126 THE ESSEX FIELD CLUB.
the history of the moth in Essex, by the Editor, will be found in Essex
Naturalist, i., 120.]
Mr. Acland spoke of a worse case, also that of a London collector, who not
only used to cram his sack in the manner described, but would destroy the
remainder of the plant as far as he could for fear other people should find the
larvae,
Mr. W. White said that the feeling of the Club on the subject was well known,
as they had discussed that matter some years age, and they most emphatically
condemned such selfish and unworthy conduct.10
Mr. Fitch said that he had been most anxious to find the insect in his own neigh-
bourhood (Maldon) where there was a good extent of sea-wall, but hitherto his
efforts had been unsuccessful.
Votes of thanks to the Directors of the meeting brought the business of the
evening to a close. Many of the members had to leave early in order to catch the
return train to London, but others remained at Colchester until the Tuesday
morning.
[We have to acknowledge the aid afforded in compiling the above report by Rev.
C. L. Acland, Mr. Fitch, Dr. Laver, and, particularly, by Mr. Greatheed who
took short-hand notes of the evening meeting after our departure to catch the
return train. We have also gratefully to acknowledge the courtesy of Mr. C.
Edwards, the manager of the "Cups Hotel," who did all in his power to ensure the
comfort of the members.—Ed.]
Field Meeting at Laindon Hills, Saturday June 9th, 1888.
(In conjunction with the Geologists' Association.)
" * * * * *
A sput suppass'd by few,
Where toddlers ollis haut to eye
The proper pritty view ;
Where people crake so ov the place,
Leas-ways, so I've hard say;
An' frum its top yow, sartenly,
Can see a monsus way.
'Bout this oad Hill, I warrant ya,
Their bog it nuver ceases ;
They'd growl shud yow nut own that it
Beats Danbury's au'to pieces.''—Charles Clark.
The opening on June 1st, of the new line of railway from Barking to .Pitsea
having made Laindon Hills much more easily accessible than they were when the
old line to Southend via Tilbury was alone available, this excursion of the two
societies was very numerously attended. About ninety members and friends were
present in spite of the unfavourable weather, which, in addition to being showery,
gave little promise of the extensive panoramic views mentioned in the programme,
which result from the position of Laindon Hills as an outlying patch of Bagshot
Beds in the middle of a London Clay district.
10 As an indication of_ the lengths to which this rage for mere collecting is carried, we may
mention that while writing the above report we received a letter from a friend who is staying in
the New Forest and who writes, " * * * * I met a couple of entomologists (?) one of whom told
me that butterflies were common, and that he himself had taken 500 Limenitis sybilla. this
season ! I expressed some astonishment as he appeared to be a gentleman, and asked how he
could possibly exchange so many ? But he told me he did not exchange ; he was getting material
for a design in butterflies. I subsequently saw the same individual (with an assistant) taking
Catocala promissa off the sugar, and he proudly produced a store-box containing over a hundred
specimens of the 'Crimsons.' "This is as bad as some of the exploits of that miserable animal
the battue shooter, and all naturalists and naturalists' clubs should join in repudiating such a gross
sacrilege of nature.— Ed.