THE ESSEX FIELD CLUB.
207
was a royal demesne) was entered. It is undulating and picturesque in places.
In one part are some fine Spanish-chestnut trees, planted in a circle, with a
triangle of three very ancient hollies in the centre. It is not known what these
trees were intended to commemorate. Near the house (a fine Elizabethan brick
mansion) are two very large and ancient oaks.
At the mansion the members were received by Mr. and Mrs. P. W. Colley,
who did all in their power by kind welcome and abundant hospitality, to revive
the spirits of the members after their long walk through the wet woods and lanes.
Luncheon was served in the fine hall, which had been converted for the occasion
into a banqueting room, Mr. Colley taking the chair at one table, and Mr. E. A.
Fitch, president, at the other.
After the luncheon, an Ordinary Meeting (the 102nd) was held, the President in
the chair. The following were elected members : Messrs. G. Calver, F.R.A.S.,
Harris Smith, Thomas Tiley, and M. L. Glyndwr Vaughan.
The President said that as they were then holding an official meeting of the
Club, it was his pleasing duty to propose a very hearty vote of thanks to their
kind host and hostess. When the Club asked Mr. Colley for permission to go
through the High Woods, he made only one condition, which was, that they
should come to Writtle Park to lunch. (Laughter and cheers). Mr. Miller
Christy seconded the motion, which was carried by acclamation.
Mr. Colley, in response, said that he and Mrs. Colley were very glad to find such
a large attendance. He regarded those present as neighbours, and he was very
glad to welcome them in a friendly way without ceremony. He thought the
weather was a special compliment to their conductor, Mr. Christy, who was so
well-known for his liking for water. They did not have such a horrible downfall
once in six months. (Laughter). He hoped there might be another meeting in
that neighbourhood at some future time. He would certainly have met the Club
at the railway station, but he never dreamt of their pursuing an outdoor entertain-
ment in such weather. They had won his admiration by their plucky conduct in
the field that day. (Laughter.)
Mr. W. Cole proposed, and Prof. R. Meldola seconded, the resolutions respect-
ing the gift of "Oakhills" enclosure to Epping Forest, by Sir T. Fowell Buxton
and Mr. E. N. Buxton, which have been already set out in the Essex Naturalist
(see "An Addition to Epping Forest," ante pp. 57—60). The resolutions were
carried unanimously.
Prof. Meldola brought up the subject of Geological Photography, and mentioned
that a scheme had been drawn up by the Geological Section of the British Asso-
ciation for the purpose of encouraging the systematic taking of photographs of
sections in every county, for future reference. He thought it highly desirable that
the Club should take action in this matter.
Mr. A. P. Wire and Mr. Gillham made some remarks on this subject, and
promised to give all the assistance in their power in carrying out any plans for
photographing geological sections from time to time exposed in Essex.
Mr. J. E. Harting read the paper entitled, "Of Hawks and Hounds in Essex
in the Olden Time," already printed in Essex Naturalist (ante pp. 189—198).
Mr. Fitch, in thanking Mr. Harting for his paper, remarked on the interest of
these old records of falconry in Essex, which came in so well to supplement Mr.
Mann's expositions of modern falconry (see E. N. ii, pp. 207—221). It was
curious now to hear of the great value set upon a falcon in the days of yore—so
great that large manors were held by the service of supplying or keeping a hawk—
and of the great expense our kings and nobles were put in obtaining instruction in