76
THE ESSEX NATURALIST
of any other nominations these members and officers were declared duly
elected.
Professor Ingold then vacated the chair which was then taken by the new
President, Mr. E. E. Syms, f.r.e.s., f.z.s. amid acclamation. He expressed
his appreciative thanks to the members for electing him as President and
said that he would do all that lay in his power to serve the interests of the
Club during his term of office.
Mr. Bernard Ward voiced the thanks of the Club to Professor Ingold, both
for bis services as President and for the great assistance he had rendered
at the Annual Fungus Forays.
Professor Ingold then delivered his address on "A Toadstool, its form and
function." (see page 1). On the conclusion a hearty vote of thanks was
accorded to the lecturer and at 4.30 p.m., the meeting concluded and members
then went down to tea.
Spring Meeting in Epping Forest (998th Meeting)
SUNDAY, 29 APRIL, 1956
This annual fixture was very well attended, no fewer than forty-nine
members and friends having signified their intention to be present. The
season was a late and a dry one. Little rain had fallen for several weeks,
cold winds had prevailed and night after night had brought frost. There
was, however, a little improvement now and the morning being sunny, calm
and a little warmer, all these who had booked met at Loughton Garage at
11 a.m. in the expectation of an enjoyable day in the Forest.
It was considered wise to divide the party in order to give better oppor-
tunities for bird watching; accordingly one section led by Mr. Bernard Ward
walked by way of Golding's Hill Ponds and the other led by Mr. Pratt
followed the path across the meadows to Debden Green. The two parties met
by the old sand-pit at Oak Hill for picnic lunch.
The Forest was just beginning to take on its spring garb and in the sun-
shine the fresh green leaves of the hawthorns with the blackthorns in full
flower gave welcome relief to the general brown tones of winter. The show
of hornbeam catkins was particularly profuse but the beech buds were for
the most part still unopen, although an occasional branch in a sheltered
position showed the green of the opening leaves.
At, Golding's Hill several House-Martins were seen and before Debden
Green was reached the Cuckoo and the Tree-Pipit were heard. Chiffchaffs
and Willow-Warblers were soon afterwards seen and heard in song. A small
tree of the Box Elder (Acer negundo) was in full flower and the hedge of
Berberis stenophylla at Debden House was just opening its flowers.
On the high ground north of Debden Green, Yellow Buntings were seen and
here and in several other places during the walk very close views of Willow-
Warblers were obtained as they worked over the trees and shrubs still
largely bare of leaves. During the lunch halt a Blackbird's nest with eggs
almost at ground level was seen and a pair of Coal-tits were watched as they
collected nesting material and carried it into a crevice in a root-bound bank.
After lunch Mr. Ward's party followed a route by Theydon Bois Golf
Course and Mr. Pratt's party walked across to Ambersbury Banks and by
Long Running to Bell Common. A herd of thirty Fallow Deer was watched
crossing the ride some three or four hundred yards ahead of the party.
Several members observed a Stock-Dove incubating eggs in a hole in a tree.