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THE ESSEX NATURALIST
Mr. Syms showed by means of the lantern a photograph of Sand Wasps
(Odynerus spinipes) taken at Grays by Mr. Bernard Ward in June 1950. He
explained that the holes were entered through the hanging tubes which could
be seen in the photograph and which were composed of silk covered with
grains of sand.
Mr. Howard showed leaves and fruits from his garden at Buckhurst
Hill of Arum neglectum (Towns.) Ridley, a plant which occurs mainly in the
south-western counties of England and in Jersey. He called attention to the
very decorative leaves which appeared in October, thus being much earlier
than Arum maculatum.
Mr. Pratt showed a copy of the new Book, Essex, by C. Henry Warren,
and some lithographed copies of Norden's Map of Essex, 1594, which appeared
in the Essex Naturalist, 1. A small number of these maps were available
for purchase by members.
Mr. Bernard Ward showed herbarium sheets of Cotula coronopifolia
(L.) and other plants.
He also showed sheets from the Pictorial Survey to illustrate localities
to be visited by the Club in 1951.
Mr. Foster read a poem by J. M. Sinclair appearing in April 1924 in a
magazine printed for private circulation. It is here reproduced by per-
mission.
JINGLE ON PLACE NAMES
Study the map on topography bent
Somerset, Cumberland, Devon and Kent
Cities and villages, rivers and towns
Mountains and hamlets and valleys and downs;
Essex will challenge and vanquish the rest
If it's to names that your search is addressed
And surely the pride and the glory must go
To Willingale Spain and Willingale Doe.
Latchington, Snoreham and Porridgepot Hall
Wellingditch, Doddinghurst, Fobbing and all,
Surely such cognomens never were seen
As Gibcrack and Mucking and Collicky Green.
Messing, Round Roblets and Chignall St. James
Did ever you hear such adorable names?
But none of these places can ravish me so
As Willingale Spain and Willingale Doe.
Is there a feud of the odd-fashioned kind
Capulets, Montagues, each with a mind
Bent on the death of the foemen they meet,
Biting their thumbs when they pass in the street?
Are there alarums, excusions and fights,
Doe beating Spain over commoners' rights,
Or do they in love and in amity go
In Willingale Spain and Willingale Doe?
One of these Sundays I'll get up at eight
Catch the nine-thirty to Mashbury Gate,
Steal through the meadows and under the trees
Like a good hunter who trails what he sees;
Like a new Moses with staff in my hand
Gazing upon the delectable land.
One of these Sundays I'm going to go
To Willingale Spain and Willingale Doe.
J. M. SINCLAIR