Journal of Proceedings. cliii
Saturday, May 30th, 1885. Field Meeting and Ordinary
Meeting in Epping Forest and Chigwell.
The Rev. W. Linton Wilson and Mrs. Wilson having kindly invited
the Club to visit them at Chigwell, it was decided, in order to avoid an
inconvenient number of fixtures in one month, to combine the Ordinary
Meeting appointed by the card of meetings for this evening with a
Spring ramble in the Forest. The members assembled at the Woodford
Station about three o'clock, where conveyances were in attendance. The
route taken was along the Whitehall Road, past the " Forest Hotel," and
so through Fairmead to High Beach. The weather was somewhat un-
settled and cloudy, but improved as the afternoon wore on and the ride
was an exceedingly pleasant one, the woods bearing their most charming
spring array of opening buds and early flowers, the delicate " May "
blossoms presenting a glorious spectacle. At the flagstaff, just beyond
the " King's Oak," most of the party left the carriages for a walk
through the Forest, following the " Verderer's Path." A few insects
were observed, mostly common species, the best being Nola cristualis,
taken from the trunk of an oak by Mr. B. G. Cole. This insect is by no
means common in the Forest. The way was led through " Oak Hill "
enclosure to Theydon Church. Here the drags were again entered, and
the drive continued over Theydon Green through the pretty lanes
to Debden Green, by Loughton Bridge to Chigwell, and " Oakhurst "
was reached much behind time, about seven o'clock. A most hospitable
welcome was given to the party by Mr. and Mrs. Wilson, this being the
second visit of the Club to their house; the previous one was on July
22nd, 1882. [See 'Journal of Proceedings,' vol iii., pp. 41-51.]
After tea the Ordinary Meeting (the fifty-ninth) was held in the
large school-room, Mr. T. V. Holmes in the chair. Before commencing the
ordinary business, the President proposed that the Club should record
its hearty thanks to Mr. and Mrs. Wilson for their hospitable reception,
the proposal being seconded by Mr. John Spiller, and carried by acclama-
tion. Mr. Wilson briefly replied, and spoke of the importance of
kindling a love for Nature and Nature-study among all, especially the
young.
The following were elected members of the Club:—Messrs. B. Cor-
coran, B. W. Lloyd, J. Luckin, J. T. Newman, and E. A. Webb.
Presentations to the Library were announced, and thanks voted to
the donors.
The President exhibited some blackened corn obtained from pits in
the Isle of Portland, to which his attention had been called by Mr.
A. M. Wallis, and which he considered to be granaries, dating possibly
from pre-historic times. [See Mr. Holmes' remarks on these pits in
'Transactions.' vol. iv., p. 109; ' Proc. Geol. Assoc.,' vol. viii.,pp. 404-410,
and in ' Essex Naturalist,' in the report of the Denehole Explorations,
vol. i.. pp. 252-3, with illustrations.]