THE ESSEX FIELD CLUB.
291
(found by Mr. Gibson inside a Buccinum undatum, and figured by Searles V.
Wood in his monograph of the "Crag Mollusca") and a reversed Nassa reticosa
(the only other one known being in the collection of Prof. Wiltshire), attracted
special notice. A fine specimen of Xiphias jaw (Cetacean) was noted as the gem
of a small but good mammalian collection from the Red Crag, to illustrate which
a magnificent mastodon tooth, whole and unworn, from the Tertiary deposits of
the United States, was shown, and greatly admired.
It is quite impossible within the limits of a report to notice a tithe of the interest-
ing collections which were brought under the notice of the visitors. For a good
general account of the origin and development of the Museum, the reader may
refer to Prof. Boulger's sketch in "Life Lore" for November, 1888.
In the collection of British Mammals, attention was called to the white aberration
of the Hedgehog, and a Mole of the same colour, both from near Saffron Walden.
Many remarkable "varieties" of the Common Shrew, and of the Water
Shrew (Sorex fodiens) from Walden were also noticed. Also the following
notable local specimens :—Badger, one taken at Audley End in 1837, and
one at Thaxted in 1885 ; Black Rat, from Harlow ; Pole-cat from Radwinter,
and many aberrations of the long-tailed Mouse, and the Common Mouse. There
are collections of Birds' Eggs, insects (including a large collection of Lepidoptera
formerly belonging to Mr. Gibson), shells, and a valuable herbarium. Great
interest was shown in Mr. Maynard's models of Fungi; they are certainly the most
skilful and life-like representations of the living forms as growing in a state of
nature that we have yet seen.
In the upper rooms, Mr. Maynard's drawings of the Bartlow Hills, and the various
objects found during the excavations, attracted attention ; also the skeletons from
the Saxon cemetery in Mr. Gibson's grounds. The visitors were also shown the
large collection of prints and drawings of ancient Walden, and portraits of Henry
Winstanley, the builder of the first Eddystone Lighthouse (he was born at
Walden in 1644, and perished in the lighthouse which he had spent some years in
building in the great storm of 1703, which carried all before it), and the late Mr.
G. S. Gibson, the author of the "Flora of Essex" and a munificent benefactor to
the Museum and town.8
Afterwards visits were made by bodies of the members to the castle, the church
(under the guidance of the rector), to Mr. Joshua Clarke's house, "The Croft,"
where his magnificent collections of humming birds, birds of Paradise, flint
implements, and gallery of modern pictures afforded great pleasure. Mrs. Gibson's
house was also visited, where the fine library was inspected, and the site of the
Saxon cemetery above alluded to was pointed out.
At Mrs. Tuke's kind invitation, the members partook of "afternoon tea" at the
Friends' Schoolroom.
In the evening an Ordinary Meeting (the 103rd) was held (by the kind per-
mission of the Mayor, Mr. Stebbing Leverett) in the Town Hall, Mr. E. A. Pitch,
President, in the chair.
The following were elected members of the Club:—Miss J. R. Corcoran,
Messrs. P. Gellatley, J.P., D.L. (Verderer of Epping Forest), J. H. Gough, B.A.,
F. Landon, J. Weston Lay, J.P., C. W. Parker, J.P., T. A. Pooley, B.Sc,
F.C.S., G.W.J. Potter, G. Shadrake, F. Smoothy, J. M.Wood, C. E., and
Thomas Young.
8 Mr. Maynard has kindly drawn up a MS, account of some of the collections, which may be
seen in the Library of the Essex Field Club.