REPORTS OF MEETINGS 51
Mr. Bernard Ward showed on behalf of Miss Greaves the mounted speci-
mens of Taxodium distichum which were shown in a fresh state by Mr. Thomp-
son last year.
The President announced that the Council recommended the following per-
sons for election as Honorary Members: Miss E. A. Greaves, Miss E. Prince,
Mr. Joseph Ross, and Mr. Percy Thompson, f.l.s., in recognition of their
exceptional services during many years of membership and Mr. S. L. Ben-
susan in recognition of his great service to Essex literature.
After giving some details of the work of each of the candidates the President
proposed that they be elected Honorary Members. The proposal was carried
with acclamation.
The business of the Annual General Meeting then followed.
The minutes of the last Annual Meeting were read and confirmed and the
report of the Council (which was being printed in the impending issue of The
Essex Naturalist) was taken as read.
The Treasurer then read his report and presented the accounts subject to
their being audited. An excess of income over expenditure during the year was
reported but this was due to the receipt of two legacies totalling £400. On a
proposal from the Chair it was resolved that the accounts be accepted.
The President then read the names of the persons nominated at the last
meeting to hold office for the ensuing year and to fill the three vacancies of the
Council. In the absence of any other nominations he declared them elected.
The following alterations to the rules, having been duly circulated to all
members, the President now proposed that they be adopted. The proposal was
carried nem. con.
Rule 3, line 6. After "permanent Vice-Presidents" insert "as provided by
Rule 5". Line 8 after "Club" insert "and such persons, not exceeding three, as
the Council may co-opt. Such co-opted persons shall remain members of the
Council until the end of the year in which they are co-opted".
Rule 5, line 2. After "and" insert "for a period of five years following their
term of office as President".
The President, having requested Mr. W. J. Foster to occupy the chair, then
delivered his address on "Graffiti in Essex". The address was illustrated by
lantern slides prepared by the author (see p. 1). At its conclusion Mr. Foster
expressed the thanks of the meeting to the President for his address and
requested permission for its reproduction in The Essex Naturalist.
The members then adjourned to the refectory for tea.
Epping Forest (933rd Meeting)
SUNDAY, 29 APRIL 1951
About forty members met at Theydon Bois Station at 11 a.m. and the party
walked along the Green, where Jackdaws were noted about the old oaks, and
entered the Forest by the Parish Church.
Leisurely progress was made in the direction of Birch Hall and en route the
very great profusion of beech seedlings was noted. The ground in many places
was more thickly bestrewn with these seedlings than any of those present
could remember having seen it before. This unusual profusion occurs through-
out the Forest this year and is apparently due to the wet and mild winter and
wet spring following a heavy crop of the seeds.
The day was chilly, but sunny intervals encouraged a good deal of bird song
and it was not long before Willow-Warbler, Chiffchaff, Blackcap and Cuckoo
were heard. Just above Birch Hall the "Wake Arms" road was crossed and the
old gravel pit was visited. Here there was shelter from the chilly wind and,
many birds being in evidence, it was decided to take lunch before walking any
further.
Several members spent an interesting half-hour watching a pair of Red-
starts. The cock was seen repeatedly to visit a hole which was evidently under