THE ESSEX FIELD CLUB.
35
After tea a formal meeting of the Club (the 530th) was held, with the
President, Mr. Robert Paulson, in the chair, when:—
Mr. George Eustace Brunwin, of Haverings, Rayne, Braintree, and
Mr. Arthur Brown, of 44, Ravensdale Road, Stamford Hill, N.16,
were elected members, and two candidates were nominated for mem-
bership.
The President then called upon Miss Hibbert Ware, who remarked upon
the birds seen or heard during the afternoon, spoke of their habits, and
described their songs, dwelling lovingly and at particular length upon
her special protege, the Little Owl.
Mr. Glegg, who followed, reported that 26 species of birds had been
noted during the ramble, viz., Missel Thrush, Song Thrush, Blackbird,
Robin, Whitethroat, Blackcap, Willow Warbler, Hedge Sparrow, Great
Tit, Blue Tit, Marsh Tit, Wren, Tree-Pipit, Swallow, Chaffinch, House
Sparrow, Linnet, Yellow Ammer, Starling, Carrion Crow, Skylark, Green
Woodpecker, Cuckoo, Little Owl, Kestrel, and Heron; and referred
to notable absentees from the list, such as Chiffchaff, redstart and green-
finch, none of which had been observed, although common enough at the
time in neighbouring districts.
The President reported that he had noted 22 plants in flower, all of them
common species; but he remarked that even the commonest plants have
some points of special interest and afford food for thought; he instanced
among those met with during the afternoon, Herb Robert (Geranium
robertianum), the leaves of which are never eaten by insects or slugs;
the Lesser Celandine (Ranunculus ficaria), which reproduces itself by means
of bulbils instead of seeds; and the Wood Violet (Viola sylvestris), whose
showy flowers are barren but which produces inconspicuous, green, cleisto-
gamous flowers yielding fertile seeds.
The return to Chingford station was made through Hawk Wood and
across Chingford Plain. Much interest was evinced in the apparent varia-
tion exhibited by the leaves of White Beam (Pyrus aria), in one of the
plantations on the Plain, those on the suckers at the base of the. trees being
typical Mountain Ash leaves, while those on the branches had white downy
undersides and were imperfectly pinnate; and it was surmised in explana-
tion of this anomaly that these nursery-raised trees were grafted on stocks
of Mountain Ash, as is frequently done by nurserymen on account of the
slow growth of trees of this species when raised from seed.
VISIT TO THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY'S
GARDENS, WISLEY, SURREY (531st MEETING).
Saturday, 21st May, 1921.
In response to a kind invitation from the Director, Mr. F. J. Chittenden,
F.L.S., V.M.H., a visit was arranged to the R.H.S. Gardens at Wisley for
the above date. Just over thirty members availed themselves of the
opportunity of seeing these famous horticultural grounds; and a gloriously
bright sunny day ("Club's weather") favoured the party and added to
its enjoyment.
Curtailment of the ordinary train service, an outcome of the prevalent