66 



THE ESSEX FIELD CLUB— REPORTS OF 

 MEETINGS. 

 THE 235th ORDINARY MEETING. 

 Saturday, famiary ~2$th, 1905. 



This meeting was held as usual in the Technical Institute, Stratford, at 

 6.30 p.m., the President, Mr. F. W. Rudler, F.G.S., in the chair. 



New Member. — Miss Eva Whitley, B.Sc, of 18, Westbourne Terrace, 

 Hyde Park, \V., was elected a member of the Club. 



Recent Additions to the Museum.— Mr. \V. Cole exhibited a specimen 

 of Putorius hibernzcus, the Irish Stoat, which has been only recently added to the 

 British Fauna. For a long time it was regarded as a large weasel. It is remark- 

 able for not turning white in winter, as the Common Stoat so generally does. 



Also fine specimens of the Wild Cat (Felis catus) and of Lepus timidus, 

 the Mountain Hare. 



These specimens had been obtained and set up specially for the museum by 

 Messrs. Sherrin Bros., the Club's taxidermists. 



Mr. Cole also showed a specimen of the Grey Shrike (La/iius excubitor) 

 employed by the Dutch hawk-catchers to give warning of the approach of a 

 hawk. This specimen had been presented by Mr. J. E Halting, F.L.S , to be 

 added to his fine collection illustrating the modern practice of Falconry, already 

 in the main hall of the Museum. 



Mr. John Spiller, F.I.C., exhibited photographs showing the extraordinary 

 damage to the East Coast of England by weather and sea action during the 

 last Cew weeks, and made some explanatory remarks on the same. 



Papers Read. — Mr. T. S. Dymond, F.C.S., read a paper entitled 

 " Sulphate of Lime in Essex Soils and Sub-Soils.'' The paper was illustrated by 

 a table showing the proportion of sulphuric acid in soils from 20 separate Essex 

 stations. {Ante p. 02.] 



The President congratulated Mr. Dymond on his appointment to his new 

 but important post, that ol Inspector under the Board of Education, to advise on 

 matters of Education and of Nature-study in Rural Schools, and made some 

 remarks on points in the paper. Mr. Spiller also spoke on the subject. 



A vote of thanks was passed to Mr. Dymond for his paper. 



Mr. F. J. Chittenden, of the County Technical Laboratories, Chelmsford, then 

 read a paper entitled " The Bog-Mosses (Sphagnacae) of Essex : a contribution to 

 a Floia of the County." 



Mr. Chittenden's explanations Were accompanied by drawings on the black- 

 board, and by a set of Essex specimens of the group. The paper will be 

 published in the Essex Naturalist in due course. 



A discussion on the paper took place, carried on by the President, Mr. 

 Barnard, the Author, and others, and Mr. Chittenden was cordially thanked for 

 a very interesting addition to the County Monographs already issued under the 

 auspices of the Club. 



THE 236th ORDINARY MEETING. 



Saturday, February 25th, 1905. 

 The fourth meeting of the winter session was held in the Technical Institute, 

 Stratford, at 6.30 p.m., the President, Mr. F. W. Rudler, I.S.O., F.G.S., in the- 

 chair. 



