THE ESSEX FIELD CLUB. 251
Later we had pointed out to us the rooms where Darwin "kept"
whilst an undergrad., "on the south side of the first court of Christ's,
on the west side of the middle staircase, on the first floor."
At 10 o'clock a visit was paid to the Zoological Museum under the
guidance of Mr. J. J. Lister, M.A., F.R.S., and of Mr. Foster Cooper, the
Superintendent of the Museum, who conveyed the visitors in two parties
through the rooms and explained the exhibits. Among the many striking
specimens pointed out were the eight eggs of Great Auk which the
Museum boasts, also a set-up specimen of this bird and two complete
skeletons. A Narwhal with two equally well-developed tusks, both with
left-handed spirals, was observed with interest : usually the left hand
tusk is the only tooth normally developed, its right hand fellow remaining in
a rudimentary condition in the socket. A preparation of Tatusia novem-
citicia, an Armadillo, showing four foetuses from a single placenta and ovum
(the normal arrangement in this animal) attracted considerable attention.
Later in the day Mr. Lister conducted the visitors through his own
college (John's), showing them the Hall, the Library, with the original
oak book-presses, and the Combination Room with its wonderful plaster
ceiling ; the Courts of Trinity and Queen's Colleges, and the "Backs,"
were also visited.
On Saturday a visit was first paid to the Botany School and Museum,
where the party was received by Mr. Shrubbs, in the regretted absence,
through illness, of Professor Seward. Mr. Shrubbs proved an efficient
cicerone, and displayed the treasures of his Museum with enthusiasm ; he
stated that Engler's system of plant classification was that followed in the
Museum.
Much interest was shown in the well displayed specimen of Welwitschia
mirabilis, one of the Gnetales from S.W.Africa, which develops only two
true leaves, following the temporary cotyledons, which leaves continue to
grow throughout the entire life of the plant (a century or more), becoming
lacerated at their free ends and attaining a length of several feet. The
squat stem rests close on the surface of the sandy ground, and bears crowded
inflorescences and cones, while a long tap root is sent down to seek moisture
at considerable depths. An hemipterous insect, Odontopus sexpunctatus,
bores in numbers in the tissues of the inflorescences, and almost certainly
effects the fertilisation of the plant.
A polished section of the trunk of a Common Elm, Ulmus campestris,
which was blown down in a storm on October 14, 1881, in the grounds
of St. John's College, was inspected ; at the time of its destruction the
elm was 215 years old, and it was still a vigorous healthy tree.
Specimens of bast fibres from the Lace Tree of Jamaica, Lagetta lintearia,
one of the Thymelaceae, which form numerous concentric layers interlacing
in all directions in the stem, were inspected. They are made into articles
of apparel, frills, collars, thongs, etc., after removal from the stem by
maceration.
The visitors next proceeded to the Botanic Garden, where they were
welcomed by Mr. Preston, and conducted by him round the rock-garden
and through the various houses, noticing many interesting plants which
space does not allow us to particularise.
In the afternoon the Town Market was visited, the Round Church,