254
THE ESSEX FIELD CLUB.
The voyage came to an end at Springfield Wharf, near Chelmsford, and the
company separated, after hearty congratulations and thanks to Mr. Fitch and
Mr. Durrant, and well pleased with a delightful day.
Field Meeting at St. Osyth and Brightlingsea.
Monday, September 7th, 1891.
Brightlingsea Harbour and Mouth of the Colne, with Martello Tower, No. i.
(From a Sketch by H. A. Cole, August, 1880.)
FAVOURED by glorious weather a large number of members and friends made
an expedition into this interesting district, under the direction of Mr. C. E.
Benham, Mr. J. C. Shenstone, and Prof. Boulger ; Dr. Laver, whose name was
on the programme, being unavoidably absent by reason of professional engage-
ments. Members assembled at Thorington Station about 12.15, many coming
from London, Colchester, Dovercourt, &c. The Secretary came over from
Mersea, the President from West Mersea, having reached there by water a few
days previously from Maldon, and Mr. Walter Crouch walked over from Bright-
lingsea. The business arrangements of the meeting had been kindly taken in
hand by Mr. C. E. Benham, and were admirably managed.
As the London train travelled down, Prof. Boulger pointed out some plants
on the railway banks—Solidago virgaurea, at Brentwood, Eupatorium cannabinum,
Lythrum salicaria and Alnus glutinosa, at Mark's Tey, and Epilobium angustifolium
on the banks at Brentwood and Wyvenhoe.
Leaving Thorington the party proceeded in brakes to St. Osyth, through most
charming flower-decked lanes, the openings in the luxuriant hedgerows affording
delightful glimpses of fields, meadows and woodlands, diversified with pretty
homesteads and picturesque farm buildings. At Thorington a halt was made
to inspect the remarkable oak trees (the pedunculate oak) of enormous girth
near Thorington Church. These trees, with a circumference round the bole vary-