THE ESSEX FIELD CLUB. 283
well-known station at Sewardstone, and the Dyers' Green Weed, Genista
tinctoria, occurred in small quantity by one roadside.
A non-botanical find was a juvenile Little Owl (Athene noctua), just off
the nest, which was found drowned in a duckweed-covered pond on whose
treacherous surface the youngster had apparently sought to alight : this
specimen was kindly given to the Club's Museum by the finder, Miss G.
Lister.
A welcome opportunity for rest and liquid refreshment was afforded by
the fact that Miss Hibbert-Ware's house in Gillwell Lane was on the direct
line of route.
Tea was taken at 5 o'clock at Hawksmouth Farm, close to Yardley Hill,
in the quaint old timber barn which has become familiar to us on previous
excursions.
After tea, a formal Meeting of the Club was held, with Miss G. Lister,
F.L.S., Vice-President, in the chair (in the unavoidable absence of our
President), when Miss E. A. Horwood, of 199, Sebert Road, Forest Gate, E.7,
and Mr. J. B. Fidgen, of 151, Romford Road, Stratford, E.15, were elected
members of the Club.
The Hon. Secretary reported that, following the resolution on the subject
of the Walthamstow Reservoirs which was passed at the Maldon meeting on
June 2nd, and which was duly forwarded to the Metropolitan Water Board,
the President and he had attended as a deputation from the Club before the
Works and Stores Committee of the Board on July 4th, when the Chairman
of the Committee informed them that his Committee had decided to recom-
mend the Board to abandon the practice of shooting birds on the Lea Reser-
voirs : he had also received a formal notification to the same effect, as under ;
" Metropolitan Water Board,
Rosebery Avenue, E.C.1.
4th July, 1923.
" Dear Sir.
" Shooting of wild fowl on the Board's waters.
" Adverting to previous correspondence which has taken place between
yourself and the Board with reference to the above-mentioned subject,
and to your attendance as a member of the deputation to the Works and
Stores Committee of the Metropolitan Water Board to-day, I have pleasure
in formally notifying you that it has been decided, as a result of represen-
tations which have been made by your Club and other kindred Societies,
to abandon the practice of shooting wild fowl on the Board's Reservoirs.
I am, Yours faithfully,
(Signed) G. Francis Stringer,
Clerk of the Board.
The Hon. Secretary,
Essex Field Club,
The Essex Museum of Natural History,
Romford Road, Stratford, E.15."
The reading of this communication evoked many signs of satisfaction from
members present.
Mr. Thompson also referred to a communication which he had received,
in answer to enquiries, from the Chief Inspector of Ancient Monuments,
H.M. Office of Works, giving a list of Ancient Monuments in Essex which had