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THE ESSEX NATURALIST.
Leaving Gillwell Park the visitors proceeded along the green bridle-
path to Yardley Hill, whence fine views over the Lea Valley, from London
to Ware, were enjoyed ; thence, passing through Hawk Wood and across
the Plain, Chingford station was regained, and a very enjoyable field
meeting brought to an end.
NATURE RAMBLE IN EPPING FOREST (612TH MEETING).
SATURDAY, 12TH JUNE, 1926.
The General Strike, which broke in upon the orderly routine of the
nation's life in May, although itself happily shortlived, had, as one after-
effect, grave interference with pleasure trips and the like, so that two
long distance Field Meetings of the Club which had been arranged (and
the circular for one of which was already in print) had perforce to be
cancelled. In the circumstances a half-day's ramble in the easily accessible
Forest of Epping was substituted.
Undeterred by a dismal period of cold driving rains and thunder
showers, a score of stalwart members, including ladies, assembled at
Loughton railway station at the appointed hour, 2.37 p.m.; and were
justified of their optimism, for no more rain fell during the day, and a
wild wet morning was most unexpectedly followed by a warm sunny
afternoon and tranquil evening.
Led by the Honorary Secretary, the little party proceeded through the
village of Loughton to Earls Path and struck into the woodlands at a
point opposite the Keeper's Lodge, traversing Black Bushes and skirting
Shelley Hill, thence climbing the steep approach to the old Loughton
Camp. Here Mr. S. Hazzledine Warren was awaiting the arrival of the
party, and after a few prefatory remarks by the Hon. Secretary, Mr.
Warren gave a brief account of the excavations which were carried out
by the Club during the spring of the present year (which exploration is
not yet completed), and spoke of the conclusions to which the results,
so far obtained, pointed.
A visit was then paid to the badger-holes which shelter a flourishing
colony of these animals within the circuit of the Camp, and the recent
woeful experience of Mr. Warren's dog, which entered one of the holes
and emerged after an interval badly bitten by the inmate, was related.
Leaving the Camp, the visitors crossed the Epping New Road and
proceeded to Highbeach, where at the Roserville Retreat tea was taken
at 5 o'clock.
After tea a short meeting of the Club, with the President in the chair,
was held, when Miss Ethel Hall, of 53, Khedive Road, Forest Gate, was
elected a member, and one certificate of nomination was read. On the
motion of the President, hearty thanks were accorded to Mr. Warren for
his interesting demonstration at the Camp.
Mr. Hugh Main, who was one of the party, and who was just returned
from a visit to Algeria, had brought some of his living finds with him, and
exhibited chameleons, a land-crab, Spanish Copris and other beetles,
spiders and scorpions, which were greatly admired by the members
of the party, the chameleons being special favourites. Mr. Main