50 THE ESSEX FIELD CLUB.
Mr. C. Oldham exhibited a box of Forest lepidoptera, including Euthemonia
russula, and Zygaena filipendula from Theydon Bois.
Mr. Crouch referred to observations he had made on the sun-spots which had
been so prevalent during the last few weeks, and Prof. Meldola remarked how
readily observations on sun-spots could be male by using the telescope for pro-
jecting the image of the sun on a screen. Sketches could easily thus be traced.
A paper was read "On the occurrence of Crepidula fornicata, Linn., off the
Coast of Essex," by Mr. Crouch (see p. 36) who exhibited specimens of the Cre-
pidula in illustration of his remarks.
Mr. George Day, F.R.M.S., then read a paper on "Some Essex Folk Lore,"
an abstract of which will be printed in The Essex NATURALIST.
The Chairman thought that the members would welcome Mr. Day's paper on
a subject of very considerable interest in connection with beliefs and fancies
current in early stages of civilisation, and one which even possessed a distinct
scientific value in itself. A long discussion on various points in the paper was
carried on by the Chairman, Prof. Boulger, Mr. F. C. Gould, Mr. Wire, Rev. W.
C. Howell, Mr. Varley, Mr. Day, and others.
During the discussion Mr. Crouch exhibited, on behalf of Mr. G. E. Pritchett,
F.S.A., who had to leave early, a forked hazel branch which had lately been used as a
"divining rod" for finding water, and demonstrated the manner in which it had
been held by the "water finder," Mr. W. Stone, for the purpose. Mr. Pritchett
was present when it was employed in January last at Thremhall Priory, Takeley
Street, near Bishop's Stortford, the present residence of Mrs. Archer Houblon. A
spring of water was subsequently found at the spot where the rod had bent down,
whilst tightly held in the hands of Mr. Stone, who claims thereby to have dis-
covered the exact place. On the second occasion, when the "divining rod" was
used by Mr. Stone at Uphall, near Braughing, Herts, last February, Mr.
Pritchett was not present. It was held firmly, and when the right spot as sup-
posed was traversed, the "rod" was drawn down, causing one branch of the
fork to split. The ground selected was afterwards dug for fifty-five feet, but no
water has been found and further search for water at that spot has been aban-
doned for the present.
A vote of thanks to Mr. Crouch and Mr. Day for their papers concluded the
business of the meeting.
The 14th Annual General Meeting and 146th Ordinary Meeting.
Saturday, March 31st, 1894.
The 14th Annual General Meeting of the Club was held in the Buckhurst
Hill Hall, Buckhurst Hill, at six o'clock, the President, Mr. F. Chancellor, in the
chair.
Desiring, if possible, to catch an early train back to Chelmsford (in which
endeavour he was, unfortunately, not successful), Mr. Chancellor, by consent of
the meeting, read his Address before the commencement of the formal business.
The subject was "A Sketch of the Development of Architecture in Essex," which
was illustrated by a large number of wall-diagrams, specially drawn for the
occasion by Mr. Wykeham Chancellor. The address will be printed in full in
The Essex Naturalist.
At the commencement of the formal business, the Secretary read the minutes