THE ESSEX FIELD CLUB.
281
Skulls from East Tilbury [Mr. Squier].
Considerable interest was also shown in some fragments of the eggs of a very
large bird, from the "Kitchen-Midden" at Great Wakering, stated to be those of
the Great Auk. The President read a letter from Mr. Oldfield Thomas on the
subject, which appears to be worthy of further investigation.
The President took the chair at the 104th Ordinary Meeting of the Club.
The following were elected members :—Mrs. G. Calver, Miss May Cunnington,
Messrs. R. Borrow, R. B. Colvin, J.P., Herbert Finch, S. Harmer, H. Helbing,
H. E. Lester, W. B. Nichols, B. Rose, and A. J. Rose, F.E.S.
The President alluded to the number of interesting specimens which had been
brought together, particularly those exhibited by Mr. Benton (the historian of the
Rochford Hundred) whom he was very glad to see present, Mr. Squier, and Mr.
Foster, and said that the Club was much indebted to the exertions of their local
friends. He also made some remarks upon the life and labours of the late Mr.
Christopher Parsons, the bulk of whose collections were now in the Institute (see
Mr. Fitch's notice of Parsons in Essex Naturalist vol. iii. p. 55, and in Mr.
Christy's "Birds of Essex," pp. 27 and 28).
Mr. Squier and Mr. Miller Christy also gave many particulars of Parsons' work
and collections.
The following papers were read :—
"Fowlness." By Mr. W. H. Dalton, F.G.S. (see page ante 239V
"On some Recent Subsidences near Stifford." By Mr. T. V. Holmes, F.G.S.
(see ante pp. 183—188).
"Birds nesting in the neighbourhood of Leigh." By Mr. Frank Foster.
"The Short-tailed Field Vole and Short-eared Owl in Essex." By Mr. E. A.
Fitch, F.L.S. (see ante pp. 178—182).
A discussion on the papers and exhibits was carried on by the President, Mr.
Squier, Mr. Miller Christy, Prof. Boulger, Mr. Meggy, Mr. Howard Vaughan,
Mr. W. Cole, and others. The President apologised for the absence of Dr. Murie,
who was to have read a paper, but who had over-exerted himself in preparing for
the meeting, and was too unwell to attend that evening. On the motion of the
President, the meeting was adjourned until 11 o'clock on Saturday morning.
At the adjourned meeting the members had an opportunity of more carefully
examining the various specimens exhibited.
Mr. Fitch said that since the previous evening he had had an opportunity, by
the kindness of Mr. Squier, of examining a portion of Mr. Parsons' Entomological
Diary, which contained some references of interest, particularly an account of the
capture of eleven specimens of Papilio machaon in one day at Wakering, or South-
church, on July 31st, 1826.
Prof. Boulger referred to Parsons' Meteorological records, and asked for records
of weather, rainfall, &c., for incorporation in the new edition of Gibson's "Flora
of Essex," which he contemplates producing for the Club.
Dr. Murie, LL.D., F.L.S., then delivered a short lecture on "Thames
Estuary, Past and Present," illustrating it with some coloured diagrams and
sections. And he also made some preliminary remarks on the subject of "Partial
Albinism in Flat-fish," concerning which he proposed to read a paper before the
Club at some future time.
Hearty votes of thanks were passed to the exhibitors and readers of papers, and
also to the Secretary and Committee of the Institute for their kindness in lending
the lecture hall.