THE ESSEX FIELD CLUB.
219
Dr. Cooke reported on the day's observations. It had been one of the best
collecting days for fungi for many years. A very large number of species had
been found, and, in many cases, the individuals were not only numerous, but very
fine in condition and beauty. He anticipated some additions to the Epping
Forest lists when some specimens about which he was doubtful had been subjected
to more careful examination at home.
[Dr. Cooke subsequently communicated a list of the new species, which is
printed in the present number, page 224.]
Dr. Cooke then delivered a very amusing address, entitled, "Some Confessions
of a Fungus Eater."
The remainder of the evening was spent in examining the specimens on the
table.
The 152ND Ordinary Meeting.
Saturday, November 24th, 1894.
The 152nd Ordinary Meeting of the Club was held in the Vestry Hall, New
Street, Chelmsford, at 6 p.m., Prof. R. Meldola, V.P., in the chair. The
President, Mr. Chancellor, sent word he much regretted that illness prevented
him from being present.
Mr. W. Nicholson and Mr. G. T. Weeks were elected members,
Mr. Cole exhibited the lower jaw of a Mammoth (Elephas primigenius) with
molar teeth in situ, found a few days before in Mr. Brown's clay-pits at Chelmsford.
Mr. Cole said that they owed this fine addition to their Museum to Mr. Brown's
kindness. He had also to thank Mr. Chancellor and Mr. Meggy for aid given in
the negotiations for the acquisition of the specimen.
Mr. Crouch and Mr. T. V. Holmes made some remarks upon the specimen,
and the latter gentleman promised to describe the geology of the site of the pit
for The Essex Naturalist (see next volume).
Mr. Meggy exhibited part of the lower jaw of Rhinoceros antiquitalis
( = tichorhinus), with six teeth in situ, found that afternoon also in Mr. Brown's
pit. This specimen Mr. Brown had presented to the Museum.1
Mr. Crouch exhibited some lumps of hardened clay recently obtained from the
gravel pits at "Carswell," Barking Side, which he thought were the remains of
the "wattle and daub" of prehistoric dwellings formerly existing there, and con-
nected with the Romano-British relics found in the pits. (See Essex Nat. vii.,
pp. 104-7, and vol. viii., p. 49).
Mr. Miller Christy exhibited and presented to the Club a length of leaden
water-pipe from his house at Broomfield, gnawed in a most remarkable manner by
rats. He thought the specimen showed that the object of the rats in making these
laborious workings was not, as had been commonly asserted, to obtain water ; a
very small hole would have sufficed for that purpose, whereas, in the present
instance, the rats had gnawed a hole extending over more than 18 inches of the
length of the pipe.
Mr. Shenstone exhibited, on behalf of Mr. Quinton Brown, a spar picked up
on the Essex coast, exhibiting a curious re-growth of wood-tissue inside a cylinder
of wood, so that the spar consisted of a tube with a solid rod of wood inside.
The opinion of the botanists present was that a temporary arrest and re-growth of
the cambium layer had occasioned the phenomenon.
1 These specimens were subsequently described by Mr. E. T. Newton, F.R.S., in a paper
communicated to the Club. See next volume.—Ed,