THE EPPING FOREST MUSEUM 143
While on a successful "Fern Foray" of my own during October 1948 in
Epping Thicks I came upon not less than 120 fern plants, 12 of which were
good specimens of Athyrium Filix-foemina; the remainder consisted about
equally of Dryopteris Filix-mas and Dryopteris cristata. I was very pleased
to find so many plants of the Lady Fern as it is not common in the Forest
now. I was also surprised to find a small plant (one stem only, about 16
inches high) of Polygonum cuspidatum, far from any habitation. J have not
seen a specimen of this plant in the Forest before. It is naturalised in North
Devon and is often a nuisance in suburban and town gardens. I believe it
came originally from Japan.
Wm. Howard.
THE ESSEX MUSEUM
A FURTHER GIFT OF BOW PORCELAIN
Mr. T. Leonard Crow has added to his earlier gifts the following piece:
A deep circular Plate, 73/4 inches in diameter with escalloped border, decorated
with a large eight-pointed star in dark blue and gilt in centre, surrounded by
polychrome representations of birds, butterflies and foliage: a gilt scalloped
border. Foot-rim to base. Anchor and dagger mark in. red under glaze.
Date circa 1760.
Percy Thompson.
THE EPPING FOREST MUSEUM
The Epping Forest Museum at Queen Elizabeth's Lodge, Chingford, was
reopened shortly before Christmas, 1947. It can now be visited daily,
except on Sundays, between the hours of 10.0 a.m. and 3.0 p.m.
Prior to the reopening, war damage repairs were carried out and the
interior was distempered in a "sunshine" colour. While the Museum was
closed to the public Mr. Joseph Ross carried out a thorough examination
of the exhibits and a number of cases containing birds and fishes belonging
to the City of London Corporation were sent by them to the taxidermist for
repair and re-g!azing. Unfortunately with the reopening of the Museum
Mr. Ross found himself unable to continue as Curator, nevertheless he has
since rendered great assistance in the maintenance of the work and in giving
valuable advice. He has continued to provide wild flowers and throughout
the season has maintained a display of 33 vases of the flowering plants of the
Forest.
The extensive collection of Epping Forest moths and "life history" cases
has been almost entirely overhauled, new labels have been affixed and the
display cases have been cleaned. By rearranging the supports it has been
found possible to bring the boxes nearer to the glass of the show cases so that
the specimens can be more easily examined. The collection of Mycetozoa
has been listed and Mr. Ross has kindly supplied a number of additional
species so that most of those to be found in the Forest are now displayed.
It is hoped that in time all the Mycetozoa known from the Forest will be
included. A collection of Epping Forest Dragon-flies is being made and
it is hoped to have these on exhibition by the end of next summer. By
arrangement with Mr. H. Hawkins, the Chingford meteorological observer,
a copy of his monthly weather report is now made available to the Museum
and is displayed together with summaries of the rainfall and maximum and
minimum temperatures for the past 43 years.