62
THE DEER OF EPPING FOREST.
By the 4th section of the "Epping Forest Act, 1878," the deer
are transferred to the Conservators, to be preserved as objects of
ornament in the forest. Long may they remain to delight the eyes
of the rambler in these ancient woodlands.
Inula crithmoides, L. (Golden Samphire). - Since handing my "Report
on the Flowering Plants growing in the neighbourhood of Colchester" to our
Hon. Secretary for publication, I have learnt that the above plant has been found
recently on Mersea Island, by Miss M. Gripper ; and a few days since, on looking
at some plants sent me by Mr. F. Smith, I found a specimen of the plant, which
he had collected at St. Osyth. Both these habitats are mentioned in Gibson's
"Flora of Essex ;" but as it is a somewhat rare species, readers of the Essex
Naturalist will sympathize with my pleasure at being able to cross it out of
my list of lost plants. The golden samphire, like the marsh samphire, is some-
times confused by tyros with the true samphire, and has occasionally been used
for pickling.—J. C. Shenstone, Colchester, February, 1887.
Neolithic Celts at Felstead.—It may be of interest to some of the readers
of the Essex Naturalist to know that in September, 1886, I found a very good
neolithic celt lying on a stubble field about two miles to the north of Felstead.
The stone is in exceedingly good preservation, having only two small pieces
chipped out from the place where it was evidently hafted. It measures five inches
in length and two and a half in width, and is made from a yellowish-grey flint,
which has weathered to a light yellowish-brown. It is beautifully polished, and has
smooth and flattened edges, the upper edge being much more arched than the
lower. The pointed end has evidently been much worn, from use, and it is some-
what remarkable that the wider end has not been fashioned with an edge, so that
only the pointed end appears to have been used. Some time ago I found another
of a somewhat unusual shape, but this one has not been worked up like the polished
one. It measures 4 in. X 2 in., and is not polished. The chipping is very good
and sharp, and a cutting edge has been formed at one end, and along one side,
by alternate chipping. It is made from a clear black flint, but has evidently not
been made for hafting. Part of the weathered surface of the flint has been left on,
but all the sharp edges have been chipped away and smoothed down, so that it can
be held easily and comfortably in the hand.—Rev. A. W. Rowe, M.A., F.G.S.,
Felstead, 4th Feb., 1887.
Silene Otites, Sm. in Essex.—In the "Journal of Botany" for February
(vol. xxv., p. 56) Mr. William Whitwell writes as follows:—"In 'Jour. Bot.,'
1880, p. 344, Mr. R. A. Pryor reported his discovery of this species on the Roman
wall at Colchester, 'in a somewhat exposed situation to the north of the town, by
the foothpath to the river.' This was the first notice of its occurrence in Essex.
On September 15th, 1886, I found several specimens of the plants growing on the
top of the walls of Colchester Castle. This locality is about half a mile distant
from Mr. Pryor's, and the ruins of the Roman wall do not extend far from his point
in the direction of the Castle. The Castle may therefore, I think, be accounted
a wholly independent station ; though, of course, the same causes, natural or
otherwise, which occasioned the appearance of the species in the one spot will
also account for it in the other. The plants were six or eight in number, dwarfed
as to height (4 to 6 in.), each plant much tufted, with the perennial stock thick,
and almost woody—very different in appearance from tall (18 to 21 in.) and
graceful specimens kindly given me by Mr, Herbert Goss, F.L.S., and gathered
by him on roadsides at Tuddenham St. Mary, Suffolk. My find throws no light
on the inquiry whether or not Silene otites is native to Essex. It is an interesting
question whether at Colchester the plant extends along the whole of the remains
of the Roman wall, and to the other ruins in that old town ; also, further, whether
it is to be found in less apparently artificial situations than upon ancient walls.
On these points I have not yet succeeded in obtaining information ; but I hope to
be more fortunate during the present year." We shall be glad to have Mr. Shen-
stone's remarks on the above.—Ed. E.N.