74 THE ESSEX FIELD CLiri!. 



and he might instance also Prof. Heidmun's work in connection with the Liverpool 

 Marine Biological Committee. He hoped that the matter would be followed up 

 by the Club in a systematic way. 



The discussion was continued by Mr. F". C. Gould, Mr. Crouch, and others, 

 and the meeting terminated with the usual conversazione, at which numerous 

 specimens were exhibited. 



Spring Ramble in Epping Forest. 



Saturday, April 30th, 1892. 



A PLEASANT ramble through parts of the forest little known to some of the 

 members was taken on this afternoon, mainly for the purpose of calling the Club 

 together for the opening of the summer meetings, and to receive a practical 

 demonstration, under Prof. Boulger's guidance, of the effects of pollarding, as 

 pursued until the last few years, on the recent growth of the hornbeams. The 

 main body of members started from Chingford Station about three o'clock, 

 traversing Chingford Plain, Fairmead, Hill Wood, etc., to High Beach, where a 

 party coming from Loughton was met, and two of the verderers, Sjr T. Fowell 

 Buxton and Mr. P. Gellatly, joined the assembly. At Fairmead Bottom a herd 

 of the forest deer was seen. The woods were very pleasant, the trees and 

 bufhes just bursting into leaf, and the air was warmed by the brilliant sunshine ; 

 but the backwardness of the season was very marked, and insects were few. The 

 only butterfly seen was Pieris i-apcp, although EuchL'e cardamhies and Gonopteryx 

 rhamtii had been seen in the N.izing lanes a week previousl}'. The cuckoo and 

 the nightingale were heard. 



From the " King's Oak " the way was led through Honey Lane quarters to 

 Woodreden Hill, by the rustic spring, and so to the high spot just above it, 

 whence a fine view was obtained over the Lea Valley into Hertfordshire, etc. 

 Several interesting discussions were raised during the ramble in connection with 

 the growth of the trees, the formation of " lawns," etc. It had been asserted by 

 old inhabitants of the forest that if blackthorn bushes are cut down they do not 

 reappear ; but Sir Fowell Buxton pointed out an instance by the rifle butts where 

 the blackthorns had been cut, but where they were again asserting themselves 

 with rapidity and vigour. 



Several botanists besides Prof. Boulger were with the party — Mr. J. T. 

 Powell, author of the interesting paper on the flowering plants of the forest, in 

 our January number, and Mr. C. Browne, Hon Counsel to the Club ; but very few- 

 interesting plants were noticed. The Butcher's Broom (^Ruscits) was abundant, 

 nnd all were glad to note that the primroses had not been quite exterminated in 

 the Honey Lane woods, but were springing up again in some numbers ; beautiful 

 patches of woodsorrel, with its delicate flowers, were to be seen all over the 

 woods, and a specimen of the Spurge Laurel (^Daphne laiireola) had escaped the 

 hand of the spoiler. Mr. Powell collected fertile spikes of Eqnisetum maximum 

 and E. pratense in good condition. 



A halt was called on the crest of the hill to listen to an address from Prof. 

 Boulger, entitled, " Pollards and their Management, with special reference to the 

 Hornbeam " (the text of this address will be given in the i.ext number of the 

 Essex N.^tukalist). 



Sir T. l-"owell Buxton, in thankirg Prof. Boulger for his address, desired to 

 point out that whatever was done in the forest, there was alwaj-s a per contra to 



