cii Journal of Proceedings.
expressed their surprise and delight at the beauty and interest of the ground
traversed. The unusually arid season had dried up many spots usually
somewhat swampy, and hastened on the flowering of many plants, so that
some June species were seeding, and several commonly characteristic of
July were already in blossom.
The Bracken was in full-growing vigour, and here and there the yet-
lingering blossoms of the " Yellow Broom " might be seen. Its spinous
ally, the Needle-Whin, abundant on all sides, was already in fruit; the
ground was plentifully spangled with the white florets of the Heath
Bedstraw and the yellow Tormentil; whilst in the more marshy tracts,
the pretty little Red-rattle, and the pale lilac spikes and speckled leaves
of the Spotted Orchis, were frequent. Some discussion took place be-
tween the botanists of the party as to the exceptional hairiness of some
of the specimens of Veronica officinalis, one of the Speedwells ; and
many were glad to light upon the Butterfly Orchis, which is not common
ou the Forest. The pale creamy flowers of the Cow-wheat peeped out
amid the tree-stems by the Forest paths ; festoons of Honeysuckle
decorated old thorn-bushes and some of the Hollies, which form so
marked a feature in the undergrowth. Under the Beeches, laden with
mast, were the pretty stars of the yellow Pimpernel, and on the swamps
the torn pink blossoms of the Bagged Robin. Here and there a Foxglove
had escaped plucking, and the many gravel-pits of the Forest were over-
hung with the woolly catkins of the dwarf Willows (probably Salix
repens, L., or one of its numerous forms). The latter formed the text
for comments by the lady botanists of the party upon seed dispersal.
Many attempts were made to sight the Forest deer, but they most
provokingly remained hidden in the thickets, and eluded the keenest
search.
Arrived at the ancient earth-work of Ambresbury Banks, which the
Club investigated in 1881, and seated in a circle upon the trunks of
felled Hornbeams, the party listened to an interesting discourse by Mr.
J. E. Harting, F.L.S. (Editor of the 'Zoologist'). "on the Deer of Epping
Forest," [printed in 'Essex Naturalist,' vol. i., pp. 46-62].
In proposing a vote of thanks to Mr. Harting, the President (Pro-
fessor Boulger) reminded the company that the Roe-dear formerly
occurred in the Lea valley, as proved by the antlers found in excavating
the Reservoirs of the East London Waterworks in the Walthamstow
Marshes, some of which were exhibited by Mr. Greenhill at a recent
meeting of the Club, held appropriately at the " Roebuck." [Ante p.xcv.
See also Dr. Woodward's paper on " The Ancient Fauna of Essex," Trans.
E. F. 0., iii., pp. 1-2!).] Mr. Harting had been mainly instrumental'
therefore, in what might be called a re-introduction of this interesting
animal. Mr. W. G. Smith, Secretary of the Forest Fund, in seconding
the proposal, recalled the tradition that connected the Yew-tree Walk at
Copt Hall, close by, with Henry VIII, on the morning of Ann Boleyn's
execution ; and, turning to the more recent history of the Forest, pointed