xlii Journal of Proceedings.
recorded the following low forms of vegetal life as the result of his
dippings:—Algae, Pediastrum biradiatum and species of Spirogyra;
Desmids, Closterium lunula and others ; Diatoms, Meridian circulare
(abundant), Synedra ulna, S. capitata, Navicula serians, N. crassinervia,
Gomphonema stipitatum, and Fragillaria striatula. In the woods the
entomologists were much astonished at the extreme abundance of the
yellow-underwing moth (Triphaena pronuba). Literally hundreds of
these common but very handsome moths were disturbed as the party
wandered through the woods, the insects taking a sharp flight of a few
yards, flashing out a gleam of colour and then settling again, their dull
mottled fore-wings concealing the gayer tints, and so rendering their
detection amongst the greys and browns of the dead leaves and mosses
a very difficult task.
The usual butterflies of the Forest were often noticed. By way of a
sample, Mr. Lockyer netted a lovely fresh Gonepteryx Rhamni, Satyrus
AEgeria, and a curious dark form of Polyommatus phlaeas. Flitting about
us were to be seen the "gatekeeper" (Satyrus Tithonus), common "blues,"
and in the sedgy open places in the woods the "common skipper"
(Hesperia linea) was in great abundance.
Mr. King's take of Neuroptera was somewhat extensive, and the list is
given entire, so little having been done in this direction in Epping
Forest:—
Psocus longicornis. Fab. Very
common, occurring on the oaks.
P. variegatus, Fab.
Stenopsocus immaculatus, Ste.
Very common.
S. cruciatus, Linn. Common.
Caecilius fuscopterus, Latr.
Peripsocus phaeopterus, Ste. Not
uncommon.
Elipsocus unipunctatus, Mull.
Very common.
E. hyalinus, Ste. Very common.
Clean dipterum, Linn.
Platetrum depressum, Linn. Com-
mon.
AEschna cyanea, Mull. Common.
AE. grandis, Linn. Very common.
Pyrrhosoma minium, Harr. Very
common.
Agrion cyathigerum, Charp. Very
common.
Sisyra fuscata, Fab. Occurred
near Loughton.
Hemerobius elegans, Ste., var. Mar-
shami, Ste. Obtained by beating
the bushes that skirted a pond
near Loughton.
Hemerobius micans, Oliv. Very
common all over the Forest.
The var. fuscinervis, Schn, also
occurred.
H. Humuli, Linn. Common.
Chrysopa alba, Linn. Constantly
being beaten out of the bushes,
Ae.
C. aspersa, Wesm. Uncommon.
C. ventralis, Cur. Uncommon.
Coniopteryx Tineiformis, Cur.
C. aleyrodiformis, Ste.
Panorpa communis, Linn. Com-
mon.
P. Germanica, Linn. Common.
Grammotaulius atomarius, Milii.
One specimen occurred at a
ditch near High Beach.
Limnophilus affinis, Cur. Not un-
common.
L. centralis. Occurred every-
where.
L. sparsus. Very common.
Mr. Phillips was the only member of the party who diligently collected
Microzoa, but he reported that the forest-ponds were very productive,
especially near High Beach. His list of the contents of his bottles and
tubes is as follows ;—