THE ESSEX FIELD CLUB.
181
Mr. St. John Parker and Mr. Ed. Dadswell exhibited under the microscope
many interesting forms of life, including Cristatella mucedo from Epping Forest,
and many prepared botanical specimens were also shown by means of the numerous
microscopes brought to the meeting.
Tea was taken about 5 o'clock, and afterwards an Ordinary Meeting (the
141st) was held in the saloon, Mr. T. V. Holmes, Vice-President, in the chair.
The following were elected members of the Club :—Captain T. C. D. Whit-
more, Messrs E. W. J. Arman and Walter Withall.
Mr. W. Cole announced that Mr. G. P. Hope had presented to the Museum of
the Club his fine Herbarium of Marine Algae from the Harwich district, which
was exhibited that evening, as well as some fossils from Walton-Naze, and
bronze Celts from Havering. A special vote of thanks was passed to Mr. Hope
for his valuable donation.
Prof. Boulger sent for exhibition an abnormal specimen of Polyporus lucidus
with no terminal pileus. It was found growing from timbers at the bottom of the
(nearly dry) well at Epsom College, October, 1893.
Mr. Mothersole, the Assistant at the Museum, sent for exhibition and pre-
sentation to the Club a very peculiar double abnormal fruit of the Medlar, from
a garden at Chelmsford, 1893.
Dr. Cooke then reported on the botanical observations of the day, describing
the season as the worst for many years in his experience for the growth of fungi.
Dr. Cooke also read a "Preliminary List of the Fresh-water Algae of Essex," see
pp. 170-179. This paper, he said, was simply intended as a starting-point, so that
observers might know the species already recorded for the county. He hoped
that numerous additions to the list would speedily be made, so that they might
get to know the richness of Essex in this tribe of plants.
Dr. Cooke also alluded to Mr. Hope's fine collection, and hoped that it would
be used as the foundation for a list of the marine algae of Essex.
The Secretary said that it was intended to submit the herbarium to a well-
known algologist, for examination and cataloguing.
During the evening an interesting discussion took place on the culture of the
mushroom in the open, as an industry in Essex and Herts.
Cordial votes of thanks to Dr. Cooke for his paper, and to him and Dr.
Wharton as conductors were passed, and also to those members and friends who
had kindly brought or sent exhibits for the meeting.
The remainder of the evening was passed in examining the numerous exhibits,
and about 9 o'clock the members were driven to Chingford and Loughton for
home. A word of thanks is due to the landlord of the hotel, Mr. Gumpracht, for
his care and attention, and arrangement of the room, so admirably adapted for the
purposes of our meeting.
The 142ND Ordinary Meeting.
Saturday, November 25th, 1893.
The 142nd Ordinary Meeting of the Club was held in the Vestry Hall, Chelms-
ford at 6.30 o'clock, Prof. R. Meldola, F.R.S., Vice-President, in the chair.
Mr. Chancellor sent a letter of regret that indisposition prevented his taking
the chair as President that evening.
Mr. Thomas Thompson, editor of "The Essex County Chronicle," said he
had brought one of a large number of locusts which had been found in foreign