34 
THE ESSEX NATURALIST. 
H. M. Edelsten and A. W. Mera and Rev. J. W. Metcalfe, for 
useful information and the specimens exhibited; Mr. W. G. 
Sheldon for valuable notes ; and Messrs. J. H. Durrant and 
W. H. T. Tams for help in research in the library and collections 
at the Brit. Mus. (Nat. Hist.). 
THE ESSEX FIELD CLUB —REPORTS OF 
MEETINGS. 
RAMBLE IN THE SEWARDSTONE DISTRICT 
(530th MEETING). 
Saturday, 23RD* April, 1921. 
The object of this ramble was a two-fold one—to study the returning 
summer bird-migrants, and also the spring flowers of this beautiful corner 
of the Forest district. 
A dismally wet morning, sufficient to discourage all but the most ardent 
field-naturalists, was suddenly broken at 2 o'clock by a sunny interval ; 
and thence forward the weather presented typical April alternations of 
smiles and showers, which produced magnificent effects of light and 
shadow on the landscape and yielded splendid blue distances. 
Twenty members and friends assembled at the appointed time at 
Chingford station, a goodly muster considering the very unfavourable 
weather conditions of the earlier day. A start was made just before 3 
o’clock, the route traversed being across Chingford Plain, through Bury 
Wood, and by field path and green lane to Gillwell Park, frequent pauses 
being made for the purpose of listening to the spring songs of the birds 
which abounded on all sides, and for culling the wild plants met with. 
Our conductors, Miss A. Hibbert-Ware, F.L.S., and Mr. William Glegg, 
F.Z.S., identified the calls of the birds heard, and gave impromptu lectur- 
ettes on the means of distinguishing one bird from another by its note ; 
whilst our President, Mr. Robert Paulson, F.L.S., named the flowering 
plants for the benefit of the botanical students of the party. 
At Gillwell Park, by permission of our members, Captain F. Gidney 
and Dr. Robert Patterson, the grounds of Gillwell House (now used as a 
training centre and camp for boy scouts) were visited, and scout “ Donald ” 
was detailed to climb two oak trees to seek for pellets of the Little Owl 
(A thene noctua) , which uses hollows in these trees as feeding places. A small 
collection of pellets was speedily secured for the Club’s Museum ; these 
were seen to consist mainly of beetle-elytra, with skulls, bones, and fur of 
both vole and mouse ; no bird-remains were detected in the pellets. On 
leaving the grounds the President expressed the thanks of the party to 
Captain Gidney and Dr. Patterson (the latter of whom was present) for 
their kindly assistance ; and, it being now nearly 5 o’clock, a quick return 
was made along Gillwell Lane, over the flank of Yardley Hill, to Hawks 
mouth Farm, where tea had been arranged for in a picturesque timber barn- 
adjoining the farmhouse. 
