20 THE ESSEX FIELD CLUB.
dangerously near to the tram-rails, and the amount of water present
precluded deeper excavations, steps had already been taken to fill
up that particular part of the pit. This fact, although it enabled us
to dig with impunity, was decidedly tantalising, as in one small
spot just here, the shell-bearing layer was somewhat thicker, and
was more easily get-at-able in one of the fallen blocks ; but it was
fortunately possible for me to return during the same afternoon, and
then and on the following morning, with the assistance of Mr. Cole,
a considerable quantity of grey brick-earth was collected as quickly
as possible, before our small excavation was completely buried.
The lumps of this brick-earth, after having been allowed to dry,
will gradually fall to pieces when placed in water, producing a
remarkably fine and soft mud which, with the exception of the shells
and some small hard bodies, consisting of coherent particles and
probably produced by worms, will pass easily through muslin.
Up to the present only the following shells have been picked or
washed out :
Pupa muscorum, Linn. Limnaea palustris, Mull.
Succinea elegans, Risso. L. truncatula, Mull.
Succinea oblonga, Drap. Planorbis marginatus, Drap.
Limnaea pereger, Mull. Planorbis spirorbis, Linn.
Want of time has as yet prevented me from working out the
whole of the material, and as a considerably quantity still remains
to be gone through, while the pit may still produce other species,
the list given above must be considered provisional.
THE ESSEX FIELD CLUB.
The 153RD Ordinary Meeting.
Saturday, January 12th, 1895. 
The 153rd Ordinary Meeting was held in Grosvenor House, Walthamstow, at
6.30 p.m., Prof. R. Meldola, V.P., in the chair.
Mr. W. Chattaway was elected a member of the Club.
The Secretary announced some very valuable presents to the Central Museum
and to the Forest Museum, from Dr. Laver, Dr. M. C. Cooke, Mr. J. J. Powell,
Mr. B. Winstone, Mr. Chalkley Gould, and Mr. C. Leaf. Some of these pre-
sentations are recorded in the Annual Report of the Council.
He also announced that the Walthamstow Literary Institute had promised to
lend specimens of animal remains from the great beds of the River Lea, at