THE ESSEX FIELD CLUB.
35
The Curator showed a series of mounted postcard views of Essex
villages from the Pictorial Survey.
Mr. W. D. Graddon, B.Sc., read his "Notes on the Discomycetous
Fungi of Essex," and added a viva-voce description of the microscopic
characters of these fungi and of their fruiting bodies and spores.
Thanks were accorded to Mr. Graddon for his communication.
The President called upon Mr. W. E. Glegg, F.Z.S., M.B.O.U., who
read a paper entitled "Broad Features of the Ornithology of Essex:" a
discussion followed, in which the President, Messrs. Headley, Austin and
Thompson took part and Mr. Glegg replied to various points raised.
Thanks were passed to Mr. Glegg for an interesting paper.
The meeting was declared at an end shortly before 4 o'clock.
ORDINARY MEETING (811th MEETING).
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 24TH, 1940.
This meeting was held at 2 o'clock on the above date in the Small
Lecture Hall of the Woodford Congregational Church, with the President,
Mr. S. Hazzledine Warren, F.G.S., in the chair. 36 members attended.
The meeting was devoted to exhibits and short papers, or lectures, by
members.
Miss G. Lister described the development of the Black Bryony (Tamus
communis), noting the early formation and ultimate huge development
of the root-tubers produced by this plant and giving a detailed account
of the general morphology of the species and its relationship to the Yams,
the foreign representatives of the Dioscoreadeae. After calling attention
to the similar habits of the otherwise dissimilar White Bryony (Bryonia
dioica), Miss Lister discussed the distribution in space of these plants and
their allies and spoke of the difficulties raised by the present-day erratic
geographical distribution of many plants. The lecture was illustrated
by many coloured drawings by Miss Lister and by specimens of portions
of the plants mentioned.
In the absence of the authors, the Hon. Secretary read a short paper
by Mr. Geoffrey Dent on the "Habits of the Little Owl in Essex," and
one by Mr. Hugh Main on the beetle, Dorcus parallelopipedus, living
specimens of which and of its larva were exhibited.
The President showed some flint microliths and arrowheads, both
tanged and barbed, and leaf-shaped, from Hull Bridge.
Mr. Edgar Syms gave an account of the Stone Flies (Plecoptera), of
which some 33 or 34 species occur in this country: he traced the history
of the literature on these insects, described their life-history (which includes
no fewer than 24 moults!), and referred to the difficulty in breeding
them in captivity, due no doubt to the absence of a constant stream of
running water. In illustration Mr. Syms showed a collection of nymph
and adult Stone Flies.
On the motion of the President, thanks were accorded to the several
exhibitors and lecturers.
The meeting was declared closed at about 3.30 o'clock.