THE ESSEX FIELD CLUB.
223
could be based, and so enabling a judgment to be formed as to the mycological
riches of the county. Lists of the other groups would be prepared and published
as soon as possible.
The President in proposing a very hearty vote of thanks to Dr. Cooke and
Mr. Massee for their valuable aid during the two days' meeting, and also to the
various exhibitors that evening, said that he felt sure all present would learn
with deep regret that the absence of their constant fellow-helper in former years,
Mr. James English, was caused by very serious illness.
The votes of thanks were passed by acclamation, and the remainder of the
evening was devoted to the examination of the numerous specimens upon the
tables.
Ordinary Meeting, Saturday, November 12th, 1887.
The Eighty-second Ordinary Meeting was held at the Public Hall, Loughton,
at seven o'clock, Mr. T. V. Holmes, President, in the chair during the
earlier part of the evening, and afterwards Prof. Meldola.
The Hon. Librarian read out a long list of books, "Transactions," Journals
and pamphlets, received by donation, purchase, or exchange, and a vote of
thanks was returned to the several donors.
The Secretary exhibited on behalf of Mr. W. Greatheed, several photographs
taken of the Deneholes during the recent explorations. Also photographs by
the same gentleman of the blocks of sandstone on Orsett Heath, and at
Corringham, Essex. Particulars of these blocks will be given in the Essex
Naturalist.
Mr. C. Oldham exhibited a box containing specimens of moths, taken in
Epping during this year, including Dicycla oo, L, and Xanthia aurago, Fb.,
and a very curious pale form of Amphipyra pyramided, Och,
Mr. T. V. Holmes then read the following paper :—" Report on the Denehole
Explorations in Hangman's Wood, near Grays, Essex, during 1884-87. By T.
V. Holmes and William Cole." The Report gave a full account of the work
done under direction of the Denehole Exploration Committee, together with a
summary of the opinions which had been held by various writers as to the
objects of the makers of these pits. The report includes two short papers by
Mr. Rudler and Mr. E. T. Newton.
A paper by Mr. F. G. Bennett, F.G.S., entitled "Notes on Chalk-Wells,"
was also read. This paper will be published as an appendix to the report on
the deneholes.
Prof. Meldola (who took the chair during the reading and discussion of the
report), in proposing a hearty vote of thanks to Mr. Holmes and Mr. Cole for
their persevering efforts to solve the mystery of the Deneholes, and for the very
clear and able manner in which Mr. Holmes had summed up the available
evidence, said that although it was not usual to discuss a "Report" when
presented to a Society, yet in view of the special circumstances of the case he
thought they might break through the rule that evening. He thought that the
report made out a very good case adverse to the well-known "chalk-pit"
hypothesis, and that was an important conclusion, because he knew that several
eminent anthropologists still clung to that explanation of the original intention of
the constructors of the pits. He thought that the Committee had done all in
their power in spite of the special difficulties of the problem, to effect a solution