118
THE ESSEX NATURALIST
It haying been announced that kinch would be taken in the vicinity of
the "Wake Arms", a few members elected to walk more or less directly
towards this rendezvous. The majority, however, took a more circuitous
route via Debden Green. The former party were able to hear and to watch
Redstarts amongst the old trees of Monk Wood; the latter party were able
to observe the rookery at Debden Green, to see a Tree-Creeper and to hear
the call of the Nuthatch. All duly met at the agreed luncheon place at
1 p.m., and sandwiches were enjoyed in a leisurely fashion under the shade
of the trees. Those who had not brought liquid refreshment were able to
obtain it at the nearby inns and tea-shops.
About 2 o'clock the walk was continued through Long Running, and
here several Green Tiger Beetles were seen running on the ground; one or
two Common Lizards were also seen. Soon after passing Ambersbury
Banks, a track leading in a southerly direction was followed and a visit was
paid to the log on which occurs the moss Orthodontium gracile var. hetero-
carpum; the colony was found to be flourishing and many plants were
fruiting. The log, however, has begun to show signs of disintegration, and
one hopes that by the time its decay is complete the moss will have estab-
lished itself on other logs nearby. Returning to the main ride, the walk
was continued in leisurely fashion so that the Bell Inn was reached soon
after 4 p.m. A good tea had been prepared, and the party was soon occupied
in enjoying the repast and discussing all that had been seen during the day.
After the meal, Mr. Bartrop was elected Chairman, and the following
were elected to membership of the Club : —
Mr. and Mrs. D. H. Clark, of Central Park Road, East Ham, E.G.
Mr. J. H. Jones, of 173, Woodward Road, Dagenham.
The Chairman then called upon several members to give an account of
the day's observations. Miss Enid Jones spoke of the flowering plants
and reported that thirty-seven species had been found in bloom. She
characterised the list as being the usual one for the time of year, including
some early plants just going over and some later ones just coming into
flower. Coltsfoot was an example of the former group and Bogbean (of
which one plant had been seen in flower) of the latter group.
Mr. Howard has kindly sent the following note on the plant list: "It
is pleasing to note that Wood Anemone (Anemone nemerosa L.) still
persists in the Forest, though sparingly. Other species not often seen there
were the White Campion (Melandrium album (Mill.)) and Henbit (Lamium
amplexicaule L.). The Crab-apple (Pyrus Malus L.) showed much
blossom, and the Hawthorn (Crataegus Oxyacantha L.) flowered profusely''.
Mr. Ross gave an account of some of his recent observations in the
Forest. He mentioned the seedlings of Hornbeam which were to be seen
in plenty this year; they were certainly not the produce of last year's seed,
which was very scarce, but were undoubtedly produced from seed of 1950,
which was profuse, and possibly from that of earlier years. He stated that
this seed formed a large part of the diet of Chaffinches and other finches
throughout the Winter. Two species of Mycetozoa had been seen today—
Reticularia Lycoperdon (not common this year) and Comatricha typhoides.
He also mentioned that on his way to the meeting he had seen, near The
Warren, Loughtou, a Lesser Spotted Woodpecker and two Wood-Larks.
Mrs. Harris then gave an account of the birds seen. The list amounted
to about twenty-five of the usual species. One Tree-Pipit only had been
seen, one Wood-Warbler had been heard, and a Tree-Creeper had been
seen.
Mr. Pratt made some further comments on the birds, and stated also
that, when separated from the party, he had seen four or five Fallow Deer
in rather unusual circumstances. The small herd had been seen to emerge
from the trees near Ambersbury Banks and had been about to cross the
road, but, daunted by the almost continuous line of traffic, had stood for