204
THE ESSEX FIELD CLUB.
fifty, and devoted the remainder of his life to geological research, and corre-
sponded with Owen, Lyell, and other celebrated men. He published several
important memoirs on Essex Geology, a list of which will be found in the paper
referred to above. The main portions of his collections were bequeathed to Owen,
and they are now in the British Museum, and smaller collections were presented
to the Chelmsford Museum, as noted below. His tomb in the churchyard at St.
Allbright's, Stanway, was pointed out a few hundred yards farther on.
Just past the Stanway "Swan" is a turning to the left that leads to Copford
Plains, and in this leafy lane the party alighted and set about botanising.
It is said that the rare Roman Nettle (Urtica pilulifera) has been recorded as
growing at Copford, but it has not been found for many years, and in spite of a
rigorous search, no specimens could be found on this occasion. On the leaves
of the fragrant Ground Ivy (Nepeta glechoma) were found an abundance of the
great hairy green galls, produced by the little Cynip, Aulax glechomae. At the
close of the perambulation of this most charming spot, Mr. J. C. Shenstone
exhibited some of the typical plants of the district, and remarked upon them,
including some of the species of Stellaria, the horehound (Ballota), and the Veronicas
(Speedwells), a species of which (V. beccabunga), it was pointed out, is the true
forget-me-not, though the legend has somehow attached itself in England to the
Myosotis (Scorpion-grass), and with it the name.
A short drive, and the next halting-place was quickly reached—near Birch
Church, where Dr. Laver conducted the party to a prehistoric relic, known on the
maps as Birch Castle, standing at the S.E. of the church, in the charming old-
world village. A circuit of earthworks is all that remains, and there is no
probability that any but a wooden edifice ever stood as the "castle" within.
Morant says the earthworks are connected with those at Lexden Heath and the
Ramparts, but Dr. Laver said he was not able to trace the connection. He stated
that Birch "Castle" was of uncertain age, but much earlier than the Norman
Period. Ralph de Gernon, founder of Leighs Priory, fortified the castle against
Henry III., but the structure of the earthwork showed that it was made long
before Gernon's time. It was probably the remains of a small Roman camp,
which had been utilised in later times by Gernon. Roman pottery had been
found on the site.
Mr. Douglass Round joined the party at this point, and accompanied them
across the fields to Birch Hall, where they were met by Mr. Round, M.P., who
hospitably spread tea for the party in his pleasant grounds, the family being away
from home, and the hall temporarily closed. The very ancient edifice, chiefly
erected by the Tendring and Goldring families, was rebuilt in 1727-8 by a Mr.
James Round, and afterwards in 1845 by Mr. C. G. Round ; its situation is ex-
cellent, and the grounds are watered by a rivulet, which expands into a small
lake.
The assemblage was further augmented by a contingent of the Colchester
University Extension students, and other interested visitors joined the meeting
(the 148th Ordinary Meeting), which, after tea, was held beneath the shadow of the
lime trees,1 Prof. Meldola in the chair.
The following were elected members : Mr. Horace T. Brown, F.R.S., F.G.S.,
Mr. Samuel Johnson, M.I.M.E., and Miss A. Johnson.
Dr. Laver exhibited on behalf of Mr. L. F. Manley, portions of the lower jaw
1 On the twigs of these trees, more especially those springing from the boles, I found
abundance of the galls of the little Dipteron, Sciara tilicola, H. Loew.—W. Cole.