OBITUARY. 139
Field Club's publications, he has lamented that his infirmities (albeit borne with
patience and contentment) prevented his taking part in the work of the society,
and the fact that some such body was not in existence thirty years ago when he
was an active man, and would have taken great interest in its proceedings; his
words were "There is nobody in this neighbourhood who cares for, or has any
knowledge of the things you take up."
Mr. Benson leaves an only daughter, Mrs. Sidney Thorp, of Sible Hedingham,
who is in possession of his herbarium, which would doubtless well repay a careful
examination. The publication of the following notes from his annotated copy
of Gibson's "Flora" may be useful:—
Adonis autumnalis, L. Amongst wheat, North Fambridge, 1874.
Nymphaea alba, L. The authority given in Gibson's "Flora of Essex," page
12,1. 25, "B," is not Mr. Benson's.
Corydalis lutea, D.C. Garden walls, Sible Hedingham ; not wild.
Barbarea praecox, R. Br. Stow Maries and Danbury, but in both stations a
palpable escape.
Sisymbrium sophia, L. North Fambridge; not seen for many years, 1863.
Senebiera didyma, Pers. Observed about Danbury Common for 36 years,
1868 ; first found in 1832.
Lychnis diurna, Sibth. In Dengie Hundred much more common than L.
vespertina.
Melilotus vulgaris, Willd. Once as a weed in my garden.
Trifolium ochroleucum, L, and T. arvense, L. Both from Maplestead.
T. hybridum, L. North Fambridge, an escape from cultivation. Lane
between Sible Hedingham and Great Maplestead, and apparently naturalized, 1865-
Lathyrus hirsutus, L. We pleased him by still finding this in his lane about
five years ago.*
Hippuris vulgaris, L. Sible Hedingham.
Petroselinum sativum, Hoffm. Sible Hedingham, but cultivated in that
neighbourhood for seed and probably an escape.
Crepis setosa, Hall. Clover Field, North Fambridge.
Lycium barbarian, L. Sible Hedingham.
Melampyrum arvense, L. One plant among tares, North Fambridge, 1863.
Euphorbia lathyrus, L. Stow Maries.
Juncus compressus, Jacq. "North Fambridge B," in Gibson, should refer to
J. gerardi. E. A. F.
Lieutenant-Colonel Champion Russell, J.P,, D.L., etc.
This excellent Essex naturalist and sportsman died at his house, "Stubbers,"
North Ockendon, on Monday, May 16th, aged 66. He had been in ill-health
since the beginning of the year, and in February he went for a trip in his yacht
to Holland, but the change did not benefit him. When he returned early in
March he was seriously ill, and was never able to leave his room again. Colonel
* July 14th, 1887. Mr. W. H. Harwood and myself have just returned home from the sale of
Mr. Benson's books, etc., at Fambridge. We could have gathered a good wheelbarrow load of
Lathyrus hirsutus, if so minded ; some in flower, but mostly in fruit. L. nissolia was common
with it. Of butterflies the larvae of Euchloe cardamines was present in his garden, and common
on the charlock by the road side ; several Thecla W. album were settled on the thistle heads by
the side of Fambridge Hill Wood. The larvae of Eremobia ochroleuca were conspicuous on a
species of grass by the roadside, and many "nests" of the caterpillars of Eriogaster lanestris were
noticed in the hedges. A female Zeusera pyrini (asculi) was found in the middle of the high
road.—E. A. Fitch.