cviii Journal of Proceedings.
knew that part of the country well, and its productions both animal and
vegetable.
Rev. J. M. Crombie and Mr. English exhibited fine specimens of the
Liverwort (Marchantia polymorpha), with well developed gemma,
antheridia and archegonia, gathered in the woods during the afternoon.
Mr. English also exhibited living specimens of an Utricularia
(Bladderwort), a most interesting aquatic plant, from a gravel-pit near
Theydon Garnon, concerning the precise specific name (probably
neglecta) and supposed carnivorous habits of which some discussion took
place [see notes by Prof. Boulger, ante p. ii.].
Prof. Boulger said that it was a plant which had got a very bad
name of late, because it had taken to poaching; but as there was not
likely to be any salmon-fry in the gravel pit from which Mr. English
obtained his plants, these particular specimens were probably not
offenders in that way. In correction of the statements made in the
daily papers, he might say that Utricularia did bear flowers, and very
attractive flowers, and he exhibited specimens in flower from Surrey.
The plant had got into the papers lately because some specimens had
been sent to Professor Moseley, at Oxford, a short time ago. It had been
known for some years as a catcher of aquatic crustacea, which seemed to
be attracted by curiosity more than anything else, the bladders from
which the plant derived its name having some resemblance to a gigantic
Daphne or Cyclops. Poking their noses into these bladders which opened
only inwards, they were caught and killed—apparently by suffocation.
But it had not been known to catch vertebrates until Professor Moseley
found that the specimens sent to him contained some salmon-fry.
Thereupon the papers amused themselves by speculating what might
result from an increase of size in Utricularia making our bathing-places
unsafe for children. (Laughter.)
The Rev. J. M. Crombie made a short report upon his day's researches
into the Lichen-flora of the Theydon Woods. He said that lichens were
very scarce; the trees were too close together and there was too much
undergrowth. The rain did not apparently reach the trunks of the older
trees, and this was essential to the growth of lichens. Still he had taken
a note of three which he hoped would, when critically examined, be
found to be new to the list of the forest species, and it was sometimes
as useful to know what was absent in a stretch of country as what we
could find there. [See Mr. Crombie's paper on " The Lichen-Flora of
Epping Forest, and the Causes affecting its Recent Diminution," Trans.
E.F.C, vol. iv., pp. 54-75.]
The very pleasant meeting soon afterwards broke up, the majority of
the members returning home by train from Epping.