vi Journal of Proceedinr/s. 



Railway ; but the labour and credit of organizing the successful opposition 

 to this atrocious Bill had in great measure fallen upon and belonged to 

 their colleague, Mr. Francis George Heath, and he was sure the Club 

 would accord that gentleman a very hearty vote of thanks for his spirited 

 exertion in the cause. Mr. Fisher Unwin heartily seconded the motion, 

 but warned lovers of the Forest that in all probability the snake was but 

 scotched, not killed. Vandalism was evidently rampant in certain high 

 places, and attempts to destroy the Forest would still be made. 



The vote was unanimously passed, amid cheers. 



At the Conversazione various fossils were exliibited (and presented to 

 the Club) by Mr. A. Tozer ; a very curious instance of fasciation in the 

 common garden " Sweet- William " [Dianthus) was shown by Mr. Oldliam. 

 It had appeared two years running in plants in his garden at Woodford. 

 Mr. Letchford showed under the microscope specimens of the fine 

 Infusorian, Bowerhankia imbricator ; and Mr. English brought up a case 

 of si^ecimens of preserved Funpi, intended for the forthcoming Fisheries 

 Exhibition at Norwich. The collection comprised thirty-nine species, 

 many of considerable rarity and interest. In view of the Club's visit to 

 Waltham Abbey, Mr. Unwin exhibited his collection of views of the Abbey 

 Church and Town. Mr. Waller, of Tottenham, sent specimens of mosses 

 from Epping Forest, including Dulcranum glaucum in fruit, which he 

 considered to be a rare event. 



Saturday, April 2xd, 1881. — Field Meeting. 



In view of the doubtful quality of the weather to be anticipated at the 

 early season of the year, it was decided to hold the first Field Meeting at 

 Waltham Holy Cross, Mr. George H. Birch, M.R.I.B.A. (Hon. Sec. to the 

 London and Middlesex Archaeological Society) very kindly oli'ering his 

 valuable services as cicerone at the Abbey. The bulk of the members 

 travelled by train from Liverpool Street Station to Waltham, others by 

 road in a drag from Buckhurst Hill ; and the united parties assembled at 

 the Abbey-gates at about four o'clock, between seventy and eighty in 

 number. The visitors were met at the Church by our learned Conductor, 

 our members Dr. Priest and Mr. W. T. Wakefield, Rev. F. Johnstone, 

 Mr. Churchwarden Gardener, Mr. W. Winters, F.R.H.S., and other local 

 gentlemen. Much regret was expressed at the enforced absence, through 

 iUness, of the Rev. J. Francis, M.A,, the Vicar, who had taken great 

 interest in the proposed Meeting. 



The company having assembled in the nave of the grand old building, 

 Mr. Birch commenced a chatty description of the Church, explaining its 

 architectural features and dwelling upon the historical memories still 

 lingering around the fane of "Harold infelix" — our last English king. 

 He pointed out that but a comparatively small fragment of the original 

 had lasted to our times, but doubtless the part in which they then were 



