THE ESSEX FIELD CLUB. 225
from Maldon : Agaricus melleus, A. radicatus, A. dryophilus, A. galericalatus,
A. fasciculus, A. hydrophilus, Russula lepida, Lactarius vellereus, Lycoperdon gemma-
turn, &c.
By the kindness of Mr. Pritchett some of the members had an opportunity of
inspecting the immense blocks of conglomerate from Farnham (vide E.N. iii. 89),
in the grounds of "Oak Hall," as well as his most interesting and extensive
collection of antiquities, old carved oak, &c., &c.
Ordinary Meeting, Saturday, November 8th, 1890.
The 118th Ordinary Meeting was held in the Loughton Public Hall at 7 o'clock,
the President in the chair.
The following were elected members of the Club:—Messrs. J. A. Clark,
M.P.S., F.E.S., G. W. Hill, Adam Rankine, H.M. Inspector of Schools, Horace
W. Monckton, F.G.S., Rev. J. E. Symns, M.A., Rev. E. W. Thomas, A.K.C., and
Miss H. L. Maryon.
The Librarian read a long list of donations and other acquisitions to the
library, and thanks were voted to the donors. Mr. Chancellor's fine book, "The
Ancient Sepulchral Monuments of Essex," recently purchased, was on the table.
The Rev. W. C. Howell referred to the account of an Edible Fungus of New
Zealand (Hirneola polytrichia, Montague) contained in the "Kew Bulletin" for
October (No. 46), 1890.2 The market for this fungus is China, where it is
largely used in soups with farinaceous seeds, and also as a medicine. During the
past twelve years no less than 1,858 tons of this fungus have been exported from
New Zealand, valued at £79,752.
Prof. Meldola read from the same periodical the results of the chemical
examination of this fungus by Prof. Church, F.R.S.
Mr. C. Oldham made a long ;series of exhibits, including aberrations of
various species of Lepidoptera, and a specimen of the new butterfly, Hesperia lineola
taken by himself in Huntingdonshire. Also the head of a domestic duck, with its
upper beak considerably shorter than the under one ; a sand-lizard (Lacerta agilis)
found at South Woodford, and a specimen of Sirex gigas caught at Woodford
(ante, p. 137), and other specimens.
Mr. Walter Crouch exhibited specimens of a fresh-water Sponge (Spongilla
fluviatilis) from the River Roding, near Wanstead. Mr. Cole remarked that
he believed the sponge to be not uncommon in the Lea and its tributaries.
Mr. Gillham exhibited and presented to the Club some photographs of growing
plants taken by himself, for the purpose of showing the utility of photography in
the practical study of plant forms and especially in tracing the development of
species from the seedling to the perfect flowering plant. Also a few photographs
of geological "sections."
Prof. Meldola called attention to the work of the British Association Com-
mittee on Geological Photography, and distributed some circulars issued by the
committee giving instructions for workers in this direction. He was glad that
Mr. Gillham had made a start, and he commended the subject to the consideration
of photographic members of the Club.
Prof. Boulger suggested that it was highly desirable some plan should be
devised so that the photographs collected by the committee might be available
for general study and for teaching purposes.
2 See also "Grevillea," vol. X. p. 59—"A Curious Trade in Fungus."—Ed.