240
THE ESSEX FIELD CLUB.
dissectum, Lotus major, Vicia hirsuta, V. tetrasperma, and V. gracilis ; Agrimonia
eupatoria, Fragaria vesca, Geum urbanum, the beautiful Epilobium angusti-
folium macrocarpum, to every appearance truly wild ; E. hirsutum, E. parviflorum,
and E. roseum; Circaea lutetiana, Arctium majus, Centaurea nigra, Erythraea
centaurium, Myosotis arvensis, Solatium dulcamara, Scrophularia nodosum,
Melampyrum pratense, Veronica officinalis, Prunella vulgaris, Nepeta glechoma,
Stachys betonica, Teucrium scorodonia, Mercurialis perennis, Tamus communis,
and Endymion nutans in fruit. The numerous clearings and paths facilitated
the growth of some of these species, and of others less to be expected, such as
the abundant Lepidium campestre, Lychnis vespertina, Malva sylvestris, Daucus
carota, Lapsana communis, Helminthia echioides, Linaria elatine, Odontites rubra,
and Anagallis arvensis; other species found were Centum maculatum, abundant
Dipsacus sylvestris, rejoicing in the stiff clay, and Heracleum sphondylium ; whilst
among the most interesting were the white form of Erythraea centaurium,
plentiful, and the local Melampyrum cristatum (not recorded by Gibson for this
district; he states that "this showy but local plant quite takes the place of the
commoner M. pratense in the N.W. of Essex, especially near Walden.") Linaria
elatine is a trouble to the farmer in the neighbouring fields ; Mr. Fitch told us
that two fields of wheat had been hoed twice that year, at a cost of seven shillings
per acre, entirely on account of the extraordinary abundance of the plant, almost
the only weed in the fields. It was curious to note violets, primroses, and wood
anemones in bloom in the wood, in company with the autumnal flowers.
A few species of Hepaticae were noted, such as Jungermannia bidentata,
Frullania dilitata, and Pellia calycina. From a cursory inspection of the locality,
Mr. Holmes thought that it would prove, if well searched, to be rich in Fungi;
the species gathered were Agaricus (Amanita) rubescens, Fr. ; A. phalloides, Fr.;
Lactarius vellereus, Fr. ; Cantharellus cibarius, Fr. ; Polyporus lucidus, Fr. ;
P. versicola, Fr.; P. vaporarius, Fr.; Craterellus cornucopioides, Fr. ; Clavaria
vermiculata, Scop.; C. cristata, Holmsk.; Nectria cinnabarina, Fr. ; and
Xylaria hypoxylon, Grev. (the "Candle-snuff Fungus"), common on stumps,
with many others that escaped record at the time.
Quitting the wood, the route led to the manor-house of "Jenkyns," another
of Mr. Fitch's holdings, which was inspected. Here was seen a Roman (?)
coffin, of shell-limestone, found on the farm in the field adjoining the wood
(several others were left in situ), in April, 1838 8 And then, after a long, busy,
merry walk, Maldon was reached, and the company did ample justice to the ex-
cellent tea provided at the "King's Head" Hotel.
8 In the "Chelmsford Chronicle," quoted in the "Gentleman's Magazine" for 1838, the
discovery is thus noted :—" On the 2nd April some labourers, whilst land-ditching in the middle
of a field of 25 acres, upon Jenkin's farm, in the parish of Hazeleigh, and in the occupation of
Mr. Hart, of Woodham Mortimer Hall, discovered a stone coffin about four feet from the
surface. Impressed with the notion that it contained hidden treasure, they hastened to satisfy
their curiosity by breaking the lid, but to their mortification it was found to contain the
remains of a human body, which had in all probability been interred in it centuries ago. Mr.
Hart subsequently examined it, and found the skull and other parts of the skeleton ; the coffin
or box was four inches thick, and about six feet nine inches long." The recorder in the
"Gentleman's Magazine'' (" J. A. R. "J, adds :—"I was informed that the lid of the coffin was
two feet below the surface of the earth. The coffin was placed east and west, containing a
female skeleton. I have examined the stone coffin, which is of shell-limestone, but the bones,
etc., have disappeared, and no urns, but some small fragments, were found outside, which,
from their forms, are undoubtedly Roman. I send you a section of the coffin, showing the
shape of the lid." In the same place is recorded the finding of a stone coffin in "Stoney Hill
Fields," upon Woolshots Farm, in the parish of Ramsden Bellhouse, which was similar to the
other, but without a lid, appearing to have been arched over with flints—it contained a skull
and other bones.