86
THE ESSEX FIELD CLUB.—REPORTS OF
MEETINGS.
ORDINARY MEETING (536th MEETING).
SATURDAY, 29TH OCTOBER, 1921.
This meeting was held in the Physical Lecture Theatre of the Municipal
College, Romford Road, Stratford, with the President, Mr. Robert Paulson,.
F.L.S., F.R.M.S., in the chair. 66 members were present.
The following were elected members of the Club :—
Mr. Charles H. Butcher, of 17, St. Mary's Road, Ilford.
Mr. J. Varley Roberts, 
 Vale Grove, Loughton.
Mrs. M. Varley Roberts, 
Miss Janet B. Littlejohn, of 5, Fairfax Road, Bedford Park, W.4.
The Curator exhibited various recent acquisitions to the Club's Museum,
including:—
(a.) A mounted specimen of the Roller (Coracias garrulus), which
had been captured alive at Ramsey, near Harwich, in July, 1921,
and presented by our member, Mr. Walter B. Nichols (see Essex
Naturalist, xix., p. 327).
Mr. Miller Christy confirmed the exhibitor's statement as
to the rare occurrence of this bird in Essex. Mr. Glegg spoke 
of his acquaintance with the species in Macedonia, and Miss
G. Lister exhibited skins of the species and of an allied form
(Coracias Lorti) from Somaliland, the latter having elongated outer
tail feathers with long black tips.
(b.) A mounted specimen (immature) of the Red-throated Diver
(Colymbus septentrionalis) from the Walthamstow Reservoirs.
(c.) An oak tea-caddy, believed on good authority to have been
made from the wood of the celebrated Fairlop Oak.
(d.) Living Plaice (Pleuronectes platessa), juvenile specimens, showing
their markedly protective resemblance to the sandy bottom
on which they lived.
Mr. Whitaker exhibited, and presented to the Club's Museum, a length
of core from the trial-boring for coal at Weeley, Essex, from depth 1,163
feet, showing bedding at a high angle of 60° or over.
Mr. Walter Fox exhibited, and presented to the Museum, a Wheat
Dib, from Aveley, which he thought might be 120 years old or more. Mr.
Miller Christy, commenting on this exhibit, mentioned that the Dib was
one of a pair, and that such implements were in use until the invention
of the drill, some 80 years ago.
Mr. Avery exhibited numerous specimens of timber of the White
Willow (Salix alba), showing damage caused by the larva of the Goat
Moth (Cossus ligniperda), also a living caterpillar of this moth.
Mr. Avery also exhibited some abnormally large fruits of Horse Chest-
nut, from Woodford, these being doubtless a result of the long and hot
summer.
Professor Boulger exhibited a copy of the book, a MS. Flora of Dedham,
by William Coleman, with MS. additions in Coleman's handwriting