REPORTS OF MEETINGS 41
The President exhibited examples of "bush rope" climbers from West
Africa, found by him on squared baulks of timber at Clapton; he explained
that these bush ropes were used to haul timber through the native forests.
Mr. Pratt commented on some local records of animals, birds and
plants given in Mr. R. Fitter's recent book, London's Natural History,
and mentioned some of his own observations on birds in the immediate
neighbourhood. Various members joined in the subsequent discussion.
Mr. Syms exhibited specimens of our native social wasps and described
the structural differences of the various species; he showed a nest of Vespa
sylvestris as an illustration of the much larger nests formed by the remaining
species of the genus.
Mr. Paul Baker read an account of the windmill on Toot Hill, near
Ongar, tracing its history until its demolition in recent years.
The Curator exhibited and described some pellets of the Long-eared
Owl from Montgomery, together with a portion of the skin of the same owl
which was found dead one day, having been killed (probably by a buzzard).
He also showed skins of Orkney Voles and Bank Voles, recently presented
to the Museum by Mr. G. Dent.
He further exhibited a large coloured drawing, of date circa 1860-2,
showing the return of the Fairlop Boat past St. John's Church, Stratford.
He gave an account of the origin of this once-famous beanfeast, which became
a spectacle for all East London each July until its final discontinuance in
or about the year 1894.
A selection of prints and photographs from the Pictorial Survey, to
illustrate Hainault Forest and its famous Oak, was exhibited; and others
to illustrate the windmill at Toot Hill.
Mr. Ross drew attention to the paper on "The Oak Galls and Gall
Insects (Cynipidae) of Epping Forest," read to the Club in 1901 by Mr. E. J.
Lewis, F.L.S., F.E.S., and subsequently printed in the Essex Naturalist,
and exhibited the following gall insects:—Andricus ostrea Hartig, form
furunculus Beyerinck, and Andricus solitarius Fonscolombe, f. occultus Tschek,
which Mr. Lewis did not mention; Andricus foecundatrix Hartig, f. pilosus
Adler, Andricus nudus Adler, and Diplolepis divisa Hartig, f. verrucosa
Schlechtendal, galls of which Mr. Lewis did not find, although finding the
galls of alternate generations; and Neuroterus aprilinus Giraud and N.
schlechtendali Mayr, flies which Mr. Lewis did not breed, although he found
the galls. The meeting adjourned at 4.30 p.m.
ORDINARY MEETING (858th Meeting)
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 23RD, 1946
This meeting was held in the Physics Lecture Theatre of the Municipal
College, Stratford, at 3 o'clock, with the President, Dr. Frank W. Jane, in
the chair. Twenty-five members attended.
The Hon. Secretary read the text of the protest to the Ministry of Health
which he had made in the name of the Club against the erection of buildings
on Epping Forest at East Ham, and also replies he had received from the
Ministry and from the City of London Corporation as Conservators of the
Forest.
The following were elected members of the Club:—
Miss M. E. Barr, of 90, Roding Road, Loughton.
Miss S. M. Weston, of 9, The Terrace, Woodford Green.
Miss I. M. Crow, of 76, Broadmead Road, Woodford Green.
Mrs. M. L. A. Catt, of 16, Keynsham Avenue, Woodford Green.
Miss H. L. Harding, of 10, Clare Road, Leytonstone, E.11.
Mr. W. A. Sands, of 26, Leigh Road, Leyton, E.10 (junior member).