REPORTS OF MEETINGS
229
By kind permission of Mrs. Edward Upton, the route then lay through
the garden of Coptfold Hall. This is a splendid example of an English
country house garden with a remarkable display of exotic plants, shrubs and
trees. The Rhododendrons were particularly notable. A gamekeeper's
"larder" was inspected in Furness Wood ; it included a Grass Snake which
had been caught in a rabbit trap. The party then passed on to the garden
of Park Lodge which was reached about 4.15 p.m. Here the highly successful
arrangement of nest boxes, which included an old wine barrel inhabited by a
family of Tawny Owls, was inspected and members then entered Park Lodge,
the home of Mr. and Mrs. P. V. Upton, where an excellent tea had been pro-
vided.
After tea a short formal meeting was held with Mr. Howard in the chair.
The following were elected to membership of the Club :
Miss Ruth Cunningham, of 5, Gordon Road, Chingford, E.4.
Mr. I. R. Evans, of 4, Cranley Drive, Ilford.
The names of two candidates for membership were read for the first time.
Mr. Bernard Ward spoke on the entomological observations, Mr. Howard
discussed the botanical results and Mrs. P. V. Upton spoke on the ornithology
of the area and displayed some bird skins which she had received from York
Museum.
A vote of thanks to Mr. and Mrs. Upton was proposed from the chair
and carried amidst acclamation.
Mrs. Upton reports as follows : The day was very windy and therefore
bird song was not easy to hear. The Nightingales seemed quite silent,
though they are known to be numerous. Two Little Grebes' nests were seen
on the Lake. The following birds were recorded during the day : Swift,
Whitethroat, Wren, Skylark, Blackbird, Rook, Chiffchaff, Chaffinch, Willow-
Warbler, Kestrel, Starling, Wood-Pigeon, Yellow Bunting, Jackdaw, Green-
finch, House-Martin, Mistle-Thrush, Little Grebe, Blackcap, Common
Partridge, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Spotted Flycatcher, Long-tailed Tit, Pheasant,
Magpie, Coal-Tit, Tawny Owl, and Pied Wagtail.
Mr. Bernard Ward reports that insects taken included the dragonflies :
Pyrrhosoma nymphula, Enallagma cyathigerum, Libellula quadrimaculata,
L. depressa and Coenagrion puellum ; the scorpion-fly, Panorpa germanica ;
the dipterous galls, Iteomia capreae (on Salix caprea) and Cecidomia pruni
(on Prunus spinosa); the moth, Pseudopanthera macularia and the following
butterflies : Wall, Small Heath, Large White, Orange Tip.
Mr. Howard reports : This field meeting followed a showery week and
heavy rain the night before, consequently cross-country walking was not
easy and long wet grass impeded search for plants in flower, the total of 113
recorded is therefore commendable. Berberis vulgaris, which was seen, is
not very common in most parts of Essex and its growth in the hedgerows is
not encouraged by farmers ; Euonymus europaeus, also seen, is more
common. Lycopus arvensis and Lithospermum arvense were interesting records
and occur more frequently in the eastern parts of the county than the western.
Lamium Galeobdolon is not uncommon but is local in its occurrence. The
variety and luxuriance of the Rhododendrons and Azaleas in the gardens
surrounding Coptfold Hall was in itself sufficient to make the visit well
worthwhile.
Ongar to Fyfield (907th Meeting)
SUNDAY, JUNE 12TH, 1949
A party of fifteen members and friends assembled on this fine sunny
morning at 11.15 a.m. at Ongar Station. As engineering work was still in
progress on the line it was contrary to expectations that the train from
Loughton arrived on time. Mr. Bernard Ward explained that on account