30 THE ESSEX FIELD CLUB.
Desiderata for the Library.—Mr. W. Cole called attention to the
Circular which had been sent out giving a first list of parts and volumes of
various publications needed to complete sets in the Library. He pleaded
strongly for kindly aid in making the library more complete and useful to
enquirers.
THE 445th MEETING.
Saturday, 27TH February 1915.
The fourth meeting of the Winter Session was held at 6 o'clock at
Stratford, as usual. The President in the chair.
During the afternoon the Toynbee Natural History Society (of which
our member, Mr. D. J. Scourfield, is President) visited the Museum, and
afterwards joined in the evening meeting.
Mr. George W. Ivey, of "Alcyone," Harrow Drive, Romford, was
elected a member.
In anticipation of the Annual Meeting, nominations were made of
officers and members of the Council (see report of the Annual Meeting).
War-Time Field Meetings.—Mr. Percy Thompson said that the
Council and Officers had carefully considered the possibilities of holding
Field Meetings during the coming spring and summer. Very considerable
restrictions had become necessary owing to the military occupation of
our County. Any meetings on or near the coast would be absolutely
barred, and therefore it would be necessary to organise meetings in other
and more accessible districts in the county and around London, and in
some of the Public Gardens and Museums. Particulars would be sent to
members as soon as possible in each case. All would appreciate the peculiar
difficulties attending the planning and carrying out excursions of large
parties during the present times of national stress and anxiety.
Incisor Teeth of Rhinoceros.—Mr. E. T. Newton, F.R.S., exhibited
some incisor and canine teeth of the Indian Rhinoceros, and called attention
to their peculiar form. There were only two broad incisors in the upper
jaw, one on each side, and sometimes a very small one behind these. The
front of the lower jaw was occupied by a pair of large triangular teeth
usually regarded as canines, but in the position of incisors, and between
these a very small pair of cylindrical incisors.
African Rhinoceroses have no teeth in the front of either upper or
lower jaw, except perhaps rudiments which are never functional.
British Pleistocene Rhinoceroses are said to be most closely related
io the African species, and it seemed probable therefore that they likewise
had no incisor teeth, and this would account for the fact that Rhinoceros
incisors have not been met with in British Pleistocene deposits.
Bone Polishing Implements.—Mr. H. Mothersole sent for exhibition
some bone implements used by the late Mr. W. Brown, cricket-bat maker,
of Chelmsford, for the purpose of burnishing the backs of the bats after
they had been planed and rubbed down with sand paper ; they were
then polished; the face of the bat being oiled only. Mr. Brown's son
states that they were used about 50 years ago.
I have enquired of other makers, writes Mr. Mothersole, who were