116
THE ESSEX FIELD CLUB.
Mr Massee's Report.—Mr. Massee gave a very useful and interesting
demonstration of the species of Fungi collected during the day, including in his
remarks some most valuable recent biological observations. He said that,
numerically, the results of the day's work were lower than those of preceding
years, but in the more important feature of additions to the county list of fungi
the foray must be considered a success. Perhaps the most important find was
that of Agaricus augustus, Fries, which, as its name denotes, is the noblest of
the agarics, both in size and flavour. Unfortunately it is very rare in this
country, not having been recorded more than half a dozen times. It is new to
Essex. The most remarkable feature was the predominance of the genus
Tricholoma, eleven species being collected, amongst which the beautiful little
T. carneum, Fries, was a new Essex record. The larger species of Polyporus
were also more abundant than usual in the forest, P. sulphureus, Fries. being
exceptionally fine. Owing to the lateness of the season, the genera Hygrophorus,
Russula, and Clitocybe were absent. An exceptionally fine specimen of Peziza
reticulata, Grev., was collected.
On the proposal of the President, a very cordial vote of thanks was passed to
Mr. Massee for his valuable services during the day, and this ended the business
of the meeting.
THE 277th ORDINARY MEETING.
Saturday, 4th December 1909.
The second meeting of the Winter Session was held in the Technical
Institute, Stratford, as usual at 6 o'clock, the President, Mr. T. S. Dymond,
F.I.C, in the chair.
New Members.—The following were elected members of the Club :—
Mr. J. Bostock, London hospital, E.
Mr. R. H. Browne, Passingford Bridge, Stapleford Abbotts.
Mr. H. Emlyn Jones, M.R.C.S., L.R.C.P. (Medical Inspector of Schools,
Essex County Council), Wadham House, Toynbee Hall, E.
Rev. Alan C. Morris, S. Mary's Vicarage, Ilford.
Mr. Charles Nicholson, 35, The Avenue, Hale End, Chingford.
Gypsum Crystals Charged with Sand.—Mr. W. H. Dalton, F.G.S.,
F.C.S., exhibited a group of crystals of Gypsum charged with sand, from the
Guriev district at the northern corner of the Caspian Sea, where an inlier of
Permian Gypsum and Rock Salt, rising through the cretaceous sandstones, has
by solution caused the formation of the small lake of Karatchungul, the waters
of which, charged with salt and sulphate of lime, have again deposited some of
the latter in the loose surface sand. Similar cases occur in our Kentish Oldhaven
Sands at Upnor and Reculvers (see Geological Survey Memoirs, iv. (1872),
p. 604). The specimen exhibited will be placed in the Jermyn Street Geological
Museum.
Pellets Cast up by Rooks.—Miss Gulielma Lister, F.L.S., read a note
on the pellets cast up by rooks, and her remarks were supplemented by Mr.
Miller Christy, F.L.S., Mr. Dalton, F.G.S., and Mr. Seabrooke. The sub-
stance of their observations will be found in the "Notes" columns (pp. 119, 121).