REPORTS OF MEETINGS 231
to the degree which was feared but its effect on the members was soon notice-
able. A break was early in demand and lunch was taken overlooking the
floor of the quarry. There appeared to be some reluctance to hurry on
from this pleasant spot.
In the afternoon the party broke into small groups, each making for some
point of interest. The entomologists with characteristic energy scaled the
chalk face to the brick earth plateau. The botanists made an organised
search for their special objective, Pyrola rotundifolia, which was eventually
discovered and then became the object of much enthusiastic examination.
Apart from the ubiquitous Jay, one Chiffchaff, a few Magpies and a party of
four Kestrels there were few birds to be seen or heard.
By four o'clock the parched naturalists were leaving the site en route for
tea in Grays. Mr. Howard took the chair at the ensuing meeting when he
extended a welcome to the visitors who included members of the North-
East Essex Educational Fellowship. Nominations for membership were
read and a discussion followed on the finds of the day, the flowers being
dealt with by Mr. Howard and the insects by Mr. E. F. Williams.
Mr. Howard reports as follows: Vegetation was in an advanced state
and many flowers associated with June, July and August were seen; a
total of 114 species was observed in bloom, many which are only to be
expected on the chalk. The less common as regards Essex were Weld
(Reseda luteola), Cut-leaved Mignonette (R. lutea), Kidney Vetch (Anthyllis
Vulneraria), Common Bryony (Bryonia dioica), Fennel (Foeniculum vulgare),
Carrot (Daucus Carota), Red Valerian (Kentranthus ruber), Melilotus officinalis,
Aff. alba, Ploughman's Spikenard (Inula squarrosa), Chicory (Cichorium
Intybus), Orange Hawkweed (Hieracium aurantiacum), Yellow Wort (Black-
stonia perfoliata), Great Mullein (Verbascum Thapsus), Marjoram (Origanum
vulgare), Tway-blade (Listera ovata), Marsh Orchis (Orchis latifolia), Spotted
Orchis (O. maculata), O. incarnata, O. pyramidalis, Bee Orchis (Ophrys
apifera), Fragrant Orchis (Habenaria conopsea), Traveller's Joy (Clematis
Vitalba) and Small Broomrape (Orobanche minor).
Of particular interest was the observation of a colony of Round-leaved
Wintergreen (Pyrola rotundifolia) in flower, first recorded for Essex by members
of the Club on a visit to the quarry twelve months previously. The Adder's-
tongue fern (Ophioglossum vulgatum) was also found.
Visit to Warley (909th Meeting)
SUNDAY, JULY 24th, 1949
The day held promise of great heat when members met at Brentwood
Station at 11.15 a.m. Owing to work on the electrification of the line trains
were not running to schedule and as a consequence the party was thirteen
members short at the appointed time. However, those who were present
on time soon set off under the guidance of Mr. E. F. Williams, who was to be
the leader, and with the help of a member with a car the latecomers were
soon able to catch up with the party.
The route lay across Warley Barracks and into the woodlands. Here
Large and Small Skippers, Meadow Brown and Gatekeeper were found
to be the commonest butterflies and the botanists were soon busy recording
the flowers in bloom. Arrived at the gates of Thorndon Park a halt was
made for lunch and the day had become so hot that full advantage was taken
of the shade of the great trees.
Lunch over, the walk was continued over Scrub Hill to Childerditch
Common. On the way two or three worn specimens of the High-Brown
Fritillary were seen. Continuing through Holdens Wood, Warley Lea was
reached and here facilities were provided for members to refresh themselves