34
THE ESSEX NATURALIST.
H. M. Edelsten and A. W. Mera and Rev. J. W. Metcalfe, for
useful information and the specimens exhibited; Mr. W. G.
Sheldon for valuable notes; and Messrs. J. H. Durrant and
W. H. T. Tarns for help in research in the library and collections
at the Brit. Mus. (Nat. Hist.).
THE ESSEX FIELD CLUB —REPORTS OF
MEETINGS.
RAMBLE IN THE SEWARDSTONE DISTRICT
(530th MEETING).
Saturday, 23RD April, 1921.
The object of this ramble was a two-fold one—to study the returning
summer bird-migrants, and also the spring flowers of this beautiful corner
of the Forest district.
A dismally wet morning, sufficient to discourage all but the most ardent
field-naturalists, was suddenly broken at 2 o'clock by a sunny interval;
and thence forward the weather presented typical April alternations of
smiles and showers, which produced magnificent effects of light and
shadow on the landscape and yielded splendid blue distances.
Twenty members and friends assembled at the appointed time at
Chingford station, a goodly muster considering the very unfavourable
weather conditions of the earlier day. A start was made just before 3
o'clock, the route traversed being across Chingford Plain, through Bury
Wood, and by field path and green lane to Gillwell Park, frequent pauses
being made for the purpose of listening to the spring songs of the birds
which abounded on all sides, and for culling the wild plants met with.
Our conductors, Miss A. Hibbert-Ware, F.L.S., and Mr. William Glegg,
F.Z.S., identified the calls of the birds heard, and gave impromptu lectur-
ettes on the means of distinguishing one bird from another by its note;
whilst our President, Mr. Robert Paulson, F.L.S., named the flowering
plants for the benefit of the botanical students of the party.
At Gillwell Park, by permission of our members, Captain F. Gidney
and Dr. Robert Patterson, the grounds of Gillwell House (now used as a
training centre and camp for boy scouts) were visited, and scout "Donald"
was detailed to climb two oak trees to seek for pellets of the Little Owl
(Athene noctua), which uses hollows in these trees as feeding places. A small
collection of pellets was speedily secured for the Club's Museum; these
were seen to consist mainly of beetle-elytra, with skulls, bones, and fur of
both vole and mouse; no bird-remains were detected in the pellets. On
leaving the grounds the President expressed the thanks of the party to
Captain Gidney and Dr. Patterson (the latter of whom was present) for
their kindly assistance; and, it being now nearly 5 o'clock, a quick return
was made along Gillwell Lane, over the flank of Yardley Hill, to Hawks
mouth Farm, where tea had been arranged for in a picturesque timber barn-
adjoining the farmhouse.