50
THE ESSEX NATURALIST.
and bones of edible animals were among the objects found during the
excavations. One legbone had been shaped into a skewerlike form and
was polished by use ; on it were scratched some letters, either DI, DE or
DL. Flues lined with tiles, leading from furnaces at the corners of the
building, were traceable, as was the probable position of the kitchen. The
whole site is not yet fully excavated and Mr. Covernton proposes to con-
tinue his digging next autumn.
The tramp across the fields to visit this site enabled the visitors to col-
lect generous samples of mud on their boots ; the peculiarly tenacious
character of Boulder Clay soil was thus beautifully demonstrated to the
entire party.
Returning to Spains Hall, the vehicles were summoned and the drive
to Bocking, via Finchingfield village, Wethersfield and Shalford was
begun.
At Bocking, the visitors were hospitably welcomed by our member,
Mr. W. S. Gilles, at his delightful residence. After an inspection of the
neatly laid out garden, the hothouse and the cold Alpine House, tea was
taken in the Billiard Room, a spacious apartment formed out of a former
Malting house adjoining the residence and which belongs to Mr. Gilles :
the cowl of the Malting House still shows above the roof and constitutes
with the house a charming old-world picture as viewed from the garden.
After tea, by permission of our host, a formal meeting of the Club was
held, with Miss G. Lister, F.L.S., in the Chair, when the following ladies
and gentlemen were elected members, viz. :—
Mrs. Ethel M. Harley, of 13, Harefield Road, Crouch End, N.S.
Miss Beatrice M. Robinson and Miss Gwynneth Robinson, of 12, Castle-
ton Road, Goodmayes, Ilford.
Mr. James G. Covernton, M.A., C.I.E., of Parsonage House, Finching-
field.
Mr. Frederick W. McCormack, B.Sc., of 85, Hatherley Gardens, East
Ham, E.6.
Mr. Gilles gave an account of the lepidopterous specimens, part of his
extensive collection, which had been laid out for inspection by the visitors
and which attracted considerable interest. An exhibit of special impor-
tance consisted of some twigs of Sallow showing galls formed by the larvae
of the newly recognised clearwing moth, Sesia flaviventris.
The Chairman expressed the thanks of the party to Mr. Gilles for his
hospitality and also to our other conductors of the day. Sir Robert
Armstrong-Jones and the Hon. Secretary added their quota of appreciative
thanks, and Mr. Gilles made a suitable reply.
The drive was then continued into Braintree, where the visitors were
received at the Town Hall by our member, Mr. Alfred Hills, who conducted
the party through this handsome building, which the town owes to the
generosity of Mr. Courtauld, whose portrait hangs on the wall of the
main staircase. In the handsomely decorated Council Chamber, above the
12-feet high oak panelling, is a series of frescoes in alcoves, painted by
Maurice Greiffenhagen : these represent various incidents—some perhaps
apocryphal—in connection with the history of Braintree, and comprise :—
a. A Roman centurion, symbolic of the fact that the. town lies on a
Roman road.