REPORTS OF MEETINGS 217
Mr. Wheeler showed contents of pellets of Little Owl from Foulness
Island including bones of Short-tailed Vole, Bank Vole, Common Shrew,
Pygmy Shrew, Field Mouse and House Mouse. He also showed pellets
of Barn Owl and asked that pellets found by members should be sent
to him for examination.
The business of the Annual General Meeting was then proceeded
with.
The minutes of the last Annual General Meeting were taken as read
and the Report of Council which was to be printed in The Essex
Naturalist was accepted.
The Honorary Treasurer handed copies of the accounts to the mem-
bers present and explained several items therein.
Mr. E. E. Syms was elected with acclamation as President for the
ensuing year.
Mr. Alwyne C. Wheeler was elected Honorary Secretary and the
remainder of the Officers were re-elected for a further year of office.
Dr. Nisbet and Mr. Harley expressed the thanks of the Members to
Mr. Richard Ward for his service to the Club as Honorary Secretary
since 1953, mentioning in particular the happy atmosphere which had
prevailed during his term of office.
The following were elected members of Council: Dr. K. L. Alvin,
Mrs. Ailsa Jeppson, Mr. John Oxenham and Dr. E. A. Rudge.
Mr. Bernard Ward then took the chair and the President delivered
his address on "Some House Flies". The lecture was illustrated by
many photographic lantern slides of the species of Diptera which are
commonly found in and around dwellings in this country. On its con-
clusion the President was sincerely thanked for his most interesting
address and the members went down to tea.
SPRING MEETING (1018th MEETING)
Sunday, April 27th, 1958
About forty members and friends met at Epping at 11 a.m. for a
visit to Gernon Bushes and Wintry Wood. There was some anxiety
regarding the weather as the previous day had been very wet and
the forecast was not favourable. However the sun shone throughout
the day and the rain clouds which passed over from time to time
dropped only a few scattered spots of rain.
The season being a late one the trees were only beginning to show
their leaves so that conditions were good for bird observation. Gernon
Bushes was reached via the footpath across the sportsfield and here
the party dispersed to spend two hours in the woodland, which gave
the members ample opportunity to study birds or plants according to