REPORTS OF MEETINGS
277
those who had crossed the Island with the cars. Soon all were busy drying
their feet and changing into dry shoes and socks. The car drivers then
ferried" the party to Churchend where a halt was made by the Inn
while sandwiches were enjoyed in the warm sunshine.
The most obvious traces of the, great floods of 1953 were the rows of
dead trees along the island road. Every Poplar appeared to be quite dead,
as also were the Sycamores. Walnuts and Horse-chestnuts were putting
forth a few shoots in sign of a gradual recovery from the inundation.
Blackthorns had dried right back but were putting out new shoots from
the base. Several arable fields appeared to have been left fallow and were
growing strong crops of weeds, amongst which Ox-Tongue (Helminthia
Echioides) was dominant. Two members observed specimens of the Clouded
Yellow butterfly on the Island—the only records of this species which we
had so far heard of this year.
After the picnic lunch the cars left at Wakering Stairs were again
collected by their owners and the party set off for Great Warley, where,
by kind invitation of Mr. and Mrs. E. E. Williams, they were to take
tea at Warley Lea. On arrival a very pleasant hour was spent in looking
around the charming gardens under the guidance of the hosts.
After members had enjoyed the ample and appetising meal provided in
the spacious dining room Mr. C. B. Pratt was elected as chairman for the
usual formal meeting. He expressed the thanks of all present to Mr. and
Mrs. Williams for their very generous entertainment. It was not the first
time that they had welcomed the Club, which was indeed indebted to
them for repeated kindnesses. He also thanked Mr. Williams for the
trouble he had taken in making the arrangements for the visit to Foulness.
He had been so successful in laying on perfect weather that he might
expect to be called upon when good weather was again wanted for a field
meeting ! The chairman then called upon Mr. Broughton to comment upon
the marine biology of the day.
Mr. Broughton said that specimens of the Lug Worm (Arenicola) had
been taken by digging in the sand, where its presence was indicated by
funnel-shaped depressions. The Cockle (Cardium edule) had also been
unearthed, and the Shore-crab (Carcinus) and the Blenny had been collected
in the pools surrounding the posts marking the Broomway. Mrs. Broughton
was then called upon, and the Chairman took the opportunity of offering the
congratulations of the members to her and her husband on their recent
marriage.
Mrs. Broughton referred to the large numbers of the Winkle (Littorina
ruderalis) on the Eel-grass (Zostera marina) growing on the muddy zone
between the sand and the shore. Red-shelled specimens of this Winkle
had been taken, and she showed the Mysid or Fairy Shrimps taken in
the pools.
Mr. Williams spoke of the migrating Red Admiral butterflies which had
been seen. A solitary Large White butterfly had also been seen, and the
two Clouded Yellows seen were worthy of note. He also mentioned the
interesting clumps of Spartina grass seen on the shore.
After some further discussion the members then left the tables and a
further happy hour was spent in the garden examining the specimens col-
lected by various members. Mr. Williams also showed some of the
interesting books and early maps in his fine library. Time passed so
quickly that it was with some surprise that members realised that some
twelve hours had passed since they had left home in the morning and it
was fully time to take leave of our kind hosts and make for home still in
the sunshine which had lasted throughout this lovely day.