THE ESSEX FIELD CLUB. 81
after the manner of oakum-picking by a family of mice, and utilised as a domicile,
and the chestnuts had served as food through the winter, only two remaining.
Dr. Laver said that the nest was the most curious one he had ever seen, and a
picture of it should be published. He had seen a good deal of oakum-picking
(laughter), but had never met with a better example of that useful art.2
On behalf of Mr. E. A. Fitch, who was unfortunately compelled to leave the
meeting early, Mr. Walter Crouch exhibited a few marine forms from the River
Crouch, being two living examples of the beautiful sea-anemone, Actinia mesem-
bryanthemum ; some pretty varieties of the voracious tingle, Purpura lapillus; a
few large Modiola modiolus, or cock-mussel; a specimen of the small cockle,
Cardium exiguum ; and some live oyster-spat deposited on glass, which might
safely be pronounced as tame, having been carefully watched for nearly a year.
These, and other specimens which were received by Mr. Crouch some weeks ago,
had been captured by the indefatigable John Bacon, whose recent haul (on Easter
Monday) of six adult specimens of Homo insapiens, capsized at Cricksea Hole,
and the loss of some of the party, will probably be within the recollection of many
members.
Mr. Walter Crouch also exhibited a fine photograph of our late hon. member,
Sir Richard Owen, K.C.B., F.R.S., etc.—an excellent portrait, taken about six
years ago ; also some engravings and prints of other portraits ; views of his house
and plan of the garden at Sheen Lodge ; of the whale vertebra seat, library, and
the clock on the staircase, formerly belonging to Dr. Hunter. He also showed a
photograph of the two altar-tombs in Wanstead Churchyard to the memory of
some members of the old Huguenot family of Froysell, from whom the late Pro-
fessor claimed descent on the maternal side.
Mr. Crouch mentioned that the Owen Memorial Fund, to which the Club had
made a contribution of three guineas, had now reached over £900, the proposal
being to erect a marble statue in the British Museum of Natural History, and
also, if possible, to issue a complete bibliography of his numerous contributions to
science. A biography is also in course of preparation, which will be written by
his grandson, the Rev. R. Owen, and Mr. E. Davies Sherborn, F.G.S. The
latter had for some time before Sir Richard's death been arranging and cata-
loguing his letters (some 20,000 in number) and papers.
Dr. Laver having vacated the chair in favour of Mr. Chancellor, who assumed
the office of President amid applause and some congratulatory words from the
retiring President, Dr. Laver delivered his address, "Periodicity in Organic
Life," showing that animals have periods of abundance and rarity, and that this
is not due to meteorological causes nor to the agency of man.
Mr. Chancellor proposed and Mr. Crouch seconded a hearty vote of thanks to
Dr. Laver for his extremely interesting and instructive paper, which is printed
in full in The Essex Naturalist (ante pp. 51-64).
This brought the first meeting of the amalgamated societies to an end.
2 Master Vigne has very kindly presented this interesting nest to the museum of the Club.
G