3b2 THE ESSEX FIELD CLUB. 



fronds almost covered the surfiace, but it would in all probabilit\- die off when the 

 winter's cold came on. It was a coincidence that Mr. L. R. Hall had found thc- 

 jilant in a pond at Hi<^hgate, flourishing under like circumstances. 



Papers Read — Mr. F. W. Reader read a j)aper, " Further Notes o n the 

 Lake-Dwelling Settlement at Skitts Hill, Braintree." Tlie paper (which was 

 illustrated by a number of lantern-slides) dealt mainly with points of detail 

 concerning the depth of the "relic-beds " described in Mr. Kenworthy's paper 

 already published in the Essex Naturalist (Vol. xi., pp. 94-126). Mr. Reader's 

 paper will be fniblished in due course. 



A short discussion was carried on by the President, Prof. Meldola, and the 

 Author, and a vote of thanks was passed to iSlr. Reader. 



Coast Erosion in East Anglia. — Mr. John Spiller, F.I. C, F.C.S., gave 

 a short lecture on this subject, consisting mainly of a summary of his own obser- 

 vations on the coast-line from Dunwich to Covehithe since his Report to the 

 British Association in 1895. Having referred to the importance of the subject of 

 coast erosion, as evidenced by the papers recently presented to the Institute of 

 Civil Engineers and to the Norwich Conference, Mr. Spiller said that, with the 

 exception of Yorkshiremen, East Anglians were the people most interested in the 

 matter. Erosion was going on all around the coast, from Cromer to Walton-on- 

 Naze, and Lowestoft had spent /,"68,ooo in defensive works. For many years he had 

 taken measurements systematically, and had compared his results with the figures 

 returned by members of the Geological Survey. The photographs he submitted 

 of Dunwich showed the recent fall of the land east of the church, carrying with it 

 about 6ft. of the northern buttress of the church. Here 31ft. had been lost in 

 two years ; at Temple Hill, close by, 55ft. disappeared in the same period. From 

 the cliffs North and South the fall had been greater, and the lifeboat could not be 

 used, for much of the shingle had been carried away, and the boat-house was left 

 perched on a terrace. Northwards, to the mouth of the Blyth, the sliingle had 

 been cut back ; but at Southwold the lengthening of the old pier and the 

 erection of a new one had increased the width of the beach, though the lifeboat- 

 Jiousewac still threatened. In the last nine years, 350ft. had been lost from the 

 cliff" at Easton, 163ft. from the roadway, and 77ft. from the High Cliff. And 

 these figures would have to be increased, for there had been much destruction 

 since they were verified in the early summer. At Covehithe, where his personal 

 observations ended, 129ft. had been lost in the same period. In conclusion, Mr. 

 Spiller expressed a hope that some members of the Club would undertake 

 similar observations from Harwich to tlie mouth of the Thames. 



Some discussion ensued, carried on by the President, Mr. Avery and Prof. 

 Meldola, who pointed out that the disintegration of the cliffs was due to 

 terrestiial and suboerial forces — such as land-springs, wind, and rain — and what 

 fell was carried away by the sea 



In answer to a question, Mr. Spiller said that the gain of the land upon the 

 sea amounted to about one-fifth of the loss. 



A vote of thanks to Mr. Spiller for his address was proposed by the President, 

 and carried by acclamation. 



Professor Meldola having taken the chair, Air. Rudler gave his report as tlie 

 Club's Delegate at the Cambridge Meeting of the Britisii Association. [This 

 report is printed in the E. N., a/ih^, pp. 337] . 



Professor Meldola remarked on various recommendations in the report, and 

 Air, Rudler was warmly thanked for the summary of the proceedings, and for 

 his kindness in representing the Club at the Conference. 



