190 THE ESSEX NATURALIST
a student. The Rubi and other special collections are not incorporated in
the General Herbarium, and separate notes on these items appear below.
Journal of Botany 95, 1904.
Ray, John. John Bay, of Epping, is the subject of a note in Gibson's
Flora of Essex under the heading of "Abbreviations" on page xxi: "J.R.
Bay, John, formerly of Epping—List of plants near Epping, mostly
included in H. Doubleday's list". Henry Doubleday frequently used the
services of collectors, and probably Bay was one of these. In the Essex
Naturalist a note appears over the signature of Wilfred Mark Webb, dated
from Hammersmith in October, 18911, in which he relates that by a series
of happy circumstances, the collection of the late Miss Doubleday, of
Halstead, Essex, had come into his possession. Amongst the collection
were many sheets from Epping from the herbarium of the late John Ray.
Aided by Professor Boulger, the Essex specimens, totalling 200, of which
151 are marked as having been collected by "J. Ray", nearly all in the
Epping Forest district, were segregated and placed at the disposal of the
Club. Webb goes on to comment on a feature of the collection which is
still apparent, that whilst each sheet bears the details of the place of
collection together with the date, in each case the year of collection has
been carefully erased. In one or two cases, however, loose slips enclosed
with the sheets have been overlooked in the general removal of the dates,
and bear the dates of 1841 or 1842. These dates are borne out by the
type and make of paper upon which they are mounted. Webb does not
disclose how the remainder of Miss Doubleday's collection, or the balance
of Ray's sheets which did not relate to Essex, were disposed of. Possibly,
the, eventual completion of the National Index of Herbaria will assist to
show the present whereabouts of the remainder. E.N. 11, 22, 1899.
Sewell, S. Arthur, formerly of "Maplehurst", Buckhurst Hill, Essex.
No biographical details available.
Representative collection of e. 700 sheets of British plants, but with some
British species illustrated by specimens from Switzerland. Almost entirely
without date or localities. This collection was presented to the Club by
his widow, according to the Annual Report, of the Council for the year
ending 31st December, 1902. An extensive search of the Club's archives
has been made by Miss Greaves, and subsequently by myself, for any clue
to the data relating to this collection. Each sheet bears a number written
in ink on the printed species label which cannot at present be connected
with any printed cheek list or similar series of numbering, and therefore
probably relates to the collector's own record book or diary, which, however,
does not appear to be in the possession of the Club. Both Mr. and Mrs.
Sewell were members. E.N. 13, 90, 1902.
Shenstone, James Chapman; b. c. 1855; d. 8 May, 1935, in his 81st
year. No detailed biographical information is available, but a brief obituary
notice appears in the Essex Naturalist.
Herbarium of c. 800 sheets of British plants made chiefly in the Col-
chester district between 1874 and the end of 1885. Apparently, Shenstone
began his collecting at an early age, for many of the specimens are dated
in his own handwriting for 1874. He was an active member of the Club
until he was well into his 70's, and contributed some botanical papers to
the Club's Journal. He himself presented the collection to the Club in
February, 1899. E.N. 11, 223, 1899; E.N. 25, 84, 1935.
Skinner, Miss. No biographical details available.
Herbarium of c. 550 sheets collected chiefly in Essex. No details can be
found of date or circumstances of acquisition.