REPORTS OF MEETINGS
57
Mr. Broughton reports that the small black flatworm Polycelis cornuta,
which is commonly found in clear spring-streams such as this and which is
related to the Polycelis nigra of the ponds and slow warm ditches of Epping
Forest, was expected, but was not found. The less common Planaria alpina,
which frequents cold water and creeps upstream as the weather gets warmer,
was found close to the source. Given time, Polycelis cornuta might have been
found lower down. The operculate snail Hydrobia jenkinsi, before 1893 known
only from brackish water, but now common in all freshwater streams, was of
course found, together with the freshwater shrimp Gammarus pulex, charac-
teristic of well-aerated hard water everywhere. Stonefly nymphs thought to be
taeniopterygid (possibly Brachyptera risi, characteristic of such waters) had
been taken on a preliminary visit; these were unfortunately not found again
and therefore remain undetermined. A helodid beetle larva, probably Helodes
minuta, was typically common, crawling on submerged twigs. Web-spinning
caddis larvae were not found but glossosomatine sand-grain users were com-
mon near the source and limnephilid or leptocerid plant-product users were
characteristic in the lower reaches. Fine full-grown larvae of Simulium species
were secured, but no cocoons were found. Nearly all the species listed show
special adaptations or restrictions of some sort to this type of habitat, some
of the adaptations being remarkably apt.
The Flint Trade Way (939th Meeting)
SATURDAY, 8 SEPTEMBER 1951
This meeting was arranged to give members an opportunity to see the exten-
sion into Hertfordshire and Buckinghamshire of the Neolithic Way first
described by Dr. Rudge at the Club's meeting on 29 October 1949.
A 33-seater coach left Wanstead Station at 10 a.m. en route for Chesham in
weather which at first could be called doubtful, but which soon became and
remained fine and sunny. Dr. E. A. Rudge, who was leading the party, directed
the coach from the front seat, whilst Mrs. Rudge and her son proceeded by
car with two other members.
The route taken was by the North Circular Road and Watford Way, striking
through Rickmansworth and reaching the delightful Chess countryside, past
Chenies and Latimer, into the town of Chesham, which was attained at mid-
day. Members decided that they should immediately make for the first item on
the itinerary, Chesham Church, where Dr. Rudge pointed out that the church
was cruciform, and called members' attention to the large blocks of conglo-
merate stone beneath the buttresses. He surmised that they were the recum-
bent remains of a pagan stone circle, and vividly illustrated this point by
saying that if the church were lifted up, the Puddingstones would be seen to be
in the shape of a circle, the diameter of which he had measured.
The party then proceeded up Church Street towards the Chess Ford Stone
which could be seen against the wall adjoining the road. Dr. Rudge pointed out
the course of the river as it ran under the road in the direction of the stone, and
the shallowness of the water at the present time. Further stones were seen
against walls at intervals along the street, and although it was not suggested
they were now in their original positions, it was a curious fact that the stones
had only been discovered in a line running east and west, but never in the
north to south direction. Members were then led to the market square where
the site of the missing Market Stone was shown, and the course of the track-
way crossing the present road from alleyway to alleyway was described.
Corroboration of the existence of the market stone was astonishingly obtained
in situ from a good lady in a shop abutting the site, who remembered seeing
the stone there.
After this most interesting visit to what Dr. Rudge has deduced to be "the
centre of the culture responsible for devising our track", the party re-boarded
the coach, and the journey continued over White Hill towards Botley and