258 THE ESSEX FIELD CLUB. 



known Essex Species." The lecture was illustrated by a series of specimens 

 of most of the species referred to, selected from his own collection. 



[An abstract of Mr. Lovett's remarks is given in the present part of the 

 Essex Naturalist]. 



Mr. VV. Cole exhibited some Essex forms of Marine Crustacea, collected 

 by himself in the Colne Estuary. 



Considerable discussion took place on points in the natural history and 

 occurence of Crustacea, carried on by Mr. Crouch, Mr. Whitaker, Mr. F. W. 

 Elliott, and the Author, and before the clos3 of the Meeting a very cordial 

 vote of thanks was passed to Mr. Lovett for his interesting lecture. 



[The Secretary expressed his thanks to the Governors of the Institute for 

 the courteous way in which accommodation had been found for the Club, 

 The place of meeting was chosen to suit the convenience of Mr. Lovett, so 

 as to avoid the risk of two railway journeys for his delicate specimens of 

 Crustacea. The day of Meeting was an experiment, many Members having 

 frequently complained that most of the Meetings were held on Sutiirdays. 



FIELD DEMONSTRATION MEETING AND SPECIAL 



AND ORDINARY MEETING. 



Saturday, March 31ST, 1900. 



One of the Field Demonstration Meetings was held in Epping Forest on 

 this afternoon, under the Botanical leadership of Mr. Ernest S. Salmon. The 

 subject was the study of the Mosses. The members met at Theydon Station 

 at about a quarter past 3, and the route was taken up the hill to Oak Hill 

 Woods. 



By the wayside, growing on the sandy banks, Anhicomnium audrogyniiin 

 occurred abundantly in its gemmiferous condition, crowded with little balls of 

 gemmae borne at the apex of naked stalks (pseudopodia). On these banks, 

 Bartiamia pomiformis also grew. On reaching the Oak-hill Woods it was 

 found that the cold winds, which had been prevalent for the past week, had 

 somewhat dried up the mosses, and it was only in the sheltered and damper 

 parts that any signs of Spring growth were observable. Scattered about the 

 woods, however, were fine tufts oi Leitcohn'itm glaucum, and letraphis pellucida, 

 with its bright green cups of gemmae, grew in several places in profusion. 



The way led by the "Ditches" to the "Fox Earths," where the 

 Badger's holes (depicted in Dr. Laver's Mammals, S-c, of Essex, plate 

 facing page 42), were seen. Close to the stream running through 

 " Hangboy Slade," l-'issideiis exilis was found, a rare species of the genus, and 

 ore not hitherto recorded for the Forest. This moss was in beautiful con- 

 dition, its densely clustered ripe capsules on short setae almost covering the 

 bare clay on which it occurred. In the wetter parts of the woods, Anlacom- 

 niiim palustw wa.s iound, whilst in the dry parts the most interesting specie.^ 

 seen were PolytiUhum piliferum and I'leiiildium subulatum. 



On reaching Monks W'ood, a halt was called under the beeches, and a 

 short lecture on Mosses was given by Mr. Salmon. In his remarks, directions 

 were given as to the best manner of examining mosses, and attention was 



