222 THE ESSEX NATURALIST.
in the dining room, with Miss G. Lister (in the absence of our President)
in the chair. Miss Margaret Cohen, of 35, Romford Road, Stratford,
E.15, and Mr. A. G. G. Thurlow, of Aythorpe Roding Rectory, Dunmow
(son of our host and hostess) were elected members of the Club. On
the proposition of the Chairman, the hearty thanks of those present were
given to Mr. and Mrs. Thurlow for their kindly hospitality and to Mr.
Salmon for his services throughout the day ; and on the motion of the
Hon. Secretary, like thanks were warmly accorded to Miss Lister for her
services.
At 6.30 o'clock the coach and cars were taken for the homeward
journey.
Just 50 different species of wild flowers were recorded by the Misses
Greaves, Lister and Prince during the walk, the more noteworthy being,
in addition to the wealth of Cowslips ("Paigles") and Primroses, the
following :—
Ranunculus auricomus
Caltha palustris
Violas hirta, odorata, Riviniana and Reichenbachiana
Hybrid Primula veris X vulgaris
Orchis mascula.
The 24 kinds of birds noted included most of the returned spring-
migrants, swift, swallow, martin, cuckoo, Chiffchaff, willow warbler,
Whitethroat and blackcap, and also Stonechat.
FIELD MEETING AT BILLERICAY, BUTTSBURY
AND STOCK (688th MEETING).
SATURDAY, 6TH JUNE, 1931.
[Report by Mr. L. S. HARLEY.]
A party of about twenty members assembled at Billericay Railway
Station on the above date and in very dull weather set out shortly before
11.30 o'clock under the guidance of Mr. L. S. Harley, by footpath and road
past Gooseberry Green, crossing two of the streams which feed the River
Wid.
By the low-lying parts of the road, a single plank gangway with handrail
was observed, a way of passage for pedestrians in time of flood, although
its appearance suggested little recent use. In the course of a discussion,
it was suggested that the river name "Wid" was not of ancient origin,
leading to the supposition that the river was so named in recent times by
false reasoning from "Widford," its first considerable village.
The weather now became much brighter and continued to improve,
dispelling previous fears of rain.
After passing Wardroper's Farm, a sturdy 16th century homestead
with a well-carved beam supporting the wall of the upper storey, a fine
service tree in full blossom was noticed by the roadside and was photo-
graphed.
At Buttsbury Church, the party was met by the Rector, who very
kindly gave a detailed description of the Church of St. Mary. The fine
ironwork on the N. door dates from the 14th century, or perhaps is in
part even earlier. The main fabric is of the 14th and 15th centuries, with