Io6 THE ESSEX FIELD CIJTP,. 



Leaving the church and crossing the road, Mr. Prance pointed out the site of 

 the old hall, close to a good spring of water, and thence over a few fields the 

 rectory at Stapleford Tawney was reached, where the members were entertained 

 with tea by the rector and Mrs. Prance. Both parishes and churches are now 

 under the same rector, the vicarage of Theydon ad Monteni being probably 

 dispensed with during the incumbency of one of the Smijth family. 



A field was passed which showed the ravages of the Bean-beetle {^Sitond), 

 specimens of which were afterwards exhibited by Mr. Sworder under a magnifying 

 glass. 



A sketch map was also shown giving the positions of several borings for water 

 surrounding the rector}', and also near the church and hall, at all of which the 

 search was fruitless. One of the bores entered a mass of conglomerate to a depth 

 of six feet without passing through it ; this bed extends for about an acre. At the 

 Hall Farm, within a few hundred yards of the other spot there are two good wells 

 of water each about thirty feet deep obtaining their supply from a vein of gravel 

 at about the same depth as that at which the conglomerate was reached. 



The rectory garden is a charming spot, it being an elevated plateau, the 

 ground sloping away in all directions affording fine views over the very pleasant 

 country surrounding it. 



After tea an ORDINARY MEETING (the 133rd) was held, Mr. Walter Crouch, 

 Vice-President, in the chair. 



Mr. A. W. Harrison was elected a member of the Club. 



Various specimens obtained during the afternoon were exhibited. Mr. Sworder 

 showed some geological specimens collected in the parish, including fossil wood 

 bored by Teredo from the London Clay, Inoceramus in flint. Echini, Belemnites, 

 oysters, sponges, etc. 



Mr. Harry Sworder and Mr. Ernest Fitch, exhibited specimens of the Great 

 and Lesser Grebe, which had been shot in the parish a few years since. 



Time would permit only of a brief resume of the intended address by Mr. 

 David Houston, F.L.S., being given. It was entitled " Some Practical Sug- 

 gestions concerning Botanical Field Work in the County." A paper on 

 the subject by Mr. Houston will appear in a future number of the Essex 

 Naturalist. A short discussion took place in which hearty agreement with the 

 proposals put forward by the lecturer was expressed by Prof. Meldola, Mr. Charles 

 Browne, Rev. W. C. Howell, and Mr. A. P. Wire, and Mr. Houston was warmly 

 thanked for his address. 



On the proposal of the Chairman, seconded by Prof. Meldola, a vote of thanks 

 was passed to the Rector and Mrs. Prance for their kindness in receiving the Club. 



It was found also impossible to stay long enough to examine the ancient and 

 picturesque Church of St. Mary's, Stapleford Tawney (about which Mr. Prance 

 had gathered some notes), nor to visit Albyns, the seat of the Abdy family at 

 Stapleford Abbotts, permission to view which had been courteously given to 

 compensate for the disappointment of the refusal at Hill Hall, which the con- 

 ductors had hoped to obtain. It was felt that the whole district was so interesting 

 that another meeting should be held as soon as possible to complete the survey of 

 the same bj^ the Club. 



The return journey was a very pleasant one, over Passingford Bridge to 

 Stapleford Abbotts, and so to Lambourne End, skirting the remains of the old 

 Forest of Hainault, thiough Chigwell, and along the new road over the Roding 

 Valley to Buckhurst Hill Station. 



