228 THE ESSEX NATURALIST.
THE ESSEX FIELD CLUB—REPORTS OF
MEETINGS.
ORDINARY MEETING (553rd MEETING).
SATURDAY, 28TH OCTOBER, 1922.
The first meeting of the Winter Session was held on the above after-
noon in the Physical Lecture Theatre of the Municipal College, Romford
Road, Stratford, the President, Mr. Robert Paulson, F.L.S., F.R.M.S., in.
the chair. Forty-four members attended.
The following persons were elected members of the Club:—
Miss Clara Everitt, of 7, Earlham Grove, Forest Gate, E.7.
Mrs. E. J. Foster, of "Upshire," 1, Clivedon Road, Highams Park, E.4.
Mrs. Annie Richardson Hatley, B.Sc., of 6, Lyndhurst Road, Higham's
Park, E.4.
Mr. Henry Soper, of 113, Romford Road, Stratford, E.15.
The Hon. Secretary announced that the Council had that afternoon,
appointed Miss Vera Oxley as honorary assistant curator of the Club's col-
lections in the Forest Museum at Queen Elizabeth's Lodge.
Mr. Avery exhibited a series of 27 pen-and-ink and wash drawings by
Major Bamford, illustrating churches, etc., in the Southend district and
elsewhere.
A small collection of Earth Stars was exhibited and presented to the
Club's Museum by Miss G, Lister ; it comprises the following species :__
Astraeus hygrometricus (Pers.) Morgan. The genus Astraeus is distin-
guished from Geaster by having the contents of the inner peridium traversed
by veins of sterile tissue, instead of having the sterile tissue either absent
or concentrated to form a columella. In the present species the outer peri-
dium splits on maturity into star-like lobes, which spread out or back when
moist, and curl closely over the inner peridium when dry.
In woods ; uncommon in Britain. The specimen exhibited was from
France, where it is sometimes very abundant.
Myriostoma coliforme (Dickson) Corda. The outer peridium splits.
into reflexed star-like lobes ; the inner peridium is attached to the outer by
several short stalks and opens by eight or more distinct mouths.
On sandy soil ; rare in Britain. The exhibited specimen was from Florida.
Geaster umbilicus Fries. In this minute species the outer peridium splits
into many lobes, reflexed when dry ; the inner peridium is sessile, and opens
by a closely furrowed prominent mouth.
On sandy ground, not common. The specimen was from Jersey.
G. finbriatus Fries. The outer peridium at length convex and split half-
way into many reflexed lobes ; the inner peridium sessile or shortly stalked
opening by a few irregular teeth.
In woods and open pastures. Specimen was from Lyme Regis. By-
far the commonest of our earth stars.
G. lageniformis Vittadeni. Unexpended plants ovate ; the outer peridium
splitting half-way into reflexed tapering lobes ; the inner sessile on the saucer-
like base of the outer peridium, opening by a conical mouth clothed with
silky fibres.
In beech woods. The specimen was from Cambridge from Prof. H.
Marshall Ward.