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Published: September 1975
Price: £1*50 post free
THE LONDON NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY
WHATEVER your interest in natural history — even if you are still a beginner —
the Society will welcome you as a member. You are offered a wonderful oppor¬
tunity of extending your knowledge and increasing your enjoyment. The Society’s
Area lies within a 20-mile radius of St Paul’s and here most of its activities take
place. Although so much of the area is covered with bricks and mortar it is a
most exciting region with an astonishing variety of fauna and flora. The Society
consists of sections whose meetings are open to all members without formality.
If you are interested in archaeology, botany, ecology, entomology, geology,
MAMMALOGY, ORNITHOLOGY, RAMBLING, or if you are a young naturalist, there
is a section ready to help you.
We oflFer you :
INDOOR MEETINGS
Nearly every week throughout the year with films, lectures and discussions
on all aspects of natural history.
FIELD MEETINGS
Led by experts, at weekends and on summer evenings, to visit interesting natural
history places, many outside our Area. These excursions are very popular with
beginners wishing to improve their knowledge.
PUBLICATIONS
The London Naturalist^ published annually, a permanent record of the Society’s
activities, including records of plants and animal life in the London Area.
The London Bird Report, published annually, containing papers, facts and figures
of special interest to bird-watchers in London. It is compiled by the Ornithologi¬
cal Section. Bulletins, including the London Natural History Society Newsletter
and the Ornithological Bulletin are sent to members throughout the year.
LIBRARY
A large selection of books and periodicals is available, many with special reference
to London.
READING CIRCLES
Many important natural history journals are circulated by the sections at a fraction
of the cost of the journal concerned.
MEMBERSHIP AND SUBSCRIPTIONS
ORDINARY MEMBERS . . . . £2*50
JUNIOR MEMBERS . . . . . £1*25
FAMILY MEMBERS . . . . . £1*25
The entrance fee is £0- 50. Junior membership is for persons under 18, or under 25 if
receiving full-time education. Subscription rates are subject to revision from 1976.
All except family members receive one free copy of The London Naturalist and
The London Bird Report each year.
Further details may be obtained from:
THE MEMBERSHIP SECRETARY, MRS B. F. BARRETT,
21 GREEN WAY,
FRINTON-ON-SEA, ESSEX, C013 9AL
THE LONDON NATURALIST
Back numbers of The London Naturalist are available as follows :
No. 39 (1960) — 47 (1968); 49 (1970) — 52 (1973): £1 each post free.
No. 48 (1969): £0.50 post free. No. 53 (1974): £1.50 post free.
These, and back numbers of The London Bird Report, may be obtained from
Mrs H. M. Housego, 110 Meadvale Road, London, W5 ILR. Reprints of the
Index to The London Naturalist 32-51 are available for £0.25 post free. Reprints of
the Annual Rainfall Overlay, Master Grid Overlay and Habitat Overlay are £0.10
each post free.
THE
LONDON
NATURALIST
the journal of the
LONDON NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY
No. 54
for the year 1974
Edited by J. R. Laundon
with the assistance of
R. M. Burton and K. El. ELyatt
World List abbreviation: Land. Nat.
Published September 1975
© London Natural History Society 1975
Printed by F. H. Brown Ltd., Sandygate Mill.
Burnley, BBl 1 IRP.
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LONDON NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY
Founded 1858
President :
A. J. Barrett
21 Green Way, Frinton-on-Sea, Essex, CO 13 9AL
Honorary Vice-Presidents:
E. B. Bangerter, Miss E. Brown, B. Campbell, pIi.d., P. C. Holland,
R. C. Homes, m.b.o.u., Eric Hosking, f.r.p.s., m.b.o.u., R.t Hon. Lord
Hurcomb, g.c.b., k.b.e., Miss C. E. Longfleld, f.r.g.s., f.r.e.s.,
M.B.O.U., E. M. Nicholson, c.b., ll.d., m.b.o.u., R. M. Payne, f.r.e.s.,
Mrs L. M. P. Small, H. Spooner, Prof. E. H. V/armington, m.a., f.r.
Hist. s.
Officers for 1975
Vice-Presidents: G. Beven, m.d., b.sc., f.z.s., m.b.o.u., R. E.
Butler, b.sc., f.g.s., B. L. J. Byerley, f.r.e.s., S. Cramp, b.a., f.z.s.,
M.B.O.U., R. W. Hale, V. F. Hancock, m.b.o.u., K. H. Hyatt,
J. E. Lousley.
Secretary: J. B. Cresswell, f.r.a.i., Dip. Arch., 142 Harborough
Road,‘SW16 2XW.
Treasurer: D. Burchfield, 21 Severn Drive, Upminster, Essex.
Membership Secretary: Mrs B. F. Barrett, 21 Green Way, Frinton-
on-Sea, Essex, C013 9AL.
Library Secretary: Miss J. Hardy.
Publicity Secretary: Mrs E. Koh, 4 Church Street, Sunbury,
Middlesex.
Publication Sales Secretary: Mrs H. M. Housego, 110 Meadvale
Road, W5 ILR.
Editor, The London Naturalist: J. R. Laundon, f.m.a., 14 Victory
Avenue, Morden, Surrey, SM4 6DL.
Sub-editors, The London Naturalist: R. M. Burton, b.a. (Botany),
K. H. Hyatt (Zoology).
Editor, The London Bird R.eport: K. C. Osborne, 8 Ellice Road, Oxted,
Surrey.
Editor, London Natural History Society Newsletter: A. M. Hutson,
Department of Entomology, British Museum (Natural History),
Cromwell Road, SW7 5BD.
Elected Members of Council: Miss M. P. Brown, R. M. Burton, b.a.,
F. M. Gauntlet, B.sc., ?vliss E. M. Hillman, b.sc.. Miss A. Lightfoot,
Miss J. M. Stoddart.
Representative Members of Council: K. A. Roberts (Nature Conser¬
vation), Miss M. E. Kennedy (Botany), Mrs A. Warren (Ecology),
Miss B. Allen (G. & A.), Mrs L. Turner (Ornithology), C. F. Sayers
(Ramblers and E.F.F.S.), Miss H.M. Smith (South-west Middlesex),
Contents
Officers for 1975 ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 3
Report of the Society for 1974 . 5
The collections of the Natural History Museum — Keith H.
Hyatt . 6
Urban street geology in London: three temporary exposures
of London Clay — K. Hackett . 11
Bird remains from medieval London — D. Bramwell ... 15
Hemiptera — Heteroptera of the London Area. Part IX—
Eric W. Groves . 21
The decline and reappearance of migratory fish in the tidal
Thames, with particular reference to the salmon, Salmo
sa!ar — D. J. Solomon . ... . 35
Survey of Bookham Common; thirty-third year
Progress report for 1974 38
The bryophytes of Bookham Common 1941-1967 —
Ella M. Hillman . 49
A new map of Bookham Common^ — Herbert A. Sandford 59
Nature conservation in London 1974— Kevin A. Roberts ... 61
Botanical records for 1974— J. Edward Lousley . 63
Mammals in the London Area 1974 — K. A. J. Gold ... 66
Book reviews . 10, 14, 20, 48, 58
Statement of affairs at 31 October 1974 70
Habitat overlay — Herbert A. Sandford
72
5
Report of the Society for 1974*
The Society, like all bodies in this country, is being hit heavily by inflation, both
directly and indirectly. We face a year of uncertainty, and there will be much
introspection and reassessment taking place. The choice of the various alternatives
may prove difficult to take. This must be borne bravely. We firmly believe that the
Society has a great contribution to play in the search for knowledge, and our
activities must reflect this duty to science as well as to our members. However,
it is hoped that members will accept the challenge and continue to play their part
in making this Society the important organisation that it is, and should be. The
full and rich diary of events can only be justified if more people partake, and our
scientific research is always in need of more workers. But let this not be a testament
of pessimism, but a call to arms: you need the Society, and the Society needs you.
Membership has increased since last year in most categories, and the totals are as
follows :
Ordinary members
1,068
Affiliated members
21
Senior members
25
Family members
91
Junior members
59
Honorary members
15
Life members
15
Total
1,294
We record with regret the following deaths since last year: Miss C. M. Acland,
R. Fermer, Miss L. E. Griggs, C. W. Mackworth-Praed, Miss R. Marchant,
M. Ogle, E. W. Pearce, P. H. Waters, and Mrs Stella Woods.
The Programme has continued to contain a rich variety covering all aspects of
the Society’s interests, thanks to the efforts of the Sectional Committees. But it is
sad to note a general decrease in attendance, which threatens the quality of our
events. It is a result of this latter that the Entomology Section, the descendant
of the group which founded the London Natural History Society, has felt it
necessary to disband and share its activities with those of the Ecology Section.
The Society’s Library is now in the care of the Lyon Playfair Library at Imperial
College and plans are very advanced in being able to allow access by members.
Our grateful thanks are extended to Mr Whitworth, the College Librarian, and
his staff, for all their help, effort, and generosity they have given to ease the work
of the Library Committee. We are sad to be losing Miss Stainton as Secretary to
the Library Committee, who in a year has done much to rationalise this office for
her successor. Thanks are again extended to Imperial College for allowing us
to use the theatres in their Botany and Zoology Departments. This useful venue has
benefitted the Society.
The Society Newsletter has had its first year of bimonthly publication, thanks
to the efforts of Mr A. Hutson, the Editor, and Miss Christine Taylor, who has
spent many a long vigil at the duplicator and addressograph. It is with regret
that she has left London. We shall miss her contribution, but wish her success
in her new venture. The future of the Newsletter, however, is again threatened
by lack of volunteers to operate the equipment. The publications as a whole have
been rationalised by a working party, organised and chaired by Mr A. J. Barrett,
in an effort to save time and money.
Recorders are anxious that more members should partake in recording the
natural history of our area — especially in the plant mapping which is entering its
final year.
The Treasurer, Mr A. J. Barrett, is retiring from this office after ten years of
competent and active work on the Society’s behalf. For this we thank him most
gratefully. We are fortunate, however, in that we are not going to lose him, as he
has accepted the Presidency. Finally, our thanks are extended to all Officers and
Committee Members for their contributions, and to all other members and friends
who, in their various ways, have assisted the Society in all its activities.
* Presented at the Annual General Meeting, 10 December 1974.
6
The London Naturalist, No. 54, 1975
The Collections of the Natural History Museum
by Keith H. Hyatt*
{Presidential address delivered on 10 December 1974)
The national museums and galleries house the nation’s treasures, although there are
additionally many items of national interest that are in private hands. Sometimes
the owners loan them permanently to the relevant national collection where they are
looked after, and, if necessary, exhibited to the public, or made accessible to research
workers.
Last year {Land. Nat. 53 : 7-16) I dealt with the events that led up to the founda¬
tion of the British Museum in 1753, the subsequent separation of the natural history
collections, and the chequered story of the planning and building of the main
South Kensington edifice which was opened to the public in April 1881. This
year I will deal with some of the collections contained in the Natural History
Museum, and their origin.
The museum’s collections fall into three categories. Firstly the most obvious,
the museum’s raison d'etre, the collections of animal, vegetable and mineral origin;
secondly the libraries of books and journals, and thirdly the manuscripts, original
drawings and paintings which are also housed in the libraries. The museum’s
libraries are essentially the working libraries of the scientific staff, but others may
use them at the discretion of the librarians.
Books and original drawings may not, however, be removed from the museum
except in special circumstances. Specimens from the scientific collections can be
loaned to scientists at home and abroad for research purposes provided the
potential borrower can fulfil certain requirements.
As indicated last year the collections of Sir Hans Sloane were the basis of the
present natural history collections. His zoological collections have largely perished
but his herbarium is well preserved, and we have his original manuscript catalogues,
drawings and anotated reference books, but strange as it may seem, not his library.
As it was the natural history specimens that were going to be moved from Blooms¬
bury to South Kensington one might be excused for assuming that the associated
natural history literature would go with them, but two astonishing anomalies
occurred. The first was purely physical; no space for a library had been allocated
in the final plans for South Kensington. The architect’s plan, approved by the
trustees and by the keepers, provided departmental libraries, but as these plans
developed over the years the libraries disappeared and authority was too divided
to restore them. The second anomaly was the principle accepted by the trustees
that no scientific literature could leave Bloomsbury because of the terms of the
original trust unless countermanded by Act of Parliament. This ban included
one of the most famous of all natural history libraries — that of Sir Joseph Banks —
bequeathed to the nation in 1820. The law officers of the Crown, to whom the
case for transferring the Banksian Library to South Kensington was referred in
1882, considered that by the Act of Incorporation the trustees of the British
Museum were prohibited from removing the Banksian Library to South Kensing¬
ton. And naturally this ban included the library of Sir Hans Sloane, although
certain reference volumes just referred to were allowed to go as they had a direct
bearing on his collections.
When the natural history collections moved to South Kensington in 1881 the
number of books which accompanied them and were the foundation of the library
there was very small indeed. A mere 1,872 titles of books and 140 separate
periodicals in the Zoology Department and 1,129 books and 48 periodicals in the
Mineral Department are recorded. So you will see that the Natural History
Museum had to start almost from scratch. After a lot of pressure from Albert
Gunther, Keeper of Zoology from 1875 to 1895, the Treasury sanctioned grants
* Department of Zoology, British Museum (Natural History), Cromwell Road,
London SW7 5BD.
Hyatt — Collections of the Natural History Museum
1
for the purchase of books, and for the six-year period 1879 to 1885 £30,700 was
provided. The trustees had decided that a General Library, which should hold
works common to more than one department, should be formed, and B. B. Wood¬
ward was appointed Librarian. He already held office in the Department of Printed
Books at Bloomsbury. Woodward enlisted the help of Messrs Dulau and Co.,
an old established firm of antiquarian booksellers, and the markets of Europe
were combed for secondhand copies of basic works.
The first twenty years of the libraries’ growth were critical and in 1900 a census
revealed the following: General Library 19,395 volumes and 5,569 sheets of maps.
Botany 14,980 volumes. Geology 9,395 volumes. Mineralogy 6,339 volumes, and
Zoology 17,167 volumes. When B. B. Woodward retired in 1920 he had the
satisfaction of knowing that during his forty years’ service at South Kensington
the libraries had grown into one of the most important collections of natural
history books in the world. The current estimate for the museum’s libraries is a
total of 450,000 volumes, and this, despite the fact that it does not enjoy privileges
under the Copyright Acts. It is largely through the generosity of past members of
staff and numerous members of the public that the libraries have risen to their
present importance. The runs of journals are rather different. They are acquired
as and when published. The 1968 List of Serial Publications in the British Museum
{Natural History) Library comprises some 12,500 titles of journals available in the
museum.
As stated above the libraries are essentially the working libraries of the staff.
It is impossible to carry out systematic research into natural history at any level
without recourse to the literature. “Have you seen all the literature?”, “What
references are there?”, or “What does the author say in his original description?”,
are phrases echoed throughout the museum or any other place where systematics
and identification are carried out. Even the humblest of amateur beginners must
have some literature before he can do identification or classification with any
degree of certainty.
The History of the Collections Contained in the Natural History Departments of
the British Museum was published over sixty years ago, but it does cover the period
that saw' the big expeditions and explorations, and the acquisition of many
outstanding large private collections that are the foundation of taxonomic research.
First and foremost after Sloane’s collection come the celebrated botanical
collections of Sir Joseph Banks which the trustees acquired in 1827. Amongst
Banks’s treasures are many works based on the three celebrated voyages of Captain
James Cook. Charles Darwin’s famous voyage on the Beagle is of course repres¬
ented in the museum, not so much by specimens but by manuscripts on reptiles,
amphibians and cirripedes. The equally famous scientific expedition of HMS
Challenger from 1873 to 1876, with its reports by Sir John Murray and others, was
the basis of a recent large exhibition in the museum. Complementary to this is
Murray’s own zoological and oceanographical library which was presented by his
son in 1921. Whilst on sea voyages I will mention in passing the 1901 to 1904
log-books of the Antarctic Exploring Vessel SS Discovery. The name Discovery
has been perpetuated by two more vessels of that name, whilst the Whale Research
Unit of the Institute of Oceanographic Sciences is still popularly known as
“Discovery Investigations”.
These early and historical voyages of exploration are known to all, but the large
collections of specimens that have become virtual springboards for the systematics
of the many groups are not widely known outside of natural history circles, or
indeed outside the individual groups themselves. It is fair to say that most sections
in the museum owe much to the inheritance of very large collections of British
or foreign specimens. I will now enumerate some of the major and more notable
acquisitions by which the libraries and collections have been enriched.
All ornithologists have heard of the Tweeddale Library. This magnificent array
of 2,560 volumes was amassed by Arthur Hay, ninth Marquis Tweeddale, who.
8
The London Naturalist, No. 54, 1975
until his death in 1878, wrote prolifically on birds, mainly from the Indian sub¬
continent. The next major acquisition was in 1901 when Thomas de Grey, sixth
Baron Walsingham, presented his collection of 200,000 specimens of micro-
lepidoptera and his library of associated books which comprised more than 1,000
magnificently bound volumes. In 1905 the Alexander Fry bequest was received.
Fry was a coleopterist and he augmented his own material by large purchases of
important valuable collections. His library comprised 611 volumes. In 1908 the
bibliographer C. D. Sherborn, known to museum colleagues as “Squire”, and who
compiled the famous Index Animalium, presented to the General Library a collec¬
tion of handwriting specimens of naturalists. This comprised some 8,000 letters and
other documents. The identification of handwriting is often n necessary and
valuable part of the practical processes of systematics as practiced in museum
work. In 1910 Dr Albert Gunther, the former Keeper of Zoology mentioned
earlier, presented 146 folios of drawings of Chinese fishes made by native artists
in the early nineteenth century. The Botanical Library was enriched in 1913 by the
acquisition of 11,325 plates and original drawings of plants collected by Isaac
Swainson during his lifetime from 1746 to 1812, and in the same year four volumes
of original drawings made for Pieter Cramer’s Papillons Exotiques were purchased
for the Entomological Department. In 1915 were presented the personal works
and memoirs of Sir Richard Owen, one of the principal personalities in the
foundation of the museum, and its first Director.
I have already mentioned Sir John Murray’s library received in 1921. A second
important collection was received the same year, the ornithological library of
Captain G. E. Shelley, which included the pattern plates for his monograph of the
sun-birds. In 1925 three major acquisitions came to the museum — the Heron-
Alien library of works relating to the Foraminifera and comprising 719 volumes;
one hundred bound volumes of works on the Porifera from Professor Arthur
Dendy; and a set of 154 original zoological and botanical drawings painted in
Ceylon and the Malay Archipelago by Pieter Cornelius de Bevere during the
years 1754 to 1757.
It was in 1937 that the most extensive and valuable single library to be acquired
was bequeathed to the museum. Lionel Walter, the second Baron Rothschild,
had founded a zoology museum at Tring in Hertfordshire. It contained the
largest collection of animals ever assembled by one man. The library comprised
almost 30,000 volumes, all superbly bound, and relating mainly to ornithology and
entomology. As mentioned last year the Tring Museum has been enlarged and
now houses the entire ornithological collections and staff, whilst the entomological
collections from there are now incorporated with those at South Kensington. The
second largest bequest was in 1948 when the former Director, Sir Sidney Harmer,
presented his extensive library on two rather widely differing marine groups, the
Cetacea and the Polyzoa.
Scarcely a year passes without some rare or unique works being acquired. In
1964 the Trechmann bequest of 242 bound volumes and a large collection of
reprints, mainly concerned with the palaeontology of the Vv^est Indies, was received,
and the following year a collection relating to mineralogy, and containing some
rare works not in the museum, was bequeathed by Sir Arthur Russell. One of
the most recent bequests is the library of the internationally well known ornitholo¬
gist Colonel Richard Meinertzhagen, which comprised 367 volumes of works
and a large collection of reprints.
So far I have given you some idea of the magnificent way in which the national
collections, but more especially the libraries, have been enriched. Systematic
research in the museum is based naturally enough on having the specimens available,
but despite the bequests vast gaps still exist in our knowledge as many comers of
the earth are still unworked. We rely very heavily on monographs that have been
prepared in conjunction with collections which may be derived from widely
differing sources. Many of these monographs were prepared around the turn of
the century. The Fauna of British India series is scant in its coverage of some
Hyatt — Collections of the Natural History Museum
9
groups, but the birds for instance, were well documented, and Fauna Hawaiiensis,
sponsored by a joint committee of the Royal Society and the British Association,
does similarly for the Sandwich Islands. The massive Biologia Centrali- Americana
is supported by an enormous amount of type material. Additional to monographs
are the results of expeditions sponsored by a committee like the West Indian
Exploration Committee at the end of last century, or by the museum itself, which
has had expeditions to Ruwenzori in East Africa, Arabia, Nepal, the Solomon
Islands, and Australia, to quote but a few. Members of the staff have also accom¬
panied expeditions that are primarily of a different discipline from biology, for
example mountaineering and surveying, and by this means very valuable collections
have been acquired. These expeditions’ results are either published in scattered
journals depending on the choice of the individual specialists working on the
material, or are brought together as a series in one journal.
There have also been, mainly in the past, a fair quota of “resident” collectors,
either paid or unpaid, who have worked for the museum. Two of the foremost
of these were Frank Kingdon Ward and Frank Ludlow whose plant collections
from the Himalayas and Tibet are second to none. Kingdon Ward wrote a fine
series of travel books with romantic titles such as The Land of the Blue Poppy in
1913, Plant Hunter's Paradise in 1937, and Return to the Irrawaddy in 1956, to quote
but three. Ludlow’s travels in Tibet, Bhutan, Sikkim and Turkestan spanned forty
years, and he spent the last twenty-tliree years of his life working in the museum’s
herbarium. In my own group, the Arachnida, three men in particular have done
more to enrich our collections from southern and central Africa than any other
source — G. L. Bates, J. ff. Darling and Sir Guy Marshall.
The first collections in good state of preservation to be received from Brazil
were made by E. E. Austen and F. O. Pickard-Cambridge when they accompanied
Messrs Siemens’ cable-laying ship the SS Faraday. Some of the collectors, like
H. W. Bates, author of The Naturalist on the River Amazons, had his collections
shipped home by instalments and sold in London. Many museum specimens were
acquired at auctions and sale-rooms.
Two famous collections from the Indian subcontinent have been made by
persons on official duty. Brian Houghton Hodgson, diplomat, orientalist and
antiquarian, who was British Resident at Kathmandu from 1820 to 1843, has been
described as one of the greatest and least thanked of all our residents, and one
of the greatest labourers in the sphere of Indian research and record. He made
large zoological collections in Nepal and supplemented these with water-colour
drawings by native artists. The drawings number 1,319 in seven volumies. The
second person, Allan Octavian Hume, Comimissioner of Customs and a Secretary
to the Government of India, whose collection of about 82,000 birds and eggs
made between 1862 and 1885 from all parts of the Indian Empire, including the
Andaman and Nicobar Islands, is the largest and one of the most splendid donations
ever made to the Museum. Hume, incidentally, was the founder of the Indian
National Congress and the South London Botanical Institute.
Three famous mountaineers have collected for the museum, not in large quanti¬
ties, but material from scientifically interesting and remote areas not readily
accessible to other collectors — Edward Whymper in the Andes, Eric Shipton from
Patagonia, and Major R. W. G. Hingston, author of the classic A Naturalist in
Himalaya, from the Everest region.
Finally, in the Arachnida again, Count Eugen Keyserling’s important collection
of nearly 10,000 specimens of over 2,000 named species of American and Australian
origin; the Nuttall collection of ticks, of outstanding medical and taxonomic
importance, presented by the Molteno Institute at Cambridge in 1939; the famous
collection of mainly British spiders of A. Randell Jackson which was received in the
1940s; and lastly, the only large single collections of British mites ever privately
amassed — those of A. D. Michael and of Soar and Williamson — which formed
the basis of Ray Society monographs.
10
The London Naturalist, No. 54, 1975
One should not be misled into thinking that only large collections are of interest.
Any one can present material to the national collections where it will be curated
for posterity and assured a more useful existence than if left uncared for by
unsympathetic relatives. Two instances of the latter have occurred in the
Arachnida in recent years. The collections of J. N. Halbert in Ireland and the
Rev. J. E. Hull in Northumberland were both “lost” to science until it was dis¬
covered that a man in Killarney had custody of much of Halbert’s specimens
in his leaking attic, and part of Hull’s collections were discovered dried out in
Colchester Museum. Both contained type material and much has been saved.
Book Review
Epping Forest: Its History and Wildlife. By Alfred Leutscher. 203 pages including
12 pages of plates, 2 text figs. David & Charles, Newton Abbot. 1974. £4*95.
Obviously written with a deep love of Epping Forest and a keen awareness of
the dangers which threaten it today, this is the first attempt since Edward North
Buxton’s classic guide of 1884 to provide a comprehensive account of its history
and wildlife. Ranging widely from geology and prehistory to modern management
and conservation, it contains much useful information; unfortunately it also in¬
cludes some remarkable errors, which may well mislead the unsuspecting reader.
The legend that Boadicea fought her last battle in the Forest is repeated here,
despite all the evidence of modern scholarship; the geological nomenclature, by
ignoring the Claygate Beds, follows a system superseded in 1912; the Pebble
Gravel is erroneously described as Westleton Shingle; the height of High Beach
is given as “some 500 ft” whereas it is only 350 ft. Some errors, such as giving
as present species that are extinct or listing as extinct others that have returned, are
perhaps explained by the inevitable time-lag between writing and publication.
Errors of location, however, are especially unfortunate, such as giving the position
of Cuckoo Pits as in St Thomas’ Quarters, two miles north of their actual situation.
In all this is a disappointing book. Epping Forest is truly a precious heritage,
both as a place of recreation and for its scientific interest: one cannot help feeling
that it deserves better than this.
Habitat 11(2): 7 (1975)
II
Urban Street Geology in London:
Three Temporary Exposures of London Clay
by K. Hackett*
Introduction
A few years ago a paper describing eight temporary and two semi-permanent
exposures of London Clay was published by Rundle & Cooper (1970), It used
as its basis a standardised temporary exposure recording form, copies of which
can be obtained from Mr J, Cooper, 4 Yewdale Close, Bromley, Kent. The
necessity of recording full details of temporary exposures at every possible occasion,
and the methods used to examine them, are given by Rundle & Cooper (1970).
Descriptions of three temporary exposures are included below. The range of each
species through the five divisions of the London Clay (Wrigley 1924, 1940; Rundle
& Cooper 1970) is given, and an estimate of the relative abundance of each species
is made; where there is no estimate the species is represented by a single specimen.
All weights are for dry clay.
The details of the Green Park site were used in a Tertiary Research Group exhibit
at the meeting of Geological Societies of the British Isles, Manchester University,
in September 1973, and at the 1973 Geologists’ Association Annual Reunion.
The exhibit was entitled “Urban Street Geology”.
The Sites
1. Green Park, City of Westminster.
LOCALITY : Vertical shaft with tube tunnels at its base, behind Green Park
Underground Station within Green Park, Piccadilly, London Wl.
GRID REFERENCE: TQ 29018026. HEIGHT (O.D.): 53 ft.
PURPOSE OF SITE: Underground train tunnels for the new Fleet line.
CONTRACTORS: Waddington & Son.
REPORTED BY: C. P. Nuttall (14 July 1972).
COLLECTORS: K. Hackett (16 July 1972); J, P, James and K. Hackett (23 July
1972).
LITHOLOGY OF THE LONDON CLAY: Very brown clay with glauconitic
patches; common septarian nodules and pyrite concretions.
SECTION: No section was seen. The clay was collected from tips and said by
workmen to be coming from approximately 105 feet below ground level.
BIOTIC LIST: Based almost entirely on the contents of a 61-55 kg sample sieved
to 20 mesh, about 10 kg were further sieved to 30 mesh.
PLANT AE
Indeterminate wood fragments (2-5) Common
Indeterminate seed (2-5)
PROTOZOA
Undetermined Foraminifera (1-5) Common below 20 mesh
COELENTERATA
Graphularia wetherelli Edw. & Haime (2-5) Common
Stephanophyllia discoides Edw. &. Haime (2-3)
* 33 Oppidans Road, Chalk Farm, London NW3 3AG.
12
The London Naturalist, No. 54, 1975
BIVALVIA
Abra splendens (J. de C. Sowerby) (2-5)
Indeterminate teredenid tubes (2-5) Scarce
? Nuculana sp. (2-5)
Thyasira angulata (J. Sowerby) (2-3)
GASTROPODA
Indeterminate pyrite cast (2-5)
CEPHALOPODA
Indeterminate nautiloid (2-5)
SCAPHOPODA
Antalis anceps (J. de C. Sowerby) (2-3)
Laevidentalium nitens (J. Sowerby) (2-5)
Indeterminate pyrite casts (2-5) Scarce
ANNELIDA
Ditrupa plana (J. Sowerby) (2-5) Common
ARTHROPODA
Indeterminate crab claws (2-5) Scarce
ECHINODERMATA
Democrinus londinensis (Forbes) (2-3)
Isselicrinus mbbasaltiformis (Miller) (2) Common
PISCES
Brosmophycis sagittalis (Frost) (2-5)
Dinematichthys argutus Stinton (2-5)
Scyliorhinus mimitissimus (Winkler) (2-5)
Indeterminate teleost remains (2-5) Common
Indeterminate otolith (2-5)
The macrofossil assemblage is characteristic of the Lower London Clay of the
London Area; division 2 of Wrigley (1924, 1940). The biota and associated nodules
and concretions are probably indicative of a level between 90 and 110 feet above the
base of the London Clay in London. The London Clay and Made Ground at this
site must therefore be a total of about 200 feet thick.
2. University, London Borough of Camden.
LOCALITY : South end of site of the new building for the Institutes of Education
and Law and the extension to the school of Oriental and African Studies,
University of London, Russell Square, London WCl.
GRID REFERENCE: TQ 298822. HEIGHT (O.D.): 84 ft.
PURPOSE OF SITE : Foundations of building.
CONTRACTORS: Higgs and Hill.
REPORTED BY: D. Sealy (26 May 1971).
COLLECTORS: D. Ward and K. Hackett (2 June 1971).
LITHOLOGY OF THE LONDON CLAY: Stiff blue clay with large nodules.
SECTION : Gravel and Made Ground . 20 ft.
Iron pan .
Unweathered London Clay . seen to 6 ft.
BIOTIC LIST: Based entirely on the contents of a 16 kg sample sieved to 20
mesh only.
PLANTAE
Indeterminate wood fragments (2-5) Common
Hackett- — Exposures of London Clay
13
BRACHIOPODA
Lingula tenuis J. Sowerby
BIVALVIA
Thyasira goodhalli (J. de C. Sowerby)
GASTROPODA
Cylichna sp. (2-5)
Euspira glaucinoides (J. Sowerby) (2-5) Scarce
Orthochetus elongatus Wrigley (2-4) Scarce
? Streptolathyrus cymatodis (Edwards) (2-3)
Indeterminate pyrite casts (2-5) Common
PTEROPODA
Spiratella taylori Curry (2-5)
SCAPHOPODA
Indeterminate fragments (2-5) Rare
PISCES
Indeterminate teleost bones (2-5) Scarce
Centropomus excavatus Stinton (2-4)
The macrofauna contains a small number of species mostly represented by
single specimens; this impoverished fauna, although undiagnostic, is typical of
lower Division 2; similar to that exposed at Bessborough Gardens, SWl (Rundle
& Cooper 1970). The London Clay basement at this site is probably about 80
feet below ground level.
3. Archway Station Forecourt, London Borough of Islington
LOCALITY : Shaft and tunnel below Archway Station forecourt at the junction
of Junction Road and Highgate Hill, London N19.
GRID REFERENCE: TQ 293868. HEIGHT (O.D.): 188 ft.
PURPOSE OF SITE : Underground working on Archway (Northern Line) Station.
CONTRACTORS: McGee.
REPORTED BY: K. Hackett (5 July 1972).
COLLECTORS: K. Hackett (7 July, 10 July 1972).
LITHOLOGY OF THE LONDON CLAY: Grey-blue clay with pyrite streakings.
SECTION : No section was seen. The clay was said to be coming from approxi¬
mately 60 feet below ground level.
BIOTIC LIST: Based on a 30-4 kg sample sieved to 20 mesh; about 10 kg was
further sieved to 30 mesh.
PLANTAE
Indeterminate wood fragments (2-5) Common
PROTOZOA
Undetermined Foraminifera (1-5) Common below 20 mesh
COELENTERATA
Graphularia wetherelli Edw. & Haime (2-5) Scarce
BIVALVIA
Nucula sp. (2-5)
Pecten duplicatus J. de C. Sowerby (2-3)
Teredinid tubes (2-5) Scarce
GASTROPODA
Euspira glauciniodes (J. Sowerby) (2-5) Scarce
Ficus {Priscoficus) ? multiformis Wrigley (3-5)
Streptolathyrus cymatodis (Edwards) (2-3)
Indeterminate pyrite casts (2-5) Common
14
The London Naturalist, No. 54, 1975
SCAPHOPODA
Antalis anceps (J. de C. Sowerby) (2-3)
Indeterminate pyrite casts (2-5) Common
ANNELIDA
Ditrupa plana (J. Sowerby) (2-5) Common
? Sclerostyla sp. A fragment of a small tube
PISCES
Microgadus eocenicus (Frost) (2-4)
Palaeogadus serratus Stinton (2-5)
Scyliorhinus minutissimus (Winkler) (2-5)
Indeterminate teleost bones (2-5) Common
This site is close to that of Highgate Archway; the clay at Highgate Archway
was thought by Bromehead (1925) to be a total of about 340 feet thick. The
difference in heights between Highgate Archway and Archway Station Forecourt
is about 140 feet and therefore the clay from the Archway Station Forecourt
must come from around the boundary of divisions 2 and 3 of Wrigley (1924, 1940).
The fauna is indicative of about this level. Unfortunately the thickness of London
Clay cannot be accurately worked out as Bromehead (1925) is vague about the
position of the specimens at Highgate Archway, and no account is taken of any dips.
I would like to thank those who reported and collected from the three sites described, and all
those who have helped me in the past. Especial thanks are extended to Mr. John Cooper for his
help and for his reading of the manuscript.
References
BROMEHEAD, C. E. N. 1925. The geology of north London. Explanation of
sheet 256. Mem. geol. Surv. U.K. 1-63 -f VII.
RUNDLE, A. J. & COOPER, J. 1970. Some recent temporary exposures of
London Clay in the London Area. Land. Nat. 49 : 113-124.
WRIGLEY, A. 1924. Faunal divisions of the London Clay, illustrated by some
exposures near London. Proc. Geol. Ass. 35 : 245-259.
WRIGLEY, A. 1940. The faunal succession in the London Clay, illustrated in
some new exposures near London. Proc. Geol. 51 : 230-245.
Book Review
Drawings of British Plants 31. By Stella Ross-Craig. 46 plates of line drawings.
G. Bell & Sons, London. 1974. £2.
The final part of this fine work with drawings of the British flora will be received
with delight. Many of the plates are amongst the best in the whole series, and
those of Potamogeton, Zostera and Najas are fine examples of the precision in
detail of the work of one of our leading botanical artists. It is for this that the
book should be purchased as an essential reference book by every library.
This part, with the separately bound index, completes the work which started
publication in 1948. The cost has risen to over six times that of the first part of
44 plates. The sequence used in botanical works has changed considerably,
additional species have been recognized or discovered. The Cyperaceae and
Gramineae have been omitted, and with other species left out, the work is very
incomplete. Although the detail is superb, the general picture of any plant larger
than a herbarium sheet is liable to be misleading — for random examples compare
the Cruciferae in part 3 (Plates 38, 47, 74) or some of the docks in part 26 (Plates
22, 24). Printed mainly on only one side of heavy paper the series is bulky, taking
up a foot of valuable shelf space, and expensive — purchased bound it costs £62 • 50.
Much as it is recommended for large libraries, it falls short of the requirements of
amateur botanists.
J. E. Lousley
15
Bird Remains from Medieval London
by D. Bramwell*
During 1972 and 1973 Dr Peter Marsden of The Guildhall Museum directed
archaeological excavations at the site of Baynard’s Castle, at the west end of
Thames Street, City of London. I was responsible for the identification of the bones
of birds recovered during the excavation. An impressive range of species was
found to be present, sufficient to provide a general picture of bird life in and
around the City in medieval times, as well as some indication of the sports of
cock-fighting and falconry and of the species preferred for food. Bell (1922)
lists a number of birds from “early ground near London Wall”, but this description
is too vague to merit any comparison. The present list (Table 1) is compiled from
reliably-dated material under the groups: c. 1350, 1500 and 1520.
Table 1. Baynard's Castle excavations. Numbers of bird bones recovered
grouped under species.
Archaeological group:
c. 1350
1500
1520
Totals
Gavia arctica (L.)
Black-throated diver
1
1
Puffinus pujfinus (Briinnich)
Manx shearwater
1
1
Phalacrocorax carbo (L.)
Cormorant
4
1
5
Botaurus stellaris (L.)
Bittern
6
6
Ardea cinerea L.
Grey heron
Cygnus olor (Gmelin)
2
11
13
Mute swan
10
6
6
22
Anser anser (L.) var.
Domestic goose
Anas platyrhynchos L.
205
627
208
1,040
Mallard
3
9
12
A. platyrhynchos var.
Domestic duck
32
102
29
163
A, crecca L.
Tea)
4
24
11
39
A. strepera L.
Gadwall
3
3
A. penelope L.
Wigeon
A. acuta h. (platyrhynchos L.
3
1
3
7
Pintail/Mallard
4
16
11
31
A. querquedula L.
Garganey
Spatula clypeata (L.)
?3
?1
4
Shoveler
?1
1
2
Aythya ferina (L.)
Pochard
?5
?3
8
Bucephala clangula (L.)
Goldeneye
5
4
9
*Fulwood, Baslow Road, Bakewell, Derbyshire DE4 lAA.
16
The London Naturalist, No. 54, 1975
Archaeological group : c. 1350
1500
1520
Totals
Mergus serrator L.
Red-breasted merganser
1
1
M. merganser L,
Goosander
8
8
Anatidae indet.
Ducks, indeterminate
3
2
5
Milvus milvus (L.)
Red kite
2
2
4
Accipiter nisus (L.)
Sparrowhavvk
1
1
Falco peregrinus Tunstall
Peregrine
1
1
Perdix perdix (L.)
Partridge 16
49
33
98
Coturnix coturnix (L.)
Quail
2
o
Am
4
Phasianus colchicus L.
Pheasant
4
4
Pavo cristatus L.
Peafowl
3
3
Gallus gallus (L.)
Domestic fowl 419
1,815
612
2,846
Gms grus (L.)
Crane
1
3
4
Crex crex (L.)
Corncrake
2
2
Fulica atra L.
Coot
2
2
Otis tarda (L.)
Great bustard
1
1
Pluvialis apricaria (L.)
Golden plover
1
17
18
P. squatarola (L.)
Grey plover
?1
?1
2
Vanellus vanellus (L.)
Lapwing
?1
1
Arenaria inter pres (L.)
Turnstone
1
1
Calidris alpina (L.)
Dunlin
1
1
C. canutus (L.)
Knot
4
4
Tringa erythropus (Pallas)
Spotted redshank
?2
2
T. totanus (L.)
Redshank
3
3
T. nebularia (Gunnerus)
Greenshank
?1
4
5
T. ochropus (L.)
Green sandpiper
1
1
Bramwell — Bird Remains from Medieval London
17
Archaeological group:
c. 1350
1500
1520
Totals
Limosa lapponica (L.)
Bar-tailed godwit
Numenius arquata (L.)
3
3
Curlew
Scolopax rusticola L.
1
6
7
Woodcock
5
12
19
36
Gallinago gallinago (L.)
Snipe
Larus minutus Pallas
3
6
5
14
Little gull
?1
1
L. ridibundus L.
Black-headed gull
Sterna sandvicensis Latham
1
1
Sandwich tern
1
1
Sterna sp.
Common/ Arctic tern size
Cohimba palumbus L.
?1
1
2
Woodpigeon
C. oenas L.
1
9
?1
11
Stock dove
C. livia Gmelin
6
?8
?3
17
Rock/domestic dove
16
16
Alaiida arvensis L.
Skylark
Turdus merula L.
1
1
2
Blackbird
T. pilaris L.
?2
2
4
Fieldfare
1
?2
3
T. philomelos Brehm
Song thrush
Fringilla montifringilla L.
1
?2
3
Brambling
Corviis monedula L.
1
1
Jackdaw
1
9
10
Corvus sp.
Rook/Crow
1
1
grand total 4,522
The castle, with its dock and waterfront, are shown on London’s earliest accurate
picture map in the Civi fates Orbis Tetrarum of 1572 (Holmes 1969). The map
shows the small size of the City, approximately a square mile, with Westminster
as a separate city. There are numerous fields and some marshy areas, e.g. Lambeth
Marsh on the South Bank and Moorfields, described by Fitter (1945) as “the
great stagnant fen that lay on the north side of the City wall”. The Fleet ditch
and Walbrook are described by the same author as “insanitary” but would no
doubt be attractive to some of the small waders. Other habitats suited to birds
on the list include woodland, scrub, parkland, pasture and crops, reed-beds and
open downland, apart from the river itself. Of the birds listed 62 per cent are
species frequenting river and riverside habitats.
The domestic birds include a large number of geese, most of which were no
doubt fattened on the open-fields, while some of the duck bones, although still
retaining the characters of mallard, are larger and stouter than the bones of that
species, and can be referred to a domestic strain. Peafowl were evidently un-
18
The London Naturalist, No. 54, 1975
common and besides their appearance at banquets were probably of prestige value
in the gardens of important town residences. Domestic doves appear to have
been kept and eaten in the “squab” (immature) stage, when they are particularly
succulent. Hedley (1972) mentions that Henry II’s falcons w'ere fed on pork,
chickens and doves. Pheasants were evidently feral by late medieval times as they
are described by Fitter as being birds of the warrens (Fitter 1945). One of the
tarsal bones found was small by present day standards and may indicate that birds
of different races were then present. Swan is assumed to have been semi-domestic
and is often quoted in menus at Christian festivals. It was sold in 1328 for £0-25
(5/-) (Fitter 1945). The bones of domestic fowl yielded some interesting features,
notably cock tarsal bones in the 1350 and 1500 groups in which the spurs had been
pared with a knife. This appears to have been in preparation for fitting of metal
spurs preparatory to a contest. Some other tarsal bones exhibited the five toes
(1350 and 1520 groups), a feature of the present day Dorking and Poland breeds.
The majority of the species found at the site had evidently been eaten by town
or castle folk, the chief exceptions being the birds of prey. Two of the latter,
sparrowhawk and peregrine falcon would have been used in hunting, while Ired
kite may have been destroyed because of its depredations among poultry chicks.
The bones of red kite Milvus milvus are to be expected in any extensive excavation
of a medieval towm or castle, though there were times when the bird was afforded
protection for its useful work as a city scavenger (Newton & Gadow 1893-1896).
Fisher (1966) suggests that the scavenging kites of medieval London might have
been M. migrans, the black kite, but I have now had a number of occurrences of
kite, from Neolithic to later times (Table 2) and all are undoubtedly M. milvus.
Reference material used comprised a European specimen of red kite and an
Ethiopian one of black kite. The table shows that the British bones are all larger
than the comparable bone of the black kite. It can be said that M. milvus is
generally more robust throughout its skeleton; the measurements given by
Wither by et al. (1939) also confirm this, by 8 per cent in the tarsus (with some
overlap in size range) and by 11-13 per cent in its wing (with no overlap). Bell
(1915) also names red kite specifically from Glastonbury Lake Village, though his
record from Withernsea, Yorkshire (Bell 1922) was identified as “kite sp.” The
raven was also identified from the castle but insecurely dated, so has been omitted
from Table 1. This bird was likewise given protection.
Table 2. The occurrences of red kite Milvus milvus (L.) from archaeological
sites in Britain. The author is responsible for the identifications apart from the
Durrington Walls specimen, for which Mr G. S. Cowles takes credit. The measure¬
ments in mm refer to total lengths except where indicated. Comparable measure¬
ments of an Ethiopian black kite M. migrans (Bodd.) are given where appropriate.
Site and age
Bone, M. milvus
Bone, M. migrans
Durrington Walls, Wilts.
(Neolithic)
1. carpometacarpus
68
65
Caerwent (Roman)
r. humerus
124
113-5
r. ulna
142
131
r. carpometacarpus
72
65
r. femur
67*8
62
synsacrum (midline)
54
47
(max. dorsal width)
44
37
North Elmham, Norfolk
(Saxon)
r. tibiotarsus
(distal width)
11-8
10-5
r. humerus shaft
(max. diameter)
8-3
7-3
Bristol Castle (medieval)
r, carpometacarpus
72-8
65
Baynard’s Castle (medieval)
1. ulna
147
131
r. tibiotarsus
87-5
79
1. ulna (distal width)
11-8
9-3
Bramwell — Bird Remains from Medieval London
19
The most interesting wild species recovered from the 1520 refuse is the great
bustard, which must have been obtained well outside the urban area, possibly
from the Sussex Downs or the Chilterns, where wide areas of open chalk uplands
would have provided the required habitat. Gilbert White (1789) says “there are
bustards on the wide downs near Brighthelmstone”, though he fails to state
the species. From this record one can hardly expect the bird to have been scarce
in medieval times. The femur of a male bird from within the castle boundary
appears to be the only well-dated record for a sub-fossil bone of the bird in the
British Isles. Bell (1915 : 409) mentions “a doubtful find in Norfolk peat” and
there is also a doubtful record from the Pleistocene from a Mendip cave (Newton
1924), but the published list of species includes tundra and temperate forms side
by side and so is not helpful.
The bustard was no doubt the centre-piece at some castle banquet and induces
speculation as to the way in which it was killed. The bird was an adult and a strong
flier, but younger birds are said to have been run down by men on horseback, aided
by greyhounds (Savory 1971). So far there are no records of great bustard from
archaeological sites of Roman, Saxon or Norman age, though some excavations
have taken place in ancient strongholds of the bird, e.g. Thetford and North
Elmham, both in Norfolk (Clutton-Brock, in press; Wade-Martins, in press). The
evidence, therefore, does tend to support the contention of Vesey Fitzgerald (1969)
that the British birds represented an extension of their range by continental birds,
perhaps during the earlier part of the 15th century, in which event the colonies are
likely to have been very strong by 1520. Changes in land usage, agricultural
progress, collecting skins and eggs, and use as food appear to be factors contributing
to the extermination of the species about 1838 (Newton & Gadow 1893-1896).
Since that time stragglers have appeared at intervals of several years, mainly during
the winter.
Another fine former breeding bird, the crane, also a favourite item at great
banquets, has had a longer history in this country as the bones occur in sites from
prehistoric times to about the 17th century. The loss of this bird as a breeding
species was without doubt due to the draining of the extensive tracts of fen and
marshy areas to make the ground available for agriculture. Two other marsh
birds, bittern and heron, were also much esteemed as food and, along v.4th swan
and other birds, could be bought ready roasted in medieval London (Fitter 1945).
The present wintering of many species of ducks, gulls and waders along the Thames
is shown by the Baynard’s Castle list to be only a return to a former traditional
pattern. Identification of some of these species is difficult from the bones and there
may be a few errors where species overlap in size and form, pintail and mallard,
teal and garganey, for example, could be wrongly placed.
The most popular land game-bird proves to have been partridge, whilst plover
species came a good second. Woodcock and snipe were taken, the four birds having
proved popular from Palaeolithic times to the present, with the Romans showing the
greatest ability in hunting them (Bramw'ell, based on many identifications in recent
years). The smaller birds, such as thrushes, larks and finches could have been taken
by sparrowhawks or by snaring. The presence of manx shearwater may seem
unusual but I have identified the same species from food refuse obtained in excava¬
tions at Bristol Castle (unpublished). The cormorant is not unexpected among food
bones as it also appears in most Scottish prehistoric sites, from Neolithic to Iron
Age times (Bramwell unpublished). Mallard and teal as food have, with few
exceptions, always proved the most exploited of the ducks and the quantities brought
in for some banquets seem to demand the use of decoy ponds.
Of land birds, quail is seldom found in medieval contexts, but the small size
of the bones has probably caused it to have been overlooked at some excavations.
Corncrake, partridge, skylark, quail and plover are indicators of both dry and
moist meadow and probably some crops in the London environs. Both corncrake
and quail seem to be seldom mentioned in the records of banquets and market-
prices of medieval times. The relative abundance of woodpigeon, stockdove and
jackdaw are indicative of woodland or parkland within easy reach of London.
20
The London Naturalist, No. 54, 1975
The species list as a whole includes residents, passage migrants and both summer
and winter immigrants, suggesting that bird hunting extended from autumn, through
winter, to late spring. In the absence of records to the effect, I assume that a close
season was observed.
In conclusion I wish to acknowledge the help received from the following: Dr Marsden for permis¬
sion to publish the material and to make use of his notes regarding the periods involved. Dr P. Morris
for providing the black kite specimen, Mrs N. Brayley for typing, and Dr D. Yalden for advice on the
script. Mr G. S. Cowles, of the British Museum (Natural History) kindly advised on some difficult
specimens.
References
BELL, A. 1915. Pleistocene and later bird fauna of Great Britain and Ireland.
Zoologist IV, 19: 401-412.
BELL, A. 1922. Pleistocene and later birds of Great Britain and Ireland.
Naturalist, Hull 787-788: 251-253.
BRAMWELL, D. 1971. In WAINWRIGHT, G. J. & LONGWORTH, 1. H.
1971. Durrington Walls 1966-1968. Appendix 2: animal bones. Rep. Res.
Comm. Soc. Antiquaries, Land. 29: 338-350.
CLUTTON-BROCK, J. (in press) The animal resources of Saxon England.
In WILSON, D, (Editor) Anglo-Saxon Archaeology. Methuen, London.
FISHER, J. 1966. The Shell Bird Book. Ebury, London.
FITTER, R. S. R. 1945. London's Natural History. Collins, London.
HEDLEY, O. 1972. Royal Palaces. Hale, London.
HOLMES, M. 1969. Elizabethan London. Cassell, London.
NEWTON, A. & GADOW, H. 1893-1896. A Dictionary of Birds. Black,
London.
NEWTON, E. T. 1924. Note on additional species of birds from Aveline’s Hole.
Proc. speleol. Soc., Bristol 2 (2): 121,
SAVORY, A. 1971. In WATKINS (Editor) The East Anglian Book. East
Anglian Magazine Ltd., Ipswich.
VESEY-FITZGERALD, B. 1969. The Vanishing Wildlife of Britain. Macgibbon
& Kee, London.
WADE-MARTINS, P. (in press) Excavations at North Elmham.
WHITE, G. 1789. The Natural History and Antiquities of Selborne, in the County
of Southampton. White, London.
WITHERBY, H. F., JOURDAIN, F. C. R., TICEHURST, N. F. & TUCKER,
B. W. 1939, The Handbook of British Birds: 3. Witherby, London.
Book Review
Wild Life in the Royal Parks. By Eric Simms. 47 pages, 33 plates, 7 maps. HMSO,
London. 1974. £0-50.
This is a concise and well-illustrated publication, containing a short history
and notes on the wildlife of St James’s and Green Park, Hyde Park/Kensington
Gardens and Regent’s Park/Primrose Hill and the outer parks of Greenwich,
Richmond and Hampton Court/Bushy Park. Much of the book is devoted to the
breeding and migrating bird species, but there are also separate sections on
ornamental waterfowl and the herds of fallow and red deer that live in the outer
parks. Clear and well-defined maps show places of interest and convenient stations
and car parks. The booklet is excellent value for the very moderate cost.
J. D. Hook
21
Hemiptera - Heteroptera of the London Area
PART IX
by Eric W. Groves*
(Previous parts of this paper have appeared in The London Naturalist as follows :
Pt. I (43: 34-66, 1964); Pt. II (44: 82-110, 1965); Pt. Ill (45: 60-88, 1966); Pt. IV
(46: 82-104, 1967); Pt. V (47: 50-80, 1968); Pt. VI (48: 86-120, 1969); Pt. VII
(50: 87-94, 1972); and Pt. VIII (52: 31-59, 1973). A continuing list of abbreviations
as to sources of records and for recorders’ names has appeared wherever appropriate
at the beginning of the parts listed above).
MIRIDAE (Capsid bugs) {Contd.)
Subfamily: MIRINAE
Camptozygum pinastri (Fall.) Sp. 372 p. 283
S p. 255 {Zygimus pinastri) B p. 430 (Sp. 307)
Local. Confined to Scots pine {Finns sylvestris) and to a lesser extent on Norway
spruce {Picea abies) where the adults feed on the young cones and shoots from
June to September. There are two records of this species being taken in a MV
light trap (see below). Essex records wanting.
Middx. Hampstead Heath, 8.viii.43, on Finns, CHA (17); 24.vii.57, DL (54);
5.viii.60, on Scots pine, DL (HD) (54); and Highgate, n.d. [but probably vii.1883],
LAN (C).
Herts. Barnet, viii.1885, EAB (BM) (37); and just over the boundary at
Harpenden, 5.viii.34, a single S taken in light trap in Rothamsted Expt. Station
grounds, DCT (12) (59).
Kent. Blackheath, 13.vii.69, a single example at MV light trap, AAA (51);
Plumstead, WW (4) (22); TRB (37); Bostall Wood, WW (4) (22); Bromley,
viii.1885, ES (HD) (4) (37); West Wickham Wood, 21.vii.l894, on pines, WW
(60); Keston, EPF (HD, presented 1909).
Surrey. Shirley Common, 26.vii.1895, on pines, WW (60) (SL) (62); Reigate,
on fir trees, ES (36); Mickleham, EAB (37); Box Hill, viii.1888 (adult) and 16.vi.l7
(II instar larva), EAB (BM); Bookham Common, WW per FJC (62); Black Hills,
Esher, 20.viii.51, FJC (SL); Esher Common, GCC (3) (37); JAP (BM); EPF (HD,
nresented 1909); 18.vii.53, beaten from firs, common, FJC (1/1953-54: 85-86);
bxshott Heath, TRB (37); 31.vii.l5, WJA (SL); 27.vii.51, DL in WJLeQ coll. (21);
ll.vii.52 and 18.vii.53, FJC (SL); vii.54, a single specimen off pine, AAA (51);
ll.vii.56, on Scots pine, GEW (40) (EMM 92: 47); 17.vii.60, on Scots pine, DL
(HD); Weybridge, on fir tree, ES (37) (36) (3); Chertsey, FPP (HD, presented 1909).
On the boundary at Egham, 25.vii.56 and 6.viii.56, on pine, GEW (40); Pyrford
Heath, 28.vi.41, FJC (SL) (62); and Byfleet, 6.vii.42, FJC (SL) (62); DL in WJLeQ
coll. (21); (Basingstoke Canal), 8.vii.50, along the canal path, DL (1950-1951: 73).
Beyond the boundary at Chobham, vii.1880, £"5 in EAN coW. (C) (3) (37); 2.viii.l895,
/l/C (HD); Woking, vii.1890, ££(HD) (3) (37); 15.viii.l891, /4/C (HD); Camberley,
viii.33, LEG (BM); Albury, 18.vii.44, 26.vii.43 and 3.viii.44, ECB (NM); Shalford,
EAB (3) (37); Ewhurst, viii.1889 and viii.1890, EAB (BM) (3) (37); Leith Hill, EAB
(3).
Bucks. Beyond the boundary at Burnham Beeches, 22.vi.12, EAB (BM).
Plesiocoris rugicoUis (Fall.) Apple capsid Sp. 373 p. 284
S p. 248 B p. 411 (Sp. 292)
* Department of Botany, British Museum (Natural History), Cromwell Road,
London SW7 5BD.
218
22
The London Naturalist, No. 54, 1975
Frequent and widely distributed throughout the London Area. Its host in the
wild is usually willow (Salix spp.) but it has also been regarded as a minor pest of
apple orchards, where it blemishes the fruit causing corky scars to form on the
skin of the apple. The adults of this bug have been most often found in June and
July, but the occasional adult recorded from late August into September has led
to the belief that a second generation may possibly follow the main one during
favourable summers. It would be interesting to know to what extent numbers of
this bug have been reduced in those apple growing districts where insecticides
have been in general use for a number of years.
Middx. Hampstead Heath, 18.vii.43, on Salix, CHA (17); Finchley, 23.V.43,
CHA (17); Mill Hill, 4.vii.58, DL (HD); Edgware (Scratch Wood), 4.vii.58, DL
(54); and Hillingdon, 17.vi.33, common on Salix, DCT (33a).
Herts. Rickmansworth, 17.vi.35, several specimens on crab-apple, DCT (12);
and just over the boundary at Harpenden, 1933-1936, 22 examples (all S S)
taken in light trap in Rothamsted Expt. Stn. grounds, DCT (59); and beyond
at Royston, 31.vii.l9, G EH (BM).
Essex. Purfleet, RML (5).
Kent. Lewisham, WW (39); Plumstead (Wickham Lane), 30. vi. 1894, on willow,
WW (60) (4) (39); and Swanley, 1923, AMM (22).
Surrey. Mickleham Downs. 17.vii.48, FJC (SL) (62); Box Hill, 4.v!i. &
8.vii.49 and 30.viii.48, FJC (SL) (62); Ashtead, 19.vii.47, FJC (SL) (62); Esher
Common, 29.vi.53 and 28.viii.50, FJC (SL) (62); Black Pond, Esher Common,
FJC (62) ; Oxshott Heath, 1 1 .vii.52 and 26.vii.48, FJC (SL) (62) ; West End Common,
13.viii.51, FJC (SL); Arbrook Common, 30.vi.52 and 7.ix.48, FJC (SL); and on
the boundary at Effingham, 22.vii.49, FJC (SL) (62); and Egham, 10.vi.65, on
Salix, GEW (40); and beyond at Chobham, vii.1892, ES (HD) (3); Woking, vii.1888,
FS (HD) (62); Horsell, 26.viii.49, FJC (SL) (62); and by the Basingstoke Canal
between Pirbright Bridge and Frimley Green, 1954-1955, HDS (50).
Bucks. Just over the boundary at Slough, 26.vii.55, on apple and willow',
GEWiFUU 92: 35); (ICBFS) 16 & 27.vi.33 on willow WHG (41); and beyond at
Burnham Beeches, 22.vi.12, FAB (BM).
Polymerus unifasciatus (Fab.) Sp. 374 p. 285
D&S p. 467 {Poeciloscytus unifasciatus)
S p. 258 {P. unifasciatus)
B p. 431 (Sp. 308, P. unifasciatus)
Very local. This species, often confused with the next, is associated with
lady’s bedstraw {Galium verum) and the hedge bedstraws {Galium mollugo and
G. erectum) on chalky soils of downlands, and by waysides; and on heath bed-
straw (G. saxatile == G. hercynicum) of acid soils on heaths and commons in the
London Area. The adults may be found on the host plants from June to August.
Middx. Heston, 14.vii.39, HStJKD (BM).
Herts. Harpenden, 1954, in grounds of Rothamsted Expt. Stn., TRES per
DL (54).
Essex. Epping Forest (Loughton), vii.1891, H. Hansen in FAN qoW. (C).
Kent. Lee, D&S (28) (4) (39); and Chislehurst, 1900, WW {39).
Surrey. Coulsdon, 9.vii.ll, 20.vii.07 and 12.viii.23, ECB (NM); Banstead,
(Park Downs), 28.vii.55, GEW (40); Sanderstead, //IP(BM); Chipstead, 19.viii.06,
ECB (NM); Reigate, GBR (62); Mickleham Downs, D&S (28) (62); JAP (BM);
viii.1886, FAB (BM); 9.vii.l895, n.c. (SL); 17.vii.48 & ?, FJC (SL) (1/1948-
1949: 73) (62); Headley Lane, 6.viii.24, HStJKD (HD); WW per FJC (62); near
Headley Lane [prior to 1867], by sw'eeping, J&TL (32); Box Hill, 9.viii.l894, AJC
(HD); 30.vi.l8 and 18.vii.37, ECB (NM); 4.vii.40, 8.vii.49, 21.vii.41, 22.vii.40,
and 23.vii.34, FJC (SL) (62); 14.vii.51, DL (HD); viii.54, GEW (40); l.viii.62
219
Groves — Hemiptera - Heteroptera of the London Area
23
both sexes in some numbers on white and yellow bedstraw, and 25.viii.63, a few
examples at the same locality, AAA (51); Ranmore Common, 30.vii.ll, by sweeping,
WW (60) (62); 27.viii.62, PSB (16); Bookham Common, 6.vii.35 S and 16.viii.48
$, FJC (SL) (62); 29.vii.50, DL (1/1950-1951: 76); vii. & viii., DL (34); Oxshott
Heath, 8. viii. 1891, AJC (HD); viii.04, EAB (BM); and beyond the boundary at
Chobham, viii. 1882, EAB (BM); vii. 1892, ES (HD); Abinger, viii. 1900, EAB
(BM); Gomshall, viii. 1892, EAB (BM); and Guildford, 22.vii.43, ECB (NM).
Bucks. Just beyond the boundary at Slough (ICBFS), 3.vii.34 and 4.vii.33,
on Galium verum, WHG (41).
Polymerus palustris (Reut.) Sp. 375 p. 285
B p. 433 (Sp. 309, Poeciloscytus palustris)
Rare. It is possible that some records of the previous species may refer to
Polymerus palustris. Found in damp situations by ponds and marshes on its host
the marsh bedstraw {Galium palustre) where the adults feed on the unripe fruits,
from the end of June until September. It should be searched for in the London
Area portions of the counties of Middx., Herts., Essex and Kent for which there
are at present no records available.
Surrey. Bookham Common, 9.viii.53 cJ' & 9, swept from Galium palustre
by I.O.W. pond, EWG (24) (EMM 90: 21); 16.viii. & 27.viii.55 (adult $ $) and
21. vi & 10.vii.55 (V & IV instar larvae) by I.O.W. pond, on I.O.W. Plain and
in Eastern and Western Hollows, all by sweeping Galium palustre, EWG (24)
(2/37: 57, 1959); 4.viii.53 $ and 28.vii.31 S, FJC (SL); 5.viii. & 7.viii.50, both
S (J, DL (SL); 2.viii.60 and 19.viii.50, DL (HD); 15.viii.53, DL (HD). [This is the
voucher specimen for the record (wrongly determined as Polymerus unifasciatus)
in 1/1953-1954: 89]; 1 l.viii.69, PSB (17); Egham, 8.vii.56, GEW (40); and beyond
the boundary at Chobham, vii. 1892, ES (HD).
Bucks. Just over the boundary at Slough 1954, in damp field about 1 mile
N. of the town, GEW {EUU 91: 36); 21.vii.55, GEW {AO).
Polymerus nigritus (Fall.) Sp. 377 p. 286
D&S p. 444 {Systratiotus nigritus)
S p. 257 {Poeciloscytus nigritus)
B p. 435 (Sp. 311)
Local. Though more commonly found on goosegrass {Galium aparine) it has
also been taken on crosswort {Galium cruciata), the great hedge bedstraw {Galium
mollugo); and lady’s bedstraw {G. verum). Hatching in May from over- wintered
eggs, the black larvae feed on the unripe fruits of the host plant, and adults may
be taken from the end of June to September.
Middx. Ruislip, 7.viii.44, CHA (17); Ruislip L N R, 18.vi.57 (adult $ and
V, IV & III instar larvae), 24.vii.56 (adult $ $ and V instar larvae), 29.vii.55 and
29.vii.58 (adults), by sweeping Galium aparine, EWG (49); and Harefield, 22.viii.16,
EAB (BM).
Herts. Rickmansworth, 25. vii. 1900, WW (60); and on the boundary at Boving-
don, 17.vi.34, on Galium mollugo, DCT (12); and beyond at Royston, vi.l9, EAB
(BM); and Wymondley, EAB in E AN coW. (C).
Essex. Purfleet, RML (5).
Kent. Foots Cray (Ruxley Gravel-pit), 21.vii.63, KCS (14); Birchwood, JAP
(BM); Darenth Wood, 1893, AJC (HD) (4); JAP (BM); vii.04, WES in EAB
coll. (BM); 8. vii. 1900, ECB (NM, in ECB register).
Surrey. Wimbledon Common, 8.viii.l900, ECB (NM in ECB register) ; 25.vi.55,
V instar larva, by sweeping, EWG (24); Coulsdon, 9.vii.ll and 18.vii.06, ECB
(NM); Chipstead, 8.vii.59, CEIL (40); Caterham, GCC (3) (37); Mickleham, D&S
(28) (3) (37); ES, by sweeping Stachys [i'/c] (36); JAP (BM); FPP (HD, presented
1909); l.vii.06, ECB (NM); Box Hill, 18.vi.38, FDB (SL); 9.vii. & 17.vii.38, ECB
220
24
The London Naturalist, No. 54, 1975
(NM); 8.vii.40 and 21.vii.41, FJC (SL) (62); Ashtead, ll.vii.47, FJC (SL) (62);
Bookham Common, 16.vi.57 (V & IV instar larvae), 21.vi.55 (adult $, V, IV &
III instar larvae) and 10.vii.55 (V & IV instar larvae), EWG (24); 30.vii.51, swept
from mixed grass and Galium spp., DL (1/1951-1952: 13) (HD); vii. DL (34);
vii. 18, WJA (SL); 31. vii. 69, and 5.viii.69, PSB (16); and on the boundary at
Egham, 31. vii. 54, GEW (40); and Horsley, 30.vi.04, sweeping in chalkpit, WW
(60) (62); and beyond the boundary at Abinger, 26.vi.15, EAB (BM); Shere, EAB
(3); Gomshall, viii.1892, EAB (BM) (3); and Shalford, viii.1886, EAB (BM) (3) (37).
Bucks. Just over the boundary at Chesham Vale, 5.vii.52, WJLeQ (21);
Amersham, 18.vii.53 and 22.vii.56, WJLeQ (21); Slough (ICBFS), 3.vii.34 and
4. vii. 33, on Galium verum, WHG (41); (PILG), various dates, GEW (40); and beyond
at Wendover, 19.viii.l5, EAB (BM).
Charagochilus gyllenhali (Fall.) Sp. 378 p. 286
D&S p. 446 S p. 256 {Poeciloscytus gyllenhali)
B p. 436 (Sp. 312)
Occasional. The adults, which have been found over-wintering under moss
and dead leaves, lay their eggs in the stems and leaves of various species of bedstraw
(e.g. Galium verum, G. mollugo, and G. saxatile) at the end of May and in early
June. The green larvae feed up on the host plant and become adults during
July and August. Records for Middx, required.
Herts. Chorley Wood, 26.viii.57, WJLeQ (21); Ashridge near Berkhamsted,
27.iii.34, hibernating adult in dead leaves under Thuya, DCT (12); 31.vii.33, on
Galium verum DCT (12); on the boundary at Harpenden, 26.vii.55, GGES (HD);
and beyond at Wymondley, viii.1880, EAB (BM).
Essex. Epping Forest (Chingford), x.1891, EAB (BM).
Kent. Erith, 1896, WW (39); Darenth, JAP (BM); and Magpie Bottom, 5.iv.64,
KCS (14).
Surrey. Wimbledon Common, 17.vi.l899, ECB (NM in EC.B register) ; 6.viii.41,
FJC (SL) (62); Cheam (Nonsuch Park), 22.viii.55, V instar larva, EWG (24);
Banstead Downs, 5.vii.57, V, IV & III instar larvae, EWG (24); Coulsdon, 5.V.06
and 9.vii.ll, ECB (NM); Old Coulsdon (Happy Valley), 4.vii.54, by sweeping,
EWG (24) (EMM 90: xxxix); Banstead (Park Downs), 28.vii.55, GEW {AOy, Redhill
[prior to 1867], /<&rL (32); Reigate, ^^(BM); WWipev F/C(62); Oxted, ll.vi.l893,
AJC (HD); Headley Lane, 2.viii.l897, WW (60) (62); Box Hill, 18.iii.93, l.v.97
and viii.1889, AJC (HD); 1895, WW (60) (62); 22.vii.40, 21.vii.41 and 29.vii.49,
FJC (SL); 25.ix. & 26.ix.37, ECB (NM); 5.V.50, on Galium cruciata, DL (HD);
27.viii.50, DL (HD) (1/1950-1951: 77); 25.viii.64, on Galium spp., GEW (40);
18.ix.57 and l.viii.62, singly, from white and yellow bedstraw, AAA (51), DC (51);
Ranmore Common, 6.viii.05, on Ononis [j/c], WW (60) (62); Mickleham Downs,
JAP (BM); l.vii.06, ECB (NM); vii. 1896, WJA (SL); Ashtead Common, FJC (62);
Bookham Common, 27.viii.1896, by sweeping, WW (60) (62); 19.viii.50, 30.vii.51
and 27.V.60, DL (HD); 15.viii.53, on Galium spp. by I.O.W. pond, DL (1/1953-
1954: 89); 12.viii.56 (V instar larva), 16.viii.55 (V instar larva) and 21.vi.55
(adult), EWG (24); 12.viii.64, 5.viii.69 and ll.viii.69, PSB (16); vii. & viii., DL
(34); and on the boundary at Horsley, WW per FJC (62); and beyond at Chobham
Common, vi.l891, ES (HD); 29.V.55, WJLeQ (21); Horsell, JAP (BM); Shere,
viii. 1892, EAB (BM); Shalford, viii.1886, EAB (BM); Holmbury, viii.1892, EAB
(BM); and Chiddingfold, 22.viii.37, ECB (NM).
Bucks. Just over the boundary at Hodgemoor Wood, 7.vi.52, WJLeQ (21);
Hedgerley, 10.vi.53, GEW (40); Stoke Common, 24.V.53, on broom [j/c], WJLeQ
(21); and beyond at Burnham Beeches, 12.vii.55, GEW (40); and Coombe Hill,
7.vii.63, PSB (16).
Dichrooscytus rufipennis (Fall.) Sp. 379 p. 287
D&S p. 478 S p. 247
B p. 410 (Sp. 291)
221
Groves — Hemiptera - Heteroptera of the London Area
25
Local. Adults of this bug found from mid- June until early September occur
most frequently on Scots pine Pinus sylvestris, though it has been taken occasionally
on other conifers. Douglas & Scott in their British Hemiptera 1. Heteroptera:
291 (1865) state that this species is particularly attracted to the green cones of the
host tree. Essex records wanting.
Middx. Hampstead Heath (West Heath), 22.vi.50, on Scots pine, DL (HD);
and at Uxbridge, 23.vi.33, on Pinus sylvestris, DCT (33a).
Herts. Just beyond the boundary at Harpenden, l.vii,53, a single <S taken in
light trap in Rothamsted Expt. Stn. grounds, DCT (12) (59).
Kent. Dartford Heath, vii.-viii., beaten from Pinus sylvestris, D&S (28) (4)
(22); Blackheath, 18.vi. & 20.vi.60, singly, and on 29.vi.69 and l.vii.69, two on
each occasion, at MV light, AAA (51); Bromley, ES (37); and at West Wickham
Wood, 7.vii. & 21.vii.l894 and 4.vii.l896, on pines, WW (60).
Surrey. Shirley, ll.vii.l896 and 13.vii.l2, beating pines, WW (60) (62);
vii.-viii., beaten from Pinus sylvestris, D&S (28) (3); P.eigate, ES (3) (37); Box
Hill, 9.vi. & 16.vi.l7, EAB (BM); 16.vi.l7, ECB (NM); Mickleham, JAP (BM)
(28) (3); Oxshott Heath, 2.vii.55, on Scots pine, GEW (40) (EMM 92: 47); 15.V.58,
V instar larva, EWG (24); Esher Common, JAP (BM) (28) (3); and on the
boundary at Egham, 6.viii.55, GEW (40); and beyond at Chobham, ES (3) (37);
Woking, vi.l892, ES (HD); Horsell Common, ll.vii.37, ECB (NM); and Albury,
18.vii.44, ECB (NM).
Bucks. Beyond the boundary at Burnham Beeches, 22.vi.12, EAB (BM);
30.vi.54, GEW (BM).
Dichrooscytus valesianus (Mey.-Diir) Sp. 380 p. 287
B p. 411 (Sp. 291a)
Very rare and local. This species is confined to a single host plant, namely
juniper, occurring on chalk downland, and has been recorded from only a few
localities in Britain. Two of these are well inside the Society’s Area and another
is on our boundary (see below). Larvae from over-wintering eggs become adult
by mid-June and are found on the juniper branches until the latter half of July.
Surrey. Banstead (Park Downs), 28.vii.55, GEW (40); Riddlesdown, 20.vi.53,
(adults) and 12.vii.58 (adults and V instar larvae), EWG (24) (EMM 90: 21).
Bucks. On the boundary at Longdown Hill, 21.vii.51, WJLeQ (21) (EMM
86: 286); 15.vi.57, GEW {AO).
Miris striatus (Linn.) Sp. 381 p. 287
D&S p. 320 {Deraeocoris striatus)
S p. 245 {Calocoris striatus) B p. 407 (Sp. 289, Pycnopterna striata)
Rare and local. This large predacious bug has been reported on several
deciduous trees but in this country it is found mainly on oak where it feeds on
aphids, small lepidopterous larvae (particularly that of the green oak tortrix moth
Tortrix viridana) and larvae of leaf beetles. The adults may be taken by beating
the foliage from late May to early July.
Middx. Hampstead, 1949, CHA (17), and Edgware (Scratch Wood), 5.vi.48,
CHA (17).
Herts. Hoddesdon, 17.vi.32, on oak, TRE (60); and just over the boundary
at Berkhamsted Common, 4.vii.34, on Quercus, DCT (12); and beyond at Royston,
27. V.12, V instar larva, EAB (BM).
Essex. Epping Forest, 20.vi.64, PLJR (MM); (Walthamstow), CN (35a);
(Highams Park), CN (35a); (Chingford), 29.V.1896, beaten off trees, EAN (C);
V.1893, 5.vi.l5, lO.vi.ll, adult & V instar, and 14.vi.l3, EAB (BM); (Fairmead),
CA(35a); and (High Beach), vi.02, EAB (BM).
Kent. Plumstead, WW (4) (22) ; Darenth Wood, D&S (28) (4) (37) ; JAP (BM) ;
28. V.1893, AJC (HD); 5.vi.l3, ECB (NM); viii.05, WW (60); [seems late for this
222
26
The London Naturalist, No. 54, 1975
spscies — E.W.G.]; Otford Downs, 27.vii.63, a single specimen oflf hawthorn or
sweeping nearby, AAA (51); Shoreham, 17.vi.54, KCS (14); and Westerham
(Tower Wood), 17.vi.51, DL (1/1951-1952: 72).
Surrey. Banstead, 16.vi.l900, SL (1/1900: 14); Reigate, GBR per FJC (62);
Headley Lane TRB (3) (37); Box Hill, 9.vi.l7, EAB (BM); 23.V.48, FJC (SL)
(1/1948^1949: 70) (62); Mickleham, l.vii.06, ECB (NM); Ashtead, 4.vi.05, and
9.vi.06, ECB (NM); 13.vi.06 and 26.V.05, (V instar), HStJKD (HD); 4.vii.42,
FJC (SL) (62); Bookham Common, 1878, n.c. (60); 8.vi.42 and 9.vi.34, FJC (SL)
(62); 13.V.56 (II instar larva), EWG (24); vi, DL (34); ll.vi.39, K. M. Guichard\
Esher Common, 7.vi.49, FJC (SL) (62); and on the boundary at Egham, 10.vi.55,
on oak, GEW (40); and Byfleet, 29.V.49, FJC (SL) (62); and beyond on the banks
of the Basingstoke Canal between Pirbright Bridge and Frimley Green, 1954-1955,
HDS (50) (1/1954-1955: 43); Horsley, W. H. Grace, (HD, presented by W. J.
Lucas, 1905); Gomshall, EAB (3); Hurtwood Common, 12.vi.40, ECB (NM);
and Chiddingfold, 1898, HStJKD (HD).
Bucks. Langley Park, 4.vi.55, on oak, GEW (40); and just over the boundary
at Slough (ICBFS), 25.v. & 31.V.34, on oak, WHG (41).
Calocoris quadripunctatus (Villiers) Sp. 382 p. 288
D&S p. 318 (Deraeocoris striatelliis) and p. 329 (Z). fornicatus D&S)
S p. 239 {Calocoris striatelliis) B p. 405 (Sp. 287, C. ochromelas)
Local. Like the last species this bug is predacious and also occurs on oak
where it feeds principally on aphids and small lepidopterous caterpillars. The
larvae feed on the unripe flower catkins throughout May and early June, the
first adults from which reach maturity soon afterwards. Only a few adults survive
beyond the end of July.
Middx. Hampstead, 7.vi.l892, by beating hedges, EAN {C)', Hampstead Heath,
1949, DL (1/1949-1950: 36-38); l.vi.60, only a single adult but many larvae, DL
(54); Highgate, vi.l892, EAB (BM); (Parliament Hill Fields), 24.vi.1892, in hedges,
EAN (C); (Gravel Pit Wood), 15.vi.l893, beaten off trees, EAN (C) Stanmore
Common, 30.V.60, adults (almost all newly moulted) and larvae, DL (54); Ruislip,
vi.59, C. Fellowes; and Ickenham Golf Course Nature Reserve, 30.V.54, EWG (24).
Herts. Barnet (Hadley Wood), 25.vi.44, CHA (17); Whippendell Wood,
3.vi.60, more adults than larvae, the latter mostly parasitized, DL (54) (EMM
97: 68); Hatfield, 6.vi. & 7.vi.64, PLJR (MM); and just beyond the boundary at
Berkhamsted Common, 4.vii.34, on Quercus, DCT (12); and Ashridge, 28.vi.64,
PSB (16).
Essex. Epping Forest, generally distributed, CN (35a); 5.vii.63, PSB (16);
20.vi.64, PLJR (MM); (Highams Park), vi.l898, ^.^^(BM); (Chingford), 29.V.1896,
beaten off trees, EAN (C); 5.vi.l5, lO.vi.ll, and vii.07, EAB (BM); and near
Chingford, 8.vi.62, larvae only, (a backward year), AAA (51).
Kent. Lewisham, D&S (28) (4) (22); Blackheath (Shooters Hill), WW (4)
(22); Bexley, D&S (28) (4) (22); Darenth Wood, D&S (28) (4) (22); JAP (BM);
28.V.1893, AJC (HD); 5.vi.04, on oak, WW(60) (SL); 13.vi.66, a few examples, AAA
(51); Orpington, 3.vi.66, PJC (63); West Wickham Wood, 6.vi.l896 on oak, WW
(60); 10.vi.l899, by beating aspen [^'/c], WW (60); and Westerham (Tower Wood),
17.vi.51, DL (1/1951-1952: 72).
Surrey. Richmond, JAP (BM); Wimbledon Common, 20.V.48, FJC (SL) (62);
Norwood, JAP (BM); Shirley, JAP (BM); Banstead, 16.vi.l900, SL (1/1900: 14);
Chipstead, vi.51, a few taken in early part of the month, on oaks, AAA (51);
Godstone, 22.vi.63, KCS (14) (48); Reigate, [prior to 1867], J&TL (32); Redhill,
[prior to 1867], J&TL (32); Box Hill, 23.vii.32, FJC (SL) (62); Epsom Common,
27.V.60, DL (EMM 97: 68); Claygate, JAP (BM); Ashtead, 4.vi.05, ECB (NM);
9.vi.26, n.c. (SL); Bookham Common, 5.vi. & 8.vi.31, FJC (SL); 4.vi.34, FJC (SL)
(62); Oxshott Heath, l.vi.l9, on oak, WJA (SL); Esher Common, 7.vi. & 8.vi.49,
FJC (SL) (62); Arbrook Common, 3.vi.48, FJC (SL) (62); and on the boundary
223
Groves — Hemiptera - Heteroptera of the London Area
27
at Egham, 10.vi,55, on oak, GEW (40); and Byfleet, 20.V.16, IV instar larva, EAB
(BM); and beyond at Horsell, 6.vi.31, FJC (SL) (62); Brookwood, FJC (62); by
the Basingstoke Canal between Pirbright Bridge and Frimley Green, 1954-1955,
HDS (50); Chilworth, 12.V.34, by sweeping, KGB (1/1934-1935: 14); Leith Hill,
10.vi.l6, EAB (BM); Hurtwood Common, 12.vi.41, ECB (NM); Guildford,
20. vi.41, ECB (NM); and Chiddingfold, 1898, HStJKD (HD).
Bucks. Langley Park, 4.vi.55, on oak, GEW (40); and just over the boundary
at Hodgemoor Wood, S. of Chalfont St Giles, 6.vi.53, on oak, WJLeQ (21); Slough
(PILG), GEW (40); and beyond at Ballinger Common, Gt. Missenden, 19.vi.49,
SL (1/1949-1950: 76), and Coombe Hill, 7.vii.63, PSB (16).
Calocoris sexguttatus (Fab.) Sp. 383 p. 289
D&S p. 322 {Deraeocorls sexguttatus)
S p. 241 B p. 403 (Sp. 286)
Common. Found on clumps of nettles growing in woods and thickets. The
larvae, orange red at first, olive or purple brown later, feed on the unripe catkins
and fruit of the host plant until reaching imago state in June. The adults may
either feed on the nettle or be predacious on small insects (such as aphids and
lepidopterous larvae) and may be found until the beginning of August. There are
no Essex records to hand but this species is almost certain to occur as there are
m.any suitable localities.
Middx. Hampstead Heath, 1949, DL (1/1949-1950: 36-38); Sunbury, 27.vi.12,
ECB (NM); and Ruislip Local Nature Reserve, vii.64, common on nettle, RAPM
(49).
Herts. Widely distributed, DCT (12); Barnet (Hadley Wood), 27.vi.43, CHA
(17); Aldenham, 23.vii.61 $, DL (HD) (54); Watford, 5.vii.l891, hedges along
St Albans Road, EAN (C); Whippendell Wood, 22.vi.58, on nettle, DL (54)
(EMM 95: 98); Chorley Wood, ll.viii.l6, EAB (BM); Radlett, 26.vi.60, DL (HD)
(54); 20.vi.60, DL (54); Bricket Wood Common, 3.vii.56, EWG (24); Hatfield,
19.vii.64, AMM (MM); Cheshunt (Temple Bar) l.vii.61, FB (18); Wormley, 1963,
55A(58);Broxbournebury, 1963,R57V(58);and on the boundary at Boxmoor (Water
End N.T.), 12.vi.45, R. B. Benson\ Felden, 29.vi.46, R. B. Benson; and Harpenden,
28.vi.55, 13.vii, 17.vii, 21.vii. & 30.vii.54, GGES (HD); and beyond at Knebworth,
23.vi.ll, EAB (BM); Wyrnondley, viii.1880, EAB (BM); and Royston, 27.V.12,
several V instar larvae on nettle, £’/4R(38) (BM); 10.vi.l9, V instar larva, E/15(BM).
Kent. Eynsford, 27.vi.63, along woodland path, chiefly on umbels of Heracleum
sphondylium, AAA (51); Downe, 22.vi.69, PSB (16); Otford, 13.vi.25, ECB (NM);
28.vi.66, PJC (63); Shoreham, 19.vi.60 and 17.vii.60, KCS (14); Magpie Bottom,
25.vi.61, 9.vii.55, 15.vii.56 and 20,vii.63, KCS (14); and at Westerham (Squerryes
Park), 24.vii.60, at edge of wood, AAA (51); and on the boundary at Sevenoaks
(Knole Park), 31.vii.63, several on nettles under trees, AAA (51); and beyond at
Crockham Hill, 28.vi.24, S on Bryonia dioica, J. C. Robbins (BM); and Trottiscliffe,
25.vii.62, AMM {MM) (1/1962: 100).
Surrey. Shirley Comjnon, 25.ix.1897, WW (60) (62); Couisdon, l.vii.23, and
8.vii.06, ECB (NM); Old Couisdon, 4.vii.54, by sweeping at side of steep lane up
rough slope from Happy Valley to the Welcome Tea Rooms by side of Devilsden
Wood, EWG (24) (EMM 90: xxxix); Caterham, GCC (3) (37); Godstone, 22.vi.63,
KCS (14) (48); Oxted, ll.vi.l893, AJC (HD); Headley Lane, TRB (3) (37); Box
Hill, 2.vii.05 and 30.vii.l3, WW {^L); 26.vi.39, F/C(SL)(62); 12.vi.37, £C5(NM);
30.vi.24, n.c. (SL); l.viii.62, 3 specimens taken by path through wood, AAA
(51); Mickleham, 29.vi.ll, l.vii.06 and 9.vii.05, ECB (NM); and Weybridge,
21. vi.l3, EAB (BM).
Bucks. On the boundary at Datchet (Ditton Park), 10.vii.54, on nettles, GEW
(40); and just over the boundary at Amersham, 7.vi.52, WJLeQ (21); and at
Slough (ICBFS), 6.vi.33, on oak, WHG (41).
224
28
The London Naturalist, No. 54, 1975
Calocoris fulvomaculatus (De G.) Hop capsid Sp. 384 p. 289
D&S p. 316 {Deraeocoris fulvomaculatus)
S p. 240 B p. 399 (Sp. 285)
Local. Occurs in hedgerows, thickets (particularly elm) and open clearings in
woodlands, especially where the conditions are damp and where such plants as
meadowsweet, nettle, wild rose and various umbellifers may be growing. It has
also been found, as its vernacular name suggests, in hopfields where in the past
it has caused considerable damage in some seasons to the bines. Adults are
present from June until July.
Middx. Highgate, n.d. [butprobably July 1883], on trees, £’y47V(C);Ruislip Local
Nature Reserve, 15.vi.52, 18.vi.57, 19.vi.58, 27.vi.58 and 29.vii.58, both S <5 and
$ $ by beating along perimeter elm thickets except for a single $ taken (19.vi.58)
by sweeping by side of East Stream possibly off meadowsweet, EWG (49); Hanwell,
24.vi.1896, by sweeping grass in meadow EAN (C); and Hounslow Heath, n.d.
GEW per DL (54).
Herts. Barnet (Hadley Wood), 27.vi.43, CHA (17); Elstree, 5.vii.58, DL (SL);
Bushey, 23.vii.44, CHA (17); Watford, 5.vii.l891, hedges along the St Albans
road, EAN {C)\ Bricket Wood Common, 3.vii.56, EWG (24); and on the boundary
at Harpenden, 18.vi.33 S taken in light trap in Rothamsted Expt. Stn. grounds,
DCT{\1) (59); and Berkhamsted Common, 23.vii.33 ? DCT (12); and beyond at
Wymondley, EAB (37).
Essex. Epping Forest, n.d. V & IV instar larvae, EAB (38); (Chingford),
14.vi.l3, III instar larva, EAB (BM); 15.vi.l2, adult and III instar larva, EAB
(BM); 15.vi.l2, ECB (NM); 20.vi.l895, beaten off bushes (sloe, etc.), EAN (C);
22.vi.ll, EAB (BM); 8.vii.ll, 13.vii.l2, vii.07, and vii.1892, EAB (BM); CA(35a);
and (Fairmead), CN (35a).
Kent. Abbey Wood, 9.vii.l898, on oak, WW (60) (4) (39); Darenth, vi., on
black currant bushes and occasionally on birch trees, D&S (28) (4) (37); Darenth
Wood, 28.V.1893, AJC (HD); JAP (BM); viii.05, WW (60); Bishop’s Wood, JAP
(BM); West Wickham, 24.vi.1899, WW (60) (SL); 7.vii.l894, WW (SL); Downe,
22.vi.69, PSB (16); Shoreham, 17.vii.60, KCS (14); Magpie Bottom, 25.vi.61,
KCS (14); and beyond the boundary at Cuxton, 25.vi.49, AMM (MM).
Surrey. Wimbledon Common, 26.vi.1882, by sweeping, EAN (C) (3) ; Coombe,
JAP; Cheam (Nonsuch Park), 13.viii.54, EWG (24); Coulsdon, 20.vi.l5 and l.vii.23,
ECB (NM); Riddlesdown, 29.vi.64, very local, sweeping hillside in one spot, AAA
(51); Caterham, GCC (3) (37); Reigate, ES (3) (37); Godstone, 22.vi.63, KCS (14)
(48); Buckland Hill, 7.vii.07, ECB (NM); Box Hill, 22.vi.19, on oaks, ECB (NM);
22.vii.40, FJC (SL) (62); Mickleham, 29.vi.ll, ECB (NM); Leatherhead, TRB
(3) (37); Prince’s Coverts, 16.vi.52, FJC (SL); Bookham Common, 20.vii.l8, on oak,
WJA (SL); 20.V.57 (V instar larva) and 16.vi.57 (V instar larva), EWG (24); Arbrook
Common, 16.vi. and 24.vi.52, and 7.vii.53, FJC (SL); and on the boundary at
Horsley, HJT 'm FJC coll. (SL) (62); East Horsley, 7.vii.l900, SL (1/1900: 16); and
beyond at Abinger, 12.vi.l5, V instar larva, EAB (BM); Guildford, 28.vi.43, ECB
(NM); Shalford, EAB (3); and Ewhurst, EAB (3).
Bucks. On the boundary at Datchet (Ditton Park), 30.vi.54, GEW (40);
and just over the boundary at Hodgemoor Wood, 14.vii.51, WJLeQ (21).
Calocoris roseomaculatus (De G.) Sp. 386 p. 290
D&S p. 327 (Deraeocoris ferrugatus)
S p. 241 B p. 398 (Sp. 283)
Local. In S.E. England this species frequents the drier localities such as are
found on downland, in chalkpits and sand quarries, and also on waste ground.
On the chalk its major food-plant is the salad burnet (Poterium sanguisorba)
but elsewhere members of the plant families Compositae (e.g. yarrow, hawkweeds,
cat’s-ear, ox-eye daisy, etc.) and Papilionaceae (e.g. kidney-vetch, bird’s foot
225
Groves — Hemiptera - Heteroptera of the London Area
29
trefoil, rest-harrow, clover, etc.) are favoured. Adults occur from June to
October. D. C. Thomas (12) reports that this species is “generally in association
with Leptopterna ferrugatd". Essex and Herts, records wanting.
Middx. South Harefield, 22.vi.33, a V instar larva found in a sandpit, DCT
(33a); Hounslow Heath, 19.vii.52, GEW per DL (54); and Sunbury Island, vi.52,
AAA (51).
Herts. Beyond the boundar>' at Tring, 17.vi.33, DCT (12); Stevenage, viii.1880,
EAB (BM); and Royston, 7.xi.l9, EAB (BM).
Kent. Brockley, WW (39); Lewisham, WW (39); Erith, WW (39); Darenth,
D&S (28) (4) (32); Birch Wood, JAP (BM); Longfield, 21.vii.52, GOES (HD);
and just beyond the boundary at Kingsdown, 28.viii.24, EAB (BM); and
Trottiscliflfe, 25.viii.62, AMM (111962: 100).
Surrey. Coulsdon, 8.vii.06, ECB (NM); Old Coulsdon Valley, 4.vii.54, V &
IV instar larvae, EWG (24); Chipstead, 30.vii.38, FDB (SL) (62); ll.vii.56, on
Lotus, GEW (40); Banstead (Park Downs), 28.vii.55, GEW (40); Reigate district
[prior to 1867], by sv/eeping, J&TL (32); Headley, 7.vii.29, CHS in EAB coll.
(BM); Headley Lane, 10.viii.35, ECB (NM in ECB register); Box Hill, 31.V.19,
II instar larva, EAB (BM); 18.vii.37 and 7.viii.37, ECB (NM); vii.l7 by sweeping,
n.c. [probably WJA] (SL); 30.vi.24, n.c. (SL); 23.vii.42, 8.vii.49, and 29.vi.42, FJC
(SL) (62); 24.vi.51, adult DL (SL); V, IV & III instar larvae plentiful on flower
heads of salad bumet, some taken home appeared to feed on this plant and subse¬
quently reached maturity, DL (1/1951-1952: xvi); 14.vii.51, DL (SL); l.viii.62
(2 ? ?) but common on 25.vii.63, AAA (51); Mickleham Downs, vi. & vii., sweeping
amongst grass, D&S (28); 9.vii.05, ECB (NM); 25.vii.63, common, AAA (51);
Bookham Common, 6.viii.l895, WW (SL) (62); l.vii.49 FJC (SL); 29.vii.50, DL
(1/1950-1951: 76); on the boundary at Egham, 6.viii.55, GEW (40); and beyond
at Chobham Common, 19. vii. 68, common, AAA (51); Woking, vii. 1880, EAH
(C); viii.1888 and vii.1890, ES (HD); 21.viii.02, AJC (HD); Ash Vale, 8.ix.51,
WJLeQ (21); Abinger, 26.vi.15, III instar larva, EAB (BM); Gomshall, viii.1892,
EAB(BU) (3); 18.vii.51, HDS(6Ay, Guildford, 22.vii.43 and 16.viii.43, EC^CNM);
and Witley Common, 19. vii. 59, AMM (NM).
Bucks. Just over the boundary at Chesham, 12.viii.l6, EAB (BM); Chesham
Vale, 5.vii.52, WJLeQ (21); Amersham, 6.vii.52, WJLeQ (21); Slough, 20.vi.54,
GEW (70); (Upton Court Road), 1953-1954, on waste plot found on Trifolium
spp. and occasionally on other legumes, GEW (33d); and beyond at Northend
Common, near Turville Heath, 8.viii.65, WJLeQ (21).
Calocoris norvegicus (Gmel.) Potato capsid Sp. 387 p. 290
D&S p. 319 (Deraeocoris bipunctatus)
S p. 244 (Calocoris bipunctatus)
B p. 396 (Sp. 282, C. bipunctatus)
Common and widely distributed in the London Area. Found in hedgerows,
woodland margins, riverside vegetation and often gardens. It occurs on a wide
variety of plant hosts, both wild and cultivated. Composites (e.g. ragwort,
mugwort, scentless mayweed, creeping thistle), nettles and clovers seem favoured
in the field, whilst under cultivation chrysanthemums, dahlias, carrots and potatoes
are sometimes damaged by their presence. Adults are found from July to October.
Middx. Cripplegate bombed sites. City of London, 28. vii. 56, adult <3^ (J* & $ $
and V instar nymph, EWG (24) (25); garden in N. London, vii, 1885, EAB (BM);
St John’s Wood, JAP (BM); Hampstead Heath, 1949, widespread on grass,
Z)L . (1/1949-1950: 36-38); Highgate, 25.vii.43, CHA (17); Finchley, 30.vii.43, on
Heracleum and thistles, CHA (17); Edgware (Scratch Wood), 23.vii.60, DL (54)
(HD); Ruislip L N R, 18.vi,57 and 27.vi.55 (V & IV instar larvae) and 27.vi.55
and 29.vii.55 (adults), frequent on damper parts of the Reserve, EWG (49); 1964,
very common on nettles, thistle, etc,, RAPM (49); and Hounslow Heath, 19.vii,
& 26.vii.52, GEW per DL (54).
226
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The London Naturalist , No. 54, 1975
Herts. Very abundant and widely distributed, DCT (12); Barnet, viii.1885,
EAB (BM); Elstree, 22.vi.60, DL (54); Radlett, 20.vi.60, adults and larvae, DL
(54) (EMM 97: 68); 20.vi.60, adult, DL (HD); 10.viii.68, DL (54); Bricket Wood
Common, 3.vii.56, adult & V instar larvae, EWG (24); Cheshunt, 19.vii.06, AJC
(HD); Hatfield, 18.viii.63, PUR (MM); Rye Meads, 1964, BSN {5^)\ and on the
boundary at Harpenden, ll.viii.37, a $ found laying eggs in bark of large elm
tree, DCT (12); 1934, 2 1 $, taken in light trap in Rothamsted Expt. Stn. grounds,
DCT (59); 5.vii. & 12.vii.55, 24.vii.54, 29.vii.55 and 5.ix.54, GOES (HD); and
beyond at Tring, 16.vii.40 and 16.vii.41, FJC (SL).
Essex. Epping Forest, generally distributed, CN (35a); (Theydon Bois), vii.22,
EAB (BM); and Stone Point, 1964, BSN (58).
Kent. Lewisham, WJV (4) (39); Blackheath, 19.vii.l895, AJC (HD); 5.vii.59,
26.vi.60 and many other dates — a late one being 14.ix.58 — swept from various
weeds, grasses and mixed herbage, AAA (51); Charlton, 9.ix.58, a single example
on waste ground “now (1970) built on”, AAA (51); Plumstead, 29.vii.1894,
AJC (HD); 17.ix.57, a few, AAA (51); Abbey Wood, 30.vii.l898, by sweeping,
WW (60); Abbey Wood, north of the railway, vii.62 & vii.63, etc., AAA (51);
Abbey Wood marshes (Erith Marshes), 24.vii.54 and 31.viii.55 (adults) and
31.viii.55 (III instar larva), by sweeping, EWG (24); Lee (Hither Green Lane),
ll.viii.l894, by sweeping bank, WW (60) (4) (39); JAP (BM); Kidbrooke,
6. viii.l898, by sweeping, WW (60) (SL); 23.vii.1898, WW (SL) (39); Kidbrooke
Lane, 14.vii.l894, by sweeping, WW (60); Foots Cray (Ruxley Gravel-pit),
21. vii.63, KCS (14); Stone, 4.vii.64, KCS (14); Dartford Marshes, 15.vii.63,
KCS (14); Greenhithe, FPP (HD, presented 1909); Darenth V/ood, 6.vii.55,
V & IV instar larvae, EWG (24); FPP (HD, presented 1909); South Darenth
(Darenth Chalkpit), 27.viii.57, common, AAA (51); Horton Kirby, 2.vii.61,
KCS (14); Farningham Wood, 2.vii.61, KCS (14); Downe (Darwin’s Bank),
15.ix.62, KCS (14); Magpie Bottom, 25.vi.61, KCS (14); and Westerham (Squerryes
Park), 24.vii.60, very common, AAA (51).
Surrey. Kew, FPP (HD, presented 1909); Wimbledon Common, 25.vi.55
(adult & V instar larvae), EWG (24); Merton, JAP (BM); 8.vii.l882, EAN (f)\
ll.ix.l888, beaten out of hedges in Bunce’s fields, EAN {C)’, Merton Park, 5.vii.47
and 3.viii.35, FJC (SL) (62); Cheam (Nonsuch Park), S.vii. & 22.vii.55 and
13.viii.54, EWG (24); Hackbridge, viii.51, LC (64); Carshalton Beeches, once
at MV light, DC per AAA (51); Banstead Downs, 5.vii.57, V & III instar larvae,
EWG (24); DC per AAA (51); Coulsdon, 26.vii.64 and 16.ix.51, in garden by
sweeping, HGD (65); 8.viii.51, in garden on Achillea, HGD (65); Old Coulsdon
(Happy Valley), 4.vii.54, III instar larva, EWG (24); Reigate, FPP (HD, presented
1909); 6.-7.viii.50, sweeping in hedgerow, GBR (45) (62); (Redstone Hill) [prior
to 1867], by sweeping, J&TL (32); Oxted, ll.vi.l893, AJC (HD); Box Hill, WW
per FJC (62); 16.vi.l7, V, IV & III instar larvae, EAB (BM); Mickleham, JAP
(BM); Ashtead Common, 20.vii.46, FJC (1/1946-1947: 74) (62); ll.vii.47, FJC
(SL); Leatherhead, FJC (62); Bookham Common, 9.viii.53, V, IV, III & II instar
larvae, EWG (24); 16.viii.53, V instar larva and 21.vi.55, III instar larva, EWG
(24); vii. & viii. 65, DC per AAA (51); Esher Common, 12.vii.52, FJC (1/1952-
1953: 84); Arbrook Common, 30.vi.52, FJC (SL); and on the boundary at Egham,
vii. 57, GEW{AQ)\ Effingham, 22.vii.49 and 30.vii.51, FJC (SL) (62); East Horsley,
7. vii. 1900, SL (1/1900: 16); and Ripley, 25. vii. 58, on Polygonum persicana, L. K.
Ward (BM); and beyond at Chobham Common, 19.vii.68, AAA (51); Woking,
viii. 1888, ES (HD); by the Basingstoke Canal between Pirbright Bridge and Frimley
Green, 1954-1955, HDS (50); Ash Vale, 4.ix.49, DL (1/1949-1950: 78); Milford,
13.vii.63, PSB (16); Burpham, 20.vii.43, by the River Wey, ECB (NM); and at
Chilworth, 13.vii.l882, by sweeping, EAN (C).
Bucks. Langley Park, 1. viii. 53, GEW (40); and just over the boundary at
Slough (ICBFS), 7.vi., 14. vi., 21. vi., 22.vi., & 27.vi.33, and 18.vi., & 27.vi.34, on
Cirsium arvense, Urtica dioica and Heracleum sphondylium, WHG (41); (Upton
Court Road); 1953-1954, on waste plot, plentiful, GEW (33d).
227
Groves — Herniptera - Heteroptera of the London Area
31
Adelphocoris ticinensis (Mey.-Diir) Sp. 389 p. 290
D&S p. 330 {Deraeocoris ticinensis)
S p. 242 (Calocoris ticinensis) B p. 394 (Sp. 280)
Rare. Has been recorded only from the Surrey part of the London Area where
it seems to be restricted to the damper commons and heaths. It is said to be
associated with plants such as Lotus uliginosus, Mentha aquatica and Lysimachia
nemorum, feeding on the unripe fruit. The imago occurs from August to October.
Surrey. Bookham Common, 18.viii.38, FJC (SL) (62); 7.viii.50, DL in WJLeQ
coll. (21); vii. & viii., DL (34); Esher Common, adults, 21.viii.54 & 4.viii.55,
EWG (24); West End Common, 25. viii. 52 & 10.ix.51, FJC (SL); and on the
boundary at Egham, 27.vi.60, GEW (40); and beyond at Chobham, 1874, ES (HD)
(36); viii. 1876, ES (HD) (36) (3); viii. 1882, EAB (BM); 18.viii.35 & 30.viii.36,
ECB (NM); Ash Vale, 21.viii.51, GEW (HD); Gomshall, 12.ix.l868, JAP (BM);
viii. 1869, Brewer in JAP coll. (BM); ES (37) (36) (3); and Chilworth, viii. 1886,
EAB (BM) (37) (3).
Adelphocoris lineolatus (Goeze) Sp. 390 p. 292
D&S p. 325 {Deraeocoris chenopodii)
S p. 243 {Calocoris chenopodii)
B p. 392 (Sp. 279)
Frequent. Found in both damp and dry situations favouring various plants
always in direct sunlight. D. C. Thomas (12) reports that its main food is Ononis
repens {O. arvensis) but in the absence of this species Woodroffe (33d) notes
that it may feed on Lotus, Medicago and Trifolium. It has also been reported on
composites (such as Artemisia and Matricaria) and on the chenopod white goose-
foot {Chenopodium album). On all these hosts both the adults and larvae feed
upon the young leaves, flowers or unripe fruits. The adults occur from July to
October.
Middx. Cripplegate bombed site. City of London, x.54, adult, W. G. Teagle,
(EMM 91: xxvii); 23. vii. 55 (adults and V, IV & III instar nymphs) and 28.vii.56
(V, IV, III, II & I instar nymphs) EWG (25); Hampstead Heath, 1949, DL (1/1949-
1950: 36-38); Finchley, 9.vii.47, CHA (17); Edgware (Scratch Wood), 22 &
26. vii. 60, larvae outnumbering the adults, DL (54) (EMM 97: 68); 26. vii. 60, DL
(HD); Harefield, 22.vii.33, a few on Ononis, DCT (33a); Ruislip L N R, 18.vi.57,
24.vii.56 & 29.vii.55 (V & IV instar larvae) and 29.vii.58, l.ix.55 & 19.ix.56 (adults)
all swept from mixed vegetation, EWG (49) (24); and Hounslow Heath, 18. viii. 56,
DL (54).
Herts. Whetstone, 26. viii. 60, S taken in MV light trap, PHW (pers. comm.)
& (47); and just over the boundary at Harpenden (grounds of Rothamsted Expt.
Station), 1933-1936, 180 S S and 26 $ $ taken in light trap, DCT {59)', 17.viii.55,
& l.ix.54, GGES (HD); and beyond at Stevenage, viii.1880, EAB (BM); Hitchin,
n.d. RP (11); Herts Beacon, 14.viii.33, on Ononis, DCT (12); and Tring, 13.ix.41,
FJC (SL).
Essex. Purfleet, JAP (BM).
Kent. Blackheath, occurring casually in garden at 63 Blackheath Park in
August & September between the years 1957-1968 and also rarely at light during
the months of July & August between the years 1959-1969, AAA (51); Blackheath,
rather common on white goosefoot Chenopodium album and mugwort Artemisia
vulgaris in a lane, AAA (51); Charlton, 9.ix.58, very common on mugwort on
waste ground (now built on), AAA (51); Abbey Wood marshes, 31. viii. 55, EWG
(24); Lee, WW (4); Kidbrooke (Birdbrook), JAP (BM); Dartford, 17.ix.l890,
DS (C); Swanscombe, 16.viii.62 & 4.ix.64, very abundant in the chalkpit, probably
associated with Papilionaceae, AAA (51); Darenth, 13.ix.52, in chalkpit near
Lane End, by sweeping Brassica tenuifolia [j/c], TRES (13); and Shoreham,
l.ix.61, KCS (14); and beyond the boundary at Milton near Gravesend, 21. viii. 51,
on Artemisia, TRES (13).
228
32
The London Naturalist, No. 54, 1975
Surrey. Camberwell (Linsen Road), 5.viii.53, to house light, and 4.ix.53 to MV
lamp, SfV (44); Cheam (Nonsuch Park), 8.vii.55 (V instar larvae), 22.vii.55 (adults
cJ & $, and V, IV & III instar larvae) and 13.viii.54 (adult & V instar larvae)
£fVG (24); Addington, 6.x. 62, SL (1/1962: 104); Coulsdon, 3.ix.ll, ECB (NM);
Chipstead, 5.viii.06, ECB (NM); Riddlesdown, l.viii.53, EWG (24); Reigate,
16.viii.04, AJC (HD); n.d., GBR per FJC (62); Headley Lane, 1897, WW (60);
Box Hill, 15.ix.l7, EAB (BM); 5.ix.09, 13.viii.05, 10.viii.35, 18.viii.36, all ECB
(NM); 21.vii.41, 22.vii.32, 29.vii.49, 30.vii.40, & 21.viii.39, all FJC (SL) (62);
27.viii.50, DL (1/1950-1951: 77); Ranmore Common, 27.viii.62, FSB (16); Mickle-
ham, 26.ix.1897, WJA (SL); 4.ix.53, DG in SJV coll. (44); Epsom Common,
6.ix.53, EWG (24); Oxshott, 29.vii.05, ECB (NM); Esher Common, 4.viii.55,
EWG (24); Bookham Common, vii., viii., & ix, DL (34); 16.viii.48, FJC (SL) (62);
19.vii.53 (I instar larvae), 19.vii.53 & 9.viii.53 (III), 21.vi.55 & 9.viii.53 (IV),
9.viii.53 & 16.viii.55 (V), 9.viii.53 & 13.ix.56 (adult <?), 29.ix.55 (adult $), and
16. viii. 55, 13.ix.53 & 4.X.53 (other adults), all records of EWG (24); 11. viii. 69 &
l.ix.69, PSB (16); West End Common 10.ix.51, FJC (SL); and on the boundary
at Egham, 21. vii. 54, GEW (40); Horsley, viii. 1900, EAB (BM); and Ripley,
viii. 1900, EAB (BM); and beyond at Virginia Water, 22.viii.1894, WW (60);
Chobham, l.ix.35, ECB (NM); Woking, viii. 1888, ES (HD); 21.viii.02, AJC
(HD); l.ix.41, FJC (SL) (62); by the Basingstoke Canal between Pirbright Bridge
and Frimley Green, 1954-1955, HDS (50); Chilworth, ix.l883, sweeping in a
lane, EAN (C); Guildford, 6.viii.43, ECB (NM); and Ewhurst, viii. 1896, EAB (BM).
Bucks. On the boundary at Datchet, 15. viii. 56, GEW (40); and just beyond at
Coleshill, 2.ix.50, WJLeQ (21); Amersham, 12. viii. 55 to light, WJLeQ (21); Slough
(Upton Court Road), 1953-1954, on waste plot on Lotus, Medicago, and Trifolium,
CEIL (33d); Slough (ICBFS), 12.vii.29 in ditch, and 3.X.31 on shrubs, WHG (41).
Megacoelum infusum (H.-S.) Sp. 391 p. 293
D&S p. 331 (Deraeocoris infusus)
S p. 244 (Calocoris infusus)
B p. 390 (Sp. 278)
Local. Occurs on oak where it is predacious on aphids, psyllids and other
small insects. D. C. Thomas (12) also reports it as being on Ulmiis. It overwinters
in the egg stage from which the reddish-orange larvae hatch during the period
from about mid-June until early July. Adults may be found from July until
October.
Middx. Buckingham Palace grounds, 1961, larvae on oak, TRES (52); Hamp¬
stead Heath, 8.vii.43, CHA (17); ix.49, on oaks, local, DL (1/1949-1950: 36-38);
13.vii.52, adult S, DL (HD) (54); 5.viii.60, larvae only, DL (54) (EMM 97: 68);
17. viii.56, V instar larvae, DL (54); (West Heath), 21.viii.49, adult on oak, DL
(HD) (54); Highgate, ix.l892, EAB (BM); Finchley, 8.vii.43, CHA (17); Palmers
Green, 20.ix.20, EAB (BM); Southgate, 16.viii.l883, by sweeping in Gt. Northern
Cemetery, EAN (C) [This record may be just within the Herts, boundary — E.W.G.];
Edgware (Scratch Wood), 23 & 26.vii.60, V, IV & III instar larvae but no adults,
DL (54) (EMM 97: 68); and Hounslow Heath, 16.ix.52, GEW DL (54).
Herts. Whetstone, 12. viii. 61, S taken in MV light trap, PHW (HD) (47);
Barnet, viii. 1885, EAB (BM) (37); EAB in EAN coll. (C); and on the boundary
at Harpenden, 1934, a S taken in light trap in Rothamsted Expt. Stn. grounds,
DCT (59); Harpenden Common, 23.vii.60, IV instar larva, DL (54).
Essex. Hale End, ix.l891, EAB (BM); Woodford, 7 & 18.viii.25, EAB (BM);
Buckhurst Hill, 18.viii.25, EAB (BM); Chingford, x.07, EAB (BM); ix.l2, EAB
(BM); 13.vii.l4, III instar larva, EAB (BM); CN (35a); Epping Forest, 15.vii.l2,
IV & III instar larvae, EAB (38); (Loughton) TRB (37).
Kent. Greenwich Park, WW (4) (39); Blackheath, WW (39) (22); (garden of
63 Blackheath Park), 7 & 8.viii.59, to MV light trap “arrived about dawn”,
AAA (51); (Shooters Hill), 13.ix.60 and 29.vii.61, a single adult off oaks on both
229
Groves— Hemiptera - Heteroptera of the London Area
33
dates, AAA (51); Lewisham, viii., by beating oaks, D&S{1%) (4) (36)(37);21.viii.l892,
AJC (HD); (Hither Green Lane), 11. viii. 1894, on oak, WW (60); Lee, WW (4)
(39) (22); TRB (37); Kidbrooke, 27.viii.1898, on oak, WW (60); Eltham, JAF
(BM); Darenth Wood, A.MM (22); Bromley, viii. 1885 & viii. 1887, ES (HD) (4)
(37); Orpington, 6.x. 66, PJC (63); and on the boundary at Sevenoaks (Knole Park),
9.ix.61, on oak, AMM (1/1961: 88).
Surrey. Wandsworth, ES (3) (37); Tooting Bee, 10.vii.24, I & II instar larvae,
EAB (BM); 30.vii.24, III instar larva, HStJKD (HD); Kew Gardens, 21.vii.60,
II instar larva on Quercus lusitanicus near Cambridge Cottage garden, L. Watson
(7/1961: 180); Wimbledon Common, 6. viii. 41, FJC (SL) (62); Cheam (Nonsuch
Park), 13. viii. 54, EWG (24); Shirley Common, 14. viii. 1897, 20.viii.l898, &
25.ix.1897, all on oak, WW (60) (62); Reigate, n.d., ES (3) (37); near Redhill,
viii. 1869, in train, n.c. (HD); Box Hill, n.d., WW per FJC (62); Claygate, JAP
(BM); Ashtead, GCC (3) (37); 15.viii.46 & 28.ix.46, FJC (SL); Bookham Com.mon,
16.viii.38, FJC {SL) (62); 12.viii.56, EWG (24); 14.viii.60, DL (HD) (34); ll.viii.69,
PSB (16); Oxshott, 24.ix.09, ECB (NM); TRB (3) (37); viii. 15, n.c. (60); 8.X.51,
FJC (SL); Esher, JAP (BM); and on the boundary at Wisley Common, 11. viii. 1899,
on oak, WW (60) (62); and at Byfleet, 8.ix.35, on oak, FJC (1/1935-1936: 28);
l.ix.41, FJC (SL) (62); and beyond at Chobham, ES (36); TRB (3) (37); Horsell
Common, 7.viii.43, ECB (NM); Camberley, viii. 33, EEG (BM); Charlv/ood,
ES (3); Gomshall, ES (36) (37) (3); Chilworth, 18.viii.l886 & 25.viii.1885, EAN
(C); (Blackheath), 30.viii.36, general sweeping, FJC (1/1936-1937: 36) (62); Guild¬
ford, 2.viii.41, ECB (NM); Farley Heath, EAB (3); and Chiddingfold, 1898,
HStJKD (HD).
Bucks. Just over the boundary at Latimer, 5.ix.50, WJLeQ (21); Amersham.,
14.ix.52, on oak, WJLeQ (21); Slough (ICBFS), 21 & 26.vii.33, on oak and willow,
WHG (41); GEW {AO).
Megacoelum beckeri (Fieb.) Sp. 392 p. 294
B p. 391 (Sp. 278a)
Rare. Occurs on Scots pine Pinus sylvestris where both larvae and adults are
predacious on aphids and often found running over the bark in company with
ants (e.g. Formica riifa) which likewise seek the same prey. The adults have been
found from August until early October. Records for Herts., Essex and Kent
wanting.
Middx. Uxbridge, 24.vii.33, a single $ on Pinus sylvestris, DCT (33a).
Surrey. Oxshott, 3. viii. 19, 20.ix.l8, & 31.ix.l9, near Formica rufa nests,
HStJKD (10) (BM) (1/1919-1920: 37) (Ent. Record 31: 9); 4.ix.51, HDS (SL);
1.X.51, FJC (SL); 24.viii.52, on pine, WJLeQ (21); Esher Common, 17.ix.51, FJC
(SL); 2.X.50, DL (1/1950-1951: 79); West End Common, 20.viii.51, FJC (SL);
Weybridge, 27. viii. 18 (adult) HStJKD (BM); 24.vii.19, III instar larvae with
Formica rufa, HStJKD (HD) (BM) (1/1919-1920: 37) (Ent. Record 31: 9); on the
boundary at Byfleet, 9.ix.35, FJC (SL); and beyond at Chobham, viii. 1893 &
viii. 1900, ES (HD); A.sh Vale, 10.ix.50, a single adult on pine, DL (1/1950-1951:
80); 8.ix.51, WJLeQ (21); Camberley, l.x.29, EEG (BM); Albury, 3. viii. 44, ECB
(NM); and Chilworth (Blackheath), 30.viii.36, FJC (SL).
Bucks. Just over the boundary at Amersham, 5.x. 50, WJLeQ (21).
Stenotus binotatus (Fab.) Sp. 393 p. 294
D&S p. 323 {Deraeocoris binotatus)
S p. 246 {Oncognathus binotatus)
B p. 409 (Sp. 290)
Common and widely distributed throughout the London Area on heaths and
commons, open pastures, hedgerows and along those roadside verges where
the vegetation is not cut every year. It is associated with various species of grass,
especially the cocksfoot Dactylis glomerata, meadow foxtail Alopecurus pratensis
and timothy Phleum pratense. The adults are found from June to August.
230
34
The London Naturalist, No. 54, 1975
Middx, Buckingham Palace grounds, 1961, taken at light in August, TRES
(52); Regent’s Park, N.W.l, 26.vi.57, DL (SL); Hampstead Heath, 20.vi.43, CHA
(17); 1949, DL (1/1949-1950: 36-38); Finchley, 8.vii.44, on Holcus lanatus, CHA
(17); Edgware (Scratch Wood), 22.vii.60, DL (54); 23.vii.60, DL (HD) (54);
Ruislip L N R, 27.vi.55 (V & IV instar larvae) 24.vii.56 (adult & V instar larva),
29.vii.55 & 29.vii.58 (adults) swept from grass, EWG (49) (24); and Hounslow
Heath, 14.vii.53, common in dry grass on the heath area, GEW (33c) (54).
Herts. Whetstone, 30.vi.60 cJ & ?, 7.vii.60 and l.viii.60 cJ & ?, all taken
in MV light trap,PEHF (pers.comm.) and (47); Elstree, 22.vi.60, DL{5A)\ Aldenham,
23.vi.61, DL (54); Barnet, viii.1885, EAB (BM); Rickmansworth, 4.vii.l900, WW
(60); Radlett, 20.vi.60, DL (54) (EMM 97: 69); 26.vi.60, DL (HD); Bricket Wood
Common, 3.vii.56, adult and 4, IV & III instar larvae, EWG (24); and just over
the boundary at Harpenden, 1933-1936, 80 c? c? ($ ? nil) taken in light trap in
Rothamsted Expt. Stn. grounds, DCT (59); 7.vii.54, 12,vii.54, 21.vii.54, 30.vii.54
& l.viii.54, all adults, GGES (HD); Digswell, 1963, BSN {5%)', and at Rye Meads,
1963, BSN{5%).
Essex. llf[ord], vii.1888, ES (HD).
Kent. Elmers End, 21.vii.l900, by sweeping, WW (60); Blackheath, garden at
63 Blackheath Park, comes freely to MV light, AAA (51); Plumstead, WW (39);
Abbey Wood marshes, 24.vii.54, EWG (24); Erith, WW (39); Lewisham, WW (39);
Kidbrooke, WW (39); Bexley, D&S (28) (4) (22); Foots Cray (Ruxley Gravel-pit),
8.vii.67, KCS (14); Darenth, D&S (28) (4) (22); (Birch Wood) JAP (BM); Farning-
ham Wood, 2.vii.61, KCS (14); Otford, 28.vi.66, PJC (63); and Otford Downs,
16.vii.65, AAA (51).
Surrey. Tooting Bee, 10.vii.24, IV instar larva, EAB (BM); Cheam (Nonsuch
Park), 8.vii.55, adult and III instar larva, EWG (24); 22.vii.55, adult and V instar
larva, EWG (24); Carshalton Beeches, at light, D. Collins per AAA (51); Warling-
ham (Halliloo Valley) 2.viii.63, KCS (48) (14); Banstead Downs, AAA (51); Old
Coulsdon Valley, 4.vii.54, V & IV instar larvae, EWG (24); Chipstead, 5.viii.06,
ECB (NM); Riddlesdown, 12.vii.58, V instar larva, EWG (24); Earlswood [prior
to 1867], by sweeping, J&TL (32); Headley, 6.ix.54, KCS (14); Headley Lane,
2.viii.l897, WW (60) (62); Box Hill, 16.vi.l7, III instar larva, EAB (BM); FJC
(62); Ranmore Common, 4.viii.23, n.c. (SL); Mickleham, 29.vi.ll, ECB (NM);
Mickleham Downs, 17.vii.48, FJC (SL) (62) (1/194S-1949: 73); Claygate, JAP
(BM); Ashtead, 21.vi.47, & 10.vii.46, FJC (SL); Ashtead Woods, 20.vii.46, FJC
(1/1946-1947: 74) (62); Bookham Common, 7.vii.34, FJC (SL); 29.vii.50, FJC
(1/1950-1951: 76) (62); 10.vii.55, larvae I instar, 21.vi.55 II instar, 16.vi.57 IV
instar, 10.vii.55, 14.vii.58, 19.vii.53 V instar, and 19.vii.53 adults and 9.viii.53
$ $, all records of EWG (24); 3.vii.58 DL (SL); AAA (51); 20.vii.69, 31.vii.69,
5.viii.69, 9.viii.66 & ll.viii.69, PSB (16); vii. & viii., DL (34); Oxshott Heath,
8.viii.l891, AJC (HD); WW FJC (62); AAA (51); Arbrook Common, 25.vi.48,
FJC (SL) (62); Weybridge, 30.vi.63, PSB (16); and on the boundary at East
Horsley, 7.vii.l900, SL (1/1900: 16); and Egham, 10.vii.54, on grasses, GEW
(40); and beyond at Chobham, vii. 1892, ES (HD); 22.vii.33, ECB (NM); Basing¬
stoke Canal, between Pirbright Bridge and Frimley Green, 1954-1955, HDS (50);
Abinger, 26.vi.15, V & III instar larvae, EAB (BM); Gomshall, 9. viii. 36, FJC (SL)
(62); Shere, viii. 1892, EAB (BM); Guildford, 22.vii.43 & 9.vii.43, ECB (NM);
Shalford, viii. 1886, EAB (BM); Ewhurst, viii. 1889, EAB (BM); and Felbridge,
16.viii.39, ECB (NM).
Bucks. Just over the boundary at Slough (ICBFS), 19.vi.34 & 23.vi.33 on
hazel and on grass, WHG (41); (PILG), GEW (40); and the Chiltern Hills, viii. 15,
EAB (BM).
(End of Part IX)
231
35
The Decline and Reappearance of Migratory Fish
in the Tidal Thames, with Particular Reference
to the Salmon, Salmo salar
by D. J. Solomon^
With the recent publicity surrounding the salmon {Salmo salar L.) found in the tidal
reaches of the Thames, interest has been focused on the improving quality of the
river, and the increasing status of the returning species. This report sets out to
describe the decline of various migratory fish during the 19th century and the
gradual return over the last 15 years of formerly abundant species, and to discuss
the reasons for these changes. The Thames is the longest river in England, and
once supported a correspondingly large community of migratory fish species
which passed through the tidal reaches at various stages of their life histories.
With heavy fishing, pollution and navigation engineering, effected by the increasing
human population of the lower watershed, it was inevitable that deterioration
in the stocks of fish would occur.
By 1800 populations of many species were considerably reduced, and the final
decline in runs of Thames salmon occurred in the early years of the 19th century.
Records exist of captures at Boulters Weir, Maidenhead, between 1794 and 1821.
A total of 483 salmon were caught in these years, over 60 being taken in 1801 and
1804 (Wheeler 1958). Catches had fallen dramatically by the end of the period,
none being taken at Boulters Weir in 1820 and only two in 1821 (Day 1887).
Buckland (1879) records that a 20-pounder was caught near Windsor in 1820,
and was sold to the King for over £20. In the following year a fresh Thames
salmon was required for the coronation of George IV, and a price of 30s. per
lb. was offered, but none was caught in time. A day later, however, two were
caught between Blackwall and Woolwich by one fisherman.
Buckland (1879) considered that the prime cause of the rapid decline of the salmon
run in the early 19th century was the deepening of the river by weir construction
for navigation, “drowning out” the spawning areas. Certainly the date of construc¬
tion of the weirs at Teddington, Hampton Court (Molesey), Sunbury, Shepperton,
Chertsey and Penton Hook, and many others, between 1811 and 1815, fits this
theory. That these weirs were not totally impassable to migrating salmon is
indicated by the catches at Boulters in 1815-21, and Windsor in 1820,
Reports of occasional captures during the 1820s and early 1830s exist, including
one at Monkey Island in 1830. Most authorities (e.g. Fitter 1945, Wheeler 1958)
suggest that the last salmon caught upstream of London was in June 1833, records
also existing for the River Lee up to this year. However, it seems likely that
single specimens were caught in the lower Thames in 1859 and 1860 {Field 23 May
1885) and further single fish were captured in 1861 and 1862 (press reports quoted
by Day (1887)). The Thames Angling Preservation Society, apparently encouraged
by these reports, released several thousand fry into the river in 1862, and the
following year two smolts (young salmon migrating to sea) were reported at
Southend. Also in 1863 a 5 lb salmon was reported in the River Darent, a tributary
of the Thames joining 30 km below London Bridge, In the same year a hatchery
was established on the River Lee, and 7,(X)0 young salmon were released into the
Thames in the following year. In April 1864 a 14^ lb salmon was reported in the
Medway, and a 12^ lb fish at Southend a month later. During the years 1861-1865
various agencies released about 50,0(K) young salmon into the River Thames.
Murie (1903) records a 7^ lb salmon in Long Reach, below Purfleet (32 km
below London Bridge) in 1 866, and a further five fish in the Southend area between
* 2c Airlie Gardens, London W8.
36
The London Naturalist, No. 54, 1975
that year and 1891. He also reports sea trout (sea-going Salmo trutta L.) in the
Medway (1866 and 1883) and two small trout between Waterloo and Hungerford
Bridges in the heart of London in 1880. Buckland (1879) stated that he received
the bodies of sea trout from the estuary in most years. The status of this fish
in the area had been much less reliably recorded, but it is believed that numbers
of both species declined at about the same time. During this period the tidal
area had become steadily more polluted, and no migratory salmonids were
recorded as having penetrated beyond the lower estuary. Around the turn of
the century several further attempts were made at stocking with young fish, but
the state of the upper tidal reaches meant that all such enterprises were doomed
to failure.
Wheeler (1958) records the disappearance of various other migratory and
brackish water species from the river around the turn of the century. A flounder
{Platichthys flesus (L.)) was reported at Chiswick in 1895, but the species had
become scarce many years previously. Twaite shad {Alosa fallax (Lacepede)) had
disappeared by this time, though it still occurred further down the estuary, possibly
breeding in creeks in the Southend area where it was regularly caught by anglers.
The last sea lamprey {Petromyzon marinus L.) and lampern (Lampetra fluviatilis
(L.)) were recorded in 1899, and smelt {Osmerus eperlanus (L.)) was last seen at
Putney, Kew and Teddington in 1900.
The condition of the river continued to decline, despite temporary local improve¬
ments, throughout the early part of the 20th century, and Wheeler (1969) suggests
that between 1920 and 1960 there was no fish life between Fulham (10 km above
London Bridge) and a point 40 km below London Bridge, with the exception of
eels {Anguilla anguilla (L.)).
Since the Second World War gradual improvements have been taking place in
the water quality of the river, largely due to the efforts of the LCC (now the GLC)
and the Port of London Authority. By 1956 the increase in water temperature,
which had been taking place at the rate of 1°C every 11 years since 1920 due to
power-station cooling water outfalls, was reversed with the replacing of the older
stations with new ones downstream between Tilbury and Barking (Port of London
Authority 1967). In 1959 32 km of the river was anaerobic for nine months, but
the last such conditions were recorded in the early 1960s. In 1963 improvements
in the Crossness sewage outfall (21 km below London Bridge) led to oxygen being
present in all water samples taken thereafter. An agreement with the Central
Electricity Generating Board to use the old Battersea “A” Power-station only at
times of high river flows reduced pollution with sulphur dioxide from flue gas
washing. It was estimated that eight tons of oxygen per day were being consumed
by the chemical reactions following discharge to the river (PLA 1967).
During the early 1960s, odd reports of fish appearing on the cooling water intake
screens of Thames power-stations prompted Wheeler (1969) to organise collections
of fish thus trapped. Since that time there has been an encouraging increase in
the number of species recorded in the tidal Thames. In 1968 smelt were reported
at Fulham Power-station, and in April and May of that year specimens of elvers
and a twaite shad were seen at West Thurrock, 35 km below London Bridge.
A year later an essentially marine species with a liking for fresh water, the sand
goby {Pomatoschistus minutus (Pallas)), was caught at Fulham. By this time
specimens of many freshwater fish were being reported throughout the tidal
Thames area.
In February 1971 two sea trout were reported live in the river (Wheeler 1972).
One, a 56 cm specimen, was found stranded at Deptford, and the other, 42 cm in
length, was taken at the tidal limit at Teddington. Specimens have been reported
in the Tilbury area in each year since 1971. In April 1972 many elvers were present
at Hammersmith Bridge and Richmond, well upstream of the centre of London.
Later that year flounders were reported at Teddington {Angling Times 25 January
1973), Woolwich {Angling Times 18 January 1973), and in 1974 at Hackney Marshes
on the River Lee {Angling Times 1 August 1974). A salmon reported dead on the
Solomon — Migratory Fish in the Tidal Thames
37
Fulham intake screens by the press {Daily Telegraph 21 September 1966) was
almost certainly a case of mistaken identification, and doubt exists as to the
true identity of sea trout reported at Eel Pie Island in 1962 (Marlborough 1963),
and at Hampton Court in February 1972 {Angling Times 4 March 1972).
In April 1973 the Port of London Authority offered an annual £250 prize for
the largest salmon caught by rod and line on the tidal Thames between Southend
and Teddington. In the event of no salmon being caught, the prize would go for
the largest sea trout. In May 1973 a 28 lb salmon was found dead in the tidal
Medway at Snodland, access to which point would have taken the fish through part
of the PLA area mentioned above. In August 1973 a second specimen, live and
weighing about 6 lb, was removed from the Medway, also near Snodland, by the
Kent River Authority. Although no fish qualified that year for the PLA prize,
a smaller prize was given for the capture of a sea trout just outside the area at
Southend.
A salmon was removed from the intake screens of West Thurrock Power-
station (35 kmi below London Bridge) in November 1974, and was said to have been
alive at the time. This event w'as widely reported by the press. It is to be expected
that salmon and sea trout will turn up occasionally in the area now that the river
is cleaner, though with the nearest salmon rivers being in Yorkshire and Hampshire,
they will be well off their migratory routes. In order to make the Thames once
more a salmon river an intensive stocking programme would have to be carried out
to provide a stock of fish which would consider the river as “home”, and fish
passes constructed on some weirs to give access to possible spawning grounds
in the upper reaches and tributaries. Before this is done careful consideration
must be given to all the implications for anglers and riparian owners, as well as
to the political and financial aspects.
References
BUCKLAND, F. 1879. 18th Annual Report of the Inspectors of Salmon Fisheries.
HMSO, London.
DAY, F. 1887. British and Irish Salmonidae. London.
FITTER, R. S. R. 1945. London s Natural History. Collins, London.
MARLBOROUGH, D. 1963. A supplement to “The fishes of the London
Area”. Lond. Nat. 42: 62-70.
MURIE, J. 1903. Report on the Sea Fisheries and Fishing Industries of the
Thames Estuary. Kent and Essex Sea Fisheries Committee, London.
PORT OF LONDON AUTHORITY. 1967. The Cleaner Thames, 1966. Port
of London Authority, London.
WHEELER, A. C. 1958. The fishes of the London Area. Lond. Nat. 37: 80-101.
WHEELER, A. C. 1969. Fish-life and pollution in the lower Tham.es: a review
and a preliminary report. Biol. Conserv. 2(1): 25-30.
WHEELER, A. C. 1972. Trout in the tidal Thames. Biol. Conserv. 4(4):
306-307.
38
The London Naturalist^ No. 54, 1975
Survey of Bookham Common :
THIRTY-THIRD YEAR
Progress Report for 1974
General (G. Beven*)
On 15 August 1974 Mr E. F. Youngman retired as Keeper for the National Trust
This was a great loss to the survey. For ten years he had worked hard and with
great success to improve the general aspect and amenities of the Common, all the
while keeping in close touch with the survey team and the natural history interests,
particularly before making any clearance of vegetation. In addition to his National
Trust duties he found time to help the survey team in many ways and keep a
watchful and friendly eye on the Research Hut. We are indeed grateful to Mr
and Mrs Youngman, and wish them happiness in their new home. We are very
pleased to welcome Mr Nigel Davies, the new Keeper, and his family, and we look
forward to continued co-operation with the National Trust.
Vegetation: Algae (A. E. Le Grost)
A species of Cladophora (probably C. glomemta (L.) Kiitz.) was once fairly wide¬
spread in the ditches and streams but pollution from oil and other substances in the
late sixties caused the disappearance of this branched alga. However, in March
1972 it was found to be densely coating the pebbly bottom of a long stretch of
Central Ditch and it has since been seen in Bank’s Stream. A sample of Trachelo-
monas hispida var. coronata Lemm. was cultured from dried mud and detritus
collected from the bottom of Crater Pond in October 1 972. From a similar sample
taken in November 1972 from Bayfield Pond I cultured a clone of the desmid
Closterium veims Kiitz., in which one semicell had the normal two pyrenoids but the
other semicell had three. The algae of Sheepbell Pond were first investigated in
1974 and appear to be rich, a number of species being previously unrecorded for
the Common. Characium sp., Scenedesmus quadricauda (Turp.) Breb., Draparn-
aldia plumosa (Vauch.) Ag., and the diatoms Gomphonema acuminatum Ehr.,
Melosira sp. and Navicula spp. were noted as common epiphytes on Lemna minor.
Vegetation: Umbelliferae. Jimcaceae, Cvperaceae and Gramineae
(R. C. Stern0)
Umbelliferae were recorded over the period 1970-1974 by the vegetation regions
devised by A. W. Jones and compared with his list (Lond. Nat. 33: 25-47 (1954)).
Jones recorded 18 species including Hydrocotyle vulgaris. Four of these (Aeth.usa
cynapium, Chaerophyllum temulum, Oenantke crocata and O. fistulosd) occurred in
only one or two places and can no longer be found. No species new to the Common
have been discovered. None of the species was regarded by Jones as common,
although some were said to be frequent on the plains. Three species are now
growing in several more vegetation regions than before: Aegopodium podagraria,
Angelica sylvestris and Conopodium majus. The other species are occurring in
more or less the same regions as previously, but some of them are apparently
more common than they used to be. Species which are now common on the
plains include Angelica sylvestris, Heracleum spkondylium, Pastinaca sativa and
Torilis japonica. It is possible that these plants were commoner than Jones
indicated, because they were grazed and unable to flower as freely as nowadays;
however, it seems more likely that in the absence of grazing they are more abundant
than formerly.
Juncaceae. All the 10 species recorded by Jones have been found again except
for Juncus tenuis. In general, they appear to have roughly the same distribution
and abundance as formerly, except for Juncus bulbosus, which seems much less
* 16 Parkwood Avenue, Esher, Surrey.
t 155 Glenfarg Road, Catford, London SE6 IXW.
0 50 Fordwater Gardens, Yapton, West Sussex.
Survey of Bookham Common
39
common, although it may have been overlooked in the recent survey. It is doubtful
whether Luzula campestris can now be regarded as “frequent”. Luzula multiflora
was not recorded by Jones but it has now been found on Eastern Plain in T.
Cyperaceae. Isolepis setacea was found in the ditch alongside the Common
Road (T) in 1971 but has not been found since. As it was recorded in division T
by Jones, it is probably present all the time, but only flourishes during wet seasons.
The Carex species have all been recorded again except for C. caryophyllea, C.
demissa, C. panicea, C. piulifera and C. spicata\ it is likely that most of these,
except perhaps for C. caryophyllea, are still present but have been overlooked,
since this family has been given rather less attention than the other three under
report.
Gramineae. The following species recorded by Jones have not been found
again in 1971-1974:
Aira caryophyllea: Perhaps lost through the intensive car parking and picnicking
in its only station near Hundred Pound Bridge.
A. praecox: As above.
Alopecurus myosur aides: Presumably a chance ephemeral in Jones’ time.
Apera spica-venti: As the previous species, but this is in any case much less common
generally than 20 years ago.
Brachypodium pinnatum: Only recorded in one clearing in a wood in division D
and now probably overgrown.
Briza media: Recorded as “rare in grassy places” and has probably succumbed to
scrub invasion.
Bromus commiitatus: Jones said this species required confirmation.
Festuca arundinacea: This was recorded as “very rare” and as it is a very striking
grass, it looks as if it has gone.
Koeleria gracilis: Recorded by Jones as “locally frequent”, mainly on the plains,
and it is sad that such an attractive grass seems to have disappeared, probably
through scrub invasion and competition from more vigorous species.
Nardus stricta: Only recorded from Eastern Plain, where there have been several
changes since Jones’ time.
Trisetum flavescens: Recorded in several places by Jones, and probably ousted by
competition.
Vulpia bromoides: As above.
Zerna erecta: Jones said “a doubtful record”.
The only significant losses from the above list are the four or five species which
grew in the grazed areas, which are now scrub or coarse grassland. In general,
Jones recorded few grasses as more frequent than occasional, and very few as
common. It is possible that in the relatively heavily grazed condition, the grasses
were kept fairly short and did not flower very freely, so that there was a tendency
to under-record. The impression is gained that species such as Agrostis stolonifera,
Dactylis glomerata and Lolium perenne are now more common than formerly.
No species new to the Common have been found, but new stations have been
established for Agropyron caninum (S), Festuca gigantea (in C, J, K, M and T-
now certainly no longer rare in woods), Holcus mollis (B, C, M and N) and Melica
uni flora (K).
Crustacea: Cladocera (John Hearn'^)
Notes on the Cladocera for 1971
These results were obtained from samples taken by J. W. Coles on 9 and 13 June,
11 July, 8 August, and 12 September 1971. In the list the m.onths in which the
species were found are indicated by the number of the month in brackets, e.g.
(8) — August. I am grateful to Mr Coles for allowing me access to them.
* 37 Vernon Road, Sutton, Surrey SMI 4QX.
40
The London Naturalist, No. 54, 1975
Isle of Wight Pond: Alona quadrangularis (O. F. Muller) (6, 8), Ceriodaphnia
laticaudata P. E. Muller (7, 8), Ceriodaphnia megalops Sars (6, 8), Ceriodaphnia
quadrangula (O.F.M.) (7), Chydorus latus Sars (6), Chydorus sphaericus (O.F.M.)
(6, 7, 8), Daphnia longispina O.F.M. $ (6, 7, 8, 9), D. longispina S (7), Daphnia
obtusa Kurz $ (7, 8), D. obtusa ^ (8), Leydigia leydigi Schodler (6, 7), Macro-
thyrix laticornis (Jurine) (6), Pleuroxis trigonellus (O.F.M.) (6), Scapholeberis
mucronata (O.F.M.) (6, 7, 8, 9), Sirnocephalus vetulus (O.F.M.) (6, 8, 9).
Pit 1, Eastern Plain in square 821 on the Castell grid: Ceriodaphnia megalops
(7) , Chydorus sphaericus (6), Daphnia longispina $, S (6), Daphnia obtusa 9,
S (7), Daphnia pulex (De Geer) $, ^ (6), Simocephalus vetulus (7).
Pit 2, Eastern Plain in square 588 on the Castell grid: Ceriodaphnia quadrangula
(8) .
Lower Eastern Pond : Ceriodaphnia megalops (7), Daphnia pulex $, S (7), D.
pulex form “minnehaha” (7).
Stream near Isle of Wight Pond in square 573 on the Castell grid: Ilyocryptus
sordidus (Lieven) (6), Leydigia leydigi (6).
Notes on the C/adocera for 1974
These results were obtained from samples taken by myself and J. W. Coles on
12 May, 9 June, 9 July, il August, 13 October, 10 November and 31 December
1974. 1 am grateful to Mr Coles for allowing me access to his samples. The
acidity of the v/ater was measured on 10 November and 31 December 1974. On
the first occasion the pH of all samples was 5 • 5 while on the second date all samples
had a pH of 6-0. These values were obtained using narrow range pH paper.
Both of these results show the v/ater to be slightly acid. The month in which
each species occurs is shown by the numbers in brackets, e.g. November — (II).
Bayfield Pond: Chydorus sphaericus (O. F. Muller) (12), Daphnia obtusa Kurz
(12), Simocephalus vetulus (O.F.M.) (12).
Small pond in square 766 on the Castell grid near Bayfield Pond: Daphnia
obtusa (12), Scapholeberis mucronata (O.F.M.) (10), Simocephalus vetulus {\1).
Bank’s Stream in square 416 on the Castell grid: Chydorus sphaericus (5).
Crater Pond: Acroperus harpae Baird (12), Chydorus sphaericus (11, 12),
Daphnia longispina O.F.M., $, 3 (5, 10, 11), Daphnia obtusa (5, 10, 11, 12),
Graptoleberis testudmaria (Fischer) (11).
Eastern Plain Pit 1 in square 821 on the Castell grid: Chydorus latus Sars (11),
Daphnia obtusa $, S (H)-
Isle of Wight Pond: Acroperus harpae (10), Ceriodaphnia laticaudata P. E.
Muller (10, 11), Ceriodaphnia megalops Sars (10, 11), Ceriodaphnia quadrangula
(O.F.M.) (11), Chydorus latus (10, 11), Chydorus sphaericus (5, 7, 10, 11), Daphnia
longispina ? (5, 6, 7, 10, 11), D. longispina S (10, 11), Daphnia obtusa (6, 10),
Daphnia pulex (De Geer) (6, II), Graptoleberis testiidinaria (10, 11), Macrothyrix
laticornis (Jurine) (5, 6, 7, 11), Pleuroxus denticulatus Birge (11), Scapholeberis
mucronata (5, 7, 10, 11), Simocephalus vetulus {5, 6, 7, 10, 11).
Kelsey’s Pond: Chydorus sphaericus (12), Daphnia longispina (12), Daphnia
obtusa (12), Daphnia pulex (12), Simiocephalus vetulus (12).
Lower Eastern Pond: Ceriodaphnia laticaudata (10), Chydorus latus (10), Daphnia
longispina $ (10, 11, 12), D. longispina S (10), D. longispina form “minnehaha” (10,
11), Daphnia obtusa (5), Daphnia pulex (10, 11, 12), Simocephalus vetulus (10, II).
Mark Oak Central and South Ponds: Chydorus sphaericus (12).
Sheepbell Pond: Alonella nana (Baird) (10), Ceriodaphnia laticaudata (10),
Chydorus latus {\Qi), Chydorus sphaericus {\0, 12), Daphnia obtusa {IG), Simocephalus
vetulus (10).
South-east Pond: Acroperus harpae (12), Chydorus sphaericus (11, 12), Daphnia
longispina (11, 12), Daphnia obtusa $ (11, 12), D. obtusa cJ (11).
Survey of Bookham Common
41
Ditch in square 813 on the Castell grid near Isle of Wight Pond: Daphnia obtusa
(11) . This is a temporary area of water.
Pit on Eastern Plain in square 836 on the Castell grid: Chydorus sphaericus (12).
This is a temporary area of water.
Pond in Stent’s Wood in square 265 on the Castell grid: Daphnia loitgispina
(12) . This is a temporary area of water.
Upper Eastern Pond: Ceviodaphnia laticaudata (10), Ceriodaphnia quadrangida
(10), Daphnia longispina {10, 11), D. longispina form “minnehaha” (10, 11), Daphnia
obtusa $, S (10), Daphnia pulex (11).
Checklist of the Cladocera of Bookham Common
There have been a number of previous records of Cladocera from Bookham
Common: Castell (1958), Seven (1968, 1969), Anon. (1970), Coles (1972, 1973).
In addition to these references I have used the data from my own samples taken
in 1974 and previously unworked samples taken in 1971 by J. W. Coles. Mr Coles
has given me access to previously unpublished results from the 1973 samples.
Table 1 is a comprehensive list of species found up to December 1974.
A total of 26 species have been found on Bookham Common, compared with
88 species for the whole of the British Isles. Some of the species on the British
list are ver>' rare and others seem to be limited to large areas of water such as are
not found on the Common. This makes the area rich as far as species composition
is concerned. In addition to these 26 species forms of two Daphnia species have
been found; these are included in Table I as are the males of Daphnia longispina,
D. obtusa and D. pulex. In all the other species tabulated only the females have
been found ; reproduction occurs by parthenogenesis and so males are not produced
at all times of the year.
Table 1 shows the species found and the sites in which they occur. Each month
and year of occurrence is shown in the body of the table; the month has been
converted to a number: e.g. 6, 8/74 means June and August 1974 and not June to
August 1974.
I should like to thank Mr J. W. Coles for access to his samples and the previously unpublished
results for 1973. I should also like to thank Mr A. E. Le Gros for advice on the names and position of
some of the ponds on the Common. The records from Bookham are being used as data in the Cladoc¬
era mapping scheme for the British Isles being run in conjunction with the Biological Records Centre
at Monks’ Wood Experimental Station. The author would welcome results or samples containing
Cladocera from any part of the British Isles.
References
ANON. 1970. Crustacea. Land. Nat. 49: 98.
SEVEN, G. 1968. Freshwater invertebrates. Land. Nat. 47: 90.
SEVEN, G. 1969. Crustacea. Land. Nat. 48: 129.
CASTELL, C. P. 1958. Crustacea. Land. Nat. 37: 57-58.
COLES, J. W. 1972. Freshwater invertebrates. Land. Nat. 50: 102-103.
COLES, J. W. 1973. Other Crustacea. Land. Nat. 52: 76.
42 The London Naturalist, No. 54, 1975
Table 1 Checklist of the Cladocera of Bookham Common. Three figure
references are on the Castell grid.
Species
Bayfield
Pond
Bayfield 2
(766)
Bank’s
Stream (416)
Crater
Pond
Eastern
Plain Pit 1
(821)
Eastern
Plain Pit 2
(588)
Lsle
of
Wight
Pond
Acr operas harpae Baird
12/74
10/74
Alona costata Sars
9/73
Alona quadrangularis
(O. F. Muller)
6, 8/71
Alonella excisa (Fischer)
9/57
Alonella nana (Baird)
-
Ceriodaphnia laticaudata
7, 8/71
P. E. Muller
10, 11/74
Ceriodaphnia megalops Sars
7/71
9/57; 4/70
6/73
6, 8/71; 10, 11/74
Ceriodaphnia quadrangula
(O.F.M.)
?/71
7/71; 11/74
Ceriodaphnia reticulata
■
(Jurine)
9/57
Chydorus latus Sars
?/69; 6/71
11/74
10, 11/74
Chydorus sphaericus (O.F.M.)
9/57; 6, 7, 8/71
12/74
5/74
11, 12/74
6/71
5, 7, 10, 11/74
Daphnia curvirostris Eylmann
7/73
Daphnia longispina O.F.M. $
5/68; 6, 7, 8, 9/71
7, 9, 10, 11/73
5, 10, 11/74
6/71
5, 6, 7, 10, 11/74
D. longispina ^
5, 10, 11/74
6/71
7/71; 10, 11/74
D. longispina
form “minnehaha”
Daphnia obtusa Kurz $
6.7/71
7, 8/71
12/74
12/74
5, 10, 11, 12/74
11/74
6, 10/74
D. obtusa
6.7/71
5, 10, 11, 12/74
11/74
8/71
Daphnia pulex (De Geer) $
9/57; 9/68
4/55
6/71
6, 11/74
D. pulex ^
6/71
D. pulex form “minnehaha”
Eurycercus lamellatus
(O.F.M.)
3, 5/68
Graptoleberis testudinaria
(Fischer)
11/74
10, 11/74
Ilyocryptus sordidus (Li6ven)
Leydigia ley dig i Schodler
6, 7/71
Macrothyrix laticornis
6/71 ; 9/73
(Jurine)
5, 6, 7, 11/74
Pleuroxus denticulatus Birge
11/74
Pleuroxus trigonellus (O.F.M.)
6/71
Polyphemus pediculus (L.)
5, 10/73
Scapholeberis mucronata
9/57, 5/68
(O.F.M.)
6, 7, 8, 9/71; 9/73
lOPA
5, 7, 10, 11/74
Simocephalus exspinosus
(Koch)
5/57
Simocephalus vet ulus
4/49; 9/57; 7, 9/67
(O.F.M.)
5/68; 6, 8, 9/71
lip A
npA
7/71
5, 6, 7, 10, 11/74
Survey of Bookham Common 43
Mark Oak
South
car
ond
(573)
Temporary areas
of water
Kelsey’s
Pond
1
Lower
Eastern
Pond
Mark Oa
Central
Sheepbell
Pond
South
East
Pond
C Oh
rt>
to
C/5h-
Ditch nr
I.O.W. j
Pond '
(813)
Pit
E. Plain
(836)
1
Pond
Stent’s
Wood
(265)
Upper
Eastern
Pond
12/74
10/74
10/74
10/74
10/74
7/71
10/74
10/74
10/74
12/74
9, 11/73
12/74
12/74
10, 12/74
11, 12/74
12/74
9/57
12/74
10, 11, 12/74
10/74
11, 12/74
12/74
10, 11/74
10, 11/74
10, 11/74
12/74
11/73; 5/74
10/74
11, 12/74
10/74
12/74
4/55; 6/68
10/70; 7/71
10, 11, 12/74
7/71
7/71
11/74
6/71
6/71
11/74
10/74
9/57
11/74
9/57
12/74
10, 11/74
10/74
7/71
5/54
9/57
44
The London Naturalist ^ No. 54, 1975
"^Minnehaha" forms of Daphnia longispina and D. pulex
“Minnehaha” variation was recognised by Johnson (1952) in his work on the genus
Daphnia. Originally it had been given specific status by Herrick (1884: 57). The
variation is found in individuals which are, otherwise, typical of the species.
The form taken by the variation is shown in Fig. 1. It consists of a row of
small ‘booklets’ on the dorsal margin of the head shield. I have found only two
references to this variation in the British literature, one by Johnson (1952) and the
other by Smyly (1955). In both of these accounts it was stated that the young
individuals show this variation but it is not present in the adults. This is also the
case with both species at Bookham.
The “minnehaha” form of Daphnia longispina was found in Lower Eastern
Pond in October and November 1974 but it was absent in samples taken in December.
It has also been found by Johnson at Little Stanmore Common and by Smyly in
Scale Tarn and Wise Een Tarn in Windermere. I have also found it in samples
taken in 1974 at Great Bookham village, near Penryn in Cornwall, and at Steven¬
age in Hertfordshire. This seems to support the statement made by Smyly that
“it is likely that the form is more common than these scanty records suggest”.
It would be quite easy to miss seeing the small hooks especially if there are a
large number of individuals in a sample.
The “minnehaha” form of Daphnia pulex appears to be even rarer as there is only
one recorded locality, at Thetford in Norfolk (Johnson 1952). Thus the record
from Lower Eastern Pond in July 1971 appears to be only the second record of this
form from the British Isles.
I should like to thank Mr J. W. Coles for allowing me access to the samples he took from Lower
Eastern Pond in 1971.
Fig. 1 The “minnehaha” form of Daphnia longispina.
Survey of Book ham Common
45
References
HERRICK, C. L. 1884. A final report on the Crustacea of Minnesota. Rep.
geol. nat. Hist. Surv. Minn. 12 (5).
JOHNSON, D. S. 1952. The British species of the genus Daphnia (Crustacea,
Cladocera). Proc. zool. Soc. Lond. 122: 435-462.
SMYLY, W. J. P. 1955. A “minnehaha” form of Daphnia longispina O. F.
Muller. J. Quekett microsc. Club. IV, 4: 217-218.
Crustacea: Entomostraca (J. W. Coles*)
(Identified by Miss A. R. Gurney and confirmed by Dr G. A. Boxshall)
CLADOCERA
Daphnia curvirostris Eylmann: Isle of Wight Pond 8.7.73, Lower Eastern Pond
9.9.73, 11.11.73.
D. longispina O. F. Muller: Isle of Wight Pond 8.7.73, 9.9.73, 15.10.73, 12.11.73.
D. obtusa Kurz: Lower Eastern Pond 11.11.73.
Daphnia sp.: Pit 82/1 11.6.73.
Polyphemus pediculus (L.): Isle of Wight Pond 15.10.73.
Scapholeberis mucronata (O. F. Muller): Isle of Wight Pond 9.9.73 (in two samples
collected from different parts of the pond).
Macrothrix laticornis (Jurine): Isle of Wight Pond 9.9.73 (in two samples).
Alona costata Sars: Isle of Wight Pond 9.9.73.
Ceriodaphnia megalops Sars: Pit 82/1 11.6.73.
COPEPODA (CYCLOPOIDA)
Tropocyclops prasinus (Fischer) Schmeil: Isle of Wight Pond 8.7.73.
Microcyclopsl bicolor (Sars): Isle of Wight Pond 8.7.73.
M. varicans rubellus (Lilljeborg) : Isle of Wight Pond 9.9.73.
Mesocyclops dybowskii (Lande): Isle of Wight Pond 9.9.73.
Cyclops strenuus (Fischer) (s. str ): Isle of Wight Pond 11.11.73.
C. strenuus abyssomm Sars: Isle of Wight Pond 11.11.73.
Eucyclops agilis (Koch) Sars: Central Ditch (81/2 adjacent to a bridge) 15.10.73.
E. macmrus (Sars): Isle of Wight Pond 11.11.73.
Paracyclops fimbriatus (Fischer): Isle of Wight Pond 11.6.73, Central Ditch (82/1
adjacent to a bridge) 15.10.73.
Acanthocyclops vernalis (Fischer) (s. str.): Isle of Wight Pond 9.12.73.
A. vernalis americanus (Marsch): Pit 82/1 11.6.73.
Acanthocyclops sp. (juvenile): Isle of Wight Pond 9.9.73.
COPEPODA (CALANOIDA)
Diaptomus gracilis Sars: Isle of Wight Pond 9.9.73 (in two samples collected from
different parts of the pond) also 11.11.73.
(Note: The Isle of Wight Pond was drained and cleaned out between December
1972 and February 1973, but did not refill until the heavy rain of 5-6 May 1973)
Vermes: Hirudinea: A Further Note on the Medicinal Leech
(E. W. Groves t)
Apropos of Mr A. E. Le Gros’s note on the medicinal leech {Hiriido medicinalis L.)
(Le Gros 1974) it is worth reporting two records for this species on Bookham
Common more recent than those given by him.
The late Mr C. P. Castell in his manuscript Bookham Survey notebooks recorded
finding on 23 April 1955 a large leech in the Isle of Wight Pond “? the Medicinal
Leech”. This he mmst have afterwards confirmed for in conversation with me
* Department of Zoology, British Museum (Natural History), Cromwell Road,
London SW7 5BD.
t Department of Botany, British Museum (Natural History), Cromwell Road.
London SW7 5BD.
46
The London Naturalist, No. 54, 1975
sometime later he told me that he had collected a specimen there “a few years
ago”. He further added “that it [i.e. Hirudo medicinalis\ was in the pond in the
early days of the survey [i.e. in the 1940s] and possibly even before the War”.
This last suggestion is of course borne out by the 1938 record cited by Le Gros
(1974).
On 12 March 1961 I was pond dipping for Corixidae at the side of the embank¬
ment of the Isle of Wight Pond when I was joined by two small boys anxious
to help with their own nets. After several dips one of the boys turned up several
Corixa spp. and also a large leech, the entire catch of which he handed to me. On
arrival home reference to the key in Mellanby (1948) proved that this leech with
the unusual dark markings was indeed an adult Hirudo medicinalis.
Clegg (1965: 162) also repeats much the same statement as Mann, (cited by
Le Gros 1974) i.e. that this species of leech, when adult, requires mammalian
blood and “hence was at one time common in ponds that were visited regularly
by cattle or horses for drinking”. As the last regular source for such blood for the
medicinal leech in the Isle of Wight Pond was probably prior to 1920 when cattle
last extensively grazed Central Plain (Spreadbury 1957) and would have come to
drink in this pond close by, one is inclined to the view that the survival therein
of adult Hirudo medicinalis, from at least 1938 to 1961, is more likely due to a
blood meal source supplied from vertebrate hosts other than cattle. This could
have been provided by frogs, toads, nev/ts, and possibly an occasional fish or
waterfowl (all of which have been recorded from the pond) and would have been
in accordance with the findings of Autrum (also cited by Le Gros 1974). The
well known zoological writer and former member of our Society, the late L. R.
Brightwell, stated some years ago (Brightwell 1935) that the medicinal leech
could live for anything up to 15 years and that a single full blood meal would
suffice it for nine months. It seems therefore that the host, whatever species may
be chosen, does not necessarily have to be present in (or visit) a pond in large
numbers for the satisfactory survival of Hirudo medicinalis over a long period of
time.
References
BRIGHTWELL, L. R. 1935. Looking after leeches. Daily Mail 9 June 1935.
CLEGG, J. 1965. The Freshwater Life of the British Isles. Ed. 3. Warne, London.
LE GROS, A. E. 1974. Vermes: Hirudinea: The Medicinal Leech. Lond. Nat.
53: 74-75.
MELLANBY, H. 1948. Animal Life in Freshwater. Ed. 3. Methuen, London.
SPREADBURY, W. H. 1957. Bookham Common before 1914 and after. Lond.
Nat. 36: 54-57.
Insecta: Lepidoptera (K. J. Willmott*)
The decrease of the white-letter hairstreak Strymonidia w-album {Knock)
In 1971 the white-letter hairstreak was extremely abundant, on suitable days
being counted in dozens feeding on creeping thistles and bramble. I observed
varying numbers around almost every elm tree on the Common, and many had
even taken refuge in nearby oaks. In 1972 they were still common but were
not in quite the same profusion as in 1971, when I believe their abundance was
due to the fine summer of 1970. This affected several species which were exceedingly
plentiful that year, notably holly blue Celastrina argiolus (L.), white admiral
Lim^enitis Camilla (L.) and purple hairstreak Theda quercus (L.).
In 1973 there appeared the first signs that Dutch elm disease was severely
affecting the elms: numerous trees showed sparse foliage and several were felled
in an attempt to control it. Nevertheless in 1974 there was a further spread of elm
disease and the hairstreak population dropped alarmingly. Most of the Bookham
elms are of the rough-leaved common elm Ulmus procera Salisb., which is evidently
more prone to disease that the smoother leaved varieties. The white-letter hairstreak
now has difficulty in finding trees with sufficient foliage. It spends most of the
* 34 Daybrook Road, Merton Park, London SW19.
Survey of Bookham Common
47
day high on the elms, sunning itself, courting and mating, and there it rests overnight.
Thus the leaves, as well as being the only food of the larvae, also play a vital
part in the life of the adults. The conservation of this species must be watched
with concern, and whilst perilously scarce bofh on the Common and indeed
throughout the country these hairstreaks should not be collected at all.
White admiral Limenitis Camilla L. var. nigrina on the Common
On 7 July 1974 a very dark butterfly was seen skipping along one or two feet at a
time down a bramble-filled ride, pausing to feed on patches of mud. On close
inspection it proved to be an “all black” form of the white admiral showing no
white at all on its upper wings, although the white edging to its hindwings seemed
more pronounced than on normally marked specimens. Unfortunately
photography was not possible.
Insecta: Chalcids (A. E. Le Gros)
On 12 May 1974 I found two cocoons of a spider-hunting pompiliid wasp in a
moss-packed cell in the stem of an umbellifer in Central Plain. From these in
the first week of June I reared 33 females and 2 males of the pteromalid parasite
Eupterornalus pompilicola Graham. Dr R. Askew, who determined these chalcids,
told me that in addition to being the first definite English record of the species,
the males had been hitherto unknown. Apart from some specimens in Manchester
Museum v.-ithout locality data, the species was known otherwise only from Co.
Wicklow and Perthshire.
Birds (G. Beven)
Population Studies in Oak-wood
The breeding season census was repeated in this 16 hectare (40 acre) sample of
dense interior pedunculate oak-wood (Eastern Wood). The results for 25 years
of this census are being summarised.
Scrub and Grassland
The spring census of the number of territories of singing m.ales was again made
on 39 hectares (96 acres) of scrub and grassland in 1974 (G. B. and W. D.
Melluish). The number of territories of selected species over the last 11 years is
shown in Table 2. Long-tailed tits, wrens and song thrushes have reached their
highest level since 1964 and the robin population remains high.
Table 2. The number of territories of singing males of selected species in the
scrub and grassland in each year.
1964
1965
1966
1967
1968
1969
1970
1971
1972
1973
1974
Pheasant
2
2
3
3
2
7
3
5
7
-)
4
Woodpigeon
1
2
4
1
1
6
D
5
7
7
6
Turtle dove
5
4
3
5
3
7
4
8
12
11
10
Green woodpecker
0
1
4
4
4
1
1
1
1
3
1
Long-tailed tit
2
3
4
6
6
6
5
4
6
6
n
/
Wren
2
3
9
10
15
14
18
14
22
19
23
Song thrush
8
8
7
10
o
y
9
14
15
13
14
19
Blackbird
15
8
13
17
15
15
20
15
16
16
18
Robin
23
23
15
21
23
23
22
18
21
25
25
Nightingale
0
0
1
2
3
4
5
4
5
3
2
Grasshopper warbler
2
1
6
3
5
6
5
5
4
4
3
Whitethroat
12
17
17
22
16
11
14
12
13
17
13
Willow warbler
20
14
19
27
21
26
14
18
22
20
21
D unnock
n
15
13
18
12
12
13
10
13
9
14
Linnet
1
4
4
4
1
2
0
1
0
1
1
Redpoll
2
3
5
4
4
6
6
4
4
5
3
Chaffinch
18
13
13
14
9
12
17
11
14
14
15
Yellowhammer
9
7
9
7
8
7
5
8
7
4
5
Reed bunting
3
2
5
6
5
3
3
5
5
4
4
48
The London Naturalist, No. 54, 1975
Erratum. There is an error in line 7 of the second paragraph on page 77 in
Lond. Nat. 53 (1974) which should read . . in the case of the blackcap from
1 to 7 territories per 100 acres . . .
Other Notes on the Birds
The draining of the Isle of Wight Pond in 1973 apparently prevented the little
grebe from breeding in that year, but a pair did succeed in nesting in 1974, hatching
two young. A flock of up to 26 Canada geese fed regularly in a barley field just
north of the Common (ref. 24) for three or four weeks up to 21 September (Nigel
Davies). A male mandarin duck was seen on Lower Eastern Pond on 25 May,
when there was also a pair of tufted ducks Aythya fuligula on the Isle of Wight
Pond (Andrew Merritt), apparently the first record of this species for the Common.
One or two woodcock were roding in the spring; a nest with four eggs was dis¬
covered in Sheepbell Wood (375) on 29 March, but nine days later the eggs were
found crushed (L. Baker and J. R. Mullins). A barn owl hunted over Western
Plain (468) at 18.45 on 25 October (Nigel Davies). A flock of fifty or more carrion
crows assembled at dusk prior to roosting in or near Sheepbell Wood during
January and February, and probably also in November. A similar roosting
flock had been observed there in August 1966 (K. A. J. Gold).
Mammals (G. Beven)
Six or more rabbits Oryctolagus cuniculus (L.) dead or dying of myxomatosis
were reported during June and July, and three more in September (E. F. Youngman
and Nigel Davies). Even so there are still plenty of rabbits about. Previous
epizootics of myxomatosis have occurred in 1954 and 1966. Grey squirrels Sciurus
carolinensis Gm. remain abundant. A summer nest of a harvest mouse Micromys
minutus (Pallas) was found 30 cm above ground in grasses on Central Plain (855)
on 13 October (Joan Stoddart); harvest mice and their nests had previously
been found on Central Plain in 1962 {Lond. Nat. 42: 97 (1963)). In January
there seemed to be a great increase in foxes Vulpes vidpes (L.) (E. F. Youngman).
In Central Wood (ref. 543) at 13.30 on 14 May Shirley Coles saw three stoats
Mustela erminea L. near a rabbit which they apparently killed. A young weasel
Mustela nivalis L. with one or two adults were seen at ref. 918 on 30 October
(Nigel Davies) and a weasel was seen dragging off a rabbit on 14 December (Judy
Davies). A roebuck Capreolus capreolus (L.) was observed at 18.30 on 14
September on fields to the west of the Common (ref. 47) (Nigel Davies) and deer
have been present several times near there during 1974 (Lawrence Smith).
Book Review
A Key to the British Freshwater Cyclopid and Calanoid Copepods. By J. P. Harding
and W. A. Smith. 56 pages, 16 text figs. Freshwater Biological Association,
Ambleside. Scientific Publication 18. 1974. Second edition. £0-40.
This edition differs little from the first which was reviewed in Lond. Nat. 40: 137
(1961). An index has been added and some extra advice on how to use the key.
These copepods are small crustaceans, whose determination depends on careful
mounting on microscope slides and often delicate dissection of the specimen;
they have a large number of taxonomically useful characters, but unfortunately
many of these are variable within a number of closely related species so that it is
not possible to use them in a dichotomous key. Instead the authors have arranged
these characters (21 in the case of the Cyclopoids) in tabular form. These tables
have an intimidating appearance for the beginner, but if he has done his slide
work well and carefully recorded his observations on the various characters, they
will be found easy to use.
A. E. Le Gros
49
The Bryophytes of Bookham Common 1941-1967
Compiled from the Notebooks of the Late C. P. Castell with a
Contribution from the Late J. H. G. Peterken
by Ella M. Hillman*
Summary
From the field notebooks of C. P. Castell alluding to many aspects of
natural history on Bookham Common over 26 3^ears, the bryophyte
records have been extracted. They were made on 133 days in the period
1941-1967, with a major contribution in 1942-3 by J. H. G. Peterken.
A checklist is compiled of 83 species of mosses and 17 of liverworts
(including four incompletely named species) from records within this
period, and of others from 1 972-3 (R. C. Stern). Their geographical distri¬
bution on the Com.mon is given for both periods, and a list of micro¬
habitats in which they were discovered. Relative extent of distribution
can be assessed and has been found to correlate with frequency of
records. Relative abundance is not readily deducible as it is not consis¬
tently recorded. Only broad comparisons of tolerance for habitats can
be made, as these are not always stated. Seven species are listed which
stand out as being the commonest, with comparatively high ratings
under all headings, except that one is almost confined to trees. There is
mention of the effects of war-time activities and of changing climate on
the bryophyte habitats.
Introduction
Many studies of the vegetation and fauna of Bookham Common have now been
published. The vegetation studies include a list with their distribution of the
flowering plants and ferns, and two accounts of the lichens. The important
phylum of Bryophyta is not represented in published work except for an occasional
reference in Progress Reports of the survey. It was known, however, that the
recording of bryophytes had been carried on from the beginning of the survey,
with varying intensity, by the late C. P. Castell, and that he had already indexed
many of these records as a prelude to the preparation of data for publication
before he was incapacitated by a stroke in 1967, but much remained to be done.
Before his death, he had been persuaded to resume this work but physical difficulties
were so great that very little further progress was made.
The material necessary for the composition of an account of the bryophytes
is contained in three items found in his house after his death: the field notebooks,
a boxed collection of specimens, and the partially completed index. The latter
has not since been traced, but the first two were in course of time made available
to me, and I began by making a fresh index.
It is clear that in the early years of the period 1941-1967 the recording of
bryophytes was incidental to other studies. The only systematic attempts at
recording were made in the years 1942-1943, mostly by the late J. H. G. Peterken,
whose distribution list was copied into the notebooks of C. P. Castell. Shortly
before Mr Peterken died, I obtained his permission to quote these records.
The Records
Some of the names used are now outdated and in this account I refer to the species
by the names used in Paton (1965) and Warburg (1963) which are also largely
* 16 Exford Road, Grove Park, London SE12 9HD.
50
The London Naturalist, No. 54, 1975
used in Peterken (1961). To the total of about 900 records the collections alone
have contributed 250 which are not matched by a fully named species in the
notebooks. In the mosses, the collected specimens contribute 15 extra species
to the 68 found in the notebooks, and in liverworts 1 extra species to 16 in the
notes. Fourteen of the moss species are not represented in the collections, and
2 of the liverworts. These are marked ‘x’ in the species list (Table 1).
Some of the notebook records give only the generic name for various reasons;
in some cases there is a specimen to complete the record, in others there is no
doubt as to the species meant. There is also high probability that Pleuridium
means P. acuminatum, although P. subiilatum is also present on the Common.
Fontinalis, Orthotrichum and Lophozia are recorded once each and so are regarded
as represented each by one species. There are six records of Sphagnum sp. which
I have included in the list, as it appears that they are not of the one named species,^
and must represent at least one other species of Sphagnum (counted as one).
There remain 14, of over 900 records, which are named by genus only and which
are omitted from this account. In Peterken (1961) four mosses are recorded
from Bookham Common which do not appear in the notebooks and their where¬
abouts on the Common are unknown: Physcomitrium pyriforme (1936), Tetraphis
pellucida (1916), Pohlia albicans (1945, very rare in the London Area) and Pohlia
delicatula (1943): there are four liverworts also, Calypogeia arguta, Plectocolea
hyalina (1947), Chiloscyphus polyanthus, and Cephalozia media. Two of these
bryophytes have recently been found again (see Appendix).
The Areas
To obtain an estimate of the range of distribution of the bryophytes, the map of the
twenty vegetation regions A-T was used (Fig. 1). As this map was not made until
1952 the locations of most of the bryophytes were indicated by the grid prepared
by C. P. Castell for general use in recording on the Common. When three-figure
references are given it is easy to substitute the appropriate vegetation region, but
when two-figure references only occur, a further clue is usually needed: this can
often be found in the habitat, aided by the writer’s knowledge of the Common
for twenty-five years ; it has meant that the number of areas assigned by probability
rather than certainty is very small. This margin of error, with that caused by the
few unnamed species, means that the figures given are approximate, but can
reasonably be regarded as a useful guide.
The number of moss species recorded in any one of the vegetation regions
lies in the range 16+5, with the exceptions of area N, 46 species; S, 42; T, 33;
K, 28; D, 27; A, 26; R, 25; O, 10; and B, 4. It is clear that area B and probably
area O are under-recorded, a fact easily attributable to their remote positions on
the Common and to the main period in which the work took place, a decade
before the vegetation regions were conceived. It is easy to account for the other
exceptions which have a larger than average number of moss species. Area N
contains the chief ponds and hollows and strips of woodland flanking them;
the ditches and streams are found in area S and to a lesser degree in A and R;
area K is the lower part of the woods adjacent to N and with Woodland Ditch
providing a good habitat; area D is a variety of vegetation types containing the
well-recorded Crater Pond. Looking at area T today it would be harder to explain
the large number, but in 1940-1950 Eastern Plain (T) was one of the wettest
parts of the Common, the only area to include Sphagnum', the vegetation then
formed a wet heathland community. The changes have often been the subject of
comment and were noted by Castell & Jones (1958). Changing climate and to
a lesser extent improved drainage have lowered the water-table and altered the plant
association to that of dry heathland, and the eight water-filled gun-pits to dry or
damp hollows. It may be remarked here that the notes show more instances in the
earlier period than in recent years of rain curtailing fieldwork.
Areas richest in liverworts are D, T (7), K, R, S (6), and A (5).
Hillman — Bryophytes of Bookham Common
51
The Habitats
For brevity, the habitats as they occur in the notes have been numbered and
listed as follows :
1. Watery places.
la. Isle of Wight Pond wall. Since many records are from this location it is
given separately. It refers to the embankment at the western end of
the pond, which contained some brick and stone work as well as clay.
(This has recently been rebuilt as a clay embankment when the pond
was cleared.)
1 b. Sides of ponds, gun-pits and bomb craters.
lc. Sides of streams and ditches. It is not possible to distinguish vertical
and near-horizontal surfaces in these records; on the whole Ic will be
vertical and lb gently sloping, but there will be exceptions.
ld. Marshy areas.
le. Submerged or floating.
2. Bare ground.
2a. Disturbed ground, ant-hills, mole-hills, rabbit-holes, ruts.
2b. Burnt areas.
2c. Dumped chalk (the only calcareous bare earth).
2d. Loamy soil with open vegetation.
3. Stones and orickwork, mostly that of bridges over water and culverts.
4. Short turf areas, rabbit-grazed.
5. Grassy areas. Plains, and woodland areas cleared of trees, shrubs, and
probably of dense herb layer of brambles, etc.
6. Floor of woodland.
6a. Woodland paths, grassy but shaded.
6b. Under trees, on leaf litter or bare ground or with open vegetation. Many
entries do not distinguish betw'een these two aspects of the woods,
the plain number 6 in the habitat section of the species list shows where
these occur. It is possible that ditches are occasionally present.
7. Trees.
7a. Trunks and branches.
7b. Bases of trees. The bases as a rule refer to the lower parts of trunks
or roots. “Ground under trees” is included under 6b. In some cases,
however, it is suspected that ground close to trees may be meant by
the term “bases”.
Table 1. The bryophytes of Bookham Common. See text for details.
1941-1967 1972-1974
Species Areas Habitats Areas Habitats
Sphagnum sp. 1. T led, 2b - -
52
The London Naturalist, No. 54, 1975
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The London Naturalist, No. 54, 1975
8. Rotting wood. “Logs” are included here. In some cases where an epiphytic
species is noted the logs may have originated from a recent felling.
Below is given a list of the twenty lettered areas and the habitats within them
from which bryophytes were recorded :
A
Ibc 6 7
F
6 7ab
K
2a 5 6 7 8
P
Ic 2a 3 4 5 8
B
2a
G
Ic 6
L
6 7
Q
Id 3 7 8
C
lb 2a 6 7
H
5 6 7b
M
2c 6 7 8
R
2a 3 5 6 7 8
D
lb 2ad 4 6 7
I
5 6
N
lab>e 2a 3 4 5 7
S
le 2ab 3 6 7
E
2a 5 7
J
2a 6 7
O
2a 4
T
Ibcd 2ab 5 6 7
The Bryophytes
Table 1 includes a species list in systematic order of the 83 species of mosses and
17 liverworts, including recent data and some additions by R. C. Stern (see Appendix).
The first number after the name is the total of the vegetation regions in which
that species occurs, followed by a list of these regions. The last set of numbers
are those of the habitats. I have given a map reference or location for those
bryophytes for which there is only one record when this is possible and it is not
revealed by the habitat.
There are four measures which can be applied to compare the occurrence of the
species in a given area: (1) relative abundance (the quantity of each), (2) frequency
of occurrence as measured by the number of records, (3) wideness of distribution
(called “range” for brevity) and (4) tolerance, measured by the number of different
habitats in which each occurs.
(1) In the notes the usual symbols for relative abundance are occasionally
used but as this is not done consistently I have omitted such considerations from
this account.
(2) The number of records for a species can be taken only as far as the number
of days on which it was recorded. One cannot enumerate further, as such entries
as “common on trees throughout the wood” cannot be assessed against “recorded
from five gun-pits”. There were 133 days in the period 1941-1967 on which
bryophytes were recorded, and the most frequently occurring species was noted
on about one-third of these. This frequency measure, though rather crude, was
found to correlate extremely well with (3), the number of areas in which a species
was found, so that the latter may be taken as indicative of both its frequency and
its range. This implies that the observers covered most of the Common in their
search.
The seven most frequently recorded mosses are those found in the greatest
number of vegetation divisions, 14 to 19. They are, with the exception of the
last one, also found in the largest number of different habitats, and are Brachythe-
cium riitabulum, Eurhynchium praelongum, Dicranella heteromalla, Atrichum
undidatum, Hypnum cupressiforme, Pseudoscleropodium purum, and Dicranoweisia
cirrata. It is to be expected that such tolerant species as the first six would be
widely distributed, but D. cirrata is found entirely on trees except for one record
from roof-tiles. As its (micro-)habitat has an extensive range on the Common,
so has the moss. Ranking the mosses in order of their range or frequency, the
second group consists of eight species found in 9-13 areas, and the third group of
eight species found in 6-8 areas. These, though with the exception of Ceratodon
purpureas less tolerant than the first group, show little difference from each other
in that respect, and this suggests that the more restricted range of the third group
may be due to competition between species. There are occasional mentions of
the dominance of a species which may be an aggressive one. It must also be
remembered that bryophytes are affected by subtle differences of light, temperature
and humidity in the same habitat, e.g. the north and south sides of the same
tree, and the more sensitive species will not do as well.
The commonest liverworts on the same criteria are Lophocolea heterophylla,
L.hidentata, Calypogeia fissa and Lophocolea cuspidata, found in 8-12 areas, and
Hillman — Bryophytes of Bookham Common
57
the rest in 1-5. They do not appear to be as widely distributed as many of the
mosses though they are often found in association with the commoner species.
If Cyril Castell had been able to write this account he would, I am sure, have
done much more justice to his fieldwork and given some information on moss
associations and more details of habitat preferences. It is said that he was fond
of reading detective stories; he little thought that he was providing work for a
sleuth in his field notes. As an example, an entry “Ditch H-G” could not mean
a ditch linking those areas as the entry v/as made a decade before the map of
lettered areas was drawn up. A later entry provided the clue — it was a ditch made
by the Home Guard. Unless there was a bryologist among them, they can have
had no idea, as they constructed it and the gun-pits, that they were providing
such good habitats for the bryophytes of Bookham Common. German bombers
unwittingly collaborated.
In conclusion, here are a few observations on individual species. The only
known location on the Common for Zygodon viridissimus and Tortula laevipiia
was a partly alive willow {Salix fragilis) with its trunk horizontal over Bayfield
Pond. It was recently removed and burnt in a tidying-up operation. Riccia
fluitans was first recorded covering Sheepbell Pond on 9 May 1954, and in 1959
it also occurred on mud, logs and branches. On 10 September 1961 it had become
very scarce, but was still forming large patches on 7 April 1963. On 12 November
1967 there is an entry “No Riccia seen”. This is the last entry which C. P. Castell
made in his field notebook, a few days before the stroke which ended his work
in the field.
I am grateful to the two late Presidents of the Society whose meticulous records have made this
account possible. J. R. Laundon and A. H. Norkett must also be thanked for some contributions to
their records and collections of specimens. I am indebted very much to A. Eddy and Mrs B. J, Ozanne of
the Department of Botany, British Museum (Natural History), w'ho obtained the collections tempora¬
rily from the National Museum of Wales, where they have recently been housed, and, in order that the
data for this paper could be augmented, checked the identification of all the specimens and brought
the nomenclature up-to-date. There were over 400 packets. Lastly I should like to thank J. R.
Laundon for initiating this action and for helpful suggestions
References
CASTELL, C. P. & JONES, A. W. 1958. The survey of Bookham Common.
Notes on the vegetation of Eastern Plain. Land. Nat. 37: 58-65.
PATON, J. A. 1965. Census Catalogue of British Hepatics. Ed. 4. Brit.
Bryological Soc.
PETERKEN, J. H. G. 1961. A hand list of the plants of the London Area.
Bryophytes. Loud. Nat. 40: 43-71.
WARBURG, E. F. 1963. Census Catalogue of British Mosses. Ed. 3. Brit.
Bryological Soc.
APPENDIX
Bryophytes of Bookham Common 1972-1974
by Pv. C. Stern*
In Table 1 is a list of bryophytes recorded on the Common over a period of about
18 months, using the vegetation divisions devised by A. ¥/. Jones and his team
for the vascular plant list (Fig. 1).
It is of some interest to compare the mosses in this list with that produced by
Miss E. M. Hillman in the same table. A number of species in the earlier list,
for which most of the records were 30 years or so old, have not been refound.
These include some common mosses such as species of Barbula and Bryimi which
have probably been overlooked in the recent survey. However some of the
missing species, whose localities were clearly defined, have been carefully searched
for without success; these include Tortula laevipiia., Zygodon viridissimus, Ulota
crispa and Eurhynchium murale. Other species have probably disappeared through
habitat changes, such as the colonising of heathland in D and T by woody growth
which seems to have led to the extinction of Polytrichum aloides and P. piliferum.
The seven new species include Tetraphis pellucida, last noticed on the Common
in 1916. Some mosses seem to have increased in distribution, such as Atrichum
* 50 Fordwater Gardens, Yapton, West Sussex.
58
The London Naturalist, No. 54, 1975
undulatiim which is now recorded in 18 of the 20 divisions. The developing oak-
woods from the “scrub” areas on Western and Isle of Wight Plains have an
interesting moss flora which would repay further study.
Except for Lophocolea species, liverworts are not common. Epiphytic species
are particularly scarce and are likely to have declined because of increased air
pollution in the same way as lichens (see Loud. Nat. 52: 82-92 (1973)).
Mr E. C. Wallace visited the Common on two occasions during the period under report and gave
considerable assistance in the identification of doubtful specimens.
Book Review
The Naturalist in London. By John A. Burton. 176 pages including 16 pages of
plates, 1 map, 2 text figs. David & Charles, Newton Abbot. 1974. £3-50.
A naturalist possessing three of the earlier volumes in the same series* together
with this latest by John A. Burton, will now have a quick and easy reference guide
to the natural history of the whole of the southern part of England. The Naturalist
in London maintains the same high standard of format and production as its
predecessors from this publishing house, and will w'het the appetite of any new¬
comer (for w'hom the author says this book is primarily wTitten) to the area to
investigate for himself the many interesting facets described therein. For those
already acquainted with some aspects of London’s natural history it is, I feel
sure, a book of no less value. To have in a single volume short descriptions of the
major habitats of the metropolis (from the Royal Parks and outer London heaths
and commons to the reservoirs, gravel-pits, sewage-farms and rubbish tips)
together with species lists of London’s birds, mammals, reptiles and amphibians
and a list of central London flora, is a most praiseworthy feature. In spite of
the fact that the author states he may have written the book with a “south of the
Thames” flavour (being born and having lived most of his life in south London),
he has nevertheless given good coverage to such places as Epping Forest (4 pages),
Harefield chalkpit (1 page), Rye Meads (3 pages) and several others, all north of
the river.
By way of introduction Mr Burton leads us through London’s historical growth,
its climate and the colonizers (both plant and animal) of its streets and buildings
before discussing in more detail the habitats mentioned above. The appendices
include lists of natural history societies, brief descriptions of places to visit, and
one fascinating item entitled “How to find mammals”. In this Mr Burton gives
hints on tracking; examining bird pellets for mammal remains; and — what to many
of us might seem a less obvious way of recording thsse creatures — the examination
of the interior of discarded bottles !
Very few errors have been detected by the reviewer e.g. on p. 18 the word right
to denote the position of the photograph should read below, and on p. 59 it is not
possible to fathom what plant the author really intends for the gobbledegook
Latin name Vitisalix — but these are of minor significance. One feature that
certainly could have been improved is the appendix entitled “Further reading”.
The space at the end of almost every appendix would have, if utilized, enabled
the book-list to have been twice as long and thus much enhanced in value.
The 31 black-and-white photographs (some of better quality than others)
together with a map of London’s environs (covering almost identical limits to the
LNHS survey area) make the book all the more recommendable to our Society’s
members. Mr Burton has pitched his ecological approach at just about the right
level to satisfy most kinds of potential reader.
In all I feel it is a worthwhile book for any London naturalist, whether a tem¬
porary visitor or one that is permanently residing but finds he wants to know'
something of another branch of natural history. And at today’s high trend in
costs for books such as this, it is fairly moderately priced. g Groves
* The Naturalist in Devon and Cornwall by Roger Burrows, The Naturalist
in Central Southern England by Derrick Knowlton, and The Naturalist in South¬
east England by S. A. Manning.
59
A New Map of Bookham Common
by Herbert A. Sandford*
In 1943 the London Natural History Society published (Castell 1943) an ecological
survey base map of Bookham Common drawn by Cyril Castell in 1942. This
served as a guide to the countless members visiting the Common and enabled the
Ecology Section accurately to locate observations of the flora and fauna. Castell’s
map proved invaluable to research so varied as to include both the spread of scrub
and the distribution of invertebrates (Beven 1968). However, much has changed
since 1942. The woodland margin has advanced and many of the paths have been
replaced. The Ecology Section therefore decided to revise the base map that had
served it so well for some three decades. This revision (see insert) was carried
out by too many for all to be mentioned, but the Society is particularly indebted
to John Coles, Claire Harding, Ella Hillman, Joan Stoddart, Stanley Thorley
and Audrey Warren.
Much of the research carried out at Bookham — probably the longest continuous
ecological survey in the country — has concerned changes over time in the distribu¬
tion of plants and animals. It is therefore essential to accurate comparison for
the revised map to continue the grid and divisions of the earlier maps. Cyril
Castell (1943) described his grid system as follows: “The area may be considered
to be enclosed in a square divided into nine equal areas, each of which is sub¬
divided into nine”. This subdivision produces the squares numbered 18 to 94
on the map and these m.ay be further subdivided to give as much precision as is
necessary. The method of further subdivision is illustrated in square 31 on the
revised map and it can be seen that Bayfield Pond is in square 76 or, more precisely,
765.
In 1953 the Common was divided into 20 regions, lettered A to T, to help in the
study of vegetational changes (Jones 1954). These were arbitrary regions bounded
by paths and ditches and not intended to have any ecological significance. These
regions are shown on the revised map and are separated by dotted lines.
The continued use of Castell’s grid (Hillman & Warren 1973) and of Jones'
divisions (Laundon 1973) make it necessary to incorporate them into any revised
map. Since 1942 however the national grid has come into general use and has
become the basis of grid recording for the Society as a whole. The national
grid is shown around the margins of the revised map and at the same time provides
a scale, each division being 100 metres, one tenth of a kilometre.
The v/hole of Bookham Common lies within the Ordnance Survey 1 :25,000 map
sheet TQ 15 — the Leatherhead sheet — and is within vice-county 17 (Surrey). It
lies in square 15 of the Society’s Recording Map (i.e. column 1, row 5) (Sandford
1972).
Much of the Society’s recording is now done by noting the presence or absence
of a species in each square kilometre or monad. On the revised map these are
separated by thin pecked lines. Bookham Common straddles no fewer than seven
monads: 15/M16, 15/M25, 15/M26, 15/M27, 15/M35, 15/M36 and 15/M37.
Other recording schemes are being conducted on the basis of tetrads, i.e. blocks
of four monads (Sandford 1972). Most of Bookham Common lies within tetrad
i5/T26 but monads 15/M25 and 15/M35 are in tetrad 15/T24 and monad 15/Ml 6
is in tetrad 15/T06.
The method of using the national grid is explained on Ordnance Survey maps
and will not be repeated here. Bayfield Pond has an easting of (5)12 • 3 kilometres
and a northing of (1)55-8 kilometres. Its grid reference is therefore 51/123558.
This is called a “six-figure reference”. By imagining further divisions one can
locate the pond more precisely through using an eight-figure reference
51/12345582.
♦ 1 8 Bicton Close, Leigham, Plymouth, Devonshire PL6 8RN.
60
The London Naturalist, No. 54, 1975
From the foregoing it is clear that the method of locating one’s observations has
changed markedly over the last thirty years but this is a problem we cannot avoid.
It is suggested that members of the Society ask recorders, whose names and
addresses are in the Society’s Programme, which system they should use in giving
the location of their observations. Alternatively they could mark the actual
location on a copy of the revised map and let the Recorder codify the location.
References
BEVEN, G. 1968. A bibliography of the natural history of Bookham Common,
Surrey. Land. Nat, 41 •. 99-102.
CASTEEL, C. P. 1943. Some preliminary observations on the base map and
topography. Land. Nat. 22: 28-31.
HILLMAN, E. M. & WARREN, A. 1973. Survey of Ruscus aculeatus on
Bookham Common: the first two years. Land. Nat. 52: 93-103.
LAUNDON, J. R. 1973. Changes in the lichen flora of Bookham Common
with increased air pollution and other factors. Land. Nat. 52: 82-92.
JONES, A. W. 1954. The flora of Bookham Common. Land. Nat. 33: 25-47.
SANTDFORD, H. A. 1972. Recording maps and overlays. Land. Nat. 51: 20-21
with insert in pocket.
61
Nature Conservation in London 1974
by Kevin A. Roberts*
The London Nature Convervation Committee
London now has a multiplicity of groups concerned with nature conservation,
and it is therefore most important that there should be one organisation that can
authoritatively represent nature conservation interests in London to outside
bodies, and which can offer opportunities for liaison between the various conserva¬
tion groups in the area. Represented on the London Nature Conservation
Committee are all the County Naturalists’ Trusts around London, the Nature
Conservancy Council, a number of London’s local natural history societies and
also representatives from various parts of London.
During 1974 over 60 sites and a number of other matters were reported on at
committee meetings and this provided an opportunity for all the represented
organisations to see what each was doing and how it fitted into the pattern of
conservation in London as a whole. The committee is a useful source of contacts,
discussion and mutual assistance.
The following sections are by no means a complete summary of conservation
activities in London in 1974, but cover most of the matters brought before the
committee. The items represent the activities not only of the committee but of all
the other organisations represented on it.
Reserves
New reserves have been established at Firwood and Pondwood, Enfield, and at
Bentley Priory. The idea of a nature reserve area at Linder’s Field in Essex has been
agreed in principle. Perivale Wood, one of Britain’s oldest nature reserves,
has been declared a statutory local nature reserve by Ealing Borough Council.
Nature Trails
Nature trail booklets have been published for Wimbledon Common and Mitcham
Common. There was an organised nature trail at Nower Wood for a week in
July. A booklet on the River Wandle is now available. A nature trail has been
prepared for Bedfords Park in Essex. A nature trail at the big new development
complex at Thamesmead was officially opened during the year by Dr David
Bellamy.
Conferences
Conferences on the River Thames, canals and the Colne Valley w'ere held during
the year and attended by a representative of the committee. A report has now
also been published of a conference entitled Nature in Cities which is very relevant
to London.
Surveys
A survey of Mitcham Common is in progress. A report on the natural history
interest of Fairlop Plain has been submitted to the consultants for the scheme.
A report has also been submitted to the Nature Conservancy Council on sites
of biological interest along the River Crane and its tributaries. There was a
request for a botanical survey from Littleton Sailing Club. A botanical survey
of an abandoned railway cutting was carried out for Islington Borough Council.
A wood at Streatham v/as surveyed on request and may be suitable as an educational
reserve. The Save the Village Pond campaign has been notified about several ponds
in the London Area and attempts are being made to look at these. A number of sites
threatened by development were looked at during the year but were considered
to be of amenity rather than natural history interest.
* 32 Caxton Road, Hoddesdon, Hertfordshire ENll 9PG.
62
The London Naturalist, No. 54, 1975
Management
Scrub clearance on Poor’s Field in Ruislip is in progress. Scrub has also been
cleared from Keston Bog and two small dams have been put in to raise the water
level; these measures should help to conserve the interesting flora of the site.
Representations are being made concerning the management of heronries at
Walthamstow and Kempton Park. Greenhill Meadow has an interesting chalk
flora and fauna and the owners have sought advice on the best form of management
for preserving the natural history interest. Advice has been given on Old Park in
Spelthome and also on Holland Park.
Planning Applications
Ruxley Gravel-pits have been under threat of increased pressure from a proposed
hypermarket (which has now been rejected), trespass, and now possibly by the
decision to reopen a nearby hospital. Part of Staines Moor is threatened by a
road scheme. Orlitts Lake may be affected by a proposal for a re-cycling plant
close by. An application for housing development at the important Site of Special
Scientific Interest at Crofton Heath was rejected after an enquiry, mainly on the
basis of the natural history interest. An application to fell an area of woodland
which is one of the few remaining sites for the Kentish milkwort was also refused.
Croham Hurst, the West Kent Golf Course, Betchworth Quarries, Riddlesdown
and Goshill Woods all have at least some natural history interest and are or have
been the subject of planning applications in 1974.
Organisations
The Orpington Field Club now has a conservation sub-committee. The Surrey
Naturalists’ Trust has recently reorganised its local structure to coincide with the
new local government boundaries. The Conservation Corps of the Herts, and
Middx. Trust for Nature Conservation is now organised and operational, and the
Trust is increasing its general activities in Middlesex. The Brent River and Canal
Society has been formed in the face of a planned flood relief scheme for the River
Brent and has proposed a linear park.
The Future
London is an area where land is under extreme pressure and where there is a
very large concentration of people. Nature conservation is thus extremely difiicult
but of potential interest to many more people than would normally be the case.
It seems particularly important that the large numbers of school children should
have opportunities to observe something other than bricks and mortar. One
encouraging sign is that whereas at one stage nature conservation in London
appeared to be largely a matter of reading through planning applications and
deciding which ones to object to, now at least a portion of the work involves
surveys and advice, often sought by local authorities and other organisations in
the planning stages of development where it can be given due consideration.
Hopefully this trend will continue and grow.
The London Nature Conservation Committee has no paid staff and its officers
and members are all extremely busy. Here a mention must be made of the com¬
mittee’s chairman Mrs Pearl Small, who has devoted so much of her time and
expertise to nature conservation in London. Time is clearly a great limiting factor
on the amount of work that can be carried out. The more people who could help
even a little with the paper work, surveys, information on local developments and
so on, the more could be achieved.
63
Botanical Records for 1974
by J. Edward Lousley*
The botanical records reported during 1974 include many exceptionally interesting
reports from south of the Thames, but very many less than usual from the remaining
vice-counties. Certainly the increased activity within the London Area in Surrey
and Kent owes a great deal to active recording for the mapping scheme and the
co-operation of their recorders. A file of detailed, dated, and fully annotated
records is essential for the interpretation of distribution maps, especially those
of rare or critical species, and those which are increasing or decreasing within the
area covered.
We again suffered from the weather. The spring was mainly overcast with
less than the average rainfall, so that ephemerals often failed to appear on dry
soils. From August onwards there was a lot of rain so species were scarce which
appear around ponds as the water-level falls. Throughout the summer there were
no periods of exceptional warmth.
This is the first time for well over 20 years that we have been able to report an
abundance of soya bean aliens. The only previous occasion was soon after the
last war when Soya Food Ltd. was using a small works at Harefield, Middlesex,
and many American aliens appeared {Land. Nat. 25: 14 (1946), 26: 76-77 (1947),
27: 41 (1949)). For several years scattered plants of soya bean {Glycine max (L.)
Merr.), and species likely to have been associated with it, have been turning up on
refuse tips in north Kent, but the abundance of this plant in 1974, and a visit by
Mr J. R. Palmer to a factory using soya beans, which had many of the associated
species growing v/ithin its walls, proved the source of these aliens. Some of them
are listed below. The appearance of pheasant’s eye, Adonis autumnalis, in a
cornfield, Leucojum vernum, several rare grasses, and confirmation of a lot of
saltmarsh plants, are amongst other nice records for Kent, while in Surrey B. R.
Radcliffe had some excellent records which included some extending the ranges
of the often overlooked trees, Amelanchier lamarckii and Prunus serotina. In
Middlesex Mrs A. Warren found that handsome hemp nettle, Galeopsis speciosa,
at Edmonton.
In this report grid references are given in accordance with the Society’s mapping
scheme {Lond. Nat. 51: 20-21 (1972)). “Tetrad” references are cited as far as
possible, and failing this “centrads” i.e. 10 kilometre squares of the national grid.
In both cases these appear in brackets following the place names. The nomenclature
is based on the List of British Vascular Plants (1958) prepared by J. E, Dandy,
and for species in that list authors’ names are omitted.
V.C. 16, West Kent
Joan and Peter Hall’s records include Bunias orientalis from Church Road, Hartley
(66T06), where they have known it since 1971, and from a roadside verge in Hartley
(66T08) where Peter Hall first found it in 1974. He also found Geranium rotundi-
folium in 1972 and 1973 by a footpath which comes out opposite Dartford church
(57T42). Adonis autumnalis was once fairly frequent as a cornfield weed; now it
is very rarely found in such places although we get occasional reports originating
from garden plants on refuse tips. R. M. Burton found two plants in October
1974 in barley stubble in a field between Eynsford and Farningham (56T46) where
it had probably persisted from the time when cornfield weeds were abundant.
He found Muscari atlanticum at Chelsfield above a railway cutting (46T62), scattered
along 200 metres of grass.
Bromus diandrus Roth is an increasing grass in Britain but our last record from
Kent is nearly fifty years old. It was found in 1971 by J. R. Palmer at Skeet Hill
(46T84) where Dianthus armeria still persists. Mr Burton has drawn our attention
to an interesting 1973 record of Mespilus germanica from Churchfield Wood,
Bexley (57T02) in the Sidcup & District Natural History Society Annual Report
* 1 Penistone Road, Streatham Common, London SW16.
64
The London Naturalist, No. 54, 1975
for 1973. This could be a rediscovery of the tree from which the Rev P. H. Cooke
collected the specimen in 1937 v/hich is now in the Society’s herbarium. Mr Burton
has also found — or refound — some interesting plants on Dartford Heath, on
ground disturbed by old gravel workings (57T22). These include Moenchia erecta,
Tri folium glorneratum, T. striatum, T. ornithopodioides, and Scleranthus annuus.
Koeleria cristata is abundant there (57T22 & 57T02) in what Mr Burton suggests
may be our only locality on acid soil.
J. R. Palmer has provided most valuable confirmations of the persistance of
many maritime or sub-maritime species from Stone, Dartford and Erith Marshes —
records for which I have appealed in recent reports. These include Agropyron
pungens from Erith (57T08) and Erith Marshes (58TOO), Puccinellia pseudodistans
from Erith Marshes (58TOO) in abundance, and Berula erecta from Stone Marshes
(57T64). At Greenhithe, near the river (57T84) he found in 1972 a rare hybrid grass,
Festuca pratensis x Lolium multiflorum (= x Festulolium braunii) which has been
named by Dr A. Melderis, and in 1974 a large colony of Vida bithynica, and
Catapodium rigidum subsp. majus, specimens of “enormous size” of a subspecies
usually found in wetter and milder parts of the British Isles.
Soya bean aliens were found by J. R. Palmer, E. Clement, E. Philp, J. E. Lousley
and others on refuse-tips at Stone (57T64), Dartford Marshes (an area made up
with sand and shingle behind the sea-wall adjoining a small tip), and Crayford
Marshes (57T26). The following are amongst the species found at all or most of
these places: Abutilon theophrasti Med., Amaranthus hybridus L., Ambrosia
artemisiifolia L., A. trifida L., Echinochloa crus-gall i (L.) Beauv., Glycine max
(L.) Merr., Pharbitis hederacea (L.) Choisy, P. purpurea (L.) Voigt, Polygonum
pensylvanicum L., Sida spinosa L., and Xanthium echinatum Murr. The refuse
tip on Crayford Marshes (57T26) produced for Messrs Palmer, Bull, and Clement
the following: Anoda cristata (L.) Schl., Cassia occidentalis L., Chenopodium
giganteum Don, Digitaria sanguinalis (L.) Scop., Plantago afra L., Solanum rostratum
Dunal, Trachyspermum ammi (L.) Sprague, and Urochloa panicoides Beauv. Trago-
pogon pratensis L. subsp. pratensis is reported by J. R. Palmer from a roadside near
Swanley village (57T20). He also found Cynosurus echinatus by a footpath near
Greenhithe (57T82) and abundant on an embankment of the old Dartford bypass
(57T42) and several hawkweeds including the second record for Kent since 1900,
det. Dr C. West, of Hieracium vulgatum, from a chalkpit south of Stone church
(57T64). It should also be put on record that Calendula arvensis has escaped from
Mr Palmer’s garden to the grounds of Horton Kirby paper mill (56T68) where it is
now well-established. Mrs M. C. Foster is to be congratulated on her success in
growing the Cassia seedlings found in 1973, and obtaining flowers and ripe fruits.
This has made possible the identification as C. occidentalis L. from tropical America
and elsewhere; the beans are roasted as a coffee substitute.
One of Mr Burton’s nice finds was the hybrid between Verbascum lychnitis
and V. thapsus by the roadside south of Eynsford Station (56T24). This hybrid
occurs fairly freely when the two parents grow together, but as they do this so
seldom, it is rarely seen. He reports harestail grass, Lagurus ovatus, growing in a
street pavement near Kent House Station (36T48), Anthemis arvensis in front of a
school at Eynsford (56T44), but alas, introduced with grass seed and not a corn¬
field weed, and the handsome Lychnis coronaria (L.) Desr. thoroughly naturalised
at the top of a railway bank on the south side of Petts Wood (46T48). Descurainia
Sophia was found in 1971 north of Downe, (46T22) by Miss E. M. Hillman and
Miss M. E. Kennedy. Scandix pectenveneris is yet another example of the rapid
decrease in agricultural weeds; it is not many years since it was quite common
and yet Mr Burton tells me that so far he has had only one record for the mapping
scheme — a field near Chelsfield Station (46T64) where he found it in 1974 in the
same place as a record for 1971. The bog on Keston Common (46T04) is an
important habitat but of the bog plants we know from there Mr Burton was
unable to refind Juncus squarrosus, Salix repens, Carex echinata and Eriophorum
angustifolium in 1974; if any member can confirm that any of these are still there
we will be pleased to know.
Lousley — Botanical Records for 1974
65
V.C. 17, Surrey
During 1974 I was heavily engaged in the work of finishing the manuscript of the
Flora of Surrey which went to the publishers in November, Most of the last
fieldwork was on the parts of the county outside the London Area, but fortunately
the much greater activity in the work of the Society’s mapping scheme produced
some useful records which were sent in mainly by Mr B. R. Radcliffe. Under trees
on Epsom Downs (25T06) he showed me a large patch of Duchesnea indica, which
he has known for some years and which is still spreading. This is the Indian
strawberry, with yellow petals, and red fruits which are not juicy. Car ex strigosa
he confirmed west of Reigate (25T40) and also west of Wray Common (25T60) —
it mainly follows the line of the Gault Clay in this part of Surrey. Sambucus
racemosa, the red-berried elder, seems to be very rare in Surrey — Mr Radcliffe
reports it from the edge of a wood by Fair Lane, Mugswell (25T64). A single
plant of Polystichum aculeatum on chalk at the edge of a yew wood at Mickleham
(15T62), and Rumex maritimus on the edge of a water-filled gravel-pit at Redhill
(25T80) are new records — the latter is still at the Surrey Naturalists’ Trust reserve
at Town Pond, Godstone (35T40).
Oenanthe pimpinelloides has been known in quantity on Epsom Common
(16T80) for several years; Mr Radcliffe has now found two plants well to the south
of this in wet scrub (15T88) which suggests that the plant is spreading. Together
we found the aggressive water- weed Lagarosiphon major in Marbles Fond, Tad-
worth (25T26) and in the Island Pond in Ashtead Park (15T88); in the latter it
had been reported in 1964. With Mrs E. Koh he found Thalictrum flaviim in
marshland near the bridge at Walton-on-Thames (06T86) — strictly V.C, 21.
Of Prunus serotina Ehrh., of which we had one record, Mr Radcliffe has produced
six — from Leatherhead (15T66) four places on Fleadley Heath (25T02, 15T82,
25T04) and from Banstead Heath (25T24); it has probably been overlooked in
many other places. This also applies to Amelanchier lamarckii which he found at
Oxshott Heath (16T40), Claygate Common (16T62), Headley Heath, and Walton
Heath (25T24) where there are at least 24 trees scattered about.
Amongst the Surrey records contributed by Mr Burton is one for Macleaya
cordata as a large clump established near the Hog’s Mill River, Kingston (16T88).
This may be the patch discovered by R. C. Wingfield in 1958, when he gave the grid
reference as 189687, and an interesting example of the persistence of the species.
He also reports Poa angustifolia from the down platform at Sydenham Hill Station
(37T22).
V.C. 18, South Essex
Amongst the bird-seed aliens found on a field meeting to the Barking refuse tip
was Ononis baetica Clemente reported by J. R. Palmer.
V.C. 21, Middlesex
Mr Kent’s Flora of Middlesex is now in proof and we hope to see it in 1975. He
found a small patch of Salvia horminoides near the Thames at Brentford (17T66)
and Silene vulgaris subsp. commutata (Guss.) Hayek on the roadside, Kew Bridge
Road, Kew Bridge (17T86). Mrs A Warren found Galeopsis speciosa on allotm.ent
ground at Edmonton (39T24) — it is very rare in the London Area. A single large
plant of Epipactis helleborine was found by J. R. Phillips on Harrow Weald Common
(19T42). Echium vulgare, which is rare in Middlesex, is reported from an old
railway marshalling yard at “Feltham (17)” by P. Cribb who has known it there
since 1972, Mrs L. M. P. Small was interested in a weed in the Pelargonium beds
at Mount Vernon Hospital, Northwood (09T62) which is Polemonium pauciflorum
S. Watson. This is known to stray in gardens and has done so at Kew {Kew
Bull. 28: 407 (1973)).
No records were received from North Essex, Hertfordshire, or Buckinghamshire
during the year.
We are grateful to the following for their contributions to our botanical records during 1974:
K. E. Bull, R. M. Burton, P. Cribb, E. J. Clement, Mrs M. C. Foster, Mrs J. Hall, P. C. Hall, Miss E.
M. Hillman, Miss M. E. Kennedy, D. H. Kent, Mrs E. Koh, J. E. Lousley, Dr A. Melderis, J. R.
Palmer, J. R. Phillips, E. Philp, B. R, Radcliffe, Mrs L. M. P. Small, Mrs A. Warren, and Dr C. West.
66
The London Naturalist, No. 54, 1975
Mammals in the London Area 1974
by K. A. J. Gold*
It is gratifying to be able to report that 1974 has been a year of tremendous growth
in the interest shown in mammal recording. The total number of observers,
although remaining low, has increased by no less than 128%. Coupled with
this is an increase in the amount of general interest in mammals as evidenced
by letters of enquiry and requests for information. Even more significant is the
quality of the records received with many observers having sent not only records
but also detailed comments on the relative distributions of species in areas which
they visit fairly regularly.
With the exception of the fox the number of records for each species has been
maintained or has increased. The significance of the slight decrease in fox numbers
is difficult to assess, although P. A. Moxey in Epping Forest noted that the species
appeared to be declining in that area. Any other observations regarding the
status of this species in other areas would be welcome. In 1974 a single rabbit
only was recorded in Bucks, and in Kent only two rabbits were seen from within
the Society’s Area. Special effort in these areas is needed by observers in 1975.
Systematic List for 1974
The checklist numbers are from Corbet (1969).
INSECTIVORA
1, Hedgehog Erinaceus europaeus L.
Essex. Abridge; Barkingside; Dagenham Park; Epping Forest; High
Beach; Hornchurch; Leytonstone; Loughton; Rom.ford; Thorndon Park;
Walthamstow.
Herts. Cheshunt; Colney Heath; Cuffley; Golf’s Oak; London Colney;
Potters Bar; Sarratt.
Inner London. Kilburn; Regent’s Park.
Middx. Enfield; Harrow; Trent Park; Woodgrange Park.
Surrey. Esher; Streatham; Sutton; Tadworth.
2. Mole Talpa europaea L.
Essex. Epping Forest; Fairmead Bottom; Fiddlers Hamlet; High Beach;
Leytonstone; North Ockenden; Rainham Marshes; Theydon Bois; Thorndon
Park.
Middx. Hampstead Heath; Trent Park.
Surrey. Banstead; Bookham Common; Headley Heath.
3, Common shrew Sorex araneus L.
Essex. Epping Forest; Fiddlers Hamlet; High Beach; Rainham Marshes.
Herts. Cheshunt ; Cuffley.
Middx. Enfield.
Surrey. Banstead Heath; Headley Heath.
4. Pygmy shrew Sorex minutus L.
Middx. Heston.
Surrey. Ashtead; Richmond Park.
CHIROPTERA
18. Noctule Nyctalus noctula (Schreber)
Herts. Barnet.
Surrey. Kew Gardens.
19. Pipistrelle Pipstrellus pipistrellus (Schreber)
Essex. High Beach.
* 21 Starch House Lane, Barkingside, Essex.
Gold — Mammals in the London Area 1974
67
21/22. Long-eared bat Plecotus sp.
Essex. Thorndon Park.
Bats spp.
Essex. Epping Forest; Hainault Forest; Hornchurch; South Ockendon;
Theydon Bois; Thorndon Park.
Herts. Broxbourne Gravel-pit; Cheshunt Gravel-pit.
Middx. Trent Park; Woodgrange Park.
Kent. Keston Ponds; Westerham.
SuRRiY. Tadworth.
CARNIVORA
24. Fox Viilpes vulpes (L.)
Essex. Epping Forest; Fiddlers Hamlet; Harrow Lodge Park; High Beach;
Hornchurch; Romford; Thorndon Park.
Herts. Barnet; Cuffley; Radlett.
Middx. Brent; Harrow; Kenton; Trent Park.
Surrey. Ashtead; Beddington Sewage Farm; Bookham Common; Esher;
Streatham; Tadworth.
27. Stoat Mustela enninea L.
Essex. Barkingside; Copped Hall; Dagenham Park; Fiddlers Hamlet;
Great Myles ; Thorndon Park.
Herts. Cassiobury Park.
Middx. Trent Park.
Surrey. Bookham Common.
28. Weasel Mustela nivalis L.
Essex. Dagenham Park; Epping Forest; Great Myles; High Beach;
Thorndon Park.
Middx. Trent Park.
Surrey. Bookham Common.
31. Meles meles {h.)
Essex. Epping Forest; Navestock Park; Thorndon Park.
Herts. Turnford.
Surrey. Headley Warren; Mickleham.
ARTIODACTYLA
44. Fallow deer Dania dama (L.)
Essex. Recorded in Epping Forest but reported to be most frequent in
the triangle formed by Epping, Harlow and Waltham Abbey; High Beach; Theydon
Bois; Thorndon Park.
Herts. Broxbourne Woods.
45. Roe-deer Capreolus capreolus (L.)
Essex. Thorndon Park.
Surrey. Ashtead; Bookham Common.
46/47. Muntjac Mimtiacus sp.
Essex. Thorndon Park.
Herts. Wormley.
Middx. Trent Park.
Deer spp.
Essex. Epping Forest; Fiddlers Hamlet; Navestock Park.
Herts. Queenswood (North Mymms).
LAGOMORPHA
53. Brown hare Lepus capensis L.
Essex. Cranliam; Fairlop Gravel-pit; High Beach; Rainham Marshes;
Sewardstone.
Herts. Childwickbury ; Redboundbury.
68
The London Naturalist, No. 54, 1975
Middx. Trent Park.
Surrey. Bookham Common ; Dawcombe ; Epsom.
55. Rabbit Oryctolagus cuniculus (L.)
Essex. Barkingside ; Copped Hall ; Dagenham Park ; Epping Forest ; Fairlop ;
Fiddlers Hamlet; Hainault Forest; High Beach; Hornchurch; Stapleford Abbots;
Thorndon Park.
Herts. Cheshunt Gravel-pit; Essendon; Goflf’s Oak; Hatfield; London
Colney; Northaw; Panshanger; Turnford; Walthamstow Reservoir; Wormley.
Inner London. Regent’s Park.
Middx. Ealing; Hampstead Heath; Trent Park.
Kent. Longfield; Stone.
Surrey. Bookham Common; Esher; Tadworth.
RODENTIA
57. Grey squirrel Sciurus carolinensis Gmelin
Essex. Epping Forest; Hainault Forest; Highams Park; Loughton; Theydon
Bois; Thorndon Park; Upshire.
Herts. Barnet; Cheshunt; Chipperfieid Common; Cutfiey; Essendon;
Garston; Hatfield Park; Panshanger; St Albans; Shenley.
Middx. Enfield; Hampstead Heath; Ken Wood; Trent Park.
Surrey. Ashtead; Bookham Common; Clapham; Esher; Sutton; Tad-
worth; Tooting Bee Common.
61. Harvest-mouse (Pallas)
Essex. Dagenham Park; Rainham Marsh.
Surrey. Bookham Common.
62. Wood-mouse Apodemus sylvaticus (L.)
Essex. High Beach; Thorndon Park.
Herts. Cheshunt.
Middx. Ham.pstead Heath.
Surrey. Bookham Common; Esher; Tadworth.
63. Yellow-necked mouse Apodemus flavicoUis (Melchior)
Essex. High Beach.
67. Bank-vole Clethrionomys glareolus (Schreber)
Essex. High Beach; Sewardstone.
Herts. Cheshunt.
Middx. Brent; Trent Park.
Surrey. Bookham Common; Esher.
68. Water-vole Arvicola terrestris (L.)
Essex. Thorndon Park.
Herts. Cheshunt Gravel-pit; Kings Langley; Walthamstow Reservoirs.
Surrey. Esher.
69. Field-vole Microtus agrestis (L.)
Essex. High Beach.
Herts. Radlett.
Middx. Brent; Hampstead Heath; Trent Park.
Surrey. Bookham Common; Esher; Richmond Park.
My thanks go to the following people who have contributed the records contained in this report:
T. Allen, E. F. Anderson, Dr G. Beven, J. R. Colclough, J. Cresswell, N. Davies, Miss J. Downie,
Miss P. O. Dunkley, R. Eastcott, O. B. J. French, Mrs J. E. Gaffney, Mrs L. E. Gold, Mrs B.
Hardwidge, E. C. G. Hardwidge, S. Harris, J. E. Harvey, L. Holyday, R. A. Husband, I. G. Johnson,
Miss M. E. Kennedy, R. Leighton, D. Martin, Mrs H. Morris, P. Morrison, P. A. Moxey, A. F.
Musselwhite, Mrs B. S. Musselwhite, A. R. J. Paine, R. W. Robinson. Mrs J. E. Small, R. A.
Softley, C. L. C. Stephenson, Mrs G. Torrance, 1. Torrance, Mrs P. Washer, C. A. White,
Miss D. Woods. My apologies to any members inadvertently omitted.
Reference
CORBET, G. B. 1969. The Identification of British Mammals. Ed. 2. British
Museum (Natural History), London.
I
0
‘n
t
t
^ I
!
70
The London Naturalist, No. 54, 1975
1973
Statement of Affairs
Premises and Equipment Fund (incorporating the Hindson and Castell bequests)
52,281
Balance at 1 November 1973
54,592
2,545
/I ^/d.• Interest for year ... ... ... ... .
...
3,504
54,826
58,096
234
Less: Grant to general account
223
54,592
57,873
-
Less: Grant to accumulated fund
...
1,674
54,592
56,199
Life Composition Account
200
Balance at 1 November 1973 ...
N. * ’ *
200
Ornithological Research Fund
-
164
Balance at 1 November 1973 ...
123
9
/fditf; Interest for year ...
11
173
50
Lcjs." Grant to atlas scheme
-
123
Other Reserves
134
200
Library cataloguing fund
200
950
London Naturalist reserve
1,750
750
London Bird Report
Plant mapping scheme: research and publication fund:
1,000
275
Balance at 1 November 1973 ...
275
2,175
3,225
57,090
£59,758
General
Payments
450
Hire of halls etc _
324
209
Sectional expenses including LNCC ...
297
54
Subs, to other societies ... ... .
45
117
Printing and stationery ...
49
47
Library .
31
6
Castell research centre ...
9
265
Honoraria
265
110
Postage and telephone ... ... ... .
123
14
Sundries ...
4
173
Castell bequest expenses ... ... .
55
98
A ddressograph machine — repairs and renewal
64
48
Cost of services (auditors’ fees, bank charges, insurance)
112
46
Hindson memorial lecture
—
—
Solicitors’ fees — Morley College project
104
2,093
Grant to publications account ...
4,028
3,730
Transfer to reserve:
5,510
50
Plant mapping scheme research and publication fund
—
3,780
£5,510
Publications
307
Programme
542
144
London Naturalist 52 (excess of expenditure over reserve)
(£1443-
£950)
493
950
London Naturalist 53 reserve
...
1,750
—
London Bird Report 37 (excess expenditure over reserve)
(£870-£750)
120
750
London Bird Report 3fi reserve
1,000
326
Bulletin
...
328
2,477
£4,233
Accumulated
Balance at 1 November 1973 (deficit) ... ... ... ... ... 480
Transfer from general account (deficit) ... ... ... ... 1,194
£1,674
Statement of Affairs
71
at 31 October 1974
1973
Assets
21,931
17,028
383
8,622
8,646
Quoted investments at cost
Bank deposit account ...
Bank current account ...
United Dominion Trust
Central Investment Company ...
21,931
18,451
349
9,412
9,615
56,610
480
Accumulated fund — deficit
Report of the Auditors to the members of
the London Natural History Society
We have verified the accounts with the books and records
of the Society and certify them to be in accordance therewith.
Kniglitway House,
20 Soho Square, NORTON KEEN & CO.
LONDON WIV 6QJ Chartered Accountants
5 December 1974
57,090
£59,758
Account
Receipts
2,673
Subscriptions — current ...
2,815
6
arrears .
26
73
advance ...
82
2,752
2,923
57
Donations
72
—
Tax recovered from deeds of covenant
145
211
Deposit account interest (National Westminster Bank Ltd.)
99
91
Deposit account (Central Investment Co.) excluding premises fund
190
78
Sundries including bird film receipts ...
4
-
Dividends
660
234
Transfer from premises and equipment fund
...
223
169
Castell bequest ...
-
188
Excess of payments over receipts (transferred to accumulated fund)
1,194
3,780 £5,510
Account
294 Sale of publications ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 198
16 Bulletin income ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 7
2,093 Transfer from general account ... ... ... ... ... ... 4,028
74 London Bird Report 36 (excess reserve over expenditure) {£750-£676) -
2,477
Fund
£4,233
1,674
£1,674
Transfer from premises and equipment fund
72
The London Naturalist, No. 54, 1975
Habitat Overlay
by Herbert A. Sandford*
This is the third in the series of overlays being produced to assist the study of the
distribution of plants and animals in the Society’s Area. A full description of the
scheme appears in Lond. Nat. 51: 20-21 (1972). That issue contains a pocket at
the back to hold the Annual Rainfall Overlay and others produced later. The
Master Grid Overlay appeared with Lond. Nat. 52: 155 (1973).
The Habitat Overlay is based with permission upon the Second Land Utilisation
Survey. These are being published at the scale of 1 :25,000 and a list of available
sheets can be obtained from Edward Stanford Ltd., 12 Long Acre, London WC2.
Much of the Society’s Area is not yet covered by published maps and bona fide
research workers may apply to see the original manuscript maps by writing to
Miss Alice Coleman, M.A., Department of Geography, King’s College, London
WC2. Miss Coleman employed a large number of land use categories but these
have been reduced to seven in order to produce an overlay more meaningful for
the purposes of the Society.
On the Habitat Overlay “wetlands” include fresh and salt-marsh as well as
open water. ‘*Woodlands” include coppice but do not differentiate between
evergreen and deciduous. “Heathlands” include rough pasture, whether grazed
or not, as well as true heath. “Grasslands” include parks as well as meadows.
“Farmlands” exclude grazing lands but cover a wide variety of land use: market-
gardens, orchards, roots, cereals, fodder, fallow and allotments. The distinction
between “settlements with gardens” and “settlements without gardens” was
considered important but difficult to make when collecting data. Many tetrads
designated as “settlements without gardens” do actually contain small garden plots
but are largely built over with closely spaced terraced housing, factories, public
buildings, public utilities and the like or else are given over to refuse tips, quarries
and pits, transport undertakings and derelict land.
The deficiencies of such a simplified classification of habitats are self-evident.
Gravel-pits and chalkpits, for instance, provide strikingly different habitats as do
fresh and salt-marshes. The use of a larger number of categories however would
have separated out parcels of land so small that they could not have been mapped
on the scale adopted for the overlay.
For each tetrad the symbol shows the habitat that occupies the largest area.
This is the only way by which to make a tetrad-based habitat overlay. Nevertheless
quite frequently the predominant habitat actually occupies less than half the
total area of the tetrad. Particularly under-represented are woodlands, wetlands
and heathlands as these distinctive habitats are so often restricted to hedgerows,
riversides and small commons and gores. An overlay based on monads would
have increased detail fourfold and given these habitats a fairer representation, but
its use would have been restricted to monad distribution maps. A better solution,
should members express a desire for them, would be for the drawing of more
specialised habitat overlays, showing particular habitats, such as wetlands, in
greater detail.
The full use of the overlays v.ill not become apparent until a more complete
series has been produced. A paper illustrating their use will be published in due
course but even with the existing material it is possible to illustrate their partial
use by reference to the figures in Lond. Nat. 50: 96-97 (1972). The Master Grid
Overlay shows the bee orchid in tetrad 09/T40 which the Ordnance Survey map
shows to be in the Harefield area, a locality strikingly rich in plant species. The
*18 Bicton Close, Leigham, Plymouth, Devonshire PL6 8RN.
Sandford — Habitat Overlay
73
Annual Rainfall Overlay does not help explain the distribution of this orchid but one
would expect that a future soil overlay might. The Canadian fleabane appears to be
well distributed in areas of “settlements without gardens” while the lesser celandine
seems to avoid such habitats. This is no surprise but there is an advantage in
being able to express this difference in a quantitative manner, and in a later paper
an attempt will be made to show how it is possible to make useful statements
about distributions which are not so easily understood from a mere perusal of the
distribution maps.
I should like to express my gratitude to Miss Alice Coleman for her interest and help in producing
this overlay, to Mr Percy Deacon for his cartographic assistance and to numerous others v.ho have
provided information about changes that have taken place since the time of the Second Land
Utilisation Survey.
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Instructions to Contributors
Submission of papers
Papers relevant to the natural history and archaeology of the London Area
should be submitted to the editor, Mr J. R. Laundon, Department of Botany,
British Museum (Natural History), Cromwell Road, London SWT 5BD, before
the end of January if they are to be considered for publication in the same year.
They should be typed, with double spacing and wide (three cm) margins, on one
side of the paper. Authors must retain a duplicate copy. Papers should include
at the beginning an abstract, summary or synopsis.
Text
Spellings are to follow Chambers Twentieth Century Dictionary 1972 edition;
locality spellings should follow the latest editions of the maps published by the
Ordnance Survey. Capitalisation should be kept to a minimum. Common
names of animals and plants must begin with lower-case initials, and scientific
names must be underlined. Genus names should appear in full where first used
within each paragraph. In descriptive matter numbers under 10 should be in
words, except in a strictly numerical context. Dates should follow the logical
sequence of day, month, year (i.e. 25 December 1971). Measurements should be
in metric and follow the SI system (Systeme International d’Unites), with imperial
equivalents in parenthesis where appropriate. There should be no full point
following Dr, Mr, Mrs or St. Lists should be in natural, alphabetical or
numerical order.
References
Reference citation should be based on the Madison rules (in Bull. Torrey bot.
Club 22: 130-132 (1895) except that a colon should always precede a page
number. Capitalisation in titles of papers in journals should be kept to a mini¬
mum. Journal titles should follow the abbreviations in the World List of Scien¬
tific Periodicals and be underlined. Examples are as follows:
In text :
Meadows (1970 : 80). (Meadows 1970).
In references :
MEADOWS, B. S. 1970. Observations on the return of fishes to a polluted
tributary of the River Thames 1964-9. Lond. Nat. 49: 76-81.
MELLANBY, K. 1970. Pesticides and Pollution. Ed. 2. Collins, London.
WHITE, K. G. 1959. Dimsdale Hall moat, part II. Trans, a. Rep. N. Staffs.
Fid Club 92: 39-45.
Illustrations
Distribution maps should be submitted in the form of a Recording Map with
symbols in Indian ink or Letraset. Solid dots are used to indicate contemporary
or recent presence, circles for old records and crosses (not pluses) for other
information, such as introduced species. Tetrad dots and circles should be
4-0 mm and tetrad crosses 5-0 mm, with a line thickness of 0-8 mm; all monad
symbols should be 1 - 6 mm with a line thickness of 0-5 mm. The legend should
be written outside the frame of the map and will be set up by the printer. The
Mapping Schemes Secretary can provide Recording Maps, advice and dyes for
printing distribution symbols.
Line drawings should be in Indian ink on Bristol board, preferably twice the
printed size. Place names, etc., must be produced with stencils or Letraset.
Legends should be separate as they will be set up by the printer.
Photographs should be glossy black-and-white prints, of good contrast,
preferably half-plate in size.
Proofs
Galley proofs will be sent to authors for scrutiny, but only essential correc¬
tions can be made at that stage.
Reprints
Up to twenty-five free reprints will be supplied on request. Additional copies
may be purchased if ordered when the proofs are returned.
The London Naturalist
No. 54 1975
Officers for 1975 ... ... ... ... ... ... 3
Contents . 4
Report of the Society for 1974 . 5
Hyatt, Keith H. — The collections of the Natural History
Museum ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 6-10
Hackett, K. — Urban street geology in London: three
temporary exposures of London Clay . 11-14
Bramwell, D.— Bird remains from medieval London ... 15-20
Groves, Eric W.— Hemiptera-Heteroptera of the London
Area. Part TX . 21-34
Solomon, D. J. ■ — The decline and reappearance of
migratory fish in the tidal Thames, with particular
reference to the salmon, S'lj/wo ... ... ... 35-37
Survey of Bookham Common: thirty-third year
Progress report for 1974 ... ... ... ... 38-48
Hillman, Ella M. — The bryophytes of Bookham
Common 1941-1967 . 49-58
Sandford, Herbert A. — A new map of Bookham
Common ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 59-60
Roberts, Kevin A. — Nature conservation in London 1974 61-62
Lousley, J. Edward— Botanical records for 1974 ... 63-65
Gold, K. A. J. — Mammals in the London Area 1974 ... 66-68
Book reviews . 10, 14, 20, 48, 58
Statement of affairs at 31 October 1974 . 70-71
Sandford, Herbert A. — Habitat overlay . 72-73
© London Natural History Society 1975
Published September 1975
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