THE ESSEX FIELD CLUB. 175
handsome Yellow Bedstraw (G. verum), of which we saw some fine examples.
The Marsh Red Rattle was nearly gone, but in some marshy places the
beautiful Ragged Robin was springing among and above the rushes, revealing
its delicate blossoms.
" In the spring the immense family of the Compositae takes almost the
earliest place among wild flowers, by putting itself in evidence with the
Coltsfoot (Tussilago farfara) and the Dandelion. When these are gone it has
hardly a single representative. Then there is an interregnum till in May the pretty
pale yellow Mouse-ear Hawkweed begins to deck the heaths and waysides with
its pale golden flowers. This plant, by-the-way, is quite a feature in same
parts, and I never saw it so fine or so abundant as it has been this year on
Warren Hill. Well, just about that time it was almost the sole representa-
tive of the 140 British species of the Compositae. Now it is giving way to the
larger Hawkweeds, and several are springing up under the shade of the
trees. Before long the whole order will be in evidence everywhere, and the
country will be covered with Ragworts, Wormswoods, Thistles, Fleabanes
and other representatives of the tribe, but as I said they show themselves
very sparsely in the early year.
" Before long we may look forward to the Heathers, and on Saturday we
were delighted to find some nice flowers of the most beautiful of all our three
common Heaths, Erica tetralix. When its more common brother E. cinerea
and its cousin the common Ling (Calluna vulgaris) are in flower the Forest
will be clothed with a glorious purple.
'' Of the Ranunculacae the sole representatives were the lesser Spear-
wort, Ranunculus flammula, which comes in as the last of the Buttercups, and
on the ponds varieties of R. aquatilis. This species has been subdivided to a
great extent, and I feel sure that if anyone were to investigate the Forest
ponds he would find a good many of the sub-species.
" Among the Leguminosae Lotus corniculatus, and L. major (the Lesser and
Greater Bird's-foot Trefoils) were met with, the former in large orange yellow
patches, and the latter climbing the bushes ; while here and there we detected the
delicate Bitter-vetch, Orobus tuberosus. Self-heal (Prunella vulgaris) was
frequent but very dwarfed. In favourable places this plant becomes large,
vigorous, and really handsome, while on a lawn it will bear constant cutting,
and become like several other lawn plants perfectly minute."
The walk was continued through Monk Woods, and by the "Wake
Arms" to Honey Lane Quarters, to the high ground by the old rifle-butts,
to a spot overlooking the Lea Valley, which had been selected as a good pitch
or the tent in which tea was to be served. By a mistake of the Contractor's
(Messrs. Riggs) men, the tent had been pitched at the Waltham Abbey end of
Honey Lane Plain, and it was some little time before it was discovered by the
hungry naturalists. However, the spot was very retired and pleasant, and
an ample and well-served meal made amends for a somewhat prolonged
ramble.
After Tea an Ordinary Meeting of the Club (the 170th) was held, Mr.
David Howard, President, in the Chair.
The following were elected members :—Mr. John Bull, Mrs. W. Cornish,
Mr. Charles Green (Roy. Inst. Water Colours), Mr. James Jones, Mr. H. Watts
Mason, Mr. G. R. Matland, and Mr. F. B. Wrightson.