THE ESSEX FIELD CLUB. 251
Allium oleraceum.
Juncus maritimus.
J. gerardi.
Zostera marina.
Z. angustifolia.
Scirpus maritimus.
Carex vulpina.
Spartina stricta.
Festuca sciuroides.
Triticum repens var. littoreum, etc., etc.
Mr. E. M. Holmes gathered the following Mosses on the island, but under
conditions noted in the records for Hazeleigh, and very many more probably
occur :—Ceratodon purpureus, L., Physcomitrium pyriforme, L., Bryum capillars,
L., Polytrichum juniperinum, Willd., Brachythecium albicans, Neck., and
Eurhynchium praelongum.
The Lichens observed on Osey included Cladonia furcata, Hffm., C. pyxidata,
Fr., Peltigera canina, L., Physcia parietina, L,, P. pulverulenta, Schreb., Le-
canora ferruginea, Huds., L. aurantiaca, Lightf., L. subfusca, Ach., L. umbrina,
Mass., and L. gibbosa, Ach. (on pebbles.)
Two species of microscopical fungi, both apparently new to Britain, were found
on the Suaeda fruticosa, one belonging to the genus Uromyecs — but precise details
as to these must appear later on.
During the day Mr. Fitch partly read, and partly gave viva voce, an account of
"The Blackwater Estuary," and Mr. T. V. Holmes, F.G.S., had prepared a
paper on "The Geology of Maldon and the Blackwater Estuary"—both these
essays will be printed in a future number of the Essex Naturalist. Mr.
Fitch pointed out the places of interest that could be dimly seen through the
mist as the vessel glided down the estuary. Northey Island (concerning the
geology and entomology of which notes have already appeared in the Essex
Naturalist) was pointed out, and also the site of the Borough or Barrow
Hills, which will be described in Mr. Fitch's paper; Stansgate ("Stone-gate,"
a stone-walk or passage to the water), including Ramsey Island, a hamlet of
Steeple, originally Uluninescherche (Uluuin was one of Edward the Confessor's
theyns, and a man of large Essex possessions) was also indicated. The ruins of
the Priory are in fair preservation, the building now being used as an agricultural
barn. It was an off-shoot of the magnificent Abbey of Clugny, and was founded
before 1176. Osey Island has been already mentioned, and distant views were
also obtained of Mersea, Brightlingsea Town and Church, St. Osyth's Priory, etc.,
and the very interesting building known as Bradwell Chapel, which serves to
point out the site of a buried city, one of the nine Castra of the "Littus Saxoni-
cum," catalogued in the "Notitia Imperii," which was drawn up about A.D.
403. Camden had thrown out the idea that Othona was the "Ithanceastre"
of the Saxons, and the Effeceastre (properly Ethceastre) of Domesday, and had
placed it at St. Peter's Head on the southern bank of the mouth of the estuary.
Philemon Holland in his "Additions" to the "Britannia," confirms this, and
tells us that here were the remains of a huge wall, near which many Roman coins
had been found. Mr. Lewin describes the locality thus :—"St. Peter's Head is a
tongue of land about half a mile broad from north to south, and originally, no doubt,
projected to a considerable distance to the east; at the present day, at low water, a
muddy bank runs out to the extent of about three miles, and for a mile and a half
it is almost level. The changes and freaks of the sea in this part are remarkable.
At present all is mud or ooze, which has observably increased within the last ten
years, but within the memory of man there was no mud, but a clear sand along
the water's edge ; indeed, races were formerly witnessed on the sands, which have
now totally disappeared." About 20 years since a company, called the "Essex