Journal of Proceedings. xlv 



and an infinity of work in the unravelling of the web of Nature's mind, 

 by fixing the position of numerous natural orders. We want to learn 

 the function of the various elements of plant-food ; we want Parnassia 

 Hellehonis, and other " carnivors " studied as Drosera has been studied. 

 We have, undoubtedly, much to learn as to the modes of branching, the 

 inflorescence, fertilization, hybridization, flowers that never open, 

 leaves that " sleep," the means of dispersal in fruits and seeds, plant- 

 crystals and secretions, and many another wide-reaching topic. We 

 cannot say that many of our " critical " groups are yet satisfactorily 

 arranged. The aquatic Ranunculi, the genus Cocli learia, the altitude 

 variations of Violets, the hybrid Epilobiums, Cardtti, and Verbasciims, 

 Arctium, Erythma, Euphrasia, Atriplex, Potamogeton, and others, stand in 

 need of careful study, not to mention such well-known puzzles as 

 Roses, Brambles, Hawkweeds. and Willows. In these cases, field- 

 ^vork — the examination of whole, growing plants, and their surround- 

 ings — is the chief thing of which we have as yet had too little. 



The lecturer concludes by expressing a hope that his suggestions 

 may lead members of the Club to endeavour to fill up some of 

 these lacuna in our knowledge of the plant-world. 



A cordial vote of thanks is given to our conductor for his deeply- 

 interesting and suggestive remarks ; Mr. Gearing's interesting collec- 

 tion of coins, and other relics found on the Forest, is examined, 

 They don Bois Station gained in good time, and so end our " Chronicles 

 of a Wet Day." 



Saturday, September 25TH, 1880. — Ordinary Meeting. 



The Monthly Meeting was held at the Head-quarters, 3, St. John's 

 Terrace, Buckhurst Hill, at 7 o'clock, Mr. R. Meldola, President, in 

 the chair. 



The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. The 

 following were elected members of the Society : — Messrs. William 

 Cutting, W. Elliott Hutchinson, and E. Delacourt Kell. 



Mr. F. G. Hart exhibited a fossil Ammonite from the glacial clay at 

 North Weald. 



Mr. James English brought up a Quail (Coturnix communis) shot by 

 Mr. Symonds at North Weald. Mr. English stated that this was the 

 first Essex specimen that had come under his observation. [The 

 following remarks, extracted from the 4th edition of Pennant's 

 British Zoology, 1776, maybe given here: — " A gentleman, to whom 

 this work lies under great obligations for his frequent assistance, has 

 assured us, that these birds (quails) migrate out of the neighbouring 

 inland counties into the hundreds of Essex, in October, and continue 

 there all the winter ; if frost or snow drive them out of the stubble 



