Journal of Proceedliujs. xix 



Dr. Cooke's remarks on the various forms of minute life were illus- 

 trated by a large series of exquisite coloured drawings made from 

 living specimens under the microscope. But the rain became too 

 persistent ; the Doctor shut up his portfolio, and the Club fled along 

 the Theydon Road to the railway, under the shelter of friendly 

 umbrellas. The 8.37 train set down the members of the party at their 

 proper stations; a "good-bye," a rapid hand- wave at the passing 

 carriage-windows, and a pleasant day was gone. 



Saturday, June iqth, 1880. — Field Meeting. 



A Field Meeting of the Club was held in conjunction with the New 

 Cross Microscopical and Natural History Society, the members of 

 the two societies meeting at Theydon Bois on the arrival of the 2.13 

 train from London. The meeting was conducted by the respective 

 Presidents and Secretaries of the Societies, Messrs. Martin Burgess, 

 R. Meldola, Frederick Stewart, and W. Cole; Mr. Henry Walker, 

 F.G.S., also giving his valuable aid. The weather during the week, 

 had been of a very doubtful character, and heavy rain had fallen 

 during the morning. The muster was not so large, therefore, as had 

 been anticipated, but sixty members and friends attended the meeting, 

 and were rewarded with one of the finest afternoons of the season- 

 warm, genial, and bright. The route taken was past Theydon Green 

 and the Church, through the village, and into the woods on the right 

 hand, some distance past Oak Hill enclosure. The forest was at its 

 best ; the rain had freshened the plants and trees, but, excepting in 

 the low ground, it was quite dry under foot. Nets, boxes, and 

 vasculums were soon applied to their proper uses. Orchis maculata 

 was growing in profusion and perfection ; and many were the demon- 

 strations, with a grass stem thrust gently into the spurs of the newly- 

 expanded flowers, of the mode in which insects unconsciously remove 

 the pollen masses on their proboces, and carry the fertilising element 

 to other plants. In a large open of moist heathy land, two species of 

 Hair-moss {Polytrichum commune et P. aloides) occurred in plenty ; and 

 here the remains of poor "Reynard," with his bonnie brush intact, 

 lay festering in the sun ! In the woods near this spot, Mr. English 

 found some young plants of the elegant little fern, Lastrea orcopteris 

 [montana, Newm.) (See Ordinary Meeting, June 26th.) The party 

 then proceeded to a piece of marshy ground on the Copthall Road, 

 where the Bog-moss {Sphagnum) grows abundantly. Here the micro- 

 scopists at once set to work, but with what result only home study 

 could reveal. Two species of a delicate Fungus grew on the moss, 

 and the moisture-loving Bedstraws {Galium uliginosum et palustre) were 



