34
THE ESSEX FIELD CLUB.
Moving into the drawing-room, an ordinary meeting (the 214th) of the Club
was held, Prof. Meldola taking the chair. The President referred to the
proceedings of the day, and proposed that thanks should be made to the
Conductors, Mr. Gould, Mr. Christy, and the Rev. C. Boutflower. He said that
he was sure all present appreciated highly the kindness and hospitality of their
host and hostess. It was 17 years ago (on July 25th, 1885)l since the Club had
visited Terling Place, and during that time Lord Rayleigh's scientific activity had
never flagged. He was sure that all would listen with the greatest interest and
profit to the address which his Lordship had so kindly promised to deliver.
Lord Rayleigh expressed the pleasure it gave to him and Lady Rayleigh to
see the Club again in their house. He then gave a most interesting address on
"Colour in Nature," explaining the optical principles of absorption, reflection,
and refraction, to the action of which on the white light of the sun we owe colour.
In the course of the lecture he referred to what is called "colour-blindness,"
a somewhat loose term, as the inability to recognise colours was never complete,
and it varied greatly in different individuals. It was almost unknown among
women. In spite of that fact, however, colour-blindness was strictly hereditary,
and could be passed on through the mother as much as through the father, but
only showed itself in the males. It was not uncommon, he said, for heavy
smokers to become colour-blind. A man might smoke heavily the worst kind of
tobacco for many years, and it might not take effect, but if he got low spirited
through mental distress or some trouble, then the tobacco would take effect on his
colour vision, and there was no remedy except to give up the tobacco.
Some discussion on matters arising out of the address was carried on by the
President, Mr. Shenstone, Mr. I. C. Gould, and others, and Lord Rayleigh
replied to questions.
A vote of thanks to Lord and Lady Rayleigh was most heartily accorded.
The return journey was then taken to Chelmsford, the brakes being stayed at
Springfield to allow of a brief inspection of the Norman Church. It is a fond
tradition with Essex people that Oliver Goldsmith once lived at Springfield, and
that the picturesque village-green suggested some of the imagery of his immortal
poem.
SUMMER WOODLAND RAMBLE AND 215th ORDINARY
MEETING.
Saturday, July 26th, 1902.
On this afternoon the members assembled at Theydon Bois at about half-past
three, for a woodland ramble. The main object was the observation of Spiders,
under the guidance of Mr. Frank Smith, author of the papers on the "Spiders of
Epping Forest" now running through the Essex Naturalist.
The route was through Epping Thicks, Ambresbury Banks, to a spot just off
the "Verderer's Path," Honey Lane Quarters, where a tent had been erected by
permission of Mr. McKenzie, the Superintendent of the Forest.
Many interesting species of spiders were observed, and Mr. Smith gave several
demonstrations of habits and modes of concealment affected by some of them. A
few insects were seen, and the usual forest plants were pointed out to those
amateur botanists present.
Tea' was served in the tent by Mr. J. Riggs, of Buckhurst Hill.
1 See Journal of Proceedings E.F.C., vol. iv., p. clxxii