The quarterly bulletin of the Norfolk & Norwich Naturalists’ Society LIBRARY FIRE Following the fire at Norwich Central Library, the Society’s lectures have had to be moved. It has not been possible to find one venue for all of them, but we hope the arrangements we have managed to make will prove satisfactory, and give members a taste of other possible locations for the future. Your comments would be welcome. The dates of the talks have not been changed. Unless stated otherwise, the starting time remains 7.30 p.m. Wednesday 28 th September: " BTO Breeding Bird Survey" Chantry Hall, Norwich. Wednesday 26 th October: " Conservation of Norfolk Bam Owls" Chantry Hall, Norwich. Thursday 10 th November: "A Wildlife Cruise to Antarctica" Thorpe Parish Hall, Thorpe St. Andrew. Monday 5 th December: "Broadland maps old and new" To be confirmed. Thursday 19 th January " From Wild Wheat to the Present Day" Wymondham Central Hall. Wednesday 22 th February: " The Origins of Some Garden Flowers" Chantry Hall, Norwich. Wednesday 22 th March: AGM and "The Pacific Northwest" Chantry Hall, Norwich. Monday 10 th April: "A Nature Miscellany" To be confirmed. Thursday 4 th May: "A New Little Wood for Norfolk." Wymondham Central Hall. Chantry Hall, Norwich, is next to the Assembly House. Thorpe St. Andrew Parish Hall, is on the Norwich Ring Road at the comer of Sir William's Way and Thunder Lane, enter from Thunder Lane. Central Hall, Wymondham is in Bridewell Street, close to the first large car park you come to from the old Norwich road. PROGRAMME NOTES Notes are given below of a few of the forthcoming meetings. For full details, please refer to the programme card. Thursday Stli September Meet in the cliff top car park at West Runton (TG 183431) at 1300 hrs; for a look at the seashore led by Dick Hamond. This coincides with one of the lowest tides of the year. Rubber boots and plastic jars with lids are essential. Sunday 18f/i September An opportunity to poke around among the leaf litter of Felthorpe woods, led by Rex & Barbara Haney. Several experts will be on hand to help identify such creatures as beetles, millepedes and woodlice. Meet at 1100 hrs; park on roadside verges off Reepham road (TG 154167). Wednesday 26tli October Paul Johnson, formerly of the Hawk & Owl Trust, but now at Pensthorpe, will talk about conservation work on Norfolk bam owls. 1930 hrs; Chantry Hall, Norwich. ERRORS AND OMISSIONS Tuesday 20th September Photographic Group. Mike Woolner is now unable to give his talk on this date, and it will therefore be an evening for members to show their slides. Please bring a maximum of 25. Contact David Pauli. Additional meeting Sunday 26th February 1995: Field meeting to Morston quay for birds. Meet NT car park (TG 007443). Leader David Pauli. Sunday 21sf May 1995: Field meeting to Barn Meadow, Gt. Moulton. This should be SUNDAY and not Saturday as printed in the programme. NO MORE LOOKING BACK Now the major celebration in St. Andrew's Hall, Norwich is well behind us we have to remind ourselves that the one day was but part of the whole year. Other events marking the anniversary are in the programme, to be enjoyed by all possible members. Enjoyment is a term not mentioned in the aims and objectives of the Society yet it is part of everything we do. No doubt about it, one lasting impression of that memorable day in St. Andrew's Hall is the pleasure it gave to the participants who took the opportunity to display their specialities. That view was expressed quite strongly by members of other groups and societies who rarely have such an opportunity to meet together in a common enterprise or just have the time to exchange news and views. Not that most had more than fleeting moments to make those contacts for the visiting public kept us busy with their comments and queries. The quality of the individual exhibitions was of a very high standard. Some of our friends representing large national organisations had the benefit of professional expertise. Our members and the members of the many other smaller groups rose to the occasion in a remarkable way to create displays belying their amateur status. We thank all of them for their invaluable contributions. Now we must make sure we keep in touch to work together in the common cause. Those of us who had been working on the details of preparation were agreeably surprised how smoothly the day proceeded. We have to thank the staff at St. Andrew's for their practical assistance and for warning us of possible hurdles in our way. How glad we were to know all those tables would be set up before our arrival early that morning to be replaced by rows of chairs for the evening's address without any of us having to help in any way! The variety and diversity of interests and projects in the study of the natural world was made very apparent to our visitors, perhaps even to ourselves. What we do as individuals with our limited time and budgets can be of value. It can also be completely absorbing, so much so we scarcely notice what is happening all round us. The launch of Wildlife 2000, announced that evening, may be the means of channelling all that effort into a single, productive cause. So many records are gathering dust as they languish in notebooks on obscure shelves. Collection gave pleasure. Passing on the information to the all-embracing data bank envisaged will give point to the exercise. The exhibition was a review of what is happening today. The editor of The Transactions worked extremely hard against the clock to see they were published in time for the big day. This issue looks back over the 125 years since our founding and is an achievement in its own right. A copy should be on desk of anyone with an interest in Norfolk's wildlife. Members, treasure your copies! There are precious few remaining. The Presidential Address by Professor David Bellamy, a descriptive tour of the world before bringing us back to Norfolk, was certainly entertaining but was also deeply thought provoking. There are few world travellers with the knowledge to interpret what they see or to ask the pertinent questions, who are blessed with the gift of language to pass on to us such a clear exposition of the state of the earth. That any one person can visit so many places in such a short time is amazing. The earth is certainly shrinking! Is the supply of natural treasure we gather so greedily shrinking at the same pace? What a relief to come home to familiar Norfolk! But can we look at our home county in quite the same way again? Probably not but surely we will be inspired to look to the future with clearer objectives and a determination to make our contributions count for something. Rex Haney HEGGATTHALL 12‘ h JUNE 1994 When we celebrated our centenary we visited the site of the very first field meeting of the society, so it was appropriate that we celebrated our 125 th year at the same venue. 2 We were welcomed by Mr. Richard Gurney and his wife. Forty seven members took part, parking their cars under the various large trees to obtain shade on what promised to be a very warm day. We walked from the Hall and out at the top gate passing a long line of moles hung on the wire fence to show proof of the mole catcher's skill. Down the lane we were surprised by the sight of a pure white Pheasant which crossed our path, a Tawny Owl hastily departed from it's perch in a nearby tree probably surprised by such a large party. Turning off the lane to cross a field put down to five year set aside we passed a large patch of Tar weed Amsinckia micrantha, an American plant first recorded in Norfolk some seventy years ago. We had not gone far when we were accosted by a large number of very hungry Horse flies Hybomitra bimaculata - vicious biters of bare legs as one or two of the members discovered. Entering the Doctors Cut, some of the small oaks appeared to have their terminal leaves damaged similar to those on the North coast when the wind carries in the salt spray, but on examination however it was found that the dead leaves were held together by a web containing a number of pupae of the Pyralid moth Acrobasis consociella. I took some of the webs home and in a few days obtained the moths, two species of parasitic Ichneumons and one Braconid from them. While we were examining the cut we ourselves were also examined by Clegs Haematopa pluvialis, another specie of biting flies whose stealthy approach is silent. On passing the pump house we found the Deadly Nightshade Atropa bella-donna which we had seen 25 years before. On the way around a field we came across a number of members formed in a ring across the path. Thinking that somebody had succumbed to the heat or the biting flies, we soon found the cause of the excitement was the discovery of a small plant on the footpath which was after much discussion was defined as Hoary Cinquifoil Potentilla argentea. We eventually returned to the Hall where some of the members had brought their picnic lunches, having enjoyed a rewarding ramble for me at least, as the list of insects shows. Ken Durrant. Lepidoptera Pieris brassicae P. rapae P. Napae Anthocharis cardamines Tyria jacobaeae Cinnabar Xanthorhoe fluctuata Nemophora degeerella Agapeta hamana Agriphila selasella Acrobasis consociella Coleoptera Phyllobius argentatus Phy. pomaceus Otiorrhynchus singularis Deporaus betulae Coccinella septempunctata Propulea quatuordecimpunctata Thea vigintiduopunctata Exochomus quadripustulatus Cidnorhinus quadrimaculatus Byturus urbanus B. tomentosa Catharis rustica C. nigricans Athous haemorrhoidalis A. hirtus Dalopius marginatus Malachius bipustulatus Pyrochroa serraticornis Strangalia maculata Olibrus corticalis Grammoptera ruficomis Clytus ariestis Hymenoptera Tenthredo mesomelas T. livida Tenthredopsis nassata Rhogogaster viridis Rh. punculata Large White Small White Green- viened White Orange-tip Garden dart Degeers Longhorn Diptera Tipula scripta Aedes can tans A. annulipes Merodon equestris Vollucella bombylans var. plumata V. pellucens Eristalis tenax E. arbustorum E. nemorum E. pertinax Helophilus pendulus Parhelophilus frutetorum Syrphus vitripennis Cheilosia albitarsis Ch. illustrata Rhingia campestris Xylota segnis X. sylvarum Syntta pipiens Hybomitra bimaculata Haematopa pluvialis Chrysogaster solstitialis Chrysopilus cristatus Rhagio lineola Beris geniculata Sarcophaga camaria Lucilia ceasar Gymnocheata viridis Geomyza venusta Pherbellia albocostata Scathophaga stercoraria Opomyza geminationis Thereva nobilitata Odonata Libellula depressa L. quadrimaculata Enallagma cyathigera Neuroptera 3 Dolerus corthumatus Macrophya blanda M. ribis Argogrytes mystaceus Nysson spinosus Nomada ruficomis Blaptocampus nigricomis Hemiptera Troilus luridus Elasmucha crisea Stenodema laevigatum Cyllecoris histrionicus Oncopsis flavicollis Chrysopa commata Mecoptera Panorpa germanica P. communis Orthoptera Tetix undulata Leptophyes punctatissima (nymphs) SUMMER SOCIAL - 20 th August, 1994 Our Membership Committee must be congratulated on the highly successful celebratory meeting centred on Oulton Chapel. What inspiration it was to arrange the series of events around a venue that would have met with the full approval of our members a hundred years ago!. The weather played its part by allowing the afternoon and evening walks to be completed in near perfect conditions. That round the lakes in the afternoon of the Bure Fish Farm gave the participants a healthy appetite for the High Tea prepared by the committee and friends. Contributions in kind were much appreciated and donations in cash fully met the expenses of the day Exhibitions of Victorian books and documents were reminders of our long history. An up-to-date display of photographs of the major events of this special year brought us into the present. An exhibition bringing the Society to the notice of the wider public was to be seen just down the road at the Oulton Fair. We are grateful to the stalwarts who represent us so ably at such events. Rex Haney WAX MOTHS IN BUMBLEBEE NESTS We have not seen these parasites often, nor wish to do so. The moth Aphomia sociella lays her eggs in the nest of bumblebees and on hatching the larvae burrow into the comb, destroying wax, pupae and bee larvae. They avoid attack by the bees by making silken tunnels into which they can rapidly retreat. When fully grown the larvae are about VA inches long and yellowish. They pupate in silk together forming a mass of joined cocoons. We have a record of a nest parasitised by this moth which contained over 200 cocoons. The first moths have emerged (17 th June) and it is hoped that some of their parasites will be present. In the previous records no parasites of the moth were recorded. This is unfortunate as some curb on this dingy brown moth is needed. Reg & Lil Evans BRADFIELD WOODS 14 th . August, 1994 The joint meeting with the British Plant Gall Society held in Bradfield Woods attracted few members but those who undertook the long journey were determined to see as much as possible and take full advantage of the superb venue. Warden Peter Fordham gave a short history of the woods and the coppicing regime carried out for many centuries. We were chilled by his account of how so many acres had been grubbed out in recent times and then warmed and encouraged by the story of the swift rescue of the remnant. The final list of plant galls has yet to be completed. The total is sure to stand beyond fifty galls. This is a substantial contribution to the data held on the woods. Butterflies added colour to the rides and woodland edge and for many of us it was our first experience of the remarkable abundance this year of the Silver Y moth. Rex Haney A CHINK IN THE BAMBOO CURTAIN Although I flew to Hong Kong last April - I actually ended up in the People's Republic of China a few hours later and saw the city of Hong Kong only from the back of a speeding taxi as it made its way to the ferry terminal from where I travelled to Shekon in the Shenzhen Special Economic Zone, PRC. Since arriving in China I have managed to find my way out of the concrete jungle of high rises to the natural high rises of the surrounding granite mountains (heights up to 1200'). 4 On May 8 th I walked up a stream bed of pink coarse-grained porphorgritic granite boulders - remnants of a Mesozoic intrusion. The stream bed was approximately 6 to 10' wide and fell in a series of zig-zagging small terraces behind which small pools 1 to 2' deep and 3 to 12' long occurred. The pools were being fed by a trickle of water as there had been no rain for two weeks ( when it does rain these small tranquil riffles become torrents washing mud and rocks down the recently de-forested areas onto the roads). The pools at this time held no water plants although the sides of the stream were flanked by rushes, ferns and trailing plants, which in turn soon gave way to shrubs and recently planted Eucalyptus trees. On a couple of occasions during my short excursion I found about a dozen sundew plants with rounded leaves of a deep red colour. The plants were smaller than the average UK round-leaved sundew and although the flower-spike was of a similar size its flowers were of a deep rose-pink instead of white. The overall small stature of the plants may be due to the soil which consisted entirely of coarse granite grit, which also made up much of the stream bed between the boulders and exposed bedrock. Yet these apparently barren pools did hold life - dragonfly larvae. What they fed on I haven't yet discovered - unless it was each other (although some pools did contain tadpoles and large shrimps (up to %") which resembled the common shrimp of the Norfolk coast). There was certainly a range of dragonfly species and numerous beautiful adults were all around. Basically I identified what can be broadly termed. Damsels, Darters, Skimmers and Hawkers - at least types that looked and behaved as such UK varieties I know. Only one damsel was found, but one which was plentiful - it was all black in colour and both single and pairs were seen. Some pairs were in tandem, dipping along the margins of the stream in apparent egg-depositing mode. The "darters" were generally small and highly coloured, red, carmine and deep midnight blue. They were generally small - around the size of the UK Ruddy Darter, but appeared slightly stouter in build. When settled they had a characteristic stance with their wings dropped forwards. The males were holding territory and vigorously seeing off other dragonflies that entered their 'airspace' over the stream, although no signs of active courtship was evident. A two-tone blue 'Skimmer-type' flew past on one occasion but did not stop and was not seen again. A small predominantly black with thin green rings along its abdomen and possibly a thickened end segment - small club- tailed type some 5 to 6 cms long-was encountered in various parts of the stream and was inclined to bask on the rocks rather than perch on the vegetation. Best of all though were the large and magnificent "Hawkers" - Emperor dragonfly size and just as impressive, although instead of blue and green were golden-brown and scarlet with fast aerial acrobatics that would equal the 'Red Arrows'. There were plenty of large colourful butterflies too - spectacular Birdwings, Swallowtails and tiny Blues - but that is another story.... Francis Farrow A NEW FUNGUS A recent addition to our records was found upon a fallen birch branch. The fungus breaks through the surface of the wood as small black spheres and these have a star-like appearance. It has been named as Rosellinia evansii. Reg Evans 'SPINY' FUNGI _ This interesting group of fungi differ from others in that spores are produced on spines instead of gills “ or pores etc. It seems that the 'Ear Pick' fungus Auriscalpium vulgare is one of the commonest, appearing on pine cones which have become buried in the soil. As it is brownish in colour it is not easily seen at first. The cap is laterally attached to the stem and bears spines on its underside which are pinkish to brown in colour. After many years looking for fungi in Norfolk we were pleased to add Creolophus cirrhatus to our list, which was found on the lower side of a fallen sycamore tree. This large specimen had shell Auriscalpium vulgare shaped brackets, pale cream, bearing spines on the lower surface up to 1 Vl cm long. The Hedgehog fungus which grows on the ground is described as common or frequent in most books, yet we only have two records over 18 years. Perhaps we have not been in the right place at the right time! Records of this recognisable fungus would be appreciated. Reg & Lil Evans. Please send items for Natterjack to Colin Dack 12, Shipdham Rd, Toftwood, Dereham Norfolk NR19 1JJ 5 AN EVENING WITH COLIN Several members arrived to record plants in the waste areas and hedgerows around Tesco store Dereham. Knot grass was abundant and heavily infected with a powdery mildew Erisyphe polygonii and a rust Uromyces polygoni-avicularc. Some groundsel stems were swollen and distorted by the rust Puccinia Ingenophorae. This rust is native to Australia and first appeared in this country in 1961. Examination of campion seed capsules revealed several of them contained a larva of the Campion Moth Hadena rivularis. Poppy capsules Papaver rhocas were damaged by the gall wasp Aulax minor cqusing:swelling of the ovules. 1 in 4 were affected. 73 records of flowing plants were made in the small area examined. Reg Evans. The idea of this meeting was to look at a habitat we do not normally look at, being a building site which had just been vacated last winter. I think we should look at more sites of a similar type, as this is more like the real world- reserves are the cream, not the norm. Colin Dack. A DOMESTICATED SPIDER We have lived in this house for some 15 years and share the garden with some rare insects, such as the little moth fly Psychoda crassipenis Tonn., the soldier fly Solva marginata Mg. and the dolichopodid fly Neurigona abdominalis Fall., and the house with a succession of Tegenaria \ house spiders. This year we had an apparently new visitor, the distinctive spider Pholcus \. A / / / phalangoides Fuess., which appeared suddenly in February above the boiler. This adult \J / spider then disappeared after some two weeks, we assumed sucked into the vacuum cleaner, \ reappeared (? the same adult) in the bath in May. Replaced in the boiler room, it again \ surfaced recently in the shower tray, apparently this one solitary mature individual. y/ \ — " The spider is distinctive, very well illustrated on page 92 of the Ray Society Volume 1 on British Spiders by Locket & Millidge, resembling a long- legged harvestman as the specific name suggests. Apparently a southern species in Britain, found in houses and outhouses and possibly spreading north, we have not seen this species of spider in the house before this year. Brian Laurence. A NEW PLANT GALL Some years ago we found Eriophyes gibbosus - a gall on bramble leaves. This was in South England and subsequently we have often looked for this in Norfolk. Recently we found this gall in a damp woodland, where the leaves on some shoots were blistered. On the underside were greyish patches which had many pointed cylindrical hairs just visible with a good hand lens. It would seem that this gall is not common in Norfolk (considering the searches we have made) and is new to the check list. Transactions Vol 29, Part 1 (July 1991). Reg & Lil Evans. A FRUSTRATED MAMMAL - OBSERVER Dear fellow members, I am a keen naturalist, taking pleasure in observing and identifying all manner of flora and fauna; but the highlight of these times tend to be the fleeting glimpse of a passing fox, fleeing deer or squeaking vole. I am writing in the hopes that some of you out there have mammal watching tips and experience that I and hopefully others interested may draw on. I spend hours stealthily creeping about my local woods keeping a sharp eye and ear out for signs, hide or hair of many a mammal but so often I come up with few results. Not that this seems to dampen my enthusiasm. It is undoubtedly the very mysteriousness of our night creatures that captivates my interest. Any interested mammal - lovers please write to this newsletter or myself at 12B Meadow Brook Close, Norwich. NR1 2HJ Suzanne Williams SWAP SHOP This is for members who have old equipment, books etc that they no longer use, and would like to give/sell to others, and for members who looking for such items. For photographic and miscellaneous equipment Please contact: Colin Dack, 12, Shipdham Road, Toftwood, Dereham, Norfolk*NR19 1JJ Tel: 0362 696314 For microscopical equipment please contact: Steven Livermore, 6 Terence Avenue, Sprowston, Norwich. NR7 8EH. 6 The quarterly bulletin of the Norfolk & Norwich Naturalists’ Society NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that a Special General Meeting of the Society will be held at Chantry Hall, Norwich on Wednesday 22 nd February, 1995 at 7.30pm to consider, and if thought fit to adopt, the following resolution: That in accordance with paragraph 6 of the Laws of the Society, the following rates of subscription shall apply to all subscriptions becoming due on or after 1 st April, 1995. Member Class Ordinary Family Junior Affiliation Annual Subscription £10 £10 £3 £15 The purpose of these changes is to harmonise the subscriptions paid by individual and family members as costs to the Society are the same for both categories of membership. Each household having ordinary or family membership of the Society will continue to receive one copy of Transactions, one copy of the Bird & Mammal Report, and four editions of Natterjack each year. All members are entitled to attend lectures and field meetings to which they are cordially invited to bring along friends or relatives with an interest in natural history. R. Haney, Chairman. PROGRAMME NOTES Notes are given below of a few of the forthcoming meetings. For full details, please refer to the programme card. Thursday 19th January John Bingham, formerly leader of the Wheat Breeding Group at Plant Breeding International, Cambridge, will trace the origins of modern wheat. 19.30 hrs Central Hall, Wymondham. Wednesday 22nd February Don Berwick talks about the origins of some of our garden flowers. 19.30 hrs. Chantry Hall, Norwich. Sunday 26th February Field meeting to Morston Quay for birds. Meet at 11.00 hrs, NT car park (TG 007443). Leader David Pauli. Please send items for Natterjack to Colin Dack 12, Shipdham Rd, Toftxoood, Dcrcham Norfolk NR19 1JJ 1 NORFOLK BIRD AND MAMMAL REPORT 1993 Edition Readers of the 1993 Report may have noticed that a number of typographical errors had crept into the text, virtually all of which were the responsibility of the printers. Enclosed with this issue of Natterjack is an amendment slip prepared by the printers. Your attention is drawn particularly to the table concerning the breeding success of Montagu's Harriers in the County which should be amended in as many copies as possible to avoid incorrect statistics being used in future research. Future arrangements In recent years it has become the practice for County Bird Reports to carry an increasing amount of detail annually in the classified list of species which forms the backbone of the report. You will have noticed from the 1993 edition of our County Report that the amount of space allocated to the species list has almost trebled over the last three issues in an attempt to meet criticism that Norfolk was not doing enough to record the more common species. This increase in material collated and published has put a substantial burden on the group of people who prepare this section. At the same time the Norfolk Bird Club has been duplicating some of this effort in the work it does in publishing the species list in its excellent two monthly bulletin. It has been decided that from the 1994 Report onwards the Norfolk Bird Club will take over the responsibility for the preparation of the annual Classified List of species appearing in the Bird Report. As a consequence of this the procedures for submitting records are being amended. In future all reports from observers should be sent to the Norfolk Bird Club at: The Old Bakery, High Street, Docking, KING'S LYNN, Norfolk. PE31 8NH. To spread the workload more evenly throughout the year and also to allow interesting records to appear in the regular Bird Club bulletins, observers are asked to submit their records on a MONTHLY BASIS WITH IMMEDIATE EFFECT, PLEASE. PINK DOLPHINS? As part of the large gas offshore pipeline project from Hainan Island, S.W. China to Black Point, Hong Kong New Territories (over 500 miles) there is a substantial amount of dredging being carried out across important shipping channels, especially in the Pearl River Estuary. Due to the nature of the dredging works on-going environmental monitoring is essential. Such monitoring is mainly to limit the amount of siltation in the water column, but other factors such as potential heavy metal contamination and water quality are also noted. The main area of the works is north of Lantau Island (site of the new Hong Kong Airport) and around Black Point. This area is also "home" to an unusual mammal, the Chinese White Dolphin ( Sousa chinensis). This dolphin is an estuarine species and in the Pearl River Delta mainly confined to this area. All project vessels have been asked to look out for the species and to report its presence when encountered. Over the past month (September) I have been lucky enough to see the Dolphins on a number of occasions. They are relatively small, usually less than 2 metres and are white tinged with pink, especially the dorsal fin. Although usually seen singly I have on one occasion seen 3 together. Most sightings are, however, distant and of a short duration, therefore no chance of a quick snap, as yet... Francis Farrow. THOMPSON COMMON - "EDIBLE FROGS" These frogs have been present at Thompson for a long time but have recently become much rarer and I am concerned about their status. Whilst usually referred to as "Edible Frogs", they are in fact Pool Frogs and an unusal member of our fauna. Readers might be able to help in one of two ways. Firstly please send me details of your last observation of these frogs. Secondly, let me know of any specimens held in captivity so that a breeding colony might be formed in case the worst comes to the worst for the wild population. John Buckley 77, Janson Road, Shirley, Southhampton. S015 5GL Tel: 0703 782966 2 HEGGATT HALL 12 th JUNE 1994 (part two) Diatoms in Doctor's Cut. In a Norfolk which is undergoing continual change it is nice to find something which has remained the same. Our host, Richard Gurney, lead us across his estate to a little bridge over the Doctor's Cut. On the surface of the water I was delighted to see lumps of brown scum. To others these brown lumps, about six inches across, floating on the water, might have looked a little repulsive but I had already seen them twenty five years before and I knew that, under the microscope they would reveal a world of indescribable beauty. My notebook for 1 June 1969 says " A chocolate-brown scum was flowing out of the Doctor's Cut under the bridge, towards the Bure. It could be seen everywhere on the Cut and in places covered perhaps 30% of the surface. On examination it proved to contain only diatoms. Basically it was a network of filaments of Melosira varians and Fragilaria sp. Attached to these were Amphora ovalis var pediculus and Synedra radians. A number of small Naviculoid diatoms were present among the filaments as was Achnanthes lanceolata ■ Two of the Melosira filaments had auxospores- A feature of the material was the presence of pine pollen." The material which I collected on our visit on 12 June 1994, 25 years later, was substantially the same. Because we were a fortnight later in the year, there was no pine pollen. It is delightful to find that the assemblage of diatoms has remained the same over a quarter of a century. Only, sadly, the names of many of the diatoms on the species list have been altered in the burst of taxonomic activity which has accompanied the development during the last 25 years of the Scanning Electron Microscope. The Horstead Chalk Quarries In "The Geology of the Country around Norwich" (1881). Horace Woodward (an honorary member of the Society) said " In the parish of Horstead, where the chalk rises from a few feet to 25 feet above the level of the river Bure, pits which have been opened by the riverside have been extended into the hills, in one locality for more than half a mile. As the chalk was worked away, so a channel was made to allow the water to flow up to the portion of the pit worked, for the convenience of the wherries. These old workings are all deserted now and as the slopes have been planted with fir and larch, they present a very picturesque appearance, and the one mentioned by Lyell is generally known as Little Switzerland." Lyell in his Elements of Geology said, "I visited in 1825 an extensive range of quarries then open on the river Bure near Horstead, about six miles from Norwich, which afforded a continuous section, a quarter of a mile in length of white chalk, exposed to a depth of 26 feet and covered by a thick bed of gravel." A view of the Chalk Pit at Horstead, made by Mrs Gunn onl.Sep. 1838 was published in Lyell's book. (Her husband was a founder member of the Society). In 1878 the pit was closed. Keith Clarke. SUMMER CHAFFER I live in the centre of Norwich - a stones throw from the river - and at 9-30 pm on 9th July standing at an upstairs window I noticed a swarm of insects circling round a Balsalm Poplar tree. The lowest part of the swarm was about 20ft. from the ground and I estimate there were 20-30 insects about the tree at any one time. Through binoculars it looked as if they were beetles not moths and I resolved to catch one. I lashed a butterfly net to two lengths of dowelling, but realised that standing on the ground I was still too low. However, by mounting a step ladder - steadied as usual by my wife - I managed to sweep the net through the region occupied by some of the insects. By luck, and I maintain, an element of judgement, I managed to catch one, but not before I had attracted the attention of one or two Norwich revellers. Fortunately they chose not to join in the chase as their steps were not too steady. The insect proved to be a Summer Chaffer, Amphimallon solstitialis, which like its near relative the Cockchaffer is well known for its congregations on summer evenings. The notable Norfolk naturalist William Arderon F.R.S. (1703-1767) recorded in his diary how destructive the latter insect was in Norfolk and Suffolk in his time; on one occasion a farmer collected 80 bushels of the larvae. Arderon also noted that the grubs "are often discovered by hogs who, I am informed, are greedy of them at first but having filled their bellies full, never care for them after." 3 The swarm I noted was very small by comparison with 18th century Norfolk, but in the centre of the city with Great Crested Grebes fishing the river, and a pair of swans hatching out 4 cygnets nearby, one can still call Norwich a green city. Malcom Thain EXPLORING THE ARCHIVES The regular series of reports highlighting some aspects of the first 125 years of our Society published on Saturdays in The Eastern Daily Press has made its contributors pore through back numbers of The Transactions to find suitable stories. Had the opportunity not been given us to write the series I doubt if we would have perused those pages with quite the same persistence. Consequently we would have been denied the pleasure of travelling back in time to sit in at meeting held a century or more ago and receive reports on such a wide ranging basis. The "Norfolk and Norwich" of our title denoted merely the home base of the membership. Their interest was country, indeed world wide. Lengthy articles describe the flora and fauna of remote parts of these islands, bringing the benefits of an individuals travels to the membership as a whole. Perhaps the modem equivalent would be a descriptive television film or a slide show during our winter indoor programme. Emphasis now is essentially on the area included in our title. In fact, the much enlarged Transactions which include the Bird and Mammal Report are hard put to it to include all the excellent material offered. Not that we can afford to ignore what is happening in other parts of the globe or this country. Recent news items demonstrate quite clearly that the recent influx of exciting bird life is a desperate search for food on its part. The installation of the air monitoring station on our North Norfolk coast has given convincing proof that an invisible barrier to external influences does not surround our mapped boundary. In parallel with the wide ranging view, much detailed work on our local flora and fauna was going on last century. One example is the remarkable achievement of F. Kitton in producing his list of diatoms. His work was so thorough it has stood the test of over a hundred years. Now we must look again says our present day expert, Keith Clarke, and provide an up-to-date check list to pass on to the next century. The importance of field work is being clearly understood by members. The recent meeting where we had the opportunity to learn about mosses and lichens was very well attended and our referees Robin Stevenson and Peter Lambley were kept very busy answering our qusetions. That is how it should be and points us towards a healthy future. Rex Haney TRIPLE TREAT The last page of the previous issue of Natterjack coincidentally featured three of my favourite topics. Congratulations to the editor are surely in order! Brian Laurence contributed a note on the Pholcus phalangioidcs spider that had been seen in his house for the first time. This species is clearly becoming quite widespread in Norfolk. I now have records from the southern boundary to a considerable stretch of the north coast. Brian mentions the Tegcnarias in the house. These long-legged "monsters" are much larger and weightier than the fragile looking Pholcus. Don't be misled. Garth Coupland and I have both photographed grey wispy looking Pholcus neatly wrapping Tegcnarias for future consumption. One member has described them as the most effective insecticide ever! Reg and Lil Evans continue to find new galls for our Norfolk list but poor Suzanne Williams has discovered the main problem of the would-be mammal watcher - most mammals are far too secretive to give themselves away. Looking under anything that could provide cover is always worthwhile. Straw bales used to be so productive. That was before the days when the countryside was covered with unwieldy giant round bales. Pieces of old corrugated iron left in field comers sometimes hide a vole or two. Some give vocal clues. Argumentative shrews and chattering family parties of stoats are not always found but their presence can be noted. One rule is certain. You see more when you are not actually looking. See Eddie Boosey's article, Serendipidous sightings in the Mammal Report for 1991 Rex Haney 4 ARACHNOLOGICAL OBSERVATIONS part one The Policeman's torch dazzled me as he demanded to know what I was doing lurking behind the ladies toilets at Acle Bridge. "Looking at Larinioides sclopetarius" I answered. The Policeman then recognised me . I am a colleague of his and soon he and the reporter of "the pervert" were engrossed in watching a huge female spider feeding on a cranefly. Larinioides sclopetarius (Clerk, 1757) is quite unmistakable being unvarying in pattern in both sexes, although pale and dark individuals are occasionally encountered. Every book I have read states that this magnificent orb-weaver is uncommon and only occurs on buildings near water, I have found it to be incredibly numerous around the Broads area but always on buildings, bridges and boats of every size and description. The furthest from water that I have found it is fifty yards, under the light illuminating the Maltsters pub sign at Ranworth. I wondered for several years where this spider spun its web before man arrived. Whilst canoeing on Rockland Broad I found the answer. Dead tree-trunks and branches that projected from the water itself were festooned with its webs. I have never found it on vegetation or bank-side trees. Why? This is one of the billions of unanswered questions asked by students of the Natural World. It seems to me that as we answer one question the answer creates another. Thank goodness for that. I should hate to know everything? Garth Coupland ARACHNOLOGICAL OBSERVATIONS part two It circled its victim with a confidence and skill that was reminiscent of a malevolent bare-knuckle pugilist whose aim was to utterly destroy his opponent with no injury to himself. Those slow, deliberate, circling steps were mesmerising to observe. The quick retreats to avoid injury from the flailing limbs of its prey did not prevent the final outcome. I was watching an adult, female "Spitting Spider" Scytodes thoracica, immobilising a house fly almost as large as itself. She had approached it then, with a slight jerk of her cepholothorax spat a charge of venomous gum from a distance of half an inch which glued one of the fly's legs instantly to the floor. This was when the circling began. The fly was subjected to three more like attacks over a period of about five minutes which eventually subdued it. During this time the spider's front legs waved menacingly before it, I believe testing the intensity of its victims will to live. When the fly's struggles were no longer a danger to the spider's delicate legs she walked up to it and delivered the coup de grace; one fatal stabbing bite with her hypodermic fangs. This method of capturing prey is unique to the Scytodidae, a family of spiders with this one representative in Britain. However, I did observe it many times chasing and biting to death Silverfish heavier than itself sometimes almost cutting the insects in half. Its slow, creeping locomotion suddenly changed to the dash and pounce of a leopard which its colouration reminds one of. Scytodes is a beautiful spider. A ground colour of opaque yellow, ivory overlain with jet black spots and lines, impossible to mistake for any other species. Although captured Scytodes fed in daylight, it would appear to only venture abroad at night. To my knowledge in the four months I kept her she never drank. I kept her in a two and half inch diameter clear plastic pot with a small triangle of folded card as a retreat. She laid two batches of pink eggs one month apart. The first batch of eggs was left attached to the retreat, the second she held as she hung upside-down in the retreat on her "chest". I found several more adults in my house during the summer of 1993 and in early 1994 started to find tiny young in the bath! Clearly we were proud guardians of a breeding colony. We continue to find Scytodes to this day. I am led to believe that this is the only colony apart from one in the Castle Museum recorded in the County. How they got there I have no idea. The species has a distinctly southern distribution. Perhaps, like that other southern spider Pholcus phalangioidcs, this species is on the move northwards assisted by man and his central heating systems? Garth Coupland 5 THE DADDY-LONG LEGS SPIDER Referring to the note regarding the above spider Pholcus phalangioides in the last issue of Natterjack. This spider is probably more frequent in Norfolk than is generally thought. As I write this I am looking at one which has been residing under the picture rail in my living room since last week, I certainly find them at odd times about the house. If disturbed they have a habit of vibrating their bodies on their long legs similar to species of short- palped crane flies, and in so doing tend to become invisible. I have found them in many places in the county always inside buildings. I first found them fairly common in the water-mill on the North Elmham to Billingford road just after the last war. A few years ago I kept one female for nearly three years in a caterpillar breeding cage, she was fed fortnightly with a gnat or small moth and would also take a drink from a piece of wet blotting-paper which I inserted in her cage. PS Since writing the above I gave a talk at Hoveton Village Hall on the 14th November and noted seven Pholcus phalangioides in the foyer, two in the gents, and three in the hall, there must be quite a colony existing there. Being more noticeable in the evening when they are mobile in search of a meal, their webs are extremely fine almost impossible to see. Ken Durrant AN ABUNDANCE OF LARGE APHIDS During mid August my friend David Fagg informed me that there were a large number of wasps crawling over the ground in his garden. I inquired if he had disturbed a wasps nest whilst gardening, he replied that they were all under a willow tree. Suspecting that aphids and honeydew was the attraction I visited him at Strumpshaw the following day. At the top of his garden under a willow covering an area of four square feet there were literally scores of wasps on the ground and also on the lower leaves of the tree. Looking under the tree I could see most of the branches with their undersides covered with thick dark masses of thousands of very large Apterous vivparous female aphids, honeydew was continually dripping from them. Individually they are a very pretty insect being nearly 5mm. in length, the abdomen is covered in a pile of thick grey hairs resembling felt with a rows of black spots and a large black conical tubercle in the lower centre. There is also a large cone shaped cornicle on either side which produces the honeydew. I took some samples for identification staining my fingers a burgundy red colour with the body fluids of the squashed examples, and managed to key them down to the family Lachnidae. As there are no modern published keys to take them further to the specie I rang up Tony Irwin at the Museum. With his help and two old publications of 1881 and 1929 I finally tracked them down as the Large Willow Aphid Tuberolchnus salignus. During its history it has been known under many different synonymous names. According to the old literature the appearance of the specie is spasmodic, abundant one year then not seen for a decade or so. The wasps were of three species, the Common wasp Vespula vulgaris, German wasp V. germanicus and the Hornet Vespa crabro all busy taking up the manna from above. Ken Durrant 6 $ 1U ■ A The quarterly bulletin of the Norfolk & Norwich Naturalists’ Society VALUE FOR MONEY I have just been looking at the statement of accounts for the year ending April 1930 presented to the Society at the Annual General Meeting held in that month. 383 ordinary members subscribed just £169 and a few pence between them! That works out to the nearest whole shilling at an average 9s.each. For the younger members that translates to about 45p.. Whenever I see figures of the cost of any item in the past, before throwing up my hands in astonishment and wishing we were back in the good old days, I always try to relate the sum quoted to a working man's wage at that time. The year ending April 1930 was a significant year for me. I was born during the previous September. At the time my father could count on less than £1.50 a week, if the weather held that is and he was allowed to continue his employment. Almost a third of a weekly wage to pay the annual subscription? Needless to say he was not a member. Perhaps in a different place in different circumstances and without my infant mouth to fill he may have saved his shillings and subscribed. After all, many of the items deemed important, indeed essential for well-being cost a high proportion of income. Reading through the list of members it is clear that many of them came from the world of business and the professions where shillings may have been somewhat easier to find and in which membership of such a high prestige society was desirable in itself. It is also clear that many others must have carefully assessed their options and scrutinised their personal accounts before commitment. Take a third of a current week's income and you see why. What did they receive in return? The President, in the preamble to his address, talks of two summer excursions and monthly meetings in the winter, though not every month appears in the account. A copy of the highly prized Transactions was of course an important benefit. The Bird and Mammal Reports were still way off in the distant future. No Newsletter was mentioned. When you compare that with our current programme with its mass of indoor and outdoor meetings, group meetings, workshops and publications, it does look rather thin yet there is something coming through those far back-pages we would do well to emulate. There was a conscious pride in membership of the Society. After our last Council meeting I felt quite exhausted, a feeling shared, I am sure, by all members present. The business of the Society has grown in volume and complexity to such an extent we have agreed we need to schedule more meetings to cover it all satisfactorily, especially our plans for active data collecting well into the future. Tiring yes, but also a matter of immense pride that the Society is still growing in the really important aspects of its being. How is this all done on such a modest present-day subscription base? Better ask the Treasurer. Over the years we have been more than fortunate to have the voluntary services of talented treasurers who have kept us alive and healthy. One last note from 1929/30. A familiar name stands out from that membership list - E.T.Daniels - who joined in 1928. How often that name or those initials crop up in reports, accounts, articles in later years. What a record of service over half the life of the Society itself Congratulations and thanks are surely due to Ernest for all his contributions and just as surely we are proud to still list his name as a member and friend. Rex Haney Chairman. 1 DUNNOCKS EATING PINE SEEDS As part of our modest Christmas decorations, Mary had collected a number of pine cones (presumably Pinus nigra) at Holkham Meols and displayed them around the base of the Christmas tree. The peace and quiet of the festive season was frequently interrupted by the cracking of opening cones as the warmth of the room had its effect. As the Twelfth Night arrived we cleared the decorations and were amazed by the number of seeds that could be shaken from the cones. Enough to fill a small basin was collected and for want of something better to do with them, the seeds were put on the bird table where more traditional bird seeds were regularly provided. I was subsequently fascinated to watch one of our resident Dunnocks apparently feeding on this new supply of food. It picked up the winged seeds working the seed bearing end into its bill and appeared to remove the seed before discarding the wing over the edge of the table. This procedure was watched on several occasions on different days and I feel sure that the bird did manage to extract the seed. Although our resident Dunnocks regularly feed on or near the bird table, picking up small seeds or scraps falling from the nut-baskets, I was intrigued to see how quickly they adapted to a new "foreign" food source. Don Dorling. PHEASANTS AND THE FOX On a recent Sunday morning I was walking a local footpath and, having counted the party of Moorhens in the Park near the lake (there were over 50 present), I cautiously peered around a corner hedgerow into the next field to see what was feeding on the discarded sugar beet tops. The expected party of about 40 pheasants was there, including a fine almost blue cock. But what was that large rich brown creature in their midst ? Carefully lifting the binoculars to the eyes I was treated to fine views of a large fox. I watched the fox for several minutes feeding on a large piece of sugar beet with the pheasants continuing to feed quite unconcernedly nearby. Eventually the fox had satisfied his needs and began to move off towards the majority of the pheasants who did not flee to the hedge, as they usually do when I appear in sight, but merely moved smartly away from the fox and then continued to feed to the side his direct path. At least in the open and in daylight, the pheasants did not treat the fox as a serious danger. Don Dorling. SOME LESS COMMON FUNGI FOUND DURING 1994 By Alec Bull When visiting places where we know Reg and Lil Evans can't get to during the autumn, collections of fungi are made, those we know are named and where necessary, some are taken to Reg for confirmation, as well as all those we can't identify. Not infrequently, some of the uncommon species are found at home where we seem to a pocket of unusual habitat! Thus in 1993 Reg pointed out a number of scarce species worthy of mention in Natterjack which I failed to send in last year, including Volvariella murinella growing on our sheep paddock, whilst the nearby 'Carr Meadow Bank' provided us with a number of scarce species including Fayodia gracilipes and Clavulinopsis tenuipes which at that time were both new to Reg's lists. This year's 'locals' included Lepiota serena in the orchard with an asterisk beside when the list was returned. On September 30 th we collected from two sites in the Stanford Training Area with a list of over 40 species from Hopton Point including such rarities as Phaeolus schwdnitzii which causes heart rot of pine trees and Polyporus floccipes, here frequent on dead and dying Broom stems. From there we moved to Buckenham Tofts Park, collecting well over 80 species including abundant Lepiota aspera, rare when we first found it in STANTA two or three years ago, but this was the third site for it there, and I even found it in East Tuddenham this year. Amanita solitaria was also found under beech trees plus a number of rarities including Inocybe godeyi, also found at Hopton Point, Calocybe ionides, a beautiful blue capped species with pale yellow gills, and Chamaemyces fracidus, a second record for us in 1994, as it also turned up in the orchard. Many years ago at 'fungus time' we visited Winterton Dunes and found large numbers of a moderately large warm biscuit coloured fungus with a strong and distinctive smell. This was before Reg and Lil came back to Norfolk, and despite a number of visits to the area over the years, we had never seen it again. This year, on October the 8 th it was everywhere again. Subjected to microscopic examination it proved to be a Lactarius, though no milk could be found when the cap was broken, so Reg sent a specimen to Kew who identified it as Lactarius helvus. Rare in Norfolk, but usually exuding milk when broken Like a number of supposedly rare fungi, it seems rare because it does not appear every year. Another example from Carr 9 Meadow Bank, Hygrocybe unguinosa, a slimy grey capped species was abundant in 1982 and 1993, but not a single specimen appeared in any of the years between, neither did we find it this year. My best fungus foray during 1994 was on September 27 th when I did a solo effort to East Wood, Denton, having obtained a permit for plant recording and having got a 'hunch' about the possibilities for fungi. The wood is Hornbeam on slightly acid clay and with deep leaf litter in places. In just 2H hours I collected 100 species including 4 second and 3 first records for Reg's lists. One of the 2 nd records was actually growing by the track to the wood, namely Volvariella taylori. The remaining three 2 nd records were Armillaria tabescens, the 'Honey Fungus' without a ring, Lactarius circellatus one of the milk caps always associated with Hornbeam, and the stately and beautiful TVlagpie Cap' Coprinus picaceus. This inkcap stands nearly eighteen inches tall on a slender stem, the black, shining inkcap part having white patches at intervals over its surface. The 1st records were Leccinium carpini a Bolete also strictly associated with Hornbeam and two particularly beautiful members of the genus Cortinarius, C. caesiocyaneus and C. rufoolivacea with a ragged orange red zone on the stem, the remnant of the universal veil. This trip was quite a revelation, with 6 species of Lactarius , 10 of the dainty Mycenas, five species of Inocybe and 12 of variously coloured Russulas. I shall certainly make notes of possible good sites for fungi in future years, as it is not only interesting from my point of view, it also adds records to the county data bank. Alec Bull, Hillcrest, East Tuddenham, Dereham. NR20 3JJ FUNGUS GNATS AND SCUTTLEFLIES For some years a study has been made of flies emerging from decomposing fungi, especially Fungus Gnats (Mycetophilidae) and Scuttleflies ( Phoridae ). These observations have added to the knowledge of the life history of some of these flies, 50 species of fungus gnats and 18 species of Scuttleflies having been reared. An interesting by-product has been the emergence of parasites that were occasionally obtained from these hosts - often they have been seldom studied and determination of species difficult to obtain. A Russula maculata toadstool collected on Narborough Railway Nature Reserve and allowed to decompose produced an emergence of Scuttleflies. These are so called from their distinctive walk - best described as 'scuttling'. Following this a few days later some Hymenopterous parasites were seen. They had fed on the larvae of some of the flies - Megeselia lutea (phoridae). They were determined by Dr Capek (Czech Republic) as Aspilota compressiventris. Stelfox and Graham. Reg Evans. Guizotia abxjssinica - a wild bird seed alien Among the plants grown from wild bird seed this year were the expected flax, canary grass, sunflower and various crucifers. A more interesting plant was potted separately. This annual had a robust stem growing up to 4 feet tall and produced many small flower heads about an inch in diameter. Obviously belonging to the compositae family, they resembled com marigold flowers. The plant is cultivated in East Africa for the oil in its seeds and food. It does not always produce seed in this country as it does not withstand frost. Some members might find it interesting to have a patch in in the garden for wild bird seeds. Reg & Lil Evans. COUNTRYSIDE EXHIBITION Corpusty Village Hall Sunday 2 nd April 1995 10.30 am. to 5.00 pm. Please send items for Natterjack to Colin Dack 12, Shipdliam Rd, Toftwood, Dcrcham Norfolk NR19 1JJ 3 GRASSHOPPERS AND BUSH-CRICKETS OF NORFOLK Most members will be familiar with my interest in this group. I have now updated the provisional distribution maps published in the 1991 edition of Transactions to include all records received to the end of 1994. These are now available in the form of a 16-page A5 booklet which is available free to anyone interested in this group and willing to contribute future records. The booklet comprises 13 maps and 13 line drawings, and includes an introductory text suitable for beginners. Guide-lines on future recording effort are included, identifying under-recorded species and under-mapped parts of the county. To receive your copy, please send a 9" x 6" stamped addressed envelope to: D. I. Richmond, County Orthoptera Recorder, 42 Richmond Rise, Reepham, Norfolk. NR104LS ADDITIONAL GALLS TO THE CHECK LIST Reg & Lil Evans Diptera Cccidomyiidae Anisostephus betulinum - Didymomyia reaumuriana- Dasineura acrophila - Dasineura marginemtorquens - Massalongia rubra - Circular blistors on both surfaces of Birch leaves. On common lime leaves pustules on both surfaces. Ash leaf margins folded upwards to pea-pod shape. Willow leaf edges folded. Birch leaf : swollen midrib on lower surface. Acarina * Aceria drabae - * Aceria ononides - Cecidophyopsis atricus - Vasates fraxini - On Thale Cress : felted and rolled leaves. On Rest Harrow : felted and rolled leaves. Stitchwort : leaves rolled upwards and thickened. Ash leaf : felt patches on underside. Aphididac Aspidaphis adjuvans - Knotgrass : leaves margins rolled and distorted. Additional rusts to the gall check list. Kuehneola uredinis. Melampsora hypericorum. Melampsora orchidi-repentis. Phragmidium bulbosum. Puccinia adoxae. Puccinia angelica. Puccinia cnici. Puccinia deschampsiae. Puccinia diocae. Puccinia glomerata. Puccinia graminis. Puccinia heiracii. Puccinia magnusiana. Puccinia obscura. Puccinia phragmitis. Puccinia saxifragac. Puccinia violae. Puccinia vincae. Transchelia anemones. Uromyces anthyllidis. Uromyces betae. Uromyces dianthi. Uromyces muscari. Uromyces Valerianae. Uromyces viciae-fabae. * Endophyllum sempervivi. ^Collected by Gillian and Ken Beckett. SPIDERS I have observed three specimens of Scytodes thoracica in Norwich (although I have never been fortunate enough to witness one ensnaring its prey). I discovered the first adult female on a living room floor in October 1991 while living on Newmarket Street. The second and third individuals were found in my next house which was situated on the other side of the city, at 4 Chalkhill Road. I did not take either of these as specimens. The first at Chalkhill Road was outside the house, in the sheltered front doorway on a sunny day in May 1992. It appeared to be another female. The last specimen was found in a room at the back of the house a few days later. The spider, another female, was closely guarding her egg sac. The sac was held together by an exceedingly spartan covering of silk and was positioned close to her "chest". I remained at Chalkhill Road for the rest of the summer but saw no more specimens. Nor have I seen any in Norwich since moving again. It could perhaps be hypothesised that I carried the species from my first house to the second. However as only a small amount of luggage and no furniture was transferred there was not much room for stowaways. I also doubt that any conveyed eggs or spiderlings could have matured in the four cold months between the move and next sightings. Having found two sites in Norwich I expect that more await discovery. A shy creature, rather wary of publicity, perhaps the present attention will generate a better knowledge of this fascinating spider’s Norfolk distribution. Matthew Shardlow During 1994 we heard much and read many reports in the press concerning the much lower than usual numbers of butterflies seen throughout the summer months. The main explanations appear to be focussed on the very poor weather conditions experienced during egg laying and larval stages. Certainly from my own observations, I recorded very low numbers of caterpillars during the year. Not so much has been mentioned with regard to moths, but it seems to me that their numbers were well down also. I know that locally there were certain exceptions to this and there were quite large numbers of certain species seen such as the Silver Y moth, but generally, for me a very poor year indeed. I do not indulge in light trapping for moths but I appreciate that those who do may well tell a different tale, I can only reflect on my own observations. In my garden I have a number of Leylandii Cypress trees and for around five years now I have found both caterpillars and moths of the species Blair's Shoulder Knot, known to inhabit conifers of this genus, but this year I saw no caterpillars and only the odd moth of the species. The Vapourer moth that is to be found in my garden usually in fair numbers every year, both as moths and caterpillars, were also in very short supply this year. I keep outside lights on all night in the garden and keep records of moths attracted to them. The numbers and varieties encountered are usually very interesting though not so encouraging this year. When on my nature rambles I always look for and keep records of caterpillars and moths, but again, poor numbers for the year. Even the Cinnabar caterpillars which I always see in fair numbers seemed much fewer this year. In most years I have hawk moth caterpillars brought to me for identification, but once again no more than half a dozen during 1994. If the spring weather conditions were responsible for lower numbers then let us hope that the spring of 1995 is more favourable for both us and the Lepidoptera. Tony Brown. EXTRA FIELD MEETINGS Sunday 9 th April and Sunday 4 th June 1995 THORPENESS near ALDEBUROUGH Meet 1030hrs TM473596 on the green opposite the MEARE, on the sea-ward side of the Aldedurough road. To look at coastal plants going in April and June to see the change in that time. Leader: Colin Dack. If you have transport problems geting to field meetings contact me. I will then see what I can do. Colin Dack 5 ARE YOU MISSING THE 'SALT ALIENS'? Atriplex prostrata Often upright beside roads On this page are five common 'salt aliens', beautifully drawn for us by Theresa Plant. All are to be found alongside roads which have been salted during the winter. This means the A47, A140, A143 and several more. We are aware that these are horribly dangerous areas to plant record, but some at least can be spotted from the car. For instance, Cochlearia danica appears in spring as a pale mauve to whitish band about a yard wide along the whole length of the Newmarket bypass on both sides, and is found in many places in Norfolk, and Puccinellia distans forms a foot wide pale grey mistiness just beyond the edge of the tarmac which can also be spotted from the car once you get your eye in. Tip- Once your passenger gets his/her eye in! Records please to Alec Bull, Hillcrest, East Tuddenham, Dereham. NR20 3JJ Puccinellia distans Greyish green, six inches. Not the deflexed panicle branches. Atriplex littoralis Parallel sided narrow leaves all up stem. Height up to 2 feet. Spergularia marina Petals pink. Cochlearia danica Flowers pale lilac. 6 S 29 S 0 Number 49 . THE NATURAL I HISTORY MUSEUM I NORFOLK NATTERJACK The quarterly bulletin of the Norfolk & Norwich Naturalists’ Society CHAIRMAN'S NOTES The prospect of tomorrow is generally far more enticing for me than what happened yesterday but for the past year I have been looking backwards far more than is usual. The occasion has been the need to delve into the Transactions of the Society to find material to fill the regular 125th. Anniversary slot provided by the Eastern Daily Press in its Saturday editions. A year ago the prospect of finding enough items seemed rather daunting. With the help of good friends the feature was filled with ease. Not only that, we now realise there are so many good stories to tell, far more in fact than the number of Saturdays in the year would allow. There is delight in looking at past achievements and the strange tales told by our predecessors. There is also the danger of becoming preoccupied with the past and the complacency that goes with it. There is some feeling of relief that we can now concentrate on the future and get on with the business of auditing the wildlife of the county. Project Wildlife 2000. By the time these notes are read, there will have been a special meeting of Council to work out an effective plan of campaign. Time has a habit of running away with us and we cannot afford duplication of effort. As for looking to the future, we were given a wonderful example at out last indoor meeting of the Spring when Geoff Watts illustrated his talk on the planting of his very own wood. How many members have I heard say they would love to own their very own wood? That is the not so secret dream of many of us. I know of only one person who has made that dream come true. The expenditure of time and effort has been enormous and not everyone would be prepared to make that commitment, but what a wonderfully positive undertaking. Rex Haney. Members of the Norfolk and Norwich Naturalists' Society who are interested in mosses, are invited to attend the lectures and field excursion which form part of the British Bryological Society AGM proceeding. The AGM is being held at UEA this year, from 8 th - 10 th September. Please contact the local Secretary, (Richard Fisk, 1, Paradise Row, Ringsfield, Beccles, Suffolk. NR34 8LQ. Tel. 01502 714968) if interested in attending, so that he can make appropriate arrangements for coffee, seating, etc. 1 NATURAL HISTORY OF WELLS - NEXT - THE - SEA A delightful little book has just been published, mainly designed for the visitor to the above town who is interested in the natural history of this part of the north Norfolk coast. With a copy in hand it would enhance any walk along the pinewoods, marsh or tideline. Starting at the carpark, it describes much of the flora and fauna found in these areas. Ten species of shells are illustrated as are a few of the specialist plants. Moderately priced at £1.99 it can be obtained post free to members from the author Paul Banham 17 High St. Wells - next - the - Sea, Norfolk. NR23 1EW. If you are visiting the town it can be obtained from Never Ending Stories, Stave St. Ken Durrant. ROOT GALL ON GARDEN EVERGREEN Last year Ben Campbell of Great Hockham sent me a large gall he had found on the root of a Leyland Cypress. He told me the tree was one of a row started off as cuttings some thirty years previously by his father. The gall was ovoid in shape and measured 10cm. by 9 cm.. I believed the gall to have been caused by bacteria. At the last indoor meeting of the season, Janet Smith presented me with another specimen she had just dug from her garden. This gall matched the other in size though much rounder in outline. It looked rather like a discoloured, slightly distorted cricket ball. In both cases the galled root was less than half a centimetre in diameter. I have sawn one in half to reveal the cross-section. The point of origin is clearly seen and the stages of growth are marked by curving rings. The texture is woody and I intend to polish one section to bring out the pattern and leave the other as cut. There are probably many examples not found or ignored. I would be pleased to hear of others. So far I have found no references in the literature. Rex Haney Extract from "White's" 1845 NORFOLK GREAT YARMOUTH - Rare Plants "Rare Plants, - among which may be enumerated, Arundo arenaria peploides, or sea chick-weed, growing upon the beach, near the turf of the common; the Bunias cakile, or sea-rocket, rendered distinctly visible by its enlivening flowers of purple-hue, shooting above the shingle; the Concoluolus soldenella, or sea-bird weed; the Eryjigium maritimum eryngo, or sea-holly, scattered indiscriminately over the beach; and the Ononis repens , or creeping restharrow, with many others frequently sought after and admired." It would be interesting to see if the above plants mentioned in the extract can still be found by Members of the Society in 1995. Mary Dorling. 2 BUTTERFLY ABERRATIONS The Small Copper Lycaena phlaeas shown in the photograph was found on Beeston Regis Common, August 1994. It represents a scaleless example which may be due to some adverse developmental condition e.g temperature, or disease or an hereditary factor. Such aberrations in lepidoptera are worth keeping a look out for and with this winter/spring weather changing its mind almost daily the prospect of such individuals occuring may be that much higher this year. Francis Farrow. HOST AND PARASITES Recently I received a record for the fungus Cortinarius violaceous which is a rarity and confirmation by specimen would be required. The fungus duly arrived but proved to be the Wood Blewit Lepista nuda. This was kept for any fungus gnats etc which might emerge, and eventually two species arrived Tarnania fenestralis and Synplasta excogitata. A few days after, some parasitic winged Hymenoptera emerged which belong to Plectiscinae. The following day a batch of another Hymenopterous parasite emerged, similar in size to the previous, but clearly differing in characters. We have two fungus gnats and two parasites. The question is what is the relationship between them? Reg Evans. A FOLLOW UP ON PHOLCUS. On Sunday 2 nd April a number of members assisted in the Countryside exhibition in the village hall Corpusty by staging various Natural History displays. During the afternoon when talking to our colleagues Dr. Dick Hamond, who had just arrived, I noticed something move from off his hair and onto his shoulder. When captured it turned out to be a juvenile Pholcus phalangioides. We were debating whether it had travelled all the way from Morston on his hair as Rex said that he had records all along the coast as far as Hunstanton so it seemed a possibility. 3 However Rex investigated the storeroom in the hall and discovered another juvenile in the corner of the ceiling. We then visited the gents and lo and behold Rex spotted an adult female in one corner whilst I found a fine male plus a moulted skeleton in the other. It may be worth looking in your village halls for further records of this Daddy Long-legs Spider. Ken Durrant. A FLAT BACKED MILLIPEDE AND HER EGGS This millipede is very common under damp wood or bark where she makes a nest covering the off-white eggs with a raised dome which appears to consist of chewed wood. The construction is firm and the parts are glued together concealing the eggs. The millipede is often found curled around the nest as if protecting. In one instance the nest was found broken open revealing some 30 eggs. A carnivorous beetle Larva (not seen before) was blamed and removed. The next day the nest had been repaired the eggs no longer visible and the millipede had returned in attendance again! Reg Evans. ARACHNOLOGICAL OBSERVATIONS During September 1994 I received a phone call from a lady who had attended a talk I gave on spiders. She described a spider that her son had found in large numbers beneath the floorboards of an old chapel he was renovating in Mundham near Loddon. I was unable to ascertain the species from what transpired to be an excellent description so requested a specimen. One was provided and I could hardly contain my excitement on seeing it. An enormous female Meta bourneti was there before me, her magnificence insulted by the jam jar in which she rolled about. Like all orb weaving spiders she was like a "fish out of water" once removed from her spinnings. I am led to believe that this is the first time this species has been recorded in the County. There are probably about twelve localities in the whole country where it is known. Meta bourneti is one of Britains largest spiders with a distinctly sinister appearance. It has dark maroon legs and a glossy, leathery, orange - brown abdomen overlain with patterns in dark blue- grey. It lives in caves, cellars and wells. In this case it survived in the 18 inch space between damp clay and floorboards in the disused Victorian chapel. The only spider it could possibly be confused with is its slightly smaller, close relative Meta menardi which shares similar habitats and is also rarely encountered. The chapel, having been completely renovated was no longer a suitable habitat. With the new owners keen assistance four remaining females and a quantity of eggs sacs were removed to a deep, damp cellar in Acle. The egg sacs are enormous. They resemble loose cotton wool balls one and a half inches in diameter with a multitude of lethargic spiderlings clustered in a dark, seething ball in its centre. I wondered what use an orb web could be in a deep underground habitat and kept one spider in a tank with strategically placed sticks in order to observe its web spinning. This failed, it merely strung a few strands around then hung upside down from the gauze cover. She ate drone flies Eristalis tenax placed in the tank but appeared to ignore woodlice. 4 When set free in the new cellar all the spiders stayed in the area released but moved up to the ceiling where they spin orb webs close together where the ceiling met the wall. The webs hung at an angle of forty-five degrees from the ceiling to the wall and there the spiders would hang upside down week after week in the darkness. What an existence? At the time of writing May 1995 the future of the new colony looks bleak. One very healthy looking female remains. It appears that all of the spiderlings lie dead in the sac. The only hope is in stored, fertilized eggs inside the female. However I doubt if she was mature when captured. Meta bourneti shared its' chapel with the spider Pholcus phalangioides although it is not known if Pholcus lived actually under the floorboards. This spider is a lethal predator on the large house spider Tegenaria duellica and it also occurs in large numbers in the new cellar. Unfortunately this could spell disaster for our displaced refugees. I believe that a general lack of interest in spiders and the fact that Meta bourneti favours depth and darkness underground combine to make this a rare spider. It is probable that this spider is more common than records show. We would all do well to take a deep interest in holes in the ground! Whether full of workmen, water, old bones or whatever, we never know what Arachnolgical secrets they may hold. Garth Coupland. DARWINIAN TRAITS? On Sunday 23rd April 1995 while walking around Beeston Regis Common a jay was noted amongst some alders, not particularly unusual in itself as jays are frequent visitors to the Common. Jays are magnificent birds with their pink and black plumage and vivid blue wing patches. Such striking birds deserve something more than a secondary glance so it was we trained the binoculars onto it as it sat on a broken and somewhat rotted branch. It held in its beak a short twig and we wondered if was it collecting for nest building? The twig was about 1 Vi times as long as its beak, not particularly robust for a jay's nest, however, its next move revealed all. The jay turned into one of "Darwin's finches" as it started to probe the rotten branch with the twig! The action did not last many seconds, either the twig broke or it was dropped and the bird returned to the more usual behaviour of using its powerful bill to attack the branch. No mention of such behaviour occurs in the appropriate BWP volume for jay or Siberian jay. Francis Farrow and Alec Humphreys. EXTRA FUNGUS FORAY Saturday 2nd September 10.30 am. organised by Norwich Fringe Project Horsford TG 184176 St. Faiths Common car park. The car park is on the right when approaching from Horsford. No Charge. Please send items for Natterjack to Colin Dack 12, Shipdham Rd, Toftzvood, Dereham Norfolk NR19 1JJ 5 PROGRAMME NOTES The following are additional details for some of the items in the 1995/96 programme. Please refer to the new programme card for the full list of dates, times and grid references. Sunday 18 th June Barney Wood. Park on the sugar beet pad in the farmyard at Wood Farm. Wednesday 21st June Ringstead and Snettisham Beach. There is a charge at Snettisham Beach car park. Sunday 9th July Natural Surroundings. Peter Loosely would appreciate lists of anything seen on the guided walk or afterwards. Sunday 23 rd July Brancaster. Peter Lambley will try to provide enough clipboards for the transects, but if you can bring your own it will help. Saturday Sth September Fossicking for moths. This will be held at Mike and Shirley Hall's home, Hopefield, Norwich Road, Scole, the entrance to which is on the east side of the A140 near the junction with the A1066 to Diss. Please use the car park at Scole Carvery a few yards further towards towards Ipswich. Numbers are limited to 20. To book your place, phone Janet Smith, 01603 33919. The location of the new venue for talks and Photographic Group meetings is St. John's Parish Hall, Mariners Lane (off Ber Street), Norwich (see map). Look out for Sabers Garage on the corner of Ber Street and Mariners Lane. The hall is close to the Inner Link Road, the Ring Road and the Southern Bypass, not to mention the temporary Lending Library. We shall also have the use of the Norwich City Council car park next to the hall. 6 I . 2 1 6 The quarterly bulletin of the Norfolk & Norwich Naturalists’ Society SENNOWE PARK 14 th May 1995 Considering the weather prior to this field meeting we were very lucky that it changed in time to give us a very enjoyable day. Thirty members assembled and we were met by Mr. Cook's head keeper Simon Featherstone who took us around the estate. The tour involved circling both lakes, one before lunch and the other after. The first lake contained a number of sandy islands seen to advantage from the old railway embankment, here the birders enjoyed the many waterfowl present. Canada, Egyptian and Greylag Geese, Shelduck, Mallard, Tufted, Gadwell, and Pochard Ducks, Cormorant, Coot, Moorhen, Heron, Lapwing, Oystercatcher, Common Sandpiper and Kingfisher. On the second lake we were given a fine example of aggressive display by a cob Mute Swan who was guarding his mate on a nest when two other swans swam close by. He chased them away swimming with long energetic strokes with his legs, his head back and almost hidden in his puffed out plumage making himself look twice his size. Satisfied, he then flew back on whistling wings again to his post. Many other Geese and Duck also had young on this lake. Ten species of butterfly were seen. Small and Green-veined White, Brimstone, Speckled Wood, Wall Brown, Small Tortoishell, Comma, Green Hairstreak and Brown Argus. Moths however were few and far between. Treble Bar, Cinnabar and the dark green micro with the long antennae Adda reaumurella were the only examples seen. Caterpillars of the Yellow-tail moth were often found on the hawthorns. Six species of Ladybirds, Cream spot, 14 spot, 22 spot, 10 spot and the very common 7 spot a number of which were covering the cocoons of their parasitic Braconid wasp Perilitus coccinellae. Beautiful red Cardinal beetles were very noticeable on the wayside herbage, whilst a bracket fungus Pseudo tramates gibbosa on a Beech stump produced examples of the common fungi beetle Cis boleti. Of interest amongst the flies were the furry Primrose Sprites Bombylius major hovering over flowers on the railway embankment, the black and white hoverfly Leucozona lucorum and the coppery Fcrdinandea cuprca who were visiting the hawthorn blossoms. The Large hunter spiders Pisaura mirabilis were common, sunning themselves on the river and lakeside vegetation, often in close proximity to large red and black froghoppers Cercopis vulncrata. Another spider the long bodied Tetragnatha extcnsa was also found laying prone on the leaves of the rushes near the water. Its much darker relative T. montana could be found in the shady areas of the woodland walks. Nearly one hundred plants were recorded during the day and we were rewarded by the magnificent sight of some 1 Ladybird camouflaging the cocoon of its parasitic Braconid wasp. twenty square yards of Pink Purslane Montia sibirica in a glade just as we returned to our cars. A full list of the flora and fauna has been sent to Mr. Cook with our thanks. Ken Durrant. NOTES FROM GT. YARMOUTH Gt. Yarmouth being as it is, one of the most easterly points of the British Isles, is greatly advantaged by its geographical position in attracting visitations of migrant birds. In many cases the Yarmouth foreshore is the first land to be encountered by many birds on their migration routes from foreign shores, acting as a resting place before continuing their wondrous journeys. Of course many birds reach Yarmouth and travel no further. Breydon water is a very important estuary in this respect and annually, attracts both nationally and internationally important numbers of both wildfowl and wading birds. This estuary is therefore an excellent venue for ornithologists and is recorded on an almost daily basis. The Gt. Yarmouth cemetery and St. Nicholas' church graveyard also provide an ideal resting place for birds and are likewise extremely popular with the bird watching fraternity. There are a number of other equally interesting places both in and around Yarmouth suitable for watching birds and indeed all other aspects of nature. On the evening of 5th July last year, the Gt. Yarmouth Naturalists' Society organised an evening walk near Fritton to the South of Yarmouth. At dusk, four hobbies were observed in a field all hawking for the many summer chafers that were on the wing, quite a spectacle for the members. Those birds were seen in the same spot for two or three days after. At the beginning of the year, almost forty thousand lapwings could be seen daily on and around Breydon and what a wonderful sight they presented when they rose up in large numbers and took to the wing. On the 11 th May, fourteen black terns were also seen on Breydon collecting insects while on the wing. The Little tem colony on the Yarmouth north beach under the protection of the RSPB has of course been well recorded in the local press. One or two rare birds have recently been seen in the cemetery, such as the Red flanked bluetail in October and more recently the Hume’s Yellow browed warbler. We have many sites of particular importance to those whose interests lie in the various fields of entomology. On 14f/i June one of our members gave me a couple of cocoons asking if I could identify them. They had been found with several more in the sandy walls of a gravel pit in Burgh Castle. Unfortunately, I could not identify them at first. A couple were sent to Ken Durrant also with no identification. I suggested that I keep them to see what developed. I kept them at home in suitable conditions and on the 19f/i June they both emerged. They were bee killer wasps Philanthrus traingulum both males. This was my first encounter with the cocoons of this species, I had of course come across the wasps before. They have a fascinating life history. On 7th August I found a single Brown Argus butterfly among Common Blues on the Lound waterworks reserve and hunt as I may, I could find no more. On 14 th August, one of our members John Burton rang me to say that he had found one on Belton Common. He returned the following day and discovered that there were good numbers forming two distinct small colonies. This was duly reported to the Castle Museum and has been recorded as a new site for the species. Toward the end of August we had an inundation of Silver Y moths and on the Lound reserve on 21sf August, there were hundreds of thousands to be seen as one walked through the long vegetation putting them to flight. This seemed to me to be somewhat surprising when compared with the very low numbers of moths recorded during the year. With regard to the department of mycology, it seems to me that many species of fungi were seen on much earlier dates this year than usual, certainly my own records would indicate this to be the case. In the areas where I usually hunt for fungi, it appears to have been an excellent season for many species. I certainly recorded one or two species that I have not encountered before in my area. The Gt. Yarmouth Naturalists Society now produce an Annual Report, and I am fortunate enough to be the editor. During the course of the year, we urge our members to jot down their observations into a notebook kept handy at our meetings for this purpose. Some of the members are very enthusiastic in recording but sadly many are not. All of the records from this notebook are incorporated into the systematic observations section of our Annual Report in order that as complete a list as possible is forthcoming from Gt. Yarmouth. Of course it is essential that records are kept in order to provide as complete a picture of our wildlife as possible, but many seem reluctant to do so, however, we must endeavour to encourage them as much as possible. Tony Brown. The Editor of the Transactions has passed this item to the editor of Natterjack as there was not room in Transactions. 2 FIELD MEETING TO BARNEY WOOD 18 th JUNE 1995 15 members attended this first visit by the Society to Barney Wood. Barney Wood is a National Nature Reserve leased by English Nature from the Astley Estate and forms part of Swanton Novers NNR. It is a rather unusual wood in a Norfolk context with a stream flowing through it from east to west. The woodland is a mix of oak - ash woodland with alder and bird cherry in the wetter areas. In the eastern part there is some rather drier ground with oak pasture woodland. Notable flowering plants found included Aconitum napellus - probably an escape from a garden, large populations of Opposite-leaved Golden Saxifrage, Chrysosplenium oppositi folium, Climbing Corydalis, Corydalis claviculata, Giant Horsetail, Equisetum telmateia, Yellow Archangel, Lamiastrum galeobdolon, Soft Shield Fern, Polystichum setiferum and Small-leaved Lime, Tilia cordata. A visit a few weeks later by Alec Bull and myself yielded 18 species of bramble, the highest recorded for West Norfolk, this included at least one new county record and several vice-county records. Lists of fungi and galls were made by Reg and Lil Evans. The lichens were also of interest with the apple-green Parmelia caperata growing on oak and rowan indicating the comparitively clean air. Records of invertebrates were made by Paul Cobb and others. A specially pleasing aspect of the meeting was the adventurous spirit and the considerable knowledge shown by many of the members. It gave a strong feeling of an active group contributing to a better understanding of the fauna and flora of the county. I for one will make sure that the site manager for these woods does not spray and clear the brambles! Copies of all the records made have been added to the English Nature files for Swanton Novers NNR. Finally if any one wishes to visit the wood or others in the complex of ancient wood for serious study and recording please contact me at 60 Bracondale, Norwich. Peter Lambley. BIRD AND MAMMAL REPORT 1994 It is with regret that the Editors report that the 1994 edition of the annual Bird and Mammal Report will be published somewhat later then usual. Changes in reporting and recording procedures, together with the introduction of a new Printer, have resulted in delays in its preparation. CHANGE OF ADDRESS BUT NOT TELEPHONE NUMBER. Mr. M. Poulton (Research Committee Chairman) Address is 32 St. Leonards' Close,Wymondham. NR18 OJF Telephone: 01953 603700 The information in the Programme is wrong. WATER STICK INSECTS It is difficult to find larger fungi during the dry spell and only one toadstool (the Blusher) Amanita rubescens was recorded. Many of the smaller fungi live in damp conditions such as on the debris at the edge of pools. Whilst searching for these a dead piece of reed was found bearing small white hairs which on closer examination were in pairs each above and attached to a single egg. These proved to be the eggs of Ranatra linearis the water Stick Insect which has a rounded body unlike its relative the water scorpion. It also seems to be much rarer. Reg Evans Please send items for Natterjack to Colin Dack 12, Shipdham Rd, Toftivood, Dereham Norfolk NR19 1JJ FOR SALE Canon Fin with 50MM fl.8 lens (like new) takes Canon FD lens. Hoya 28mm f2.8. Tubes , medium size holdall all leather, lens reversing ring. If interested please contact Miss D. Maxey. Tel:01362 820704. This is an expensive camera, intended to withstand rugged use. A camera you can leave in your will. If you wish to know anything about this camera contact Colin Dack, ( Tel: 01362 6963 14 ) who uses Canon FI's, and drinks they are the best camera ever made. 3 SOLOMON'S SEAL SAWFLIES (Phymatocera aterrima) There are two patches of Solomon's Seal in my garden and recently it seemed, from a distance that one group occupying a square metre had completely died out. An inspection proved that only skeletonised leaves remained and the larvae responsible had gone into pupation. These were the Solomon's Seal Sawfly larvae - pale bluish grey with black heads and about 20mm long. They overwinter in the soil. A few have been retained to see if they have parasites to provide a check to their activity. Reg Evans. WOAD If any mamber would like to grow this interesting plant. Seeds are available (S.A.E. please). Reg Evane, "Chanterelle", Church Road, Welbome, E. Dereham, Norfolk. NR20 3LH ADULT EDUCATION I recently attended an Adult education week-end at How Hill, and as anticipated had a thoroughly enjoyable time with 22 complete strangers having a common interest. The diversity of wild life there is great. We were invited to do log turning to see what was underneath and pond dipping. It is a long time since I did anything like that. The highlight of the week-end was very unfortunately missed by me. We split into 2 groups for accompanied nature walks round the reserve and the "other half were very lucky to see an otter in Chrome Broad, only a short time after "our half" had left the hide there. I went there several times during the remainder of the stay but was unlucky. David Holmes, the How Hill director was delighted to at last have confirmation that otters are on the reserve, but he was sorry that he missed seeing it himself. In his 12 years in charge he has never seen one. It was a thoroughly relaxing week-end, away from all the hassle of modem day life, and I can very much recommend it. John Butcher. ANOTHER BUTTERFLY ABERRATION. In the last newsletter (No. 49) I mentioned that it might be worth looking out for butterflies of a different hue. On May 30 th a fresh but very pale "bluish white" Common Blue was spotted on Beeston Common. As it was particularly lively, only settling for a few seconds at a time, I was not able to see its underside clearly to determine if there was any further variation. The strange thing was that it occurred in almost the same place as the scaleless Small Copper was found the previous year. Francis Farrow. A TALE OF A STING. While cutting the privet hedge with the electric hedge trimmer on 1 st July, I became aware that my hand was being pricked. It was then I realised that the air was full of yellow and black striped insects buzzing loudly. A quick glance at where I had cut the hedge showed that I had narrowly missed slicing the side off a wasp's nest. I beat a hasty retreat and counted three small bumps on the back of my hand. Later that day I returned to watch the wasps repair and build their nest. It was positioned about three feet above the ground, west facing behind a large bush and about 7 inches in diameter. In shape it looks somewhat like a swede with the entrance to one side at the bottom of the tapered end. The following day I caught one of the returning wasps and checked it out. I came to the conclusion it was Dolichovespula media. A call to Ken Durrant confirmed the species on position and shape of the nest. According to Tony Irwin's paper in the Transactions (Vol. 29 part 3, p241) it appears they arrived about five years ago and have steadily spread. In that account a nest was taken from Cley to Kelling Heath, which is only a short buzz away with a favourable wind. Francis Farrow. 4 A COLONY OF RED EYED DAMSELFLIES This year at the Lound Waterworks reserve, there has been a colony of red eyed damseflies, Erythromma najas, in fair numbers too. The yellow water lily, Nuphar lutea, grows most abundantly here and suits their habits well. The females have been fairly easy to find at rest in the bank-side vegetation but the males are found along the banks only occasionally. They tend to spend much of their time at rest on the floating leaves of Nuphar moving from one leaf to another or flying around over the water. I have observed hundreds at a time on the lily leaves. I have seen pairs in tandem occasionally so they are breeding, which looks good for the future. I have seen them in previous years here but only spasmodically and not in the numbers of this year. At first glance the males could be confused with the males of Ischnura elegans but it's merely a case of getting one's eye in and then they can be spotted quite easily even when some distance away. They are more robust then I. elegans in fact more so than most of the other damsels and they do not allow as close an approach as that species. In my experience, when approached, they tend to either fly out over the water or if there are trees around they will sometimes fly up into the branches well above head height and if any movement is made toward them, they will quickly dart away. It is my hope that this colony will thrive here and remain for many years. The signs are good because the water here is very carefully monitored against pollution of any kind due to the fact that it eventually ends up as drinking water. Tony Brown. RANATRA LINEARIS On 6 th April 1993 I found four specimens of this rare water bug in a Horsey dyke and duly reported them to Bob Driscoll for recording. (Incidently, they were wrongly recorded in Vol 30 of the Transactions as being found on 6. 4 . 83.) Whenever I have been sampling various waters, dykes, ponds etc, I have always looked out for them with little success, that is until recently. On 8. 4. 95. 1 sampled a dyke at Haddiscoe TM 458986 and netted a single specimen of R. linearis. It took a further hour or so before I netted a second and in the next thirty minutes I netted four more making six in all. On 16. 4. 95. 1 returned to the area and netted four more specimens, three of which I took home with me on 20. 4. 95. I displayed them in an aquarium with many other freshwater creatures at a meeting of the Gt. Yarmouth Naturalists' Society in order that the members could see them. They were returned unharmed to the area the following day. On 28. 4. 95. 1 netted six more. I realise of course that after the first specimens were found, subsequent findings of the species may have been for a second or even third time but notwithstanding this fact, there does appear to be a thriving colony of this species in this location. Tony Brown. This information was first in Natterjack May 1995 No 49 the map was larger. The location of the new venue for talks and Photographic Group meetings is St. John’s Parish Hall, Mariners Lane (off Ber Street), Norwich (see map). Look out for Sabers Garage on the comer of Ber Street and Mariners Lane. The hall is close to the Inner Link Road, the Ring Road and the Southern Bypass, not to mention the temporary Lending Library. We shall also have the use of the Norwich City Council car park next to the hall. 5 A JOURNEY THROUGH THE WESTERN ISLES The Western Isles lie off the north-western coast of Scotland, and stretch for 130 miles from Barra Head to the Butt of Lewis. The main islands are South Uist, Benbecula and North Uist, linked by causeways opened in the 1960’s; and the single island of Harris and Lewis, split into its constituent parts by a high range of hills. South Uist can be reached by ferry from Oban in 6-8 hours; while Lewis can be reached from Ullapool in about 3 hours. A two hour ferry crossing between North Uist and Harris completes the link through the full length of the islands, and also provides access from Skye. It was through this last link that we first made our acquaintance with the Outer Isles, taking a day trip to Harris while camping in Skye in 1985. In 1990 we worked the islands from south to north, starting in Oban and ending in Ullapool, while in August 1994 we reversed the trip to work from north to south, camping first of all at Shawbost on the west coast of Lewis, then at Liniclate on Benbecula. The west coast of Lewis offers glorious white shell sand beaches and a wealth of ancient monuments, including the Callanish Stone Circle (second in importance to Stonehenge) and an iron age broch at Dun Carloway (second in importance only to the great broch of Mousa on Shetland). The croplands and machairs abound with wild flowers: red clover, hayrattle, lady’s bedstraw, eyebright, harebell, red bartsia, meadow rue and burdock. On our first walk at Shawbost we saw all five species of bumblebees which occur in the Hebrides: B. di sting uend us, long since lost from Norfolk; B.muscorum smithianus, an impressive insect with orange/red thorax and yellow abdomen; B.jonellus, the hebridean form with buff-tipped abdomen; B.magnus and B.hortorum - the only one of the five to occur in Norfolk. Com Buntings jangled their song from the machairs while Red-throated Divers wailed from the lochans whenever rain threatened. Peregrine and Short-eared Owl hunted the dunes by the Benbecula campsite, where evening walks along the beach would find Snipe, Dunlin and Sanderling. The song of Curlew bubbled from the water