Sth June. (EB) ° Halictidae Halictus eurygnathus Bluethgen Nuney Green, 25th April, (HHC) H. minutus (Schrank) Nuney Green, 30th April. (HHC) Sphecodes crassus Thomson Nuney Green, 25th, 30th April. (HHC) Andrenidae Andrena parvuloides Perkins Chalkhouse Green, 6th June. (HHC) « 32.4 Megachilidae Heriades truncorum (L.) Le, Burghfield Common, 6th July, 1972. (EB)) A flourishing colony of this uncommon and local bee. New county record. Chelostoma campanularum (Kirby) 2° 5S & ges Burghfield Common, 14th June, 1973. (HHC) Sharing the nest site of the preceding species, together with C. florisomne under which name they had stood hitherto in the Reading Museum collection. Order Diptera (True Flies) Tipulidae Tipula maxima Poda ~ i it . Reading, 16th July, 1975. (BTP) Not new, but an unexpected locality.-> ey Prionocera turcica (F,) Woolhampton, September 1974. (HHC) Erioptera trivialis Meigen oak Wokefield Common, 12th April 1975. (HHC) Dicranota pavida (Haliday) Wokefield Common, 16th April 1975. (HHC) Molophilus obscurus (Meigen) Aldermaston, 23rd September 1975. (HHC) Culicidae Aedes annulipes (Meigen) Reading, 22nd May 1975 (EB) Chironomidae Metriocnemus picipes (Meigen) Reading, 14th January 1975. (EB) M. hygropetricus Kieffer Reading, 30th January 1975.- (EB) Hydrobaenus pratorum (Goetghebuer) Reading, 6th January 1975. (EB) Micropsectra brunnipes Zetterstedt Reading, 6th May 1975. (EB) Mycetophilidae (det. P. J. Chandler) Macrocera vittata Meigen Reading, 13th June 1971. (EB) M. angulata Meigen Wokefield Common, 14th June 1973. . (EB) - M. cingulata Meigen Reading, l4th September 1974. (ERB) M. phalerata Meigen Reading, 25th July 1974. (EB): Brevicornu crassicorne Stann. Goring Heath, 30th October 1968. (EB) » 35 = Rondaniella dimidiata (Meigen) Goring Heath, 10th November 1973. (EB). Exechia fusca (Meigen) Reading, 16th November 1974. (EB) Asindulum flavum (Winn) | Wokefield Common, 20th July 1973. (HHC) Tabanidae Haematopota crassicornis Wahlberg Moor Copse, 10th June 1975. (HHC) Chrysops pictus Meigen ' Wokefield Common, 24th June 1975. ( HHC ) Asilidae Asilus crabroniformis L. _ , : gPIT ay: 9 pair in cop., Gatehampton, lst August 1975. (BTP).A noteworthy capture. Platypezidae (det. P. J. Chandler) Seri obscuripennis Old. . - Wokefield Common, 4th October 1970. (EB) A new British record. Platypeza fasciata (Meigen) Reading, 20th September 1970. (EB) Callomyia_ amoena Meigen Woolhampton, 3rd September 1975. (HHC). © Agromyzidae — Napomyza_ lateralis (Faiien) Reading, llth January 1975. (EB) Agromyza reptans Fallen Pe Reading, 5th November 1974. (EB) Phytomyza taraxacocecis. Hering. Reading, llth May 1975. (EB) | Braulidae Braula coeca Nitzsch Checkendon, 12th August 1975 on queen bee in hive. (W. Fairbairn) Tachinidae Meigenia bisignata. (idsicew) Reading, 7th May 1975... (EB). Degeeria luctuosa thera QTD og Moor Copse, 10th July 1975. (HHC) Leskia inanis agg. (Fallen) TX Chalkhouse Green, 29th “ge 1975. ( HHC ) L. tibialis (von Roser) Moor Copse, 30th July 1975. Weaite Brachichaeta strigata (Meigen) Woolhampton, Sth Aucust 1975. (HHC) = aw Zenillea longicauda Wainwright Moor Copse, 22nd August 1975. = (HHC) Calliphoridae Sarcophaga albiceps Meigen Moor Copse, 17th June 1975. (HC) S. rosellei Buttcher Moor Copse, 17th September 1975. (HiC) Muscidae Haematobia_ stimulans (Meigen) Aldermaston, 23rd September 1975 on cattle. (HHC) Lyperosia irritans (L.) — Common, 24th August 1975 on pai teins ( HHC ) Lispocephala pallipalpis Zetterstedt oe Common, 16th April 1975. (HHC) A new county record. Fannia scalaris (F.) Reading, 14th September 1975. (EB) Limnophora txiangula (Fallen) Aldermaston, 23rd September 1975. (HHC) The Society's Entomological Evening This took place during the night of lst/2nd August at Moor Copse Nature Reserve near Tidmarsh, Berkshire. The weather conditions were ideal for insect flight and the good attendance of members were able to obsegve moths in abundance. Four mercury vapour lamps were in operation spread over the Reserve and a total of one hundred and one different species of Lepidoptera were recorded. The detaigg of species additional to the Moor Copse ligt published in- Reading Naturalist’ No. 27 1975, are given in a supplement in this present publication. a de - The Recorder acknowledges the help received from the follow- ing contributors:- Dr. E, Burtt (EB); H. H. Carter (HHC); Mary Carter (MC); Peter Cuss (PC); -Miss.L. E. Cobb (LEC) ; Simon Corbett (SC); D. C. F. Cotton (DCFC); -P. A. Davey (PAD); M. J. Dumbleton (MJD); Phillip Hooper (FH); A. Price (AP); B. T. Parsons (BTP); K. V. Pritchard (KVP); M:R.W..Sell (MRWS); P. Silver (PS); K. I. Thomaa (KIT); and Robert Wood (RW). We also acknowledge our indebtedness to the Director of Reading Museum & Art Gallery for allowing inclusion of the relevant records of specimens which are housed: in-the Museum's collections. ; = 35-~di Recorder's Report for Vertebrates 1974-75 by BH. H. Carter PISCES Esox lucius L. Pie. Tinca tinca (L.) Tench. Abramis brama (L.) Bream. All taken in Burghfield Gravel Pit during the year. (CW) Ie xe Leuciscus leuciscus (L.) Dace. . ihe inc Alburnus alburnus (L.) ‘ "Bleak. Both from Thames ‘at Goring. Salmo trutta L. Trout. Plentiful in ‘the Pang at Moor Copse, Tidmarsh. Gasterosteus aculeatus L. Three-spined Stickleback. Abundant in the Pang at Moor Copse in sheltered situations, though too small to maintain itself against the .main current. AMPHIBIA and REPTILIA Triturus helveticus Re ater Palmated Newt. Six at Wokefield Common Fish Pond, CPN 4475. Rana temporaria L. Frog. Spawn found in @ eaee pond in Reading, 14.3.75. (DCFC) Many juveniles emerging from a pond at Bracknell, 9.7.75... (MJD) sort wet muro. bufo, (L,):. .Toad. In evidence at an unusually early date. One dead on road, Sonning Common, 15.12.74. One dead on Barkham Road, Earley, 16.1.75. (BTP) One dead on Peppard Road, Chalkhouse Green, 30.1.75. One dead on Peppard Road near Emmer Green duckpond, 5.2.75. Single animals in or near Sonning Common on-four dates from 8.3.75 to 18.9.75. . One dead on road in Bracknell, 13.4.75 and three more, 17.4.75. (MJD) This observer also found eight together under @ stone in his garden at. Dracknéll last year, 21.4.74. Several pairs were in amplexus at Pullen's ‘Pénd, ‘Wokefield Common, 16.4.75. Abundant spawn was found there 224.75, and on the same date two dead toads were seen and a live. male heard-.at the Fish Pond. Dt was: not possible to check the Binfield Heath site as this has been fenced off and warning notices erected... Casualties among the breeding adults were very aeeirye in’ 1974, Mate pastt ec Laon nay. DEOHeo" beneficial. ‘ — Anguis fragilis L. Slow Worm. Three found at. Moxbime rs een 75. Present at Bix in the summer. of. 1974..- (NP): Lacerta vivipara Jacquin Common Lizard. One at the old yee pit near Three Firs, Wokefield Common, 22.4.75. Present at Bix in the summer of 1974. (NP) Natrix natrix.(L.). Grass Snake.’ Two at Wargrave Marsh, 325475, one at Moor Copse,.4.5.75.. (ERB) | Two at Moor eouuee Boao To. One at Bearwood, 31.5.753 one, 900mm. long, killed by a gardener at Sindlesham, 2.8.75. (DCFC) Présent at Bix Bottom. 1. (NPs). Vipera berus CL.) jp whdder . es rp 500mm. Long, basking at Arborfield, 18.3.75. (DCFC) Two near Five Oaken, .Wokefield Common, 22.4.75. One ‘about 600mm. long photographed: at Bramshill, August 1975, by Mr. Yaxley. ee ae MAMMALIA INSECTIVORA Talpa europaea L. Mole. Records rather few. One seen above ground and very active in wood near Frogmoor Farm, Stanford Dingley, at mid-day, 29.6.75. (KVP) One dead in garden at Bracknell, 30.6.75. (MJD) (Skulls in pellets from Swallowfield (2p) esse” note. at. end), Sorex araneus Lie Comeon Shrew. One found dead at Bracknell last year, 22.4.,4. (MJD) One at Wyfold and at Withy Copse, 1.12.74, one at Papicands 19.12.74. © One at Satwell, Rotherfield Greys, 12 4.75. One, Greys Lane, 19.4.75. Two, Unicorn Lane, Peppard Common, 23.4.75. One, Bishopsland Farm, 28.4.75, and again, 1.5.75, and other localities. in and:-near Sonning Common on six dates up to 30.6.75. One at Lowfield Farm, Henley Road, O hereto 4 (AW) (Skulls in pellets from Swallowfield (KP) - see note at end.) | . ; at 4 S. minutus L. © Pygmy Shrew. One found dead at Crowthorne last year, 11.7674. (MJD) (Skulls in pellets from Swallowfield (KP) - see note at end.) Neomys fodiens Pallas Water Shrew. Two found: dead by River Loddon at Swalliowfield. (KP) rom: Erinaceus europaeus L. Hedgehog. Again a year of abundance; animals late going into hibernation. Seen in Sonning Common area on eleven dates from 19.10.74 to 21.12.74, and after hibernation on seventeen dates from 27.4.75 to 17.9275... One crossing road at Bradfield, 29.8.75. (KVP) CHIROPTERA Nyctalus noctula (Schreber) Noctule. Seen..at Whiteknights on many dates in 1974, and--twenty counted at the roost there on Myotis daubentoni (Kuhl) Daubenton! s Bat. Taken in a mist-—net beside Millbarn Pond, Wokefield, last summer, 13. 6.7%,.. ( DORGI,& welcome record. Pipistrellus pipistrellus (db tdestienss Pipistrelle. One - three bats together at localities in the Sorining Common area on nine dates from 23.4,75 to 25.8.75. Many seen during the year at Bracknell. (MJD) °° Seen last year at Wokefield,-13.6.74 and Virginia Water, 1.12.74, this year at Whiteknights, 11.4.75. OCFC) Plecotus auritus (L.) Long-eared Rat. One found dead at. °: Broomfield Road, Tilehurst, 23.5.75.: (Helen Gautier) LAGOMORPHA ° Lepus capensis Pallas Hare. Phen three sae ‘ron Sonning Common area, 31.10.74 to ll. 1D. oe mostly Single ‘animals, maximum four at Bishopsland Farm, 14.4.75. One at Bearwood,. 31.5275 _ and one-at Manor Farm, 18.97.75. (DCF@) Further evidence of’ the scarcity of Hares in a good Rabbit year. Oryctolagus cuniculus hells oe) Rabbit. One hundred and seventy-five sightings north.and west of Reading throughout the year, maximum - 37 - twenty-seven at Rishopsland Farm, 22.4.75. Large numbers of juveniles in March and April, animals of all ages scarce from mid-July onwards, One case of myxomatosis observed. » DCFC, observing mainly to the south and east of Reading, saw hundreds during the year. Present at Hamstead Park, October 1975. (HJMB) RODENTIA Rattus_ norvegicus Berkenhout Brown Rat. Four seen dead on road from Sonning Common to Emmer Green, 3.5.75; 1626.75 (MJC), 17.26.75 and 12.10.75, one on Henley Road, Caversham, 11.10.75; no evidence of unusual abundance in Okforashife. -_DCFC however: found rats in large numbers south and east of Reading, amounting almost to plague proportions.on some farms. (Skulls in pellets from Swallowfield - see note at end.) Apodemus flavicollis (Melchior) Yellow-necked Mouse. KVP trapped this species'at Bradfield, where it frequently enters his house at Buscot Copse in the absence of House Mice. He observes that no A. sylvaticus have entered; this. habit preference has been noted by other observers. Male trapped at the same local- ity by Mrs. Charley in mid-December 1974. Apodemus spp. At Bradfield on 30.12.74 KVP found three field mice together under the metal floor of a bird-watching hide and three more in two nest boxe#} a third nest box contained no mouse or nest material but was filled to the .brim with acorns. Use of old birds' nests is récorded for | Syva icus but not for flavicollis. Apodemus sylvaticus (Linnaeus) Wood Mouse. One found dead at Crosscroft Wood, Peppard; 23.3.75; one dead at Peppard post. office, an adult male, 5.4.75. Present at Hamstead Park in October 1975, (HJMB), and in the same month EMT working with Longworth traps at Pangbourne caught.this species regularly on every trap-=night. (Skulls in pellets at Swallowfield - see note at end.) ‘' Mus musculus Linnaeus House Mouse. One dead in Reading A Sates Place, h12.74. Numerous on Westleigh Drive estate, Sonning Common (built late 1960's) where attracted by pets! food. Micromys minutus (Pallas) Harvest Mouse.- Two nests in October 1973 under blackthorn hedge, Cutbush Lane, : near Earley Sewage Farm. (FP. T. Farsons) Microtus agrestis em ). “Short-tailed Vole. Present at Burghfield, 1.2.75.. ,.(DCFC). One dead at Sonning Common, 25.4.75. One dead near Reading Station, 3.10.75. (Skulls in pellets from _Swallowfield. - see note, at end.) ' mii es s glareolus Schreber Bank Vole. One at Arborfield, 2.4.75. (DCFC) One at Moor: Copse, Tidmarsh, 15.7. eat (Skulls in pellets from Swallowfield - see note at end.) ‘Arvicola am omen (L.) Water Vole. Present at Bradfield, 6.3.75 and 13.4.75.'« (DCFC), .Two = three: at Moor Copse, 22.8.75 and throughout a summer. — (Skulls in pellets from Swallowfield - see note at end.) ud , Muscardinus avellanarius (L.) Dormouse. Present at Sawyers Wood, Tidmarsh. (Major Short) , - 38 - | Scimms carolinensis Gmelin. Grey,Squirrel. Hundreds present to the south and east of Reading... (DCFC) Eighty-two sightings in the Sonning Common area, in every month of the year. A male found dead at Hermitage, 26.10.74. (J. Gale). Three at Sawyers Wood, Tidmarsh, 20.12.74, Present at. Hamstead Park, October 1975. (HJMB ) Skull found at Swallowfield. (KP) © Meles meles (L.) Badger. Dead juvenile last year at Burchetts Green, Maidenhead, 7.2. 74. (Mrs: Kemp) Footprint in New Copse, Gallowstree Common, 2.3.75. One at Bearwood, 24.4.75. (DCFC) Adult seen. crossing.road in late evening at Buscot Hilt. Bradfield, 27.4.75.,. (KVP) One dead on Warfield Road, Bracknell, 30.4.75.° - (MJD) One found dead near sett at Tidmarsh, 0.8375. (EMT ) One found dead-at Cold Ash, 6.9.75. Mustela erminea L. Stoat. The only record this yes comes from KVP who saw one hunting’ along the bank of the River Pang at “M.. nivalis’ L. Weasel. One seen by MJD in his garden at Bracknell, 18.2.75. Several seen during the year, including one at Theale, 5.7.75 and one at Whiteknights, 11.5.75, which emerged from a hole five metres up the trunk-of a mature. oak tree around which twenty - twenty-five excited starlings were gathered. The birds at once attacked the weasel which spiralled up the trunk to escape. (DCFC) One crossing Blounts Court Road, Sonning Common, 2.10.75. M. vison Schreber Mink. One piebald animal on the'bank of the Kennet near Theale, 1:11.74. Three seem along a mile (1.6 Km.) of the Kennet below Theale in mid-September 1975. (A. Munday per HJMB) Lutra lutra (L.’) Otter. ° One at .Stanton Harcourt, 14 .9.75 (HJMB) re Vulpes vulpes (L.) Fox. One in a Reading garden, 26.1.75, and six .or more other sightings during the year. (DCFC) Bred at Sawyers Wood, Tidmarsh. (Major Short) One dead in Lucxmore Drive, Earley, 11.1.75. Vixen calling at midnight, DBuscot Copse, Bradfield, 21.6.75 and one seen near earth after dark, Fisher's Copse, Bradfield, 1.7.75. (KVP) One = three heard at night in the Sonning Common area on sixteen dates from 9.11.74 to 14sGa7s in every month.except October. One seen carrying a dead cat in Mill Lane, Reading at 5 a.m. 6.10.75. ‘(Mr. Knott) | Cervus dama L. Fallow Deer. Two parties of three. and eight deer on Inkpen downs, 1s Seo, and slots seen near Silchester on the Englefield estate, 6.4.75. (KVP) A white fallow deer at Bramshill, 25.5.75 and two males at: Silchester, 18.10.75. (DCFC) Slots, probably of this species, seen at Hamstead Park, October, 1975. (HJMB) .Animals seen or heard, or, fresh slots found in the Crowsley area on six dates from 1. 3. 75. to 25.8.75. (HHC and MJC) Muntiacus reevesi Ogilby Muntjac.* Slots found in.Flowercroft Wood, Peppard, 2.3.75 and New Copse, Gallowstree Common, 2 oe 65. KVP lei ah one from a bramble patch near. Broomhill Copsey, - Bradfield at mid-afternoon, 17.8.75, but got only a fleeting glimpse of it. Reported from Bix Bottom. Capreolus .capreolus (L.) Roe Deer.. Recoris continue to come. in from the southern part of our area. Slots were found at - 49 - Ufton Court, 27.4.75. KVP saw one there, 8:5.75 and found slots with those of C. dama as reported above, 6.4.75. A female seen at Bearwood, 26.5.75. (BTP) As predicted last year, the areas occupied by the last two species now overlap. ‘Kathie Pickhaver, collecting pellets of raptors around Swallowfield, was able to accumulate a considerable quantity of small mammal and bird bones for identification. The predator responsible was unfortunately not known ix most instances, but the majority of pellets were probably those of Strix -aluco L. (Tawny Owl) and some were known to ‘be from Tyto alba (Scopoli)) (Barn Owl). The mammals were as follows: - : Talpa europaea L. Mole 10 items Sorex araneus L. Common Shrew . 1L3 " S._minutus L. Pygmy ‘Shrew 3 hy. re ‘Neomys fodiens Pallas’ Water Shrew 2 ' (not from pellets - found dead) ‘Rattus norvegicus. Perkenhout Biayn Rat 68 "+1 as above Apodemus_sylvaticus (ds, ) Wood Mouse 92 " . Microtus-agrestis (Ls) Short-tailed Vole 83 " '" Clethrionomys glareolus Schreber Bank Vole hap @ Arvicola amplibius (L.) Water Vole <" 23 " | Seiurus carolinensis Gmelin Grey Squirrel 1 " (not from pellets -. dqups dead) The absence of Apodemus flavicollis (Melchior) Grin ow-neckBa Mouse) and Mus musculus L. (House Mouse) is noteworthy, as is tk paucity of Sorex minutus and cietbripnonye crmpaged with theix near relative. ; When the numbers of items above are huleipliba = ene aver- age body weight of the species represented, the results give a rough and. ready index of their comparative importance as food for _ the predator. Shown as LL Le of the total, they are:- Talpa 2.7% Sorex spp. 3.0% Rattus @5.5% Apodemus 5 1% Microtus 6.4% Clethrionomys 0.5% Arvicola 16.8% 100.0 __(Wirtually all the remains were those of adalt animals, though a proportion of young ones may have beén taken but not recovered _ because of their lesser durability. Bird remains were less than (1% of the total. ) In conclusion, I would liké to tHayk the following contrib- ~utors for records.received:-... BRB Brian Baker, HJMB Humphrey Bowen, MJC Mary Carter, DCFC Donald Cotton, MJD Michael Dumbleton, BIP B&Sil Pareons, NP Nigel Philips, KP Kathie Pickhaver, KVP Keith Pritchard, EMT Mary Trembath, CW Charlotte Wheeler AW Anne Whittle. «= BO a Weather Records in 1975 ’ by A..E. Moon The data refer to Reading University Meteorological Station. Since this is a new site, as mentioned in the summary for 1971, no comparison with an average is yet possible...All temperature readings are in Celsius’ degrees and rainfall measurements in millimetres which is now standard practice. A "rain day" is a... day on which rainfall equals or exceeds 0.2 mm. For, the desig- nation of frost and ground frost days see Weather | He OOrINS in 1961, but. using alk values —— 0. - Fh vane coniieg STATION - READING UNIVERSITY . HEIGHT ABOVE MEAN SEA LEVEL asel5 £9 Ae Aeaenaneevenneneeeensirecneves rpc we ane nenarvers! Penseseesebuaewensesrens® peavenrerere: = Seorrinatanen tt erareh reeteeomereeteerarvectsPanebeenreystictews ne rwreeeeere nee sneranpetanenee Sevstevnrnererertenenaensnerte yeenereticemneeneee setnseeen vi TWa> | FEB. AMR, | APRe | WAY LAUNE | SULY [AUG SEPT. | CCT. | NOV! DEC, | Yen i HANNON rT ree Tarra Terre resenererseraseive be crnee Pewerevenveveripeaccecieeesseetean 4 eewessevereersoeeds ee i etiiet Lat eee, LeeLee ade A jeveventserrnerere z. snoneworeres arses peeyrrberees cine th Ze a rsa sreneetorrne, Heermezeimti i MAK. ; Oe i 21.1 Bi [as es BI 9s] TS = css cob nesses voor oso Soe tbs aaeppine 4 seen Rath EE SS ee cai! oo. 2 MEAN : HIN. 1 fh i 14 | 251 heb 1 6 3 “9.2. iz 6 TE. 2 : 93 : 6.3 i te 6 Te : by 3 : “ viranaeroren ree avert raefocerterooere serheteeessieenne eemenevenesorigetnerere 3 : Seer rrereucresvovedenenenrenvenreseenencereyererireeteversaeseederts7 agrormeveets fee? jecrnees coven sorezaeweasnececes sevdiee seer nneenerteneriersranimereeme 1 DAL peo} 77 cae | TEMPERATURES co Coe ie Wh ch Robey 02 isa aCe 118.9 115.9 _| 100 ae _ RANGE [Ss Pat [sean Tne Ho 06 S92 | Tal 6 aT de CETTE ATE OCTET ORTRIE TNE! rer ET: = ce “pg aera a hace a Hip pee reerees renee OTOCLTC ETO IEE F~ meat: tg a gee ys Sy ayes jGRISS wtih, Val tal P07 128 32 | 19 820 40 1S Ad 18 | BLEGULTWEEE sence NSEC ISAT MED DEES ESCO SOOT SE se: FUIII ES Suzceh Uae MIIULIT ETI EI Idle sanenti til iaat Prema ee Rppswinie BSA AUHLTEE ne ae P155 | 25 129 (0 THT Tes" ice 1330 BH TS OT ae 28 Zz" ail 3 2h ae 012 26 | 30 | "7 awh Sha oe EXTREME Seri - ren ENPERATURES E. NIN, AS (222A 0 TOT 30) 80 Ta 5) OOP ee | ee HT P werevecenerresreevowvereets | orn repre ire oedinadweresenn a eet ee eet § D vi baer Bae Bb sare th Te Toe _OATE "| #9 ott botol thikad deans 23 E “GRASS iN ays. 61 8.2 EE} lela. ele ae 6) Oe es { ee a] al “105 IEE aveeneeernere teseeeret eoneverearvows ragy recncerves: earmior reaeneree a nvowenen set reed SESSA ae | DATE. 119,26. “i Wo adreh a! werter sa iia oe H H aver ererverevere cece srvenoen! Ak : A 16 | Dec, 16 Fe NN COBH EE: Vist aes a soe Le hLS ow : ast enone te ences connenin DAYS ETH FROST 2 Segted ee “ aude i fear i ee ae NW GROUND FROST 167 p46 p13 54240.) 9. |: ries etereresipeerentereneretyreeed evtoion < H f t-6071 4 y rio vi ah | ob roractirssensise® ssresds-stereet = etateivecetdees ; rearanerssennses bee venscawensutretenr ten a veneres Meer seuere venanegocenedss1 steer aeveved coeoervoussccoeee - supcorerivgodyoesttevesece ter ertncruitentatnnten” (3056 (247.2 225.6 | 4B | a B13 39.8 | 16592 > a rusepavecrrssereweed opsesecoerrecesensS reereccergesrs a ee | SUNSHINE HOURS | SUIie th a BB rane SES) cP ER : +P POSS. 7 bt tg ieee ae pao 1) Ci we 5 ? Seeewreveorn erovemagenei never tnccenerte peveenrte pte Des Ai a peerree teers: “ eer : 5 ie _DALLY EAN Ahh 126651 231 | [aad | a7 | 10.19) 7,97) 1.28) “495 388 2 | fia] 1,55 pons eeecrsacerrs: es ose pega min (285 Teo) ita | lel | 79 1 Bb t Bal) Te 0.5 Kh e eras wa Sc th I Sl rs | 7) w@ Siieeieerreernasteee WUibees teed rearetreregts aan crhewnterrewenerermtinireercerierere perericercer eteereceees: ' PRECIPITATION Pail a = [MMe RAIN DAYS Va eo te ogee Le ie 7 | Bae i erewerernersress ea dearnareneragvonreravenererteteer seneeteiserecee ¢ werveernecrvevere regrersrecgiens Pe resroreereertergereeceterTeres rererprorstsreeriesen:: Re recrrarnnernernngeaneeenn nes a evemnareee in| : MAX. RAIN 143 | 7h 1555123 § AGRI 27.2) 6.1 | 43,0! 466 | 18.4 3 Te 43,0 ON TUN 2 OP aN ENE 5 4 R2.00 > Afeuy ms Ae meee , ; : CETTE PTT wT Bae | event ; nntmareremereenemenrcenetieimteepren reer cecieerenreee remterecevernemcerigwentveie deren rcetennte serra seortssmececet erevereee ee eer ye en ne fren eee _ LONGEST ALN OF COSECUTIVE 120.) Siege Bub dh Bre ee Tree vad tiny. Fudan . LY eam Mees Mae, SASL Wie LT 2 ae iS seat ul a i ce ee : LONGEST RUN OF CONSECUTIVE i$ oe i DRY DAYS ee] 0 FO. reat, 7] 6 4 {1 | 8) 0 ie i seveperssererrwevercoves(eyroopworssereeree: I ee a ee erengeres erregeers seecrverecardeversts Pabs Besele ce 2 7 wneee nnd coeernpnennent SNOW OR SLEETDAYS po fehot?@s Oa} ToT O.T, 7-0 i Oa} Ora 0 “bed C0 | 16 lerrreee center ceerrecrerperten rere reve reeceteres pert: ceveererreerrecertecer: salted: aniautateeix teecemnenas tchne creceerdpeeeeeerencrer atl en serge rniraes o— TT wTepetep ore) 2 : : \. fl 3 3+ H cnasisaitiitt Sanisscs sasnenats coscenenadeserisesn saat rb suancsazaae echt cael : 3 3 DAYS SNOW LYING ey Pg ae Se ta re sa seaevedecseeaersterTeaeneedey Ciberis ree a RPE Viiedeteraertereaeertrvieeesee ep eserarcbsay Si reae i : FOG AT ; i : i ; Ue cee Ge a igre pels i) 3s tote ob ee tt one eo wes ea ee eee ee ie aa seeds setae det, a Ere seat Baa i ec ‘ifiee bit sais anit iaipsioiaaiat wanes faa ToT Ses abtei —— a We : a p H 3 3 ; , DAYS OF THUNDER}; O :; O 3. BG aes Or mt Se eee rr ee ee + Tauaneastom » _D8YS OF THRDER | "0. 0 PS RS LS Le SE —— : 5 0 i ACTIVITY _DnYS OF HR A 0 cloddot’ ey iz <0 froQaho Oy nd ou | abbot ? : sevive|? ervewevetrerersevecrerivecibcorverendstonsieesreagilintecoorroectrectiseveertertiat prorecesererecetveonearred! coveuneeniccrpvorirscercemacemeetensrert i ver a Oe owes retteepevsedeeravees ot crt pacdiebenmmentii COLNE CCN MERTON rqererereedire cevtospreecs: verve setinavati nanesseperiors reve ¥aeee January February March April May June July August September October November December Lhe Monthly Weather Notes, 1975 Wettest since 1948 and the mildest since 1921. 2.5mm. of rain fell in nine minutes at 10h. on 20th and 1.2mm. in three minutes at llh.1l2m. on 27th. First “ige of. the . winter noted on evaporation tanks on 19th. Fogs were more frequent chan normal and at 0900h. the number’ was the highest since 1961 (11). The-15th was thé coldest day of the winter. to the —_ of the present month. Coldest since: 1970 and Se since 1964. The sun- shine total was the lowest since 1969; the total sun- shine in the first fifteen days of the month was only Li.7 feurs. bs The cold weather of the first ten days fe ach ee the greatest number of days.with snow in April since 1970. The number of days with air frosts was the same as that year, all occurring in the first ten days. The night of the 25th/26th was, however, the warmest in April since oltth/isth 1945. Day temperature reached 60°F (15.56°C) for thé first time this year on 14th. Coldest since 1941.° The 17th was the coldest May day since 18th 1968. The sunshine total was the lowest Since 1969. Average temperature was only slightly lower than in 1973, but rainfall was the lowest since 1962, when the total was only 3mm. It was however, the sunniest June since sunshine records began in Reading in 1939, the previous highest teing 282.4 hours in 1940, and is the first time a total of 300 hours has been reached in any month, the previous highest being 298.8 hours in July 1959. In the eight days ahi 1342 hours of sunshine occurred. Sunniest since 1971. Of four heavy falls of rain in short periods two are worthy of mention - 6.1mm. in six minutes at 03h.48m.(G.M.T.) on 8th and.18.8mm. in ten minutes 17h. 50m.-16h. OOm. on 31st, both during thunderstorms. Warmest since 1955; it was the first time 32 %2°6 (90°F) has been exceeded in this month since 16th 1947. The night of the 4th/5th was the warmest in August since 1?7th/i8th 1947. It was the driest August since 1964. and sunniest since 1959. The wettest month so far this year; the 13th was the wettest September day since 15th 1968. Driest since 1970 and sunniest since 1971. Although. a wetter month, temperature and sunshine values were. ‘similar to 1973. The first ice recorded on evaporation ‘tank on 22nd compared with the very late-date of 19th January 1975 last —— . Coldest since 1970" and , driest since 1963.: The minimum temperature of -6.2°C on 16th was the lowest December figure since 9th 1967. ~» 2 © Atmospheric Pollution 1975 Measurements of smoke concentration and sulphur dioxide -(S0,) are summarised in the following table. They constitute the results of daily measurements of smoke and SO, pollution by air filter and volumetric method respectively from apparavi.; iastalled in the Geography Department, Reading University, at Whi*. inights. Smoke Cone=ntration f. Sulphur Dios-.'c ($05) Microgrammes per cu.m. Concen$s2% len Microgrammes i+ cuem.- Month Mean| Highest : Lowest - Mean BLBESS © | Lowest January |!10|24 3rd, | 2 5th, Bl. abw6@ ©, 242: 13 13th cal maak eta takes oe oa February | 54:226 <28th -|13. 12th, © 97. | 367. 26th 27 18th : | 16th | March 9 ala Ng Aa bs Coole Mies OR. bar a A 20 12th, | Gare en Speed ak nie as 13th April 9 25th Qxtt7bhz