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THI-:

ESSEX NATURALIST

BEING THE

3ournal of tbc jBbqc^ 3fid^ dlub,

EDITED BY

WILLIAM COLE, F.L.S., F.E.S.
Honorary Secretary.

(VOLUME XI.)
JANUARY, 1 89V— DECEMBER, 19 00.

"■Men that undertake only one district are much more likely to advance
natural knowledge than those that grasp at more than they can pussihly be
acquainted with. Every kingdom, every province, should liave its oivn
Monographer.''' — Gilbert White, of Selborne.

''Diffused knoii'ledge immortalizes itself." — Sir James Mactintosh.

[The authors alone are responsible for tlic statements and opinions contained in their

respective papers.']

PUBLISHED BY THE CLUB, BUCKHURST HILL, ESSEX.

1900.

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wS>^c^-4Vft), f^ :r, 6

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Natmr, the vicar of the ahiiii^^htie Lord."

Chaucer.

Nature alone is antique, and the oldest art a mushroom.''

Carlyle.

'^'Tis elder Scripture, writ by God's ouni hand.
Scripture authentic ! uncorrupt by man."

Young.

^' Nature gives healthy children much : ho7i' much !
Wise education is a n'ise unfolding if this ;
Often it unfolds itself better of its invu accord."

Goethe.

" What more felicitie can fall to creature

Than to enjoy delight with libertie.

And to be lord of all the icorks of Nature.

To raine in th' aire from earth to highest skie.

To feed on flowers and weeds of glorious feature."

Edmund Spencer.

" Sucli. said Adoam, are the sentiments of this sagacious people, who
have acquired i.'isdom only by the study (f Nature."

Telkmachus.

INDEX TO VOLUME XI.

Acidalia vnsticata at Shoeburyness, 144
Additions to Epping Forest, further,

268
Alkaloid, remarkable, from a Mexican

cactus, 25
Angling in River Lea, half-a-century

ago, 143.
Anharloniinn kwinii, Mexican cactus,

exhibited, 25
Annual Meeting, 19th, 29 ; do., 20th,

296.
Annual Report, 1898, 18; do. 1899,

305
" Aquatic Autocrats and Fairies,"

Lecture by Knock, 304.
Arachnida of Epping Forest, 294 and

315
Athene noctua at Harlow, 142
Avebury, Lord, congratulatory letter

to, 259
Avery, John, Christopher Saxton,

draughtsman of the first map of

Essex, 240

Barking Side, Loom-weight from,

presented, 25
Bed, Great, of Ware, 138
Bigods, Village Science School, 161
Bigods, near Dunmow, Vanessa

antiopa at, 298
Billericay, White Fox at, 141
Billows, Councillor T H , on

Essex Museum, 322
Birch Trees, Death of, in Epping

Forest, 197 and 273.
Bird Life in Epping and New Forests

in spring, 53
Bird, New Fossil, from the London

Clay, 148
Bird's Nest Fungus (Cyathus) at High

Beach, 293
Birds, Wild, Protection of, in Essex,

10 and 25
Blackburn, Rev. E. Percy, colouring

of some Essex shells, 271
Black-currant {Ribes nigrum) in Epping

Forest, 335
Black-currant gall-mite {Phytoptus) ^

334

Black-headed Gulls in Essex (1899)
184 ; Report of Gullery in Hamford
Waters, 312

Blemiius gattorugine in Essex, 143

Botany, History of Essex, 57 ; 169 ;
and 229

Botany, Practical instruction in, m
London Parks, 147

Boulder Clay, Chalky, in Epping
Forest, 55

BoULGER, G. S., History of Essex,
Botany, 57 ; 169 and 229

Bow Bridge, old drawing of, and
remarks on, 303

Bradwell, Nutcracker at, 333

Bramley, E. a. H., Notes on the
Lea River, 131

Braintree, Neolithic Settlement at
Skitt's Hill, 27 ; 94

Braintree, Notes on Geology of, 121

Braithwaite, J. O., Gnoyimus tiobtlis
in Epping Forest, 54.

Brentwood, Symphytum officinale, var.
patens, at, 201

Brise, a. W. Ruggles. Note,
" Mobbed by Woodpigeons," 333

Britannia Fruit Preserving Farm,
visit to, 265

British Association, Corresponding
Societies, Report of Delegates
(1899), 68: (1900) 310; Photo-
graphs of Geological Interest,
exhibition of, 25

Brown, Frank, Bird Life in Epping
and New Forests in spring, 53

Brown, Mr., Presents Exchequer
Note relating to payment of
Keepers in Epping Forest, 27

Buckhurst, Hill, Palmated Newt at,
142

Buxton, K. N., Yardley Hill; the
latest addition to Epping Forest,
78 ; Entertains the Club at
Knighton, 128; Vote of thanks to,
128: Chairman of Meeting in
support of Epping Forest Museum,
300 ; Observations on the Museum,
302.

IV.

Calymnia pyralina at Southend. 144

Canvey Island, sketch of Geology
of, 262

Carnivora of Epping Forest, Notes
on, 198

Catchfly, Spotted, in Epping Forest,
271

Chalk-derived Waters, Saline Con-
stituents of in Essex, 201

Chalky Boulder-clay in Epping
Forest, 55

Chancery Wood, near Witham,
plants observed at, 265

Charlton, Kent, Geology of, 192

Chelmsford, unique specimen of Well-
worm [Phreoyyctes] from, i

Christmas Day. 1900, Plants in
flower, 335

Christy, Miller, White-tailed Eagle
and Salmon at Harwich in 1666,
76 ; Essex as a Wine-producing
county, 34

Clacton, Pleistocene Non-marine
Mollusca from, 225

Clark, Percy, Black-headed Gulls
in Essex iSgg, 1S4 ; Gullery in
Hamford Waters, 312

Coast Erosion, Observation of, 69

Cole, B. G., Sea-gulls on the
Thames, 142 ; Duration of life
of Helix potnatia, 146

Cole, H. A., Original Illustrations,
79 ; Plate IV., p. 154 ; Plate V., 184

Cole, W., Protection of Birds in
Essex, 10; Queen Elizabeth's
Lodge and Epping Forest Museum,
31 ; Yardley Hill the latest addition
to tapping Forest, 78 ; Notice of
Report on after-effects of High-
tide of Nov. 29th, 1897. 83 : Otters
in Essex, 141 ; Palmated Newt at
Buckhurst Hill, 142 ; Glow-worm

. and frog, 144 ; Notes on Well-
shrimp In East Anglia 145 ;
Epping Forest Museum, 151 ;
Bigods Village Science School,
151 ; Observations on Club's Study
of Fungi, 168 ; Supposed occur-
rence of Bottle-nosed Dolphin off
Maplin Sands, 200 ; Exhibits Essex
Crustacea, 258 ; Exhibits Vivipara
dactonensis, 261 : Further additions
to Epping Forest, 268 ; Silting-
up of Channels off the Essex
Coast, 271 ; Explains present
position and plans of Epping
Forest Museum, 301; Destruction
of John Ray's house, 331.
Conger Eel at Walton, 200

Copford, Pleistocene Shells from, 227
Coriander [Coriandum sativum) at

Fowlness, 194
Corporation of London, Thanks to,

in connection with Epping Forest

Museum, 302
Corresponding Societies' Committee,

Report of Delegate 1899, 68; do.,

1900, 310
Crabs, oysters attached to 54 ; 200
Crab-trees, blossoming in Epping

Forest in 1900, 335
Crag, Walton, Non-marine Mollusca

of, 216
Cristatella, Statoblasts of, from

Epping Forest, 295
Crouch, Walter, Obituary Notice

of Sir W. H, Flower, 243 ; Exhibits

portrait of Sir W, H. Flower, 257 ;

Varieties of Helix nemoralis, 257 ;

Exhibits drawing of Old Bow

Bridge, 303
Croydon Natural History Society,

joint meeting with, 260
Crustacea, Stalk-eyed, of British.

Coasts, and references to Essex

forms, 252
Cuckoo's changed tune, 270
Cucullia astcris at Southend, 144
CymatopJwra ocularib in Epping Forest,

25
Cyiisus Idbuynum-adami, graft-hybrid,
from Epping, exhibited, 139

Davis, Mark, Notes by an old
angler on Fishes of the Lea, 133

Deer in Epping Forest, censns of, 52
Delphi tins tursio (Bottle - nosed
Dolphin), off the Maplin Sands, 200
" Dewlands," destruction of by fire

D1X.0X, Dk , Exhibits Anhaiioninm —

a cactus containing remarkable

alkaloid, 25
Dredging and Trawling excursion,

July 20th and 21st, 1900, 291
Duration of life of Helix pomatia, 146
Dymond, T. S., and F. Hughes,

After-effects of High -Tide of

November 29th, 1897, 83

Eagle, White-tailed, at Harwich, in

1666, 76
Education in Rural Schools, 236
F2DWARDS. Mr. Passmore, elected
Honorary Member of the Club,
297 ; Speech of, at opening of the
Essex Museum of Natural History,
322

tNDEX.

Elliott, F. W. Additions to
"Trees and Shrubs of Epping
Forest," 55; Epipactus lati folia,
201 ; Black-currant in Epping
Forest, 335

Enock, Fred. Lectures on " Life-
history of Tiger-beetle, 30; do. on
"Aquatic Autocrats and Fairies,"

304

Eocene Flora and Fauna of Walton-
Naze, 284

hpipactus laiifolia in Epping Forest,
147 and 201.

Epping. Tufa-forming stream near,
56

Epping Forest, Protection of Birds
in, 25 ; Cymatopliora ontlaris in,
25 ; Exchequer note relating to
payment of Keepers, 27 ; Fond-life
in, 28 ; Census of deer in, 52 ;
Spring bird-life in, 53 ; Gnorimns
nobilis in, 54 ; Slab-shaped nest of
Vespa germanica in, 54 ; Chalky
Boulder-clay in, 55 ; Fasciation in
the Holly in, 55 : Mistletoe on
Hornbeam in, 55 ; Removal of
Fairmead Lodge, 56 ; Yardley Hill,
the latest addition to, 56 ; Rhamnus
fyangula in, 147 ; Epipactus latifolia
in 147 and 201 ; Carnivora of, 198 ;
Species of Mosses found in, 258 ;
Microscopical Fungi observed in,
260; Two more E.F. Rubi, 267;
Further additions to, 268 ; Death
of Birch Trees in, 273 ; Arachnida
of, 294, 315 ; Report on species of
F'ungi observed Oct. 6th. igoo, 313 ;
Black-currant in, 335 ; Blossoming
of Crab-trees in 1900, 335

Epping Forest Museum and Queen
Elizabeth's Lodge, 31, 151 ; Notes
on the original construction and
use of Queen Elizabeth's Lodge,
153 ; Meeting in support of the
re-organisation and equipment of
December 8th, igoo, 300 ; Printed
statement of plans accepted and
passed, 301; Thanks to Corporation
of London for restoration, &c., oi
Lodge, 302; Mr. E. N. Buxton on
same, 302

Essex, as a Wine-producing country,
34 ; Essex Botany, History of, 57,
169 and 229 ; Local extinction and
diffusion of Mollusca in, 86 ;
Occurrence of a new British
species of Woodlouse in, 127 ;
Otters in, 141 ; Blennivs gattoriigine
in, 143 ; Notes on Essex plants,

146, 201 ; Stalk-eyed Crustacea,
notes on, 252 ; Silene angliai var.
quinquevulnera in, 271 ; Colouring of
some Essex shells, 271 ; Paludestrina
jenkensi \T\, 288 ; Rare Sphingidsein,

334

Essex Coast, silting up of channels
off the, 271

Essex Field Club, Ordinary Meeting,
January 28th, 1S99, 24; Do. Febru-
ary 25th, i89g, 26; Annual Report
and Treasurer's Statement, i8gS,
18 ; 19th Annual Meeting and
Ordinary Meeting, March 25th,

1899, 29 ; Garden Party and
Ordinary Meeting at " Knighton,"
April 22nd, i8gg, 128 ; Woodland
Ramble and Visit to Yardley Hill,
June loth, 1899, 129 ; Third
Voyage on Lea from Hertford to
Waltham Abbey and Ordinary
Meeting, June 15th, i8g9, 130 ;
Excursion to Charlton, Kent, 192 ;
Visit to Fowlness and Ordinary
Meeting, July 22nd, iSgg, ig3 ;
Cryptogamic Meeting and Ordin-
ary Meeting, October 27th and
28th, 1899, 195 ; Meeting at Museum
of Practical Geology and Ordinary
Meeting, .197; Visit to Royal
College of Surgeons, January 27th,

1900, 256; Ordinary Meeting,
February 14th, 1900, 257 ; Field
Demonstration, Special and Ordin-
ary Meeting, March 31st, igoo,
258; Joint Meeting with Croydon
Natural History Society and Ordin-
ary Meeting, May 19th, 1900, 260 ;
Visit to Canvey Island and Ordin-
ary Meeting, 261 ; Visit to Witham
and Tiptree Heath districts, 264 ;
Dredging and Trawling Excursion,
July 20th and 21st, igoo, 291 ;
Cryptogamic Meeting and Ordin-
ary Meeting, October 6th, igoo,
293 ; Opening of the Essex Museum
of Natural History, October i8th,
IQOO, 319 ; Ordinary Meeting,
October 27th, 1900, 295 ; 20th
Annual Meeting and Ordinary
Meeting, November 24th, igoo,
296 ; Annual Report and Treas-
urer's Statement, 1899, 305 ; Meet-
ing in support of the Epping
Forest Museum, December 8th,
1900, 300; Ordinary Meeting,
December 15th, igoo, 303

Essex Field Club attaining its
majority, 295

VI.

INDEX.

Euphoybia t'sula at Witham, 265.
Extinction and diffusion of Mollusca
in Essex, 86

Fairmead Lodge, Removal of, 56

Fallow Deer, Dark race in Greenwich
Park, 193

Fasciation in the Holly, 55

Fire at Municipal Technical Insti-
tute West Ham, 197

Fire-making appliances. Demonstra-
tion of, 49

Fishes of the Lea, Notes on, 133 ;
Half a century ago, 143

Flower, Major, Conducts voyage on
Lea, 131

Flower, Sir W. H., Obituary notice
of, 243; Portrait exhibited, 257

Flowers at Christmas, igoo, 335

Formalin for preserving Hydrozoa,

-5
Forest Officers, Warrant for payment

of in 1728, 48
Fossils, new, from London Clay, 149
Foster, Sir 'I'Michael, " Hopeful-
ness of Science," 208
Fowlness, Stone-Curlew at, 53
Fox, catching Woodcock, 52 ; White,
near Billericay, 141 : versus ferret,
199
French, }., Local extinction and

diffusion of Mollusca in Essex. 86
Friend, Rev. Hilderic, British
Well-worms, with special reference
to a unique specimen from Essex, i
Frog swallowing a glow-worm, 144
Fungi," Notes on Microscopical, 148;
Club's study of, 168 ; Microscopical,
observed in Forest, 260 ; Two new
to Essex, 261 ; Report on Epping
Forest, 313
Fungus Foray, 1899, 166 : 1900, 293

Gall-mite, Black-currant, 334

Gattorigine in Essex, 143

Geological Photographs, Exhibition
of, 25

Geologv, of 'the Braintree district,
121;" of llford, 149; of Uphall
Estate. llford, 157; of Charlton,
Kent, 193 ; of Canvey Island, 262 ;
Eocene, of Walton-Naze, 284 ;
Thames Valley, Contributions
towards Pleistocene Geology of, 336

Gepp, Rev. E., Notes on Essex
plants, 201

Glow-worm and frog, 144

Giwrimus }iobilis in Epping Forest, 54

Gould, I. Chalkley, Forest Ex-
chequer Note. 27, 48 ; Otters in
Essex, 199 ; Waltham Bells. 208 ;
O' Brian, the Irish Giant at
Loughton. 257

Grays Thurrock, Teeth and palaeo-
lithic flakes from, exhibited 295 ;
Palaeolithic Implements, from 296 ;
Contributions to the Pleistocene
Geology of, 336.

Gregarine {Cocci diuiii) from Rabbit,
exhibited, 24

Gullery in Hamford waters, report
on, 312

Gulls, Black-headed, on Thames,
142; in Essex m 1899. 184

Hainhault, Forest, Epipactus in, 147

Hamford Waters, Report on Gullery
in, 312

Harlow, Little Owl at, 142

Harmer, Dr. Sidney, Well-Shrimp
(Nipliargus) in East Anglia, 145

Harting, I E., on Epping Forest
Museum, 302

Head-quarters of Club, Change of,
260

Helix iioiioyalis, varieties of, 257

Helix pomutia, duration of life in, 146

Herbarium, on a small Essex. 224 ;
Mr. Shenstone's. 223

High-tide of November 29th, 1897,
the after-effects of, 83

HiNTON. Martin, A. C, on the
Pleistocene deposits of llford and
"VVanstead district, 161 ; Exhibits
Palaeolithic implements from Grays
Thurrock and Wanstead, 296

HiNTON, M. A. C, and A. S.
Kennard, Pleistocene Geology of
Thames Valley Pt. I. ; the Grays
Thurrock area, 296 and 336

History of Essex Botany, Pt I. ; 57,
169 and 229

Hollow Pond, Epping Forest, En-
largement of, 268

Holly, Fasciation in, 55

Holmes, T. V., Explains Geological
Photographs, 25 ; On Neolithic
Settlement at Braintree. 27, 94;
Report as Delegate British Associa-
tion, 1899, 68 ; Geology of llford,
149 ; Geology of Canvey Island,
262 ; on Cuckoo's changed tune, 270

Hopefulness of Science, 208

Hornbeam, Mistletoe on, in Epping
Forest, 55

HoRSLEY, Rev. J. W., Mollusca in
old bed of Lea river. 1455J

INDEX

HoRTON, Amy M.. Symphytum
officinale, var. patens, at Brentwood,

20I

Howard, David, Life Problems in
Modern Science, 15 ; Presidential
Address, 297 ; Proposes Mr.
Passmore Edwards as Hon.
Member, 297 ; Vote of thanks
to, 298": Speech at opening of
Essex Museum of Natural History,
321

HowsE, Francis, Angling in Lea
half-a-Century ago, 1^3

Huddle, Rev. A., Epipactns latifolia,
147 ; Rhamnus frangula in Epping

147
Hughes, P., see Dymond, T. S.

Ilford, Sketch of Geology of, 149 ;
Some new sections in and contri-
butions to the flora and fauna of
the Uphall Estate, 157 ; On the
Pleistocence deposits of, 161 ;
Additions to the Palaeolithic Fauna
of, 290; Post-Pliocene Non-Marine
Mollusca from, 213

Johnson, J. P., Additions to the
Palaeolithic fauna of the Uphall
brickyard, Ilford, 209; the Eocene
fauna and flora of Walton- Naze, 2S4,
298 ; Exhibits teeth and Palaeolithic
flakes from pits at Grays Thurrock,
295 ; Presents to Museum fossil
teeth of Sharks, &c., from Walton-
Naze, 298

Johnson, J P., and G White,
New Sections in, and Contributions
to the fauna and flora of the River
Drift at Ilford, 157

Kennard, a S., and B. B.
Woodward, The Post-Pliocene
Non-Marine Mollusca of Ilford,
213 ; Non-Marine Mollusca of
Walton Crag, 216; Notes on
Paliidestrina jenkensi in Essex, 288

Kennard, A. S., see also Hinton,
M. C.

Kenworthy, Rev. J. W., Notes on
a Neolithic Settlement at Braintree,
27, 94 ; Vivipara clactonensls, col-
lected by, 261

Kemsley, H. B., Tufa-forming
stream near Epping, 56

"Knighton," Garden Party at, 128

Lampyms swallowed by frog, 144

Lea River, description of district,
130 : Anglers Notes on Fishes, 133 ;
Angling in, half-a-century ago,
143 : Mollusca in old bed of, 145
Lewis, E. J., Black-currant Gall-
mite, 334
Life Problems in Modern Science, 15
Ligia oceanica at Burnham, 193
London Clay, Ne\s fossil bird from,

148 ; fossils from, 149
"Loom-weight" from Barking Side, 25
Loughton, Siiex gigas at, 144
Love, W. W., On the Original
Construction of Queen Elizabeth's
Lodge, 153
LovETT, Edward, Demonstration on
Primitive Fire-Making Appliances,
49 ; On British Stalk-eyed

Crustacea, with reference to Essex
forms, 252
Lmiaria, Observations on dissepi-
ments of, 294

Map of Essex, draughtsman of the
oldest known, 240

Marine Zoology, specimens exhibited,
24 ; Dredging and Trawling Ex-
cursion, 291

Mashiter, E. T., White Fox near
Billericay, .141

Massee, George, Report on Fungus
Foray, 1S99, 166 ; Study of Minute
Fungi, 260; Report on Fungus
Foray, 1900, 313

Matthews, H. W., Stone-Curlew at
Fowlness, 53

Melampus at Burnham, 193

Meldola, Prof R., Education in
Rural Schools, 236 ; Proposes Mr.
Passmore Edwards as an Hon
Member, 297 ; Vanessa antiopa at
Bigods, 298 ; On use of Photo-
graphy in Natural Science, 299 ;
Remarks on Enock's lecture, 305 ;
Rare Sphingidae in Essex, 334

Meetings, Time of Club's Winter,

303
Mimidus on banks of Lea, 13S
Mistletoe on Hornbeam in Epping

Forest, 55
Molge palmata at Buckhurst Hill, 142
Mollusca, Local extinction and diffu-
sion in Essex, 86 ; in old bed of
Lea, 145 ; Post-Pliocene Non-
Marine from Ilford, 213 ; Non-
Marine of Walton Crag, 216 ;
Pleistocene Non-Marine from
Clacton, 225 ; Pleistocene from
Copford, 227 ; Colouring of some

INDEX.

Essex, 271; PaludfitiiNa jeiikciisi in
Essex, 288 ; Holocene from Shal-
ford, 294

Mosses, subject of Demonstration
Meeting, 258

Municipal Institute, Stratford, Fire
at, 197 ; Club Meetings in, 295

Museum, Epping Forest, and Queen
Elizabeth's Lodge, 31 ; 151 ; Meet-
ing in support of, 300

Museum, Essex, Ir'lans exhibited,
195 ; Opening of, October iSth,
1900, 319; Countess of Warwick's
speech, 323; Mr. Passmore
Edwards upon, 322, 328: Prof.
Meldola upon, 328, and other
speakers

Museum Notes II., 223

National Trust, 73

Neolithic Settlement at Skitts Hill,
Braintree, 27, 94

Newt, Palmated {]\Iul};c palmata] at
Buckhurst Hill, 142

Nfavton, E. T., Remarks on speci-
mens from Neolithic Settlement.
Braintree, 94

Notes, Original and Selected, 52, 141,
199. 270, 333

Nutcracker at Bradwell, 2,^ii

Nuts embedded in tree-trunk, 336

O' Brian, the Irish giant, at Lough ton,

257
Officers and New Members of Council

for 1899, 29 ; for 1900, 297
Oldham, Charles, Presents to

Museum a " locm weight" from

Barking Side, 25 ; Exhibits Noctuae

from Epping Forest, 25
Otters in Essex, 141, 199
Owl, Little (Anthenc iwctiui) at

Harlow, 142
Oysters, Old, attached to Crabs, 54 ;

200

Palaeolithic Fauna of Ilford, addi-
tions to, 290; Implements from
Grays, Wanstead, &c., 296

Paludestrina jenkensi. in Essex and
elsewhere, 288

Parks, London, Instruction in botany
in, 147

Paulson, R., New views respecting
Pollination, 259; On death of Birch
trees in Epping Forest, 273, 294

Photographs of Geological interest,
exhibition of, 25 ; of Wild Flowers,
demonstration of, 299

Phreuryctcs, British Well-worms, on. i
Phytoptus ribis, 334
Pickard-Cambridge, F. O., Remarks

on Essex Spiders, 294 ; Further

Contributions to Knowledge of

Arachnida of Epping Forest, 315
Pitt-Rivers, General, presents his

book to Club. 25 : Obituarv Notice

of, 245
Plants, notes on Essex, 146 ; 201 ;

observed on Tiptree Heath, 266
Pleistocene, Geology of Thames

\^alley. Pt. I., 296, 336 ; Deposits

at Ilford and Wanstead, 161
Pleistocene Non-Marine Mollusca

from Clacton, 225 ; from Copford,

227
Polecat in Lea Valley, 199
Pollination, New views respecting,

259
Polypufus innhellatns. new locality for,

148
Pond-life, in Epping Forest, lecture

on, 28 ; lecture on, 304
Porcellio ratzburgi. occurrence in

Essex, 127
Porpoise in Thames, 141
Post-Pliocene Non-Marine Mollusca

from Ilford, 213
PouLTON, Prof. E. B., Delegates

Report at British Association, 310
Powell, ] T., Two more Epping

Forest Rubi, 267
Presidential Address, Mr Howard's

1899, 15
Primitive Fire-making Appliances,

49
Protection of \\ ild-birds in Essex, 10

Queen Elizabeth's Lodge and Epping
Forest Museum 31, 151 ; Notes on
construction of, 153

Rainfall and Temperature in Essex,
1899, 203

Ray, John, of Epping, Plants col-
lected by, 224

Rav, John, destruction of his house
" Dewlands " by fire, 331

Reader, F. W'., Remarks on Ken-
worthy's paper on Neolithic Settle-
ment at Braintree, 94 ; Note on
West African " Strike-a-light,"
218 ; Obituary Notice of late
General Pitt-Rivers, 245

Rhamnus frangula in Epping Forest,

Rib(s nigruvi in Epping Forest, 335
Rubi, two more Epping Forest, 267

INDEX.

RUDLER, F. W., Receives Club at j

Geological Museum, 197
Rural Schools, Education in, 236 i

Russell, S. B., the Architect, Essex

Museum of Natural History, 319 1
Rye House, paper on 135; visit to,

Salmon at Harwich in 1666, 76
Salmon, Ernest S., Demonstration

on Mosses, 258
Saxton, Christopher, Map-maker,

240
Scabiiis, " Sport " of flowers of, 295
Schwartz, Cecil, Exhibits Marine

and other Specimens, 24
Science, Hopefulness of, 208
Scott, J. Oldrid, Report on condi-

dition of Queen Elizabeth's Lodge,

31
Scourfield, D. J., Lectures on
Pond-life in Epping Forest 28,
exhibits Statoblasts of Cristatella,

295

Sctaria viridis at Witham, 271

Sewell , S A , Exhibits tree-trunk with
objects embedded, 27 ; Nest of Vespa
geimanica, 54 ; Mistletoe on Horn-
beam in Epping Forest, 55 ;
Fasciation in Holly, 55 ; Blossom-
ing of Crab-trees in Epping Forest
in igoo, 335 ; Nuts embedded in
tree-trunk, 336

Shark's teeth, fossil, from Walton,
presented, 298

Shelford, Holocene MoUusca from,
294

Shenstonk, J. C describes his
Essex Herbarium presented to
Club, 223 ; Siloic anglica var.
quiuqnevulnera, in Essex, 271 ; Vicia
liitea at St. Osyth, 271 ; Lantern
demonstration of photographs of
Wild Flowers, 299

Shoeburyness, Acidulia rusticata at,
144

Shrimp, Well {Niphargus) in East
Anglia, 145

Shrubsole, W. H., New Fossils
from London-clay, 149

Silene anglica, var., quinqiievulnera, in
Essex, 271

Silting-up of Channels of the Essex
Coast, 271

Sirex ^igas, at Loughton, 144

Smith, F. P., conducts at Field
Meeting, 293 ; "Contributions to-
wards a knowledge of Arachnida of
Epping Forest." 315

Special Meeting, March 31st, igoo,

259
Sphingidse, rare, in Essex, 334
Spiders of Epping Forest, 315
Sorby, Dr. H. C, Exhibits specimens

showing methods of preserving

Marine Animals, 128
Southend, Calymnia pvraUna and

Cucullia asteris, at 144
Statoblasts oiCristattila from Epping

Forest. 295
Stebbing, Rev. T. R. R., Living

Subterranean Fauna of Great

Britain, 70
Stewart, Prof C, Receives Club

at College of Surgeons, 256
Stone-curlew at Fowlness, 53
St. Osyth, Vicia liitcaat, 271
Stride, W.. Note on Fox catching

Woodcock, 52
Strike-a-light, Note on a West

African, 218
Subterranean Fauna of Great Britain,

70
Svmphytum officinale, var., patens, at

Brentwood, 201

Tamarisk at Fowlness, 194

Tea at Meetings, Change of hour of,
299

Tegetmeier, W. B., Crab carrying
oyster on its shell, 54

Temperature in Essex in 1899, 203

Thames, Porpoise in, 141 ; Sea Gulls
on, 142

Thames Valley, Contributions to the
Pleistocene Geology of, 336

Thompson, Prof. Silvanus, Dis-
sepiments of Lunaria, observations
on, 294

Thresh, Dr. J. C, Saline constitu-
ents of chalk-derived waters in
Essex, 201

Tide, High, of Nov. 29th, 1897, after-
effects of, 83

Tiger Beetle, Lecture on life-history
of, 30

Tiptree Heath, visit to Britannia
Fruit Company, 265 ; Plants ob-
served at, 266

Treasurer's Statement of Account,
i8g8, 20 ; 1899, 296 and 306

Tree-trunks, objects embedded in, 27
and 336

"Trees and Shrubs of Epping
Forest," Additions to, 55

Tufa-forming stream near Epping, 56

Turner, Edwin B., Notes on Essex
plants, 146 ; Notes on Microscopical

X.

INDEX.

Fungi, 148 ; Exhibits two Micro-
scopical Fungi new to Essex, 261 ;
Exhibits Purple Cow-wheat, 265 ;
Setaiia viridis at Witham, 271 ;
Flowers on Christmas-dav, igoo,
•S35

Vanessa antiopa near Dunmow, 298
Vertebrata, Palaeolithic, from Ilford,

212
Vespa germanica, slab-shaped nest of,

in Epping Forest, 54
Vicia lutea at St. Osyth, 271
Vivipara dadonensis exhibited from

Clacton, 261

Waller, W. C, Si vex gigas at

Loughton, 144
Waltham Bells, 208
Walton-Naze, Conger at, 200 ; Non-

Marine Mollusca of Crag, 216;

Eocene fauna and flora of, 2S4 ;

Fossil Shark's teeth from, 298
Wanstead, Paasolithic Implements

from, 296 ; and Ilford districts,

Pleistocene deposits of the, 161
Wanstead Park, Epping Forest,

Addition to, 269
Ware, Great Bed of, 138
Warrant for payment of Forest

Officers in 1728, 48
Waters, Chalk-derived of Essex,

Saline Constituents, 201
Warwick, Countess of, Village

Science School, 151 : Opens Essex

Museum of Natural History 319 ;

Speech on Local Museums, &c , 321
Weather in 1899, 207
Webb, W. M., Occurrence in Essex

of a Species of Isopada new to

Britain, 127 ; Exhibits Cytisus

hihurnum-adami from Epping, 139 ;

Exhibits New British Species of

Isopoda, 197 ; Notes on a small

Essex Herbarium, 224 ; Pleistocene
Non-Marine Mollusca from Clacton,
225 ; Pleistocene Shells from Cop-
ford, 227 ; Holocene Mollusca
from Shalford, 294

Well-Shrimp {Niphargus) in East
Anglia, 145

Well - Worms [Phreorydts) with
reference to unique specimen from
Chelmsford, i ; probable species
of in Essex, 27

West Ham, Mayor of, at Opening of
Essex Museum on Oct. i8th, 1900,
321-22.

West Ham Municipal Technical
Institute, Fire at, 197; Meetings
in, 295

White, G,, see Johnson, J. P.

Whittle, F. G., Acidalia rnsticata
at Shoeburyness, 144 ; Calymmia
pyralma and CiicuUia astevis at
Southend, 144

Wild Flowers, photographs of, 299

Wilkin, A. S., Receives Club at
Britannia Company's Farm, 265

Wilson, T. Hay, Chalky Boulder-
Clay in Epping Forest, 55

Wine Production in Essex, 34

Winstone, Benjamin, " Rye House,
1685," 135

Witham, plants observed at, 264 ;
Sdaria viridis at, 271

Woodford Churchyard, Old Yew tree
in, 147

Woodlouse, new to Britain,
occurrence of in Essex, 127

Wood-pigeons, "Mobbed by," 2>d>i

Woodward, B B., see Kennard,
A. S.

Yardley Hill, Epping Forest, 78 ;

Club's Visit to, 129 ; addition to, 268

Yew tree in Woodford Churchyard,

147

INDEX.

PLATES AND ILLUSTRATIONS.

Yardley Hill, Epping Forest, 79 ; also

a supplemental plate to face 78
Plan of Yardley Hill, 81
Plate I. View of Site of Lake Settle-
ment at Skitts Hill, to face, 92
Plan of Site of Lake Dwelling at

Skitts Hill, 97
Sections at Skitts Hill, 98
Diagram of Wooden Stakes, 100
End of Pointed Stake, 100
Method of Employing Wooden

Stakes, loi
Plate II. Cranium of Red Deer, to

face, 104
Flint Knife or Dagger, Skitts Hill,

107
Flint Arrow-head, Skitts Hill, 108
Section of Stag-antler handle, no
Plate III, Three Deer-antler Imple-
ments, to face, no
Two picks made of Deer-antler, in
Bone handle, 112

An Implement of Maple-wood, 113
Base of Vessel, Skitts Hill, 114
Sawn Surfaces of Deer-antlers, 120
Map of Braintree District, 123
Section of Pit near Braintree, 124
Queen Elizabeth's Hunting Lodge,

153
Plate IV. Pictures of Queen Eliza-
beth's Lodge, to face, 154
Plan of Queen Elizabeth's Lodge, 155
Geological Sectional Wanstead Park,

162
Plate V . Scenes at East Mersea and

Brightlingsea, to face, 184
Whale Stranded at North Woolwich,
191

Section at Uphall, Ilford, 210
" Strike-a-light," West Africa, 219
Objects from Rotherly, Wilts, 221
Plate VI. Sir W. H. Flower, F.R.S.,

to face, 243
Plate VII. General Pitt-Rivers,

F.R.S., to face, 245
Bust of General Pitt-Rivers, 246
Rushmore House, near Salisbury,

248
Birch-trees in Monkhams Lane,

Woodford, 275

Do. do. at Buck.

hurst Hill, 276

Do. do. at Lord's

Bushes, 277
Section of Birch branch, 278
Section of forked branch, 279
Two sides of same branch, 280
Paludestrina jenkiiisi, 289
Plate VIII. The Countess of War-
wick, to face, 319
Essex Museum of Natural History,

320
Plate IX. Mr. J . Passmore Edwards,

to face, 323
Dewlands, John Ray's house, 332
Section at pit, Orsett Road, Grays,

345
Do. at Sockett's Heath pit, 362
Do. across Valley, S.W. of Belmont

Castle, 363
Do. in Globe Works, Grays, 364
Do. across Valley N. of Palmer's

Avenue, 367

ERRATA.

Owing to an unfortunate oversight in the printing office one half-
sheet was not revised. The following errors should be corrected] : —
Page 312 line 13 from top. for "One" read On

316

317
318

370

,, delete
bottom, for

top

bottom.

" relavant " read relevant
" Circiirina curcurea (Fabr )," read
Cicurina cinerea (Panz)
" ponds " read pond
" Gonatiinn rubens (Blakw.) read Neriene

rubens (Blackw.)
" (Clerk) " read Clerk
"XH" readXni

. per annSim. ' Post free. (I

Price (to Non-Members) 6s

NOS. 1—3., VOL. XI.] Pnce Is. 6d. [JAN.— MARCH, 1899.

Thi

y\jUAr-^

"^

Essex Naturalist:

BEING THE

JOURNAL

OF THE

ESSEX FIELD CLUB

EDITED BY

WILLIAM COLE, F.L.S., F.E.S.,

Honorary Secretary and Curator.

Contents.

British Well-worms (Phreoryctes), with especial reference to a unique
specimen from Chelmsford, Essex. By the Rev. Hilderic Friend. ...

The Protection of Wild Birds in Essex. By the Editor

The Presidential Address. Life Problems in Modern Science. By David
Howard, J. P., F.C.S., &c

Annual Report of Council for the year 1898.

The Essex Field Club. The 184th Ordinary Meeting, Jauuary 28th, 1899, 24 ;
185th Ordinary Meeting, February 25th, 26 ; 19th Annual General Meeting,
March 25th, 29

Queen Elizabeth's Lodge and the Epping Forest Museum

Warrant for Payment of Forest Officers in 1728. By I. Ohalkley Gould. ...

Essex as a AVine- Producing County. By Millkr Christy, F.L.S.

Primitive Methods of Obtaining Fire. (A Demonstration.) By Edward Lovett

Notes — Original and Selected

The authors alone are responsible for the stateinetits and opinions contained in their

respective papers.

PUBLISHED BY THE CLUB, BUCKHURST HILL, ESSEX.

Ent. Stationers' Hall.]

Communications and Advertisements should be addressed : —

The Editor of " THE ESSEX NATURALIST."

7, Knighton Villas, Buckhurst Hill, Essex

A SHORT PROSPECTUS OF

THE ESSEX FIELD CLUB,

[Founded January 70th, 7SS0.)

Ipatroii:

H.R.H. The Duke of Connaught and Strathearn, K.G.,
Ranger of Epping Forest.

Ipresi&ent :

David Howard, J. P., F.I.C., F.C.S,

Ipcrmaiient Dlce^ipresiDents :

Professor G. S. Boulger, F.L.S., | T. G. Holmes, F.G.S., M.A.I.

F.G.S. I Henry Layer. M.R.C.S., F.L.S.,

Frederic Chancellor, J. P., I F.S.A.

F.R.I. B.A. I Professor R. Meldola, F.R.S.,

Edward A. Fitch, F.L.S., F.E.S. | F.R.A.S.

treasurer: — W. C. Waller, M.A., F.S.A.,

Loughton, Essex.

^ ^ ^ ■ I W. Cole,

1bon. Secretaries:— „ „ „

( B. G. Cole,

Buckhiirst Hill, Essex.

j Alfred Lockyer,
(W. C. Waller,
Temporary Address : E.F.C., cjo Parkes^ Drug

Stores, 9, Woudgrange Road, Forest Gate, E.

Xibrarians

MUSEUMS. — The Club's Local (Essex) Museum of Natural History,
Head Quarters and Library, will shortly be at the Passmore
Edwards' Museum, Romford Road, Stratfotd, Essex.

The Epping Forest Museum,

Queen Elizabeth's Lodge, Chingford, Essex.

Curator: W. Cole, F.L.S., F.E.S.

The Essex Field Club is intended to band together those taking an
interest in Natural Science residing within or near the borders of Essex, as
well as in London, with the aim of creating and fostering a taste for the study
of Nature in the field as well as in the study.

The Publications of the Club have gained general estimation, because
of the care which has been taken to confine them to their original purpose,
the record of investigations and elucidations of the Natural History (in its
widest sense), the Topography and Pre-historic Archeology, of the County
OF Essex. Since the foundation of the Club in 1880, over 4,500 pages-ot such
material have been published, and a large proportion of the articles are of value
to students residing outside the Club's limits.

THE

ESSEX NATURALIST

BKING THE

3ournal of tbc )Beec]: jficlb Club

FOR 1899 AND 1900.

(VOLUME XL)

BRITISH WELL-WORMS, (PHREORYCTES),
WITH ESPECIAL REFERENCE TO A
UNIQUE SPECIMEN FROM CHELMSFORD,
ESSEX.

By the Rev. HILDERIC FRIEND.

[Raul Fcbniary 25th, 1899.]

TOWARDS the end of 1895, Mr. Frank Beddard, M.A.,
Prosector to the Zoological Societ)' of London, lirought
out his magnificent Monograph of the Oligochcrta. It was the only
attempt that has yet been made in England to bring our know-
ledge of earthworms and fresh water annelids up-to-date, and
may be regarded as the basis upon which all future work in this
department of biological research must rest. In this splendid
work we find several pages devoted to the study of a genus of
annelids known as " Well-worms," and the following sentence is,
for us, of peculiar interest. " The genus Phreovyctes has been
found in a good many parts of Europe (not in England) and in
New Zealand, and in North America." Thus we learn
definitely that in 1895 no species of Well- worm had been found
in this country, or at least that no species had been described as
native with us.

It now appears that there had been a solitary specimen of a
new species of Phreovyctes in my possession for three years
previous to the publication of the Monograph. Owing to the
scantiness of the material, however, and the fact that we had no
definite clue to the history of the worm, the remark of IMr.
Beddard has remained practically unaltered till the present time.

2 BRITISH WELL-WORMS.

It is now my pleasure to be able to say that the words in
brackets ("not in England") are henceforth to be deleted ; and
the honour of this belongs to Essex.

§ Historical.

Let me first'give a history of the Well-worms themselves,
then of the new species. The scientific name of the genus is
derived from the Greek, in which language Phear means a well,
cistern, water tank, or fountain.' It was first employed by Hoff-
meister. He had discovered a worm in Germany which had not
previously been described, and applied to the new genus the name
of Haplotaxis, a term which is derived from the Greek haploos,
meaning simple.x, one-fold, simple, and taxis, order, rank,
arrangement. This was in 1843. Hoffmeister afterwards dis-
covered that the term Haplotaxis was already appropriated ; the
learned botanist, De Candolle, having employed it for a genus of
the Order Compositae. He therefore compounded the word
Phrcorydcs, which lie employed in 1845. In 1854 another writer
named Schlotthauber changed the name to Gcoryctcs — earth -
dweller — on the ground that it was occasionally found in the soil
and was not exclusively a denizen of wells. That was, of
course, an altogether improper change. Vaillant, however,
pointed out sometime after that Claparede had ignorantly added
to the synonymy by describing a worm found in the Rhone as
Ncmodviliis. This was found later to be a Phveoryctes. It is no
doubt desirable that we should avoid overlapping in nomencla-
ture, and although it might be urged that there is no reason why
Haplotaxis should not be used in Zoology as well as in botany,
the term Phreorycies has become so fully established that it will
be well to retain it in future rather than revive the earlier name.

i Descriptive.

At this point it may be well to specify some of the charac-
teristics of this very interesting group of worms. They are, with
one exception, very long and thin, with red blood and sigmoid
bristles or setae. These are not cleft at the end as in some of the
fresh water annelids. The number of seta; varies from two to
four in each segment, and they are arranged singly, whereas in

I It should lie rioted that there are two other genera of well-worms which cicrive their
names from this word, viz., /'/irt'a(o//in',v, of which one species has been found in wells on
the Continrnt; and P/n'eoi/;:7i/s, of which also one species has been found in wells in New
Zealand. Thus we have in all three genera of well-worms at present known to science,
containing seven species.

BRITISH WELL-WORMS. 3

the earthworms they are usually in pairs. In some species the
perfect seta has an imperfect one by its side, and the seta of the
dorsal portion of the body usually vary from those of the ventral.
Even in the species which has the normal arrangement of the
setse we still find a difference in size between the dorsal and
ventral pairs. Several biologists have pointed out the existence
here, as among the Enchytraeids, of a peculiar appendage to
the ventral nerve cord in each segment. Normally there are
two pairs of testes in segments ten and eleven, and two pairs of
ovaries in the twelfth and thirteenth segments, as was first
clearly indicated by Mr. V. E. Beddard. There are two or three
pairs of spermathecae in the species already described. The
prostomium is generally divided by a constriction. Mr. Beddard
has described a closely related genus under the name oi Pelodrilus
the two genera being placed together under the Family
Phreoryctidae. He gives the following definition of the
Family : —

" Definition. — Aquatic or terrestrial Oligochaeta of slender form,
often exceedingly long. SetiE in four rows of single setae or paired,
sigmoid. Testes in X., XI. Ovaries in XII., XIII. or XIII. only,
Sperm-ducts, two pairs opening separately, without spermiducal glands.
Spermathecae in front of testes, without diverticula. No genital setae."

In one or two particulars this definition will now require
modification. In regard to the setae we shall have to read in
future — " Set^e in two or four rows," and some qualification of
the phrase about genital seta; must be introduced. Mr. Beddard
next proceeds to define the genus Phvcovydcs. First we have the
synonyms as follows : —

Phreovyctes, Hoffmeister.
Haplotaxis, Hoffmeister.
Nemodi'ilus, Claparede.
Geovydes, Schlotthauber.

According to Dr. Michaelsen, whom I shall quote later, this
synonymy is incomplete.

" Definition. — Seta; in four rows of single setas or pairs.
Clitellum XI.— XIV. Prostomium divided by a transverse constric-
tion. Testes in X., XI. Ovaries in XII., XIII. Vasa deferentia open
separately on to XI. and XII. ; oviducts on to border line between seg-
ments Xll/Xill. and XIII/XIV. Spermathecas, two or three pairs in
VII., VIII. (IX.)."

Here again the same modification applies to the setae. We
now come to a consideration of the known species. When Mr.

4 BRITISH \VELL-WORI\IS.

Beddard prepared his Monograph he remarked that "the number
of species of this genus is at least four ; and they are all well
characterized." This is a great gain. So clearly defined are
the different species that, by means of the setse alone we can
determine at once under which head a given specimen should
fall, and consequently can with equal ease determine whether or
not a worm submitted for examination has been already
described.

The first of the species to be described, if we follow Mr.
Beddard's arrangement, was Pkreoryctes menkeanus, Hoffm. The
number of segments exceeds five hundred, the setai are in four
single rows, and the ventral setae exceed the dorsal in length.
Leydig, Vejdovsky, Giard, Timm, and others have written on
this species.

Next in chronological order comes Ph. Jilifonnis, Clap.,
which is al)ont a ipiarter the length of its predecessor, and has
the dorsal setas longer than tlie ventral. The setae, moreover,
are shorter and much more hooked. Beddard calls attention to
the difference of opinion which has prevailed among authors
respecting these two species. He admits their possible identit}',
but emphasizes the fact that their length is widely different.
Michaelsen seems disposed at present to place all the species
under one. Ph. lucnhcaniis was described in 1843, Ph. filiforniis in
1862.

Beddard added a third species in 1888 under the title Ph.
smithii. This species comes from New Zealand, is a compara-
tively stout worm, has its setae paired — which is the case in no
other species — the dorsal setae being longer than the ventral in
the hinder segments. " The shaft of the seta; which is implanted
in the body wall is curved, not straight as in the other species."
It may be added that the worm was collected by Mr. W. W.
Smith, " chiefly in fresh pools, where it lives in association with
a species of Lininodrilns ; one exarrple was discovered in marshy
soil ; so that this species is equally at home in water and in damp
soil."

The remaining species belongs to North America. It was
described in i8go by Mr. Forbes and bears the name Ph.
emissarius. It is readily distinguishable from the rest by reason
of the total disappearance of the dorsal setae from four-fifths of
the segments. The worm is six or eight inches in length, is
composed of nearly 400 segments, very thin. The setae are

BRITISH WEI.L-WORMS. 5

implanted singly, in four rows for about 70 segments in front, and
two ventral rows behind. This fact is peculiarly interesting in
its bearing on the specimen from Chelmsford.

j Significance of the foregoing facts.

It is important that we should understand the force of the
facts which are gleaned by a study of the genus. To begin with
the head. When I studied the Essex specimen one of the first
things which struck me was the anomaly which presented itself
here. Three of the known species of Phreovydes have the prosto-
mium or head segment divided into halves by a cross furrow
at about the middle of its length : and tlie prostomium is rather
elongated. This is a peculiar character, met with elsewhere,
however, though not among the true Oligochaeta. The seta? are
instructive. Here, it is true, we meet with the utmost possible
diversity. Mr. Beddard, who has let few things escape him,
remarks that " the commencement of a diversity in the form of
the setae is seen in PJtveovyctes, where some of the setae are longer
than the others, the dorsal longer than the ventral, or vice versa,
or the posterior longer than the anterior." Moreover, while they
are usually of the typical Lumbricid pattern, viz., sigmoid or
/shaped, and not cleft at the extremity, in one species the
shaft is straight, in another they are varied on the girdle seg-
ments, and in two cases the dorsal setae are either partially or
entirely wanting. These are significant modifications. All
departures from the type suggest one or two things, either they
imply degeneracy or adaptation and progress. This genus is
undoubtedly one of an advanced type in many ways.

I have shewn that the first name which Hoffmeister applied
to the genus was Haplotaxis. Was the name chosen to set forth
any genuine peculiarity, or was it merely haphazard ? It was
suggestive. It is the rule that aquatic annelids possess a
longitudinal muscular layer composed of " flat flakes or lamella
imbedded in a granular substance." This layer is absent from
Phi'covyctes — a fact which struck me when I examined the Essex
worm, and one which I find I have recorded in my drawings
made at the time when the worm was first placed in my hands.
It was, doubtless, this fact which led Hoffmeister to give the
name Haplotaxis to the genus. If we turn to the (juestion of
brain structure, we find that in Phvcoiydcs this organ has
" the simple, bilobed character that is characteristic of the higher
Oligochaeta to which this worm is related." (Beddard, Mono-

b BRITISH WELL-WORMS.

graph, p. 19). Along with this we nnd also a remarkable
specialization of the nerve-cord in some of the segments — a
peculiarity which it shares with some of the Enchytraeids.
Leydig and others have further pointed out the existence of
valves in the dorsal blood vessel. While these appliances are
general in the earthworms they are rarely found in the lower
annelids, so that Phreovyctes in this respect is to be regarded as a
highly important type. Mr. Beddard in 1895 accorded to the
genus a position of great significance ; and though Michaelsen
has since reviewed the position, and my own discovery has yet
to be considered, I cannot refrain from summarizing the findings
of our greatest authority on this important subject.

The question which Mr. Beddard asks is : — " How far are
we justified, with our present knowledge, in separating the
aquatic from the terrestrial Oligoclnela ?"' His answer shows
that in his judgment the genus under review forms in many
respects a very decided connecting link l)etween the two.
" There are, undoubtedly, a certain number of points in which
all these (aquatic) forms agree to differ irom the terrestrial
Oligochaeta. . . And there are, furthermore, a few points
which at present are peculiar to the aquatic Oligochaeta. We
will commence with the latter. Among all the Oligochaeta which
belong to Claparede's ' Limicolae,' the o\ a are of large size and
full of yolk ; this holds good, without a single? exception, from the
smallest Enchytraeid up to so large a form as PJii'coi'cytes.
The remaining point of difference concerns the structure of the
body wall. The longitudinal fibres consist of a single row of
deep fibres only (in the Limicolae or aquatic forms); this, how-
ever, does not characterize Phrcoiyctes, a genus which in other
characters occupies an intermediate position." Mr. Beddard
proceeds to examine the large and instructive group of worms
known as Enchytraeids, and adds — " The Enchytraeidae perhaps
resemble Phreoryctes more than any other group of the higher
Oligochaeta ; these resemblances, however, are not numerous,
and are confined to a few species. The most striking is the
existence in various species of Pachydvilns of the segmentally
arranged lateral outgrowths of the nerve-cord ; structures similar
to these appear to occur in Phreojyctfs. Besides Phreoryctes, the
only Oligocha-ta in which there ate so few as four S!jt;c per seg-
ment, implanted singly, is Enchytraeus nioiiocha-fiis." It was this
fact tliat led me to name the Essex worm Dichacta, or the worm

BRITISH WELL-WORMS. 7

with two setae. Finally, after ha^-ing considered one or two
points connected with the reproductive system, into which I need
not enter, Mr. Beddard concludes as follows : — " All arguments,
therefore, appear to me to point to the conclusion that Phreoryctes
is, in respect of its reproductive organs, the most primitive type.
. . . There is no type, in fact, in my opinion, which has such
good claims to occupy a low {i.e., archaic or early) position
among the Oligochaeta as Phreoryctes. It will be remembered
also that this genus is one which was placed by Lankester in a
position intermediate between the ' Limicola' ' (ov aquatic
worms) and the ' Terricolae ' (or earthworms) of Claparede ; and
it does, undoubtedly, combine the characters of the.se two groups.
It is also a form which, as regards habitat, is on the border line
between the two divisions ; it lives both in the water and on the
land. I look upon Phreoiyctes as representing more than any
other existing form, the common type whence the Megadrili
(Earthworms or Terricola^) and the Microdrili (Waterworms,
aquatic annelids, or Limicolae) have been derived."

Should further investigation confirm this judgment we see
at once how valuable is the discovery in Great Britain of a new
species of this curious and interesting genus.

J Michaelsen's Researches.

In 1898, Dr. Michaelsen, of Hamburg, published in the
Zoologischen Jahvbiicheni a valuable article entitled " Beitrage
zur Kenntniss der Oligochaten," the first part of which (pp. 105-
118) is devoted to a study of '^Phreoryctes gordioides (Hartmann),
und seine synonymie." He calls attention to the fact that in the
early part of this century Hartmann gave some account of a
worm which he called Luiiibiicus gordioides, and which had pre-
viously been confused with Gorditis. After various historical
allusions the author adds : —

" Zu Phreoryctes gonlioides muss ferner de von dem irischen
Gelehrteii Rev. H. Friend aufgestellte Art Dichata curviseiosa (Friend
on ' The Scientific Stud)- of Worms ' in the The Naturalist, 1896,
p. 79) ^ezogen werden. So spiirHch die Angaben iiber diese Art sind—
dem Alitor derselben lag nur ein einziges, jugendliches Exemplar vor
— so lassen sie dcch die Phreoryctes Natur des Warms erkennen. ' The
worm — which is aquatic in habit— is about four mches in length, and
composed of some 250 segments, the first of which, like all the rest,
contained two setse only. Modified setae occur on segments 11 to 14;
the head (prostomium) is long and narrow, and the brain ganglion
apparently circular in front.' Auch der Speciesname ' curvisctosa'

8 BRITISH WELL-WORMS.

deutet auf die am Ende sichel formig gebogenen Jugend — Borsten des
Pltvcoryctes hin. Vor allem ist es die weiter unteo naher zu erorternde
Angabe, dass die Borsten schon mit dem i Segment beginnen soUen, die
jeden zweifel iiber die Zugehorigkeit des betreffenden Stiickes zu P.
gordioides ausschliesst . "-

A little later (p. log) in speakin^^ of the specialized setae,
Michaelsen continues : —

" Jenes Exemplar, zeigt zugleich, dass jener sprunghafte Borslen.
wechsel nicht in der ganzen Korperlilnge zu gleicher Zeit eintritt, und
bietet in so fern auch eine Erklarung fiir die Angabe Friend's, dass bei
Dichata curvisctosa die Borsten der Segniente ii bis 14 modificirt sein
sollen."3

The foregoing quotations are sufficient for my purpose and
1 have to thank Dr. Michaelsen for lia\ing made it possible for
me to give my worm its true position. I cannot, iiowe\"er, agree
with him that the species now under review is to be identified
with those which have been previ'Uisly described.

Six years and a half ago I received the following letter : —

Chelmsford,

4th November, 1S92.
My Dear Sir,

I enclose in a bottle with glycerine a worm I received from a
patient, who had taken it from his well. It was then, and until a few
days ago, extremely active in its movements, and very difficult to
examine. What I saw was so different from any I had seen before
that I thought it might be of interest to you, and placed it in glycerine
so as to preserve it as much as possible in a natural state.
Believe me, dear Sir,

Yours faithfully,

Daniel Wheeler.

Attached to the bottle was a label bearing the following
particulars:— " Worm found in a well at Chehnsford, Oct., 1892,
Remarkably active when alive a few days ago. As soon as dead
put in glycerine."

I at once e.xamined the worm, which was entirely new to
me, and different in every important detail from all the aquatic

2 Tr.\nsl.\tion :— The species which Mr. Fiiend has recently described (Naturalist,
i8g6), under the name of Dichacta curvisctosa must also be referrecl to Phreoryctes. Owing
to the fact that the author himself had but one specimen, and that not adult, the description
is very inadequate. In spite of this, howevjr, the Phreoryctes nature of the worm can be
discovered. The specific name curvisctosa. moreover, sets forth the characteristic sickle-
shaped form of the sets in Phreoryctes, while a further confirmation of the identity is
furnished by the statement that they commence on the first segnient— a point which finally
settles its relationship to /-■. gordioides.

3 Explanation :- Michaelsen refers to a fact whicli he has been elucidating. This, he
says, may also be taken as throwing light on my statement that tlu- setae on segments 11— 14
differ from those on the rest of the body.

BRITISH WELL-WORMS. 9

worms which had tlien been described as British. As I
hesitated to found a new species or genus on a soHtary specimen,
however well marked it might be, I wrote to Dr. Wheeler thank-
ing him for the steps he had taken, a'ld urgin-^ him to try and
secure duplicates. His reply was as foUows : —

Chelmsford,

24(h November, 1S92.
My Dear Sir,

Please accept my thanks for your leLter respecting the interesting
worm I sent you. I at once communicated the interest you took in the
matter, and he (the patient) has promised that he will, as soon as he
sees another, let me have it. I have advised him to proceed to get
some out of the well, as you su;^gest there are more there. I should
have written before, bat hoped another worm mi^ht have been pro-
cured.

When alive it was extremely acti\e in its movements, and appeared
unusually pointed at both extremities, which it moved so much alike
that for a time I could not discover which was its head. It appeared
very long in proportion to its thickness. With thanks for your inform-
ation, and hoping I may before long be able to get more lor you.

Believe me, yours faithfully,

Daniel Wheeler.

I regret to say that from that day to this I have failed to
secure a duplicate, though it is certain ihat others must often
have been observed. With a view to securing interest in the
matter I sent a note to the Editor of the Essex N.\tur.\list
in December, 1892, ' and later in 1S96 a brief description
under the name " Dichceta ciirvisetosa, Nov. sp. et Gen.", -
and also in The N.\turalist. The principal details have
already been given, but as the worm is now clearly a member
of a genus already described the name nmst he corrected. I
shall give a full description in a later issue of the Essex
Naturalist, and trust that in the meanwhile the readers will
make efforts to secure me more material. Worms found in
wells may at once be transferred to glycerine, but it is prefer-
able to send them alive in a small buttle with water to the
Editor or direct to the Rev. Hilderic Friend. Ocker Jrlill,
Tipton, Staffordshire.

1 Essex Naturalist, vol. vi., p. i8j ([892).

2 '-Notes on Ess^x Wonis (OUgoch;et3). Description of a species new to Britain
(Hen'.ea ventricnlosa, D'UdeUcm) and of a genus and species new to science {Dichcrta
ciirvisetosa, Friend), both fro.n Ej-se.'<," Esskx Naiuhalist, vol. ix., pp. iio-iii (1S96).

THE PROTECTION OF WILD BIRDS IN ESSEX.

AT this sprint^ season of the year, whe i ''the time of the singing
of birds is come," the attention of those interested in
the preservation of our native fauna may again be usefully
called to the important consolidated "Orders" of the
Secretary of State, which now run in tlie County of Essex.
We summarised these orders, and printed in full the various
schedules accompanying them, ui the Essex N.^turalist for
April-June, 1897 (\'ol. \., pp. 133-136). As was there stated,
the effect of these orders is to establish some of the largest
protected areas in England.

(1). In tlie first place, under the orders, every luiid of K<ildhivd fi-equcnting the
(ipeii 01- ptihlic lands In the Cuiiiily is absolutely protected between the
15th of March and the 15th of August (both days inclusive).
(2). The scheduled birds are protected on all uinds, public or private, between

the dates mentioned.
(3). Within the Metropolitan Police District, the (',i,';^s of birds mentioned
in one of the schedules (see p. 134, vol. x., E.N.), are absolutely
protected ivhether found on public or private land.
(4). Within the Metropolitan Police District above mentioned, or within
the parishes of Epping, Epping Upland, Theydon Bois, Theydon
Garnon, and Lambourne, the birds mentioned in another of the
schedules [ante, vol. x,, p. 133), are protected between the 15th
of August and the 15th of March folio wmg. These scheduled
birds in this area are consequently absolutely protected all the year
round.
(5). The Eggs of any Wild Birds found on the foreshores of the coast and
tidal inlets extending from Harwich Lighthouse to Shoeburyness are
absolutely protected.
In addition to the above orders, absolute protection all tlie
year round, is afforded to all blnh and their eggs occurring in
the Forest lands officially under the care of the Corporation of
London.

And, finally, the owners of certain estates bordering the
Forest have agreed, by joining .\Ir. E. N, Buxton's " Epping
Forest Bird Protection League" (E.N. ix., pp. 49-51), to protect
all the Owls and Hawks (excepting the Sparrow-hawk), the
Magpie, Peewit, Heron, and the Kingfisher, within their lands,
an area amounting in the whole, with the official forest, to
about 20,000 acres.

As we have frequentl)' pleaded, these Wild Bird Acts and
Orders refjuire drastic re\ision ; the schedules in particular, are

THE PROTECTION OF WILD BIRDS IX ESSEX. II

confused and confusing. We hope to live to see all wild birds
protected, but failing thit logical outcome of the idea of protection,
a step in the right direction would be made by scheduhng those
birds that are outside the pale of protection, not those tliat are
within it. This is the right principle, and if it were adopted, the
comprehension of and obedience to the law would be more
wide-spread, while the legal enforcement of the orders would be
greatly facilitated.

In continuation of the reports on the birds of Epping
Forest and district given on former occasions (see E.N. vol. x., pp.
56-57, and pp. 276-7), Mr. Buxton has placed in our hands
some letters from keepers and others sent to him in March last,
which confirm the favourable impression of the effects of the
protection now afforded to the birds there imparted by previous
accounts. A few paragraphs from the letters may be quoted : —

Haivks. — The observers do not distinguish the species, but speak in
general terms; they probably mean Kestrels. The keeper in Theydon
district says, " two couple nest every year in the oaks in Thames Valley."
Two other keepers in the Epping district report an increase ; at Bishops Hall
Estate the keeper reports a large increase ; at Waltham the report is " plenty
of hawks"; at Chiagford an obssrver says that he has seen a few hawks,
"about the same number that I used to see in old days." At Woodreddon
two were seen. Sparrow-hawks breed in Knighton and Gaunts Wood,
Theydon, and they have bssn noticed at Ilford and elsewhere.

Oivls. — The opinion appears to be general that these are increasing. The
Theydon keeper writes, " I frequently see them in the large hollies in Epping
Thicks." From High Beach comes the report that they have "increased in
the neighbourhood of Fairmead High Woods, and on Mr. Baring's estate.
I have heard as many as four hooting at one time on two occasions. I saw a
pair of large White Owls on Aims-House Plain in the day time."

Miis:pie. — There are but few notes of-, these. As Mr. Russell remarks,
they are rarely seen on the forest, but are occasionally noticed at Wanstead,
in Loughion Manor, at Bishops Hall, and more frequently at Warlies and
Monkhams, near Waltham. Mr. Colvin's keeper (Waltham), complains that
there are " too many Magpies " ! The keeper at Copped Hall reports having
seen four together in .April. At Loughton " we have two or three Magpies,
and I have not seen any [? previously] for soma years." Bishops Hall keeper
reports " Magpies very scarce here ; I saw two about fourteen days back."

Pecivits. — Most o( ths letters report an incre.iss. The observant
Theydon keeper says that they appear more plentiful. " A large
quantity of them as well as the ' Golden I^lover ' were on the meadow
land between Theydon Bois and Epping all the early part of the winter."
From Epping comes the report, "Peewits are very plentiful this way";
Bishops Hall, " Peewits are more numerous than formerly." At Loughton,
" Peewits are most abundant."

12 THE PROTECTION OF WILD BIRDS IN ESSEX.

Kingfisher. — The Epping keeper reports an increase. 'Slv. Buxton says
that there are a fair number along the Roding. A pair breeJ at Knighton
every year. The other reporters do not mintion them.

Coots ha\-e, Mr. Kiissell remarks, af';er several years absence from the
district, re-appeared at VVanstead and Birch Hall,

Carrion Crows ate getting very destructive at Eonghton and elsewhere.
The observer at Chingfjrd reports a few Bnll-finchcs " which I hardly e\er or
never used to see in the old days "

The Herons in Wanstead Park h.i\-e done well ; they have 57 nests,
probably an exceptional number.

Nearly all the keepers speak well of the effect of the new-
orders. The Theydon keeper remarks : — " Bird catchinj; by the
professionals from Lf)ndon is practically extinct around my beat,
as one is not seen now where twenty or thirty woidd be three or
four years ago, the police being very smart on them." The keepers
all commend the way in which the police are endeavouring to
enforce the law, but at W'altham it is stated that " on Sunday the
place is infested with bird catchers and 3 ouths frequent the lanes
bordering the forest, ruthlessly destroying every nest they can
find." At Loughton also the bird-catchers seem to be some-
what rampant, and efforts are needed to put a stop to the evil.
The fines inflicted are far too small ; greater rigour on the part
of the magistrates would do nuich good in checking the
incursions of the fraternity.

Our member, INlr. C. B. Russell, JT^., the energetic hlou.
Secretary to the Essex Bird Society, has favoured us with an
advance copy of his Report for i8y8, which is accompanied by a
map sliowing the specially protected areas in Essex, and we
gladly print his inieresting notes relating to the Shore-birds and
Wildfowl which are the special objects of the vigilance of his
excellent Society : —

" The year 1898 will be memorable for the effects of the disastrous high
tides. Several gulleries were spoilt, ab well as breeding grounds of wild duck
all round the Essex coast ; but on the other hand, large numbers of duck are
reported as having bred inland. It is an ill wind that blows no one any good,
and it seems probable that the islands and marshes lost to the farmer may
again become havens of refuge to the wild fowl. Such is likely to be the case
with Pewit Island, of which haulier gives such a deliij^htful account."

" The Inspectors were asked by a circular letter, (i.) How the shore birds
did last season ? (ii ) Whether, during the past few years, there h^s been
any appreciable increase or decrease in the numbers of shore birds and wild
fowl breeding with us ? (iii.) Whether any damage was done to the breeding,
grounds by the Hoods last year ?

THE PROTECTION' OF WILD BIRDS IN ESSEX. I3

" The following details are extracted from letters received
in answer to these queries : —

A. I 'It was a very bad season for shore birJs on account of very high

tides.'

2 ' For the past three or four years they seem at a stanr'still— neither

increase or decrease.'

3 ' The floods last year had a great deal to do with the scarcity of birds

this year.'

B. I. ' The shore birds have increased in almost every case.'

2. ' While these have increased, the wild fowl have considerably

decreased.'

3. ' The breeding grounds were much damaged by the high tide. Many

of the eggs were destroyed, and on the enclosed marshes many of
the young died for want of water, the ditches having been drained
to clear them from the salt water.'

C. 'The birds did well in regard to breeding, but on account of the

great flood of salt water, after the birds were hatched, they got
vno the water, and it being salt water, they died. There was no
frash warier for thim for some time, as the salt water remained so
loi.g on the marshes.'

D. ' I think on the whole a decreas2 in this district, and I think that the

floods have been the means of stopping the breeding of wild fowl
all around this localit\', as they have been over-flowed several
times last season.'

E. ' I think we had more Terns and Ring Plover breeding here this year ;

not quite so many ducks, as I think tliey went where they could
get fresh water I told you about the gulls. There was not
one nest in my fleets, only a few, very late, in my neighbour's
fleet. They came at the usual time, found the fleets run dry after
the flood of salt water— as we had very little rain they did not fill
up again — so I suppose they did not like the look of it, and went
a way ; then they came back again about a week into June. I
found 22 nests on the saltings, with one and two eggs in, and they
managed to hatch them off in-between the big tides. So there
was not a tenth part so many as usual, 1 believe through no other
cause than the flood. I saw the first Ring Plover's nest with two
eg2;s, on May 13th ; young Terns, some nearly feathered and some
just hatched, on fune 26th ; on July 7th I found a Wild Duck sit-
ting hard on the salting ; we had the tide a foot deep in most
places, and must have been three or four inches deep over the nest
two days following. I think she hatched off all right, as I found
the remains of the eggs after in the nest. They could not be fit to
shoot by the ist of August ! I saw one nice brood of Wild Duck
on May ist.'

F. ' As for the Wild Fowl, they are as scarce this winter as I ever knew

them. From what I have understood, the floods and big tide
afifected the ground so that it killed a great many of the young
ducks, and I think the close time ought to be the first of March till
the first of September.'

14 THE PROTECTION OF WILD BIRDS IN ESSEX.

G. ' The flood has destroyed the Wild Ducks' breeding ground, but with

other birds it has made no difference ; last season was very fair
with other shore birds.'
H. ' Ducks and Coots plentiful at first There have been more of some

sorts that frequent this part. I can speak from being an eye-
witness to seeing hundreds of young birds— Ducks and Coots-
hatch where I was, and having no fresh water, they all perished ;
for aftf-r about one week there wasn't a young one to be seen, only
dead ones, and as June came the old birds left, all but now and then
one took their departure, and there are but few returned at present.'
I. ' The shore birds did well last season, and there seems an increase of

the same, but a decrease in Wild Fowl this season, owing largely,
I believe, to the very high tides which prevailed all the summer,
damaging the nests.'
K. ' There was a fair quantity of shore birds last season. There has

been a great decrease in Wild Fowl, through and owing to the
great floods of last season. There are hundreds of Wild Fowl eggs
destroyed by laying on the saltings. If they were disturbed when
building their nests, they would go and build on the fresh marshes.
As there are a lot of saltings in my district, that would be the
means of preserving them.'
L. ' I think the shore birds had a fair breeding time last year, and that

there is an increase in all the small class. Wild Ducks are not
nearh' as plentiful as usual, but this is, I think, owing to the flood-
ing of their breeding grounds by the sea breaking over last
November year.'
" .-Vnother correspondent reports: — 'A much larger number of Ring
Plover ; you can see them at any time ; a year or two ago you could hardly
see one. The island that Mr. Bu.xton and yourself went to look at has all
gone to sea, and the birds have taken up their abode there, any amount of
them, and all kinds, so it looks like the birds making their home there ' He
also reports the breeding of Sheldrake and Oyster-catchers ; and says that
there has been a great increase in the number of Dab-chick."

" It seems probable that the young duck died in the flooded grounds
rather from want of food than from want of fresh water. Any observations
on this point would be of interest. "

Mr. Russell reports that i6 persons were prosecuted under
the Wild-bird Acts in Essex in 1898, and all but one were con-
victed. He also says that several suggestions have been made
to him, and quotes the following as worthy of consideration by
the County Council and the Home Secretary for adoption in
Essex : —

"I. That a list of birds should be drawn up to be protected all the year
round throughout the county.' Such a list would necessarily be
confined to those which are both harmless and easily distinguished.
It might include the Kingfisher, Woodpecker, Nut-hatch, the
Swallow tribe. Goldfinch, Barn Owl, &c.
I As above-mentioned, wo would reconiinciid that a list should be published of those
birds not protected.— Ed.

THE PRESIDENTIAL ADDRESS. I5

" 2. That, as in Middlesex, Sundays should be close-time for taking birds.

Such a bye-law would not apply in the case of owners and

occupiers or their authorised agents.
" 3. That a date should be fi.xed, after which it would be illegal to take

plovers' eggs."

On the whole it may be clainiecl that the efforts made on
behalf of out little feathered friends during tlie past year were
successful — such disastrous natural effects as the flood of
November, 1897, will not, it is to be hoped, recur — and with a
little more co-operation on the part of the general public and
a little wholesome draconian severity delivered from the Bench,
lovers of birds in Essex may become more hopeful of the
future.

THE PRESIDENTIAL ADDRESS.

DELIVERED AT THE NINETEENTH ANNUAL MEETING

ON MARCH 25th, 1899.

By DAVID- HOWARD, J.I'., F.C.S., F.I.C.

"L7F£ PROBLEMS IN MODERN SCIENCE:'

[Abstract by Mr. Hozcard.]

Ladies and Gentlemen,
rr^^HE most important event which has marked the past
1 year of the Essex Field Club has been the pro\ision,
through the generosity of Mr. Passmore Edwards (supple-
mented by the liberality of the West Ham Borough Council),
of a suitable home for the collections of the Club, and
arrangements for the permanent maintenance of the Museum.
It is no small satisfaction that at last a solution has been
arrived at of a question which has caused so much anxiety to
the Council and all who have the welfare of the Club at
heart, but it must not be forgotten that the acceptance of these
provisions entails upon the Club the very serious responsibility
of providing for the exhibition of their collections in a manner
worthy of their new home. It is earnestly to be hoped that a
liberal response will be made to the appeal for funds for this
purpose.

l6 THE PRKSIDENTIAL ADDRESS.

Another event of good omen for the future has been the
prehniinary steps that have been taken to estabhsh closer
relations between the learned societies in East Anglia interested
in like studies to onr own. The need for imited work in all
scientific researcli and the evils of isolation in study are
increasingly evident, and we heartily welcome this prospect of
union with valued fellow-workers.

I will not venture to attempt a review of the general
progress of science in the brandies in which we are chiefly
interested. It is more and more difficult to keep abreast with
progress, even of one branch of knowledge, and yet at the same
time the interdependence of the various branches of study
becomes more and more fascinating, yet bewildering. It is not
only difficult but impossible to define spheres of influence among
the sciences either in their abstract study or in their practical
ap[dications. Perhaps in nothing is tliis interpenetration more
marked than in the striking manner in which the phenomena of
life, and still more of the interdependence of the higher and lower
forms of life, complicate su many problems of modern scientific
thought. In Chemistry, for example, the marvellous progress
in the synthesis of organic compounds had seemed almost to do
away with any distinction between the organic and the inorganic,
but though these distinctions may seem obliterated as to the
resultant compounds, our results are obtained by processes that
throw little or no light on the natural life problem. We can
synthetise alcohol from olefiant gas, and we can, by oxydation with
spong\- platinum, change this into acetic acid. In this we but
chimsih- imitate tlie processes which, under the influence of the
lixing plant, synthetise starch from the gases of the air ; then,
by llie inimitable action of germination, transform it into sugar;
and thcTi, by the obscure intervention of a foreign micro-organism,
split it up (how we know not as yet) into alcohol and carbonic
acid, ready for yet another organism to transform (for unknown
reasons of its own) into acetic acid.

Again, our conception of organic chemistry has been
revolutionised by the discovery firstly of the influence of the
nitrifying micro-organisms in transforming and modifying the
combined nitrogen of the soil, and still more of the semiparasitic
organisms to which apparently the supply of combined nitrogen
for higher plant life is largely due. It is impossible to over-
estimate the importance of this and of other cases of symbiosis.

THE PRESIDENTIAL ADDRESS. I7

It is not alone a most fascinating study, throwing a flood of light
on most obscure problems of vegetable physiology, but it is also
of immense practical importance in the manuring of crops. It is,
at least, possible that the mere unintelligent application of the
constituents needed for plant life may in some cases do more
harm than good by discouraging the efforts of these invaluable
living auxiliaries.

As we get higher in the scale of life, the influence of lower
forms becomes of even greater importance. In medicine,
instead of being able, as we seemed to have the prospect of being,
to regard the body a highly-developed chemical laboratory, the
processes of which were more or less analogous to those known
in the work-shop of the chemist, we find that health or sickness,
life or death, depend to an undetermined degree on the life-
history of micro-organisms, the very existence of which we did
not guess a few years ago ; it is the culture in the flask of the
bacteriologist rather than the re-action in the test-tube of the
chemist that tells the secret of disease and its cure. It is the
foes within the human frame far more tlian the foes without that
imperil it.

Time would fail to follow out the ramifications of this wide
question. I will but remark on the fact that while we are thus
constantly meeting fresh proofs of the all-prevailing influence of
living organisms, we seein as far off as ever from learning what
life is. It certainly is not organic in the sense of depending on
the presence of organization ; it is the living " protoplasm " that
makes the organization, not the organization that makes the
life, but how to express in terms that we can comprehend what
is the real difference between living and dead matter is a problem
as obscure as ever.

We do but learn the more we know how little we know and
realize how much there is to learn, how much more to believe.

ANNUAL REPORT OF THE COUNCIL FOR THE
YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31st, 1898.

[Read ami adopted at the 19th Annual Meeting held at Stratford, March 25th, 1899.]

Finance. — The accounts for 1898 are, in deference to the opinion of the
Auditors, which has been endorsed by the Treasurer and Council, presented in
a slightly different form as compared with those for 1897.

The debit balance on the General Account, largely reduced in 1897, has
been again diminished by a small amount, although, as will be observed, £2^.
was allocated to the Essex Museum Maintenance Fund for the half year, in
accordance with the recent agreement with the Corporation of West Ham.
The loss on Field Meetings, though more than doubled, was compensated by
a large reduction in the cost of circulars and stationery. As in 1S97 the
year's expenses may be said to be included in the year's accounts.

The Subscriptions in arrear on December 31st, amounted to rather more
than /45, as compared with £2^ in 1897.

The debit balance on the Special Memoirs Account has been increased by
the sum of £10, which is represented by stock acquired and now saleable ;
that on the Forest Museum Fund (which now includes both Capital and
Maintenance) has been reduced by over £^.

The life Composition Fund, included in the summary of Balances, has
further benefited by the resolution of March 2nd, 1S97, '^^'^ will continue to
do so.

Membership. — During the year 1898, the Club had cause to regret the
loss, by death, of three ordinary members: Mr. J. Albert Copland, Lord
Carlingford, and Dr. Maurice Davies. The losses by resignation amounted to
twenty-seven, and two members were removed by order of the Council.
Fifteen new members were elected. The strength of the Club on December
31st, 1898, was as follows : — Life Members, 28 ; Ordinary Members, 209 ;
Ordinary Members (1893), 27 ; Honorary and Exempt Members, 21 ; making
a total of 285.

The Club's Local (Cou.ntv) Museum. — In continuation of the reports
on the position of the Club's Museum given in the last two Annual Reports of
the Council (Essex Naturalist vol. x. pp. 1S-21 and pp. 251-252) the
attention of members is drawn to the statement on the subject in a late part
of the Journal (E.N. vol. x. pp. 337-346). Full particulars are there given of
the negotiations and arrangements with the Corporation of West Ham, and
the text of the agreement is set out in full. It is unnecessary to repeat these
details on the present occasion. The agreement was signed by the Hon.
Secretary on behalf of the Club, and signed and sealed by the Mayor and
Town Clerk on behalf of the Corporation, on July 25th last. Under the
terms of the agreement the Treasurer of the Club has to pay to a separate
account to be called the " Museum Maintenance Fund " the sum of ;^5o
annually, and in like manner the Corporation of West Ham have agreed to
pay to the Treasurer of the Club for the purposes of the said Fund the sum

ANNUAL REPORT OF THE COUNCIL. IQ

of ;^ioo annually, these two payments to commence from the date of the
agreement. The proportional instalments of the Annual Grants up to the
25th of December, 1898, have been paid to the Fund.

The necessary alterations in the Rules and the consent of the Club as a
body to the terms of the agreement were made and given at a Special
Meeting held on October 4th, 1898, which is fully reported in the last issue of
the Essex Naturalist (vol. x. pp. 406-407).

With reference to the removal of the Club's goods from Chelmsford and
the differences on matters of finance which had arisen, a Sub-Committee
(consisting of the Rev. R. E. Bartlett, Mr. T. V. Holmes, and Prof. R.
Meldola. with Mr. W. C. Waller as Hon. Secretary) was formed " for the
purpose (amongst other things) of reporting upon the best way of settling the
said differences whether by friendly arrangement, arbitration or otherwise."

The separation of the Club's goodf from those formerly belonging to the
old Chelmsford Museum was made, and the Council decided that they should
at once be removed from Chelmsford. This was done on September 2nd last.
The question of the pecuniary liabilities attaching to each party was delegated
to the above-named Committee, with the addition of Mr. C. A. Copland
(Solicitor), on behalf of Mr. Chancellor, and Mr. Henry I. Coburn, Hon.
Solicitor to the Club, " to act as Ar'bitrators in the financial question, their
award to be final and binding on both the said Institutions." The award of
the Arbitrators was made on January 17th, 1899, and in the following words
(after recital) : —

" And whereas Frederic Chancellor, of Chelmsford, aforesaid Architect
(on behalf of the said Museum), and William Cole, of KniglUon Villas,
Buckhurst Hill (on behalf of the said Club), have each submitted to us
certain statements of account and otherwise in reference to the said matter of
difference e:nbod\ing the chums of the said Institutions respectively the claim
of the said Museum baing in excess of the claim of the said Club. Now we
the undersigned as such arbitrators as aforesaid having duly considered the
said statements and the said matters in difference do hereby decide, award,
and adjudge that all accounts between the said Institutions shall be
considered as settled and closed without any payment being made by either
of the said Institutions to the other, and that all claims by each of the said
Institutions against the other in respect of the matters in difference or for
damages or otherwise shiU be considered to be put an end to and extinguished."

This award was signed by all the members of the Committee, and must
be accepted as a final settlement.

The Council gave up possession of the rooms at Chelmsford on the 29th
of September, and they have taken premises at 9, Woodgrange Road, Forest
Gate, as a temporary storehouse and Curator's work-rooms pending the
completion of the new museum.

Mr. W. Cole, F.f..S., F.E S., has been appointed Curator to the Museum
a3 from the 25th of July, 1098.

The Council and t'ne members of Club have already recorded their most
cordial thanks to Mr. Passmore Edwards for his munificence, and also to the
Technical Instruction Committee of the Corporation of West Ham for the
enlightened view they have taken with regard to the establishment of the
Museum on a secure footing. The Council al o wish to express their thanks

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22 ANNUAL REPORT OF THF. COUNCIL.

to Mr. H. I. Coburn for the great care and attention he has given, as Hon.
SoHcitor to the Club, to the legal and other arrangements in connection
therewith ; also to Mr. W. C. Dare, the Hon. Coun.sel, to whom the draft
agreement was submitted for settlement Thev also record thanks to the
members of the Sub-Commiitee of Arbitration, and particularly to Mr. W C-
Waller for the labour he has bestowed in the matter in the office of Hon.
Secretary to the Sub-Committee.

It would be premature to give now anything like a full report on the
Museum. The Curator will in a few months' time draw up a report for
presentation to a meeting of the Club, and will embody in it the main details
of the proposed arrangement of the collections. This cannot be done
usefully until the building is in a more advanced stage.

Some donations to the Museum should, however, be acknowledged at
once. Mr. \V. H. Dalton, F.G.S., has presented the whole of his valuable
geological collections, and has moreover devoted a considerable time to the
classification of the specimens and will continue to do so as opportunity
offers ; Mr. J. C. Shenstone has presented his Herbarium, consisting largely
of Essex plants, which number about 700 specimens ; the Rev. J. W-
Kenworthy has presented specimens from the supposed Forest Bed at Clacton
and has placed his Braintree collections of the remains of animals and flint
implements, &c., on loan, to form a temporary exhibition of the works of
Neolitliic Man and his surroundings and animal contemporaries ; Mrs. Bree
has, through Dr. Laver, presented the collection of the bones of Pleistocene
Mammalia from the North Sea, made by her husband, the late Dr. C. R. Bree,
of Colchester. This collection has not yet been received, but will come into
our possession very shortly. Other donations have been received or are
promised, and will be recorded in the report to be presented as above indicated.

In accordance with the terms of the agreement, the Council have
established a " Museum Purchase Fund " to raise the money required
(estimated at /'i,ooo) for the fitting up and equipments of the Museum.
A full statement of this Fund has recently been placed in the hands of the
members, and Council await the result, in the hope that the members of the
Club and the public generally will support an institution which might be
rendered one of great interest and educational value.

The Council cannot refrain from congratulating the Club on the fact that
an Essex Museum of Natural History in the true sense of the term will soon
be established. The Museum at first will probably fall far short of the wishes
of the promoters, but the arrangements made will permit of its rapid growth
and development ; above all, the risk of decadence will be minimised, as
the annual grant will permit of continuous work being carried on. In a few
years time the County Museum will, it is confidently anticipated, be worthy
of its name by containing sets of specimens fairly representative of the
natural history of a most interesting district.

Meetings. — Eleven meetings were held during i8g8, which were well and
sometimes numerously attended. They have all been reported in full in our
Journal and therefore but few remarks are necessary. As in former years it is
our pleasing duty to acknowledge kind hospitalities. At the meeting on July
23rd, the Mayor of Colchester, Mr. .Mderman J. N. I'axman, entertained the
Club at his beautiful seat, Stisted Hall, and on October ist the Vicar of

ANNUAL REPORT OF THE COUNCIL. 23

Braintree and Mrs. Kenworthy welcomed the members to tea, after the very
plea'^ant and instructive meeting at Braintree. On October 8th a Joint
Meetina: with the Essex Archaeological Society was held at the Deneholes in
Hangman's Wood ; the Council hope that other meetings in conjunction with
the County Archaeological Society may be held in the future. Valuable aid,
which the Council most gratefully acknowledges, was rendered at the various
meetings by the gentlemen named : — Mr. F. W. Elliott, Mr. D. J. Scourfield,
Dr. Sorby, Col. Bryan, Mr. T. V. Holmes, Mr. Ashley, Mr. J. C. Shenstone,
Mr. C. E. Benham, Prof. Boulger, Mr. Turner, Rev. Augustus Shears, Rev.
J. W. Kenworthy, Mr. E. T. Newton, F.R.S., Mr. W. H. Dalton, F.G.S.,
Mr. F. C. Parmenter, Mr. G. F. Beaumont, F.S.A., Mr. Miller Christy, F.L.S.,
Mr H. A. Cole, Mr. E. Lovett, and others. Special attention may be called
to the meeting at Witham on July 23rd to promote an Annual Congress of the
Natural History Societies of East Anglia. The Council hope that all
members will do their best to make this Annual Congress a useful and
interesting gathering. Full details of the scheme were given in the report of
the meeting in the Esse.k Natukalist (vol. x. pp. 360-368). A Committee to
promote the Congre.ss for 1899 has been formed, consisting of Mr. T. Southwell ,
F.L.S., and Mr. Nicholson (Hon. Sec), for the Norfolk and Norwich Society ;
Mr. E. P. Ridley (Mayor of Ipswich), President, and Mr. G. H. Hewetson,
Hon. Secretary, for the Ipswich Society, and Mr. J. C. Shenstone, and
the Hon. Secretary, Mr W. Cole, for the Essex Field Club.

The Council wish to acknowledge the kindness of the Technical
Instruction Committe3 of West Ham and of Mr. Briscoe, the Principal of the
Institute, for the arran^^nisnts thsy have made for the holding of Winter
Meetings of the Club in the Institute. This concession will be of great service,
and will be of even greater benefit in the future when the Museum and Library
roons come into our possession.

The Essex Naturalist. —Four quarterly parts of the Journal have
been issued within the year, containing papers of very considerable local and
scientific interest. It is a matter for congratulation that local papers relating
to the investigations of the Club's members are still forthcoming. In the
"Index" of the British Association, the Club is credited with 25 papers of
this kind published during the 12 months end^d the ist of June,- 1898. It is
still a matter for regret that the " Notes " columns are not more occupied by
observations of members and friends of the Club. The Editor is of opinion
that this section might be made one of the most valuable features in our
publication, and the attention of all lovers of natural history in the county is
again strongly directed to this point.

The Library, &c.— The Council are very glad to announce that Mr.
Lockyer has kindly undertaken to resume the post of one of the Librarians
which he occupied iu the first years of the Club". The whole of the books
have been removed to the premises in Woodgrauge Road, and the stock of
publications from Knighton Villas, Buckhurst Hill. The Council beg to
thank Mr. H. A. Cole and Miss J. Cole for the accommodation of two rooms
afforded for so many years to store these books and other goods. It is hoped
that the books, &c. will now be got into order, so that when the new library
room is ready they may at once be rendered again available by the members.

24 THE ESSEX FIELD CLUB.

The Epping Forest Museum.— Referring to the lengthy statement in the
last Annual Report, the Council regret that scarcely any progress has yet been
made by the Epping Forest Committee of the Corporation of London with
regard to the repair of Queen Elizabeth's Lodge, and the allotment of further
space for the purposes of the Museum. Several meetings of the Committee
have been held, but nothing has yet been settled. It would be useless
adding more at the present stage. The Council sincerely hope that before the
next Annual Meeting a satisfactory arrangement may be arrived at.' The
Museum under the care of the Hon. Curator, continues to be largely attended,
and very many of the visitors take great interest in it. A number of Schools
and Natural History Clubs have visited it during the year, and on some of
these occasions the Curator has attended to give a short exposition of por-
tions of the contents.

A full report on the state of the Museum, and the plans for its extension
and improvement, is reserved for a paper to be read by the Curator at a future
meeting.

F'resident. — The Council have much pleasure in again proposing Mr.
Howard for re-election as President, in the hope that during his coming term of
office he may take part in the opening of the New Museum and Head Quarters
of the Club, the acquisition of which he has done so much to promote.

I We are very glad to state that, at a meeting of the Common Cmincil of the City of London
held at the Guildhall, on .^pril 27th, a report from the Epping Forest Committee recommending
the repairs of the Queen Elizabeth's Lodge and the re-conversion of the rooms on the first floor
into one large room, was received and adopted, and a simi of £500 was voted towards the
expense of such repairs. This matter is set out more fully on another page in the present part
of the E.N. Editor.

THE ESSEX FIELD CLUB.

THE 18 4TH ORDINARY MEETING.
Saturday, January 28th, 1899.

THE 184th Ordinary Meeting was held in the Physical Theatre of the
Municipal Technical Institute, Romford Road, Stratford, at 6.30 p m ,
Prof. R. Meldola, F.R.S., V.P., in the chair.

Mr. F. W. Reader was elected a member of the Club.

Mr. Cecil Schwartz exhibited several specimens under the microscope
and preserved in fluid. Among them were Coccidiuin ovi/oriiie.a. Gregarine from
the liver of a rabbit, the specimen showing the process of transformation into
egg-shaped zoosperms by the formation of a capsule and the production of
several spheres from its granular contents.

Also Sagitta cephaloptera, one of the Chsetognatha group of the Nematoda,
from surface-net gatherings in the Crouch River, Essex. One of the three
specimens shown contained a very large Nematode nearly half the size of the
Sagitta.

Also young (Zo3p) larvae of Crustacea from surface-net gatherings, Crouch
River.

THE ESSEX FIELD CLUB. 25

Also Dic^enia disdindrum, parasitic in the bladder of Rami temporal ia, Irom
Epping Forest.

Also Tnbuhma divisa (Hydrozoa) from the Crouch. These specimens
were preserved in 4 per cent, formalin two years ago, and were still in good
condition. Mr. Schwartz strongly recommended formalin for all marine
Hydrozoa.

Mr. Schwartz's collection, too, included specimens of Sertularia, Obclia
gelatinosa (Campanularidae) from the Crouch River ; Pygnngoiiuin littoiah from
the Thames estuary, and other forms.

Dr. Dixon exhibited specimens of Anliarloitium lewiiiii, a cactus growing in
Mexico. The Indians eat the dried plant in their religious ceremonies. Dr.
Dixon described the physiological effects of the alkaloid of the plant — the
most remarkable being visions in which the air seemed filled with vague
perfumes, and musical notes could be imagined to arrange about themselves a
halo of harmonious sounds. But the most distinct of all were the colour
visions, consisting of displays of ever varying colours, of incomparable
brilliancy and beauty.

Dr. Dixon also exhibited a microscopic preparation of BaciUiis pcstis, the
bubonic plague bacillus of India.

Prof. Meldola made some remarks on the chemical nature of the alkaloid
of the cactus.

Mr. C. Oldham exhibited and presented to the Club's Museum an ancient
clay " Loom-weight " [or fisherman's " net-sinker" ?] found in October last in
a gravel pit at the rear of St. Swithin's Farm; Barking Side. The weight lay
in a stratum of sand 7 feet from the surface.

Mr. Oldham also exhibited some Nocture taken at "Sugar" in Epping
Forest last season, including the rare Cymatophora ocularis taken on the
5th July ; Cosmia diffinis and C. affinis, Dipterygia pinastri, &c.

The Secretary exhibited the four privately issued volumes of Gen. Pitt-
Rivers' magnificent work on the explorations at Rushmore, presented by the
General to the Club. The 4th volume had only recently been issued.

Prof. Meldola made some remarks on the great scientific value of General
Pitt-Rivers' researches, the investigations described and illustrated in his
books were models of the methods of conducting and registering such excava-
tions. General Pitt-Rivers was one of the pioneers of scientific archaeology,
and of the right use of the " pick and shovel," and many of our greatest
archaeological explorers owed their inspiration to him. A cordial vote of
thanks was passed to General Pitt-Rivers for his valuable donation.

Mr. W. Cole called attention to the new Orders for the Protection of
Wild Birds in Essex, and particularly to those relating to the Epping Forest
District which as now enlarged under the recent mandate of the Secretary of
State established one of the largest absolutely protected areas in England.

By means of the electric light lantern an exhibition was made of the fine
series of Slides brought together by the British Association Committee formed
for the " collection and preservation of Photographs of Geological interest."
In the display of a selection of the lantern slides, preference was gi\-en to those
haviiig a direct bearing on the geology of England, east of a line from Dorset
to the Wash. Two albums of prints of geological photographs were also

26 THE ESSEX FIELD CLUB.

shown. The whole were exhibited by the courtesy of Prof. W. W. Watts,
M A., F.G.S., Secretary to the B.A. Committee. Running comments on the
slides were given by Mr. T. V. Holmes, F.G.S., V.P., who explained the bear-
ing of the "sections" exhibited on the geology of the coast of Essex and
Suffolk. In the Eastern Counties, for example, Mr. Holmes observed, we
have much Boulder-clay, a formation found also in many districts in the
North and West. Now it need hardly be said that to the student of Glacial
deposits living in the south-east, it is as important to note the characteristics
of those of Yorkshire, Cheshire, or Cumberland as those of his own county.
Again, in this part of England the chalk covers a very large area of the
surface and may be found at a depth not exceeding looft. over large districts
the surface of which is occupied by tertiary or by superficial beds. But
it mav also be found in \Viltshire, Lincolnshire, and East Yorkshire, and in
North-Eastern Ireland.

Readers of the Esskx Natukalist will find that in Mr. Holmes' account
of the proceedings of the Conference of Delegates at Liverpool, the want of
geological photographs from the Eastern Counties is mentioned. But the
greater average softness of the strata of these counties, which detracts from
their picturesqueness and thereby tends to check photographic enthusiasm, is
precisely the reason why the presence of geological photographers is especially
needed in them. For in the more picturesque counties, with hard rocks in
larger proportions, the sections, whether of the coast or some natural crag, or
shown in quarries or railway cuttings, tend to remain wholly or comparatively
uninjured from the effects of a few years' weathering. But a section in soft
cla}S, gravels, and sands, whether natural or artificial, may lose much of its
beauty and clearness in the course of a few weeks, from the mere washing
down of material belonging to the upper beds over the surface of those
beneath. In short, in Essex and East Anglia, there is special need for local
photographers to take views of sections as soon as they appear without a delay
of a single week.

A discussion was carried on by Prof. Meldola, and Mr W. H. Dalton,
F.G.S.. late of H.M. Geological Survey.

Cordial votes of thanks were passed to Mr. Holmes and to the exhibitors,
and to Professor Watts for the loan of the slides.

Tea and light refreshment was served at the close of the meeting, Mr.
Briscoe, the Principal of the Institute, having very kindly allotted one of the
lecture-rooms for the purpose.

THE 185TH ORDINARY MEETING.

Saturday, February 25TH, 1899.

The 185th OKi:)iNAiiY Mekting of the Club was held in the Technical
Institute, Stratford, at 6.30 p.m., the President, Mr. Da\id Howard, F.C.S.,
in the chair.

Nominations of new members of the Council and officers were made in
accordance with the Rules, in anticipation of the Annual Meeting to be held
in March (see Report of the igth Annual Meeting on March 23th).

THE ESSEX FIELD CLUB.

27

Mr. J. Chalkley Gould exhibited an exchequer note relating to the paj'-
ment of the salaries of the keepers of Epping Forest, which had been pre-
sented to the Epping Forest Museum by Mr. Brown, through Mr. C.
Davies Sherborn. The document was similar to that presented to the Club
by Mr. Gould in March, 1S95, and which was printed and described in the
Essex Naturalist for i8g6, vol. ix., p. 73. i\Ir. Gould made some remarks
on this document which are embodied in his notes to be printed in the
Essex Naturalist. Mr. Walter Crouch also made some observations on the
document.

Mr. Sewell exhibited a piece of a tree from the forest, which on being
split open for making firewood, showed the blade of a razor embedded in the
wood.

Mr. Cole said that instances of the kind were not very uncommon, and
referred to the case reported by Mr. C. E. Benham in the Essex Naturalist,
vol. viii., p. 88.

Thanks were voted to the exhibitors, and to Mr. Brown for his gift of the
forest document alluded to above.

In the absence of the author, Mr. W. Cole gave a resume of a paper
entitled " British Well-worms {Phreoryctcs) with especial reference to a unique
specimen from Chelmsford," by the Rev Hilderic Friend. Mr. Friend's
paper is printed in the present part of the Essex Naturalist.

Mr. Cole remarked that considering the number of shallow wells in
Essex, there ought to be no difficulty in obtaining further specimens, when
the proper methods of searching for the Phreoryctcs had been ascertained.

Tlie President thought that from a sanitary point of view, considering the
dangerous quality of water from most shallow wells, it would be consoling to
know that the Phreoryctean fauna of Essex remained scarce.

The Secretary also gave an abstract of an important paper by the Rev.
J. W. Kenworthy, Vicar of Braintree, entitled " Notes on a Neolithic
' Fascine ' Lake Settlement at Skitt's Hill, Braintree, Essex," and exhibited
on behalf of Mr. Kenworthy a selection of the specimens obtained. The
paper will appear in full in the Essex Naturalist.

A discussion ensued, in which the President, Prof. Meldola, Mr. Chalkley
Gould, Mr. T. V. Holmes, and others took part. Cordial recognition of the
interest of Mr. Kenworthy 's observations was given by all the speakers.

Mr. T. V. Holmes said that in the case of valley deposits like those in
which the Braintree articles were found it became of the greatest importance
that the exact spot should be registered on a 6-inch Ordnance Map of the
district. For with a little stream like that at Braintree, 50 yards here or
there may imply a totally different age. But when the exact position and
nature of the section in which the objects are found are given, the record of a
find must be valuable whatever alteration in the name given — Neolithic, &c.,
&c. — to denote the age of the specimens, may eventually be resolved upon.
Of course it is comparatively easy to get the specimens themselves determined
by some expert, but uniess the geological age of the deposits in \\hich they
are found is also settled, much of their interest is gone. Most of the endless
and unsatisfactory disputes aboiit objects found in the most recent beds result
from the position being not indicated with sufficient accuracy. Mr. Holmes
concluded by saying that it would be a good thing if we had explorers like

20 THE ESSEX FIELD CLUB.

Mr. Kenworthy in most of the Essex parishes. So many sections in soft
materials lose their clearness and value in a few weeks or even days. Records
of any would be valuable if the nature of the material and the spot where the
section appeared were noted by an intelligent local observer with sufficient
exactness.

Mr. D. J. Scourfield then gave a lecture entitled " Some illustrations of
Pond-life, with especial reference to forms occurring in Epping Forest." The
lecture was in the nature of a demonstration of a remarkable series of coloured
lantern slides representing some of the choicest examples of our fresh-water
Protozoa, Rotifers, Polyzoa, &c. The slides, which were the work of Mr.
H. M. J. Underbill, of Oxford, had been very kindly lent for the purpose by
Mr. J. J. Vezey, Treasurer of the Quekett Microscopical Club.

It would be quite impossible to describe in detail these very excellent
slides, remarkable alike for fidelity to nature and artistic treatment. The
following notes, however, may serve to indicate the general scope of the
series : —

The Rhizopods were represented by such forms as Aiiurba, Actinophrys,
and Raphidiophrys. The last named is a most interesting form on account of
its colonial habits, each zooid being joined to its neighbours by little bridges
of streaming protoplasm. Mr. Scourfield said that although most of the other
Rhizopods were pretty common in the Epping Forest district, Rapliidiophiys
appeared to be very rare as he had only found it in one little pond in
Wan stead Park.

The Infusoria formed a large detachment. There were examples of the
exquisite little " collared" flagellate forms like Codosiza and Salpingaca, of the
ciliate forms such as Vorticella, OpJiiydiiiDi, Sec, and of the suctorial group such
as Acineta, Podophya, and Dendrosoma. All these have been recorded from the
Forest area and most of them are in fact quite common.

The Sponges were illustrated by Spoiigilla fluviatilis in various stages.
This species and probably also one or two others occur in the Lea and the
Reding and at Wanstead Park.

The Hydroids comprise the three species of Hydra (H. vulgaris, H. fiisca,
and H. viridis) all of which occur commonly in our ponds and pools, and
Cordylophora Ic.custris a brackish water form which seems to be pushing its way
more and more into fresh water, but has not \et been seen in Epping Forest
area It might be worth while looking for it in the Lea and its associated
waters.

The Rotifers were only represented by the sedentary species (Rhizota)
but the drawings of these creatures were exceptionally fine. The chief kinds
shown were Floscularia, Stephanoccros CEcistes, Mdicerta, and Lacinidaria. The
last mentioned form has apparently never been seen in the Forest district, but
the others are for the most part fairly common.

The Polyzoa or Bryozoa were well illustrated by charming drawings of
Fredericella, Paludicclla, Ahyonclla, Plumatella, and Cristatclla. Wanstead Park
and Higham Park have yielded at different times specimens of all these forms.

Hearty votes of thanks were passed to the authors of the papers, and to
Mr. Scourfield for his most interesting lecture, and the meeting ended with
the usual service of light refreshment in one of the lecture-rooms of the
Institute.

THE ESSEX FIELD CLUB, 29

THE NINETEENTH ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

AND 186TH ORDINARY MEETING.

Saturday, March 25TH, 1899.

The 19th Annual Meeting was held in the Physical Lecture Theatre in
the Municipal Technical Institute, Romford Road, Stratford, at 6.30 p.m.,
the President, Mr. David Howard, F.C.S., in the chair.

The minutes of the i8th Annual Meeting held on March 26th, 1898,
and printed in the Essex Naturalist, vol. x., pp. 256-258, were read and
confirmed.

The Treasurer, Mr. W. C. Waller, read a summary of the Treasurer's
Statement of Accounts for 1898. It was announced that the Council had
decided to leave the form of the balance sheet to be decided upon by a small
Committee, and the meeting agreed to this, and that the revised statement
should be printed in the Essex Naturalist.

The Report ot the Council for the year 1S98 was read by the Secretary
(see pp. 18-24).

The Statement and Report were received and adopted.

•At the meeting on February 25th, 1899, it was announced that the follow-
ing members retired from the Council in accordance with the Rules:— Mr.
C. E. Benham ; Mr. Walter Crouch, F.Z.S. ; Mr. E. Durrant {on vacating
office as Librarian) ; Mr. F. W. Elliott, and Mr. Chaliiley Gould.

And at the same meeting the abo\'e-named members were duly proposed
for Election into the Council.

Mr. Alfred Lockyer on being nominated as one of the Eibrarians, also
vacated his seat on the Council, his place being taken, as above indicated, by
Mr. E. Durrant.

As Officers for 1S99 the following were nominated: —

As President, Mr. David Howard, J. P., F.C.S. ; Treasurer, Mr. W. C.
Waller, M.A., F S.A. ; Hon. Secretary and Curator, Mr. W. Cole, F.L.S,,
F.E.S. ; Assistant-Hon. Secretary, Mr. B. G. Cole; Librarians, Mr. Alfred
Lockyer and Mr. W. C. Waller, M..\., F.S.A. ; Hon. Counsel, Mr. W. C. Dare,
B.A., Barrister-at-Law ; Hon. Solicitor, Mr. H. I. Coburn.

Ks Auditor {for Council), Mr. Walter Crouch, F.Z.S. ; {for Members), Mr.
J. D. Cooper.

No other members having been proposed, the above gentlemen stood
elected by Rule VII. as members of the Council and Officers for the year
1899 and were so declared by the Chairman.

[The following therefore constitute the Officers and Council for 1S99: —

Patron. — H.R.H. the Duke of Connaught and Strathearn, K.G.
President. — David Howard, J. P., F.C.S., F.I.C.

Permanent Vice-Presidents. — {Under Rule H^.) — Prof. R. Meldola,
F.R.S., F.R.A.S., &c., {President 1880-82) ; Prof. G. S. Boulger, F.L.S. ,
F.G.S. {President 1883-84) ; T. V. Holmes, F.G.S., M.A.I. {President
1885-87) ; E. A. Fitch, F.L.S., F.E.S. {President, 1888-91) ; Dr. Henry Laver,
F.L.S., F.S.A. {President 1892) ; Frederic Chancellor, J. P., F.R.I.B.A.
[President 1893-94).

30 THE ESSEX FIELD CLUB.

Other Members of Council. — John Avery, C.A., Rev. R. E. Bartlett,
M.A. ; C. E. Benham ; Horace T. Brown, F.R.S. ; E. N. Buxton, J. P.,
Aldmn. C.C, D.L., &c. ; Miller Christy, F.L.S. ; Walter Crouch, F.Z.S. ;
Bryan Corcoran ; L. Cranmer-Byng ; E. Diirrant : F: W. Elliott ; A. J.
Furbank ; I. Chalkley Gould ; J. E. Harting, F.L.S., F.Z.S. ; Rev. W. S.
Lach-Szyrma, M.A. ; J. H. Porter ; Rev. A. F. Russell, MA. ■ J. C. Shen-
stone; John Spiller, F.I.C., F.C.S. ; F. H. Varley, F.R.A.S. ; George E.
Vaughau ; T. Hay Wilson.

Hon. Treasurer.— W. C. Waller, M.A., F.S.A.

Hon. Secretary and Curator.- -William Cole, F.L.S., F.E.S. ; Assist.
Hon. Secretary. — B. G. Cole.

Hon. Librarians. — .\lfred Lockyer and W. C. Waller.

Hon. Counsel. — W. C. Dare, r>.-\., I5arrister-at-La\v ; Hon. Solicitor. —
H. I. Coburn.]

The President then delivered his Annual Address, entitled " Life
Problems in Modern Science," an abstract of which is printed in the present
part of the Essex Naturalist (see pp. 15-17).

Professor Meldola, while guarding himself from endorsing all the con-
clusions in Mr. Howard's address, proposed that the most cordial thanks of
the Club be accorded to Mr. Howard for his services as President during the
past official year.

Mr. F. W. Elliott seconded the motion, which on being put to the meet-
ing was carried unanimously amid applause.

Mr. Howard briefly returned thanks.

The i86th Ordinary Meeting was then held, the President in the chair.

A lecture was delivered by Mr. Fred. Enock, F. L.S., F.E.S., on "The
Life History of the Tiger-Bsstle {Cicindela campestris)."

Mr. Enock's address was more than a mere lecture — it was a graphic
record of a series of observations, some entirely new, dealing with the whole
life-habits and metamorphosis of this interesting beetle (the larva of which,
from its mode of capturmg it prey, has been called the " British Ant-lion ")
and abundantly demonstrated the great interest attaching to the close study
of a common insect which may be observed in Epping Forest, and on sandy
heaths in Essex and around London. The Lecturer's observations were
illustrated by an admirable series of coloured lantern slides, made from his
own inimitable drawings " from life," several of which by ingenious contriv-
ances were moved so as to give an appearance of life to the pictures.

Mr. Enock was heartily thanked for his lecture, on the proposal of the
President, seconded by Professor Meldola — and some discussion took place on
the habits and metamorphosis of the common House-fly, and on the import-
ance and interest of the study of living insects in the field. Mr. Meldola
alluded to the efforts made by Professor Miall to encourage this branch of
biological stady. '

Mr. Enock briefly replied, an 1 the mseting ended with the usual
Conversazione.

I Sje l-'iofjssor MiiiU's .\ddi-ess to St;jtion D (Zoology) of the British Association at
Toronto on August 19th, 1897 (B.it. Ass. Rjp. iSj/, pp. 6,')/-6Sj) ahd also his remarks made
before the (Jorrjsponding Societies Committee a; tnj ^ji.na pla^e (Report, 1S97, pp. 29-32.)— Ed.

31

QUEEN ELIZABETH'S LODGE AND THE
EPPING FOREST MUSEUM.

IN the annual report of the Council for 1897 (^o^- ^-i
pp. 252-3) a statement of the position of the Epping Forest
Museum was given, and hope was expressed that the whole
question of the repair and restoration of Queen Elizabeth's Lodge
so as to afford more space for the Museum would be taken in
hand by the Epping Forest Committee. This matter has been
brought to a head in a Report ot the Committee presented to the
Court of Common Council on April 13th last, which report -was
uiiaiiimonsly agreed to by the Court and which has since been printed
and circulated. The report is of great importance with regard to
the future of the Lodge and the Museum, and some extracts
from it may be interesting. After summarising the history of the
Museum, the report goes on to say : —

" The exhibition is very popular, and has been visited by many thousands
of people, but the space at present available is insufficient for the increasing
number of exhibits. The Essex Field Club are desirous of enlarging the
Museum, if additional space can be provided in the Lodge.

" We have given considerable attention to the structural condition of the
Lodge, both externally and internally.

" The whole of the space on the fust floor was originally one large room
corresponding in dimensions to that on the second Hoor ; but at some period
anterior to the Lodge being handed over to the Conservators, it was divided
into three rooms ; some of the windows have been filled in, and it has been
otherwise mutilated

" We accordingly consulted Mr. J. Oldrid Scott, who is an eminent
architect skilled in Tudor architecture, as to the condition of the building, the
cost of throwing the rooms on the first floor into one, providing a new oak
ceiling and additional windows on the first floor, removing the plaster and
otherwise improving the appearance of the exterior and providing bedrooms
for the keeper in lieu of the rooms now used by him on the first floor."

A detailed estimate of the repairs, &c., is then given
amounting to £']^o and the report continues : —

" We are of opinion that it is a matter of urgent necessity that the work
should be taken in hand at once, not only with the object of extending the
Museum, but also of strengthening the structural condition of the Lodge and
improving its external appearance, and that it should be carried out in
accordance with Mr Scott's reports, of which we annex copies.

'• We therefore beg to recommend -bearing in mind the obligation thrown
upon the Conservator.-, — that your Honourable Court will be pleased to grant
tne sum of ;^5oo tor the structural alterations to the interior and restoration
of the exterior of the building, as advised by Mr. Scott

32 QUEEN ELIZABETH S LODGE.

" If found necessary to construct belrooms for the keeper and his family,
in lieu of those now in use, we shall probably be able to provide the cost
thereof out of casual sums received for privileges conferred od owners of
enclosed lands adjoining the Forest." ,

Appended to this document are two detailed reports by Mr.
Oldrid Scott, from which we make extracts of matters of interest
in connection with the structure and history of the Lodge, and
its use as a local Museum. It will be remembered that in 1895
Mr. James Cubitt, F.R.I.B.A., kindly made a careful examina-
tion of the Lodge on behalf of the Club, and wrote a Report
whicli was published in the Essex Naturalist for 1896 (vol. ix.,
pp. 166-7). ^'Y comparison of that report with those prepared
by Mr. Scott, it will be seen that the opinions of the two highly
skilled architects are practically identical. Mr. Cubitt subse-
quently made some suggestions as to the structural alterations, or
rather restorations, required to adapt the Lodge for the pur-
poses of a permanent Museum, with which Mr. Scott's later
opinion coincides, and which was euil)odied in the petition for
" more room "' presented by the Club to the Epping Forest
Committee.

Mr. Scott's first report is dated February 20th, 1897 : —

" At the request of the Epping Forest Commissioners, conveyed to me
by Mr. E. N. Buxton, I visited the Lodge at Chingford a few days ago and
made an examination of the building. It consists of an oblong structure of
timber, measuring nearly 30ft. by 20ft, internally divided into three stories,
with a square staircase projecting from the main building, which is some 4ft.
square. The whole is most solidly built of massive timber, which appears to
be in exceptionally good condition ; the walls are quite upright and the floors
are level — a condition very rarely met with in ancient timber houses. The
Lodge appears from the character of its architectural details, to have
been built in Henry VII. 's reign, towards the end of the 15th century — its
being called Queen Elizabeth's Lodge probably arising from her having made
use of it. Its original arrangement was very peculiar, consisting as it did of
two large rooms, one occupying each of the upper floors, and some small
apartments below. It may have been a Hunting Lodge for the use of the
Sovereign, the top room being a fine parlour for rest and refreshment, the
room below for dressing, and the small chambers on the ground floor for
attendants. There is a dignified character about the building which seems to
me to distinguish it from the usual buildings of its age, and though it is so
small in size it was evidently intended for a special purpose. The great care
which was evidently bestowed on the selection of timber used in its construc-
tion points in the same direction.

The upper floor retains its old character ; it is a fine room rising into the
roof, divided into three bays by boldly arched roof trusses ; it has been
restored, and is in all respects in a satisfactory condition.

QUEEN ELIZABETH S LODGE. 33

The middle floor was divided into rooms a considerable time since ; the
partitions are of oak, but thin and very rough ; at the same time the ceilings
were boarded with deal. These divisions, though of some age, are of no sort
of merit or value, and I see no reason why they should not be removed and
the room restored to its original condition. Its only ornamental features
which remain are the finely moulded beams of the ceiling, which in position
agree vsith the arched principals in the room above. I should strongly
recommend that this room should be brought back to its original state as far
as this is possible."

Mr. Scott at first thought that this room had originally a
number of windows, but a more careful examination failed to
reveal traces of the former existence of these ; he thinks, how-
ever, that three should be added, which would add much to the
convenience of the room and improve the external effect.

" The present ceiling of the first floor consists of thin deal boards fixed
below the old joists. I had expected to find the joists had been originally
exposed to view, but on removing two of the boards, it was evident that these
must always have been a ceiling of some kind, the joists, which have every
appearance of being original, being deep and comparatively thin, such as are
used in modern floors. These would not look at all well if exposed, and I
think it will be best simply to substitute oak boarding for the deal now in use.
******

If it should be decided to give up the first floor to the Museum, I under-
stand it will be necessary to supply the rooms on this floor, which are now
used by the keeper of the Lodge, in some other way. ' I fear that it would be
hardly possible to make an addition to the Lodge large enough for the
purpose without causing a considerable change in its appearance. Perhaps a
partly detached building could be added behind, but it is hard to see how
this could be done without taking away too much light.

If not too expensive, the best plan would, I think, be to build a cottage
in the garden belonging to the Lodge to the south-east of the main building.
There is an excellent site here, and the effect architecturally would be very
pleasing.

One of the rooms on the ground floor of the Lodge would be required for
the attendant in charge of the Museum during the day, and the others would
no doubt be extremely useful for unarranged specimens, &c."

With respect to the exterior of the building, Mr. Scott much
regrets the restoration which was carried out about i6 years ago,
and which gave an appearance to the building which it did not
originally bear. On removing some of the modern timber-facing
he found that the small uprights do not represent old timbers,
none of those removed having any old uprights behind them :—
" The larger pieces appear to correspond roughly with the original fram-
ing, but, so far as I was able to examine, the old timbers are not fit to be
exposed, the surfaces being seriously decayed. I have come to the conclusion
that it would not be practicable to remove the modern facing,"

34 ESST^.X AS A Vv'INE-PRODUCING COUNTY.

Mr. Scott recommends that the plastervvork should be
renewed with cement plaster broup^ht flush with the surfaces of
the timber work ; that barge boards of suitable design should be
substituted for those now in position ; and that the rough-case
should be removed from the old chimney stack, and the brick
work pointed.

We may now, therefore, hope to see the old Lodge skilfully
repaired, to become one of the principal objects of interest in the
neighbourhood. The additional space afforded to the Museum
will permit of a more systematic and complete representation of
the natural history and antiquities of the Forest. The Club has
petitioned the F^pping Forest Committee to establish some
efficient means of warming the building by means of hot water,
and to give our Curator the vise of a room or rooms for work and
storage. It is also very desirable that the Museum should be
lighted up during the dark afternoons in winter. If these things
are done, the building will be vastly more suitable to its purpose,
and it will need only a little perseverance and co-operation of
those interested in the Forest to render the Epping Forest
Museum worthy of its setting in the midst of one of the finest
recreation ^rrounds in Enijland.

ESSEX AS A WINE-PRODUCING COUNTY.

i!y MILLER CHRISTY, F.L.S.

SEVERAL months since, Mr. Walter Sergeant, of Dunmow,
writing to one of our leading county papers,' raised the
question: — Has the vine ever been cultivated in Essex to any
large extent for the purpose of making wine ?

We are safe, I think, in answering this question by a direct
negative. At the same time, there can be no doubt whatever
that, in early times, viniculture was successfully carried on at
not a few places in Essex. Of this, we have clear evidence in
the fact that many fields and pastures in various parts of the
county still retain (though sometimes in a corrupted form) the
name of " The Vineyard." Moreover, written records proving
that the vine was once cultivated in our Essex valleys still exist
and will be noticed hereafter.

I Ses Tlte Essex County Chronicle, Dec. gtli, 1898.

ESSEX AS A WINE-PRODUCING COUNTY. 35

This subject is of interest from more than one point of view.
I propose, therefore, in what follows, to repeat and amplify the
evidence in support of the foregoing statements which I adduced
when replying to Mr. Sergeant's enquiry. 2

That viniculture was formerly carried on in many other
counties in the South of England is, of course, well known.
The subject has been discussed by not a few competent writers,
among the chief of whom may be mentioned the Rev. Samuel
Pegge,3 the Hon. Daines Barrington,4 Richard Gough,5 Hudson
Turner,^ Sir TIenry Ellis, 7 Charles Roach Smith, ^ J. Maskell, 9
Edmund Venables,'° and J. Horace Round." Moreover, a great
many notes relating to the former occurrence of vineyards in the
southern counties of England are to be found in the pages of
Notes and Queries.

It should, howe\'er, be mentioned that one of the foregoing
writers, namely Harrington, criticising the statements of the Rev.
Samuel Pegge, altogether denies the possibility of the vine having
ever been cultivated in this country for the purpose of making
wine and declares that the numerous ancient records in which
vinec^ are mentioned refer, not to vineyards as we now understand
the term, but to gardens in which pears, apples, or other fruits
were cultivated for the purpose of making some kind of perry or
cider. Barrington's arguments, which he states' at great length,
may apply in some cases ; but they are altogether inconclusive
as proof that the vine could not be, and never has been,
cultivated in this country for the purpose of wine-making, and
they have failed to convince anyone. The controversy between
Pegge and Barrington is, however, interesting and amusing on
account of the vast amount of profound erudition which the
disputants displayed, side by side with a profound ignorance of
easily-accessible every-day knowledge. Each ostentatiously
quotes and discusses many obscure and abstruse passages from
the early Greek, Latin, Saxon, and Norman writers; but each
neglects, in a manner not uncommon at the period, to adduce

2 Sae Essex County Chronicle, Dec. i6th, 1898

3 Archceologia. vol. i. (1770), pp. 319-332 ; also vol. 111.(1776), pp. 53-66.

4 Ibid, vol. iii, pp. 67-95.

5 Gentleman's Magazine, 1775, pp. 513-516.

6 A rchceologiail Journal, vol. v. (1848), pp. 295-300.

7 General Introduction to Domesday Book (1833), vol . i, pp. 1 16-122.

8 Collectanea Antigua, vol. vi. (1867), pp. 76-109.

9 Notes and Queries, 7th series, vol vi. (1888), pp. 321-322.

10 Notes and Queries. 7th series, vol.xii. C1891), p. 10.

11 See post.

36 ESSEX AS A WINE-PRODUCING COUNTY,

more modern facts and records which would have at once decided
the point at issue between them. As a matter of fact, the records
which speak of the former existence of vineyards in this country
are very numerous, and refer unquestionably (at least, in the vast
majority of cases) to true vineyards in which the grape-vine was
cultivated for the purpose of making wine.

It can hardly be disputed that the vine was first introduced
into Britain by the Romans. At all events, records of its
cultivation here commence in their time ; and there can be very
little doul)t that, being a wine-drinking people, they cidtivated
it more or less extensively for the purpose of wine-making,
though there is very little direct evidence of the fact. Some
have held that the name Winchester was derived from the fact
that the vine was extensively culti\ated there by the Romans.

In the middle of the Eighth Century, Bede wrote that the vine
was grown in some places in Britain ; and, in the Tenth Century,
King Alfred legislated for the regulation of English vineyards ;
but it may be doubted whether the vine was much cultivated in
Saxon times.

After the Conquest, references to the cultivation of the vine
in England become frequent in old records. In the park at
Windsor, there must have been extensive vineyards, and a great
deal of information icspecting the methods of cultivation adopted,
the salaries paid, and the result obtained, especially during the
reigns of Edward III. and Richard II., may be gleaned from the
Public Accounts of the period, extensive extracts from which
have been published by Mr. Charles Roach Smith. '^ Moreover,
a small vineyard existed at Windsor as late as the reign of
George III.'^

It may even be doubted whether, since Norrnan days, there
has ever been a time when the vine has not been cultivated in
England to some small extent for the purpose of wine-making.
Before the Reformation, probably most of the larger Religious
Houses in the South of England had their vineyards. After
the Dissolution, the cultivation of the vine here probably became
more or less neglected ; but, that it was not altogether given up,
we may gather from a work on the subject published in 1666 by
John Rose, gardener to King Charles 11.'^ Erom this work

12 Collcctana Antiqtia, vi, pp. g6-ioi.

13 Tighe and Davis : Annals of Wimlsoy (185S;, p. 534.

14 The English Vincyar.t Vinlicntcci (Loiul., 16 mo., 1666J. There were later editions in
1672, 1675, and 1691.

ESSEX AS A WINE PRODUCING COUNTY 37

(which was put into shape by John Evelyn, who also supplied a
preface), it appears that, at the time of its publication, the
cultivr.tion of vineyards had greatly declined ; but, as the author
urged, this was to be much regretted, there being in England
many places well suited (he declares) to the cultivation of the vine.
He proceeds, therefore, to explain how the sites of vineyards
should be chosen, what kinds of vines should be planted, and how
they should be managed, closing with an advertisement of" sets "
which he had for sale at " very reasonable rates." About the
same time, the subject was also discussed in a work by J.
Worlidge, Gent., on fermented liquors producible from fruits
growing in Britain, of which a second edition appeared in 1678,
and a third in iGgi.'""

Up to about the year 1S70 (and perhaps later), a Mr.
Darkin, a builder, of liury St. Edmunds, annually vinted the
produce of St. Peter's Vineyard in that town. The vines were
grown against a high wall and the grapes were of excellent
flavour. The yield was from a pipe to a pipe-and-a-half annually
(according to the season) of excellent wine, " like champagne. "'5

The existence of two \dneyards belonging to the Marquess of
Bute, at Castell Coch, near Cardiff, is too well known to need
extended notice here. The first vines were planted in 1875 and
the first wine — a very small quantity — was made in 1877. The
vines are of the kind known as " Gamy Noir." There is now a
regular annual vintage ; and, notwithstanding occasional failure
in some inclement years, the venture (which has long since passed
the experimental stage) has been a practical and commercial
success. For some time past, "Welsh Wines" have been
regularly quoted in the catalogues of ?dessrs. Hatch, Mansfield,
and Co., Ltd., of Cockspur Street, S.W. Further information
on this subject will be found in an article by Mr. H. A. Pettigrew
in a recent number of the Land Magazine.

Coming now to consider the County of Essex, we find from
the List of Essex Field Names recently collected and published
by our Treasurer, Mr. W. C. Waller, F.S.A.,''^ that there are, in
the widely-scattered parishes of Great Hallingbury, Great

iia Vinetum Britannictnn, or a Treatise uf Cider and other Wines and Drinks extracted from
Fruits growing in this Kingdom (London, 8vo.)

15 Notes and Queries, 27th Nov. 1869.

16 See Trans. Essex Archavl. Sue., n. s., vol. v., pp. 144-181 ; vol. vi , pp. 63-S4 and
258-277 ; vol. vii., pp. 6592 and 285-327 (and in progress).

3S ESSEX AS A WINE-PRODUCING COUNTY.

Coggeshall, North Ockendon, Havering, and Tendring, fields
which are still called "The Vineyard," while at Roydon there is
a " Vineyard Hill," at West Bergholt a Wine Mark Field,
at Great Horkesley a Vinese Field, and at Stapleford Abbotts
there is a field known as " Vineys " — the latter very likely a
corruption. I remember that, many years since, the Rev. W.
Gibson, of Tilt}', pointed out to n^e a pasture still called " The
Vineyard " which lies immediately adjoining the site of the
Abbey of Tilty, on the western slope of the picturesque and
well-sheltered valley in which the Abbey stood. Dr. Laver
informs me that, at Copford, there is a field, close to the village
school, which retains the name of " The Vineyard." At Chelms-
ford, adjoining the Recreation Ground, there is a road known
as the Vineyards ; and, at Great Baddow, close to Chelms-
ford, there is a residence known as " The Vineyards ; " but
I cannot say whether these n^imes are ancient or not.

The residence of our member, Mr. William Murray Tuke,
standing in a elex'ated position near the sunnnit of Windmill
Hill and overlooking the whole of the town of SaftVon Walden,
is known as "The Vineyards." Mr. Tuke gave the house
this name (as he has been good enough to inform me) when he
built it, some fifteen or twenty years ago, owing to the fact
that a field (9 acres 19 perches in extent, a portion of which
now^ forms part of the grounds attached to the house), bore the
same name, as it had probably done for centuries. It is by no
means improbable that this field (which lies on the hill-side,
with a considerable slope to the southward) may formerly
have been cultivated as a vineyard by the monks of the Abbey
of Walden, the site of which is scarcely more than a mile distant.
Again, at Ingatestone Hall, theie is a small piece of ground,
lying on the south side of tiie house, which is said '" still to bear
the name of " The Vineyards."

At Holfield Grange, near Coggeshall, about half-a-mile
westward from the house and on the margin of the park, there is
a wood known as " Vineyard W'ood," which I have recently been
able to visit through the kindness of Mr. R. D. Hill. In this
wood, there is a small sheltered valley, sloping sharply to the
south-west, which is probably the site of the ancient vineyard
from which the wood took its name. There can be very little
doubt that here, in mediaeval days, the monks of the Abbey of

17 See A'o/ts iiiul Queries, 28tb Dec. 1850.

ESSKX AS A WINK-PRODUCING COUNTY. 39

Coggeshall, two miles distant, grew their wine ; but there is no
evidence to show how late they continued to do so. After the
place ceased to be used as a vineyard, it was apparently con-
verted into an ordinary orchard, for very old apple- and other fruit-
trees grow among the firs with which the lower part of the valley
is now planted, and the upper part is still used as a nursery
ground. The whole of the little valley is sheltered on the north
side by a huge brick wall, nearly fifteen feet high in places and
not much short of a quarter-of-a-mile in length, on the southern
side of which wall- fruit-trees are grown. This wall was built (so
far as one can judge from its appearance) early in last century.
If so, it was, in all probability, erected long posterior to the time
when the vine was cultivated at the spot and was intended to
shelter the fruit-trees which succeeded them.

Mr. Walter Sargent states, in his letter already alluded to,
that,

" in regard to Dunniow, there are several stray vines dotted
about the place, and, as these, though unprotected and growing
outside, bear plentifully a good-sized grape, one is inclined to
think that they are only remnants of a higher cultivated stock."

It is, however, scarcely safe to assume that the fact cited is
evidence of the former existence of a vineyard at Dunmow ; for
the vines in question may easily have escaped from some modern
cottage garden.

In the park, at Down Hall, the seat of Lord Rookwood, in
the parish of Hatfield Broad Oak, there is a spot which appears
to be the site of a former vineyard, as I am informed by the Rev.
F. W. Galpin, rector of the parish.'^ 1 have not myself had an
opportunity of visiting the spot ; but Mr. Galpin states that the
supposed vineyard lies close to the house, on a steep slope,
which has been terraced. Lord Rookwood, however, doubts
whether the ancient terrace (which is bounded at each end by
the remains of two bastions) is anything more than an orna-
mental garden-terrace made, probably, about the year 1700,
when Prior, the poet, lived at Down Hall.

It may be safely asserted that Mr. Waller's list of Essex
Field Names will show, when its publication shall have been
completed, that not a few other fields in various parts of our

18 If it should hereafter be demonstrated that the " Belcamp " of Domesday Book (see
post, p. 41) was at Down Hall, this vineyard might be identified, without hesitatation, with
that recorded in Domesday as existing at " Belcamp.",

40 ESSEX AS A WINE-PRODUCING COUNTY.

county still retain the same name ; thereby affording evidence of
the use to which they were anciently put.

There is, however, evidence, much clearer than the foregoing,
testifying to the fact that the vine was once cultivated at various
places in this county for the purpose of making wine. This
evidence takes the form of act.ual contemporary records. For
instance, there are in Domesday Book distinct records of no fewer
than eight vineyards which existed in Essex at the time of the
Great Survey (1086). It appears, indeed, that Essex was able to
claim no less than one-fifth of all the vineyards existing in
England at that time ; for, according to Sir Henry Ellis, ^9 the
whole of Domesday Book contains references to the existence of
only about forty vineyards in England.

The eight Essex records in Domesday Book are as
follows^o : —

(i.) At Rayleigh, on the land of Suene, there were " vi.
arpenni -' of vineyard, and it yields [^ says Domesday Book] xx.,
barrels of wine in a good season " (fo. Ixxxvi.).

(2.) At Mundon, near Maldon, on the land of Eudo, there
were " ii. arpenni of vineyard " (fo. xcviii.).

(3.) At either Stambourne or Toppesfield, on the land of
Hamo, there was " i. arpennus of vineyard " (fo. ex.).

(4.) At Great W'altham, on the land of Geoffrey de
Mandeville, there were " x. arpenni of vineyard " (fo. cxv.).

(5.) At Debden, on the land of Radulphus Bainard, there
were " ii. arpenni of vineyard which bear and ii. others which do
not bear " (fo. cxlvi.).

(6.) At Stebbing, also on the land of Radulphus Bainard,
there were " ii. and a half arpenni of vineyard, and only half of
it bears " (fo. cxlvii.).

(7.) At Castle Hedingham, on the land of Alberic de Vere,
there were " vi. arpenni of vineyard " (fo. clii.). Of this vine-

ig Gen. Introduction to Domesday Book, i., p. ii6.

20 P'or convenience, I have quoted the translated entries appearing in The Domesday
Hook relating to Essex, translated by T. C. Chisenhale-Marsh (Chelmsford, 40 , 1864).

21 The arpent or arpennus, a French measure of land, was used, both in France and in
England, almost exclusively as a measure of vineyards, though there are several cases in
Domesday Book in which it is applied to woodland or meadow. There are. however, accord-
ing to Sir Henry Ellis, only four cases in Domesday Book in which the extent of a vineyard
is indicated by its acreage. The extent of an arpent, which is uncertain, was perhaps
variable, but it probably ranged'from hall-an-acre to an acre.

ESSEX AS A WINE-PRODUCING COUNTY. 4I

yard, Morant says " that it was situated "on the west side of
the Castle, between it and Baylie Street, [at a spot since] called
the Lord's Orchard, where lately grew wild vines, bearing red
grapes."

(8.) At "Belcamp" (possibly Belchamp Walter, or
perhaps, Down Hall, in Hatfield Broad Oak, as Chisenhale-
Marsh suggests), also on the land of Alberic de Vere, there were
" xi. arpenni of vineyard, i. of which bears " (fo. clii.).

It thus appears that, in 1086, nineteen years after the Con-
quest, there were in Essex at least forty-two arpenni and a half
of vineyards, of which over thirteen arpenni had not yet come
into bearing.

Mr. J. Horace Round has submitted these eight entries to
careful examination -j and has called attention to the facts that,
in every case, the vineyards in question were new, having been
planted since the days of King Edward the Confessor ; that, in
several cases, they had been so newly planted that parts of them
had not yet come into bearing ; that they are all measured by the
arpent — a French measure ; and that they were all, or nearly all,
situated upon, or near to, manors held in demesne by a tenant
in capite and on which such tenant resided. From these facts,
Mr. Round draws the conclusion (which the entries seem fully to
justify) that, whether or not viniculture had been carried on here
by the Romans, it had fallen into disuse during the days of the
Saxons— a beer-drinking people — and had been revived again,
after the Conquest, by the Norman nobles, who felt the need of
the wine to which tliey had been accustomed in their native land,
and therefore planted vineyards in the vicinity of their chief
residences.

We may now turn from Domesday Book to notice other
early records proving the former existence of vineyards in this
county.

Mr. Horace Round, in his paper above alluded to, refers to
an entry on the Roll of 11 30 which mentions the making of two
vineyards on Peverell's land at Maldon, gives particulars of the
pay and clothing of a vine} ard man, and speaks of sixteen barrels

22 Hist, of Essex (1768), ii., p. 291.

23 Mr. Round's paper on the subject, which was read at the forty-sixth Annual Meeting
of the Essex Arch£eological Society at Colchester, on April 20th 1899, since this article
was written, appears in the Tninsactions of the Society (vol. vii., n.s., pp. 249-251).

42 ESSEX AS A WINE-PRODUCING COUNTY.

of wine liaving been sent up to London from Maldon in the year

named. These entries! run as follows : — 24

" Et in ij Vineis de Mealdona faciend' et Vestitura et
solidat' Vineatoris — lij 5."

" Et in xvj Toneir em'dis et in conductu' usq' ad Alealdona
de Mealdona ad Lond' — x 5. . . ."25

An anonymous writer recently made the following state-
ments -^ as to the former existence of vineyards at Great and
Little MapJestead : —

" In Great Maplestead, we find mention of a vineyard in
1252, when John de Hoding granted to Sarah de Martnall and
Isabella, her daughter, all his lands in Mapletrested, wliich he
had of his nephew, Ralph de Hoding, namely the third part of
two carucates of arable, and alder ground called ' le Rede fen"
with a mill below it, and a vineyard. This vineyard was
probably situated on the slope of the hill, above Hull's Mill, in
Great Maplestead.

The neighbouring parish of Little Maplestead also had a
vineyard ; for, in a deed without date of the time of Edward I.,
Robert de Harlow, of Little Maplestead, quit-claims to the
Hospitallers of St. John of Jerusalem, living at Little Maple-
stead Hall (or, as it was then called, ' le Hospital'), the annual
rent of twelve pence arising from a parcel of land in Hokholt,
near their vineyard."

Mr. C. Roach Smith has published -7 extracts, supplied to
him by Mr. Joseph Hurtt, from the Public Records on this
subject as follows : —

Hadlcy. Extent 31 Edward /. [/JOJ.] Liberi tenentes.
Johannes France3s tenet i messuagium cS:c. ; et predictus
"Johannes et omnes alii tenentes levabunt fenum in prato
domini et habebiint 12 lagenas cervisie vel 12 d. et fodiet in
vineis i dolam que continet in longitudine 4 pedes et in
latitudine 3 perticatas. Item colliget uvas per i diem per se
vel alium huminem et tunc habebit cibum et potum de
domino.

24 See Maf^miiii Rotulum Sacccirii, vel Mat^nitiu Rotulum Pipiv, &c., edited by the Rev.
Joseph Hunter, F.S..A., (London, Records Commission, 80 , 1833), p. 135.

25 Apparently these passages may be translated : — "And in making two vineyards of
Maldon, and in clothing and wages of the vineyard keeper — 52 shillings. . . .And in
" buying sixteen tuns and conveying them to Maldon and from Maldon to London - 10
" shillings."

26 East Anglian, n.s., iii. (i88g-go), p. 157.

27 Collectanea Antigua, vi., pp. 101-102. I have been unable, even with the kind
assistance of Mr. Salisbury, to discover the originals of these documents at the Record
Office.

ESSEX AS A WINE-PRODUCING COUNTY. 43

Rogerus de Brumf tenet i messuagium quod ali(}uando
ftiit &c. Fodiet tu' [tantum ?] in vineis doniinii ii dolas preciuni
dole id., &c,27a

Minister s Accounts, 9-16, Edward II. [1316-1323]. Idem
computat in i homine conducto per 20 dies provinei scindendis
at reparandis, 4s. — d.

Anno 10 [1317.] De exitibus vinee nihil respondet quia
non fuerant uvae hoc anno. Et de 5 d. de herbagio vendito in
tadem vinea sicut continetur ibidem. -S

A Latin deed of the Thirteenth Century, now in the Public
Record Office, refers to the leasehold sale of a house, garden, shop,
vineyard, and premises at Colchester. -'J

In the Thirteenth Century, too, there was, adjoining
Colchester, a piece of land known as Wynescrott, which is thus
alluded to in a deed of the year 1242 witnessed by the Bailifts of
Colchester and others 30 : — " terra cum pertinentiis que vocatur
Wynescrafte in suburbio Colecestrie, et quicquid in dicta
terra " &c.

In the year 1380, a certain Thomas De3nes was granted, at
a rental of two shillings annuall)', a piece of ground, for three
stulpes or spores, to carry a certain vine opposite the house of
Clement Dyer, in North Street, Colchester. 31

There is still at Colchester a " Vineyard Lane." It runs
for some distance parallel with the outer side of the old town
wall, on the southern aspect. This suggests that vines were
formerly grown here, trained against the sunny side of the town
wall ; but whether this was done by the Romans or (as is more
probable) in later times, by the monks of St. John's Abbey, only
a few hundred yards distant, must here be left in doubt.

27a Free Tenants. John Franceys holds one messuage, and the aforesaid Juhn and all
the other tenants carry hay in the Lord's meadow, and they have twelve flagons of ale or
12 (/., and shall dig in the vineyard one dole, which contains in length 4 feet and in width
3 perches. Also he shall gather grapes for one day, either himself or another man, and then
he shall have food and drink from the Lord.

Rogers de Brumf holds one messuage . . , and he shall dig also in the vineyard of
the domain two doles at the price of a penny each dole, . . .

28 And the same accounts for the hire of one man for twenty days, for tending and
repairing the vineyard — 4s. d.

The tenth year [1317]. Of the issue of the vineyard, he gives no account, because theie
were no grapes this year, and of sd. of herbage sold in the vineyard as contained in the
same.

29 See Hebixj^' Deeds 0/ EiigUsh Jen's before 1290, edited by M. D. Davis (London, cr.
80 , 1888), p 368.

30 Cartulariiim Monastciii Scincti Johannis BaptistiC de Colecestna, edited by S. A.
Moore (London, Roxburgh Club, 2 vols.). I am indebted to Mr. George Rickword, Librarian
of the Public Library at Colchester, for kindly calling my attention to this and other Col-
chester entries.

31 See HarroJ's Ca'.cnd.ir of Colchester Court Rolls (Colchester, 40 , 1865), p. 24.

44 ESSEX AS A WINE-PRODUCING COUNTY.

At the end of the Thirteenth Century, there appear to have
been, in the parish of Wicham. fields or parcels of land known
respectively as Over and Nether Winefield, or Winesfield, or
Winesland, which probably were or had been vinej'ards. These
are referred to in several deeds recently printed. 5-;

The late Dr. J. E. Thorold-Rogers has recorded 3.i that, in a
terrier of the rents of Barking Abbey, dated 1540, he found the
following entry : —

" Item : a vineyard, empaled with elmes, well stored with
vines, by estimacon 5 acres, — [rent] 20 shillings."

As late as the }ear 1667, Admiral Sir William Battens
vinted the produce of the vines growing in his beautiful garden,
at W'althamstow, where he had his country house. 34 Pepys,
referring to the taking of some prizes by a ship in which he and
Batten both had an interest, says, on July 17th 166735; —

" I at Sir W. Batten's [where I] did hear the particulars of
" it ; and there, for joy, he did give the company that were
" there a bottle or two of his own last year's wine, growing
" at Walthamstow ; than which the whole company said they
" never drank better foreign wine in their Hves."

Doubtless careful search through early records would bring
to light many other instances of the existence of vineyards in
Essex in former days. Indeed, it seems probable that, from the
time of Domesday Book onwards, the residence of each of the
great Norman lords and all the great monasteries had a vineyard
attached to it almost as a matter of course. At the same
time, it is practically certain (as Sir Henry Ellis has already
remarked 36] that at no time were English vineyards sufficiently
mmierous and extensive to [Moduce the quantity of wine needed
to meet the home demand, which had, therefore, to be supple-
mented by wine imported from other countries.

Various reasons may be advanced to account for the discon-
tinuance of viniculture in Essex -or, for the matter of that, in
the south of England generally. Most people would, no doubt,
attribute it to a marked deterioration of the climate of this
country which they believe to have taken place since the time
of the Romans. A belief in such a deterioration of our climate

^2 Sue llie CJiaitulary of St. Joint's Abbey, Colchester, pp. 481-486.

33 Notes ami Queries, Jan. loth, 1880.

34 Batten, who was Surveyor of the Navy, died Oct. 5th 1667.

35 Diary, vol. iv. (1848), p. 122.

36 Gen. Intro, to Domesday Book, i., p. ui.

ESSEX AS A WINE-PRODUCING COUNTY. 45

is very prevalent, and I am inclined to believe that it is well
founded, though it is obviously almost impossible to obtain
tangible and conclusive evidence by means of which such a belief
may be tested. It is almost certain, however, that sue): a change
in climate has taken place, within historic times, in some of the
other countries surrounding the North Atlantic —namely Iceland
and Greenland. In the case of Greenland, it would now be
impossible to maintain there such settlements as we know for a
certainty were maintained at Kakortok, and elsewhere on the
west coast, by the Scandinavians, in the Eleventh and Twelfth
Centuries. Then, as regards Iceland, there are several reasons
for thinking that its climate has deteriorated since mediaeval
times. Ivar Bardsen, a Greenlander, who, in the Fourteenth
Century, wrote a description of Greenland, says 37 that, even
then, the ice lying in the sea between Iceland and Greenland
had increased so greatly that it was impossible to sail the ancient
route to Greenland, due west from Snaefjeldnes in Iceland ;
while Captain Graah has declaretl 3« that this ice is still
continually on the increase on the east coast of Greenland,
thereb}' necessitating its thin population to emigrate to the
west side. The Norwegian glaciers, too, are said to be extend-
ing noticeably. Many other facts pointing in the same direction
might be cited ; and it can hardly be doubted that the British
Isles have shared in this general deterioration of climate which
seems to have gone on over the North Atlantic within his-
toric times.

It is, however, by no means necessary to show that the
climate of this country has changed for the worse within historic
times in order to account for the discontinuance of viniculture
with us. Whether such a change has taken place or not, and
whether it has rendered viniculture here more difficult or not, it
is probable that the discontinuance of viniculture in Essex was
due to another cause altogether — namely, to the steady improve-
ment in the means of transport and of communication with other
parts of the world, which gradually rendered it less and less
remunerative to cultivate the vine in regions certainly not
specially atlapted to it, and in which it is not indigenous, when
better wine could be imported at comparatively small cjst
trom more favoured countries, further south.

37 Sjc Major's Voyages of the Zenl (Hakluyt Society, 1874I, pp. 39-40.

38 Narrative of an Expedition to the East Coast of Greenland, . , . under the com-
mand of (apt. W. A. Graah, of the Danish Koyal Navy, . . . , translated by C. G. .\Uic-
Doiigatl fLond., 80 , 1837), p. 115.

46 * ESSEX AS A WINE-PRODUCING COUNTY.

Much the same reason, rather than any change in climate,
has led to the discontinuance in this county of hop-growing—
once a considerable industry with us. There is not now, I
believe, a single hop-garden in Essex. Yet, twenty years ago,
there were several ; and, at an earlier date, there were man v.
Of this, we have abundant evidence in the large number of
fields and meadows in all parts of the county which still bear
the name " the Hop-garden," the " Hop-field," or the " Hop-
ground," as reference to Mr. Waller's list of " Essex Field
Names " (already referred to) will show. I myself well re-
member the hop-ground at Tye Hall, Roxwell, the use of which
was discontinued in 1883, and I believe that a hop-garden (the
last in Essex) continued in use at Castle Hedingham until a
still later date. " The Hop-pole," once a common inn sign,
stiil lingers at Good Easter, Great Hallingbury, Little Hal-
lingbury, and Roydon.

It can hardly be supposed that any change in the climate
during the last twent\', or even the last hundred, years accounts
for the abandonment of hop-growing in Essex. Without doubt,
it is due to improvement in the means of transport, brought about
by the introduction of railroads, which has made the produce
of the more favoured hop-lands of Kent and East-Sussex as
easily obtainable in any part of Essex as that grown in an
adjoining parish was a century ago, and has also put an end to
the practice of home-brewing, which was carried on at every
good farmhouse in Essex up to eighty or a hundred years ago.
Just so it has been with our Essex wine-growing and wine-
making industry. The only difference is that our wine-making
industry was unable to compete with the produce of foreign
countries, while our hop-growing industry was unable to com-
pete with that of other parts of our own country.

There is no evidence, so far as I am aware, to show the date
at which viniculture was abandoned in Essex. It may have
been continued in isolated spots until a comparatively-recent
date. This seems, indeed, to have been certainly the case at
Barking, where a vineyard still existed (according to a record
alreadv cited) as late as 1540. The fact that a vineyard was
attached to Ingatestone Hall, which was only erected in 1565,
renders it probable that viniculture was there carried on still
later. Then, too, we know that Sir William Batten made wine
from grapes at Walthamstow in 1667.

ESSEX AS A WINE-PRODUCING COUNTY. 47

There can be little doubt, however, that viniculture, as a
regular industry, had begun to decline, not only in Essex, but
throughout the whole south of England, soon after the time when
more or less regular commercial intercourse was opened up with
the chief wine-producing countries of South-western Europe.
This may be said to have taken place about the beginning or
middle of the fourteenth century. It is known that a voyage to
England was one of the six annual trading voyages sent out under
the auspices of the Senate of Venice at this period, and that wine,
spices, and drugs were among the commodities sent to this
country to be exchanged for cloths, hides, and tin. The
" Flanders Voyage " (as it was called), during which England
was visited, was regarded as the most important of these six
annual voyages and was made regularly, in each ordinary year,
from 1317 to 1533. On the list of those who commanded each
year appear some of the noblest names in Venetian history. 39
Owing to the great commercial enterprise ot the merchant-
seamen of Venice, it may be doubted whether the inhabitants of
wine-producing countries much nearer England, such as France
and Spain, commenced to supply us regularly with wine in
any large quantities at an earlier date than the Venetians. On
this point, however, it is impossible to do much more than hazard
a few surmises.

Be the cause of the discontinuance of wine-making in Essex
what it may, it is certain that viticulture, as distinguished from
viniculture (the culture of the vine, that is, for the sake of grapes
themselves, rather than for the sake of the wine the grapes will
yield), is still possible, in the open air, in Essex. There is
scarcely an old farmhouse throughout the county wdiich has not
a vine trained against some outer wall, either of the house itself
or of an adjacent out-building, while the same may be said of
many labourers' cottages in rural parts of the county. In any
ordinary year, these vines ripen their grapes fairly well and they
are quite palatable, especially, of course, in such hot summers as
those of 1887 and i8g8. Still, now and then there comes a
summer in which the grapes fail to ripen altogether or only do so
very imperfectly. A case in point was the summer of 1879 — one
of tlie most wet and sunless of the present century — when, as I
find recorded in my journal, it was most noticeal)le that " out-

39 Much adiiitioiial information as to the importance, both to England and Venice, ol
this annual ■' Flanders Voyage ' is to be found in Mr. Rawdon Brown's preface to the
Calendar of State Papers and Manuscripts {Venetian) relating to English Affairs, vol. i, 1302-
1509 (London, 8° , 1864).

4^ WARRANT FOR PAYMENT OF FOREST OFFICERS.

door grapes ha\e nowhere ripened, being on the average no
bigger than large peas, and are as sour as can be." As a rule,
however, growers of these outdoor grapes have, in Essex, much
less to fear from the deficiencies of our climate than from
the wasps, which attack the grapes with avidity as soon as they
begin to ripen.

Nevertheless, as has already been said, there seems room for
doubt whether our Essex climate is now good enough to ripen,
in an average year, grapes sufficiently for the purposes of wine
making. It is one thing for a few grapes to ripen when pro-
duced by a \ine trained to a brick wall which catches and
reflects all possible rays of the sun's heat ; but it is quite
another thing for grapes to ripen when grown upon poles in vine-
yards in the only manner possible when the grapes are required
in large quantities for wine-making.

The foregoing does not profess to be anything like a
complete review of the subject treated. Further research would
bring to light many other old records and interesting forgotten
facts tending to elucidate the subject ; but enough has been
said to establish the fact that, in early times, viniculture was
carried on more or less extensively in our county. -t"

40 I have to tliank Mr. Bickley, of the British Museum, and Mr. William Cole,
F.L.S., for kind assistance and advice in reference to portions of the foregoinj^ paper.

^VARRANT FOR PAYMENT OF FOREST
OFFICERS IN 1728.

By I. CHALKLEY GOULD.

[Read February 23th, 1899].

rr^HE presentation of this document to the Epping Forest
I Museum by Mr. Brown enables us to compare it witli
a similar Exchequer Order, dated the 14th January, 1 741, already
in our collection and exhibited at Chingford.

The description given of that document in The Essex
Naturalist (vol. ix., p. 73) renders it unnecessary to do more
than indicate the points of difference presented by our new
acquisition.

It will be seen that this warrant is of earlier date, viz.,
30th October, 1^26, and opens with the order to pay out of " his

DEMONSTRATION ON FIRE-MAKING APPLIANCES. 49

Matys Treasure " unto Richard Viscount Castlemain, " Warden
of his Mats, fforest of Waltham," the sum of ^67 los. "to be
distributed amongst the officers of the said fforest hereafter
named for the quarter ended at Michs, 1728."

It is of local interest to note that this order though in favour
of the same individual as the 1741 warrant (as Warden of the
Forest) was written when he was known as Viscount Castlemain.
Sir Richard Child obtained this title in 1718 but did not attain
the dignity of Earl Tylney till 1730.

The un-named Chief Ranger, who has £2 los. as his
quarter's allowance, was, no doubt, John Goodere, Esq., who
seems to have held that office, with all its perquisites, for the
long period from 1722 to 1757. The total sum to be disbursed
and the allocation of the salaries are the same as in the later
order but in naming the various walks into which the forest was
divided we find " Leighton, Walwood, and Homefrith" ; thus
adding Wahvood to the forest place-names.

This warrant has, unfortunately, been so mutilated so that we
have now no signature of the minister at foot, nor of the examin-
ing clerks at the side as in the document of 174 1. On the back
is the signature Castlemain owning receipt in full on the
3rd Januar_\', 1728 (1729 according to modern style).

Though not, perhaps, of great importance these documents
are ver}' interesting as they show something of the methods of
administration of the affairs of the forest, and they may be useful
hereafter should anyone endeavour to add to the information to
be found in Fisher's Forest of Essex (1887).

[By the kindness of Mr. Gould, the above document has
been very neatly framed for exhibition i-n the Museum together
with the former Order presented by him in March, 1895. — Ed.]

NOTES OF A DEMONSTRATION ON PRIMI-
TIVE FIRE-MAKING APPLIANCES.

[By Edward Lovett.]
[At the meeting of the Club on December 17th, 1898 (E. N.,
vol. X., pp. 410-11), Mr. Edward Lovett, the well-known student
of " survivals " of early implements and handicrafts, gave a
lecture or demonstration on methods of obtaining fire, an abstract
of which, in his own words, we are enabled by his courtesy to give
here] : —

In response to the invitation of your worthy Secretary, I have brought
for exhibition and description a few typical examples of primitive Fire-making
Appliances from my somewhat extensive collection of these interesting
objects.

50 DEMONSTRATION ON FIRE-MAKING APPLIANCES.

Before describing these in detail it would be as well to briefly introduce
the subject. The modern chemical method of getting fire by means of
articles is an invention as of but yesterday, compared with the enormous
antiquity of making fire by iiieclianiail means.

These mechanical modes were (and are) as far as we know, of three kinds
— viz., by (i) Friction, (2) Percussion, and (3) Compression. Of these the
oldest and by far the most generally distributed is that by Friction.

The apparatus consists usually of two pieces of wood : one of these is the
rubber and is composed of a hard wood ; while the other or " hearth " is of
a softer kind. Sometimes the rubber is worked up and down a groove in the
" hearth," as was the apparatus in vogue amongs the Hottentots and in some
parts of South Africa ; while in the general way the rubber is twirled in a hole
in the softer piece of wood.

Many of the North American Indian tribes made fire in this way ; as also
did the Eskimos ; so did many of the African natives, as well as the Veddas of
Ceylon and the Bheels of Central India.

The usual method of working this Fire-drill was by twirling it between
the hands ; two operators were required to keep the motion on till fire comes,
for any pause is fatal to getting fire. The Eskimo people seem to have hit
upon some clever devices : one of these is the Bow-drill. The operator holds
the drill down, with a stone-lined cap, with one hand ; whilst with the other
he works, saw-like, a bow of walrus ivory, the thong of which takes a turn
round the drill stick.

Another way is with a bare thong worked by one man from side to side,
whilst another man holds down the drill. Yet another is, where the thong is
worked by the same man who holds the pressing cap in his teeth. Consider-
ing the enormous dnig on a fire-drill, these men must have good teeth and
strong jaws !

The Bheels of India use the drill, the wood of Tectona grandis, and the
" hearth " is made of the Ziziphusjujiiha.

The Somalis use a similar form, but the wood is unknown to me.

The Pump-drill, a form of enormous antiquity, was in common use
among the Zuni Indians, while some of the Oriental primitive races used two
pieces of bamboo with a curious sawing process.

In all these examples what takes place is practically the same, and it is
this. The rubber or drill being of hard wood rubs off fine particles of the
softer wood, which are of course rendered very hot in the process. This hot
wood dust coming into contact with the oxygen of the air, ignites, and
smoulders, and can soon by the aid of a little dry moss kindle a flame.

It will be noticed that in all the "hearths" exhibited there is a little
notch at the side of the hollow in which the drill revolves ; this is to admit the
air to the heated wood dust which could not otherwise ignite.

The method of obtaining fire by Compression is so limited that we may
dispose of it before proceeding to the much greater subjects of percussion.
Indeed the compression tube has been used in Europe as a scientific toy, and
it is therefore very surprising to find it used by such a people as the Shans
for the very practical purpose of getting fire. Their apparatus consists of a
flask-shaped box of very hard wood, into which a sort of piston rod, also of
wood, fits, at the one end of this is a hollow for holding a bit of very dry

DEMONSTRATION ON FIRE-MAKING APPLIANCES. 5I

tinder, the other end terminates in a flat knob. When the box is held in
one hand, the piston in position is driven by a smart blow on the knob by
the other hand ; this of course compresses the air in the cavity in the box,
and great heat is suddenly generated. By withdrawing the rod quickly the
heated tinder is brought into contact with the oxygen of the air outside, and
it ignites, or should do under favourable conditions.

We now come to the Percussion Method, by which we mean the general
use of flint and steel, with their many and varied forms and ramifications.

For the earliest examples of the Flint-and-Steel we must go back to the
Stone-age where flint and iron pyrites took the place of the more modern
form ; indeed, I have heard of cases where iron pyrites has been used for
getting fire even during the present century. In different countries we get
variation in the forms of the steels, and various silicate stones taking the place
of the flint. The box or receptacle for the tinder and the flint and stone also
vary geographically, as also does the tinder used to arrest and hold the
precious spark.

I will now describe a few of these from various parts of the world, taking
it for granted that we all know that this method of getting fire is simply that
the hard flint, or allied stone, by being brought sharply into contact with a
piece of soft steel or iron, strikes off a particle of the latter, which being
heated by the force employed burns in the oxygen of the air, and that this
spark falling upon very dry tinder ignites it, and thus furnishes the desired
fire.

Some of the most primitive of these forms in my collection are curiously
enough from India. In one case the steel is a rough fragment of iron, the
flint a rude flake of agate, the tinder is the silky lining of the seed vessel of
the Bombix tnalabaricus, and the tinder box is the hallowed fruit of the
Borassus Fan-palm.

In another the tinder box is actually made from the coccoon of the
Tussore silk moth, and the flint is from an old "Brown Bess" gun of the
Mutiny times. In Northern India chalcedony in rough lumps does duty for
the flints in company with almost impossible pieces of hard white iron.

Several examples from Thibet show the typical pouch-shaped tinder case
having the steel fixed as a rim to the lower edge. This form is common in
Thibet, Persia, China, Kashmir, and North Africa, and we actually have a
modification of it from Norway, Germany, and our own country, England.

From the Punjab, India, we have the native's pipe and tobacco, with
flint and steel and tinder, all together in a rough canvas bag, while in the
West Indies we find a cow's horn doing duty as a tinder box.

To come down to modern civilized times we have from Germany and
Scandinavia, tinder boxes cut from solid blocks of wood ; their English
representatives were of joi7ied wood. In Holland, to-day, tinder boxes and
flints and steel are sold in the streets for a few centas each : the former are
small rounded tubular boxes of copper or brass, but are not to be compared
with their artistic ancestors of the 17th century, of which we have several
before us. We also have many forms of pocket tinder boxes, some being of
silver, having the steel attached to one of the outside edges.

The typical English tinder-box is of circular form, made of thin iron,
sometimes japanned, more often not. The tinder, which was of some charred

52 NOTES — ORIGINAL AND SELECTED.

cotton material, was covered by the damper, a disc of metal with a small
handle or ring to hold it by. Upon this rested the flints and steel when not
in use and a lid bearing a candle socket shut the whole up. I have seen this
form of tinder-box in zinc and lead.

The elaboration of appliances in due time produced the trigger or pistol
tinder-box. This was in Europe, a sort of modification of the flint-lock pistol
in which the barrel was left out and the powder pan developed into a box for
the tinder. The examples which I show of this form, are from this country,
Scotland, Sweden, France, and North Germany. It may be observed that
while the general principle is the same in all, each specimen bears the artistic
stamp of the country to which it belongs ; the English example being the most
solid and substantial in its structure. From Japan I have two or three very
artistic and small forms of this apparatus dating back to the 17th century.
This dainty contrivance is enclosed in a small metal case of much beauty,
scarcely so large as a walnut.

With the dawn of chemical methods of making fire, we bid adieu to the
tinder-boxes and fire-drills with all their artistic originalty and interest ; and
find ourselves with the useful and simple, but severely uninteresting matches
and match-boxes of the present day.

NOTES— ORIGINAL AND SELECTED.
ZOOLOGY.

M AM MA LI A .

Fox catching Woodcock. — Mr. William Stride, of Widdington, Essex,
relates the following anecdote in the Field of March 14th : — " The Puckeridge
Hounds met close to here on March 8th, and, in consequence, one of my men was
out all the previous night stopping earths. The next dav, when he went his
rounds to unstop them, he found at the entrance to one of them a dead wood-
cock, with two newly-born rabbits under its wings, which the dog fox had
evidently brought for the vixen, which was no doubt stopped in, and, finding
he could get no further with them, put them down outside. As woodcocks
are very scarce with us it seems a mystery how he caught it and where. I
have heard of foxes taking almost anything, but never before heard of their
taking woodcock, and I should like to know if any other instance has been
h^ard of before."

Deer in Epping Forest. — By order of the Epping Forest Committee a
census of the Deer was again taken on the morning of the 30th of March,
1898. There were counted 148 Fallow Deer and 13 Roe Deer, and on the
evening of the same day 162 Fallow and 23 Roe Deer. It was estimated
that in the coverts of estates adjoining the Forest there were 16 Fallow
and 15 Roe Deer. This shows a diminution of the numbers since the
census taken in 1897 (see Essex Natuh.'\li!?t, vol. x., p. 292), but the
Forest deer are such adepts at concealing themselves that but little value
can be attached to negative evidence.

NOTES ORIGINAL AND SELECTED. 53

AVES.

Bird Life in Epping Forest and New Forest in the Spring. —Mr.
Frank Brown writes as follows in the Field of March nth: — " Some months
since you advised a correspondent who was desirous of studying bird-life to
visit Epping in preference to the New Forest, birds being more numerous in
the former, and my experience certainly supports your assertion. Perhaps
you may deem a brief account of a visit I paid to Epping Forest on Sunday
last (March 5th, iSgg), of sufficient interest to place before your ornithological
readers. Leaving the train at Highams Park station, I made my way to the
lake, and in a few minutes had on my list of birds the rook, jackdaw, starling,
oxeye, tit, and wren. At the waterside I had a most pleasing surprise A
small bird of a greenish-yellow colour rose at my feet, and joined its com-
panions in the branches of an adjacent alder tree. Not being sure of its
species, I brought my field-glass to bear on them, and found they were
siskins, the first time I had met with this bird in the forest. Moorhens
abounded, no less than nine being on the bank, one of them minus a foot, but
this did not seem to cause the birdary inconvenience, the stump being freely
used as it followed its fellows to the water, where it swam with one foot.
Passing on towards Chingford I noted a tree-creeper, long tailed titmouse (a
solitary specimen), hedge sparrow, chaffinch, mistle thrush, song thrush,
blackbird, and wood pigeon. The cheery spring note of the nuthatch came
from the summit of an elm by the roadside, and not far off the laughing cry
of the green woodpecker could be heard, nor was it long before I had the
pleasure of seeing its lovely plumage and noting its characteristic flight.
Connaught Water brought wild duck within my ken, and a carrion crow on a
tree near by was, no doubt, keeping a look out for a early egg. In Monk's
Wood I had the good fortune to get within range of a hawfinch. Generally
speaking, this bird is extremely shy, confining itself to the summits of the
loftiest trees. Robin redbreast was singing his plaintive ditty to the setting
sun as I made my way to the Foresters' Arms for a cup of tea, and a little
band of blue tits, with a marsh tit among them, sought shelter for the night
in a protective blackthorn bush. As I reluctantly left this glorious woodland
I heard the woodowl calling to the night, and blessed him for his quaint and
eerie cry." The Editor of the Field remarks thus on Mr. Brown's communica-
tion : — " By a curious coincidence, on the very day on which our corres-
pondent was making the above mentioned observations in Epping Forest we
were rambling round Lyndhurst Hill and Butts' Lawn, in the New Forest,
where, having in mind the recently published allegation that bird-life in the
New Forest is conspicuously absent, we noted the appearance of the following
species: — Nuthatch, pied wagtail, meadow pipit, thrush, blackbird, mistle
thrush, starling, chaffinch, woodpigeon, green woodpecker, greater spotted
woodpecker, great tit, blue tit, marsh tit, jay, sparrowhawk, rook, robin,
hedgesparrow, and wren. The time of year, of course, was not favourable for
the observation of many species, for none of the summer migratory birds were
there. Had it been otherwise the list of species would have been much
longer."

Stone-Curlew or "Thick-knee" at Fowlness Island. -Mr. H. M.
Matthews, of Fowlness Island, wrote as follows to Dr. Laver, under date
March 24th, 1899 : — " With this please receive a bird, name to me unknown,
excepting as apparently belonging to the plovers. It was picked up yesterday

54 NOTES — ORIGINAL AND SELECTED.

only just alive, on the sea-wall or saltings by a lad named Nichols. It was
alive when brought to me, but died in the night, it seemed to be starved. .
Perhaps the late rough cold weather caused its death." Dr. Laver identifies
the bird as the Thick-Knee or Norfolk Plover [GLdicnemus scolopax). Mr.
Matthams adds that a Thick-knee was brought in several years ago to him,
but that no other person on the Island had ever seen a specimen. [Dr. Laver
has kindly ordered this bird to be stuffed for presentation to the Club's
Museum.- Ed.]

IN SECT A .

Gnorimus Nobilis in Epping Forest. — With reference to Mr. Cole's
remark at the meeting of Dec. 17th, 1898, that he once found a specimen of
Gnorivius nobilis in Lord's Bushes, which "had possibly been introduced"
among the roots of imported plants (Essex Naturalist, vol. x., p. 411) it
may be of interest to record that 1 captured a specimen of this beautiful beetle
at Loughton in 1880, in an open glade in the Forest about two miles north
east of that village. My specimen was captured in full flight on a bright
sunny day ; as the beetle is very active, and flies readily, it is scarcely likely
to be imported in the manner suggested ; and its occurence in two places
some distance apart, presumably at different dates, would point to the con-
clusion that it is indigenous to the Forest. In agility when on its legs, and in
speed when flying, there is as much difference between G. nobilis and its
congener, the common Rose-beetle [Cetonia aurata), as there is between a cart
horse and hunter. — J. O. Braithwaite, Clooneaven, Chingford, Essex.

Slab-shaped Nest of Vespa Germanica. — I have acquired a rather
interesting specimen of a wasps' nest. It comes from the house called, I
think, the " Wellington Inn," near High Beach. It is a slab nearly square,
approximately isin. by i2in. and about four thick. It is in three layers of
comb, and among the cells are a few fragments of wasps, which may be suffi-
cient to determine the species. The shape of the nest was evidently con-
trolled by its situation — the side of the house, between two posts, I was told.
I shall be happy to present the nest to the Museum. — S. Arthur Sewell,
F.R.H.S , Buckhurst Hill, March 15th, 1899. [Mr. Edward Saunders, F.L.S ,
has kindly given his opinion that the fragments of wasps we sent to him
belonged to the workers of Vespa germanica. The nest is now in the Museum
Mr. Sewell's courtesy. — Ed.]

CRUSTACEA.

Crab carrying an Oyster on its Shell. — Mr. W. B. Tegetmeier, F.L.S. ,
records the following incident in the Field for December 17th, 1898 : — " I have
received from Mr. A. H. Went, of West Mersea, near Colchester, a very
interesting specimen of a crab bearing on its shell a two-year-old oyster.
These conjoined animals are not merely curious, but they are of interest as
affording some data as to the rate of growth of the two species. The oyster
must have been attached to the crab for two years, during which time the
latter could not have cast its shell, which was 2^in. wide at the broadest part,
the greatest width of the oyster being ijin. This specimen recalled to my
remembrance an anecdote recorded of a very well-known inspector of fisheries,
who, when talking to the fishermen on the beach, told them that they could
help very much in scientific observations if they chose to do so. ' When you
catch a small crab in your nets, you throw him over, and that's the end of

NOTES — ORIGINAL AND SELECTED. ^^

him ; but if 5^011 were to make a mark on his shell with your knife, then, when
you caught him again, you would see how much he had grown in the time,
which we want to know.' Whereupon an old salt looked up at the learned
official and remarked, ' Don't yer know, measter, as they shoots their shells
every year?' An awkward interrogation for Her Majesty's Inspector."

BOTANY.

" The Existing Trees and Shrubs of Epping Forest " (See Esskx
Naturalist, vol. x., pp. 377-387). — Ligiistruni vulgan, L. To the one bush
mentioned in my list, I can now add some more Privet higher up the Ching
Valley, in a thicket near the north end of the red path.

Taxiis baccata, L. I regret to say that the specimen mentioned as growing
near the great oak was, during the latter part of the winter, uprooted and
removed by some rascally thief. So far as I know we are now without any
yew tree not artificially planted. — F. W. Elliott, Buckhurst Hill,
April, 1899.

Fasciation in the Holly in Epping Forest. — " Fasciation " is the
technical term for the abnormal arrangement of the shoots of plants in
•' fasces" or bundles. This occurs occasionally, but not so far as I know,
very generally. I have examples in the Daisy, also in a Buttercup in which
many stalks have been joined together, in some cases to the width of an inch.
It appears from my observations in Epping Forest that this habit obtains
somewhat frequently in the Holly, and I have specimens in which the shoots,
as many as 50 or 60 in number, are joined together. When this is the case,
the stem instead of being round, is quite flat, and I have noticed that nearly
each stem has a separate leaflet. The enlargement begins sometimes at the
middle part of the stem, and then all the subsidiary branches are fasciated to
the top. — S. Arthur Sewell, Buckhurst Hill. [Mr. Sewell has kindly pre-
sented a specimen to our Herbarium ]

Mistletoe on Hornbeam in Epping Forest. —Being known as a
naturalist I often have my attention drawn by keepers and others to various
matters connected with naturab history. To this I must attribute the fact
that I was taken into the Forest to see a small shoot of the Mistletoe growing
on a Hornbeam. Certainly it was there, but there was not enough, even if I
had been inclined to do so, to take a specimen. — S. Arthur Sewell, " Maple-
stead," Buckhurst Hill. [The occurrence of the Mistletoe on the Hornbeam
must be rare, as we cannot find an instance recorded in any " Flora " to which
we have access. In Essex it is generally found on Apple and sometimes (as
in Hatfield Forest) on Hawthorn. — Ed.]

GEOLOGY.
Chalky Boulder Clay in Epping Forest. — Walking down the road from
Abridge to Theydon Bois station in the beginning of November last, I found
that the right hand side of the road at Parsonage Farm, about a quarter of a
mile from the station, had just been dug up and filled in with gravel for several
yards past the farm, and that a quantity of Chalky Boulder Clay had been dug
out and was lying in heaps at the side of the road. I was told that this was
found under the gravel in the trench, but as this was filled in I could not get
a section. In the Geological Survey Map the Boulder Clay is shown up to

56 NOTES ORIGINAL AND SELECTED.

the farm on the opposite side. I have only once before been able to find the
clay within our forest boundary — viz., at Great Parndon. Mr. T. V. Holmes
found it near Ilford, and a line drawn from near Ilford to Great Parndon
passes close to the spot mentioned above. 1 have placed a sample of the
deposit in the Forest Museum. — T. Hay Wilson. [At one of the early Field
Meetings of the Club at Theydon Bois in September, 1880, a section of the
Chalky Boulder Clay was noticed in the lane leading from Theydon Bois
station to the Church, presumably at or near Mr. Wilson's position. See
Journal of Proceedings, E.F.C., vol. i, page xli. — Ed.]

Tufa-forming Stream near Epping. — Mr. H. Bernard Kemsley, of
" Allendale," Epping, a student at Loughton School, has brought up for the
Museum a very nice specimen of Tufa or Travertine produced by a small
tributary of the Cobbin Brook, and has furnished the following particulars : —
" The stream is situated in a ploughed field on " Takeleys Farm,' Epping,
belonging to Mr. Kemsley. About three years ago, the field being very wet,
a drain was cut down the middle, and it was found that the soil was very
hard near the Cobbin Brook (into which the stream now runs) owing to the
presence of lime. At the spot were the drain pipes come out at the brook
there is a heap of this limey concretion deposited from the water and the
pipes have about a quarter of an inch of ' fur ' in them. The position is
about 500 yards from Epping Old Church, on the right hand side of the road
going to the Church and about 100 yards on the margin of the brook from
the bridge." The sample presented by Mr. Kemsley consists of twigs and
leaves cemented together by the lime salt (apparently principally carbonate).
No shells can be seen in the travertine, but it will be remembered that it was
on a deposit of carbonate of lime laid by a spring at Stebbing Ford, that Mr.
French found Cydostuma elegans in a living state in Essex (Essex Naturalist,
vol. iv., pp. 92-93). Mr. Kemsley should search the locality for molluscs. — Ed.

MISCELLANEA.

Fairmead Lodge, Epping Forest. -As was stated in a foot-note on
page 296 of the last volume (vol. x.), Fairmead Lodge had disappeared from
the Forest. The reasons for its removal are thus stated in the last Report of
the Epping Forest Committee (gth February, 1899) : — " Referring to our last
j^ nnual Report, in which we stated that we had instructed Mr. Surveyor to
consider whether it was possible to adapt Fairmead Lodge, or any portion
thereof, as a keeper's residence, we have to report that Mr. Surveyor was of
opinion that it would cost /^20o to make the Lodge or the adjoining tea-shed
habitable. We therefore resolved to remove the buildings, and advertised for
tenders from persons willing to purchase and take away the materials. The
highest tender received was that of Mr. James Bailey for the sum of £^0,
which we accepted, and the whole of the buildings have been pulled down and
removed, and the site restored to the Forest."

Ordinary (Scientific) Meetings are held at frequent intervals for the
reading of papers and the exhibition of specimens, etc., and Field Meetings
are arranged during the summer months, and held in various parts of the.
County under the guidance of experienced Naturalists, Geologists, and
Archaeologists.

The Club has carried on several Special Investigations — e.g., the
examination of the two Epping Forest Camps, an Exploration of the
Deneholes, the "Red-Hills," etc., and has published several valuable
Reports, illustrated with plans and maps. Considerable efforts have been
made to catalogue the Fauna and Flora of the County, and it is wished to
extend this work as funds and opportunities will permit, particularly in the
direction of a systematic Exploration of Marine and Estuarine forms of
life by Dredging, etc., and their preparation and preservation in the Essex
Museum, for future reference and study.

Although bearing a county title, the Club offers exeeptional advantages to
Metropolitan residents. Many parts of Essex are but little known, although of
the greattst interest to the naturalist, geologist, and antiquary, and the
Museums and Libraries at Stratford (at which place a large proportion of the
" Winter Meetings " are held) and Chingford, bring the Club into close touch
with London naturalists.

Very considerable material has been accumulated towards a Local and
Educational Museum, which will shortly be established in a handsome
building at Stratford (by the generosity of Mr. Passmore Edwards, and in
conjunction with the Corporation of West Ham) to' form a home for
County collections and specimens, where they may be consLilted by all
interested in Essex. A Branch Museum to illustrate the Natural History
and Archaeology of Epping Forest has been established (under the
sanction of the Corporation of London) in Queen Elizabeth's Lodge,
Chingford, which has proved very attractive to thousands of visitors to the
Forest. Greatly increased space for the Museum will soon be accorded at
the Lodge, the Corporation of London having voted at least /750 for the
restoration and adaptation of the building.

The Club already possesses a good nucleus of a Local and Scientific
Library, which has been obtained by donations, exchanges, and purchase.

The Miniynum Subscription is Fifteen Shillings per annum, payable upon
election, and afterwards on the ist January in each year. The usual entrance
fee is at present in abeyance. The Life Composition is ;^io los. in one

payment. Members can purchase the publications of the Club at a Discount of
2^ per cent, from the published prices.

Copies of the Rules, Forms of Proposal for Membership, together
with specimen copies of the Essex Naturalist, and other information, will
be gladly sent on application to the Hon. Secretaries, Messrs. W. and B. G.
Cole, Buckhurst Hill, Essex.

N.B. — All communications of a financial nature, Subscriptions, Dona-
tions to the Museum and Library Fund, etc., should be sent to the Treasurer,
W. C. Waller, Esq., Loughton, Essex; communications relating to the
Library, ^nd Donations of Books and Pamphlets, and Specimens for
THE Museum should, at present, be sent to the temporary premises,
9, Woodgrange Road, Forest Gate, Esbcx, marked " Essex Field Club. '

ESSEX BIRD PROTECTION SOCIETY.

President - - E. N. Buxton, Esq.

Vice-President - E. A. Fitch, Esq.

Hon. Treasurer - C. W. Parker, Esq.

Hon. Secretary - C. B. Russell, Esq.

" Stubbers," Romford, Essex.

This Society has been formed for the Protection of Wild
Birds, by enforcing the existing laws ; by rewarding successful
prosecutions ; or by any action that may be desirable in special
cases.

The formation of the Epping Forest Bird- Sanctuary is an
instance of what may be accomplished by private effort. The
measures already taken by the Society have in all probability
prevented the extinction of the shore-breeding birds. Member-
ship consists in a subscription of not less than -is. 6d. yearly to
the funds of the Society. All who are interested in Birds in
our County are requested to join the Society.

THE CLUB'S LOCAL COLLECTIONS.

ESSEX MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY,

THE PASS MORE EDWARDS MUSEUM.
Romford Road, Stratford.
EPPING FOREST MUSEUM,

Queen Elizabeth's Lodge, Chingford.

The Curator will be very glad to hear from any amateur
naturalists or beginners, whether members of the Club or not,
willing to collect selected groups systematically in their own or
in specified localities (in accordance with plans to be laid down)
for the benefit of the Club's Museums. Such facilities and
assistance as are in his power will be given to earnest workers,
and aid in determining species will be afforded. It is also
hoped that in time some return in the way of duplicates may
be possible.

P, Woodgrange Road, Forest Gate, Essex.

John Dutton, Printer, Chelmsford.

^CA llf'^^UStU

Price (.lo Non-Members) 6s. per annum. Post free.

NOS. 4—9., VOL. XI.] Price 3s. 6i. [APRIL— SEPT., 1899.

Tk

Essex Naturalist:

BEING THE

JOURNAL

OF THE

ESSEX FIELD CLUB.

EDITED BY

WILLIAM COLE, F.L.S., F.E.S.,

Honorary Secretary and Curator.

Contents.

PAGE

History of Essex Botany. By Prof. G. S. Boulger, F.L.S., F.G.S. (.In Progress.) 57
Report of Club's Delegate at the Meeting of the Corresponding Societies'
Committee of the British Association at Dover, September, i8gg. By

T. V. Holmes, F.G.S 68

Notes on the occurrence of the White-tailed Eagle and the Salmon at

Harwich in 1666. By Miller Christy, F.L.S 7^

Yardley Hill, the Latest Addition to Epping Forest. {With two illustrations.) 78

The After-Effects of the High-Tide of November 29th, 1897 83

On the Local Extinction and Diffusion of Molluscs in Essex. By J.French. 86

A Supposed Neolithic Settlement at Skitts Hill, Braintree, Essex. By the
Rev. J. \V. Kenworthv. With remarks on the Archaeological Objects by
F. W. Reader; on the Geology of the District by T. V. Holmes, F.G.S.;
and on the Osteological Specimens by E. T. Nenvton, F.R.S. (With three
Plates and nineteen other illustrations.) 94

The Occurrence in Essex of a Species of Isopoda new to Britain (Porceliio

ratzburgi). By W. M. Webb, F.L.S 127

The Essex Field Club. Garden Party at Knighton, 128 ; Visit to Yardley Hill, 129 ;

Voyage on Lea from Hertford to Waltham .Abbey, 130 ... ... ... ... 128

Short Papers : — Random Notes by an Old Angler on the Lea and its Fishes.
By Mark Davies, 133 ; Rye House, 1685. By B. Winstone, M.D., F.G.S. ,
135 ; "Walton's Favourite River." By E. .A. H. Bramlev, 133

Notes — Original and Selected 141

(Title and Index to Volume X. inserted.)

The authors alone are responsible jor the statements and opinions contained in their

respective papers.

PUBLISHED BY THE CLUB, BUCKHURST HILL, ESSEX.
Ent. Stationers' Hall.]

Communications and Advertisements should be addressed :^

The Editor of " THE ESSEX NATURALIST,"

7, Knighton Villas, Buckhurst Hill, Essex.

THE ESSEX FIELD CLUB.

(Founded January 10th, 1880.)

Ipatroii :

H.R.H. The Duke of Connaught and Strathearn, K.G.,
Ranger of Epping Forest.

ipreslDent :

David Howard, J. P., F.I.C, F.C.S.

permanent Uice^ipresiOente:

Professor G. S. Boulger. F.L.S.,

F.G.S.
Frederic Chancellor, J. P.,
F.R.I.B.A.

T. V. Holmes, F.G.S. , F.Anth.I.
Henry Layer, M.R.C.S., F.L.S.

F.S.A.
Professor R. Meldola, F.R.S.

Edward A. Fitch, F.L.S. , F.E.S. | F.R.A.S.

^Treasurer :— W. C. Waller, M.A., F.S.A. ,

Loughton, Essex.

■ffDOJi. Secretaries

W. Cole,
B. G. Cole,

Buckliui'st Hill, Essex.

librarians :

( Alfred Lockyer,
( W. C. Waller,

At the Head Quaiteys.

MUSEUMS.— The Club's Local (Essex) Museum of Natural
History, Head Quarters and Library is at the Passmore Edwards

j.Iubcvim, R^r.iford Road, Stratford, Essex.

The Epping Forest Museum,

Queen Elizabeth's Lodge, Chingford, Essex.

Curator: W. Cole, F.L.S., F.E.S.

All interested in Essex and in the encouragement of the study of
practical Natural History and Geology, as well as in the cause of the
establishment and progress of Local Museums, should apply to the Hon.
Secretaries ior detailed prospectus and forms of proposal for membership.

Readers are referred to the List of Publications set out on third page
of wrapper.

In order to encourage new members of the Club and others to complete
their sets, the Council has resolved that for a very limited time only, the cost
of the set of lo volumes of the Essex Naturalist (1887-1S9S), now priced
at £^ OS. 6d. (unbound), shall '^ '-educed to £2 to the public and £1 los
to Members. And that single volumes and parts (so far as they can be supplied
of the "Transactions," "Proceedings," and "Essex Naturalist" shall he
sold [to Members only) at one-fourth the published price.

HISTORV OF ESSEX BOTANY.

By Piof. G. S. BOULGER, F L.S., F.G.S., Vice-President.

Part I.

The Botanists of the Sixteenth and Seventeenth
Centuries.

A CLUB such as ours, the object of which is to record the
Natural History of a county, must be interested in the
gradual introduction of new plants and animals into the area it
investigates, and in the growth of our knowledge concerning
them. My present object is in the main the growth of our
knowledge of the Essex Flora. It may be possible to some
extent to separate the indigenous plants of the county from those
introduced b)' man, and to discover approximate^^ the dates of
these additions to our objects of study. This I propose doing,
on the hues of the valuable appendices in Mr. Gibson's Flora, in
the fourth part of my paper. Perhaps also a good deal of matter
of biographical interest might be collected with reference to
botanists resident in Essex, whose work did not relate to the
county ; but, as I thought it advisable to limit my enquiry, it is
a history of Essex Botany rather than of Essex plants, or of
Botany in Essex.

It may be a subject of congratulation to us that this history
of Essex Botany is conterminous with that of the science in
Britain generally. We are not now concerned with plants that
may have have been introduced by Romans in the first century,
by the missionaries in the seventh century, by Normans in the
eleventh century, or by the monks during the following five
hundred years,' nor with any records previous to the revival of
learning in the sixteenth century. The history of Essex Botany
begins with William Turner, justly styled " the Father of English
Botany," for, though we have no distinct statement that Turner
was ever himself in the county, he mentions four species as
growing in Essex, and most of his records, unlike those of his
successors, seem to have been the result of personal observation.
Commencing then with Turner, I find that our subject divides
itself chronologically into three divisions : first, the botanists of
the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, Turner, Gerard,
Johnson, Parkinson, How, Robert Turner, Merrett, Ray,

I See "The Influence of Man upon the Flora of Essex," Trans. Essex Field Club
iv , p. 13.

58 HISTORY OF ESSEX BOTANY.

Morisoii, and Dale ; secondly, those of the eighteenth century
Blackstone, Thomas Martyn, Warner, Curtis and Robson, down
to the year 1789, in which Gough's edition of Camden's Britannia
was published, containing a list of Essex plants drawn up by the
brothers Forster ; and thirdly, the writers from that time, chiefly
Edward Forster, George Stacey Gibson, and botanists recently
deceased, or still living.

It is unnecessary for me to give a detailed biography of
William Turner, for two such have already appeared of late
years— one in Messrs. Trimen & Dyer's Flora of Middlesex,^
pp. 364-8, the other yet more complete in Mr. B. D. Jackson's
fac-simih- reprint of the LihcUusde re herbaria novus.^ Turner was
born at Morpeth, in Northumberland, probably between 1510
and 1515, and was educated at Pembroke Hall, Cambridge; was
B.A. in 1529-30, Fellow of his college in 1531, M.A. in 1533. In
1538 he published his Lihdlus de re herbaria novas,"* the earliest
work meriting the title of botanical issued in England. It does
not refer more than ten plants to county habitats, and these, with
the exception of one Norfolk record, are all in Northumberland
or Cambridgeshire. Having adopted the principles of the
Reformation, he travelled through a good part of England
preaching, was imprisoned, apparently for doing so " without a
call," and subsequently banished. He passed a considerable
time in Italy, studying Botany at Bologna, under Luca Ghini;
took the degree of M.D., probably at Ferrara ; visited the great
Gesner at Zurich, and resided at Basel and Cologne. He issued
various controversial religious pamphlets, and received money
in common with other exiles, from his Cambridge friend and
master in Greek, Nicholas Ridley. He returned to England in
1547, after travelling in Holland, and in 1548 published his second
botanical work, The names of Jierhes in Greke, Lctin, English, Duch
and Frenelie, icylh the coniuiiine names that Herhaiies and Apotecaries
vse, which rare and valuable little work has been admirably
reprinted for the Enghsh Dialect Society, under the editorship
of Mr. James liritten.s It is dated from Syon, where he acted as
physician to the Protector Somerset, and contains about sixty
county recoids, nearly half of which are in Middlesex, chiefly

2 London (Hardwicke), 1S69, Svo., price los. 6d.

3 Londor, privately printed, 1877, 4to.

4 British Museum prcss-niarls -"/'- f. 7. 410. Mr. Jacl<son's rejirint, London, 187
privately printed.

5 London (Triibner), 1S81, 8vo., price 6s. 6d.

HISTORY OF ESSEX BOTANY. 59.

about Syon, and none referring to Essex. In 1550 Turner was
appointed Prebendary of York, and soon after Dean of Wells,
being at the same time incorporated M.D. at Oxford. He was
only ordained priest in 1552, by Ridley. In 1551 he published
the first part of his Hevhall, but having to take to flight on the
accession of Mary, the second part and the complete work in
three parts^ appeared at Cologne in 1562 and 1568 respectively.
They thus had the benefit of the woodcuts made for Fuchsius'
octavo herbal of 1545, which probably belonged at that time to
Arnold Birckman. In this Herbal of Turner's appear the first
Essex records I have. They refer to Rusciis aculcatus, L., a Tilia,
a Hellebore, probably Hellehorus viridis, L., and to the Misseltoe
[Viscinn album, L.). Thus it happens that the little Butchers'
Broom, which is so frequent in the Forest and in our other
woodlands, is the first scientifically recorded Essex plant, and, as
all four of these species occur in the second part of the Herbal^
Essex Botany dates from 1562 — exactly three centuries before
the publication of Mr. Gibson's Flora. These four records of
Turner have considerable botanical accuracy and interest.

" Ruscus," he says, " is named in Greke myrsine agria, that is myrtus
sylvestris, in Barbaras latin bruscus, in English kneholme, or knehull,? and of
other Bucher broume, and of som Petigre. I never sawe it in Germany,
therefore I know not the Dutche name of it. Ruscus called of Dioscorides
Myrtus sylvestris hath a leafe lyke unto a myrtell tree, but broder, lyke in
fashon unto a lance, sharp in the top. It hath a rounde fruyte in the middes
of the iefe rede, when it is ripe with a harde kirnel within. The twigges are
bowing lyke vinde braunches, which come out of the route, they are tough a
cubit high, full of leaves, the routes are lyke unto grasse binding, tarte in
taste and somthing bitter. This bushe groweth verye plenteously in Essex
and in Kent, and in Barke shyre, but I could never se it in Germany."^

There is a figure of the plant annexed. He also gives
(on p. 153) a very poor figure of a lime tree, with this text :

" Tilia is named in Greke philyra, in Duche ein Linden baume, in English
a Lind tre. It groweth very plentuously in Essekes in a parke within two mile
from Colichester, in the possession of one maister Bogges, it is also very
comon in high Germany and it groweth so far abrode ther that men set
tables aboue in it, whereof som are so long that ten men maye sit well at one
table, and yet roume remaynyng inough for rnany other besyde the table."

Ray points out that Turner was in error in terming the
species now known as Tilia vulgaris, Hayne, a native of Essex '' ;

6 Cologne, 1568, tol. British Museum press-mark, 447. g.2.

7 Still so called at Baddovv.

•s Op. cit. part ii., p. 120. Previously recorded as English in the LibeUiis and from Kont
in the Names uf Hcrbes.

9 Ray, Historia Plantarum, II. p. 1694.

60 HISTOR\ OF ESSEX BOTANY.

but he may here refer to T. platyphyllos, Scop./° and as usual
takes no care to distinguish between indigenous and planted
species. This is the earliest record of the genus in Britain.

What I take to be a record of Hellehovits viridis, L., has no
figure to it, and runs as follows (p. i6o) :

" I dare not saye that ever I founde the righte black Hellebor, but thys I
dare holde, that a man for defaut of it, maye use verye well that kinde of bear
foot that goeth every yeare into the grounde, whereof groweth greate plentye
in a parke besyde Colchester, and in the west parke besyde Morpeth."

In this determination I differ, on the grounds of Hellehonis
viridis both being wild and having annual stems, from Pulteney,
who in his MSS. considers H.fistidus, L., to be referred to," and
from my friend Mr. B. D. Jackson, who in his edition of the
LibeUns (p. 12) amends his reference (p. 3) to Vevatrum nigrum, L.
of a plant " quam vulgus cantabrigiense vocat Bearefote " by
referring it to Helleborus niger, L. I probably should also dissent
from Mr. Britten's reference of the Bearfot or Consiligo of the
A ^;«r5 0/ //r;'/)fs to this latter e.xotic species.'-' The true explana-
tion appears in Mr. Jackson's edition of Gerard's Catalogus,'^
p. 36.'*

On pp. 164-5. Turner gives the following interesting record
of the mistletoe, with a very good figure of the plant.

" The best missel byrde lyme is . . . made of a certayn round fruyte
that groweth in an oke, the leafe of the bushe, that beareth it, is iyke unto
boxe. It groweth also in apple and crab trees and peare trees and other trees
and somtyme at the rootes of som bushes. . . . This Missel doth grow
no other wayes, but by ye sede in such places whereas byrdes have devoured
the fruyt, and have [discharged it] in the tre. I never sawe more plentye of
righte oke miscel, then Hugh Morgan shewed me in London. It was sente to
hym oute of Essex ; where as there is more plentye then in anye place of
Englande that I have ben in."

10 Gerard gives a similar record (Herball, 1597, p. 1299): " Neare Colchester, and in
many places alongst the highway leading from London to Heninjham, in the Countie of
Essex." Ray's correction runs as follows : — Turnerum & Gerarduni errasse existimo cum
in Essexia Anglias hoc genus copiose provenire aiunt, nam quamvis ipse Essexiffi incola sum,
neque inibi neque alibi in Anglia Tiliam foeminam vulgarem platyphyllon sponte nascentem
vidi. Quae frequens in sepibiis &: sylvis apud nos invenitur Tilia est minore folio J.B. &
aliorum." The frequency of this small-leaved Linden round Black Notley was noticed during
our Field Meeting, 23rd July, 1898. The identity of the species, hitherto known as T. cordata
Miller, T. parvifolia Ehrhart, or T. ulmifolia Scopoli, has been recently established by Mr.
E. G. Baker (Journal of Botany, 1898, pp. 318-g).

11 Flora Anglica abbreviata, MS. in the Botanical Department, British Museum, gen. 760.

12 Op. cit. p. 94.

13 A Catalogue of plants cultivated in the garden of John Gerard. . . edited with . .
a life of the author by B. D. Jackson (privately printed), London, 1876. 4to.

14 Mr. W. A. Clarke, F.L.S., in his First Records of Biitish Floiuering Plants, London,
1897. p. 7, also refers this record to H. viridis.

HISTORY OF ESSEX BOTANY. 6l

1 hough we now generally look on the apple orchards of the
western counties as the main home of the misseltoe, there is still
plenty in Essex, growing on a variety of trees, including,
according to Mr. Gibson and his correspondents, the apple, elm,
lime, sloe, willow and thorn ; but, so far as 1 know, no longer
on the oak in this county. Yet in 1771 Warner records it,'5 not
only on apple, pear, ash, lime, willow and elm, but

" On an oak, between Woodford Row and The Bald Faced Stag, near the
the Ten Mile Stone : and on several trees, many of them oaks, between
Lougbton and Mr. Conyers's, Copped Hall."

This suggests ideas connecting the Forest not only with the
Romano - British period of Ambresbury Banks — but with the
pre-Christian days of Druidism.

Having returned to England at the accession of Elizabeth in
1558, Turner was reinstated in his Deanery, but in 1564 was
suspended for nonconformity, in declining to adopt the prescribed
ecclesiastical vestments. He then took up his residence in
London, where he died in 1568, and was buried in St. Olave's,
Hart Street.

In accordance with my intention of restricting this history to
the workers in Essex Botany, I need do no more than mention
Thomas Newton, a native of Presbury, Cheshire, who, after
practising as a surgeon, became a schoolmaster at Little Ilford,
and, in 1583, Rector of that parish. In 1587 he published An
Herball to the Bible, translated from the Latin of the Dutch
physician, Levinus Lemnius. Newton died at Little Ilford in
May, 1607, and was buried in Ilford Church. (Pulteney,
Sketches of the Progress of Botany, i., 108; Britten and Boulger,
Biographical Index, 127.)

Essex Botany, however, owes far more than to Turner to
the better known Elizabethan worthy, John Gerard. Here
again Mr. B. D. Jackson's labours, in the work already quoted,
render any detailed biography from me superfluous. John
Gerard was born at Nantwich, in Cheshire, in 1545, was educated
in a neighbouring school, was drawn at an early age to the study
of medicine, and travelled, possibly as surgeon on a merchant
vessel, in Demark, Sweden, Poland, and Russia. In 1577 he
had charge of the gardens of Lord Burleigh, in the Strand, and
at Theobalds in Hertfordshire, and either at this time cr
subsequently he seems to have practised as a Barber-Surgeon.

15 Plantce Woodfordienses. London, Printed for the Author. 1771. 8vo.

62 HISTORY OF ESSEX BOTANY.

In 159 T he was elected a member of the Court of Assistants of
the Barber-Surgeons, and about this time lie seems to have had
a house and garden in Holborn, probably near Fetter Lane, the
north side being occupied by the garden of Ely House, after-
wards Sir Christopher Hatton's. In 1596 Gerard issued a
catalogue of the plants growing in this garden, of which he
issued a second edition in 1599, both editions having been edited
in a most workmanlike manner by Mr. B. D. Jackson, to whom
I am most deeply indebted for assistance of all kinds. In 1597
Gerard became Junior Warden ot the Barber-Surgeons'
Company, and issued his Herball/'' which is virtually an adapta-
tion to England of the Pemptades of Dodoens (1583). Previous
to the appearance of this Herbal there had appeared the
Stivpimn Adversaria of Pena and Lobel (1570) and the Herbal,
translated from Dodoens by Henry Lyte (1578), both containing
localities ; but those of the latter work are mainly from the
Dutch original or copied from Turner, whilst none of those in
the former happen to be in Essex. Gerard's Herhall contains
more than 1,800 woodcuts, nearly all of which were those used in
\.he Eicones Stir piiim oi Tahern^m.Qr].idin\\s (1590), obtained from
Frankfort for the purpose by the printer, Norton. In 1604
Gerard received a royal grant of a garden plot containing about
two acres to the east of Somerset House, Strand, but in the
following year he parted with his lease to Robert Cecil, Earl of
Salisbury. In 1608 he became Master of the Barber-Surgeons'
Company, but in February, 1612, he died and was buried in St.
Andrews', Holborn. The Herball enumerates about 75 plants
from Essex, of which two or three are escapes from cultivation,
about as many seem to be blunders, and the record of Rnscus is
taken from Turner. Of the rest some cannot be determined with
certainty, but in the first appendix to his Flora Mr. Gibson only
enumerates the following 43 species as first mentioned by
Gerard : —

Clematis vitalba. Cynoglossum montannni.

Myostirus minimus. Linaria elatine.

[Sisymbritim polyceratium.] L. spuria.

Crambe viaritima. Lamium galeobdolon.

Althcea officinalis. Galeopsis ladanum.

Tilia parvifolia. Anagallis cmulea.

Hypericum andvosmmum. Glaux mantima.

Melilotus offcinalis. Statice limonitim.

16 John Gerard. Herball. London. 1597. fol. 449.k.4.

HISTORY OF ESSEX BOTANY.

63

TfifoU'um ffagifcrnm .
Astragalus 'glycyphyllos.
Comarum palustvc.
Rosa spinosissima.
Erynginin ma vitim u m .
Peiicedanum officinale.
Dipsacus pilosus.
Aster tripolium.
Solidago virgauvea.
Diotis maritUna.
\_Senecio saraceniciis.]
Servatula tindoria.
Campanula glomerata.

Plantago maritima.
Euphorbia paralias.
Paris qnadrifolia.
Lister a ovata.
Epipactis latifolia.
Asparagus officinalis.
Convallaria majahs.
Puscus amleatus.
A ctinocarpus damasoiiium.
Sagitta ria sagitti folia .
Osmunda vegalis.
Botrychium lunaria.
Ophioglossum vulgatuiu

Convolvulus soldanella.

Of these Ruscus aculeatus and Tibia parvifolia (T. platypliyllos)
were previously recorded by Turner. Anagallis cocrulea and
Actinocarpus damasonium are not in Gerard's work, but occur for
the iirst time in Johnson's " emended " edition (1633) ;
Sisymbrium polyceratiuni is certainly not indigenous and Senecio
saracenicns is, as Johnson points out,'' probabl}' a blunder. Mr.
Gibson's Appendix professedly includes only the less cf;mmon
species. In the body of the Flora, the following 10 additional
records from Gerard are alluded to; but unfortunately Mr.
Gibson does not distinguish his quotations from Gerard's own
work from those taken from Johnson's additions : —

Glaucium luteum. Gentiana cruciata.

Cochlearia anglica. Plantago Coronopus.

Matthiola sinuata. Populus alba.

Saxifraga granulata. Crocus sativus.

Scabiosa succisa. Poa annua.

Of these Matthiola sinuata and Gentiana cruciata are probably
blunders. In addition to these 53 species, I find about 20 other
Essex records in Gerard's original work, including : —

Lepidium latifolium L. Prunella vulgaris L.

Coronopus procumhens Gilib. Atriplex laciniata L.

Thlaspi arvense, L.
{Lunaria biennis.']
Sherardia arvensis L.
Pulicaria dysenterica Gaertn
P. vulgaris Gaertn.
D igitalis purpurea L .

17 Gtraia's Herbal "einaculatus," p. 275,

Gyrostachis autumnalis Dum.
Scilla festalis Salisb.
Scolopendrium vulgar e Symons.
Asplcnitim marinum L.

64 HISTORY OF ESSEX BOTANY.

There is also an elm, probably Uhmis montana Stokes, what
is probably Angelica sylvcstris L., two or three species of Flax,
and " five kindes of Cuckovve flowers or Ladie smockes."

About 17 of Gerard's Essex records seem to be the first
British notices of the species, viz. : —

Mathiola siniiata R.Br. Popiilus alba L,

Alihoca officinalis L. Ccphalanthera ensifolia Rich.

Melilotus officinalis Lam. C. pallens Rich.

Potcntilla palitstris Scop. Asparagus officinalis L.

Rosa spinosissima L. Convallaria majalis L.

Dwtis candidissima Desf. Poa annua L.

Staticc limonium L. Aspleniuni marinum L.

Cynoglossoin gernianicuvi JRcq. A. ruta-muravia L.

A triplex laciniata L.

Nearh' all the species are illustrated by figures, some quite
indistinguishable, others wrongly assigned, but some remarkably
good. As Gerard's Herhall is now a rare work, and a good deal
of interest attaches to these early records and the identification
of the species intended, I propose transcribing all the passages
referring to Essex plants, adding modern names and a few notes.
They run as follows: —

p. 4. " Gramen minimum album. The white Dwarfe grasse ....
doth grow very plentifully among the hop gardens in Essex." [Poa amma L.]

Hops are still much grown in the Colne valley, and Poa annua
is still a common weed.

p. 100. " Hyacinthus albus Anglicus. White English Hare-bels or lacint
and . another sort which hath flowers of a faire carnation colour

grow in the woods by Colchester in Essex." [Scilla festalis Salisb.]

p. 124. " Common, or the best knovvne Saffron groweth plentifully in
Cambridgeshire, Saffron Walden and other places thereabout, as come in the
fieldes." [Crocus sativus L.]

p. 168. "Orchis Frisia & Orchis Leodinensis, Friezland Ladie traces and
Liege Ladie traces . . The yellow kinds growe in barren pastures and

borders of fields about Ouenden and Clare in Essex. Likewise neere unto
Muche Dunmowe in Essex, where they were shewed me by a learnedgentleman
master James Twaights, excellently well seene in the knowledge of plants.''
Gyrostachis autumnalis Dum.]

p. 187. " Dittander is planted in gardens, and is to be found wild also in
England in sundrie places, as at Clare by Ouenden in Essex." [Lepidium
latifoiium L.]

HISTORY OF ESSEX BOTANV. 65

p. 19S. " Erysimum sylvestre, Wilde bancke Cresses, with leaves like
Dandelion, ... I found it growing at a place by Chelmesforde in Essex
called little Baddowe. "

This would be Sisymhrium polyceratimn L., but Johnson
says : — ^^

" If our Author meant this which I have described and given you the
the figure of (as it is probable he did), I doubt he scarce found it wilde."

p. 249. " Brassica marina Anglica. . . The sea Colewoort groweth
naturally vpon the bayche and brims of the sea, where there is no earth to bee
seene, but sand and rowling pibble stones, which those that dwell neere the
sea doe call Bayche : I found it growing ... in many places neare
Colchester." [Cya7nbe maritima L.]

p. 257. " Att'iplex iiuti'ina . . . certaine Orache . . . I have found
in our owne country, neere the sea side . . it groweth by the blockhouse

of Tilberie." \_Atriplex lacimata L.]

Johnson (p. 325) suppresses this locahty, without comment.

p. 278. " Thorne apples . . . The iuyce of Thorne apples boiled
with hogges grease to the forme of an vnguent or salve, cureth all inflamma-
tions whatsoeuer, all manner of burnings or scaldings, as well of fire, water,
boyling leade, gun-powder, as that which comes by lightning, and that in very
short time, as my self have found by my dayly practise, to my great credit
and profit. The first experience came from Colchester where Mistresse Lobel
a Merchants wife there being most grieuously burned with lightning, and not
finding ease or cure in any other thing, by this found helpe when all hope
was past, by the report of Mr. William Ramme, publique Notarie of the said
towne, was perfectly cured. [Datura stramonium L.]

p. 295. "The yellowe horned Poppie. Papauer cornutumfloreluteo . .
groweth vpon the sandes and bankes of the sea: I found it growing ... a''
Lee at Essex : at Harwich." \Glaucium flavum Crantz.]

p. 324. " Cochlearia Britannica. Common English Scurvie-grasse .
groweth in diners places vpon the brims of the famous riuer Thames, as at
Woolwich, Erith, Greenhithe, Grauesend; as well as on the Essex shore.'
[Cochlearia anglica L.]

p. 326. "Ophris Bifolia. Twaiblade, . . groweth in moist medowes,
fennie grounds and shadowie places. I haue found it in many places, as
in the woods by Quenden neere to Clare in Essex, and in the woods by Dunmow
in Essex." [Listera ovata R. Br.]

p. 327. " Ophioglosson. Adder's toonge . . groweth in moist medowes
throughout most parts of Englande, as . . in the fieldes in Waltham
forrest." [Ophioglossum vulgatum L.]

i8 Op. cit. p.254.

56 HISTORY OF ESSEX BOTANY.

p. 328. " Hcvha Paris. One Berrie, or herbe Truelove . . groweth
pentifully in all these places follovvinc;, that is to saie, in Chalkney woode neere
to wakes Coulne, seauen miles from Colchester in Essex ; . . in the
parsonage orcharde at Radwinter in Essex, neare to Saffron Walden ; . . in
Booking parke by Braintree in Essex." {Paris quadrifolia L ]

p. 329. " Luiuuia iiiinor. Small nioonewoort . . groweth also in the
mines of an olde brickekill by Colchester, in the grounde of master George
Sayes, called Miles ende." [Botrychiiim liinaria Sw.]

p. 332. " Lilium conualliitm. Conuall Lillies . . or Lillie of the Vally
crrovveth . . neere to Lee in Essex." [Convallaria majalis L.]

p. 333, ■' Limonium. Sea Lauander spike . . groweth . . in the
salt marshes by Lee in Essex : in the Marsh by Harwich, and many other
places." [Statiee limonium. L.

Gibson remarks ("Flora," p. 253) that "Gerard's figure
seems quite as like S. bahusicnsis," i.e. S. raviflora Drejer.

P- 333- " Tripoliu7n vulsare. Sea Starwort . . There is another kinde

of Tripolium like the first, but much smaller, wherein consisteth the difference.

. The^-e herbs grow plentifully along the English coastes in many places,

as . . in a marsh which is vnder the towne wals of Harwich, in the marsh

by Lee in Essex." [Aster tripolium L.]

P- 337- I- Sagiitaria major. Great Arrowe head. 2. Sagittaria minor
Small Arrowe head. 3. Sagittaria minor angustifolia. Narrow-leafed Arrow
head. . These herbes do grow in the watrie ditches . . by Chelmesford

in Essex. [Sagittaria sagittifolia L.]

Gerard's three names refer only to variations which
commonly occur in the arrow-shaped leaves of this species,
without reference to the grass-like submerged leaves and the
ovate unbarbed floating ones that also occur.

p. 343. '■' Plantago maritima. Sea Plantaine . . doth growe neere vnto
the sea side in all the places about Englande where I have trauelled, especially
by the fortes on both sides of the water at Grauesend ; . . at Lee in Essex."
[Plantago maritima L.]

p. 346. " Cauda Muris. Mousetaile . . groweth . . in Woodford
Row in Waltham forrest, and in the orchard belonging to Master Francis
Whetstone in Essex." [Myosurus minimus L]

p. 346. "I. Cornu Ceruinum. Hartes home. 2. Coronopus Ruellij. Swines
Cresses, or Buckshorne . . growe . . at Waltham, twelve miles from
London." [Plantago coronopus L. and Coronopus procumbens Gilib.]

p. 347. " Saracens Consound. Solidago Saracenica . . groweth by
a wood, as yee ride from great Dunmowe in Essex, nto a place called Clare
in the saide countrey ; from whence I brought some plants into my garden."

This should refer to Scnecio saraccnicus L. ; but under Arabis

HISTORY OF ESSEX BOTANY.

6f

qnonindam of Camerarius, which would seem, as Mr. Jackson
points out,'' to be Sisyiiibniiin slrictissimiim L., Johnson says : - ^"

■' Without doubt this is the very plant that our Author mistooke for
SoUdago Sarnicenica, for he bewraies liimselfe in the chapter of Epimedium
whereas he saith it has cods Hke Sarracens Consound ; when as both he
and all other giue no cods at all to Sarracens Consound. My very "ood
friend Mr. John Goodyer was the first, I thinke, that obserued this mistake
in our Author."

At the same time Sisymhnum strictissimmn is neither British,
nor very likely to have occurred at Dunmow.

p. 349. " Virga aurea. Golden Rod" and " Virga aurea Arnoldi
Villanouani. Arnold of the new towne his Golden Rod. . . They both
growe plentifully . in a wood by Rayleigh in Essex." [Solidugo

virgaurea L.]

On the second of these forms Messrs. Trimen and Dyer
write : — -'

"A dwarf form was distinguished by the old botantists. Gerarde calls it
V.-a. Arnoldi Villa novaiii. and both he and Johnson mention it in Hampstead
Wood. It is probably F.-rt. vulgari Immilior {R. Syn. in. 176) on Hampstead
Heath ; Huds. i. 319 ; and nearly answers to Smith's var Cambvica."

p. 352. " Gentiana minor Cruciata . Crossewoort Gentian groweth

in a pasture at the west ende of little Rayne iu Essex, on the north side of the
waie leading fram Braintrie to much Dunmow ; and in the horse way by the
same close." [Gentiana cruciata L.]

This error, as it almost certainly is [Gibson p. 205] may
have arisen by a slip for Blackstonia, Eryihraa or Galium cruciata
Scop.

p. 358. " Helleborine. Wilde white Hellebor . . groweth . . in
the woods of Dunmowe in Essex : . . in a little groue of Juniper, and in
a woode by Clare in Essex." [Cephalanthera pallens Rich.]

p. 365. "Trachclium minus. Small Canterburie bels . groweth . ,

in Hennyngham parke in Essex." [Campanula glomerata L.]

p. 376. " Of Sea stocke Gilloflowers." "These plants do growe neere
vnto the Sea side, about Colchester."

Gerard enumerates no less than five kinds. Johnson {op. cit
p. 461) doubts whether any except perhaps Leiicoium manmim
pni'pureum L'ObeliJ have been found wild. Gibson in the
"Additions and Corrections" to his Flora, p. 456, rightly
identifies this one species with Mathiola sintiata R.Br., at the same
time pointing out that it " is probably a mistake " to have
recorded it for Essex.

ig Catalogue of plants . . in the garden of John Gerard, -p. ^1.

20 Gerard emac. p. 275

21 Flora of Middlesex , p. 150.

68 REPORT OF THE CLUB's DELEGATE.

P- 377' " Viola Lunana sitie Bolbonac. White Sattin . . hath beene
founde wilde . in Essex . . about Hornchurch." {Lvnavia biennis.]

p. 401. " Tithymahis paralius. Sea Spurge . . groweth by the sea
side vpon the rowUng sande and baich, as at Lee in Essex, at Langtree point
right against Harwich." [Euphorhia paralias L.]

p. 455. " Clymenon Italorum. Tutsan or Parke leaues . . groweth . .
in a wood by RaiHe in Essex." [Hypericum andyoscemum L.]

p. 447. " Of Wilde Flaxe . . The third and fourth growe vpon rocks
and cHffes neere to the sea side. I haue seene them growe upon the sea
bankes by Lee in Essex." [Linnm angustifoUum Huds. and, probably, L.
catharticum L.]

[To be continued.]

REPORT OF THE CLUB'S DELEGATE AT
THE MEETING OF THE CORRESPONDING
SOCIETIES' COMMITTEE OF THE BRITISH
ASSOCIATION AT DOVER, SEPTEMBER,
1899.
ri^'HE meetings of the Conference were held in the Mayor's
1 Parlour at the Town Hall, Dover, on Sept. 14th and 19th,
at 3 p.m. A brief report, which was taken as read, was in the
hands of every delegate on the 14th. In it the Corresponding
Societies' Committee of the iaritish Association expressed their
pleasure at being able to state that the resolution passed at the
Bristol Conference of Delegates last year, on the desirability of
securing the co-operation of the Coast Guard, in making
systematic observations on Coast Erosion, had been adopted
by the Council of tlie Association, and favourably received by
the Admiralty. Forms, drawn up by a Committee of the
Council of the Association, which had been appointed to con-
sider the subject, have been issued by the Admiralty, and many
have already been returned, filled in by the Coast Guard. Of course
the object of these forms is to promote uniformity in the nature
of the observations made, and to direct attention to those points
which most need to be noted. As it is in the highest degree
desirable that observers belonging to the local scientific societies
should know what kind of information is most required — the
services of the Coast Guard being designed to supplement, not
to supersede, their own — copies of Forms L and II. are here
given : —

REPORT OF THE CLUB's DELEGATE. 69

FORM No. I.]

OBSERVATIONS OF COAST CHANGES.

[To be filled in and returned as soon as convenient.^

Instructions to Observers in regard to Changes that are taking place
along the Coast -line of the British Isles.

1. Mention the part of the coast on which you report, and give its
limits.

2. State whether the coast is cUffy or low ; whether rocky, sandy,
gravelly, or muddy. If it is cliffy, give the average height of the cliffs, and,
if possible, the nature of the material of which they consist, especially
whether hard rock, chalk, clay, &c. State also the nature of the beach.

3. What is the vertical range of ordinary spring-tides ?

4. Is the sea encroaching on the coast ? If so, state briefly the proofs
of this change.

5. Is the land gaining on the sea ? If so, give shortly the-fei'idence of
such advance.

6. Are there any artificial causes which tend to increase or retard the
natural changes on the coast ? For instance, are there any groynes along the
shore, and if so, what effect have they on the travelling shingle or sand ? Are
the shingle, sand, or slabs of stone, removed for industrial or other purposes ?

Signature of person Reporting.

Coast Guard Station.

FORM No. II.

OBSERVATIONS OF COAST CHANGES.

[To be retained until there are some actual changes to be reported^
after which the form should be filled up and returned zvithont
delay, in order that if needful a more careful survey of the
changes reported on may be made by the Committee of the
British Association.']

Instructions to Observers in regard to Changes that may take place
along the Coast-line of the British Isles.

A. When changes are actually observed to be taking place on the coast,
either as to advance or retreat of the sea, it is very desirable that information

7Q CORRESPONDING SOCIETIES' MEETING AT DOVER.

regarding them should be forwarded as soon as possible. For example, when
any fall of a portion of shore-cliff occurs, note of the circumstances should
be taken, with measurements (if that be found practicable) or estimates of
the area or amount of material that has been dislodged. When any groynes
or other artificial protections of the coast are washed away, this should also
be reported, and likewise when any new groynes or other works on the coast
are constructed.

B. The Council of the British Association will be glad to receive any
other information of which the observer may be in possession, bearing upon
the changes that are taking place along the shore.

[The answers to these two paragraphs A and B can be written below, or
if necessary on other sheets of foolscap paper.]

Signature q/ person Reporting.

Const Guard Station.

At the first meeting of the Conference, the Rev. T. R. R.
Stebbing, F.R.S., Chairman of the Conference, after a few
preliminary remarks on the result of the discussion on Coast
Er(5sion at the Bristol meeting, read a short paper on

Thi-: Living Subterrane.\n Fauna of Gri^at Britain and Ireland.

In the first place he noticed the many animals which, though their
dwellings are in some sense subterranean, yet come out and roam over the
surface for various purposes either by night or by day. As examples he
mentioned bats and rats, foxes, rabbits, badgers, moles, vipers, lizards, beetles,
and worms, together with various marine species, which have a habit of burying
themselves in sand and ooze. From thess he turned to creatures which pass
the whole of their lives underground in wells and caverns. The first un-
doubted mention of a subterranean animal of this kind seemed to be that
of a crustacean belonging to the Amphipoda, found in London, and named
by Dr. Leach, of the British Museum, in 1813. Since that time many valu-
able treatises on creatures of subterranean life had been published in various
European languages, including the Polish. The English student should
study " The Cave Fauna of North America," by Dr. Packard, published in the
Memoirs of the National Academy of Sciences, Vol iv., Washington, 1888;
also "The Subterranean Crustacea of New Zealand," by Dr. Charles
Chilton, published in the Transaction^ of the Liniiean Society of London,
1894. Packard enumerated 308 European cave animals, and 102 American.
This total of 410 includes a few Protozoa, a Sponge, two Hydras, a few
Worms, one Mollusc, several Crustacea and Myriapods, numerous
Arachnids and many Coleoptera. The other insects were chiefly
Thysanura. The Vertebrates consist of four .\merican Fish and
one European Batrachian, the celebrated Proteus anguineus. The known
well-fauna of Great Britain and Ireland comprise only four species of

CORRRSPONDING SOCIETIES MEETING AT DOVER, 71

Amphipoda, and these De Rougemont would reduce to a single species.' Two
other forms, however, have been found in recesses of coalpits in Scotland
and Northern England. Mr. Stebbing noticed the blindness and want of
colour characteristic of this subterranean fauna ; also the singular fact that
while its study may be said to have begun in England, almost every discovery
therein during the last 50 years had been made in the wells and caverns of
other countries, whether European or American. He concluded by remark-
ing that it would indeed be extraordinary should Great Britain and Ireland
not yield on investigation a fauna comparable to that found in other parts of
the world. In this research he hoped that some members of our local
scientific societies might take a share.

In answer to a question as to the best way of catching " Well-
shrimps," Mr. Stebbing replied that a good plan was to wait till the well was
nearly empty, then let down a bucket and withdraw it as soon as possible.
Sometimes they were brought up when pumping was going on.

Some discussion then ensued, in which Rev. J. O. Bevan,
Mr. T. Workman, and Mr. Hotblack took part, as to whether
the Bats in the Mammoth Cave of Kentucky passed all their
time there, it was hardly a matter that could he decisively
settled, but some presumption that they did not was afforded by
a remark of Mr. Workman's (who had visited the Mammoth
Cave) that they were not found in the depths of the Cave,
though in great numbers near the mouth.

Mr. Hotblack said that a Well-shrimp had been obtained at
Norwich by a member of the Society he represented (Norfolk
and Norwich Naturalists' Society).- Mr. Mark Stirrup men-
tioned that a few years ago a Society was started in Yorkshire
for cavern exploration, with which a search for underground
fauna might well be combined. Mr. Stebbing had certainly
opened out for them a new field of research.

The Chairman (Mr. Stebbing) added that two gentlemen
had written to him on this subject, Mr. E. S. Goodrich, of the
Department of Comparative Anatomy, Oxford, who would be
glad to have any specimens of blind Crustacea from wells and
caves for experimental purposes, and Dr. Charles Chilton (to
whose work on the underground fauna of New Zealand he had
already referred) who was living in Edinburgh. Dr. Chilton
was collecting information about the English Well-Amphipoda,
and would be glad of specimens. A general hope was expressed

1 In a letter to the Editor, Mr. Stebbing says that the British Well-shrimps are
Niphargus aquilex, Schiodte, N. fcntanus, Spence Bate, N. Kochinas, S. Bate, and
Kraangonyx subtcrraneiis, S. B. He adds, " of these the first is most frequently met with in
England."

2 This species is Niphargus aquilex, see " Notes " in the present part of the E.N. — EJ. -

72 CORRESPONDING SOCIETIES MEETING AT DOVER.

that Mr. Stebbing's paper would be printed in full, and the
meeting came to an end.

It occurs to me here to remark that it is highly desirable
that an account of the finding of a Well-shrimp, or other wholly
subterranean creature, should give not only the depth of the
well, but also the nature of the rocks through which it is sunk.
Of course, in the case of a well sunk in sand or gravel, no
subterranean animal could be expected, unless it were so minute
that not only the ova but the adult animal could pass through
the mass as the percolating water does. But it would be
interesting to be able to note the proportion of subterranean
creatures, if any, in sandstones as compared with limestones.
In both kinds of rock water circulates mainly along lines of
jointing or lines of fault, but in lini3stones the dissolution of the
rock here a-nd there, by the action of the water percolating
through it, gives rise to hollows and caverns varying in size
from spaces only large enough to accommodate a few Well-shrimps
to the Mammoth Cave of Kentucky. In sandstones, on the
other hand, hollows arising from the dissolution of the rock do
not occur, but it seems possible that here and there in a sand-
stone, along lines of jointing or of fault, the erosive action of
water carrying particles of sand in suspension might at length
give rise to spaces capable, as regards size, of being the residence
of Well-shtimps, though nothing comparable to limestone caverns
would be produced. Therefore, while subterranean animals may
naturally be expected to exist mainly, if not whoUv, in lime-
stones, it seems quite within the limits of possibility that certain
forms of life, probably differing from those common in lime-
stone, may some day be found in sandstone wells. Wells, how-
ever, in Essex, Suffolk and Norfolk are almost certain to be
either in that well-known limestone, the Chalk, or in superficial
sand and gravel.

At the Second Meeting of the Conference on September
igth, the proceedings began with a long and desultory debate as
to the best ways of making the meetings of the Conference more
useful. While it was proceeding Rev. T. R. R. Stebbing had
to leave, and Professor W. W. Watts became Chairman. At
length it was decided that it would be best for individual
delegates to write to the Corresponding Societies' Committee,
suggesting improvements, not later than the end of the first
week in November. Letters received by that date would then
be Considered by the Committee, when they met later in that

CORRESPONDING SOCIETIES' MEETING AT DOVER. 73

month. Then Mr. Hugh Blakiston, Secretary of " The
National Trust for Places of Historic Interest or Natural
Beauty," gave a brief account of the aims and modes of action
of that Institution.

The National Trust, said Mr. Blakiston. was founded in the year 1894
by the Duke of Westminster, the Earl of Carlisle, Lord Hobhouse. the Ripht
Hon. James Bryce, Sir Robert Hunter, Miss Octavia Hill, and others, and
incorporated as a limited liability company for purposes which are shortly
set forth in the Memorandum of Association : —

"To promote the permanent preservation, for the benefit of the nation,
"of lands and tenements (including buildings) of beauty or historic interest ;
" and as regards lands, to preserve (so far as practicable) their natural aspect,
" features, and animal and plant life ; and for this purpose to accept, from
" private owners of property, gifts of places of interest or beauty, and to hold
" the lands, houses, and other property thus acquired, in trust fortheuseand
"enjoyment of the nation."

No lands or tenements of beauty or historic interest, given or bequeathed
to or acquired by the Trust for the benefit of the Nation, shall, at any time,
whether upon the winding up or dissolution of the Trust, or otherwise, be sold
or otherwise dealt with in a manner inconsistent with the objects of the Trust ;
thus the Association affords ample security for the permanent safe custody
of all property committed to its care.

Mr. Blakiston went on to remark that Great Britain is singularly rich
in historic buildings, and is singularly indifferent to their preservation. In
Austria, France, and Italy, it is considered one of the functions of a Minister
of State to look after these national treasures. As regards the objects of the
National Trust, the Queen's reign has been a peculiarly disastrous period on
account of the growth of large cities, which has been necessarily unfavour-
able to the preservation of ancient buildings. Though a certain amount of
destruction has been unavoidable, yet much might doubtless have been
averted. Putting aside monuments of prehistoric times, there were still,
buildings illustrating every stage of our history from the Roman Occupation
to the present day. But the increase of population, and its tendency to con-
gregate in large towns, are rapidly causing the more ancient central part of a
town to become a wilderness of shops, offices, and eating-houses, the people
frequenting these establishments by day sleeping in monotonous streets in
the suburbs, where the children see around them nothing to suggest to the
mind anything outside the dull round of every day life. It was most im-
portant that everything calculated to stimulate the imagination to realise
our past history or to develop a feeling for natural beauty should be pre-
served, if possible. Then, millions of people living far from our shores
look upon these Isles as their Old Home, and feel justly that our historical
monuments and beautiful scenery should be preserved in a manner worth}'
of our great history, i^ s examples of what the Trust has already done the
following instances may be selected : —

It has, by purchase, obtained Barras Headland, opposite Tintagel Castle,
and will preserve it unbuilt upon, with all its gorse and thrift and close
cropped turf, to delight the dreamers of old Arthurian times, or the landscape
painter of to-day.

74 CORRESPONDING SOCIETIES' MEETING AT DOVER.

Again, it holds, by gift, the most beautiful bit of cliff that overlooks
Barmouth, ils estuary and seashore, with the distinct understanding that no
other walks than those at present in existence sh.ill l)e made ; that it shall
be grazed, as heretofore, by sheep ; and that no harm shall be done to the
gorse that grows upon it.

The gift of land on Toys' Hill, near Oxted, Kent, has secured to the
lover of English scenery one of those views of green foreground and distant
background of blue hills, so characteristic of the country. Another and a
larger property, at Ide Hill, in the same district, will soon be acquired.

It has, also, cast upon it the burden of raising funds to put into tenant-
able repair an early XlVth century clergyhouse, at Alfriston, in Sussex, and
here, again, it has done all that loving care and wise direction could suggest
to retain in its ancient condition the construction, the timbering, and the
household arrangements, in order that men of the XlXth and XXth centuries
may realise how men of the XlVth had their habitation.

It has lately, at the will of the Trustees, taken under its care the Falkland
Monument, upon the Newbury Battle Field.

Nor have the claims of science escaped recognition. B\ the purchase
of land in Wicken Fen, Cambridgeshire, a portion of the primeval fen land
of East Anglia, with its plant and insect life, will remain undrained and
unmolested for ever.

The National Trust is not only a holder of natural scenery and ancient
buildings, but it also does what it can to promote local interest in the pre-
servation of any worthy historical object or of natural beauty.

Whether it be a waterfall destroyed as in the case of Foyers, or an old bit
of Sir Christopher Wren's London, the Trinity Almshouses, Whitechapel,
that is threatened, or the quietude of Kynance Cove and the destruction of
the rocks of the Cornish foreshore, near the Lizard, or the alteration of the
line of the shore at Chelsea that is brought under its notice, or the need of
obtaining such a pleasure ground as Churchyard Bottom Wood for the
people, the Trust, working sometimes alone, at other times in conjunction
with kindred societies, brings its influence to bear in the direction and spirit
of its promoters.

It may be useful to add that a minimum subscription of los. includes
membership and copies of the report, and entitles to a voice in the annual
election of members of the Council and Officers of tl'.e Trust.

Mr. Blakiston concluded by remarking that it was proposed to form a
Federation of Archaeological and Naturalist Societies throughout the country,
with the view of accomplishing what could not be achieved either by a
Central Society acting by itself or by local Societies acting by themselves.
The proposed scheme for federation would probably be issued by the National
Trust during next month.

The work of the National Trust was generally approved by
the delegates present. Mr. Gray gave some account of the
unsuccessful attempt at Belfast to prevent a Syndicate from
enclosmg the Grant's Caiisewa\-, and Mr. Vaughan Cornish
inquired to what e.xteut the aims and objects of the National
Trust were those of other Societies ? Mr. Blakiston replied

CORRESPONDING SOCIETIES MEETING AT DOVER. 75

that there was another Society for the protection of ancient
buildings, but it had no power to hold buildings as the National
Trust could. The National Trust was in close touch with that
Society, also with the Selborne, the Commons Preservation, and
other Societies. He did not think that there was any danger of
overlapping as regards the work of these Societies. A vote of
thanks to Mr. Blakiston was then heartily accorded, on the pro-
position of the Chairman.

Section A.

Mr. G.J. Symons said that the Committee for Seismologicai
Observations was badly in want of a home, and would be glad
if some ancient building could be allotted to them.

Section C.

The Chairman mentioned two investigations in which the
local Societies had been of much assistance. The Committee
to investigate the Erratic Blocks of the British Isles presented
a report this year. The Committee for the Collection, Preser-
vation and Systematic Registration of Photographs of Geological
Interest, of which he was Secretary, would be glad to receive
any contributions of such photographs. They hoped to be
able to undertake the publication of typical geological photo-
graphs in such a way as to render them easily obtainable by
those who could make good use of them. It would greatly
help the Committee if local societies would agree to purchase a
series of these photographs There was a duplicate collection
of prints and lantern slides which could be sent to any local
society wishing to exhibit them and to see what kind of work
was being done, the only expense incurred by the local society
being that of carriage. They proposed, when publishing the
photographs to add letterpress descriptions.

It may be remembered that the duplicate series mentioned
by Professor Watts were shown to the Essex Field Club last
winter. Those who were present will remember their excellence.

Section D.

The Rev. T. R. Stebbing said that the Secretary of that
Section recommended the study of the fauna of wells and
caverns by the Corresponding o(,cieties.

76 note on the white-tailed eagle and salmon.

Section K.

Mr. H. Wager informed the delegates of the Corresponding
Societies that the Section had appointed a Committee to consider
the Geographical Distribution of Mosses, a subject of interest
to all the Corresponding Societies.

Mr. Vaughan Cornish congratulated the Corresponding
Societies on the result of the discussion on Coast Erosion, at
Bristol, last year, initiated by Mr. Whitaker. Seldom, if ever,
had the Admiralty acted so promptly before. The meeting then
came to an end.

T. V. Holmes, Sec. Cor. Soc. Committee,

Delegate, Essex Field Club.

NOTE ON THE OCCURRENCE OF THE
WHITE-TAILED EAGLE {HALI/ETUS
ALBICILLA) AND THE SALMON (SALMO
SALAR) AT HARWICH IN 1666.

By miller CHRISTY, F.L S.

TTyHILST examining recently some documents among the
VV State Papers (Domestic Series) belonging to the reign of
Charles II., preserved at the Public Record Office, I came by
accident across one letter containing a very quaintly-expressed
and curious item relating to the avi-fauna of the County of Essex.
The letter was written from Harwich on the 20th of October
1666 by one Francis Newby, a servant of the Navy Com-
missioners at Harwich. It runs as follows' : —

Harw''*', Octob"" 20"^, 1666.
My deere friend,

J haue writt three seuerall Letters to you, of w^"" I haue had
noe Answere of the Rec' of any of them, w""" makes me Doute of
your non [?] helthe.

for Newes, I haue Not any, onely yesterday lieere lighted
vpon the Rope house one the Greene^ a Mighty Greate Eagell.
from whence she Cam is Not knowne. she was kild by one of the
Caipenters belonging to his Maf" yard heere. her wings are 7
foote od jnches long, one of her Clawse being vpwards of nine
jnches long, 'tis jmagined y' she Cam from beyond the Sease,

1 state Papers, Domestic, Charles II., vol. 175, no. 120.

2 " The Store-Houses to the Rope Walke " are shown on the Green in the general view
of Harwich given in the beginning of Dale's History and Antiquities of Harwich and
Dovevcourt (London, 40 , 1730).

NOTE ON THE WHITE-TAILED EAGLE AND SALMON. 77

from sum far Cuntry, and was Extreame weary, hauing one shot
made at her, and budged not ; but, at the second shott she was
killed.

Mr. Readman acquainted me y' hee deliuer[ed] y^ small
token J sent you, w"'' was a dryed Salmon ; w^'' be pleased to
accept as a poore mite of y^ affection of

Yo'' Reall Freind and humble Seru',

Fffra. Newby.

[P.S.] — The shipps that are Now in harbour to be Refitted
out w* Speede are the Coulchester, Speedwell, Vicktory, Rich-
mond, Garland, Reserue, Aduenture, and Delfe.

The matter did not end here. Joseph Williamson, Secre-
tary to the Navy Commissioners, hearing, from the official to
whom this letter was addressed, of the occurrence of the Eagle,
wrote to Mr. Silas Taylor, Keeper of the King's Stores at
Harwich, 3 and one of Newby's superiors, asking for further
information about the bird. Taylor's reply ■* here follows : —

Harwich, Oct. 25, 1666.

This morning the Truelove, from convoying the Amunition
to Scilly &c., return'd backe hither, haueing first conuoy'd the
Shipps imployed in that seruice safe backe. Her consort, the
Roebuck, is gone for Ireland.

At the end of your last written Intelligence, I read the Story
of our Eagle kil'd here. I saw the Skinne of it, but did not
looke upon it as soe strange a thing as others did ; for why
should not an Eagle fly hither as well as to Scotland ? Others
thinke that the Eagle may come Southerly, as beeing weather-
wise and [that its coming] prognosticates a hard winter ; and
severall thoughts severall men haue. I haue nothing to say to
it : Onely an Eagle was kild here ; and I sent you noe notice of
it because I though it not W'orth y" writeing about ; and, your
intelligence giveing me notice of it, 1 thought it ma}' bee a
freindly reproofe.

Our Shippe are here still [that] I formerly wrote you off;
and we haue noe newes ; Onely I am, S^

Your most humble serv',

Silas Taylor.
To Joseph Williamson, Esquire.

3 This Silas Taylor (alias Domville) was the man who collected the matter relating to
the history of Harwich which Dale afterwards added to and published in 1730. Dale speaks
of him in his preface as "a lover of Antiquities, a person of leisure, and a member of the
Corporation," but adds that, " dying in debt, all his MSS. and papers were, together with
his goods, seized on by his creditors and so dispersed."

4 State Papers, Domestic, Chas. II. , vol. 176, no. 28.

78 THE LATEST ADDITION TO EPPING FOREST.

In all probability, the bird in question was a White-tailed
Easjle, specimens of which (generally immature) are not un-
common, even now, in Essex in the winter time^ ; while it is
quite likely that the Salmon mentioned by Newby was caught in
the River Stour, though, as it was dried, it may have come from
elsewhen;. It will be seen on reference to Dr. Laver's Mammals,
Reptiles, ami Fishes of Essex (p. 103) that the Salmon was formerly
a regular inhabitant of our principal Essex rivers and is, even
now, more or less polluted as most of them are, a not infrequent
visitor.

YARDLEY HILL, THE LATEST ADDITION TO
EPPING FOREST.

OINCE that nremorable May morning seventeen years ago,
k3 when Her Majesty the Queen granted the modern " Carta
de Foresta "' by personally dedicating 5,500 odd acres to the use
and enjoyment of the public for ever, friends of the " free forest "
have recognised with gratitude and pleasure three notable
additions to the woodlands. These are " Oak Hill,'' Theydon,
" Highams Park," Walthamstow and Woodford, and the latest
gift, " Yardley Hill," Chingford.

It is to the generosity of Mr. E. N. Buxton, to whom the
public are indebted in large measure for the previous acquisitions,
that this last splendid addition to the forest is due. \\. a meeting
of the Co.njion Council of the Corporation of London, on
Thursday, October 20th, the folio iving letter addressed to the
Lord ]\Iay or was read: —

" Kni:;hton, Buckhurst Hill, October iSth, 1898.
•• My dear Lord Mayor, — I have for a long time past been impressed
with the importance, it not tl:e necessity, of securing the picturesque vantage
ground knovvQ as Yardley Hil! as an addition to Epping Forest. It is a
timbere-1 ridge which projects into the Lea Valley basm, from which ri\er its
highest point is distant about 400 yards. From its prominent position it
commands many' miles of the valley, along which a manufacturing population
is steadily assembling, as well as such distant points as Hampstead, Barnet,
and the iiigli grounds near Broxbourue. A more practical consideration is
that it would connect that charming outlying portion of the Forest called
GilUvell-lane, at present, owing to its isolation, rarely visited, with the main
block near Hawkwood. My etforts, more than once renewed, have at length
been successful, and I have no.w the pleasure of begging your Lordship, as

5 Tliere :irc two specimens in the Museum of the Essex Field Club.

OO THE LATEST ADDITION TO EPPING FOREST.

chief of the Conservators of Epping Forest, to accept 28 acres of this land
for the public use. In making this offer, may I once more express to the
Corporation, over which you preside, my abiding gratitude for their spirited
action in the past, and my confident hope that, in conjunction with the
residents, upon whom a duty also lies, they will lose no reasonable opportunity
in the future to consolidate, extend, and complete the precious inheritance
of which they are the trustees. — I am, my Lord Mayor, your obedient servant,

" E. N. Buxton."

Mr. Deputy Snowden, in moving that Mr. Buxton's handsome gift should
be accepted, said the offer was a most gratifying one, and it was not the first,
the second, or the third time that Mr. Edward North Buxton and his family
had conferred benefits upon the Corporation. (Hear, hear.) It showed also
that Mr. Buxton, who knew more about the Forest than anyone else, was
thoroughly satisfied with its management. (Applause.) Removed, "That
this Court gratefully accepts the munificent offer of Mr. Edward North
Buxton, one of the Verderers of Epping Forest, to present 28 acres of land
forming a portion of the Yardley Hill Estate, Sewardstone, as an addition to
the Forest, and accords him its sincere thanks for his much-valued gift, which
the Court regards as a further substantip.l proof of the deep interest taken by
him in the welfare of the Forest, and of his ever-increasing desire to add to
its beauties and make them more accessible to the public whom he faithfully
serves."

Alderman Sir Reginald Hanson, in seconding the motion, said the gift
was all the more gratifying as Mr. Buxton had not always seen eye to eye
with the Corporation in regard to matters connected with the management of
the Forest. (Hear, hear.)

Mr. judd remarked that it was a most unusual circumstance that a gift
like the present was made to any public body accompanied by expressions
which dignified it and rendered it more valuable. (Hear, hear.) The
Corporation was well aware of the valuable services which Mr. Buxton and
his family had rendered to the people of Greater London on the School
Board and elsewhere. Mr. Buxton, instead of occupying his time for his own
benefit, had chosen to devote it to the public service, and had generously
spent much time, labour, and money on their behalf. (Applause.) Mr. Judd
said he did not think he was out of place in calling attention to the expressions
which had accompanied the gift. (Hear, hear.)

The motion was then adopted, amid loud applause.

Mr. Deputy Snowden then moved that the letter should be referred to
the Epping Forest Committee, in order that the necessary steps might be
taken in respect to Mr. Buxton's gift.

The motion was adopted, and it was further resolved that Mr. Buxton's
letter should be printed on the minutes, and entered on the journal of the
Court.

In accordance with the instructions thus given, the Epping
Forest Committee, in their report presented on the 9th February,
T8gg, were enabled to say that possession of the land had been
handed over, the hedges dixiding the various fields had been

THE LATEST ADDITION TO EPPING FOREST.

..S^.

Plan showing the position of the four fields at Yardley Hill, recently
added to the Forest. These are printed dead black on the plan.

82 THE LATEST ADDDITION TO EPPING FOREST.

demolished and obliterated, and a fence has also been erected
between the land of an adjoining owner and the narrow strip
which is to form the new approach to the Forest from Low Street
on the Sewardstone road.

On Thursday, June ist, i8gg, a large company assembled
on the crown of Yardley Hill to witness the dedication of the
spot, " to be part and parcel of Epping Forest and to be open
for ever to the public," the ceremony being performed by His
Royal Highness the Duke of Connaught, Ranger of the Forest,
who was accompanied by the Duchess. The day was summerlike
and pleasant, and the fine broad landscape of the valley of the
Lea seen from the hill enabled the visitors to realise vividly that
a most important accession to the waste of the Forest had that
afternoon become a matter of history, and warm expressions of
erratitude to Mr. Buxton for his thousjhtful kindness were heard
on every side.

A small addition to the Forest has also been made at
Leytonstone. This fact is thus alluded to in the Report of the
Epping Forest Committee : —

" Harrow Green, Leytonstone, was coloured green on the deposited and
final maps of Epping Forest as being part of the open waste of the Forest.
A small brick-built and timber shed was erected by the turnpike road trustees
on one portion of the green somewhere about the year 1847, and the arbitrator
appointed by the Epping Forest Act, 1878, had no jurisdiction to deal with it.
This shed and its site, which was let at £^ per annum, was recently offered
for sale by public auction. The Leyton Urban District, being desirous that
we should hand over the care and management to them to lay out and plant
the same, suggested that the Conservators should purchase the shed and its
site, and they offered to contribute one-half of the purchase-money. Flaving
regard to the desirability of acquiring and removing the shed, which was an
eyesore, if not an actual nuisance, we made arrangements through Mr.
Solicitor for its acquisition. The sale took place on 27th October last, when
the property realised the sum of /130. A conveyance has been made to the
Conservators, and the District Council have contributed the sum of ^65
towards the purchase-money. Notice has been given to the tenant to quit
the property on the 25th of March next, when the shed will be removed and
its site thrown into the Forest."

It may be interesting to note the quantity of land in the
Official Forest. The original award of Lord Hobhouse, made on
July 4th, 1882, estimated the area as 5,530 acres, 3 roods,
17 perches; Oak Hill is 12 acres 2 roods; Higham Park,
30 acres 2 roods 39 perches ; Yardley Hill, 28 acres. From this
total must be substracted the four acres taken compulsorily in

THE AFTER-EFFECTS OF THE HIGH TIDE. 83

1885 by the Woodford Local Board [Jour. Proc. E.F.C. iv.,
pp. cxxxvi — vii.) ; so that not counting such small additions as
the plot at Harrow Green and elsewhere, 5,5983. Or. i6p.
represents the present area of the " free and open " grounds
of Epping Forest.'

[We are indebted to the City Press for the report of the meeting of the
Common Council, and also to the courtesy of the editor for the loan of the
block of the plan printed above. The view of Yardley Hill was contributed
by Mr. H. A. Cole to the Daily Graphic, but the present block is a new one
made from the original drawing, which was purchased from the Daily Graphic
by our member, Mr. Avery, and is now reproduced by his favour. — Ed.]

THE AFTER-EFFECTS OF THE HIGH-TIDE OF
NOVEMBER 29th, 1897.

"REPORT ON THE INJURY TO AGRICULTURAL LAND ON
THE COAST OF ESSEX BY THE INUNDATION OF SEA
WATER ON NOVEMBER 29th, 1897 " BY T S. DYMOND,
F.I.C., F.C.S., and F. HUGHES, F.C.S. SEPTEMBER, 1898.

IN the account of the High Tide given in the Essex
Naturalist (vol. x., pp. 277--283), we alluded to the
interesting observations made by our members, Mr. T. S.
Dymond and Mr. F. Hughes, on the effect of the floods on
the fertility of the land (1. c, pp. 282—3) These gentlemen con-
tinued the investigation in the Technical Laboratory at Chelms-
ford, and they have recently published a more complete and
extended report on the subject.

It is unnecessary to repeat the details of the calamity
already given in our pages. The authors approximately esti-
mate the areas of agricultiual land flooded in Essex as follows :

Tendring Hundred
Winstree Hundred
Thurstable Hundred
Dengie Hundred. .
Rochford Hundred
Barstable Hundred
Chafford Hundred

5,570 acres.

3.350 ,,

1,420 ,,

5,260 ,,

10,620 ,,

2,370 ..

950 ..

Total . . . . . . . . . 29,5 jD ,,

The authors remark that in some districts the water drained
off the land in a few hours, in others several days passed l)efore

I For estimate of the ancient area of Epping Forest, compared with the present, see
W. Co\e, Journal of Proc. E.F.C, vol iv. p. ciii.

84 THE AFTER-EFFECTS OF THE HIGH TIDE.

it was got rid of, while, where the sea walls were very seriously
damaged, several weeks, and even months, elapsed before this
could be done. So difficult did it prove to repair the breaches in
the sea walls in New England and Pewit Island, and in part of
the parish of Fambridge, that the attempt was abandoned, and
many hundreds of acres of land have now reverted to the condi-
tion of "saltings."' The injurious effect of salt water on crops
is variously stated by different authorities to last from five to
twenty years. This inquiry was undertaken by the authors
with a view to advising as to the best means of cultivating the
land, and also to determine the amount of salt deposited, the
time required for its removal by drainage, and its chemical and
physical effects upon the soil constituents ; knowledge which
must be of value in the event of future inundations, an event
not unlikely to happen while the sea-walls on many parts of our
coast remain in their present insecure condition.

To ascertain how far the presence of Common Salt was
injurious to the crops, a determination was made in samples of
soil taken in January, 1898, from different localities and at
different depths. Tables are given showing the per-centages.
The average of the top soil was -25 per cent., or about 25 times
more than the average amount in the soil from unflooded land,=
and equal to about 2| tons per acre. In all probability, a quan-
tity of this weight applied as a top dressing would injure most
crops, but the writers state that there is evidence of a much
larger per-centage of salt being present without directly affecting
plant growth : but in this case it is diffused through the soil, and
consequentlv does not concentrate its action upon the roots or
stems of the plants. Wheat and turnips— the former newly
sown and not yet germinated at the time of the flooding — grew
on land containing -3 per cent, of salt ; while mustard, turnips,
mangolds, beet, cabbage, peas, creeping-bent grass, and red
fescue, sown in flower pots filled with soil from two of the
flooded districts, all germinated well and were apparently abso-
lutely uninjured, even at the most critical period of growth, by
the salt left in the soil. It would thus appear that, although the

1 For details the reader is referred, not only to the original Report, but also to Mr. Percy
Clark's papers on "The Encroaching Sea on the East Coast" (E. N.. vol x., pp. 297-299;,
and " Some Further Notes on the Effects of the Great Tide of November, 1897 ; " also to the
note, " Disastrous Effects of the High Tide of November, 1897, at North Fambridge " (pp. 375-
C), and the extracts, " Truly Derelict : a Curious Corner of Essex," printed on pp. 397-399, in
the same volume.

2 The authors estimate the water of the North Sea to contain 27 per cent, of common
salt, and about '5 per cent, of other chlorides and sulphates. The common salt would be
sufficient in quantity to produce serious injury to plants by plasmolysis of the root-hairs.

THE AFTER-EFFECTS OF THE HIGH TIDE. 85

salt water was harmful to submerged crops, the salt left after
the flood receded, and, especially when incorporated with the
soil, was not directh' injurious to subsequent crops.

The indirect action of the salt water was, however, very
marked. The earth worms were killed off, and were seen after
the inundation strewn upon the ground, and were quickly con-
sumed by the gulls. It is only now, after nearly two years, that
young worms are beginning to re-appear.

But the injury, say the authors, was more far-reaching than
this. For some time after the flood, the soil was in a remark-
ably good condition, the reason for this being that the immediate
effect of salt is to granulate gelatinous clay, in the same way
that salts of lime are known to do. The condition of the soil,
however, gradually altered until it became difficult to work, in
dry weather hard and "cindery," and in wet the water per-
colated through the soil to the drains only half as rapidly as was
the case on the unflooded land. In order to ascertain the
chemical changes that occurred to render the flooded soil more
gelatinous, samples of the flooded and unflooded soils were
analysed, when it was discovered that the amount of lime, mag-
nesia, potash, and soda was less by one-fifth in the clay from the
former than in that from the latter. These effects appear to be
due to the chemical action of the chlorides of the sea water upon
the double silicates of the soil, which are decomposed, the
silicate of alumina being left behind in a gelatinous condition.
The writers conclude that one effect of the salt has been to
eliminate the lime and other bases from the clay, and hence the
unworkable and infertile condition of the soil.

The means by which the excess of salt might be removed
formed an interesting point for investigation. In course of time
it would certainly be eliminated by cropping, but evidence shows
that this process is too slow and expensive to be solely depended
on. Other methods must be employed, and the effectual and
practicable ones appear to be thorough cultivation and drainage.
By keeping the drains in proper working condition, the salt,
being very soluble in water, is rea:dily carried away by rainfall.
As showing the effects of rain in a thoroughly drained soil in
removing salt, the writers mention that, in an experiment made
in the laboratory, it was found that i^ in. of rain water, when
allowed to filter through Gin. of the soil from the flooded arable
land at Wallasea, was more than sufficient to remove almost
every trace of salt. Of course, as is pointed out, the elimination

86 THE LOCAL EXTINCTION OF MOLLUSCS.

of salt in the field is a very different matter, since during dry
weather the evaporation of water from the surface causes an
upward movement of salt. Consequently, a much heavier rain-
fall than I fin. would be required to effect the desired result.
But there is no better method than thorough drainage and trust-
ing to the rainfall, and results indicate that in about two years'
time the salt may be reduced to harmless proportions, if proper
advantage is taken of the natural remedy. Foi the eighteen
months from December, 1897, to May, 1899, the total rainfall
was 26fin., and a second analysis of the soil showed that during
this period the salt had been reduced in some cases to one-tenth,
and on the average to one-quarter of the amount present in the
beginning of 1898.

After showing the impoverishing effect which the salt has
had upon the soil, attention is directed to the consideration of the
crops best adapted for flooded land. Wheat, barle}', oats, and
mangolds have all given a fair yield in some cases, and in others
have completely failed. Ryegrass, of which much was expected,
has proved disappointing, in some cases even failing to germi-
nate. The only class of crop or weed that was uniformly pro-
ductive was the Cruciferous order, kale, rape, mustard, turnips,
and the hated charlock, all prospering where other crops failed.

Very interesting details are given throughout the paper,

derived from chemical and cultural experiments, and in their

extended form, Messrs. Dymond and Hughes' researches are of

considerable importance from a scientific as well as an agricul-

ral point of view.

ON THE LOCAL EXTINCTION AND DIFFUSION
OF MOLLUSCS IN ESSEX.

By J. FRENCH.
[Read December 12th, 1896-}

THE object of these remarks is to show that local observation
in our districts may be rewarded by obtaining cases of
diminution and increase of species of Mollusca in quite recent
times, and to show how small are the factors that effect these
changes.'

I [Mr. French began his paper by some general observations of a more or less theoretical
character, on the geological history of the Mollusca, and the agencies which may have caused
their variation and distribution. These observations are omitted as being hardly suitable for
our pages. The Editor has to thank Mr. T. V. Holmes, F.G.S.,and Mr. W. Whitaker, F.R.S.,
for very kind advice and assistance in preparing the paper for the press A few notes by Mr.
olmes are indicated by the initials T. V. H.— Ku.j

THE LOCAI, EXTINCTION OF MOLLUSCS.' 87

On looking over the list of the Land-Mollusca of the British
Isles, we observe how large is the proportion of small, and even
minute, forms. Yet other things being equal, in power of distri-
bution by travel the larger Molluscs have a great advantage. I
once kept a specimen ot Helix pomaiia, which was a habitual
traveller, and once crept nearly a hundred yards in one night.
Hence, the large species would have a better chance of obtaining
new settlements than small ones. It is probable that the larger
forms, in some cases, sufTer, or liave suffered, destruction chiefly
on account of their conspicuousness. It is a common expe-
rience of the snail-hunter that at the outset he cannot find the
minute forms, nor, if he had to depend upon his eyes and hands
alone, could he make much progress, except accidentally. Yet
in time he gets to learii that, in point of numbers, many of these
minute species may far outnumber the larger forms with which
ever\'one is familiar. The inference here is plain — that, given
any snail-eating bird or other animal, the larger forms are those
that will first succumb, whilst the smaller species will escape
notice. Part of the disparity in numbers between large and
small species may be due directly to their size. There are a
few species that are quoted chiefly from sea-board districts that
may be noticed. That they are not dependent upon a littoral
vegetation or conditions is clear from the circumstance that they
are sometimes found inland. Such are Succinea oblonga. Helix
revelata, H. pisana, H. virgata," and others. The reason seems to
be that they meet with enemies as the country is penetrated, and
rarely succeed in permanently spreading themselves inland.

It is, however, possible that the enemies of snails in
England now do not very greatly affect their distribution.
Helix nemoyalis is everywhere common, and yet it is everywhere
sought for by blackbirds and thrushes. In the immediate past,
as instanced by the shell-marls, it was equally common, and it
has therefore held its own in spite of its enemies, other causes
probably operating to favour its vigorous life and wide distribu-
tion as a species. One effective cause of extinction of Molluscs
is change in the character of the habitat. The variations in my
neighbourhood (Feistead) are due to two causes. One is the
wasting away of a calcareous soil, and the other is the increasing
dryness of the soil due to drainage. We will take the cases due
to calcareous waste first. One is so patent as to have attracted

2 [But Helix virgata is one of the species which Mr. French has observed immigiating
into Feistead. See his remarks below on the introduction of species. — Ed.]

88 THE LOCAL EXTINCTION OF MOLLUSCS.

the attention of Essex naturalists for many years ; I allude to
the almost complete extinction of Cyclostonia elegans, compared
with its ^reat abundance in Roman and comparatively-recent
times. This shell was thought to be now quite extinct in Essex,
but in the year i8go I found a small colony of them alive in
Felstead, and they are still in existence (see Essex Naturalist,
vol. IV., p. 92). Cyclostoina is always, I believe, described as
associated with chalk or limestone. In Essex this chalk was
supplied by the Boulder Clay, or by the tufa which is formed by
the re-deposit of chalk at places where springs issue. But the
Boulder Clay is a wasting product, and is only occasionally
found on the valley slopes, neither is it continuous over very
large spaces on the higher ground,' and where it is, drainage and
other artificial agencies have deprived the snail of its shelter and
broken up its colonies (always an important step towards local
extinction), so that Cyclostoina elegans has now almost completely
disappeared.

Another shell that is generally described as affecting a lime-
stone habitat is Helix hpicida. This species is, I feel sure,
verging also on total extinction, although still living in some
parts of Essex. There are no data, so far as I am aware, to
prove that it ever approached Cyclostoma in numbers, but there is
sufficient evidence to show that its wide-spread distribution was
due to conditions other than those now in operation. The stage
of separation and isolation is now very far advanced, and Helix
lapicida is always quoted as being local and in very small
numbers. Where such a condition of distribution obtains over
a very wide area, it is pretty clear that the species was once
common in that area. I suggest that the wasting away of cal-
careous matter from the surface soil is a probable cause for the
disappearance of this species."* Perhaps the greatest factor of all
here at work in bringing about local extinction is the drainage of
the land ; this affects the Molluscs indirectly in many ways. In
former times, when even the uplands were sometimes sour
morass, growing mosses in abundance, and the county was well
wooded, a certain amount of moisture was stored up in the day-
time, to be given out as aqueous vapour and received back as

3 In reply to objections by Mr. T. V. Holmes and Mr. Whitaker, that "the Boulder Clay
is continuous over the greater part of N. Essex and forms the surface of most of the high
ground," Mr. French remarked that in " my neighbourhood (Felstead) Boulder Clay is certainly
not continuous. A reference to the geological map is misleading, because the map only takes
into account the subsoil. Wherever tillage is in progress, the surface soil, which is that in
wrhich Molluscs work, is deprived of its calcareous ingredient." — Ed.

4 The greatly-increased preservation of birds may account for the disappearance of some
species of snails. — T. V. H.

THE LOCAL EXTINCTION OF MOLLUSCS. 89

dew at night. This allowed the Molluscs an excursion daily,
and, in the long run, further peregrinations and a wider field for
the distribution of species. In the arable and drained tracts of
the present day, drought is much more prevalent, and dewy
nights are possibly not so frequent ; as a consequence, the snail
is much limited in its range and opportunities. In short, where
once the whole summer was humid, there are now only the
heavy dews of the spring and autumn. We cannot tell whether
the food is correspondingly diminished. There is a little
evidence in that some species frequent gardens where young
juicy vegetation is more predominant, but it is equally true that
many species do not go into a garden at all.

A drained tract acts directly in breaking up colonies and
isolating individuals. All travel instinctively away from the
drained tract, and consequently, many travel in opposite direc-
tions, never to unite again. This sub-division goes on more and
more as the colonies diminish, till eventually they die out, from
want of opportunities to pair. There are two cases which are
obviously due to the effect of drainage, in which two species of
Mollusca, formerly very abundant in Essex, are now fast hasten-
ing to local extinction. One is Helix avbustovum, and the other is
Zonites punis. Both require to live in very moist situations. I
have been fortunate enough to hunt up three small colonies of
H. arbiistorum, and in one case I had seen the colony die out to
its last member. Zonites purus is now only found as single speci-
mens in my neighbourhood, and these are few and far between.

The shell-marls and peat-bogs of this district, although not
extensive, are very instructive with regard to the proportions in
which the \ arious species are represented. Some of these marls
enclose Roman and other remains, and we can therefore learn
approximately their age. I here copy a table which I made out
for this journal in 1889,5 in which I have made a slight alteration
in the cases of H. arbustoyiim and Cyclostoma elegans, required by
the subsequent observations alluded to above. I believe that in
other respects it is correct. It will be seen by this table that
local extinction may be a somewhat rapid process at times : —

5 '•On the Mollusca of the Shell-Marl occurring at Felstead and in other parts of Essex."
—Essex Naturalist, vol. ill., p. 14.

90

THE LOCAL EXTINXTION OF MOLLUSCS.

SPECIES.

Helix lamellata ..
Pupa vingens
Helix cavthusiana
Clausilia rolphii . . .
Vertigo suhsU'iata
Zonites fulvus
Cyclostoma clegans

Helix avhustovuni

HAST DISTRIBUTION

Frequent

do.
Occurs

do.
Frequent
Occurs
Common

do.

H. acnleata
Acme lincata
Vertigo antivertigo
Cochlicopa tridens
Zonites ptinis

PRESENT DISTRIBUTION.

Locally extinct.
do.
do.
do.
do.
do.
... Only a small colony

existing.
Very rare ; probably
becoming locally extinct,
do. do.
do. do.
do. do.
Rare
Rare

Occurs

Frequent

Occurs

Frequent
. . Common
Turning our attention to the Freshwater Mulluscs, other
agencies affecting extinction may be assumed to come into play.
Reduction of quantity of suitable food may be one factor, but of
this I have no good evidence to offer. As regards lowering of
temperature, something may be said. One species, at least,
found readily in the ancient river alluvium, is now rare or locally
extinct, although it still flourishes as the water becomes deeper
towards the estuary. This is Neritiiia fliiviatilis. The conditions
under which the alluvium was laid down were those of stiller
and deeper, and therefore, perhaps, warmer water ; i. e., not so
leadily affected by cold springs, which now appear to act as a
deterrent of both animal and vegetable life, and of which I
could instance many examples.' Other species have been known
for many years in the lower reaches of the river, but they have
been unable to make any progress up stream. Two or three
species deserve particular attention among those that are dying
out. These delight in ascending ditches that have an immediate
CDmmunication with the river. Such are Succinea putris and
S. clegans, LimncBa palustris, L. ti'iincatiila, Planorbis carinHtus,
P. contorta, &c. The Planorbis will flourish, even though their
river-communication be cut off, but my experience is that

6 In the shell-marls and peat which, as shown in the paper on the Felstead Shell-Marl
above referred to, were accumulating down to Roman times. They in this district all overlie
gravels. — J. F.

7 [We have no evidence of any reduction of temperature in recent times ; but drainage and
the development of agriculture would certainlj affect plant life and the increase or decrease of
particular species. — T. V. H. As to evidence of reduction of temperature, Mr. Christy's
remarks, in his recent paper on " Essex as a Wine-producing County " (ante pp. 44-46) may be
usefully boine in mind. — Ed.]

THE LOCAL EXTINCTION OF MOLLUSCS. QI

Limncsa and Succinea are then at a decided disadvanta.t^'^e. I have
carefuUy noted the case of both species of Liiniura above men-
tioned. Limnaa tyuncatiila is always ready to take an excursion
on wet grass, but L. palustris will not go beyond the wet mud on
which it delights to repose ; and what is more, it does not here
live with other than a river-communication. Both may be
described as marsh species, and the drying up of marsh land
affects them equally. A small colony of L. palustris, var. corvus,
is here (at Felstead) reduced to probably less than a dozen
members. I saw one of these pairing with an individual of the
normal t\'pe — a sure sign of its diminished nntr.bers. The pond
fauna also, from the circumstance of increasing limitation, is
gradually giving in.^ Limncea stagnalis of the normal type is now^
very uncommon ; the variety fvagilis is much more plentiful ;
both have forsaken the river. Planorbis carinatus appears to have
nearly forsaken the river also, although it is common in such
ponds as we have here.

These instances will show that our Freshwater Molluscs
undergo the same mutations of distribution as their land kins-
men. Taking mine as a fair locality, we find that local extinc-
tion is in constant progress.

We have now to turn to the other side of the question, and
see what we have in the way of introduction to counterbalance
the loss of species becoming extinct. It is obvious that wlieie
whole families are unable to exist on account of unfavourable
conditions, there is but little hope of new arrivals establishing
themselves, assuming these to require pretty much the same
conditions as the old members. Nevertheless, we are not quite
without examples of the immigration ot species not native of the
locality.

The introduction of a species is not a matter of common
observation, but I have had the good fortune to witness what I
believe to be a great local increase of one species — Helix vivgata.
It came in from the north, apparently, and the great army is
still to be found a few miles in the rear of the outposts : but it is
most certainly moving southwards, and, I doubt not, will pass
over this part of Essex like a slow-moving wave. Then, again,
among the aquatic species I have, 1 think, been able to trace a

8 [" Drainage has, no doubt, been carried out very largely during the past three or four
years. On the other hand, the disuse of the Chalky Boulder Clay as manure has caused the
marl pits to become ponds, which are extremely numerous in a C. B. Clay district — as may be
seen N. of Chelmsford." — T. V. H. On this Mr. French remarks, " Our marl-pits at Felstead,
as a rula, do not contain water, they having been dug through to the gravels."]

92 THE LOCAL EXTINCTION OF MOLLUSCS.

slight advance in my direction of the two species of Paludina
{vh'ipara). They are now divided from my neighbourhood by an
insignificant watershed.

A history of the " old," but geologicalh- recent, marls does
not give much evidence in favour of new arrivals since that
period ; almost all our present species are found in these
deposits. I cannot, however, trace the species 1 have named as
new arrivals in any of the Essex lists of the marl fossils, nor
have I found them myself; and as they are conspicuous forms,
we may safely conclude that they did not live in the neighbour-
hood at the time these marls were deposited. I am credibly
informed that Helix aspersa does not occur in the older marls,
and among the smaller species there may be some other
instances.

We have a few species now that occur in extraordinary
abundance — several of the Helices and Zonites, some species of
Pupa, and among the Freshwater forms some species of Planovhis.
Bythinia, &c.

In considering the variations and wanderings of Molluscs,
many factors enter into the problem, the values of which are not
themselves well understood. Thus we say, and on good evi-
dence, that a species will remain unvaried and without appreci-
able change of distribution for an enormous length of time.
Some, possibly, go further in saying that the gregarious habits
of Molluscs tend to this fixity in that it gives facility for per-
petual intercrossing, and so keeps them bound to an average
type. But, on the other hand, we are acquainted with numerous
variations which may also, to a certain extent, be due to these
gregarious habits. We cannot tell how these variations are set
up — whether it is due to the preservation of some variation in a
diminishing colony, or whether it is due to the change of food
and environment in a full colony. Again, as to their wander-
ings. Like plants, they are sometimes found liaving a time of
introduction, culmination, and decay. Some spread themselves
over a whole tract of country ; others confine themselves strictly
to a circumscribed locality. We conjecture that the supply of
food is directly concerned in these wanderings, and the more one
notices the habits of Molluscs, the more one becomes impressed
with the idea that snails are very fastidious creatures ; it is
certain that they will in some cases prefer starvation, or rather
hibernation, amounting to death, rather than make any material
change in their diet or be greatly disturbed in their habitat. If

THE LOCAL EXTINCTION OF MOr.LUSCS. 93

therefore, the food, &c., does affect the distribution and the dis-
tribution does not affect the perpetuation or loss of a variety, we
have here an important factor, of which probably but very little
is known.

NOTE. — Since writing the above I have obtained additional
evidence as to the local distribution of Helix vivgata. I have
found it in great numbers at another point about three miles west
of Felstead. As, however, there is not a scrap of evidence that I
am aware of to show that it has ever lived at Felstead, I must
still regard it as an incoming species.

Many other species occur in patches, as it were, at distant
intervals, but they are always, so far as I know, joined by here
and there an individual. This is certainly not the case with Helix
vivgata, and on such grounds, and in the entire absence of fossils,
I must hold it to be a new comer. — J. F.

[Mr. French ended by giving some observations on sug-
gested causes of variation in the Mollusca. But speculations on
this most difficuU subject, in the absence of long-continued expe-
rimental observation, are of little or no value. We must await
the establishment of the inland Experimental Biological Station,
which, it is to be hoped, will one day be founded. — Ed.]

A SUPPOSED NEOLITHIC SETTLEMENT AT
SKITTS HILL, BRAINTREE, ESSEX.

By the Rev. J. W. KENWORTHY, Vicar of Braintree.

With Remarks on the Arch^ological Objects, by
F. W. Reader ; on the Geology of the District,
BY T. V. Holmes, F.G.S., F. Anthrop. Inst. ; and
ON the Osteological Specimens by E. T. Newton,
F.R.S.'

[Read February 25th, 1899.']

The District, and Preliminary Remarks.

ON the south side of Braintree there is a small stream, or
rivulet, mentioned in recent books and spoken of in
common parlance by various names — the Pod ; Pods Brook ;
the Bran ; the Brain, &c. In Muilman's History it is called
the " Stour." We read, "The river vStour waters this parish,
over which there are three bridges — one on the road to Witham;
another on the road to Chelmsford ; and a third on that to
Dunmow." It is below the first of these bridges that in very
early times — in fact, soon after the cutting down of the valley to
its lowest depths — that a Lake or " Broad " began to be formed
by the silting up of the stream along nearly the whole of the
present plain between the narrow hills which here form a gorge
half-a-mile or so in length.

View of the Skitts Hill Site of the Lake Dwellings {Plate I.)

The view is taken looking N.W., and shows the extreme end of the
excavations for brickearth ; beyond the pahngs the present river runs. The
building on the highest ground to the right isaig feet above Ordnance Datum.
The water shown in the photograph stands at 6ft. 6in. from the surface soil.
Below the level of this water, from 6ft. 6in. to gft. is the bed of slime, mud,
peat and wood containing the relics of the lake-dwellers. In the level where
the men are working are found Roman tiles, and above this level horse-shoes
and modern pottery. In front of the photograph the heaps are of wood-ashes
and refuse of long-continued iires for domestic purposes, thrown out of the pit
where the water now stands.

The excavation is on the right slope of the foot of the valley ; to this
slope the wheel-barrow is directed.

These excavations wei"e begun about 30 years ago, at about a thousand
yards lower down the stream. J.W.K.

I [The .Author and Editor have to acknowledge with gratitude the great assistance of the
above-named gentlemen in the revision of this paper and in preparing it for the press. Mr.
Reader has not only visited the locality several times, but has consulted with Mr. Kenworthy
and the e.xpert authorities at the Geological and British Museums, and has also prepared
all the illustrations. Mr Holmes has written and advised on the geological questions arising,
and has visited the spot on two occasions. Mr. E. T. Newton, F.R.S., has in the kindest
way examined all the osteological specimens. The appended initials of the above-named
gentlemen indicate any notes added by them to the text. In addition to the above Mr. C. H.
Read, F.S.A., and Mr. F. W. Rudler, F G.S., have most courteously advised on special
points.- Ed ]

ESSEX NATURALIST, Vol. XI, PI I.

I

A SUPPOSED NEOLITHIC SETTLEMENT. 95

This is only one of the numerous patches of low ground in
Essex which were, in all probability, inhabited by man during
the stone-age. And this early race of settlers, judging from the
remains of their domestic animals and their manufactured imple-
ments and other relics, were probably in the same state of
civilization with the Lake-dwellers of the Continent, those of
Switzerland, Holland, and Brittany. It is not in the deep
alluvial beds alone that their relics are met with, but on the
surface of the land, everywhere scattered, worked flints are
found, which belonged to the same people, no doubt. It is,
however, beneath the soil, buried during the countless years of
the accumulation of the alluvial valley beds, not only that the
most numeroub traces of the early race are brought to light, but
also it is in these gradually-formed beds that we obtain a clue to
the order of the deposits, beginning with the lowest, and tracing
the successive accumulations upwards. Thus, while the surface
relics have been scattered and intermixed with earlier and later
remains, the alluvial mud has been the vehicle for the preserva-
tion and transmission to our own times of relics in the order of
time and place in which they were left. Next, then, to the
discoveries made in the British Barrows and in undisturbed
burial grounds, these deposits formed by the present rivers and
periodical floods are most important for records of facts relating
to the life and manners of man in prehistoric times. For the
last fifteen years I have been on the look-out for an}' excavations
going on in this neighbourhood. Among others, I learned that
for a long time — more than twenty years previously — Brick-
earth, for the purpose of manufacture, had been taken out at
Mr. James Brown's works at Skitts Hill ; that animal remains
and worked tools and implements obtained from these grounds
were in the possession of some few local persons, while, doubt-
less, others had been overlooked or allowed to fall again into
oblivion. I am able to say that during the period above alluded
to, every relic that has turned up lias been scrupulously pre-
served, and, through the liberality of one or two other observers,
and by instructions given to the workmen, all the recent finds
have come into my possession. It was at the exhibition of these
specimens (in part) at Braintree Vicarage, at the meeting of the
Club on October ist, 1898, that much interest was created, and
a wish was expressed that I should write an account of my
discoveries for the Essex Naturalist.

The topography of the site and its surroundings is shown in

96 A SUPPOSED NEOLITHIC SETTLEMENT.

the portion of the 6in. Ordnance Map printed with Mr. Hohnes'
remarks on page 123, and more precisely in the Plan drawn up by
Mr. Reader, on the 25in. Ord. Scale, with the accompanying
explanations (page 97).

The Relative Position of the Alluvial Beds.
This will be best understood by a reference to the dia-
gramatic outline sketch of the order of the deposits which
I have draAvn up (see diagram on p. 98) and to the
Relic - Table on page 103. I have divided the Brick-
earth, including the sandy ballast bed at the base, into five
layers. Commencing with the lowest, the beds are reckoned in
upward order. Below all these lies the London Clay, and on

Explanation of Plan. Fig. r.
The shaded portion adjoining the river represents :- from A to C the
part excavated befoi"e Mr. Kenworth3''s arrival in Braintree ; from C to D
the part excavated under Mr. Kenworthy's observation ; from D to E a
portion of the layer No. II. uncovered to the 9ft. level and about to be
excavated. From E to F an unexcavated portion of the beds. F to G a
small portion dug out to the lowest level.

The distribution of the principal relics is as follows : —

A — B. The flint knife (fig. 7). The workman say that more
relics were found in this end of the excavations formerly,
than at present.
B -C. Red deer skull with antlers sawn off (Plate II). Human

frontal; antler haft (fig. 9).
C — D. Three red deer antlers, possibly used as picks. Bone handle

(fig. 14). Antler handle (fig. 11).
F — G. Flint arrow-head (fig. 8).

F.W.R.

the slopes of the valley, at a little distance from the river, there
is a Pleistocence Brick-earth deposit, from which mammoth
bones and Palaeolithic '' flint-flakes " have been taken by myself.
The mammoth tooth, with bones of ox and horse, are in my
collection previously deposited at the Field Club's Museum.

I. — The Ballast. This is the sand and gravel of the early
river-bed, previous to the silting up. The place of this firs:
bed is eroded out of London Clay.

IL — This constitutes the Neolithic [?j Bed where the
earliest relics in point of age are found. It is partly made
up of peaty clay, black mud, and sand, and the accumula-
tions of the debris of the Lake-dwellers. It contained the
objects which I shall describe below. The depth from the
turf is about 6 feet, and for about 3 feet it contains stone-
aire relics.

A SUPPOSED NEOLITHIC SETTLEMENT.

97

98

A SUPPOSED NEOLITHIC SETTLEMENT.

,.9.CJ O^

^■^•93'^

'CO ■^■

> g H H -^

-u

rt

I^

N

o

o

T

fe

to

A SUPPOSED NEOLITHIC SETTLEMENT. 99

III. — This bed is about two feet in depth, and contains
Late Celtic Pottery.

IV. — Romano-British objects occur first at about a depth
of four feet. I think that the siUing-up has been much
more rapid since the occupation by the Romans, owing,
probably, to the destruction of the forest and its under-
growth, the land cultivation, and the baring of the virgin
soil. Bearing this consideration in mind, we may say that
the pre-historic accumulation was, perhaps, ten times slower
than the Roman, and that of recent years much more rapid
than the Roman and Mediaeval.

v.- This is the Post-Roman and Mediaeval layer, and
here iron horse-shoes occur in numbers, with fragments of
glazed pottery.

Explanation of Sections. Figs. 2 and 3.

Section I. on line Y Z of Plan (p. 97) was taken on the spot when Mr.
Kenworthy's observations commenced. At this point the digging is
carried to the present river's edge.
Section II. on line W X of Plan, marks the point to which the excavations
have reached, The cutting stops at the hedge some 50 feet before
reaching the river.
The Relic-bearing Bed No. II. is shaded darker at the top to indicate
that more traces of fire have been noticed here than in the lower parts of the
bed. The shading dies out as this bed approaches its old shore, and the
present river to show the extent of the artificial mixture (Packiverk). — F.W.R.
B. Pleistocene Brick-earth. The original Lake or River bank.
A. London Clay.

Site of the Divelling-places.
If it be necessary to show that iipvight piles were found
in situ, on which a platform of wood could be erected by the
dwellers, in order to prove that the Skitts Hill site was a Lake-
habitation, I cannot say for a certainty that it was so. Many of
the logs of wood were found in a leaning position ; the stems of
trees, deprived of their roots and torn-off branches, amounted to
hundreds. The logs were placed in position by man, and they
were staked and secured in their place from the scour of the
floods. Among the debvis, logs of various woods, such as fir,
spruce, elm, beech, oak, birch, abounded, and maple in small
pieces. Speaking generally, the oak remains are quite hard and
sound, and some pieces were much harder than in the fresh con-
dition. The Faggot or " Fascine" Dwellings at Skitts Hill, I
beHeve to have been contemporary with the Pile-dwellings.
Both kinds have been found in many parts of England, as well

lOO A SUPPOSED NEOLITHIC SETTLEMENT.

as in Holland, in Brittany, and Switzerland, and with them are
associated relics of the stone-age, while the dwelling-places
themselves continueLl to be occupied in later times. At Skitts
Hill an artificial floor was raised above the level of the water.
This floor was carefully formed by mixing together clay, sand,

Fig. 4. Diagram of suggested method of shaping wooden stakes.

gravel-stones, brown mottled clay, and chalky boulder-clay,
forming a mixture wdiich could only be produced by human
contrivance and human hands. To support and secure this arti-
ficial concretion, wooden stakes were driven into the ballast of
the lake or river. Outside the raised platform there was still
water, in which the peaty mud has accumulated until it has
levelled all up ; and it was, no doubt, into this water which
surrounded the floor on which the huts were built that numerous
relics fell, or were swept by the dwellers. So large was the
quantity of wood and other material used to construct this plat-
form, that in the course of years some tons have been dug out
by Mr. Brown's workmen, and afterwards returned to fill up the
excavations. The distance of the platform to the land was
about 10 feet ; I measured it as nearly as I could. In one

Fig, 5. End of pointed stake, probably made in the manner mentioned
in text. One-fourth natural size.

instance, an oak tree had its stem, without root, about 15 feet
long, set towards the land, as though to form a gangway.

The artificial relics found at this level belong to an age prior
to the use of metal. [? Ed.] The method employed for splitting
and parting the timber into lengths shows the use of bone or

A SUPPOSED NEOLITHIC SETTLEMENT. lOI

stone tools only.- For instance, logs of oak, four or five inches in
diameter, may have been divided across in the following manner : —
A deep cut was made on each side of the log at distances nearly a
foot from each other ; then the timber was smashed into two
by some heavy weight, perhaps a log of wood, being let fall on
the weakened part, lig 4. This idea of the method employed is
suggested by a cut stake which has been preserved (see fig. 5).
And the other drawing (fig. 6) represents how such a stake may
have been employed. The result was two pieces of timber with
staked ends. The number of split logs and thick planks found
was also very great. The description given by Dr. Keller,
in his Lake Divellings of Switzerland, applies well to the methods I

Fig. 6. Suggested plan of employing roughly pointed wooden stakes,
suppose to have been employed at Skitts Hill in the fashioning
of the fascine dwelling-places. We read thus (Vol. I, pp. 6-7) : —

" Some Lake-dwellings were not supported upon piles, but rested upon
" layers of sticks, or small stems of trees, built up from the bottom of the
" lake, till the structure reached above the water mark, and on this platform
" the huts were placed."

"The Crannogs of Ireland and Scotland were built up from the bottom
" of the lake, on the soft mud, exactly in the manner of fascine dwellings of
" Switzerland. The bed for the floor is a mass of ferns, branches, and other
" vegetable matter, covered over with a layer of split or round logs, and above
" this a quantity of clay, sand, gravel, and stones."

The above is an exact description of our Braintree dwelling-
places. The mass of leaves, sticks, nuts, acorns, &c., found
mixed up with the clay of the platforms, looks like stuff gathered

2 [This is, however, a doubtful point ; see Mr. Reader's remarks at the end of the paper. —
Ed.]

I02 A SUPPOSED NEOLITHIC SETTLEMENT.

up in the autumn from the forest floor ; and this was done, no
doubt, each year, in order to form a fresh floor for the winter.
In this way we may account for the immense quantity of vege-
table matter brought together. There is no evidence to show
whether the platforms were rounded or square, but it is certain
that they did not extend far into the lake, and that they were
placed within easy distance from the land side and were joined
to it by a faggot road made like the raised floors. These dwell-
ings, and the occupation of them, lasted so long as to come
down to the period when finer clay for pottery was used, with
vessels of thinner walls, more perfectly burnt, and of a more
graceful form and when cooking was carried on in earthenware
pots. Probably, some kind of occupation continued with the
un-Romanized inhabitants of this part of Britain, down to the
end of the Roman period, judging from the numerous objects of
the Romano-British period, found in the layer (No. 3) above.

List of the Various Articles found in the Excavations
AT Skitts Hill.

The objects which have been preserved, and which I have
presented to the Essex Field Club, may be classified as Human
and Animal Remains, Stone, Bone, and Wooden Implements,
and Pottery.

Of the first the only specimen found in the relic-bed was a
Htiman Frontal Bone. There is a lineal mark across the forehead,
which Mr. Newton considers to be merely an iron stain, and not
a healed fracture, as was at first imagined.
Animal Remains — Bones.

The bones of animals which have been identified may be
treated under the heads of (a) Wild animals and {b) Domestic
animals. Such of the wild animals as were found were common
in Britain during the Neolithic age, and were, no doubt, abun-
dant in the forest lands adjacent to our settlement. Some
survived into Roman times, but most of them have been long
absent from our district.

The Celtic Short-horned Ox {Bos longifvons). — This is
abundantly in evidence in the shape of various fragments.
Several specimens of the upper part of the skull, of limb bones,
many of these being fractured or split, possibly to obtain the
marrow.

A Large Ox. - Some bones of a much larger ox have been
found, but it is not certain that tliey represent the Urus {Bos
tatmis). These bones must have belonged to animals much

I

A SUPPOSED NEOLITHIC SETTLEMENT,

103

larger than those of the Bos longifrons, too large, one would think,
to be easily domesticated b_v the Stone-age folk. Yet the
animal seems to have been captured, and apparently used for
food. They were mixed up with the wood of the relic-bed.

RELIC-TABLE- SHOWING THE ORDER AND NA'l UKE OF THE
DEPOSITS AND OBJECTS FOUND.

No. and

Depth' of
Layer.

Period.

the Deposits.

Relics.

V.

Modern and

Surface Soil

Glazed Potterv and Iron Horse-

Medieval

Brick Earth.

shoes.

ift. 6in.

IV.

Romano-

Brick-Earth &

Elue-tiles. Fragments of Pottery

British.

Valley Silt.

coarse and fine. Oyster shells.

3ft.

Organic Objects

NEARLY absent

III.

Pre- Roman

Sandy Clay &

Fragments of Early and Late

Clayey Earth

Celtic Pottery, thin, gritty.

2ft

with Selected

wheel - turned and kiln - dried.

Pebbles

Chiefly used for cooking. The
Bones in this section are friable
and earthy, many too decayed
to be preserved Large ox,
horse-teeth and limb-bones.

II

Neolithic.

Lake Mud with

Human frontal. Bones of Ox, Red

This is the bed

Decomposed Or-

and Roe Deer, Goat, Wild Boar,

3ft. 6in.

referred to in

ganic Matter.

Pig and Dog.

text as the

Artificial

Flint knife; flint arrow-head;

" ReUc-bed."

Platforms

three antler-implements ; three

raised to the level

shed antlers (? picks) ; two bone

of the original

handles ; wooden implement.

Lake or River,

Large quantities of nuts, acorns.

and resting on the

wood split and cut ; charcoal,

Ballast (No. i'

ashes and burnt flints.

I.

Post-Glacial.

River Ballast

The Bed of

Sand & Gravel

2ft.

the River

B.

The original

Pleistocene

A few large Pleistocene Bones,

Lake or River

Brick-Earth

teeth of Mammoth and Palaeoli-

Banlc

thic flints.

A.

London Clay.

Some large Erratics, quartzite and
conglomerates, resting on the
surface.

I04 A SUPPOSED NEOLITHIC SETTLEMENT.

The Stag or Red Deer (Cervus elaphtts) is well represented
by its antlers and bones. It was never domesticated ; its
shed antlers were, no doubt, brought into the dwellings from the
forest to serve various purposes, such as the making of tools or
weapons. It is much more uncommon to find the skull
with ihe antlers attached, than to find the shed antlers, which
were probably picked up in the forest. The strength and
ferocity of the stag made it difficult and dangerous to capture
by men armed only with weapons of bone, wood, or stone.
There must have lieen great necessity for the unshed antlers in
making flint hafts, to induce men in those days to capture the
animal and take the great trouble to saw off the antlers from the
head. The unshed antler, from its denser condition, would be
more serviceable for the hunter's use in the making of handles
for tools and implements, than the lighter shed antlers.

[Amongst the remains of this animal is a cranium wanting
the whole of the facial portions. (See Plate II.) The frontal bones
have been crushed in, but probably since the animals death, as
it would be difficult to strike this spot when the creature was
alive and with the brow tynes perfect. The antlers and brow
tynes have been sawn off just above the " burrs," which still
remain and are very rugose, indicating well developed antlers.
The marks left by the saw are rough and irregular, showing that
the saw was a coarse one and the operator not skilled in such
work ; but at the same time these marks could only, I think,
have been made by a metal saw. — E.T.N.]

The Roe Deer {Capreolus caprea). — Compared with the Red
Deer, the Roe is scarce at Braintree, but I have the right
under-jaw of a very aged animal, with perfect molars in place,
interesting in showing signs of long use, being much worn.
This jaw, I believe, was found in the relic-bearing bed No. 2,
9 feet down, but it is quite possible that it may belong to the
underlying Pleistocene bed. Detached pieces of antler were
found, which had apparently been put to some manual use,
and were probably adapted from shed antlers. In one case
I have secured, from the relic-bed, a pair of antlers of this
graceful creature, which was abundant in the Essex Forests
in pre-Roman times, but probably was soon afterwards extirpated.
The horns in this case are as fresh as in the life-time of the
bearer of them, and as firmly attached to the skull ; the skull has
been apparently, trimmed off, as is the fashion of mounting
antlers in recent times. Why should not Stone-age man have

ESSEX NATURALIST, I'o/. .\7, I'l. II.

Cranium of Red Deer, showing places where antlers and brow tynes have
been sawn off. For explanation see text.

A SUPPOSED NEOLITHIC SETTLEMENT. IO5

treasured the signs of his conquests, as the Central African
and North American continue to do to this day, and have done
from the earhest ages ?

Goat {Capra hivcus). — [A skull in a fair state of preservation,
with tolerably long horn-cores, is an undoubted representative of
this creature, and a piece of a pelvis most probably is referable
to the same form. — E.T.N.]

Wild Boar {Sus scrofa-ferox). — Found at the g feet level.
[The Wild Boar is evidently represented by the anterior portion
of a very large lower jaw, with extremely powerful tusks. One
of the tusks measures 26.5 mm. across the inner and curved
enamelled surface at the base, and 200 mm. long round the outer
curve, a half of which protrudes from the jaw. Another piece of
a lower jaw of a much smaller and younger animal, as well as a
tibia and a foot-bone, are all the remains of this species that
have come to hand. Some of these remains may have belonged
to domestic animals. — E.T.N.]

The Horse. — -The horse does not occur in the relic-
bed ; it is only in the middle or upper stages of the alluvial
deposit that these bones are met with. We have the limb
bones, upper and lower jaws of several individuals, and teeth
were plentiful. Some of the bones seem to have belonged to a
smaller animal. (Query — pony or ass ?) There is a variety in
the size of the limb bones and teeth.

Dog. — Portions of two skulls, perhaps of three. One skull
is 6|- inches from the occiput to the muzzle, and the animal
would have been about the size of a modern collie. The bone
was at first jet black ; it was found on the bottom of the relic-bed.
There are also the femur and tibia of a large dog or wolf.

Human Workmanship ; Remains of Burnt Bones, and Charcoal.

The traces of human workmanship are apparent upon a
large proportion of wood, bone, and other fragments found
in the excavations. In connection , with fire employed by
the dwellers, it is important to observe the large quantity
of ashes and charcoal, with calcined pebbles and " pot-
boilers," at the bottom of the lake and upon the plat-
form upon which the huts were built. Much blackened
debris was thrown out by the inhabitants of the huts, and
sank into the marsh. Signs of workmanship abound in the
squaring, splitting, and pointing of logs, chopping of stems, and

Io6 A SUPPOSED NEOLITHIC SETTLEMENT.

pointing? of stakes. Not much of this material could be kept for
inspection ; large stems and trunks of trees — elm and oak — were
thrown back into the excavated pit. But I hive saved a few
stakes, showing careful pointing. I have cut up some of the
oak and polished pieces, as examples of solidity and fine mate-
rial, of which bog-oak ornaiuents might be made. I took
sketches of oak poles cut partly through on each side, and then
broken in two, so as to furnish a pair of pointed stakes from one
piece. I have still an oak pile, pointed at both ends, measuring
about 9 feet in length and 5 inches in diameter. The chopped-
ofF twigs of all kind of woods then in growth are found mixed up
with stiff clay, sand, and gravel, along with nuts, acorns, and
leaves, to form the floor of the habitation. The prevailing twigs
identified are of birch ; the bark is still bright and glossy. The
most decayed examples of piles and logs are of elm. I think
that there is much fir. Yew is found, and the wood is still hard,
and capable of taking a high polish. The cjak stakes were
squared and split in a rude and primitive manner.

Stone Implements and "Flakes."

No large celt of the polished kind has been found in
the relic-bearing bed. A portion of a polished celt is in my
collection at the Club's Museum. This was found near the site
and on the bank of the Pcd brook. Numbers of finely-made
and well-polished celts have been found in and near Braintree.
I found two finely-chipped flint javelins, leaf-shaped, of the long
or oval Barrow period, in conjunction with four polished celts
of porcelain texture, at Kelvedon (these are in the Club's
Museum). A javelin of exactly the same kind was found
in the deep beds of the settlement associated with flakes and
bones (see fig. 7). I therefore conclude that large polished
stone celts belong to, and may yet be found at, Skitts Hill.

A Hammer-stone or Axe was found in the valley, on
the surface, within a few hundred yards of the settle-
ment. It is slightly damaged on the underside. It is in
length 6 ins., 3 ins. wide in the middle, and brought to a blunt
point at both ends ; weight, 2 lbs. ; made from a dark basalt
or quartzite stone, rubbed to a smooth surface. This agrees
with such as are found in Denmark, undrilled, and made to be
used in the hand, without hafting, and it is identical with one
in the Christy collection, British Museum.

A SUPPOSED NEOLITHIC SETTLEMENT.

107

The following implements were actually found in the Relic-
bed :—

Flint Knife OR Dagger. — [This very fine implement was
found in the early period of the excavations in the part marked
A — B on the plan (page 97), and is in the possession of Mr.
Davis, the Head-master of the Board School at Braintree.
Through his kindness I am able to present a photograph of it

Fig. 7. Flint Knife or Dagger from Skitts Hill Two-thirds size.
With edge view of same.

here (Fig. 7), I have tried to persuade him to add this to the
objects in the collection when they are placed in the Essex Fie
Club's Natural History Museum at Stratford. I trust that
when he sees the other parts of the collection installed there he
may do so. The implement measures 5f inches in length and
2 inches at the greatest width. A similar specimen is figured in
Evan's Stone Implevients, page 349, fig. 264. — F.W.R.]

io8

A SUPPOSED NEOLITHIC SETTLEMENT.

Abeow-heads. — One finely-clipped, barbed and stemmed
arrow-point is in the Skitts Hill collection (fig. 8). I found it here
a few years ago. But such finely-clipped arrow-heads are ver\'
rarely turned up in the dwelhng-place at Skitts Hill. Among
the worked flakes, of which there are hundreds, there are nume-
rous pointed ones of a size from f-ths to i^ inches long, which
may have been utilized for tipping arrows.

Pounding - Stones. — Many water - washed pebbles were
collected which exhibited signs of use.

Fig. 8. Flint arrow-head from Skitts Hill. Full size.

Sandstone Shakpenek. - Square-sided and oblong i| inches
by I in. ; length 4 inches ; probably used for grinding ; found
with flints and worked bones in the bottom bed. The base rests
steadily on a flat, the top is rubbed into a slightly concave
surface, and has a finely-finished grinding plane.

Flint Flakes. — Numerous diminutive and delicately-
formed flakes are found, for what purpose used it would
be hard to say. They are of very varying forms, with sharp
edges and bulbs of percussion, some only f-ths inch in width,
and i^in. in length, have a clear bulb, butt, and sharp point,
two sharp ridges, three facets, and two ridges on tlie upper side.
Nothing in the wa}' of worked flints can exceed them in delicacy
These very delicate flints may belong to the higher level of the

A SUPPOSED NEOLITHIC SETTLRMENT. lOQ

beds. I do not remember taking them from the peaty horizon,
where the larger and stronger flakes were found in situ by me.^

The worked flints, chips and fine flakes, are so numerous
as to suggest that the population was considerable, and
that the dwellings were in close proximity to a manufactur-
ing ground of these objects. On the southern slope of the
valley, at an elevation of 30 feet, and a hundred yards distant,
operations for excavating brick-making material are likewise in
progress. The Brick-earth here is formed of rain-wash from the
higher ground. In neolithic times the surface on the slope was
about 2 ft. 6 in. below the present level. It is at this depth that
flakes, identical with those in the dwellings, occur in large quan-
tities, many of which are worked from rolled pebbles. These
pebbles were evidently carefully selected. The cores are
abundant on this valley working-ground, and not on other sites.
The time that has elapsed since the flakes were worked has
sufficed for the deposition of two feet of Talus, while the action of
the river has accumulated six feet of alluvium. From the first I
kept the two sets of flints separate, thinking that they might
belong to a different period or race of men ; now I feel convinced
that both are from the same source. This point is of great
interest, as it tends to show that the dwelling-places were in the
bottom of the valley, surrounded by water, whilst the working-
ground was on the slope. 3* Only the flints and very sparse
scraps of pottery are found on the slope. The dry brick-earth
may not have been conducive to the preservation of bone and
wood. Sometimes a small " nest "' of flakes, together with the
cores from which they were struck, lay at a depth of two or
three feet, while others were found scattered at intervals over all
parts of the excavated brick-field. This was probably the result
of long occupation by the settlers. They were therefore fixed to
the locality at least some portion of the year, either summer or
winter.

Bone and Horn Implements.

The most striking and important of these are such as are
formed from the antlers of Red Deer. They appear to be

3 Mr. W. J. L. Abbott, in his three papers on the " Hastings Kitchen Middens," places these
small implements in the bronze age. The suggestions of Mr. Abbott open out a chapter in the
history of flint manufacture which is not touched in the standard comprehensive works on the
subject. I do not tiiink that they were worked out of our chalk fluits. I have some very
small flakes ot the same kind from the banks of the Lea River in Hackney Marshes. See
remarks on (and plates of) these minute implements in /oi/;-«. Antliwp. Institute, vol. \xv.,
plates II, 12, and 13.

3A See Plan, at spot marked " Flint factory site."

no

A SUPPOSED NEOLITHIC SETTLEMENT.

identical with deer-antler implements from the Barrows, Grimes
Graves, and Cissbury, and can be matched with those figured by-
Canon Grenwell in his British Barrows (page 43).

[(a) A hammer axe of staghorn, perforated for a handle and
bored for hafting an implement. Five inches in length. Fig. g,
PI. 111.

{h) A tool of unknown use. The surface has been scraped
smooth and the end has been ground and polished, apparently
from use. The centre part of this end has been slightly hollowed,

Fig. 12 Section of Stag-antler handle, illustrated Fig. 11, Plate III.

but n(it enough to suppose use for hafting. The perforation at
the other extremity has apparently been broken. Length 5;^
inches. Fig. 10, PI. III.

(r) Implement of staghorn, pierced as is usual with these
objects, only in a transverse direction. Fig. 11, PI. III. It has
also a tapering, vertical boring running almost its entire length.
(See section at Fig. 12.) The form of this implement suggests
a handle of some metal tool, and also appears to be worn smooth
by the grasp of the hand. It seems to be an uncommon type.
Lencth 61 inches.— F.W.R.I

ESSEX XATVRALIST, To/. A7 I'l III.

112 A SUPPOSED NEOLITHIC SETTLEMENT.

(g) Three hand hammers — one from the os sacrum of ox
(circumference io| inches) ; two others from the distal tibiae
of the Bos longifrons. The surface is cut everywhere with a
pointed tool of flint. This faint tooling is difficult to describe or
to represent ; but the same kind of workmanship will be found
noticed in the description given of a Lake-dwelling discovered at
Ehenside Tarn in Cumberland, which was first reported and
described in an article by myself, and afterwards more fully
treated by Mr. R. D, Darbishire, F.G.S., in the Archcuologia, vol.
xliv., pp. 273, 292. The work seems done with a sharp-pointed
flint, and carefully chiselled over by even short cuts.

Wooden Implements.

These may have been numerous during the stone period, as,
for example, to supply the hafts for drilled horns, &c. ; but

Fig. 14. Bone handle Two-thirds natural size.

owing to such relics being mixed up with leaves and branches,
the workmen would not readily discover or distinguish them
from the surrounding pieces of nattiral wood.

{a) An implement of maple (Fig. 15), measuring 4 feet 7
inches in lengtli ; greatest widtli 2\ inches, and narrowest width
1^ inches ; of a thickness to suit the hand, sharpened to a spear-
point at one end, and rounded at the butt, with hand-grips for
use as a spear or more probably as a paddle. Only few of
similar implements have come into the collector's hands,
and from experience I can say that care must be taken
in drying and soaking such relics in glycerine, to save
them from warping and cracking, or even perishing alto-
gether. This process has been adopted with the imple-
ment now described, and the result is its almost perfect

A SUPPOSED NEOLITHIC SETTLEMENT.

"3

preservation. Beyond the pointed stakes,
the spear, and wedges, no other wooden
instruments have been discovered ; but the
tree stems deprived of their roots, the
larger branches deprived of twigs, and the
twigs cut into short pieces from 2 to 5 or 6
inches were dug out all along the line of the
dwellings in large quantities and returned
for filling in the pits.

Fig. 15. An im-
plement of maple
wood from Skitts
Hill. One-ninth full
size.

Pottery.

[The only pottery which has been
definitely recorded as coming from the
relic-bed are some fragments of thick
grey ware. The portion of the base which
is represented in Fig. 16, is rough and
coarsely made, but cannot with certainty be
said to be hand-made. The other fragments
appear to belong to the same vessel, but
bear evident marks of being wheel turned.

Of the unrecorded pottery there is one
fragment which appears to be of the
Bronze-age quality, red and apparently hand-
made, but not ornamented. All the other
fragments are the ordinary Late Celtic or
Romano- British specimens. Some of these
are supposed to have come from the relic
bed, but as an exact record has not been
kept they cannot be included. — F.W.R.]

Roman Pottery. — This occurred in
the higher level (No. TV. on Section, p. 98)
from a depth of ift. 6in. to 4ft. 6in. from
the surface. It consists of earthenware,
perfectly burnt, and similar to that found
commonly in places of Roman occupation.
It is all in a very scrappy state, as if
broken and thrown away as refuse. Flue
and roof tiles, the former with striations
for holding mortar, the latter with flanges for
the overlapping tile.

114 A SUPPOSED NEOLITHIC SETTLEMENT.

[Some substance resembling Red Ochre was foimd on the
bottom of the ReHc-bed. On this Mr. F. W. Riidler, F.G.S.,
has kindly reported as follows : —

Two pieces of a fine laminated .sandy clay, coloured with o.Kide of iron,
forming a peach-blo3som coloured ochre, which ^ives a good streak, and
might have been used as a pale reddle. Mr C. Reid does not know any
material like it among the rocks of East Anglia, and suggest that it may have
been derived from the Trias. — F. W. Rudler]

Iron Relics. — .Some Horse-shoes were found nearer the
surface ; of these, several belong to small animals the size of a
cob; they occur at a high leveb but the pattern is mediaeval
type; a small space is left fen' the frog; the rim is I7, inches
wide; there are nail holes, but no tips front or back ; the bottom

Pig. 16. Fragment of base of vessel from Skitts Hill. One-half size.

is distinctly convex for the tread. This kind of horse-shoe is
usually called Roman ; but I doubt the correctness of the term ;
it would be better to call them Saxon, Danish, or Norman, for
we know that these people shod their horses by nailing the shoes
on.

NOTES BY THE AUTHOR.

The Cause of the Presei'vatioii of Some of the Objects.

The condition of the bones at various levels varies much.
Those found in the lowest bed are almost perfect, for these sank
under the gently-moving water at the margin of a liroad lake,
and were subsequently enveloped in the lake mud, mixed with
vegetable growth and decayed weeds and rushes. Under these
conditions the bones obtained the smooth, glossy, and unctuous

A SUPPOSED NEOLITHIC SETTLEMENT, II5

state which many still retain. In the drier overlaying beds, the
condition of the specimens was different ; there the bones were
left on the surface of the soil, exposed to atmospheric influences
before being finally covered up by the floods, and they are there-
fore generally very earthy, and, in many cases, completely
decayed. In the lowest bed, at the depth of g to lo feet, not
only the bones, but leaves, grasses, rushes, acorns, &c., have
been saved from decay by the anti-septic action of the peaty
matter. The objects, like the material in which they were enve-
loped, were stained of various hues of green, red, and bluish-
black, by the percolation of coloured fluid. Whole spadesfuU of
the earth were noticed to be deeply coloured when first lifted up.

General Conclusions.

One of the first questions which suggests itself in taking
a retrospect of the subject is — what could have been the motive
which led early man to form lake-settlements and habitations ?
Light may be thrown upon this by a comparison of the settle-
ment now under notice with those of Switzerland, so fully
treated of by Dr. Keller and other Continental writers, and
from the summary of their works given by Stevens in Flint
Chips. Their conclusions are that the motive was the desire of
protection and defence, in the first place, against the wild ani-
mals, and, secondly, against the aborigines who, it is suggested,
might have been fierce enemies of the Lake-dwelling invaders
and colonizers.

Taking tiie evidence of the flints, we come to the conclusion
that Neolithic man here, at Braintree, lived in villages, and had
their settled habitations within, or very near, the watercourse
and sloping ground suitable for cultivation. At the same time,
they were herders of tame cattle, as well as hunters in the
forests. The river served two purposes to the dwellers — giving
a constant water-supply, and a line of defence from predatory
man and beast. It is most probable that both sides of the
valley were occupied by the same people ; arid, in fact, on the
opposite side of the Pods brook and its slope traces of
workings or of habitations have been discovered.

Whether the lake-habitations at Skitts Hill belong to the
earliest Neolithic settlers in this locality, or not; or whether
there were in the district earlier and ruder men of the Stone-
age before the arrival of the lake-dwellers ; or whether this

Il6 A SUPPOSED NEOLITHIC SETTLEMENT.

method of construction of habitations was imported from the
Continent ; these are questions we cannot at present decide.
But from the examination of the site and remains at Skitts Hill,
we may reasonably conclude that we have here very early habi-
tations, and that in these we have traces of Neolithic man in
this district. It has been suggested by some that the greater
part of Essex was so much occupied by primaeval forest that
there was little room left for primitive man, and that, for the
most part, the land was occupied by wild animals. Confining
our observations to Great Britain, and comparing Essex with
the more open plains and moorlands, such as Salisbury Plain,
Grims Dyke country, and the Wolds of Yorkshire, it may be
that on account of the abundance of timber, Essex was less
favourable for the settlement of men of the Stone-age and later
times, and, in consequence, they were not so numerous. For
men possessing only stone and other primitive tools, forest
clearing would be a difficult undertaking, and for that reason, if
for no other, the numerous valleys and margins of streams were
inhabited before the higher grounds, and, probably, at the
earliest arrival of Neolithic man. And here, at Skitts Hill,
have been found what we take to have been one of these early
settlements, just where we might expect, namely, in proximity
to the river and upon the lower grounds. When once the Lake-
settlements were formed, they, no doubt, survived throughout
long epochs, and may have continued during the Stone, Bronze,
and Iron periods. This seems to be a reasonable deduction, and
one supported by comparison with like discoveries. And such
settlements as that at Skitts Hill may really be numerous, but
concealed from observation by alluvial accumulations, which will
be removed in the future for the purposes of the orick-making
industry. These valley beds are less-frequently disturbed than
the pleistocene deposits on higher ground, which are excavated
for the sake of loams and gravels. Hence the interest of the
Skitts Hill discovery, and the importance of preserving the
objects found, as a clue to future discoveries in this branch of
local archaeology.

All the objects described in this paper are now placed
in the possession of the Essex Field Club for exhibition
in the Coimty Museum of Natural History, my wish being
that they may form an object-lesson to those who, like myself,
are seeking on every occasion to find and record any new facts

A SUPPOSED NEOLITHIC SETTLEMENT. II7

which may add to the accumulated materials for a better know-
ledge of ante-historic man in our country/

REMARKS BY F. W . READER.

It may be remembered, by those who were present when
Mr. Kenworthy's paper was read at the meeting of the Club,
that a considerable discussion was raised as to whether his
discoveries related to a Lake Dwelling, or to the results of
alluvial wash.

As I have since then had the pleasure of assisting Mr.
Kenworthy and Mr. Cole in the preparation of the paper for
the Club's journal, and have spent a week at Braintree, making
the Plan and Sections already given in this paper, and otherwise
investigating the matter, it has been suggested that some remarks
from me might be of interest.

With regard to Mr. Kenworthy's conclusions, I think that
he has, in the main, ample grounds on which to base them ; but
I also think they should be considered as tentative only. For
the present the record should be regarded more as a basis for
future observation than as in anyway complete or conclusive.

There are one or two points that should be remembered in
considering this subject. In the first place, the excavations are
being carried out to obtain brick earth, and not for archaeological
research. Then it is only quite in the latter stage of his observa-
tions that Mr. Kenworthy developed the idea that layer No. II.
(see section on p. g8) was an artificial bed ; consequently, much
that might have been valuable evidence may have been over-
looked, such as the splitting, shaping, and position of the stakes.
For the same reason, the exact level of many of the apparently
less important relics has not been recorded, more particularly the
pottery. This is unfortunate, as pottery affords one of the best
means of evidence of the period of such remains. Further, the
black peaty soil of this bed renders objects very difficult of
recognition, and in the absence of continuous watching by
trained observers, no doubt much has been missed.

I do not intend to make these remarks in a critical spirit,
but rather as explanatory. I consider Mr. Kenworthy's patient

4 [It is much to be wished that all iiiideis and possessors of objects of the kind would
follow Mr. Kenworthy's enli^'htened policy. In our county alone there are hundreds of
specimens in private hands practically useless playthings to their owners and always liable to
be lost or mislaid, but which if deposited in one or other of our local museums would be pre-
served with others ot their kind, and would ultimately form most valuable scientific
evidence for the use of future workers in like subjects. — Ed.]

Il8 A SUPPOSED NEOLITHIC SETTLEMENT.

and prolonged observations worthy of the highest praise, and feel
confident that he has drawn attention to a matter that may prove
to be of great interest and importance.

There still remains about 200 superficial feet of this deposit
in the same meadow awaiting excavation, which operation will
probably extend over several years. This is the portion marked
on the Plan at page 97 between DE and F. It will be noticed
that as the excavation approaches the road it runs away from
the river ; the portion of the meadow adjoining the river having
been purchased so as to prevent these diggings encroaching too
nearly on the Braintree Mill premises.

This is a great misfortune for the Lake Dwelling researches.
Should the proprietors of the Brick Works ever carry out excava-
tions on the other side of the road, I think that still more might
be found, as here the old river bed widens out considerably, and
suggests a more favourable spot for such a settlement than the
narrow strip represented by the portion already excavated.

The points in favour of this bed being artificial are the
curious mixture of which it is composed, which corresponds with
similar beds known as "■ Packimyk,'' met with in the Continental
Lake Dwelling sites of "Fascine" formation, and that this
inixture dies out as the bed approaches the old shore and the
present river. I have indicated this by the shading on the
Section. That it was constructed and then occupied rather than
being a gradual accretion is shewn by the fact that the biunt
flints, ashes, and traces of fire occur mostly on the top of this
layer. The portion of this layer which is at present exposed
(D — E on Plan) was, when I first saw it, covered with ashes and
burnt flints, apparently a hearth ; but on turning it over, the
traces of fire disappeared after a few inches.

The preserved evidence of the pinning of the bed by shaped
stakes, exists only in the one specimen (fig. 5) ; but Mr.
Kenworthy remembers to have seen others that had apparently
been split and shaped in a similar manner. His idea of the
splitting of these stakes is ingenious, but requires, 1 think, more
evidence to confirm it. This is a point that should be carefully
watched in the future digging — where and how vertical stakes
occur. A Terramara formed with vertical inclined stakes, dis-
covered at Castione, is described and illustrated in Munro's Lake
Dwellings, p. 253, fig. 82, and is interesting by way of comparison.

An endeavour should be made to determine the shape of the
foundations of the dwellings — whether these represent a cluster

A SUPPOSED NEOLITHIC SETTLFMENT. IIQ

of detached huts with passages between, or form a continuous
platform. It has been noticed that portions of this layer were
different from the rest, and the relics found in them were stained
a different colour. This might be caused by the accumulation in
the passage between the huts, and in such a. deposit one would
expect to find the most relics.

Concerning the age of this layer, I do not think there is any
positive evidence of its construction in Neolithic times, although
such may be the case, and its occupation may have been con-
tinued through and beyond the Bronze Age, as Mr. Kenworthy
suggests. The great majority of the relics might point equally
to the Bronze Age or to Neolithic times. The Stone Imple-
ments — the knife (fig. 7) and the arrowhead (fig. 8) with its
fully developed tangs — are such as were used down into Romano-
British times. There is little to guide us in the pottery, as the
only pieces which can with certainty be said to have come from
this level, are some fragments of the laige vessel referred to
before, the portion of the base of which is represented (fig. 16).
The base is much coarser than the other fragments, but I think
this may be due to its having been placed on twigs and straw to
dry before firing. The other portions undoubtedly show marks
of having been wheel-turned.

There is but one small fragment which can be said to be
hand-made and to resemble the pottery of the Stone or Bronze
Age, and the exact locality of this has not been recorded. At
the same time, some of the ordinary Late Celtic pottery, such as
occurs plentifully in the level above (No. III.), is supposed to
have come from this level, but as an accurate record has not
been kept, this point must be deferred for future investigation.

The lact that no bronze or metal objects have come to light
from this bed may perhaps be accounted for by the difficulty of
recognising objects in the black peaty soil of which it is com-
posed. It is also to be noted that no metal objects have been
found in the higher levels, with the exception of a few horse-
shoes near the surface. Evidences of the use of metal tools are,
I think, to be found in the cutting of several of the antler-tools
and bones ; notably in the Red-deer skull (Plate II). The
principal cuts are too flat and sharp to warrant one imagining
that they were made by a stone implement. The cuts are here
figured on a larger scale (fig. 17). The cutting marks on the
antler tool (fig. 11) also suggests a metal tool and the longi-
tudinal, tapering boring (see fig. 12) appears to have been done
to receive the tang of a metal knife or other tool.

I20

A SUPPOSED KEOLITHIC SETTLEMENT.

There are also saw-cuts on some of the bones that could
scarcely have been made with a stone-saw.

Mr. Read, F.S.A., of the British Museum, tells me that he
considers such antler-tools as figs. 9, 10 and 11 to belong to the
Bronze Age or later.

It must not be supposed that the Fascine system of
Lacustrine Dwellings is older than the Pile system because of
its simpler and more primitive method. The results of Conti-
nental researches show that both systems are distributed
throughout the different ages, but that the Fascine system
occurs generally in the shallow, mossy lakes. This no doubt
accounts for the prevalence of the Fascine system in tne British
Isles.

Fk

Photograph of sawn surfaces of Red Deer's Antlers.

Professor Amrein has discovered at Lake Baldegg, a
Fascine dwelling constructed on the ruined foundations of
a Pile dwelling. See Dr. Keller's Lake Dwellings, p 318.

The following note by Messikommer may also be of
interest : —

" Mau darf mit Bestimmtheit annehmen, dassallejene Niederlassungen in
welchen gespaltenes Eichenholz in grosserer Mange zum Vorschein kommt,
auch das Metall in einfacher (Kupfer) oder zusammen-gesetzer Form (Bronze)
gekannt haben."

"In those remains where spht oak-wood occurs in any great quantity,
.one may with certainty conclude that bronze or copper was known."

J

A SUPPOSED NEOLITHIC SETTLEMENT. 121

However such speculations are at present, of little use,
except perhaps, as being suggestive to those who may in the
future undertake the investigation of this locality. What is now
wanted is more evidence precisely recorded.

Considering the scientific importance of the subject (one
that has unfortunately been much neglected in this country),
it is to be hoped that Mr. Kenworthy will have every facility
afforded him for continuing his observations, and that members
of the Club will come forward to render him assistance in the
continuous watching of the Relic Bed, when excavations are
recommenced.

Owing to an exaggerated article that appeared in a London
daily paper, numerous " curiosity hunters " have been induced
to visit the spot, and thereby caused annoyance to the proprietors
of the Brick works. But it is possible that upon proper
representation from the Club, Messrs. Brown will be induced to
look favourably upon the researches, and assist them, while dis-
couraging the mere " curiosity hunter," a class which has done
so much injury at Stoke Newington, Ilford, Leyton, and other
places having a popular reputation as localites for pre-historic
relics.

I should also like to appeal to tliose who own the numerous
objects that have been found before Mr. Kenworthy's appearance
on the scene, hoping that they may see their way to place these
objects in the collection, which is now, through the generosity
and public spirit of Mr. Kenworthy, in the Club's Museum, or
at least that they will lend them to the Club, in order that a
record of them may be made. Mr. Kenworthy or Mr. W. Cole
will be very glad to receive any objects forwarded to them for
preservation with the other portions of the collection.

NOTES ON THE GEOLOGY OF THE BRAINTREE DISTRICT,
BEARING UPON THE SECTIONS SEEN THERE ON
MAY 31st, 1899.

By T. V. HOLMES, F.G.S.

My object in these remarks is to note the features in the
geology of the Braintree district, bearing upon the sections
shown to Mr. Cole, Mr. Reader, and myself, by the Rev. J. W.
Kenworthy, as well as the chief points of interest in the sections
themselves. The general geological structure of the country
within a radius of six or seven miles around Braintree is very

122 A SUPPOSED NEOLITHIC SETTLEMENT.

simple. The lowest formation visible anywhere is the London
Clay, which appears here and there in the river-valleys. Above
the London Clay, and chiefly in the river-valleys, may be seen
the sand and gravel of the Glacial Period. Above this sand and
gravel, and forming the surface of the plateau between the
valleys, is the Chalky Boulder Clay. Then, here and there on
the plateau, are patches of gravel and loam resting upon the
Chalky Boidder Clay, and usually occupying slight depressions
on its surface. These last-named deposits (which are post-
Glacial in the sense of being of later date than the Boulder Clay)
are extremely irregular in their occurrence and in the space they
occupy. They have sometimes been foimd to contain mammalian
remains of interest, as in the brickyard at Great Yeldham, of
which some account is given in the Essex Naturalist (vol. ix.,
pp. 115--118). All the beds liitherto mentioned are widely dis-
tributed, for though the lower are seldom visible, except in the
river-valleys,, they are found over considerable areas of country
beneath the higher beds. In addition, there are deposits which
are wholly confined to the river-valleys, liaving been formed by
the streams at various periods during the erosion of their
valle\ s. These are all of later date than the others mentioned,
the most recent being the alluvium occup\'ing the flat ground
close to the streams. No older river deposits, tomied when the
river had not cut down its channel to the present level, are shown
on the Geological Survey Map as manifestly existing within three
or four miles of Braintree. For the older the tenace, the longer
the time sinre its formation during which it has been subject to
destructive influences, whether those resulting from the mean-
dering of the stream or from the ordinary action of the weather.
Then, while fragments of terraces cut in comparatively hard
rock often remain clear and distinct, those cut in sijft material,
like London Clay or Glacial Gravel, soon cease to be traceable ;
and the difficulty of identifying them is at its highest in narrow
valleys like those around Braintree, where any river terrace can
never have been more than a few yards in breadth, and where,
consequently, its distinctively terrace-like aspect can never have
been very conspicuous. However, the obscurity that prevents
any beds of this kind from being mapped at Braintree by no
means implies that they do not exist there. In the Geological
Survey Memoiv on Sheet 47-f (which includes Braintree, Cog-

t The Gcolof;y of the AMI', part of Essex and the S.E. part of Herts., with parts of Cam
bridgeshire and Suffolk. Hy W. Whitaker, W. H, Punning. W. H. Ualton, and F. J. Bonnett
London, 1878.

A SUPPOSED NEOLITHIC SETTTEMEXT.

123

geshall, and \^'itham tOAvards its south-eastern border), the
following remarks occur (p. 65) : —

" The Valley loams and gravels are not extensive, "and'it'^is probable that
some of the deposits that are really more recent have been included in the
mapping with the Glacial gravels, which occupy most of the valleys, and from
which they cannot readily be separated."

These preliminary remarks will render those which follow
more intelligible. The sections shown us by Mr. Kenworth)'

Fig. 18. Portion of 6 inch Ordnance Map of the district around Braintree.

were (with one slight exception) all south of the railway, west of
the road from Hoppit Bridge lo Buckwood Farm, north of that
from Buckwood Farm eastward to the river Brain, and west of
the Brain northward to Braintree Mill. On leaving Braintree
Railway Station, we crossed the railway a few yards east
of it, and looked at the "Old Gravel Pits," shown on the
Ordnance Map (Fig. 18), a few yards south-east of the
station, and between the railway and the mill stream. The
contour of the ground around these pits to some extent sug-
gested the view that they were in old river gravel, rather than

124

A SUPPOSED NEOLITHIC SETTLEMENT.

gravel of Glacial age, though there was not evidence enough to
have warranted their separation from the latter on the Geo-
logical Map. Crossing the Mill stream and the alluvial flat of
the Brain southward of it, we then inspected the " Gravel Pit "
on the southern slope of the valley, nearly due south of Brain-
tree Railway Station. From this pit we passed to the others
south-west of it, where " Sand Pit " and " Gravel Pit " appear
on the map, east of the road from Hoppit Bridge to Black
Notley. The material in all these pits appeared to be of Glacial
age ; but in the " Brick Works," in the angle between the Black
Notley road and that ranging eastward from Buckwood Farm,
there was a patch of loam overlying the Glacial deposits, the
junction being shown as in the section here given ; height, about
8 feet. Fig. ig.

Fig. 19.

Section in Pit in Brickworks near Braintree. A, Glacial Gravel
B, Boulder Clay ; C, Post-Glacial Loam.

Patches of Post-Glacial loam are shown here and there, in
the neighbourhood of Braintree, on the Geological Map, but
none appears to have been known at the above spot when the
map was published ; it is probably to be found at many places
where it is not yet mapped, for there is usually no surface indi-
cation to suggest its presence, and its existence becomes known
through its accidental discovery in a gravel or brick pit. The
above section was clear only to the extent shown. The thin
strip of Boulder Clay (B) was decalcified, but there can be no
doubt as to its real nature. Some large stones were seen on the
line of junction between the Boulder Clay and the loam. I have
already mentioned the discovery of Mammalian remains in post-
Glacial loam at Great Yeldham.

From Buckwood Farm we proceeded along the road rang-
ing thence in an easterly direction, and entered the field south of

A SUPPOSED NEOLITHIC SETTLEMENT. I25

the Skitts Hill Brick Works, in which the words " Clay Pit "
appear twice. In this field the nature of the material, the shape
of the ground, and the appearance ot London Clay at intervals
along the slope, suggested that its surfac e was mainly occupied
by terraces of old river deposits. Then, crossing Duggers'
Lane, we came to the excavations in the alluvium — the most
recent of the river-deposits. To a distance of some twenty or
thirty yards from the river Brain the alluvium on its western
bank had been carted away to a depth of 6 or 7 feet, the original
surface of the flat being shown by its level on the eastern bank
of the stream. The alluvial flat of the Brain hereabouts is of no
great breadth, and there are no signs of the former existence of a
lake ; but primitive " Moated Granges " may often have been con-
structed on an alluvial marsh with the aid of piles, and by the
formation of an additional short channel, which would allow the
habitations to be surrounded by water.

Of Mr. Kenworthy's discoveries in this alluvial flat there is
no need to say anything here. It may, however, be useful to
add, for the sake of comparison, the following brief account of
some excavations in the alluvium of the river Cam, between
Audley End and Saffron Walden, quoted in the Geological Suyvey
Memoir on Sheet 47 (pp. 72--73). The original account was given
by the late G. E. Roberts, in the Anthvopologicai Review, vol ii.,
pp. 41-43 (1864J.

" In the course of railway works between Audley End and Saffron
Walden, it became necessary to divert the course of the river Cam into a part
of the meadow land bounding the stream, which was traditionally known as
' the old river bed.' A cutting, about 20 feet deep, through this, necessitated
for the foundation of a wide and large culvert to give passage to the river
through the railway embankment, disclosed the following section : —

Soil . . . . . . . . .^. . . I foot.

. 11 ,■ j Clay . . . . . . . . 3 feet.

i Peat. Bones at the bottom 12 ,,

Gravel

Near the bottom of this "peat," and at a depth from the surface of 16 ft.,
an astonishing quantity of Mammalian bones were found. . . Out of the

excavation— an area of not more than 20 ft. by 60 ft. -two cartloads of " large
bones " were taken away,

The peat is, more properly, a blackish clay, with numerous fragments of
wood and a few logs of considerable size bedded in it. It is everywhere full
of fluviatile shells, of species common in the district, and contains many
naturally-formed chips and flakes of flint and a few rolled pebbles.

126 A SUPPOSED NEOLITHIC SETTLEMENT.

The bones, which bear artificially-made markings,* are the lower jaws o
a small ox, probably Bos longifyuns.

A single tooth of badger (?) was found at the same level in the cutting.

A remarkably fine horn of the great elk, Cerviis megaceros, was also found
in association with these bones."

And, as sections in alluvium are rare, it may be well to add,
from the same Memoir, p. 73 : —

"Mr. Dalton notes that where the Rivenhall Brook passes under the rail-
way N.E. of Witham the alluvium consists in part of alternate beds of peat
and calcareous tufa, full of shells ; and that similar tufaceous deposits occur in
the neighbourhood at swampy spots on the shell-marl and on Boulder Clay."

Geological Sections in soft sands, gravels, and clays, like
those which cover almost the whole of Essex, are liable to
become almost valueless in the course of a few months, or even
weeks. We may well, therefore, congratulate ourselves on the
presence at Braintree of so keen and constant an observer as
Mr. Ken worthy.

NOTE.

Mv omission to mention the " Westleton Beds " as existing
in the neighbourhood of Braintree may, perhaps, be noticed.
My object has been simply to avoid confusion. The beds
already touched upon comprise all those manifestly existing in
the district. It is possible that, had we much more geological
evidence than is at present available, we might class some of
the sand and gravel, now mapped as Glacial, with the somewhat
older Westleton Beds. But looking at the great variability, in
this and other parts of Essex, of what has al\va\s been classed
as Glacial gravel, it appears to me that the evidence now exist-
ing would not warrant any division between Glacial gravel and
Westleton Beds about Braintree, as a matter of evident fact,
even if we concede the probable truth of Sir Joseph Prestwich's
general view.

Those interested in the Westleton Beds and their distribu-
tion are referred to Sir Joseph Prestwich's paper on the subject.
Quart. Joiivii. Geol. Soc, vol Ixvi., pp. (S4--181 (i8go). A short
review of the above paper liy the present writer appears in the
Essex Natur.'XList, vol. iv., p. 100 (1890).

* " Made bv implements of flint."

127

THE OCCURRENCE IN ESSEX OF A SPECIES
OF WOODLOUSE (ISOPODA) NEW TO
BRITAIN {PORCELLIO RATZBURGI, BRANDT.)

By WILFRED MARK WEBB, F.L.S.
[Read December 16th, !899.]

HAVING dealt in the Essex Naturalist with the Land and
P^resh water Shells of the county in some detail, there seemed
to be no likelihood of my making any contribution of importance to
the Club upon that subject for some time to come. I, therefore,
at our worthy Secretary's request, turned my attention to the
collection of Centipedes and Millipedes, classes in which I had
already taken a considerable amount of interest. At the same
time it was by no means difificuk to secure land Isopods, and it
seemed as if the study of our Esse.K Woodlice might produce an
addition to our knowledge of the county fauna, with less labour,
owing to the smaller number of species.

Being doubtful of some of my determinations, I submitted a
number of Isopods to the Rev. Canon Norman, M.\., F.R.S.,
who had kindly offered me his assistance. The result was that
a specimen of Porcellio was considered by that authority to be
Porcellio ratzhiirgi, Brandt, but its antennae being damaged it
could not be absolutely determined. Other examples from
another locality were too young to make quite sure of, but the
species is one, said Canon Norman, that there is reason to think
might be found in England. Subsequently I have been through
my material from Warley and Brightlingsea, and have picked
out two additional specimens from the former locality, after
careful examination of the supposed Povcellio ratzhiirgi. Canon
Norman now tells me that they belong to that species, which has
not hitherto been recorded from this country, and 1 had the
pleasure of exhibiting the two woodlice at the meeting of the
Club at the Geological Museum, on December i6th. The locality
is Warley, and possibly also the species occurs at Brightlingsea,
though only immature examples, if any, are in my collection from
the latter place. It has been found in Norway, Germany, and
France.

[Owing to the interest of this observation of Mr. Webb's, it
seems desirable to publish his note here, somewhat m
advance of order of date. — Eu.1

128

THE ESSEX FIELD CLUB.

GARDEN PARTY AT '' KNIGHTON." '
Saturday, April 22ND, 1899.

THE Summer Session of the Club began with a very enjoyable Garden
Party, kindly given by Mr. and Mrs. E. N. Buxton at their beautifu
grounds, "Knighton,' Buckhurst Hill. A large body of members was met
at the Station by the Secretary, and conducted through Lords' Bushes to the
private gate at the north side of the grounds. Many came from other parts,
and in all about 70 members and visitors accepted our kind hosts' invitation.
The members were met on the lawn by Mr. and Mrs. Buxton. One of the most
charming sights in the spring in tlie grounds is the fine collection of Daffodils,
for which "Knighton" is almost as celebrated as for the Rhododendrons
later in the year. The great merit of the garden is that it is truly a " garden
wild," intermixed with woodland, and a perfect paradise for birds. No
shooting or trapping is allowed, and the numerous " nesting-boxes " placed in
quiet corners testified to the care taken in protecting and encouraging the
dwellers in the woods and thickets.

The afternoon was spent in conversation, in the delights of croquet,
boating on the pretty lake, fringed with all kinds of aquatic plants, or in
examining Mr. Buxton's magnificent collection of the heads of large game,
and antlers of the Cervidae, with which the central hall of the mansion is
ornamented. They are all trophies of Mr. Buxton's skill as a hunter, during
his sporting tours in various parts of Europe. His two volumes, " Short
Stalks," and "More Short Stalks," give the history of many of these fine
specimens, which are not only of interest to the naturalist, but are in them-
selves admirable examples of the taxidermist's art.

Afternoon tea and other refreshments were served in the hall and dining
room.

During the afternoon an Ordinary Meeting of the Club (the 187th) was
held in the Drawing Room, Mr. D. Howard, President, in the chair.

On the motion of the President, a very hearty vote of thanks was passed
to Mr. and Mrs. Buxton for their hospitable kindness in arranging the
meeting.

The following wt-re elected Members of the Club; — Mr. Harry Bird,
C.C, Miss Amy M. Horton, Mr. Russell Paterson, and Mr. G. T. Reid.

Dr. H. C. Sorby, F.R.S., exhibited a series of specimens showing the
advances he had recently made in the methods of preparing Marine Animals
for Museum exhibition. The Doctor made some remarks on these methods.
He had fou ad that menthol was an excellent agent for "fixing" and killing
many organisms in life-like positions, and he had recently employed dense
glycerine as a permanent preservative. We hope to be enabled to publish
details in the Essex Naturalist at an early date.

To quote the words of the County Chyoniclc : — " Fortunately April was
kind, and, in spite of a somewhat threatening dulness during the early part of
the afternoon, the sun came out of his hiding-place about four o'clock, and
shone with a genial warmth until the party broke up, each member returning
home with a sense of gratitude to the host and hostess for having shown them
in so hospitable a manner one of the most charming spots in Essex."

129

WOODLAND RAMBLE AND VISIT TO YARDLEY
HILL, EPPING FOREST.

Saturday, June ioth, 1899.

This meeting represented our usual Spring Forest Ramble, the late
unseasonable and inclement weather having led to its postponement.

The party met at Loughton Station about 3 o'clock, and walked across
the Forest by Strawberry (? Starberry) Hill ponds, High Beach, and Hill
Wood (near which the site of Fairmead Lodge, recently demolished, was
pointed out (see vol. x., p. 296, and ante p. 56). On the way, the refreshing
" leafiness " of the forest trees was much commented upon. The cold
weather in May appeared to have been very unfavourable to the larvse of
Cheimatobia and Hybernia, of which there were few this spring — a great
contrast with some recent years, in which they were so numerous and their
ravages so enormous that many trees were almost stripped bare by the
beginning of June. It was evident that this year all the trees would make
wood abundantly. Meanwhile the forest was looking its loveliest ; all the
greens were bright and fresh.

Crossing part of the " mead," the road up Leppits Hill was taken, and a
little beyond the "Owl" (well-known to London entomologists) the party
turned into a most pleasant sloping meadow, crowded with flowers, amongst
which the great quantity of the pretty Umbellifer, the Burnet Saxifrage
(Pimpinella saxifraga), specially attracted attention. The footpath running
along the edge of the ridge afforded capital views, extending to St. Paul's
Cathedral, and — in clear days — to the Crystal Palace. The latter was not
visible on the day of the meeting, and St. Paul's shone out only for a short
time, because, although the day was fine and delightful for a country ramble,
there was a haze in the distance. A pleasant walk by Gillwell Farm, through
Gillwell Lane, led to Yardley Hill, a timbered ridge which projects into the
Lea Valley. It is the latest gift of our Vice-President, Mr. E. N. Buxton,
J. P., Verderer, and was formally dedicated as part of the Forest by the Duke
of Connaught, Ranger, on June ist, and details of this splendid addition are
given in another article in the present part [ante p. 78).

Tea was served in a tent erected on the summit of a hill, by kind permis-
sion of Mr. F. F. McKenzie, the Superintendent of the Forest, allowing of
most varied and extended views over the wide Lea Valley and the surrounding
woodlands. The spot was that on which the ceremony of dedication of the
hill was performed on the ist of June.

After tea the President, Mr. Howard, said that absence from England
prevented Mr. Buxton from being present with them that day. They had
had a good opportunity of appreciating the beauty and value of Mr. Buxton's
most welcome addition to the Forest, and he proposed that the Club should
pass a very hearty vote of thanks to Mr. Buxton for his generosity and public
spirit, so often shown for the welfare of the Forest. This vote was passed by
acclamation.

Mr. Cole called attention to the special Report on Queen Elizabeth's
Lodge, and the Club's Museum there, which had been recently presented to
the Court of Common Council of the City of London by the Epping Forest

130 THE KSSF.X FIELD Cr.UB.

Committee, and which report had been unanimously agreed to, and ordered
to be acted upon. The Lodge would be thoroughly restored, and much
greater space given to the Museum. (See .-Abstract of the Report, ante
PP- 31-34)

On the slope of the hill, overlooking the Lea Valley, Mr. T. V. Holmes,
F.G.S., gave a short lecture on the physical geography of this fine broad
expanse of alluvial soil.'

A ramble through Bury Wood and over Chingford Plain took the party
to Queen Elizabeth's Lodge, where the Epping Forest Museum was inspected
with interest.

THIRD VOYAGE UN THE LEA FROM HERTFORD

TO WALT HAM ABBEY.

Thursda''', June 15TH, 1899.

Conductors : — Major Lamorock Flower, F. San. I. ; Mark Davies, Esq.
(Gresham Angling Society); T. V. Holmes, Esq., F.G.S. ; W. M. Webb,
Esq., F.L.S , and the Hon. Secretaries.

By the continued courtesy of the Lee Conservancy Board and the
abundant kindness of our Member, Major Flower, the Club was enabled,
under exceptionally favourable circumstances, to repeat the charming water
excursion v;hich had been found so enjoyable on two previous occasions. 2 The
arrangements were similar ; the greater number of voyagers went down to
Hertford by the 9.30 train from London ; others went overnight or cycled
down, and a break started in good time from Buckhurst Hill to meet
an early train from Waltham Cross, for the convenience of the Forest-dwelling
members, and to carry the materials for the tea on board.

After a brief inspection of the ancient town, and the Castle, mentioned in
a former report, the party embarked on board the " Salisbury " from the
towing path near the road from the railway station, steam was turned on, and
the voyage began.

Major Flower is one of the best authorities on the Lea, and was an
enthusiastic describer of its usefulness and the quiet pastoral beauties of the
bordering water-meadows. Mr. Corbie, the Clerk to the Lee Conservancy
Board, with thoughtful kindness, sent an ample supply of reprinted copies of
a paper by Mr. E. A. H. Bramley, entitled " Walton's Favourite River,"
which had been read before the Gresham Angling Society on July 19th, 1S98,
for distribution amongst the members of the party. This little book plea-
santly gave much information to strangers to the Lea, and as the present
compiler has somewhat fully described the river in the reports already
published, he will gladly quote some passages. Mr. Bramley is picturing a
voyage similar to our own, and begins : —

I See his Paper on " The Geology of the Lea Valley," Essex Naturalist, vol. viii., 198.
2 The previous voyages on the Lea under Major Flower's superintendence were held on
July 14th, 1894 (" Down River Lea from Hertford to Tottenham," Essex Naturalist, vol.
viii., PP 205-213) ; on July 29th, 1S95 (" Voyage from Bromley to Waltham Abbey," Essex
Naturalist, vol. ix., pp. 87-99) ; June 27th, 1896 (" Second Voyagefrom Hertford to Waltham
Abbey," Esskx Naturalist, vol. ix., pp. 208-213).

THE ESSEX FIELD CLUB. I3I

" We arrive by train at the neat little town of Hertford. Before com-
mencing our voyage from this, the beginning of the navigable part of the
river, we take an object-lesson from our host, who is guide, philosopher, and
friend. We take an imaginary stand in a balloon, and gaze down on a water-
shed, whence the congealed dews of heaven are drained over an area of 600
square miles. The watershed may be likened to a crooked trough, the bottom
of which is the River Lea, stretching sinuously for about 70 miles, and
drawing water from the tributaries and slopes on either side, and the tilt of
which, from source to mouth, is about 400 feet. Our bird's-eye view stretches
into four counties — those of Bedford, Hertford, Essex, and Middlesex. For
navigable purposes Hertford is the dividing line, the part from the source to
Hertford being usually described as the Upper Lea, and from Hertford to the
Thames as the Lower Lea. On the upper part we see a few pleasure boats ;
on the lower part, numerous barges bearing timber, gunpowder (from the
works round and about Enfield), malt from Hertford, Ware, Hoddesdon, &c.
The navigation is much busier than the uninitiated imagine. The traffic
down the Lea does not merely touch the Thames ; there is a junction of the
Regent's Canal at the lower part, along which barges travel, and thence along
the Grand Junction Canal to Birmingham.

" We gaze down on this picture map, and see a dozen tributary streams
lacing and braiding the slopes, pouring their liquid wealth into the Lea,
appearing like so many ribs joining the spine. But only three of these are
visible in the first 40 miles, and they are just above Hertford, so that the
river is comparatively narrow in its upper part. We notice a silver-like sheen
in the side streams down as far as Hoddesdon, then a little yellow tinge in a
few tributaries, towards the lower reaches a more sombre hue. Why is this ?
Simply because the bed of the upper stream (with the beds of tributaries) and
part of the lower stream, is of chalk. The Ash, which. joins the left bank near
Hoddesdon, has a soil of gravel and chalk ; and some of the lower tributaries
come over clay and even mud. Fielde's Weir is taken as the dividing line for
geological purposes. There the unadulterated chalk ends ; and the purity of
the water, and essentially the higher quality of the fish, commence to change.
This accounts ior the dingy and gloomy shade of the Lea, which has fallen
into bad company, as it enters London proper.

" The Lea rises in the form of a spring at Leagrave (formerly Leagrove)
a grove in which the river is born. This is in Bedfordshire, about three
miles north-west of the town now designated Luton, which takes its name
from the river. It was once known as Luyton ; the letter "y " has since
dropped out, and the name remains as Luton, meaning the town on the Luy.
The stream travels nearly to Hertford, about 40 miles, with no accession of
consequence other than soakage from the banks. After passing Hatfield,
and almost reaching Hertford, it is joined by Bayford Brook on the right
bank, and two pretty trout streams (the Mimram and the Beane) on the left.
And here we bid adieu to the Upper Lea.

"Heave O! 'The anchor's weighed,' We are nearly 30 miles (by
water) from London ; our homely barge steams gently on, and we pass Dicker
Mill, in sight of some richly-clothed heights, on the left bank, known as Port
Hill. History lends enchantment to the place, for here Alfred the Great is
said to have fought his last battle with the Danes ; and our host produces for
our gratification a time-worn, corroded, double-edged sword, with an equally
quaint dagger, which had been dredged from the river bed at this part, the

132 THE ESSEX FIELD CLUB.

belief being that they were weapons of warfare used in the struggles between
Saxon and Dane a thousand years ago. We have passed a lock and two
bridges, and gazed joyously on the gambolling roach and dace in the trans-
parent stream, when we reach the Balance-engine, which plays an important
part in contributing to the comfort of two-fifths of the population of London.
On the right bank we see the birthplace of the New River (at Chadwell
Springs), or New River Head, and lower down the Amwell Springs, the
channel of which river was dug and fashioned in the reign of James I. to
supply the inhabitants of North London with water. For garden-like banks,
and purity of water, along a course of about 17 miles' crowfly— and over 40
miles in its windings — this New River is unsurpassed

" We are now approaching the town of Ware, and rejoining the river.
On the left bank is a mansion, which was formerly a priory established by
Benedictine monks ; there is also the Priory Mill. Across the old river,
where we rejoin it at the end of the cut, the owner of the grounds keeps a bar
of wood across the stream as an assertion of private rights against intrusion ;
but the Conservators, on the occasion of their annual survey, remove this
bar, and proceed up the stream as an act of asserted sovereignty, which fact
is annually recorded as evidence to be used in case of future litigation.

" And now we come to Ware itself — the old-fashioned town of maltkilns,
and all that pertains to the baking of grain and the manufacture of the staple
drink of Old England. Along the left bank we have a number of demesnes,
each of which has a summer-house overhanging the river. The town occupies
both banks, and has a cosy-looking bridge, which constitutes part of the
High Street, leading towards Cambridge. Formerly this was the premier
town for malting ; it is now put in the background by Wakefield and Burton.
Prior to the abolition of the malt tax, there were 150 excisemen constantly
engaged in the town; but that was when the malt had to be taxed before
being brewed, which secured that beer should be made of malt. Now that
the tax is imposed on the hogsheads of beer produced, the constituents of the
beer are — well, let us draw the veil, and view the town in other respects ! The
former name of the town was Giiaie, meaning a weare or dam, which was
constructed on the river, and strongly fortified by the Danes in 894, as a
means of protecting their vessels. The wily Alfred is said to have drained the
bed of the Lea near this place, thereby stranding the vessels and enabling him
to destroy the fort. The fish are sporting freely at this place, unconcerned
about Roman roads, Danes and Saxons, malting, 0/ history ; nor are they
much startled at the approach of even the Conservancy barge.

" We pass the wharf and crane below Ware Bridge, and come to the
Tumbling Bay, where fish are abundant, and whence (or thereabouts) com-
mences a stretch of about two miles (more or less) of fishery, rented by the
Amwell Magna Angling Association (who have a handsome clubhouse on the
river bank), a veritable dreamland for anglers, the smiling woods on the
adjacent heights giving a tone to the scene which gladdens the heart of every
man who casts a line.^ Hard by, the River Ash, close to the road which runs
to Buntingford, empties its tolerably clear waters into the River Lea. Here
we come upon the pretty village of Amwell, which derives its name from
Emma's Well. Amwell Springs yield an extra supply to the New River, as
before stated.

3 Some notable anglers' feats by members of this .\ssociation are given in the "Notes "
'column of the present part of the Essex Naturalist.

THE ESSEX FIELD CLUB. I33

"Scott (a local Quaker poet) is a name of pious memory. Here is a
quotation from one of his poems : —

' Amwell ! perpetual be thy stream,
Nor ere thy streams be less ;
Thousands who drink thee never dream
Whence flows the boon they bless.'

" Shortly afterwards we come to the smiling village of Stanstead, its
banks decorated by pollard willows. The scene reminds us of many that are
peculiar to Dutch villages."

Thus far Mr. Bramley. We saw all that he describes, and our day was
an ideal one. The sun shone brightly, the air was clear, and the trees
probably at their absolute best in this wonderful summer for foliage ; birds
were numerous, the river was full of fish, which the angling members coveted
in vain— for it was the last day of the close season. On the banks bloomed
an abundance of wild flowers. These were gathered and examined by the
botanical members (including Mr. Arthur Sewell and Mr. Money-Kent).
Nothing that was new to the Lea list was observed — the most notable find
was the " Gold-of-Pleasure '' fCamelina sativa), which occurred on a piece of
waste ground on the banks. Of Mr. W. M. Webb's gatherings of Mollusca
much the same remark applies — nearly all the species previously noted were
found, but no novelties.

Mr. Mark Davies, an experienced Lea angler, very kindly gave us the
benefit of some remarks on the Lea from a fisherman's point of view. The
following notes embody the gist of his observations: —

SOME RANDOM NOTES BY AN OLD ANGLER ON FISHES
OF THE LEA.

By MARK DAVIES, Member of the Gresham Angling Society.

" In venturing to discourse to the members of the Essex Field Club on the
Fishes of the Lea, I cannot but feel there is some presumption on my part, as
I am only able to speak as an old London Angler.

The Lea contains almost every fish that is found in the rivers of
England.

Trout are numerous in the upper waters, but below Hertford such as are
met with, like Thames trout, grow to a large size. Some thirty years ago I
saw one that was caught at Carthagena Weir. It must have weighed nearly
ten pounds ; it was in beautiful condition, but most unlike the true Salmofario,
having no visible spots, and resembled a salmon in appearance. I described
this fish to my dear old friend. Dr. John Brunton, who told me that he had
once seen a similar fish from the Lea. It was his opinion that they were
distinct from ordinary trout — he called them " landlocked salmon." It has
been stated by Prof. Rasch, of the Christiana University, in a pamphlet he
wrote in 1857, " that salmon grow, thrive and breed without ever visiting
the sea."

The trout, no doubt, greatly alters in size and appearance according to the
condition of water and food ; this is well illustrated by the manner in which
the New Zealand trout have grown into the size they have in a few years.

134 "^^^ ESSEX FIELD CLUB.

The Pike. A Lea Pike is'a beautiful fish, and there are no handsomer
anywhere'excepting the pike from the Avon, although there may be many
much' larger. The Gresham Angling Society have in their museum a very
fine~pike that was taken a few years ago at Dobbs Weir — it weighed aGJlbs.
This is considered a large fish for the Lea.

Walton says that Sir Francis Bacon ob.served the pike to be the longest
lived of any fresh-water fish, and it is perhaps the most ferocious inhabitant
of our rivers. It has a cruel look, reminding one of the shark. When fishing
the reservoir at Chesthunt a friend of mine hroked a pike and had almost
secured it, when another enormous pike seized the first fish and made off with
it into the weeds, and in spite of the angler's efforts the line eventually broke.
My friend some days after got the fish he first hooked, in a very swollen
state with some of the tackle still in it.

Perch. My first Perch was taken when I was quite a voung boy at the
Lock by King's Weir ; it weighed nearly one pound, and I can vividly re-call
the pride and pleasure had in the capture. I am here reminded of the many
happy days of my youth spent at Broxbourne. The fishing inn, the
" Crown," was then kept by old Tom Want and his brother. An old writer
on Fishing, F. March (my copy is dated 1842), says of the " Crown " : — " I
cannot pass this house without calling and giving the old toast, ' May you
never know want but by name ' — but here there are two Wants, and the more
you know of them the better you like them." The house was in those days
what Walton called "an honest ale-house, where the sheets smelled of
lavender," and the gardens were charming, although not quite so grand as
Benningfield afterwards made them.

The Chub. Sometimes called by Lea anglers "Large-headed Dace" —
certainly when . young the resemblance is somewhat close. My father was
quite an adept in catching this fish in the style so delightfully described in the
Compleat Angler. The sedgy banks of the Lea, with the overhanging old
pollard willows and deep holes under the banks, are well adapted to this kind
of fishing.

The Dace of the Lea is a fine lively looking fish, and is taken up to a pound
in weight. Twelve to fourteen ounces are very good fish. Those in the
neighbourhood of Hertford, and taken with an artificial fly, afford excellent
sport, and require a keen sight and quick hand in securing them.

The Roach. "Oh! he is only a roach-fisher " is often used as a term of
depreciation. But in reality among many ardent anglers the sport is looked
upon next to trout fishing, and certainly among the London fraternity it is
thought so much of that during the whole of the season they follow no other
— preferring it to every other kind of fishing. In one part of the water at Rye
House are still found Roach with black spots. Salter mentions them, and
Wheldon says: " At Black Pool, Roach are still taken with black transparent
spots upon them ; at the bottom of the hole there is a black peaty bog — the
spots may arise from this." The extraordinary fact is that although there
are other parts of the water of greater depth, the spotted fish are only caught
in this hole.

The Carp is sometimes taken in the Lea. Possibly being a native of still
waters, they are carried by floods or the breaking down of sluices (as are
Tench and Rudd) into the river ; they then grow finer and fatter, but, it is
s.aid, thev do not breed.

THE ESSEX FIELD CLUB. I35

To the Tench much the same remarks apply, but there is a better chance
of catching Tench than Carp, as the former are not equally cunning.

Barbel. This fish grows to a large size in the Lea. I have seen great
numbers of them below Kings Weir and at Sewardstone some years ago, but
they are seldom taken by anglers. Bayley, the proprietor of the waters at
the latter place, told me that the celebrated Bayley of Nottingham came to
see what he could do there, but he had no success with the Barbel.

The Gudgeon was a great favourite with London anglers. It is a bold fish,
and greatly esteemed for the table. At one time they were very numerous in
some parts of the Lea. Bets have been made to take sixty gudgeon in an
hour, a feat often accomplished.

The Bleak (called by Walton " the fresh-water sprat ") is abundant in the
Lea. Like Roach and Dace they are gregarious, swimming in shoals, and
taking flies on the surface.

The Loach, Stickleback a.nd Minnow are met with in great quantities.

The Bream and the Rujf (or Pope) are not uncommon in the Lea.

The Eel occurs in good numbers, and of splendid quality for the table.

Stone Loach very plentiful, and Bullhead not uncommon.

The Grayling. Attempts have been made to introduce this fish into the
Lea. I have read that in the summer of 1864 as many as 1,500 Grayling were
turned into the river at Brayfordbury Park, but the fish has not been much
reported since as having been hooked by any of the Lea Anglers."

A cordial vote of thanks was passed to Mr. Davies, l>oth for his paper
and for the information imparted during the excursion.

We now pass the smiling village of Stanstead, with the banks decorated
by pollard willows, the neighbouring gardens being very Dutch-like and
quaint. Before reaching Rye House, the appointed mid-day resting place,
one member, Mr. Benjamin Winstone, who is on board, afforded the party an
opportunity of acquiring some information on the history and construction of
that historic building. Mr. Cole read for him some extracts from a paper
prepared for a visit ot the Leland Society some years ago, but which was not
read on that occasion for want of time. The paper was entitled : —

RYE HOUSE, 1685.
By BENJAMIN WINSTONE, M.D., F.C.S., &c.

" Rye House is well known as a place of entertainment for school
children and others, who resort to it for recreation in large numbers during
the summer. It has, in addition to its pleasure grounds, a fine Tudor Gate-
house, the remains of the ancient Manor House ; and it possesses moreover
an historical interest from its association with the well-known plot, to which
it gave the name ; a conspiracy having for its object the assassination of
Charles the Second and his brother the Duke of York on their return from
Newmarket ; as the commencement of a general rebellion throughout the
kingdom."

After some general observations on the historical authenticity of the
conspiracy, and quoting opinions from various authors, Mr. Winstone
proceeds : —

"The plot to revolutionize the kingdom, which was to have had its
commencement in the assassination of the king and his brother entirely failed.

136 THE ESSEX FIELD CLUB.

It has, however, given to the Rye House an historical interest, greatly
increased by the arrangement of the grounds at the present time. For
although the old buildings, with the exception of the Gate-house, no longer
remain, new buildings have been erected, occupying, to a great extent, the
sites of the old ones ; so that the general appearance now is much the same
as is shown in the plan of 1685. The buildings were, at that time, described
as being very old, and as they were built at the end of the reign of Henry
VII., or beginning of that of Henry VIII., they had been standing more than
160 years, and no doubt had the appearance of being very old, when the
account of the plot was drawn up. It is stated by Sir Henry Chauncy, in
his History of Hertfordshire, that Henry VI. granted a licence to Andrew
Ogard and others, permitting them to impark the site of the Manor of Rye,
otherwise called the Isle of Rye, in Stanstead Abbots, and to ere.^t a castle
there with lime and stone, and to make battlements and loopholes. The
time intervening between the grant to Andrew Ogard, and the reign of Henry
VII., comprised the period of the wars of the Houses of York and Lancaster,
in which landed proprietors were much involved. It is therefore not unlikely
that no opportunity arose for erecting a castle, such as the grant permitted,
and that, as the county at the end of the reign of Henry VII. had become
so much settled, there was no necessity for erecting a stronger building than
that shown in the plan (1685). The gateway, unlike so many other buildings
of the same period, is in a good state of repair. •» In one corner of the room
over it is a staircase, shown in the plan as leading to the inner court-yard,
but the lower portion has been altered within the last few years. It passes
by a vault, reported to have been the dungeon ; and bones are shown, said to
have been found in it. There arises a doubt whether the manor had any
jurisdiction for which a dungeon would be required. The age was, however,
very lawless, and for many generations after life was held to be of little value ;
so that there is a probability of some obnoxious persons having been secretly
murdered and buried in the vault. The informer Reeling's companions had
designed for him such a fate. The circumstances are mentioned in the
account of the ' horrid conspiracy ' as follows :- —

' John Keeling, one of the conspirators, who, with his brother
had given information to Mr. Secretary Jenkins, having let fall some
expressions, which, being rumoured about, came quickly to the know-
ledge of some of the conspirators. Upon this they immediately
assembled, and Rumbald declared his fears of Reeling's treachery,
and that were he sure of it, he would instantly knock him on the head.
Keeling, however, for a time, allayed their suspicion. But the distrust
continuing, it was mentioned to Keeling, and he was advised to with-
draw for a time out of town, Rumbald offering his house to retire to.'

" Keeling, however, declined the invitation, giving as a reason for doing
so, urgent business and family affairs, so that — it is stated

' For that time he got safe out of their hands, which they after-
wards extremely regretted ; some of them owning, that it was their
purpose, if they could have got him abroad, to have killed and
privately buried him.'

4 Over the archway are figures, representing on one side two birds, and on the other a
dragon about to take hold of a man's hand ; on the same side are two supporters holding
something, which is much weathered, so that the design cannot very well be made out.

THE ESSEX FIELD CLUB. I37

" Behind the gatehouse are large reception rooms, occupying the same
position as the old buildings, and probably erected for the most part on the
old foundations. The moat, formerly surrounding the manor house and
garden, now also surrounds the garden and buildings. It is, however,
narrowed to a ditch in front of the gatehouse ; and a little bridge spans it,
where once, no doubt, there wae a drawbridge, for at the top of the gateway
on both sides ar2 holes, as if for the chains by which the drawbridge could
be drawn up when safety required. The outer court-yard, separated from
the dwelling house and garden by the moat (in which the horsemen and
other armed men were to have assembled, and been concealed to await the
approach of the royal party), exists as a bowling green, and is bounded on
one side by a long low building, occupying the place of the malt house.
The granary, the loop-holed wall, and the towers at the corner of the moat
have been removed. The grant to Andrew Ogard comprised 50 acres of land
— eleven acres of meadow, eight acres of pasture, sixteen acres of wood ;
which are now no doubt the fields surrounding the premises. The boundaries
are not marked in the plan, but a toll gate is mentioned 250 paces from the
outer court-yard fence, and apparently occupying the same position as the
gate which now separates the premises from the meadows. In the account
of Rye House (1685), it is stated, in coming from Newmarket towards
London, ' when you are near the House,' you pass the meadows over a narrow
causeway, at the end of which is a t^H gate, which having entered you go
through a yard, and a little field. A traveller from Newmarket by Stanstead
to Hoddesdon, passes now as he did in the time of Charles II., over the
narrow causeway through the meadow, and has to pay toll at the gate. Then
he passes through the yard, and through the little field, and enters the
narrow lane in which the cart was to have been overturned.

" Old halls of much more architectural importance, and of an earlier date
are known. Netherhall was an earlier and a nobler building than Rye
House. Most of them, however,- are in ruins, consisting only of detached
portions of the walls and the plans of the buildings can only be made out by
tracing, where they exist, the foundations of the other portions. But Rye
House has the original arrangement of the buildings and premises so well
maintained, that there is no diificulty in following the plan of the premises in
1685, and also the plan of the conspirators. It has, therefore, much to render
it an object of great interest to all those who derive pleasure from an exam-
ination of places and localities which have been rendered important by their
historical associations."

Mr. Winstone exhibited copies of the Plan of 1685, which he had
re-printed. A vote of thanks was heartily gi\en to him for the interesting
paper read.

Soon afterwards the " Salisbury " was safely moored at the Rye House,
and the party sat down to an excellent luncheon provided by Mr. Teal.

Then followed an Ordinary Meeting (the iSSth), Mr. T. V. Holmss,
F.G.S., Vice-President, in the chair.

The following were elected members of the Club:— Dr. Alexander
Ambrose, B.A., M.D., L.L.D., Mrs. A. Boake, Col. Bryan, C.E., Rev. T.

138 THE ESSEX FIELD CLUB.

Huddle, M.A.., Mrs. A. Johnson, Miss M. M. Johnson, Mr. D. J. Morgan, J. P.,
Mr. W. S. Parksr, Miss Emily Read, Dr. Albart Wilson, and Miss Berta

Wilson.

In the absence of the author, the Secretary read the title and gave a
short account of a paper entitled " Essex as a Wine-Producing County," by
Mr. Miller Christy, F. L.S. This paper has already been printed in the
present volume of the Essex Naturalist (ante pp. 34-48).

Some time was spent in rambling about the very attractive grounds of the
house. The dungeons were visited and the ' museum," the precise informa-
tion on the rarities therein contained given by the attendant causing much
amusement. The most interesting curiosity of the collection is the Great
Bed of Ware. It is thus mentioned in Cussan's History nf Hcrtfordsliire
(1870):-

'■ The ' Great Bed,' mentioned by Shakespeare, and of which everyone
has heard, demands a passing notice. It was originally in the ' Crown Inn,'
and on the demolition of that building in June, 1765, it was transferred to the
' Bull,' whence it was afterwards removed to the ' Saracen's Head.' It is
said to be upwards of four hundred years old, but the style of car\i ng
does not indicate a period earlier than that of Queen Elizabeth ; the date,
1463, painted at the head is comparatively modern. In form it is nearly
square, each side being about twelve feet in length; the massive posts are
plain at the bottom, and at about two feet from the ground are four pillars,
one at each angle of the posts. These pillars support four arches, above
which the posts, elaborately carved, continue for about four feet more ; the
total height being about eight feet. The canopy and the head of the Bed are
finely carved ; the latter, with human figures, fluted work, heraldic roses,
and gothic arches. Its beauty is much marred by initials and names cut
by idle sightseers, amongst whom ' Mr. William Harrison, of Saxelby,
Lincolnshire a Malitiaman, 1761,' is most conspicuous."

The relic was purchased at the sale at the " Saracen's Head" by Mr.
Teale, and added to the curiosities of Rye House. A description of the Bed,
with a picture of it, was given in the Literary World, of January, 1840.

The remarkable display of the fine yellow " Musk " plant on the banks of
the river, after leaving the Rye House again, attracted much attention. Tliis
plant has been hitherto recorded in all our Floras and local lists as an alien
under the name of Mimulus liiteiis, L. It now appears probable that all the
records of it apply to M. langsdorffii, Dow ^North American). The distinctions
between this and other species, previously grouped under the name M. luteiiss
from the true (South American) plant of Linne, were given by Prof. E. L.
Green in the Journal of Botany for 1895, PP- 4"^ The flower is specially
interesting, as Mr. Hepworth remarks in the Rochester Naturalist, in possessing
a curious bilabiate irritable stigma, which slowly closes when touched. It
appears to be rapidly establishing itself in many places in England.

To resume Mr. Bramley's narrative, " a bridge was erected some years
ago below the Rye House, in the place of one which had stood from the time
of Charles, the timber of the old bridge being black as ebony. This is just
above Field's Weir, which is so named from its being constructed by a
family named Fielde, the owners of Rye House. Here the river Stort (on

THE ESSEX FIELD CLUB. 139

which the malting town of Bishops Stortford stands) enters the Lea. Next
comes Dobb's Weir and TumbUng Bay. I have never fished this district,
but am tempted to visit the place some day, as it has a most inviting
appearance, and hoists a public announcement that anglers may obtain
tickets at the neighbouring hostelry — ' The Fish and Eels ' — on the bank,
which we noticed in passing. Next comes Carthagena Bay, the reason for
which Spanish cognomen appears to be unknown. Here," Mr. Bramley
adds, " I have spent many days with rod and line, and remember a once
familiar angler, the late Charles Bradlaugh, MP., whose name and angling
skill will not be forgotten while so many specimens of his sportive success
grace the walls of the hostelry just below, viz., the ' Crown ' at Broxbourne.
A change has come over the ' Crown ' so far as ownership is concerned.
Change is a law of nature, if law and change do not form an anachronism.
Laws are immutable, and, in this respect, mutability is immutable. Anglers
have for years known a distinctive figure, Mrs. Benningfield, whom
probably they will know no more as hostess of the ' Crown,' for, although
still continuing to reside in the neighbourhood, the lady has sold her
interests in the house and gardens, and the fi-^hing arrangements.

"King's Weir attracts us, and calls for a halt. We step on the bank
and find an old friend and well-known angler drinking in the breezes of this
healthful place, and in the closing act of struggling with a 31b, bream.
There are several chub flaunting their bright backs before we leave, The
pool here is rented by some half-dozen London anglers, who appear to have
in hand what is commonly described as ' a good thing.' Eels are said to
abound ; chub and bream, too."

On the way Mr. Holmes discourses on some salient points in the
geology and geography of the valleys along which we. are steaming, and
Mr. Webb exhibits the moUusca found, giving some interesting talk on
their habits and mode of occurrence. Mr. Webb also exhibited a fine
specimen of the very curious " graft-hybrid " Cylisus labuyiium-adaini, which
came from Mr. Winstone's garden at Epping. A copious description of this
form, so interesting to plant physiologists, will be found in the English
translation of Kerner's Natural History of Plants, H., '570-1 It will be
remembered that a specimen from a garden at Buckhurst Hill was exhibited
by Prof. Boulger, at a meeting of the Club on May 24th, 1884 (see Jjuriuil
of Proceedings, E.F.C., \'ol. iv., p. c.)

A very refreshing tea, with plenty of fruit, was served on board. Very
cordial votes of thanks were passed to Major Flower for his kindness so often
shown, and also to the Lee Conservance for the use of the boat, and to Mr.
Corbie for the trouble he had taken in connection with this, our fourth
voyage, and we found ourselves approaching Waltham Abbey, the end of the
excursion for most of the party. As Mr. Bramley writes : — " These last few
miles for quiet sylvan beauty are not the least attractive. In the distance we
view groves of trees, behind which are some extensive works for the manu-
facture of gunpowder, cordite, &c., which stimulate our martial pride in this
age of actual wars and rumours of wars. Waltham is noted for its neighbour-
ing old-time convents, its former line of 27 abbots and numerous monks, and
the famous Abbey, which has held its own for centuries. Tradition ascribes
the first thoughts of the Reformation to have been hatched in the mind of

140 THE ESSEX FIELD CLUB.

Henry VIII. when at this place, pursuing his favourite private amusement
(please interpret lightly), respecting which latter Fuller, the last Abbot of
Waltham, and Church historian, sneeringly refers to the monarch to whom
he surrendered his estates, saying, ' Waltham bells told no tales when the
king came there.' "

Waltham Abbey was reached a few minutes after 7 o'clock, and there a
number of the party went ashore for the train ; the remainder continued the
journey in the barge to Enfield Lock, where carriages awaited them, and they
closed an exceedingly delightful day by driving towards the Forest
villages, dropping members at cross roads convenient to their homes.
Our chatty author, Mr. Bramley, continued his narrative to include the Lower
Lea, which the Club ascended on a previous voyage ; and having quoted so
largely from his paper, we may allow him to finish the story : —

" Below Waltham, most places on the Lea are familiar in your mouths
as household words — Rammey Marsh, Newman s Weir, Enfield Lock,
Enefelde (so named from its being situated among fields) ; Tottenham, one of
the places where the corpse of Queen Eleanor rested, and in memory of which
a cross was erected. s The famous cross of wood, covered with lej.d, as it
existed in the time of our great master — Izaak Walton -and at which he at
times rested when journeying to the River Lea in pursuit of his favourite
pleasure, is described by him as a ' sweet shad> arbour, interwoven of wood-
bine, sweetbriar, jessamine, and myrtle,' where he used to refresh himself, and
drink ' sack, milk, oranges and sugar, which, all put together, make a drink
like nectar ; indeed, too good for any but us anglers.' Some anglers have
enlarged upon this practice, and added other sweets. The river runs on by
Clapton, Bow, Hackney, and Stratford (the old river), to discharge, via Bow
Creek, into the Thames near the Isle of Dogs— so named from the dog
kennels of Henry VIII. being placed on that small isle, north of the river
opposite the King's palace at Greenwich, from which palace the barking of
the dogs was sometimes audible. The other entrance to the Thames is at
Limehouse, by the New Cut made in 1767.

•' We have traversed a great portion of the stream at those parts which
our great master so frequently visited and referred to with so much tender-
nes,=. However interesting may be the events connected with past history in
relation to this river, there are none which appeal to our hearts with greater
force than the fact that Izaak Walton's classic work. The Compleat Angler,
records in charmingly simple language numerous visits to its waters made by
that dear old fellow, who trudged many weary miles to its banks before s:eam
engines or steamboats were known, and when even the means of being helped
partly on the road by horse or any kind of vehicle must have been practically
non-existent. This is a paper, not on Walton, but on the stream frequeuted
by him. That the prince of anglers, and the greatest of angling authors,
should have fished the Lea so persistently, and described it so affectionately
in his happy dialogues, has given fame to the stream, and justifies, I submit,
the choice of title to this paper — ' Walton's Favourite River." "

5 This is a popular error ; Tottenham Cross was one of the wayside crosses once so
common in England. See J. E. Harting, " Izaak Walton's ."Association with the River Lea,"
n Essicx Naturalist, viii., pp. 186-198, where a picture of the Cross is given.

[The fiblication of several Retorts of Meetings is unavoidably deferred
until the next part.]

141

NOTES ORIGINAL AND SELECTED.
ZOOLOGY.

MAMMALIA.

Otters in Essex. — Dr. Laver remarks in his Mammals, &■:., of Essex that
" this animal is not as uncommon in Essex as in years gone by, when there
seemed every probabiUty that the otter would become quite extinct in this
county." The increase of otters may be credited, judaiing from the many
references to their occurrence in our volumes for the last eight or ten years.
But they are frequently shot or otherwise killed in the most ruthless manner.
In March an otter was shot in the saltings near the " Leavingo " at Tolles-
bury. It was a fine male, measuring 4 feet from the snout to the tip of the
tail. A few weeks before a female was shot in the same place. On May loth
another " noble sportsman ' of Sible Hedingham, shot three otters, two yonng
ones and their mother, in the wash-way of the river there. "The animals
were playing in the water when they were observed." Not content with
sposmodic slaughter, other " sportsmen " (male and female) must needs establish
otter hounds, and we read of a hunt in the Blackwater in April, when one
was found at Little Braxted Mill ; again at Shalford in September the hounds
killed a dog otter weight 22lbs. A few days after one was hunted at Passing-
ford Bridge and lost, but afterwards another was killed weighing ajlbs. If
these otter hunts are encouraged, we may soon bid goodbye to Lutra vulgaris
in Essex. It is difficult to realize what satisfaction can be found in thus
deliberately exterminating one of the most interesting denizens of the county.
Truly

" Satan finds some mischief still
For idle hands to do ! "

A White Fox near Billericay. — In the Essex Union country there is at
the present time a freak in the shape of a snow-white fox. This is one of a
litter of four (the other three being of a normal colour) which were bred in
Norsey Wood, an extensive woodland near Billericay. During the summer
months the keeper had on three occasions seen this cub in the covert, which
was drawn on Oct. 14, for the first time this season. The white cub was soon
en evidence, and was viewed by several of the field a= he crossed the rides.
There being no scent, however, nothing could be done Probably you or
some of your readers may have heard of other instances of white foxes in
England ; but the only authentic case I know of is that mentioned by Colonel
Meysey-Thompson in his book published last year, in which he narrates how
a white fox was hunted and eventually killed by the York and Ainsty Hounds
during the late Sir Charles Slingsby's mastership. — E. T. Mashiter, M.F.H.,
in the Field, October 21st, 1S99. [The Editor of the Field adds that several
instances of white foxes in England have been reported from time to time.
See the Zoologist for 1886, pp. 104 and 331, and 1891, p. 333 ; and the Field of
Nov. 5, 1898.

The Porpoise [Phocana communis) in the Thames. — According to the
London Standard, much interest was excited shortly before 11 o'clock on the
morning of September 13th, 1899, among persons passing over Blackfriars

142 NOTES — ORIGIXAL AND SELECTED.

Bridge, at the sight of a large number of porpoises sporting themselves in the
Thames close by the bridge. Their antics were most amusing. After remain-
ing for a time in the vicinity of the bridge, they made off in the direction of
Westminster, It is an indication of the improving condition of the Thames
that this gregarious Cetacean, common enough cff the Essex coast, should
ascend so far up London's river. The porpoises probably did so in the
pursuit of some kinds of flsh.

A VES.

Little Owl (Athene nactua, Scopoli), at Harlow, — A specimen of this
exceedingly rare bird is reported (in the Essex County Chronicle for October
27th, 1899), as having been caught in a rabbit trap at Harlow. It is in the
hands of Messrs. Tyler and Ringer, of Bishop Stortford, for preservation.
We hope to obtain further details. The bird has only occurred about 20
times in England, and according to Mr. Saunders there is some doubt as to
the truly'vvild nature of at least some of these examples. In Essex, according
to Christy (Birds of Essex, 161), the only really authentic specimen is that in
Mr. G. P. Hope's collection at Havering Grange, found dead in a plantation
in Chigwell, in 1865.

The Sea-GuUs on the Thames. — " London's sea-gulls have just returned
to town, and the pigeons on the Embankment, near Blackfriars Bridge, are
once more turning green with envy. The gulls have nearly all arrived, and
yesterday (October 12th), during the dinner hour, the bridge and the
Emb-inkment near it were lined with spectators, who threw morsels of food to
the welcome birds. The gulls — there were a couple of hundred of them —
wheeled about in the air in thorough enjoyment of the fun, and screamed
shrilly as they swooped down and carried off the scraps. The game lasted
about an hour, and everybody enjoyed it — except the hundred pigeons who
live on the Embankment, near Blackfriars Bridge, all the }ear round. To the
pigeons the winter brings feelings of disgust and despair. The gulls turn up
in scores and monopolise public attention, and the pigeons \-ainly endeavour,
in their" longing for notoriety, to try and look like sea-gulls. They start below
the bridge, come flying up at lightning speed, and then, spreading their
wings, try and float about in the air like their more buoyant antagonists.
But it generally ends in failure. A sudden gust upsets the sailing pigeon's
balance, and either flings him perilously near the bridge or sweeps him away
up stream." — Daily Mail, October 13th, 1899. A note by Mr. Howard Saun-
ders, on the species of Gulls frequenting the Thames during the last three or
four years, will be found in the last volume (E. N., vol. x., p. 392). The
Gulls are now (November) very much in evidence in the air opposite Somer-
set House ; they may be seen also by dozens resting on the floating barges
keenly on the look-out f(jr passmg food. — B. G.Cole.

BATRACHI i

Palmated Newt (Mulgc palmata) at Buckhurst Hill, Essex.— During
a hunt forTpond animals in this neighbourhood in June last, I was
delighted to find Molgc pahnata somewhat commonly. The merit of first
discovering the species in the Forest belongs to Dr. G. A. Boulanger, F.R.S.,
who' found it in a small pit near Chingford Station (see Esskx Naturalist
vol. I., p. S). This pretty newt wnW probably be detected in other parts of

NOTES — ORIGINAL AND SELECTED. I43

the county, if well looked for ; Dr. Laver has found it abundantly in a pond of
Donyland Heath. As pointed out in the above quoted note, the absence on
pigment on the throat affords a ready means of distinguishing M. palmata
from M. vulgaris, independently of the other and better known characters.—
William Cole, Buckhurst Hill, Essex.

PISCES.

Blennius gattorugine in Essex. — In the Zoologist for June (4th ser.,
vol. iii., p. 273), Mr. A. Patterson records the capture of this species at Great
Yarmouth, for the first time in East Anglian waters. It measured 4in. in length,
and the fish " was not at all highly coloured, as depicted by Couch, but was
of a dull tawny or yellow-brown, the edges of the fins being of a ruddy hue
Day speaks of it as being subject to variation, according to locality, and, no
doubt, on our sandy coast, such a stray fish would assume more sober tints
than in its native rocky habitat." At page 326 of the same volume, Mr.
E. A. Fitch reports that he has one caught in the Essex Blackwater, off
Stansgate, on .\ugust 19th, 1898, by Sampson Wright. He adds, "it is typical
with Day's figure and description, and measures 5 Jin. long. I have it pre-
served in 4 per cent, formalin, and it looks as fresh as when I had it alive."
The Editor of the Zoologist remarks on the above as follows : — " The
Gattorugine, known to fishermen in the West of England by the homely
appellation of Tompot (Couch) has been recorded from the north-east coast
included in SirCuthbert Sharp's List of Hartlepool Fishes;' cf. R. Howse,
' Cat. Fishes of the Rivers and Coast of Northumberland and Durham,' p. 25.
It is reported as lying concealed in pools among long seaweeds, where it is
probably often overlooked.''

Angling in the Lea River half a century ago. — Mr. Francis Howse,
Hon. Secretary of the .\mwell Alagna Fishery, has kindly presented to our
library a copy of a pamphlet which he has prepared and printed for private
circulation, being a record of notable fish taken in this famous fishery by
members aud their friends between 1851 and 1871, and based upon a diary
kept by the late Robert Brown, the keeper. The fish mentioned are jack,
roach, trout, gudgeon, perch, carp, chub, tench, and rudd, the last three very
rartly. The Fish Editor of the Field has given the following analysis of the
record : — " The falling off in late years in the numbers and weight of jack is
attributed, to a great extent, to the smaller volume of water in the old Lea
River, caused partly by a more efficient system of land drainage, and partly by
the large quantity of water drawn off by the Companies. To these causes
must also be added the strenuous efforts made to reduce the pike in the New
River. It must be also remembered that, during the twenty years under
review, there were only fourteen members, and that for some years that
number has been increased to twenty-five."

"The large and always specifically handsome trout of the Lea (as they
remain to this day) appear in the earliest of the records, not, of course, i
quantity, but at fairly frequent intervals. Mr. T. Howse, the well-remem-
bered father of the editor of this memorial, was one of the most successful
pike fishers from the fifties onwards. The best season for pike during the
twenty years covered by the entries was apparently that of 1860-1, when 95;^

144 NOTES ORIGINAt. AND SELFXTED.

brace of jack were taken. The weight of these is not given, but they would
probably be of about the same average as the 941^ brace killed in 1856-7— total
weight, 4o6lbs.

"On July 25th, 1861, there is an entrv showing that Mr. T. Howse and
his sons caught twenty-two brace of perch, four brace of ack, and two dozen
gudgeon, in the lower water of the fishery. That must have been a red letter
day indeed ! The gudgeon have almost entirely disappeared from that part
of the Lea (and many another part also), and there is no longer such perch
fishing as was enjoyed during the years previous to 1861. Here are entries
showing that Mr. T. Howse and son caught nineteen brace of perch, and Mr
Munt and Mr. McRae sixty-one and a half brace; Mr. Robert Wright (one of
the old brotherhood who have gone to their rest) and Mr. Charles Briand (who
is still an active member of several angling societies) are also entered as
captors of a big bag of perch in i860. There are frequent entries, indeed,
showing very excellent perch fishing; Mr. Henry Wix, for example, had, in
1859, twenty perch weighing i6lbs., and seven chub weighing gibs., in Amwell
Pond ; and there are records, one after another, of sixty brace and forty-two
brace of perch, eighteen dozen gudgeon, and so on. These, alas, are feats of
the past. The common weight of the big trout appears to be 61b., especially
those caught at Ware Mill. The carp is mentioned once, the rudd only twice,
and the only record of the tench is that of one of albs. 6oz in March, 1861,
with the note ' the first tench ever known to be taken at the fishery.' "

INSECT A .

Sirex gigas at Loughton. — Our Treasurer, Mr. W C. Waller, sent up
for the Museum a fine female specimen of Sn-tX gi§as which has been caught
in his garden at Loughton on July gth, 1899 (see note in last volume (vol. x.)
at page i8g).

Acidalia rusticata at Shoeburyness, Essex -~I have taken a few
specimens o{ Acidalia rusticata this season at Shoeburyness. Is there any early
record of the occurrence of this species in Essex ? But for my having seen two
examples in a small collection formed by a beginner it's more than likely that
I should not have captured this insect, as the spot where it occurs is on
Government ground from which the public is excluded. The moth seems to
be exceedingl}- local, and it is, therefore, a matter for congratulation that it
is so effectually protected. — F. G. Whittle, Southend, August, 1899.

Calymnia pyraliua and Cucullia asteris near Southend. — At the end
of May, a friend was kind enough to allow me to accompany him to a locality
some few miles north-west of Southend (I cannot be more precise), where
larvae of Thechi w-album and Calymnia pyralina might be expected to occur
We did not see T. w-album, but sundry Calymnia larvae were beaten from
which I reared, about the middle of July, three C. affinis and three C. pyralina.
I found yesterday a larvae of Cucullia asteris on a plant of Aster tripulium at
Great Wakering. — F G. Whittle, Southend, September 18th, 1899.

Glow-worm and Frog. — On the evening of September 2nd as my
brother and I were passing along the Epping New Road, near "Kates
Cellar," Broom Hill, we saw a glow-worm's tiny lamp shining on a bank by
the wayside. As we got off our cycles for a nearer view, the spark suddenly
disappeared, and on turning the light of a lantern on to the spot we were just

NOTES ORIGINAL AND SELECTED. I45

in time to see a frog hopping away. Lampynts notiluca was not to be found'
and she was presumably down froggy's gullet ! We have not seen the glow-
worm in the fortst for many years. About 1879-82, they were very common
at Buckhurst Hill, but since the latter year not a specimen has been seen by
me until that solitary one occurred as above mentioned. I am disposed to
attribute the disappearance of this very interesting beetle to the increase of
snail-devouring birds. Snails are certainly getting scarcer in the open year by
year, and with them diminish the glow-worms which subsist upon the
molluscs. I should be glad to know from collectors w^hether Lampyrus is now
rare in other places around _ London, Years ago the males were plentiful
enough with us in the Kentish, Surrey and Essex woods, dashing at night
against our entomological lanterns, whilst the females often glistened by
scores on the grassy banks — a charming and poetical sight. — W. Cole,
Buckhurst Hill, November, 1899.

CRUSTACEA.

The " Well-Shrimp " {Niphaigtis) in East Anglia. — In connection with
the Rev. T. K. R. Stebbing's address at the Conference of Local Scientific
Societies at Dover (ante p 70), it may be interesting to refer to a paper by
Dr. Sidney F. Harnier, F.R.S.. in the current part of the Transactions of the
Noi'folk and Norii'ich Naturalists' Society {vo\. vi., p. 489), recording the occur-
rence oi Niphargus aquilex, Schiodte, at Cringleford, near Norwich. Nip/iargiis
is a small Amphipod Crustacean, with rudimentary e3es, and is interesting. Dr.
Harmer says, as being a typical member of the Cavernicolous fauna. It can
readily be distinguished from Gammanis pnlex, the common " Freshwater
Shrimp," by its colourless, semi-transparent appearance, and by the slender-
ness of its form. Three species are recognised as British by Spence Bate and
Westwood (History of the British Sessile-eved Crustacea, vol. i. (1863), pp. 311—
325), viz., N. kochianus, N. fontanus, and N. aquilex. Dr. Harmer gives many
details of distribution of members of the genus, and alludes to the very
complete summary of the literature of the Amphipoda, including papers on
Niphargus, given by the Rev. T. R. R. Stebbing, in the Challenger Reports
(vol. xxix., pt. Ixvii., 1888). We hope that some of our observers will search
for this interesting Crustacean (together with the well-worm, Phreoryctes, ante,
p. i), in suitable localities in Essex It is probably a common form, if well
looked for. Mr. Stebbing informs us that an old lad}' had lately told him
that she was familiar with the Well-shrimp at Norwich in her youth.
Dr. Harmer suggests that the device employed by Prof. Herdman in the
examination of the surface fauua of the ocean (Brit. Ass. Rep., 1897, p. 695),
viz., by tying a muslin bag over the taps through which the water may be
pumped, or is flowing, may lead to the detection of the shrimp. NiphargushSiS
been recorded from several southern English counties, and from many Conti-
nental localities. — Ed.

MOLLUSC A.

Mollusca in the Old Bed of the Lea River.— The Rev. J. W. Horsley,
St. Peter's Rectory, Walworth, has communicated to Science Gossip (vol. vi.,
N.S., 18)) some interesting notes on the Mollusca observed in the old bed of
the river Lea, near Park Station, Tottenham, during a recent excursion of the
Conchological Society. The observations, he remarks, showed what "a

146 NOTES— ORIGINAL AND SELECTED.

wealth of Mollii'-can life there existed, and now has been utterly destroyed by
the diversion of the stream in the formation of some huge reservoirs for the
East London Water Company- In many cases the bed was covered with
shells, amongst which were noticed Svccinea elegans, fine, but decorticated ;
Vivipara vivipma, the green bandless variety by no means rare ; Neritana
fluviaiilis, varying much in colour, from a black and white tesselated form to a
pretty crimson one ; many also were trifasciated. Valvata piichialis ; Bythinia
tentaculata, and its variety alba, and a few specimens showing a pathological (?)
white line on the periphery: LiiuttiFa pereger ; L aiiricularia,. L palustris, not
common, and L: stagnalis. Of the last, some were very thin-shelled, and
showed marked ribs or striations, and one or two specimens found by me were
beautifully banded with white. Planorbis covneus was plentiful, but local, and
several places were found covered with its shells, which had been eaten,
probably, by Dyticus marginalis [see Jour, of Malacology, vol. vi., 30], by the
removal of the whole of one side of the shells, leaving the other perfect,
rhey were collected, after the manner of H. nemoralis, round a ' thrush' stone.
Planorbis marginatus, P. carinatus, P. vortex, and P. albus. Pisidu(m fontinale
and P amnicum ; Sphmium corneum, very fine ; S. lacustre and S rivicola, abun-
dant in spots, and fine ; Anodonta cygneus, and the form called anatina of Unio
pictoruin. and U. tumidus, the latter of the two far outnumbering the former."

Duration of life of Helix pomatia. — It may be interesting to put on
record a fact bearing upon longevity in the Mollusca. On the 3rd of June,
1894, in company with Prof. Meldola, I found two living specimens of Helix
pomatia at Newlands Corner, near Gomshall, Surrey. The snails were quite
full grown, but I have no evidence of their age when taken. We kept them
as pets, and fed them, when active, exclusively upon garden lettuce. They
hybernated every year, by closing up the mouth of the shell with the secreted
epiphragm, from October to about the end of March or beginning of April.
One of the specimens was accidentally killed at the end of two years, but its
companion is still alive and apparently quite healthy, judging from its weight,
although now (November, 1899) in its winter sleep. Presuming the Helix was
two years old when found, it is now at least 7^ years old and I hope that it
may live much longer. — B. G. Cole, Buckhurst Hill.

BOTANY.

PHANEROGAM! A.

Notes on Essex Plants. — Valerianella auricuhi, D. C. At pages 228—9 of
vol. ix. Essex Natur.^list, a new habitat (Coggeshall) for this plant is
recorded. It may be of interest to give two more places where it has been
recently found, more especially as I believe it had been apparently lost to the
County Flora for nearly twenty years, the original locality (Walls of Colches-
ter), as given in Gibson's Flora, not now furnishing specimens. One plant
was found in a field at the Fennes, Booking, in 1898, and several at Rayne in
1899, all the localities being corn-fields.

Bupleurum rotundi/olium, L. occurs sparingly in corn-fields at Rayne The
nearest station given in Gibson's Flora is White Notley,

Leinna minor, L. ; L. polyrrhiza, L. ; and L. gibba, L.. were all found
associated in one pond near Danbury, in August, 1899. This last is a rare and
local species.- Edwin E. Turner, Coggeshall.

NOTES — ORIGINAL AND SELECTED. I^y

Epipactis latifolia Sw. [Bentham ; media Fr. Bab.] — In a coppice
the lower extremity of the wood (part of the old Hainault Forest), between
Chigwell Row Church and the open plain at Lambourne End, on Jiilv 17th,
1899, flowers not quite open. On August 23rd I found three specimens in full
bloom. On the latter day, Mr. S. Arthur Sewell was with me, and we
verified the plants by Bentham and Sowerby. — (Rev.) Alfred Huddle, M.A.,
Buckhurst Hill.

[In the small collection of plants gathered by J. Ray, of Epping'
recently acquired for our Museum, are two specimens of Epipactis from
Epping, labelled latifolia. Gibson gives both forms as occurring rarely in
woods near Epping and Woodford, but Newbold remarks {Flora, p. 309), " as
most, if not all, of the Cambridge stations for E. latifolia produce only
E. media, the same may be the case in Essex." — Ed.]

Rhamnus frangula, L., in Epping Forest. — This shrub I first found
(at Mr. F. W. Elliott's station, E.N., x, 397) on June 7th, 1892. Strolling on
August 25th, 1899, through Leyton Flats, from Eagle Pond towards Whipp's
Cross, in the coppice where formerly I had found it, I counted 8 scattered
specimens, varying from 4 to 10 feet high, and one isolated specimen (unfor-
tunately cut down during a recent forest fire, but throwing up vigorous
shoots) a furlong south-west of the coppice. The coppice runs parallel to the
Snaresbrook Road, near the Eagle Pond. — (Rev.) Alfred Huddle, M.A.,
Buckhurst Hill, October 25th, 1899.

The Old Yew Tree in Woodford Churchyard, Essex. During a
correspondence in the London Standard in Mav last some interesting details
were given of this old yew. In 1809, Dr. Hughson, in his London, stated that
the tree was the largest within twelve miles of London., and measured 14 feet
3 inches round at four and a half feet from the ground, and that the spread of
its branches covered a circle 180 feet in circumference. Mr. W. Bradbrooke,
of Bletchley, said that in October, 1892, he found the Woodford yew to
measure over 15 feet round and the spread of the branches to be about 150
feet. Mr. Henry Spring, of Woodford, gave the dimensions as 15 feet in
girth at 2.J feet from the ground, and 18 feet girth at 5 up He added " the
Rector, the Rev. A. Hughes, informs me that there is a record that in the
year 1816, when Woodford Church was re-built, the spread of the branches
was 180 feet, and this is probably correct, judging from an old engraving of it.
It is generally believed to be about 800 years old." Curiously enough, this
tree is not mentioned in Warner's Plants Woodfordienses.

Practical Instruction in Botany in the London Parks.— An excellent
suggestion has been made to utilise the parks of London for the teaching of
practical botany in connection with elementary and secondary schools.
It is proposed that plots of ground should belaid out and devoted to the cultiva-
tion, for school purposes, of hardy plants belonging to some twenty typical
natural orders. The beds would be arranged near the paths, one bed being
devoted to each order. A botanical guide to the parks might also be pub-
lished, under the superintendence of the Technical Education Board and the
Parks Committee jointly, and teachers would be enabled to obtain from the
Superintendent in each park such specimens as are required for botanical study
in the schools, as far as they could be supplied without detriment to the plants
themselves. The experiment is to be tried, and if later on it should prove to

148 NOTES — ORIGINAL AND SELECTED.

be successful, arrangements might possibly be made to extend the cultivation
of important types of the lower orders of plants, such as fungi, mosses, ferns,
liverworts, &c. , and also of aquatic plants. Battersea, Ravenscourt, and Vic-
toria Parks have been selected for the first experiments, the total costs of
which must not exceed £100. Battersea Park is already famous for its fine
sub-tropical gardens, which are greatly appreciated by botanists.

FUNG J.

Notes on Microscopic Fungi. — JEcidium leucospermum , D.C , the
Anemone Cluster-cup. As this species is stated to be rare in this country (Dr.
M. C. Ccoke writing, " we have found it but seldom, though often in search of
it;" and Dr Plowright observing of it "rare in Britain") it may be of
interest to record the species for Essex. It was found on leaves of Anemone
nemorosa, in a wood near Witham, in May and June last. I believe that this
is the first record for our county.

Pucn'nea betonica, Alb. and Schw. Betony Brand This occurred to me
on leaves of Stachys betonica, growing on a piece of waste land in the parish
of Little Braxstead, in the month of June. — Edwin E. Turner, Coggeshall,
Essex, Julv 5th, 1899.

New locality for Polyponis umbellatus. Fries. — Mr. E. W. Swanton
writes in the Joiimal of Botany (vol, xxxvi., 399) to " place on record another
locality for this rare and interesting fungus, hitherto only recorded from
Epping Forest. A few days ago I received a specimen gathered from a wood
at Inval, near Haslemere. This species is allied to P, intybaceus [which also
occurs in Epping Forest] and differs in the numerous much-branched pileoli
being circular and depressed ; in P. intybaceus chey are dimidiate,"

PAL/EONTOLOGY.

The New Fossil Bird [Piophactun shrubsolci) from the London Clay. —
The Standard of July 27th, 1899, had the following particulars of tliis interest-
ing discovery: — " The British Museum (Natural History) has acquired a very
interesting fossil bird, which was recently discovered in the Isle of Sheppy,
enclosed in a large nodule of London Clay, by Mr W. H Shrubsole. The
remains, consisting of skull, pelvis, thigh-bone, and shoulder-bone, have been
carefully worked out of the clay matrix at the Museum, and determined by
Mr. C W. Andrews, B,Sc. of the Geological Department, to be a hitherto
unknown form of the Order Steganopodes (now represented in this country
by the Gannet, Cormorant, and Shag), in which all the four toes are united
b)' a web. He believes that it was allied to the Frigate-birds, and more
clo.sely to the Tropic-bird, both of which are now practically confined to the
tropical regions. There is, however, a striking difference in the size of the
hind limbs, which are relatively much larger in the newly-discovered fossil
than they are in the living Tropic-birds, in which, as ir the Frigate-birds,
they have undergone great reduction, owing to these species having aban-
doned the habits of diving and swimming common to other members of the
order. The Frigate-birds are as great robbers as the Skuas, their chief
victims being the Gannets, while the Tropic-birds are surface feeders, picking
■up fish that swim near the top of the water. But these birds spend most of

NOTES ORIGINAL AND SELECTED. 149

the time on the wing, and are rarely seen on land, so that, as a consequence
of the hind hmbs not being used for swimming or walking, they have degene-
rated. Mr. Andrews has called this new bird-form Propha'ctoii shrtibsolei ; the
generic name records the fact that it stands in the line of descent of the
modern Tropic- birds (the genus Phaeton), while the specific name is given in
honour of the discoverer. This find is of considerable interest, for it is
another proof of the change that has taken place in the climate of England
since the early Eocene times, as is also evidenced by the fossil palm fruits
from the same locality, and it adds one more steganopodous bird to our fossil
fauna, which now contains four, the others being the Pelican, from the fens of
East Anglia and the lake-dwellings at Glastonbury ; Odontopteryx, with
serrated jaws, like those of some tortoises ; and Aygillornis, both from the
London Clay at Sheppy."

Fossils of the London Clay. — At a meeting of the Geologists'
Association at Sheppey, on July i6th, 1898, [Proc. Geol. Ass. vol. xv., Novem-
ber, 1898, Mr. W. H. Shrubsole, F.G.S., who has done so much to elucidate
the very obscure palseontology of the London Clay, gave some information
concerning his own discoveries. The remarkable mineralised Diatoms '
occurred in a zone (having a considerable range) near the base of the London
Clay, and therefore only to be reached in Sheppey by deep excavation.
Radiolaria^ in a pyritised condition, had also been found in clay from a well
near Queenboro' Railway Station. The only freshwater shells, Camptoceras
prisciim,^ known to occur in the London Clay, he found in a septarian nodule
The skull and other portions of the skeleton of the toothed bird, Argilloruis
longipennis'- were found at different times among the shingle on the beach,
unobscured either by limestone or pyrites. The immenss skull of Chehme
gigas^ [Eosphavgis gigas) was enclosed in a septarian nodule, the outline of
which famished the only clue to something organic within. Interesting
reference was made to its skilful exhumation at the British Museum, and the
delights of Sir I^ichard Owsn at finding such complete evidence of a gigantic
Chelonian, the existence of v/hich was foreshadowed forty years before by a
small fragment of bone, on which the name has been bestowed.

The most recent discovery was the skull of another bird in 1897. Unlike
the Aygillornis, it was enclosed in a limestone nodule of oval form, at one end
of which the base of the cranium was slightly exposed. The expert mason of
the British Museum soon revealed what appears to be a perfect avian skuli^

GEOLOGY.
Sketch of the Geology of Ilford,— On Mav 13th last the Geologists'
Association paid a visit to Ilford, that classic land for Essex palaeontologists,
under the direction of Mr. T. V. Holmes, F.G.S., who favoured the company
with an interesting sketch of the geology of the district. This, by Mr. Holmes'
kind permission, we are now able to reproduce. A visit was made to the

1 See Journ. Royal Microscopical Soc, 1881.

2 See Quart. Journ. Geol. Soc, vol. xlv, iSHg.p. 121.

3 Ibid., vol. xxxviii, 1882, p. 218.

4 Ibid., vols, xxxiv. and xxxvi.

5 /6u/., vol. xlv ; Cat. Fossil Reptilia, Brit. .Museum, pa.n s; Owens Palceontology, 2nd
edition, pp. 317, 318.

6 See note on this fossil bird above.

150 NOTES ORIGINAL AND SELECTED.

Cauliflower Brickfield, the property of Mr. R. Page, where the pit exposed
a section of 12 to 14 feet brick-earth above sand. Mr. Holmes remarked that
the old river deposits of the Thames and its tributaries, on which they were
standing, covered a broad belt of flat country lying between the alluvial
flats bordering the Thames (which constituted the most recent river deposits)
and the higher ground of London Clay north of Wanstead, Romford, and
Upminster. The level of this tract varied from more than 100 feet above the
sea, towards its northern limits, to 15 or 16 feet close to the marshes of the
Thames between Barking and Rainham. Between London and Gravesend,
as between Windsor and London, the Thames had not only been cutting its
valley deeper and deeper, but had also been occupied in taking a more
southerly course than it once followed. This was shown by the much greater
breadth of river deposits to the north than to the south of the present
stream. It should also be remembered that the fall of the river would make
a deposit 60 or 70 feet above Ordnance Datum west of London, for example,
the equivalent of a bed at a considerably lower level east of that city.
Around the Ilford brick-pits the surface level is from 40 to 50 feet. But
Thames Valley Gravel had been seen at a height of about 100 feet above
O.D.,i on the new railway between Upminster and Romford, overlying the
Chalky Boulder-Clay, the latest deposit of the Glacial period in that part of
England. The Ilford deposits must therefore be still more decidedly " Post-
Glacial " in the only sense in which the term can be used, that is in the sense
of being more recent than the Chalky Boulder-Clay.

These old river-deposits consist of sand and gravel occasionally capped,
as at Ilford, by a considerable thickness of loam or brick-earth. The gravel
and sand has, doubtless, been brought down in the channel of the stream,
while the brick-earth is inundation-mud, deposited above the sand and gravel
during floods. Mammals would be especially liable to be drowned during
floods, while at the same time their remains, when quietly buried in the com-
paratively impermeable mud, would have a much better chance of preserva-
tion than if brought down in the channel of the stream.

Mr. Holmes concluded his remarks liy referring to the most important
and interesting of the mammalian remains which had bean found at Ilford by
the late Sir Antonio Brady and others.- In answer to a question as to the
origin of the curious steep-sided hollows, filled largely with other material,
often seen near the surface of the Brick-earth, Mr. Holmes replied that
they had probably originated iu natural cracks, the result of drying and
shrinking, which in many cases had been begun when the Brick-earth was
being deposited. These had been enlarged by the action of the weather, and
ultimately filled up with material at various periods and from a variety of
sources.

Recrossing the railway, the party proceeded along the Romford road .in
a north-easterly direction. Passing the new Seven Kings Railway Station,
they entered, by permission of the G. E. R. Company, the large ballast-pit
on the northern side of the Romford road, about midway between Seven

1 yiinr/. /o!(r«. Geo/. Sof. vol. xlviii (iSg2). p. 365, and vol.1 (1S94), p. 443. Es.skx N'.\t.
vol. iv, p. 143-149: and vol. vii, p. 1-14.

2 S-:c Henry Walker, " .A Diy's Elephini Hunting in Esse.x," Tran%. Essex Field Club,
I., 27, and P»oc. £F.C., I , xii, and "A Visit to Illord," p. xxviii, Di. H. Woodward. "The
Ancient Fauna ot Essex," Trans. E.F.C., vol. iii, i ; Sir A. Brady, Catalogue of the Pleistocene
Vcrtcbrata from the neighbourhood of Ilford, Essex. London, 1874.

NOTES ORIGINAL AND SELECTED. I5I

King;s and Chadwell Heath Stations. There they found 12 to 14 feet of
Gravel capped by 3 or 4 feet of Brick-earth. The section was very fresh and
clear, and the gravel was seen to be very well stratified and uniform in
composition.-^

MISCELLANEA.
The Countess of Warwick's Village Science School. — We have much
pleasure in recording further progress in the conduct of this institution, the
development of which is being followed with so much interest and hopeful
expectation by the friends of scientific education throughout the country.
The inauguration of the school at Bigods near Dunmow on July 2gth, 1898,
was commented upon in the last volume of the Essex Naturalist (vol. x.,
p. 376). On Friday, July 28th last, a very large and distinguished company
assembled at the School to celebrate the first annual prize distribution.
Among the speakers were Sir John Gorst {Vice-President of the Council of
Education), Sir John Donnelly, Mr. J. Round, M.P., Prof. Marshall Ward,
F.R.S., Prof. Tilden, F.R.S , Mr. Bottomley, Prof. Teegan, Mrs. Brydges
Adam and Mr. McCann. The speakers one and all commended the experi-
ment as a praiseworthy attempt to solve a most difficult problem. Sir John
Gorst's speech has attracted very considerable notice not only by reason of
its importance as being the views of the leader of education in this country,
but also because of the home-truths which he expressed in humorous and
somewhat paradoxical language, as for instance when he said that in England
"he did not think we were teaching the right things. He very gravely
doubted whether reading, writing, and arithmetic and that most useless of all
branches of knowledge, grammar — were exactly the intellectual food upon
which to develop the intelligence of country lads and lasses." One great
benefit to be derived from Lady Warwick's experiment is that her position
thus assumed as a practical educationist is attracting a widespread interest in
the problem of how to impart to children real instruction in science which
will be useful to them in after life, while at the same time affording a good
sound educational training. A pamphlet has been issued by Lady Warwick
and Prof. Meldola, F.R.S. (who is so efficiently acting as her scientific adviser)
entitled " A Plea for Secondary Rural Education " which all well-wishes of
progress in village life should read. The authors sum up the case by saying
" We known that our system is sound ; we are confident that such pupils as we
hope in time to turn out would sweep all before them if sent on to agricul-
tural colleges. Our confidence rests upon the fact that from the beginning of
the child's education to the end, the science subjects will never be dropped,
but will be carried on the higher and higher stages." Tiie kind of training
given at Bigods is probably unique in experiments in elementary education in
England. For the first time science is treated as an intregral part of the
childls education, not as an "extra," to be taken upon sufferance and dropped
at the first pretext.

Queen Elizabeth's Lodge and the Epping Forest Museum. — The

news that the Corporation of London had voted a large sum towards the

3 References to the Geology of Ilford. Geological Survey Map, Sheet i, S.W. Drift
Edition. Dr. H. Woodward, Record 0/ Excursions, Lond. Gaol. Assn., p. 173 and Proc. Geol.
Assoc, vol. ii, p. 273. VV. Whitaker, " The Geology of London," Mem. Geol. Survey, pp
410-415. B. B. Woodward, '-The Pleistocene Mollusca of the London District, Proc. Geol.
/I sso.-., vol. xi, pp. 365-371, £88. A. S. Kennard and B. B. Woodward, " Thd I'ost-Plioceace
Non-Marine Mollusca of Essex," Essex Nat. x, p. 103. F. C. Spurrell, " Excursion to
Ilford," Proc. Geol. .4 ssoc. , vol. xiii, p. 53.

152 NOTES ORIGINAI, AND SELECTED.

restoration of the Lodge excited very considerable public interest and a large
number of newspapers, as well metropolitan as provincial, took notice of the
affair in paragraphs and short "leaders." As a specimen, a leader which
appeared in the London Daily Telegraph may be quoted : — " That much-
maligned body, the Corporation of London, acts as the custodian of many
places of great historical interest in the immediate vicinity of the Metropolis,
and its bitterest critics can find little fault with the way in which it carries
out this important public trust. It is now engaged in restoring, the famous
Hunting Lodge at Chingford. which for the last few years has been the home
of the Epping Forest Museum, so as to provide double the present accommo-
dation for the Essex Field Club's exhibits. The intention is to reorganise the
collection, and possibly supplement it with a loan of art objects, and thus
make it, so to speak, an annexe of the museum now being erected at Stratford.
The scheme is one that will commend itself to all antiquarians, and will
greatly enhance the interest of the Hunting Lodge to the thousands who visit
it year by year. Time has dealt very kindly with the fine old building, which
takes its name from the Maiden Queen who constantly honoured it with her
capricious presence when she hunted the hart in Epping Forest. Elizabeth,
who had a strong taste for the classics, and more than the ordinary share of
feminine vanity, delighted to hear her courtiers address her as Diana of the
Woods, and there are portraits of her still extant in which she carries the bow
of Artemis and is accompanied by her faithful hounds. But the Tudor
Queen was a thoroughly good sportswoman, in spite of all her affectation,
and even at the age of fifty-seven, she indulged in the pleasures of the chase.
Local tradition, indeed, has.it that she used to ride up the massive staircase at
the Chingford Hunting Lodge to the great chamber above, and alight by the
door at a raised place which for centuries has been known as ' the horse
block.' The feat was successfully performed by a forester on an untrained
pony seventy years ago, and the solid oak stairs, which are about six feet wide
and run in fours, with six broad landings to the twenty-four steps, would still
bear the weight of the heaviest charger. There is nothing impossible in the
legend, therefore, and it is not at all improbable that the daughter of
Henry VHL, who, in spite of her devotion to dress and her passion for
colossal ruffs, farthingales, quiltings, slashings, and embroideries, could rap
out tremendous oaths, and was so forgetful of strict etiquette as to box a
courtier's ears and tickle the back of Leicester's neck when he knelt to recei\e
his earldom, should show off lier horsemanship by riding her palfrey up the
staircase. The Lodge itself, with its gable ends, high-pitched roof, and old-
fashioned fireplace in the basement, commanding a fine view across Epping
Forest to High Beach and Buckhurst hill, makes an ideal museum, where the
setting is as worthy of a visit as the exhibits themselves."

publications of tbc JBeec^ ificlb Club,

TRANSACTIONS AND "PROCEEDINGS

AND "THE ESSEX NATURALIST."

AH the Publications of the Club are still in print, but Volumes I. and II.
of the " Transactions " can only be supplied with complete sets, of which only
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N.B. — The special feature of the publications of the Club is their almost
wholly local character. The above volumes contain hundreds of papers on
Essex Natural History, Geology and Pre-historic Archaeology, of the greatest
interest to all having any regard for the County, and a large proportion of
the articles are of value to students of these subjects living outside the Club's
limits.

ESSEX FIELD CLUB, SPECL4L MEMOIRS, VOL. L

" REPORT ON THE EAST ANGLIAN EARTHQUAKE

OF APRIL 22ND, ^884."

By Prof. Raphael Meldola, F.R.S., F.C.S., F.R.A.S., M.A.I. , &c. ; and

William Whiie, F.E.S., Member of Geologists' Association.
Price, neatly bound in cloth, 3s. 6d.

ESSEX FIELD CLUB, SPECIAL MEMOIRS, VOL. II.

"THE BIRDS OF ESSEX";
"A CONTRIBUTION TO THE NATURAL HISTORY OF THE

COUNTY."

By Miller Christy, F.L.S.

Demy 8vo. Price 15s. nett. To Members of the E.F.C., js. 6d.

ESSEX FIELD CLUB SPECIAL MEMOIRS, VOL. III.

THE MAMMALS, REPTILES, & FISHES of ESSEX;
"A CONTRIBUTION TO THE NATURAL HISTORY OF THE
COUNTY,"
By Henry Layer, F.L.S. , F.S.A, &c., Vice-President.
Price los. 6d. nett. To Members of the E.F.C, 6s.

THE ESSEX FIELD CLUB'S LOCAL AND
EDUCATIONAL COLLECTIONS.

THE ESSEX MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY.
THE PASSMORE EDWARDS MUSEUM,

Romford Road, Stratford, Essex.

THE EPPING FOREST MUSEUM,

Qiiccii Elizabeth's Lodge, Chiugford, Essex.

The original documents relating to the foundation of the
Club — the Rules, Prof. Meldola's Inaugural Address, and his
first Presidential Address — insisted on the formation of a Local
Museum and Library as a matter of first-class importance in the
scheme of the society. After 20 years waiting, and in the dawn
of the 20th century, these ideas will be realized, and in the two
Essex Museums the Club will have institutions in which to
house its collections second to few of like kind in the kingdom.

The gathering together of specimens and collections and
appliance for their conservation has been vigorously carried on
during the last few years, but an immense amount of work yet
remains to be done. Above all things is required Systematic
Collecting in various parts of the county. If more members would
take up definite groups, and endeavour to obtain all the species in those
groups occurring in their districts, they would find the occupation
a delightful and instructive one, and the results would be valuable
not only to our Museums, but also in improving our County
records, which are still so incomplete in many sections.

Gratifying aid could also be afforded b}' those having the
means of obtaining isolated species, specimens of which are still
unrepresented in our collections. I may particularly mention
many Bjrds (coast species' especially j, and authenticated Eggs
and Nests; some species of Mammals, particularly the Bank
Vole, the Shrews, Dormouse, and Harvest Mouse. Fishes from
the Fssex rivers, and the more uncommon marine species. Many
kinds of Marine Mollusca and Crustacea. Some of our rarer
EcHiNODERMATA, PoLvzoA and Sponges, &c. Insects of many
families are required, particularly Hemiptera, Orthoptera, and
Hymenoptera. Authentic specimens of Flowering Plants from
several parts of the county are also desired, as well as Leaf
Fungi and Lichens.

I am striving to supply deficiences, but our friends shovild
remember that " many hands can make light work," and resolve
to do their best to help during the memorable first year of the
museum and the century. I shall be very glad to give full par-
ticulars as to any group, with hints on collecting, preservation,
&c. Pending the removal of the Curator's Laboratory to the
Museum, specimens should be sent to me at the temporary work-
rooms, 9, Woodgrange Road, Forest Gate, Essex.

December, 1899. William Cole, Curator.

John Dutton, Printer, Chelmsford.

^^o <t^o.(^

Price (to Non-Members) 6s. per annum. Post free.

NOS. 10—12., VOL. XI.] Price 2s. 6d. [OCT.— DEC, 1899.

The

Essex Naturalist:

BEING THE

J O LI P^ N A L

OF THE

ESSEX FIELD CLUB.

EDITED BY

WILLIAM COLE, F.L.S., F.E.S.,

Honorary Secretary and Curator.

Contents.

Queen Elizabeth's Lodge, Epping Forest. Notes on the Orginal Construction
and Use of the Building. By W. W. Love. (With Plate and two other
illustrations)

Some New Sections in, and Contributions to the Fauna of, the River Drift of
the Uphall Estate, Ilford, Essex. By J. P. Johnson and G. White

" On the Pleistocene Deposits of the Ilford and Wanstead District, Essex."

By Martin A. C. Hinton. {With diagram)

Essex Field Club's "Fungus Foray, 1899." By George Massee, F.L.S.

History of Essex Botany. By Prof. G. S. Boulger, F.L.S., F.G.S. {In progress)

Black-Headed Gulls in Essex (1899). By Percy Clark, B.A. {With Plate)

Stranding of a Common Rorqual Whale in the Thames at North Woolwich,
Essex. (With illustration)

The Essex Field Club. Excursion to Charlton, Kent, June 24th, 192; Visit to Fowl-
ness Island, Essex, July 22nd, 193 ; Annual Cryptogamic Meeting, October 27th
and 28th, 195 ; Meeting at the Museum of Practical Geology, December i6th, 197

Notes on the Carnivora of Epping Forest '

Notes — Original and Selected .^

[Inserted. Supplemental Plate to face p. 78 in last part.]

153

157

161
166

169
184

192
198
199

The authors alone are responsible for the statements and opinions contained in their
respective papers.

PUBLISHED BY THE CLUB, BUCKHURST HILL, ESSEX.

Ent. Stationers' Hall.] [Published, March, 1900.

Communications and Advertisements should be addressed : —

The Editor of "THE ESSEX NATURALIST,"

"Springfield," Buckhurst Hill, Essex.

THE ESSEX FIELD CLUB'S
"SPECIAL MEMOIRS."

REPORT ON THE EAST ANGLIAN EARTHQUAKE,

OF APRIL 22ND, 1884.

Being Volume I. of the •' Special Memoirs,"

By Prof. Raphael Meldola, F.R.S., F.C.S., F.R.A.S., M.A.I., V.P.,

E.F.C. ; and William White, F.E.S., Member of Geologists'

Association.

With Four Maps and Eighteen other Illustyations.

Price, neatly bound in cloth, 3s. 6d.

" Fortunately for this country, we have not been called upon to notice a
report of such an earthquake as that which is chronicled in the volume before
us since this journal came into existence. Indeed, the authors state that no
shock approaching it in intensity has been experienced in the British Islands
for at least four centuries. A brief notice of the occurrence was given in our
columns (vol. xxx., pp. 17 and 60) by Mr. Topley, and we now have a complete
scientific account drawn up by Prof. R. Meldola, and presented to the Essex
Field Club as a special memoir, embodying the results of his investigation in
conjunction with his colleague, Mr. William White. The book consists of
about 225 pages of readable matter, with four maps and numerous illustra-
tions, and the Essex Field Club has certainly earned the gratitude of scientific
men in enabling the authors to give publicity to this final resultof their labour.

Many illustrations of peculiar forms of damage are given, and

there can be no doubt that the observations recorded in this section will be
not only of local interest, but also of use to engineers and others who occupy
themselves with the important question of Construction in Earthquake Coun-
tries '' —Nature, January 21st, 1886.

THE VERTEBRATE FAUNA OF ESSEX.

THE BIRDS OF ESSEX.

A CONTRIBUTION TO THE

NATURAL HISTORY OF THE COUNTY.

Being Volume II. of the " Special Memoirs."
By Miller Christy, F.L.S.

Without 162 Woodcut Illustrations, 2 Plans, and a Frontispiece.

Price, los. nett ; to Members of the Club, 6s. 6d. post free.

PRESS NOTICES.

" This work . . . does equal credit to the enterprise of the Essex
Field Club and the author . . . The work is thoroughly well done, and is
a valuable addition to our local lists." — Athena-uni.

" Mr. Christy's volume, with its valuable original contributions from
local ornithologists, will be a permanent addition to British zoology, and a
stimulus to the Field Clubs throughout England." — Leisure Hour.

" Mr. Christy makes here an interesting contribution to the natural his-
tory of his county." — Spectator.

" Almost every county nowadays has its local bird-chronicle, and it
seems remarkable that a county ornithologically so rich as Essex should have
remained a field unattempted until Mr. Christy took it up. . . His book is
full of information excellently put together." — Saturday Review.

" Mr. Miller Christy's recently published and excellent work on the
" Birds of Essex " deserves the attention of every rambler in Epping Forest."
The Globe.

" This work . . . differs from most works of the kind in being pro-
fusely illustrated. That most of the figures of birds are not new is, in this
instance, no drawback, for they have been well chosen." — The Field.

QUEEN ELIZABETH'S LODGE, EPPING
FOREST.

NOTES ON THE ORIGINAL CONSTRUCTION AND USE
OF THE BUILDING.

'By \\ . W. LOVE.

(With Platf IV. )

I HAVE been during tlie past four months in constant charge,
as Foreman of the Works, of the operations for the restora-
tion of the old building known as Queen Elizabeth's Lodge,
carried on by the Epping Forest Committee of the Corporation

QUEEN ELIZABETH'S HUNTING LODGE, IN EPPING FOREST.

From the Mirror of May 4th, 1833. Probably representing the condition
of the building at that date.

of London, for the purpose of affording more space for the
Museum of the Essex Field Club. During this work the whole
of the original timbers, which were covered up on the outside
with plastering and sham timbers, have been exposed to view.
As the opportunities that I have had of tracing the lines of the
old timbers have oeen quite exceptional it may be interesting to
relate the observations made and the conclusions drawn there-
from as to the original construction of the building.

154 QUEEN ELIZABETH S LODGE, EPPING FOREST.

I may state at the outset, that in my opinion, based upon
actual observation, the Lodge was erected to serve as a kind of
" Grand Stand " to view the game, or possibly to witness sports,
and not as a dwelling house. Of this fact I am as well assured
as though I had been foreman of the works during the erection
of the building.

The stripping off of the plaster during our recent operations
revealed the fact that originally the Lodge had no windows on
the staircase, nor any on the first and second floors. The only
windows in the building were on the ground floor. Indications
were discovered during our work of six original windows on this
floor. Three were situate on the west side of the building — one
of these being in the position of the west doorway, and one on
either side, right and left, of this door. Then there were two
windows on the north "return," and one in the position of the
present front doorway. Formerly the entrance to the staircase
was by a door on the east side, to the left of, and at a right angle
to, the present front door. The door frame was of the same size
and construction as the frame of the door leading from the stair-
case to the large room on the first floor.

The ground floor at one time consisted of three rooms, the
entrance to which must have been on the east side, where the
garden is now situate. I could discover no indications of there
ever having been a doorway on any other side of the building,
nor any evidence of a chimney in the position of the present
one ; this chimney, I take it, was a later addition. In the place
under the stairs, which has served as a coal-cellar, I discovered
in the wall -sill on the west side, five holes, seven -eights of an
inch in diameter, and about three inches apart, which probably
at one time contained u'on bars. Also a number of holes about
the same size and at the same distances apart, on the ground-sill
at the front, and lower end of, the square shaft into which the
stairs are framed. This would have converted the bottom of the
square shaft into a kind of cage or "lock-up," the use of which
can only be conjectured.

As I have above stated, the first and second floors were in
my opinion built as open platforms or stands, whence an exten-
sive view could be obtained in every direction. Readers of the
Essex Naturalist will remember Mr. W. C. Waller's interest-
ing paper on " Two Forest Lodges " (vol. vii., pp. 82-86). In
this he prints a report, dated June 23rd, 1589, on a survey made
on two of Her Majesty's houses in Waltham Forest. One of

ESSEX NATURALIST, To/. A'/, P!. /I

aids'"! !3iBlt"rD

/■//'

'/'f-^^,-

.^#^-^^'

-:£*■- -'■ -

Ideal sketch of the Lodge in its possible state as a " Grand Stand,"
previous to its transformation into a dwelling-house.
Drawn by H. A. Cole.

Queen Elizabeth's Lodge, Epping Forest. Previous to the

First Restoration in 1879.

Fi'oin a Watey-colour sketch by H. A. Cole.

QUEEN ELIZABETH S LODGE, EPPING FOREST. 1 55

these is called " Create Standinge " on " Dannett's Hill " and is
identified by Mr. Waller with Queen Elizabeth's Lodge. The
document is imperfect, but the description of the building very
closely corresponds with my idea of its original state, gained fiom
actual observation before I knew of ihe existence of Mr. Waller's
article (it should be remembered that in this document the
ground floor is called the first floor and so on) : —

" G^bC great [lo{|dg upon Dannett Hill being built . . . cheife roomes
or Stories in height. The first whereof serving for necessarie Uses. The second '

for convenient standing to viewe the game(?). The

Th[ird] serveth likewise for convenient standing to vievi' the game (?). .
And the height Is f "

I

--■ a ^

I I

Queen Elizabeth's Lodge. Plan of the Main Upright Timbers.
For explanations see tex-t Di'awn by W . W . Loivc.

I have drawn a birds-eye view plan showing section of the
upright timbers as exposed during the work of restoration. All the
moulded square spaces, at the present window levels on both
first and second floors, which are now filled in with windows and
lath-and-plaster panels, were evidently originally wholly open to
the weather. It will be seen from the plan that the timbers are
moulded on the outside in entire correspondence with the mould-
ings on the inside, although afterwards covered over with lath
and plaster, as shown in old drawings of the building. I imagine
that the open spaces were filled in with lath-and-plaster subse-

'|iKiit lo III'- (l.'ilf o( tlic rc|);iiTS iilliidcfl lo in Mr. Waller's
(loMiiiiciil , ;in'l I lliiiil-: lli;il I lii', is proved liy tlu-. very (Wllcrcnl
ii.il HI <■ ()l IIm- |)I;i',I(1 in I licsc spiiccs ( onipri I cd will) sonic ol the
old |)l;r,l(rin;^ vvlii' li vv i\u<:()VC-r('.(\ in llic inm-r |);iils ol llic
liuildin;-,. I li;ivr l((| will: Mi. Cole Miiiiplf, ol l.otli lliest;
pjjistci inj;:;. 'Ilic oldci '..iiiiple w;r. l;il:en lioinllic ',p;i.((;<, under
llu; windows on lli<- lii'.ide ol the hiiildin;; on I he Inst floor.
SoiiH! ol IIk; o;d< l.'ilhs vve|(- ;,(j old lh;i,l Ihey lell io dii',1 on heiiif^
reniftved, while the plaster vv;r. made ol loam and lime,
mixed with liaii, niosl ol wliii h apjieaislo he human hair. In
Ml. Wallei'sdo. iimeiit it is lepoited tli;il the " VValles;iiid . .

ahoiit t,h(- hovvse. to he ])lrist(;r^d

mended with " and in the (|iiaii'Hiios

air; " Lyme ', loade'," and " Lome \ loades." As an (sx|)(:ri-
iiienl, I made lip a spe( iiiieii ol plasi eriii;.,' with e(|iial (|iianlilies
Ol loiest (ailh and linns and in (oloin and lonsisleney il is very
like I he old sampli . ' The iiewei pla sl el i n;( ol I he spares siihse-
<|uenl ly Idled in is o| a \ ei \ dillei en! k iiid, ' omposr-d ol lime and
hail iilo>,eii. 'llnslniM and hail plaslei iii}^ I siippo'.e lo he ol
mill h mill e i ei ent dale I lian the ol her.

The pres(;nt ( liimiiey, as I st.ititd at the I leeinnni'.', ol these
note' , is I eriainly iiol oi i;Miia I. (dear iiidii at ions weie Ion ml in
the his! Iloiii loom III Iheie haviii'', lieiii open spares hetweeii the
ii|)rifdil limliiism lionl ol whuli the i hininey now stands; loi
(sxainpli , I he iiioi I isr hi ill', loi I hr hoi i/.oiilal and \ei t ii al t iiiil xas
still ii'inain. I think thai ihis i liinmey was hmit al the tinu;
theolli(a open spai (■^. helwecn (Ik; liiiihers were Idled in, ;ui(l
Ihe "(oii\enieiil slaiidiiiKs" w(!rc IrunsfornuMi into thu lw(j
loom!. :is w<' now know them.

The liieplaee al llic r(;par;ili()ii oT the T>o<l^(; some time
suliseipient to tin; dale of Mr. W aller's doi iiinent (tlu; jist year
ol L!i/alielh, 1 5H(jj was pmhahly outside the I niildiiif.;, and was
|)ei haps t hat si i net lire i eln i ed to a,s I he " i hininey o| Ioiik^ " with
o\eii in Ihe lepoil. We have loiind no tiare nl a rhimney in
connerl ion with the i ii i;;iiial I iiiildine.

I'inally it should he. ohseivcd that the joists ii|)on which
the llooiiii;; was laid W(;re so liameil as to ihiow the llooiinj.;
Iiif^lic.st in the middle ol the room, an arrangement piMha[)s con-
nected with the nil cssily ol diainiii;.; oiil raiidall at the time the
sides ol the " Standin^c ' wore open to the wcalhci .

I li 111. IV ill- will ill iioiliiK llwil III llic i|ii;iiiliLii'S an iiiimii fiic.l woiil oi-iuiis ". . earc ilij.
|,ii:.lii 1 ' I il [III' ■■Hill' lli.il tills leliirs lo llic lidif ciiiiiloyi.'d P-lii).

SOME NEW SECTIONS AT ILFORD. I57

[We have given a few pictures of the old Lodge in the text
and in Plate IV., which will serve to illustrate some points in
this very interesting paper of Mr. Love's. On reading
Mr. Waller's document, one remarks that in the description
of the second " house or keeper's lodge " at High Beach it
is said to be "built oftymber but after the ordinary manner"
(E.N. vii., page 84). Can these words be taken to indicate that
the " Create Standinge " on Dannett's Hill was not built after
the ordinary manner, but was of an exceptional character ?

We shall be very glad to know from architects or students
of old buildings, whether any structure analogous to the Lodge
in its original state is known to exist. As at present advised,
the " Create Standinge " appears to be unique. — Ed.

SOME NEW SECTIONS IN, AND CONTRI-
BUTIONS TO THE FAUNA OF, THE
RIVER DRIFT OF THE UPHALL ESTATE,
ILFORD, ESSEX.

By J. P. JOHNSON and G. WHITE.

EVER since the days of the Uphall brickyard where Sir
Antonio Brady obtained the magnificent series of
mammalian remains which now occupies so prominent a position
in our National Collection, the small remnant of those remark-
ably fossiliferous beds of gravel, sand, and loam, have been
hidden from the geologist. It is true there was formerly a small
pit, about eight feet in width and nearly twice that in depth,
sunk in a corner of the famous brickfield itself, but as this was
half filled with timber and as it was practically unfossiliferous
(a fragment of bone was the reward of a whole afternoon's
search) it could not by any means be regarded as a representa-
tive section. Towards the end of July, i8gg, one of us had
occasion to visit the district on business and was delighted to
find that this pit, which is situated on the west side of Ilford (or
Barking) Lane had been enlarged and that another had been
opened close by, to supply building materials for the houses now
being erected on the classical site. A few enquiries amongst
the men at work in the first mentioned pit elicited the informa-
tion that they had come across several bones during the process
of excavation ; and they produced among other things a complete
left ramus of Rhinoceros Icptovhinm. The section showed a
fossiliferous bed of sand, four feet in thickness, passing down

158 SOME NEW SECTIONS AT ILFORD

into River Gravel with shells in the upper part, and overlaid by
made ground. Several imperfect examples of Covbiciila fltmiinalis
and Helix nemoralis were obtained from the sand, together with
an abnormal specimen of HeliccUa itala — a new record from
Ilford. The adjacent pit showed a similar section which did not
however, at that time, yield any shells, these being very
irregularly distributed throughout the deposit.

Since the above visit we have systematically collected from
these sections and have been rewarded with several finds of great
interest.

The following is a complete list of the Mollusca we have
obtained : —

Agviolimax agi'cstis, Linn

Vitrea crystaUina, Miill.

V. nitida, Miill.

Arioii ate I', Linn.

Punctnm pygmaeiim, Drap.

Pyramidnla rotundata, Miill.

Enlota fruticum, Miill.

HeliccUa itala, Linn. var.
,, caper at a, Mont.

Vallouia pulchella, Mull.

Helix hovteusis, Miill.
,, nemoralis, Linn.

Pupa iHuscoruni, Linn.

Vertigo antivevtigo, Drap.

Claiisilia laminata, Mont.

C hi.ientata, Strom.

Cochlicopa Inbrica, Miill.

Carychimn inininiiiiii, Miill.

Succiiiea elegans, Risso.

A ncylus fliiviatilis, M till .

Limnea peirgcr, Miill.

L. aiivicnlavia, Linn.

L. paliistns, Mull.

L. truncatnla, Miill.

Planorbis niarginatns, Drap.

P. glaber, JefFr.

P. spirorbis, Miill.

Valvata piscinalis, Miill

V. cvistata, Miill.

Bitlivnia tcntaculata, Linn.

AND ADDITIONS TO THE FAUNA. 159

Paludestvina mavginata, Mich.
P. veutrosa, Mont.
Unio tumiclus, Retz.
Corhicula flnminalis, Miill .
SpJiacriitm nminanmn, Kobelt.
Pisidiiim amnicnm, Miill.
P. fonfinale, Drap.

Fifteen of these are new records from the Uphall beds —
viz., Agviolimax agrcstis, Vitrea crystallina, Avion ater, Punctnm
pygmaeuin, Pyramidida rotundata, Helicella itala, Helix hortensis,
Clausilia hniiinata, C. bidentata, Planovbis glaber, P. spivorbis, Valvata
cvistata, Paludestvina ventvosa, P. mavginata, and Sphacvium
mainanum ; whilst we have been able to verify four records of
which no specimens were known, namely, Pupa muscovuiu, Vevtigo
antivevtigo, Cavychium minimum, and Ancylus fluviatilis.

The commonest shells are those of Covbicula fiuminalis and
Helix nemovalis. The latter are mostly 5-banded. Several have
all the bands merged whilst we obtained one 3-, two 4-, and a
couple of 6-banded specimens.

Avion atev is entirely new to the Pleistocene, and Helix
hovtensis to the Thames Basin Brickearths. As the former is
represented by a single granule and as the latter is not easily
distinguishable, in a fossil state, from Helix nemovalis, we sub-
mitted them to Messrs. A. S. Kennard, and B. B. Woodward,
who consider the identification to be correct.

Enlota fvuticum, Paludestvina mavginata, Covbicula plumiualis and
Sphaevium mainanum are all extinct in Britain, though still living
elsewhere.

The specimens of Helicella itala differ considerably from the
existing forms and are identical with the only other known
specimen from the Thames Valley Drift, viz., the one which Mr.
L. W. J. Abbott obtained from the cutting at West Thurrock '
and which is now in tlie British Museum (Natural History).

Mr. Martin A. C. Hinton whose recent paper on the
" Pleistocene Deposits of the Ilford and Wanstead District " -
should be read in connection with this, has kindly gone through
our Mammahan remains, and has recognised, among other

1 See A. S. KeiuiLiid and B. B. Woodward. " Post-Pliocene Non-Marine Mollusca of
Essex." Essex Naturalist, vol. x, (1897), p. 87-iog.

2 Proceedings Geologists' Assoc, Vol. xvi., part for Feb., 1900 fin the press). See
abstract of this paper, by the author, with some further observations, in the present part of
the Essex Naturalist, post. — Ed.

l6o SOME NEW SECTIONS AT ILFORD.

things, teeth of Bos pvimigenius (Boj.), Rhinoceros megarhinus
(Christol), and Microtns grcgalis ? (Pallas). With reference to
the last mentioned he writes, " A second upper molar of a small
Vole corresponds very closely with that of MicroUis gvegalis in
respect to the pattern of its prisms and also in size. It is just
possible, however, that this specimen belongs to Microtns
ratticcps and since it is somewhat damaged, lacking a prism, it is
certainly more desirable to make a provisional, rather than an
absolute, reference to Microtus gvegalis. Whether it belongs to
one or the other it is an important addition to our list of small
vertebrates from Ilford. The Voles from the Pleistocene
deposits of Ilford are now represented by five specimens indicat-
ing three species, viz., Micvotus amphihius from the Uphall pits
(Cotton Coll.) and the Cauliflower Brickyard (a right upper molar
in my collection). Micvotus avvalis or agvestis, from the Cauliflower
brickyard, in my collection. Microtns gregalis ? from Uphall."
We also obtained a few worked flints.

A small rounded boulder of greywether sandstone was
exhumed from the gravel.

Besides these two fossiliferous sections there are several
on the east of Ilford Lane, which have not yet yielded any
organic remains, but which are of special interest as they show
in addition the " trail." We measured the best of these which
was as follows : —

Surface soil .. ... 2ft.

(i) Contorted Drift (Trail) ... 4 — ^h

(2) Sand ... .. nothing to 3

(3) Gravel ... ... i — g

(4) Sand ... ... ... I

(5) Gravel ... ... 4

(6) Sand and gravel ... ... 4^ feet shown.

A few lenticular patches of manganese dioxide are .exposed

in this section.

December, 1899.

P.S. — Since writing the above we have obtained another
addition to the fossil invertebrate fauna of Ilford, viz., Planorbis
nautilcns (Linn.) We are also able to confirm the occurrence of
Sucinea oblonga (Drap.), a mollusc which, being confined to a
more northern tract, is no longer livin" in Essex.

i6i

"ON THE PLEISTOCENE DEPOSITS OF THE
ILFORD AND WANSTEAD DISTRICT, ESSEX."

IN 1899 I read a paper, before the Geologists' Association of
London,' on the Ilford and Wanstead district. Since the
reading of that paper, some further sections of the Pleistocene
deposits have been exposed at those places and since they are of
some interest they form part of the subject of the present paper.
In the paper above mentioned, I dealt with the subject under
two headings, viz., (i) High Terrace Drift and (2) Lower or
Middle Terrace Drift.

A description of the large patch of High Terrace Drift which
occurs at Wanstead was given ; this description included details
of a remarkable section of contorted gravels which was exposed
early in 1898 at a pit to the north-west of Wanstead Park. The
importance of this section is obvious when it is mentioned that
the contorted drift was capped with genuine, in situ Pleistocene
gravel, which thus proved the antiquity of the disturbance. I
ascribed the disturbances to the grounding of river ice.

Mention was made of the occurrence of Eqnus caballns in
the gravel here. The occurrence of seams of Manganese was also
noted and in connection with this I made many observations in
the Wanstead pit on the origin of the seams. My conclusions
were published in a paper in Science Gossip, "" in which it was
contended that the Manganese seams did not owe their origin to
filtration from the surface, but to fluviatile deposition contem-
poraneous with the deposition of the gravels.

Further sections of the gravel in this pit have afforded me
many examples of contortion. Sometimes the seams of sand
and gravel are so twisted up as to resemble loose knots.

One section is worthy of being given in detail here. 1 he
beds seen were as follows :—

(i) Surface soil and made earth ... 2ft.

(2) Gravel, with lenticular patches
of sand, one of which had its
top and bottom layers
cemented into 'iron-pan ' ... 4ft.

I Martin A. C. Hinton.— " The Pleistocene Deposits of tiie Ilford and Wanstead
District," Proc. Geol. Assoc. Vol, xvi., part for Feb. 1900.

2 Martin A. C, Hinton. — " Manganese in River Gravels, ' Science Gossip, vol. vi., N.S.
pp 146-147

l62

PLEISTOCENE DEPOSITS AT

(3) Sandy gravel, with shingle

beds, shghtly stained with
manganese in places . . . 6ft.

(4) Sand, the upper part of which

was ' iron-pan ' and with a
continuous seam of M anganese
at X in the section (Fig. i) . . i-2ft.

(5) Layers of sand and small

pebbles filling hollow in next 5ft. 6in.

(6) Gravel, with lenticular patch of

sand, up to ... ... 5ft.

London Clay v."ith water.

.V

3

Sketch Section of exposure in Pit N.W. of Wanstead Park
For explanations sec text.

As will be seen by reference to Fig. i, the beds numbered 5
occupy a channel which has been cut out of bed 6. The direc-
tion of the axis of this channel is from west to east, a direction
which is approximately coincident with tliat of the Thames.
There can be no doubt that this ancient channel was eroded by
an under-current of the Pleistocene river.

In the paper before referred to' an account of the High
Terrace Drift of Barkingside was given in which I recorded the
occurrence oi Bos 2^i'i>'iig£'i ins ? or Bison priscnsl and Eq mis caballus.

ILFORD AND WANSTEAD. 163

Both here and at Wanstead I have obtained many Palaeolithic
implements (chiefly flake tools) from the High Terrace Drift.

As to the foreign boulders of the High Terrace Gravels the
occurrence of quartzites, Triassic sandstones, sarsens, gneiss,
Carboniferous chert, and mica schist was mentioned. Many of
these boulders are of considerable size and it was suggested that
they might have been carried by river ice. Recently I obtained
four large fragments of chalk in situ in this gravel at Wanstead.

Middle Terrace Drift.

In 1899, the excavations for the sewers of the new roads,
which have been cut through the fields which lie between Wan-
stead Flats and Wanstead Park showed gravel and sand
generally of about 20 feet in thickness overlying the London
Clay. From these sections I have obtained many Palaeolithic
implements, a fair proportion of which have been derived from
the High Terrace Drift. Near the south-east corner of Wanstead
Park the river Roding has cut into the Middle Terrace gravels,
a small natural section of which is there exposed.

Great II ford.

A full description of the sections which have been exposed in
the Cauliflower Brickyard during the past few years is given in
the Geologists' Association paper. At this place, the brickearths
are well seen and numerous fossils have been obtained from the
sections. The sections which are cut from west to east, i.e.,
along the northern face of the brickyard vary greatly in detail,
but the north to south exposures present more constant
characters. This is what one would naturally expect seeing that
whereas the former are cut across what may be termed the strike
of the beds, the latter on the other hand are coincident with the
dip of the strata. Special attention was given by the author to
the contorted drift, which from the evidence noted in the before-
mentioned paper, I regard as owing its origin to river-ice
which floated down the Thames towards the close of the
Palaeolithic period. (Two figures of sections of the contorted
drift are given).

The more interesting of the palseontological discoveries
made by the author at this place are the following : —

A specimen of Limmsa glabra was kindly identified for me by
Messrs. A. S. Kennard and B. B. Woodward, F.L.S. This

164 PLEISTOCENE DEPOSITS AT

species is for the first time recorded in a fossil state in this
country and thus takes it place as a member of the Pleistocene
fauna.

A portion of a femur and a small right second upper molar
oi Microtiis were submitted to Mr. E, T. Newton, F.R.S., who
identified them as belonging to M. arvalis ? and M. amphihiiis
respectively. M. arvalis P is a new record for Ilford, while M.
amphihius is also known from the old Uphall sections.

The most important new sections of the Ilford brickearths
are described by Mr. J. P. Johnson in the present issue of the
" Essex Naturalist." I visited these sections in his company
and I agree with him in his conclusions.

East of Seven Kings' Water on the northern side of the
High Road is situate a ballast pit, belonging to the Great
Eastern Railway at a height of 60 feet O.D. This pit was
visited by the Geologists' Association during their excursion to
Ilford on May 13th, 1899. My notes, judging from the report,
on that occasion seem to have been a little more voluminous than
those of the director of the excursion.'' The following is the
section exposed as noted by me.

1. Loam, with a seam stained with Manganese at the

base, and one or two pebble bands in the middle
part, about 3 to 6 feet.

2. Gravel, very evenly stratified, with two beds, a few

inches thick, of white quartz sand in one place,
and occasional lenticular patches of sand. The
stones were, for the most part, small pebbles of
flint and quartz. Several clay ironstones were
observed in the gravel, which had been oxidised
and coverted into ochre. The thickness of the
gravel shown was about 18 feet with water
occurring at its base.

Conclusions.

From the evidence afforded by the High Terrace Drift the
author has come to the conclusion that this series, and probably
some of the older members of the Middle Terrace gravels repre-
sent a time during which the climate was severe enough for the
Thames to be periodically frozen over. (Of course, if only the
higher reaches of the river were frozen over, this would be

3 T.V.Holmes. — " Report on Excursion to Ilford," P;of. Geo/. /Issoc, vol. xvi., p. i6i.
Reprinted in Essex Naturalist ante pp. 149-151.

ILFORD AND WANSTEAD. 165

sufficient to provide ice-rafts). This conclusion appears to be
the only one open to the field geologist, and to a certain
extent it is supported by the palaeontological evidence.

In my opinion, however, the Middle Terrace drift as a whole
(including the brickearths) shows a very different state of things
in climatic conditions. I have argued in my paper that whether
we view this group of the Palaeohthic deposits from a lithological
or from a palaeontological standpoint, we have to regard it as
representing a period of comparative equability, probably similar
to that obtaining in these islands at the present day.

A point of interest with regard to the physical geography of
the brickearth period is dealt with. From the occurrence of
Scrobicularia pipevata at Ilford, of Paliidestrina ventrosa at Crayford,
Grays, and Ilford, and of Littorina riidis at Crayford in the Middle
Terrace brickearths of those places it is argued that the Thames
whatever it may have been in earlier or later parts of the
Pleistocene epoch could hardly have been then a tributary of
the Rhine. On the contrary it must have then possessed an
estuary of its own, probably situated not very far to the east
of that of the present day. The upper beds of the Middle
Terrace drift show similar contortions to those observed in the
High Terrace series. The conclusion to be drawn is then
obvious, viz., that they have been contorted by river ice. From
this it would appear that comparatively severe conditions came
on once more towards the close of the Palaeolithic period.

The following tabular statement of the Pleistocene deposits
of the Thames is given in the conclusion of the Geologists'
Association paper : —

1. High Terrace Drift ) ^, , ,-. , .... ^ , ,

2. Middle Terrace Gravels ^^^^^ Palaeolithic. Cold

(in part) \ . P^^^°d-

3. Middle Terrace Gravels ) Newer Palaeolithic. Genial

(in part) & Brickearths ) period.

4. Trail (Contorted Drift } Close of Palaeolithic Period.

series) > Cold period.

A list of the more important papers and works relating to
the Pleistocene deposits of the Ilford district is appended to the
paper.

Martin A. C. Hinton.
Janmuy 27th, 1900,

1 66
ESSEX FIELD CLUB'S "FUNGUS FORAY," 1899.

By GEORGE MASSEE, F.L.S., i'vtncipal Assistant, Koycil Hcibaiium, Kcw ; President
of the British Mycological Society.

IN the majority of instances, Mycological students commence
by first paying attention to the toadstools or Agarics, or
other large examples of fungal life ; and the comparative absence
of young aspirants to a knowledge of the subject may in part be
explained by the fact that the class of fungi indicated above
have, for some as yet unexplained reason, been, for the last feu-
years, comparatively speaking, absent from their accustomed
haunts.

Doubtless, the idea will occur to many (if the subject is con-
sidered worthy of bestowing a thought upon) that comparati\'e
drougiit is the cause of the absence of fungi, and this is, im-
doubtedly, one factor that determines the relative abundance of
fungi, but it is not the only one.

During those favourable seasons, when fungi are most
abundant in numbers, it is a fact well known to every field
mycologist that, even the same district, white-spored Agarics
sometimes predominate to a very large extent, whereas, another
season, rusty-spored species are well to the front, and white-
spored species are rare. Again, during some seasons, the
species of Boletus are numerous, whereas on other occasions,
representatives of the genus are rare, or entirely absent,
although to an ordinary observer climatic conditions were
equally favourable during the two seasons. In 1894, Copnniis
comatits occurred in immense numbers throughout the late
summer and autumn, on a piece of waste ground by the river
between Kew and Mortlake ; this autumn the crop is again
equal to that of 1894, but during the intervening four years, not
a dozen specimens were observed. It can scarcely be suggested
that a crop is produced by the mycelium of this fungus only once
in five years, and is further negatived by the fact that on certain
occasions we have an abundance of individuals produced for
several years in succession. At present it may be stated, with-
out qualification, tiiat we are absolutely ignorant as to the com-
bination of conditions necessary to determine the growth in
profusion of different species of fungi. Something might be
done by those residing in the neighbourhood of Epping Forest,
and as the observations, to be of any real value, would have to
extend over several — even many -years, the commencement
should not be delaved.

ESSEX FIELD CLUB's FUNGUS FORAY." 167

Take three species common in the Forest — Amanita niuscavia,
Armillaria niellea, and Boletus scaber — each of which recurs in a
given locaHty, when, for want of a more exact term, we may say
conditions are favourable. Having selected a site where the
fungus is present in abundance, take monthly, or, still better,
fortnightly measurements of the temperature of the soil at a
depth of six inches below the surface ; humidity of the soil — if
possible, the proportion of humic acid in the soil — also general
atmospheric conditions as to temperature and moisture.

If the above suggestions could be followed out for, say, ten
years, supplemented, as a matter of course, by the relative
annual crop of fungi growing within the experimental area, some
inkling, at least, of certain of the conditions that collectively
determine the presence or absence of different species of fungi
would be arrived at ; such would rank as pioneer work on a
subject where everything has yet to be done, and which will be
done some day ; hence, why not by members of the Essex Field
Club?

Returning to the subject of the Foray, a pleasing feature —
as a set-oflf to what has been stated above — was the presence of
members who promise to become important auxiliaries to the
already-existing band of mycologists who yearly explore the
Forest ; but why the Forest always, or nearly so ? The body
inaugurating the foray is the Essex Field Club, and not the
Epping Forest Club, as some members residing in other parts of
Essex might be led to imagine.

The display of fungi on the tables was the best that has
been seen for many years. Altogether, 134 species were col-
lected, including such rarities as Tricholoiiia acerba, Collybia fodiens,
C. bibulosa, Nolanea pisciodova, and Torula ovalispora. The presence
of the veteran Mycologist, Dr. M.-C. Cooke, was a source of
pleasure, combined with instruction, to everyone.

Finally, we have in Great Britaip just over five thousand
species of fungi ; of these about one thousand are Agarics or gill-
bearing species, mostly appearing during the autumn months,
and considered by the majority of people as constituting the
whole of our Fungus flora. For this reason, probably, fungus
forays are always held in the autumn, when the larger forms are
presumed to be present : the result is that the list of species
enumerated by those societies that countenance a foray is rich in
Agarics and allied forms, but miserably defective in the remain-

l68 ESSEX FIELD CLUB'S " FUNGUS FORAY."

ing groups, the members of which happen to mature during the
spring and summer. Such a hst indicates at a glance the fact
that the Society in question is not interested in fungi from a
scientific standpoint, but simph- repeats annually, in an auto-
matic manner, a custom which originated by chance rather than
design. The remedy for this state of affairs is obvious.

[At our request, Mr. Massee has added a short Hst and analyses of works
suitable for the student, which our members may find useful.

The following books deal exhaustively with different groups of Micro-
fungi. All are illustrated : —

A Monograph of the British Uiedinea' and Ustilaginea:. C. B. Plowright-
Kegan, Paul, French & Co. 8s. 6d. This book deals with the life-history and
classification of those destructive parasites popularly known as producing
" Rust,' " Smut," " Bunt," &c., on cereals and other cultivated and wild
plants.

British Fungi : Phycomyceles and Ustilaginea. G. Massee. Lovell Reeve
& Co. 7s. 6d. Contains a general introduction to the study of Fungi, and
descriptions of all British species included under the two families mentioned.

British Fungus-Flora. G. Massee. George Bell & Sons. Four volumes,
7s. 6d. per volume. Vol. III. contains the Hyphomycetes, poplarly known as
'Moulds" and "Mildews.'' The species are minute, but exceptionally
beautiful as microscopical objects. Vol. IV. is devoted to the Discomycetes.
a group including the fungi known under the general names " Peziza,"
' Morel," &c. The species are abundant, very beautiful in form and colour,
and from a biological stand-point they are exceedingly interesting.

To these may be added the following, which will be most useful to those
wishing to take up the study from an economical point of view, so necessary
to farmers, gardeners and foresters : —

A Text-book of Plant Diseases caused by Cryptogamic Parasites. G. Massee.
Duckworth & Co. 5s. nett. This is a hand-book of plant diseases, not too
techuical, with descriptions of the most approved curative and preventiv
methods.

Diseases of Field and Garden Crops, chiefly such as are caused by Fungi.
Worthington G. Smith. Macmillan. 4s. 6d.

Text-book of the Diseases of Trees. Dr. Hartig. Translated by Prof.
Somerville. Macmillan.

Tifuber and some of its Diseases. Prof. Marshall Ward. Macmillan. 6s.

We know that our thoughtful members will accept Mr. Massee's criti-
cism of our annual " Fungus Meetings" as being in a large sense deserved.
We have long felt the unsatisfying nature of the occupation which consists in
picking up an Agaric, greeting it with a learned uame, and then throwing it
away ! The neglect of the smaller — but, to a biologist, the more interesting
minute forms — is also a sad feature, which should no longer be allowed to dis-
figure our Cryptogamic assemblies. But it .should be remembered that our
Club is not especially a Mycological Society, and we may plead, in arrest of
judgment, that the Fungus Flora of Epping Forest was practically unknown
until our " Forays " began, 19 years ago, to afford materials for the lists of the

HISTORY OF ESSEX BOTANY. 169

Hymenomycetes which have appeared in the Essex Naturalist. We are
sure that if any member— or better, a group of members— will adopt Mr.
Massee's admirable suggestion with regard to the systematic observation of
the larger fungi, the Council and officers will give all the facilities in the
power of the Club to afford, and the work-room at the new Essex Museum
may be used for analyses, &c. But how comes it, considering the fact that
the larger fungi have been " foraged," illustrated, and described in Britain for
30 or 40 years, that so little has been attempted by Mycologists beyond fitting
each form with a more or less stable name ? Entomologists have come in for
some hard knocks from time to time ; but the humble collector has, at least,
aided in ascertaining the life-histories of some hundreds, or even thousands,
of British insects. One of our leading Mycologists, in the above article, con-
fesses that a group of most important factors affecting the life-history of an
Agaric are absolutely unknown. Mycologists must evidently bestir them-
selves. — Ed.]

HISTORY OF ESSEX BOTANY.

By Prof. G. S. BOULGER, F.L S., F.G.S., Vice President.

Part I (continued from page 68).

The Botanists of the Sixteenth and Seventeenth

Centuries.

ri^^HE following passage should have appeared after that

I relating to Litnavia on p. 68.

p. 391. " Conyza major. Great Fleawort. Conyza minor. Fleabane
Mullet. . . The great and lesser Conyza do growe . . at Grayes in

Essex."

Johnson (Ger. em., p. 481) re-writes the whole of this
chapter of Gerard and says that the plant " which grows in Kent
and Essex on chalkie hils " is Baccharis Monspeliensium of Lobel,
or Conyza maior of Matthiolus, otherwise Plowman's Spikenard,
our Iiiii/a conyza dc. He then, on pp. 482-3, figures and des-
cribes as common, " Conyza media, Herbe Christopher." which is
Pulicaria dysenterica Gaertn., and as occurring "in like places''
Conyza minima of Lobel and Dodoens, the C minor of Tragus,
which is Pulicaria vulgaris Gaertn. There is little doubt from the
habitat and synonymy that he gives that Gerard had confused
the first two species, but all three of them occur in the county
and may well have occurred at Grays.

p. 448. '^ Glaux exiaua maritima. Blacke Saltwoort . . . I found it
especially . . . by Tilbery Block-house in Essex." [Glaux maritima L.]

p. 501. " Veronica fcsmiihi Fuchsii, sive Elatine. The Female Fluellen.
EUitiiw altera. Sharpe pointed Fluellen. Both these plants 1 haue found in

lyo HISTORY OF ESSEX BOTANY.

sundry places ... It groweth ... in sundry places of Esse.x."
[Linai'ia spuria Mill., though the figure does not much resemble that species,
and L. elatina Mill.]

p. 507. " Prunella. Selfe-heale Prunell or Brunei hath square

hairy stalks of a foot high, beset with long, hairy and sharpe pointed leaues.
and at the top of the stalks grow floures thicke set together, like an eare or
spiky knap, of a browne colour mixed with blew floures, and sometimes whita,
of which kind I found some plants in Essex neere Henningham castle."
[Prunella vulgaris L.]

p. 518. " Gnaphalium niarinuin. Sea Cudweed . . . groweth at a
place called Merezey, six miles from Colchester, neere vnto the sea side."
[Diotis candidissima Desf. The first British record.]

p. 5G8. " Lamium lutenm. Yellow Archangell ... in many . .
copses about Lee in Essex. [Laviiunt galeobdolon Crantz. The first British
record.]

p. 577. " Serratnla purpurea, sine alba. Saw-woort with purple, or white
floures . . . in sundry places of Essex." [Serratula tinctoria 'L. As John-
son says (Ger. em. p. 713), Gerard " out of Tabernamontanus gaue three figures,
with as many descriptions of this plant, yet made it onely to vary in the
colour ot the floures, being either purple, white, or red ; but he did not touch
the difference which Tabernamontanus by his figures exprest,'" as to the incision
of the leaves]

p. 587. Morsns Diaboli. Diuels bit ... at Lee in Essex, and at
Raleigh in Essex, in a wood called Hammerell, and sundrie other places . .

superstitious people hold opinion, that the diuell for enuie that he
beareth to mankinde bit it off, because it would be otherwise good for many
vses." [Scabiosa succisa L.]

p. 646 '^Digitalis alba. White Fox-gloues ... by Colchester in
Essex." [Digitalis purpurea L.]

p. 659. " Cynoglossum minus folio virente. Small greene leaued Hounds-
tongue . groweth very plentifully by the waies side as you ride
Colchester highway from Londonward, betweene Esterford and Wittam in
Essex." [Cynoglossum germamcnm Jacq. The first British record. Messrs.
Trimen and Dyer erroneously suggest that Petiver's Middlesex list in Gibson's
Camden (1695) is the earliest." ==]

p. 690. " SoldancUa marina. Sea Binde-weed neere to Lee in

Essex, at Mersey in the same countie." [Calystegia soldanella R. Br.]

p. 693. " Saxifraga alba. White Saxifrage ... in the greene places
by the sea side at Lee in Essex, among the rushes, and in sundrie other places
thereabout,- and elsewhere. ' [Saxifraga granulata L.]

p. 713. "Convolvulus minimus spic^-folius. Lauander-leafed Binde-weed
. . This Bindweed Pcna saith he neuer saw but in the brinks of quicke-
sets and Oliuets in Prouence, Sauoy, and Narbone ; notwithstanding I found
it growing in the corne fields about great Dunmow in Essex, in such abund-
ance, that it doth much hurt vnto their corne. This kind of Bindweed or
Volubilis is like vnto the small Bindweed before mentioned, but it hath a finer
floure, plaited or folded in the compasse of the bell very orderly, especially
before the Sun rise (for after it opens it selfe the welts are not so much per-
22 Flora 0/ Middlesex, p. 189.

HISTORY OF ESSEX UOTANY. I71

ceived) and it is of a darke purple colour . The leaues are long and

narrow, resembling Linavia both in colour and hairinesse." [Convolvulus
arvensis L.?]

It must be admitted that this description and, still less, the
figures that accompany it in Gerard and in Johnson's edition do
not quite suggest any British convolvulus. To Gerard's state-
ment, " All these kindes of Bindweeds do grow very plentifully in
most parts of England," Johnson adds the qualification (Ger.
em. p. 863). " The third and fourth excepted," which may be
taken as a denial of their occurrence at all. Parkinson, however,
m his Paradistis terrcstvis (1629), p. 359, writes: — "Convolvulus
purpureus spicge folius. Lavender-leafed Bindeweede .
groweth wilde in the fields, about Dunmowe in Essex," which is
repeated by How in his Phytologia (p. 31), whilst Parkinson
further in his Theatnim Botanicum, pp. 171 -2, uses the same
figure as Johnson and writes : — " 3. Convolvulus spices folius.
Lavender leafed Bindeweede. This small bindeweede is as
great a plague to the fields, where it naturally groweth as the
last ; the leaves are long and narrow, resembling Lavender, and
the flowers of a deepe purple colour, wherein it differeth from
others, for else it is like the last." Merrett in his Pinax, p. 29,
adopts Gerard's locality and adds " in Tuddington field." This
justifies the statement by the authors of the Flora of Middlesex
(p. 188) that " ri very narrow leaved form [of C. arvensis] was dis-
tinguished by the older observers," and they add a reference to
" C. arvensis minimus about London " from Buddie's MSS. These
old references explain the characteristic note by Newbould in
Gibson's Flora (p. 206). " The varieties of this plant deserve
attention." This plant may well be the Convolvulus angustissimo
folio cum auriculis of Plukenet, Almagest. 116. Tab. 24. fig. 3, and
the Convolvulus arvensis uiinimus of Dent in Ray's Spiopsis, ed. ii.,
157, from Harlton, Cambridgeshire, for which C. C. Babington
keeps up the varietal name minimus in his Flora of Cambridgeshire,
P- 153-

p. 739. " Viorna. The Trauellers Icy . . in many places of Essex."
[Clematis vitalba L.]

p. 759. " Ruscus, siue Bruscus, Knee-holme, or Butchers broome . .
in diuers places of Kent, Essex, and Barkshire, almost in euery copse and
low wood." [Ruscus aculeatus L.]

p. 789. •' Althaa Ibiscus. Marsh Mallow . . . groweth very plenti-
fully in the marshes both on the Kentish and Essex shore alongst the riuer of
Thames, about . . . Tilburie, Lee, Colchester, Harwich, and in most
salt marshes about London.' [Althaa officinalis L. The first British record]

172 .HISTORY OF ESSEX BOTANY.

p. 839. Pentaphyllum rubrum palustre. Marsh Cinkfoile . . . groweth
in a marrish ground adioining to the land called Bourne ponds, halfe a mile
from Colchester ; from whence I brought some plants for my garden, where
they flourish and prosper well. [Potent ilia palustyis Scop. The first precisely
British record ; but this species occurs in Gerard's first Catalogue of his
garden, published in 1596.]

p. 896. " Peucedanum or Hogs Fennell groweth very plentifully on the
South side of a wood belonging to Waltham, at the Nase in Essex by the
high-way side.'" [Peucedanum officinale L.]

No doubt Waltham is a mistake for Walton. As Gibson
says (Flora, p. 139), "Although this remarkable plant has only
been noticed here and in a few Kentish stations, Gerard and Ray
seem to have been as well acquainted with it as ourselves."

p. 954. "Asparagus sativus. Garden Sperage . groweth wild in

Essex, in a meadow adioining to a mill, beyond a village called Thorp .

Likewise it groweth in great plentie neere vnto Harwich, at a place called
Landamar lading." [Asparagus officinalis L. This last locality is printed
" Bandamar " by Johnson.

p. 966. " Asperula flore Cisrtileo. Blew Woodroofte . . in many places
of Essex." [Shcrardia arvensis L.]

P- 971. " Filix florida, siue Osmunda Regalis. Water Feme or Osmund
Royall . . . vpon diuers bogges on a heath or common neere vnto
Bruntwood in Essex, especially neere vnto a place there that some haue
digged, to the end to finde a nest or mine of gold ; but the birds were ouer
fledge, and flowne away before their wings could be clipped." [Ostnunda
regalis L.]

p. 976. " Phyllitis miiltifida. Finger Harts-tongue . . I found in the
garden of Master Cranwich a Chirurgion dwelling at Much-dunmow in Essex,
who gaue ma a plant for my garden." [Scolopendrium vulgare Symons.]

p. 982. Filicula petraa/aemina, sive ChamafiUx marina Anglica. The female
dwarfe stone Feme . , groweth vpon the rockie cliff'e neere Harwich."
[Asplenium marinum L.]

It is possible that this species may have existed on the Essex
coast in the time of Gerard and have been lost by the wearing
away of the cliffs. It is not mentioned in Gibson's Flora.

p. 983. " Ruta muraria, sive Saluia vitcB. Wall Rue, or Rue Maiden-haire
. . Stone Rue groweth . . vpon the Church walls of Railey in

Essex." [Asplenium ruta-muraria L.]

p. 1000. " Eryngium mCirinum. Sea Holly . growes by the sea side

vpon the baich and stony ground. I found it growing plentifully . . in

_Essex at Landamer lading, at Harwich, and vpon Langtree point, on the other

side of the water, from whence I haue brought plants for my garden.''

Eryngium maritimxitn L.]

p. 1006. " Dipsacus minor, sive Virga pastoris. Sheepheards-rod .
another kinde of Teasell, being a wilde kinde therof, and accounted among
these Thistles, growing higher than the rest of his kindes ; but his knobbed
heads are no bigger than a Nutneg . . . I found growing in moist places

HISTORY OF ESSEX BOTANY. 1 73

in the high way leading from Braintree to Henningham castle in Essex, and
not in any other place except here and there a plant vpon the highway from
Much-Dunmow to London." Dipsacus pilosus L.]

p. 1034. '^ MeUlotus germanica . . German Clauer . . no part of

the world doth enioy so great part thereof as England, and especially Essex ;
for I haue seene betweene Sudbury in Suffolk , and Clare in Essex, and from
Clare to Heningham, and from thence to Ouendon, Bulmare, and Pedmarsh,
very many acres of earable pasture overgrowne with the same ; insomuch
that it doth not onely spoyle their land, but the corne also, as Cockle or
Darnel, and as a weed that generally spreadeth ouer that corner of the Shire."
[Melilotus officinalis Lam. or possibly M. avvensis Willd. in part. Not so trouble-
some now-a-days.]

p. 1057. Hedysdruni Glycyrhizatum. Liquorice hatchet Fetch ... in
Essex about Dunmow, and in the townes called Clare and Hennyngham."
lAstmgalus glycypliyllos L.] Johnson (Ger. em. p. 1236) adds : — " Also it growes
by Purfleet, about the foot of the hill whereon the Wind-mill stands."

p. 1088. " Rosa Pimpinelli? folio. The Pimpinell Rose . groweth

very plentifully in a field as you go from a village in Essex, called Graies (vpon
the brinke of the riuer Thames) vuto Horndon on the hill, insomuch that the
field is full fraught therewith all ouer." [Rosa spinosissinia L. The first
British record.]

p. 1299. " Tilia fasmina. The female Line tree or Linden tree . . .
seemeth to be a kinde of Elme, and the people of Essex about Heningham
(wheras great plenty groweth by the way sides) do call it broad leafed Elme
. . . neere Colchester, and in many places alongst the high way leading
from London to Henningham, in the countie of Essex." . [Tilia platyphyllos
Scop. Vide supra pp. 59-60.]

p. 1302. ^' Popidus alba. The white Poplar tree . . in Essex at a place
called Ouenden." Populus alba L. The first British record.]

There is no work of importance containing any reference to
Essex botany between Gerard's Hevball and the ' emaciilate '
edition of it pubhshed by Thomas Johnson in 1633, of which
there is a copy in the Chib's Hbrary.

Of WiHiam Coys, of Stul:)bers, in the parish of North
Ockington (now written Ockendon), in this county, we unfortu-
nately know but very httle. fie had a garden, which both Lobe!
and Gerard state to have been richly stored with exotics, and in
which the Yucca gloviosa first flowered in England in the year
1604.'-' Johnson, in the Appendix to his edition of Gerard, speaks
of various exotics received by Coys from Guillaume Boel, a
native of the Low Countries, and Parkinson records {Theatriun,
pp. 83-4) that he found ' Matricavia hullatis flovibiis auvcis, Naked
Featherfew,' probably a ray less form of Matncavia inodora L., in
Essex.

23 Pena and Lobel, Adversaria, i., 501 ; ii., 471.

174 HISTORY OF ESSEX BOTANY.

Of Thomas Johnson there is a tolerably full account in t he
Flora of Middlesex (pp, 370-2) and a biography, by the present
writer, in the Dictionary of National Biography (vol. xxx., p. 47).
He was born at Selby, Yorkshire, lived at one time in Lincoln-
shire, and practised as an apothecary on Snow Hill. In 1595
he seems to have published Cornucopia or divers secrets (London,
pp. 46) ; and in 1629, Iter Plantaruni Investigationis ergo snsceptum . .
in Agrum Cantianwn, the first account of a botanical excursion
printed in England, with Ericetum Hamstedianum, an account of a
herborization on Hampstead Heath, as an appendix. In 1630
he issued A neiv Booke of netv Conceits .... (London, pp.
24)--* ; in 16^2, Ennmeratio Plantarnm in Ericeto Hampstediano (p. 7),
the earliest English Florula ; and in 1633, as the result, mirahile
dictu, of only a year's work,--' his " very much enlarged and
amended " edition of Gerard. This contained some 800
additional plants and 700 new figures, making in all, according
to Pulteney, 2850 descriptions and 2717 figures ; whilst the much
needed corrections of Gerard's blunders are at least as valuable
as the additions. The editor's additions are generally, but
unfortunately not always, marked with \l ; and yet many
modern writers quote all alike as " Gerarde." The
Herhall was reprinted, without further alteration, in 1636.
Meanwhile in 1634 Johnson published Mercurius Botanicus
(London, pp. 78), a description of a twelve days' tour
in the south-west of England, witli an appendix De Thermis
Bathonicis. This was followed, in 1641, by Mercurii Botanici Pars
altera (London, pp. 37) describing a tour in Wales."* As a
royalist, Johnson, in 1642, was made Bachelor of Physic by the
University of Oxford and became M.D. in the following year,
in which he published a translation of the medical works of
Ambroise Pare. Kt the siege of Basing House, Johnson became
lieutenant-colonel under Sir Marmaduke Rawdon, fired the
Grange near by, killing three hundred of Waller's men, wounding
five hundred more, and capturing stores ; but was shot in the
shoulder on September 14th, 1644, during a sally, and died a
fortnight later. " being then no less eminent in the garrison lor
his valour and conduct as a soldier, than famous through the
kingdom for his excellency as a herbalist and physician."^'

24 Britisli Museum press mark 1036. b. 33. Reprinted by Halliwell in his Literature
of the 16th and 17th centuries, 1851. These two opuscula are not mentioned in the Dictionary
of National toaraphy.

25 Vide Appendix to the Herball : Preface, p. 1591.

26 Having become very scarce, the smaller botanical works of Johnson were reprinted
in 1847 by T. S. Ralph, under the title oi Opuscula omnia botanica Thoma- Johnscni ; but the
reprint is now scarce.

27 Antony a Wood.

HISTORY OF ESSEX BOTANY.

^75

To Johnson's work we seem to owe the addition of only six
species to our Essex list, for one of which he is only indirectly to
be credited. They are

Damasonmm alisma Mill. Gaieopsis angustifolia Ehr.

Linum catharticum L. Apinm s!vaveolens L.

Anagallis ccevulea Sdareh. Tvifolinm fvagifcvnin L.

The records run as follows : —
p. 418. " Plantago aquatica minov stdlata. Starry headed small Water
Plantaine .... I found . . a little beyond Ilford, in the way to
Rumford." [Damasonium alisma Miller. The first British record.]

p. 559. " Linum sylvestre catharticum. Mil-mountaine. my friend Mr.
John Goodyer . . . told me he had long knowne the plant, and . . .
hath sent me this historie of it, which you shall haue as I receiued it from

him It groweth ... on Purfleet hils in Essex." [Linum

catharticum L.]

p. 61S. " Anagallis fcemina. Female Pimpernell . . . differeth not
from the male in any one point but in the colour of the floures ; tor
this plant briugeth forth floures of a most perfect blew colour .... I
also being in Essex in the company of my kind friend Mr. Nathaniel Wright
found this among the corne at Wrightsbridge, being the seate of Mr. John
Wright his brother." \_AnagaUis dsrulea Schreb.]

p. 699. " There is another plant that growes frequently in the Corne
fields of Kent, and by Purfleet in Esse.x . . . Camcrarius calls it Sideritis
arvensis florc rubro and in the Historia Lugd. it is named Tctrahit angusti folium,
and thought to be Ladanum segetum oi Pliny, mentioned lib. 29, cap. 8. and lib.
26, cap. II. It hath astalke some foot or better high, set with sharp pointed
longish leaues, hauing two or three nickes on their sides, and growing by
couples ; at the top of the branches, and also the maine stalks it selfe, stand in
one or two roundles faire red hooded floures : the root is small and fibrous,
dying euery yeare when it hath perfected the seed. It floures in July and
August. This is also sometimes found with a white floure." [Gaieopsis
angustifolia Ehr. ?]

This form, the G. canesccns of Schultz seems more frequent
than the G. iiitevmedinin Vill.

p. 1014. " Eleoselinum, siue Pahidapium." Smallage. It growes wilde
abundantly vpon the bankes in the salt marshes of Kent and Essex." [Apium
graveokns L.]

p. 1208. " Tri/oliuin fragiferuin. Straw-berry Trefoile . . . growes in
most salt marishes, as . . in those below Purfleet." [Trifolium fraoi-
fcrum L,]

Of John Goodyer, to whom we owe the record of Liiiniii
catharticum, we know but little. Johnson in his address ' To the
Reader ' says " In the first place let me remember the onely
Assistant I had in this Worke, which was Mr. John Goodyer of
Maple-Durham in Hampshire, from whom I received many
accurate descriptions, and some other observations concerning

176 HISTORY OF ESSEX BOTANY.

plants." He is also frequently mentioned in Parkinson's
Theatrum. Ashmole in his Diary for October gth, 1651, writes
" My Father Backhouse and I went to see Mr. Goodier, the
great Botanist, at Petersfield." Robert Brown justly honoured
Goodyer by naming after him the orchidaceous genus Goodyera.
The next work to Johnson's Hevhall which contains any
important Essex records is the Theatrum Botanicum of John
Parkinson, published in 1640. Of Parkinson there is a some-
what full account in Pulteney,"** to which a few points are added
in the Flora of Middlesex fp. 372) and by the late Mr. G. W.
Johnson in the Journal of Horticulture for 1875.'''* He was
born apparently in Nottinghamshire, in 1567, and practised as
an apothecary in London, having a garden in Long Acre at
least as early as 1616 and becoming apothecary to James I.
Not till he was past sixty-two did he publish his first work
with its curious punning title Paradisi in Sole Paradisns Terrestris,
Folio, pp. 612, dedicated to Queen Henrietta Maria, with an
engraved portrait of himself by Switzer. This book, the title
of which is, "being interpreted," "Parkinson's Earthly
Paradise," deals with garden plants, describing nearly a
thousand and figuring 780 on 109 plates specially engraved in
England. Its quaint phraseology attracted the late Mrs. Ewing,
whose charming story, Mary's Meadow, has perhaps increased the
modern vogue for the book among collectors which it shares
with all old herbals. The reference on p. 359 to Convolvulus
purpuvens spicefolius at Dunmow, already quoted, is the only
Essex reference that I have found in this work. In 1640
Parkinson published his Theatrum Botanicum, London, folio, pp.
1746. This work, originally intended to be merely a supplement
to the Paradisns dealing with " A physical Garden of Simples,"
grew into a most comprehensive herbal, describing nearly 3,800
species, as against Johnson's 2,850, with newly cut figures of
over 2,500, very full details as to medicinal uses, and a synonymy
which, while incorporating nearly the whole of Bauhin's Pinax,
shows also independent reference to the original authors.
Though published seven years after Johnson's edition of Gerard,
its preparation dated from an earlier time, whilst it is in many
respects more original than either Johnson or Gerard. At the
time of its publication Parkinson obtained the title of King's
Herbarist or Botanicus Regius Primarius. He died in London

28 Sketches of the Progress of Botany, 1790, vol. i., pp. 13S-152.

29 See Britten and Boulger, Biographical Index of British and Irish Bota}nsts, p. 131,
and notice, by tlie present writer, Dictionary of National Biography, vol. xliii.

HISTORY OF ESSEX BOTANY. 1 77

in August, 1650, and was buried in St. Martin's-in-the-Fields.
His additions to the Essex list are the following : —

Mentha pule ginm L. (Theatnim, p. 29).

Veybascimi nigrum L. (p. 61).

Atvopa belladonna L. (p. 348).

Chrysosplenium oppositifolmm L. (p. 425.)

Stachys paliistns L.

Silene anglica L.

Angelica sylvestris L.

Lathyvus sylvestris L. ?

Lomaria spicant Desv.

Salix helix L.

Of these records two, viz., Chrysosplenium oppositifolium and
Lathyrus sylvestris, are not referred to by Gibson ; but, in his
table of earliest and latest notices {Flora of Essex, p. 412), he, by
a natural misunderstanding, makes Parkinson record Vinca minor,
whilst the passage [Theatrum, p. 383) undoubtedly refers to
Clematis vitalba. Some special interest attaches to the following
records : —

pp. 83-4. "Matricaria bullatis floribiis aureis. Naked Featherfew. This
kinde differeth not from the former, but that it hath his flowers, without any
of the pale or border of white leaves about it, and therefore being naked, and
without those leaves I have named it naked Featherfew .... grew in
Essex, and was there found by a gentleman called Master William Coys."

This is some abnormally rayless chamomile, perhaps

Chrysanthemum parthenium Pers.

p. 425. " Saxifraga aurea. Golden Saxifrage ... at Chepstow in
Essex."

The figure represents Chrysosplenium oppositifolium ; but
whether " Chepstow " or " Essex " be a slip it is difficult to say.

p. 588. " Sidcritis Anglica strumosa radice. Clownes Woundwort . . .
in Essex by the ditch sides, and on the ditches sides on the left hand of the
high way beyond Stratford Boiv"

This plant, Stachys palustris, named Clown's Woundwort by
Gerard, is one ol those species deUghtfully idealised by Mr.
Walter Crane in his Floral Fantasy.

pp. 638-640. " Lychnis arvcnsis minor Anglica. The small white field
Campion . . . groweth in divers grounds by Colchester in Essex, and in
a field called the Millfield, behind the house of Sr. Thomas Lucees neare

Colchester.'"

Silene anglica is still mainly confined to the north-east of the
county.

178 HISTORY OF ESSEX BOTANY.

p. 720. " Mdilotus vulgaris. Common Melilot ... in Esse.x in
divers places ... in some places of Essex they call it Hartwort, because
they thinke the seede thereof happening into their bread caused paines in the
stomacke and chest, which they usually call the Heart burne." [Mdilotus
officinalis Lam.

pp. 1059-1060. Pisum sylvestrc altevum. The other wilde Pease
Of this kinde there is another found to grow somewhat larger ... on the
chalkie hills at Kings Hay in Kent, not farre from the Thames, and the larger
sort hereof in some barren fields in Essex,"

From the habitat I take this to be Lathyyus sylvestris L.
previously recorded by Gerard from the Chalk at Swanscombe
Wood, Kent.

pp. 1043-4. " Lonchitis aspciia minor. The smaller rough Splenewort

There is another of this sort lesser than this, found about
Colchester in Essex." [Lomaiia spicant Desv.]

p. 1064. " Lathyrus annnus. Yearely or Annuall Cichelings ....
All these [eight] sorts except the sixt (which I found in clensiug of Anneseede
to use) grow in Spaine, and from thence were brought with a number of other
rare seedes besides by GuiUuume Boel and imparted to Mr. Coys of Stubbers in
Essex in love, as a lover of rare plants, but to me of debt, for going into Spaine
almost wholly on my charge hee brought mee little else for my mony, but
while I beate the bush another catcheth and eateth the bird : so while I with
care and cost sowed them yearely hoping first to publish them, another that
never saw them unlesse in my Garden, nor knew of them but by a coUaterall
friend, prevents me whom they knew had their descriptions ready for the
Presse."

It would not be easy no\Y to identify these exotic species
first grown in an Essex garden. The querulous allusion would
seem to be to Johnson, whose " agility '' and " younger yeares ''
are slightingly referred to in Parkinson's address ' To the
Reader,' since these -plants grown from seeds given to him by
Coys in 1620 and 162 1 are described in the Appendix to his
edition of Gerard (pp. 1626 — 1629). It is only fair to add that
Johnson (p. 1628) acknowledges having gathered some of these
seeds " in the garden of my good friend Mr. Joli. Parkinson an
Apothecary of London, Anno 1616."

The Rose Willow, figured on p. 1430, and stated on the
next page to occur " in sundry places of Essex " is an aggrega-
tion of leaves terminating a shoot of Salix alba E., 5. fragilis L.,
5. capvca L., or other species, whether pollarded or not, and
replacing the scales of a catkin or the foliage-leaves of an
ordinary bud. "The gall" for gall it is, "consists of an
imbricate mass of shortened, sessile, and crowded leaves ; in the
centre is a small, hard, inner gall, which contains one or more
larvae of the gall-gnat . . . Cccidoniyia vosaria H. Loew.'"'"

30 E \. Fitch, " The Galls of Essex," Trans. Essex Field Club, vol. ii., p. 148 ; M. T.
Masters, Vegetable Teratology (1869), p. 16S.

HISTORY OF ESSEX BOTANY.

179

With reference to subsequent accusations it is necessary to
mention that Parkinson says, on the title-page of the Theatrnm,
that " the chiefe notes of Dr. Lobel, Dr. Bonham, and others "
are " inserted therein "' ; and, on p. 1060 of the same work, that
certain matter " he prevented by death faiHng to perform it, I
have by purchasing his Workes with my money here supplied."
As we know Lobel to have visited Coys and have little clue to
Parkinson's being in the county, it is possible that all these
Essex records may belong to Lobel, as do others not published
until 1655 when Dr. How, whose Phytologia had appeared five
years previously, issued the fragment known as Lobel's
Illnstvationes.

Though chronologically Lobel should have been mentioned
earlier, we may insert a short account of him here. Born at
Lille, in Flanders, in 1538, the son of Jean de Lobel, a lawyer,
and early acquiring a taste for botany, he matriculated in the
faculty of medicine at Montpellier 22 May, 1565, choosing
Rondelet, Regius Professor of Medicine "pro parente." Here he
made the acquaintance of Pierre Pena, a Provencal who had
matriculated in the same faculty a few weeks before, but was
probably Lobel's senior. Rondelet dying the following year
bequeathed his botanical manuscripts to Lobel and the two
fellow-students came to England. Here in 1571 they published
Stirpium Adversaria . . . authorihus Pctro Pena et Mathia de
Lobel Med ids,'" a work of great importance, containing, says
Pulteney,^- " the first sketch, rude as it is, of a natural method of
arrangement."

Pena seems soon afterwards to have abandoned botany,
becoming Secret Ph3'sician to Henri HL, and dying worth more
than 600,000 livres ! In 1576 Lobel published, through Plantin,
the great Antwerp printer, Observatioiies, with i486 illustrations,
Plantin buying 800 copies of the Adversaria from the London
printer Thomas Purfoot for 1200 florins and binding them at the
end of the Observationes with the new joint title Plantarum sen
Stirpium Histnria MatthicB de Lobel Insulani and a new title-page.
For this work Philip II. in 1577 decreed to Lobel a recompense
of 50 livres and in 1581 the whole was published in Dutch, with

31 In his Guide to the Literature of Botany (iSSi), p. xxxL, Mr. B. D. Jackson wrote of
Pena as Lobel's '• shadowy colleague." Since then M. Ludovic Legr^, in his Pierre Pena et
Mathias de Lobel (Marseilles, iSyg), has thrown a flood of li^ht upon this "shadowy"
personality, showing that most of the continental travel previous to 1565 alluded to in their
joint work was Pcna's and that his name, though subsequently dropped by Lobel, probably
came first on the title-page as that ot the senior and chief author. The dedication is dated
Christmas Eve, 1570; the colophon January ist, 1371.

32 Historical . . . Sketches, i., p. loi.

l8o HISTORY OF ESSEX BOTANY.

a total of 21 16 figures, under the name Kvuydthoeck. A copy of
this edition with the figures coloured is now in the Musee
Plantin-Moretus at Antwerp. At the same time an impression
of the icons, with 75 additional ones, was printed in an oblong
quarto, and in 1591 this was reprinted with " an index, in seven
languages, which rendered it a very popular book for many
years."" In 1592 Lobel went to Denmark in the train of Queen
Elizabeth's ambassador, Lord Edward Zouch, and, apparently
after this, he had the charge of a physic garden at Hackney, of
which Lord Edward paid the expenses. He obtained the title
of Botanographer to King James I, published a second edition
of the Advevsavia in 1605, and died at Highgate, 3rd March, 1616.
He had a daughter married to Mr. James Cole or Coel, " a
merchant of London, a lover of plants, and very skilful in the
knowledge of them," to whom we owe the introduction of the
cherry-laurel [Cevasus laiiyo-ceyasus). \s Cole lived at Highgate,
Lobel may have spent his last years in his daughter's house. It
is also nearly certain that Paul de Lobell, the apothecary of
Lyme Street who married the sister of Dr. (afterwards Sir
Theodore) Mayerne, physician to James 1., and who was
employed to give the poison to Sir Thomas Overbury in 1615,
was a son of the botanist. " Lobel had meditated a very large
work, which was to have borne the title of lllustratwnes
Plantarum ; but he lived not to finish it. Some of his papers fell
into the hands of Parkinson, and were incorporated into his
Theatrmn. A fragment of the above-mentioned work was pub-
lished by Dr. How, in 1655 ; which contains the descriptions of
many grasses, and other plants newly discovered, or lately intro-
duced. Of the grasses, many here recorded were first dis-
covered by Lobel. The preface contains some severe censures
on Gerard, and reflexions on the treatment Lobel had received
from booksellers ; all written in a style very reprehensible in a
man of letters."^'' Even a somewhat partial biographer, M.
Edouard Morren, is compelled to admit that " Son caractere
personnel, entache de jactance et d'orgueil, perce trop souvent
dans ses ecrits."^= Lobel's undoubted additions to our Essex
list are mainl}' in this fragment of the Illustvatioues, though there
is one other on which I must give a few details. In Parkinson's
Thcatvum, pp. 1234 and 1236, appears the following record : —

33 Pulteney, cp. at. p. 105.

34 Pulteney loc. cit.

35 Matthias de I'Obel, sa vie et ses ceiivres.

HISTORY OF ESSEX BOTANY. l8l

" 2, Limonium medium Anglicum. The Colchester Marsh Buglosse. This
other sort is like unto the former, but lesser in leaves, and lower in stalkes,
being little more than a foote high, the flowers are of the same colour with it,
and almost as great, but the roote being reddish is much lesse . . The

second is of our owne Land found out by Doctor Lobcl, in the fieldes neere the
Sea by Colchester."

The " former " is undoubtedly Statice limonium L. When
Gibson writes " Gerard's figure seems quite as like S. hahusiensis ;
but he does not distinguish the plants " {Flora p. 252), he, pre-
sumably from his reference, refers to Johnson's figure [Ger. em.
p. 411) and not to Gerard's (Herbal, p. 332), though neither, to
my mind, much resemble the species we now know as 5. rarifiora