277
THE ESSEX FIELD CLUB.
Field Meeting at Burnham, round the Islands of Essex, Southend,
Leigh, Hadleigh Castle, and South Benfleet.1
Friday and Saturday, July I2th and 13th, 1889.
This, the great meeting of the season, was very numerously attended, and thanks
to the great kindness shown by many friends, it was a complete success, and was
thoroughly enjoyed by all.
An elaborate programme of 8 pages of close print was prepared by Mr. Fitch,
Mr. Cole, and Mr. Dalton, who, with Dr. Murie, Prof. Boulger, Mr. C. A.
Wright, F.L.S., and Mr. E. M. Holmes, F.L.S., acted as "conductors." Some
members went down to Burnham on Thursday, when Mr. J. T. Rogers put
the "Fame," fully manned, at the disposal of the President and Secretary, and an
enjoyable day's dredging and trawling was indulged in. Nothing special was
found, except three or four oyster spat, the hopeful first-fruits of what subsequently
proved a most disappointing season. Specimens of various marine zoological forms
were collected and preserved. These were exhibited on the following day, but
owing to the unfortunate illness of Dr. Murie, their catalogue cannot here be
added, but may possibly form the subject' of a further note.
The party landed at Stokes Hall Cliffs, Althorne, and made a fairly exhaustive
entomological and botanical examination. The Yellow-wort (Chlora perfoliata) was
found in abundance, with brilliant tufts of its close ally, the pink-flowering Centaury
(Erythroea centaurium), and the not uncommon Essex "escape," Coriandrum sati-
vum. These plants are characteristic of dry pastures or downs, and are supposed to
be a sure index to lime in the soil. Here they were growing in a small bushy thicket
on the banks of a salt-water estuary and within a yard of high-water mark, at the base
of a London Clay cliff. The only lime anywhere near was that in the Septaria or
claystones and in the shells of the whelk-tingle (Purpura lapillus)—that arch-enemy
of the petted oyster—which were lying in heaps on the shore. It is worthy of
remark that the field above is called "Hunger Downs"—a richly deserved name.
The only other at all noteworthy plants noticed were the Spurge Laurel (Daphne
laureola), which was exceptionally luxuriant, and the pretty variably coloured
flowers of the Milkwort (Polygala vulgaris). A few common butterflies were
about, and several moths were beaten out of the low growth of blackthorn, oak,
&c., but nothing was obtained in the insect way deserving of special notice.
Mr. E. M. Holmes, F.L.S., brought with him from near Cricksey Ferry specimens
of Arctium majus and A. minus, and a Potamogeton, believed to be P. filiformis
but more probably P. pectinatus. Lotus tenuis and L. major were noticed in the
old bed of the Crouch between Canewdon and Wallasey; Lactuca virosa, Carex
vulpina, and Coriandrum sativum by roadsides at Canewdon. One of the preva-
lent docks about Burnham he identified as Rumex pulcher; and by the road to the
church, Glyceria fluitans, and in the churchyard Ulmus campestris, var. laevis, were
recognised. On the tower of the church were Polypodium vulgare and Sedum acre,
whilst its surface was warmly coloured by Parmelia parietina and other lichens.
Mr. Holmes recorded the lichen Squamaria saxicola as being in fine condition on
the wall near the mill at Burnham.
1 The Editor acknowledges his indebtedness to Mr. Fitch, Mr. Dalton, Prof. Boulger, and Mr.
Wright, for much of the material from which this report was compiled. As noticed on page 225,
this and the following reports are printed out of their order of date.