THE ESSEX FIELD CLUB. 
251 
Later we had pointed out to us the rooms where Darwin “ kept ”" 
whilst an undergrad., “ on the south side of the first court of Christ’s,, 
on the west side of the middle staircase, on the first floor.” 
At 10 o’clock a visit was paid to the Zoological Museum under the 
guidance of Mr. J. J. Lister, M.A., F.R.S., and of Mr. Foster Cooper, the 
Superintendent of the Museum, who conveyed the visitors in two parties, 
through the rooms and explained the exhibits. Among the many striking 
specimens pointed out were the eight eggs of Great Auk which the 
Museum boasts, also a set-up specimen of this bird and two complete 
skeletons. A Narwhal with two equally well-developed tusks, both with 
left-handed spirals, was observed with interest : usually the left hand 
tusk is the only tooth normally developed, its right hand fellow remaining in 
a rudimentary condition in the socket. A preparation of Tatusia novem- 
cincta, an Armadillo, showing four foetuses from a single placenta and ovum 
(the normal arrangement in this animal) attracted considerable attention. 
Later in the day Mr. Lister conducted the visitors through his own 
college (John’s), showing them the Hall, the Library, with the original 
oak book-presses, and the Combination Room with its wonderful plaster 
ceiling ; the Courts of Trinity and Queen’s Colleges, and the “ Backs,” 
were also visited. 
On .Saturday a visit was first paid to the Botany School and Museum, 
where the party was received by Mr. Shrubbs, in the regretted absence,, 
through illness, of Professor Seward. Mr. Shrubbs proved an efficient 
cicerone, and displayed the treasures of his Museum with enthusiasm ; he 
stated that Engler’s system of plant classification was that followed in the 
Museum. 
Much interest was shown in the well-displayed specimen of Weluitschia 
mirabilis, one of the Gnetales from S.W. Africa, which develops only two 
true leaves, following the temporary cotyledons, which leaves continue to 
grow throughout the entire life of the plant (a century or more), becoming 
lacerated at their free ends and attaining a length of several feet. The 
squat stem rests close on the surface of the sandy ground, and bears crowded 
inflorescences and cones, while a long tap root is sent down to seek moisture 
at considerable depths. An hemipterous insect, Odontopus sexpunctatus , 
bores in numbers in the tissues of the inflorescences, and almost certainly 
effects the fertilisation of the plant. 
A polished section of the trunk of a Common Elm, Ulmns campeshis „ 
which was blown down in a storm on October 14, 1881, in the grounds 
of St. John’s College, was inspected ; at the time of its destruction the 
elm was 215 years old, and it was still a vigorous healthy tree. 
Specimens of bast fibres from the Lace Tree of Jamaica, Lagettaliniearia y 
one of the Thymelaceae, which form numerous concentric layers interlacing 
in all directions in the stem, were inspected. They are made into articles 
of apparel, frills, collars, thongs, etc., after removal from the stem by 
maceration. 
The visitors next proceeded to the Botanic Garden, where they were 
welcomed by Mr. Preston, and conducted by him round the rock-garden 
and through the various houses, noticing many interesting plants which 
space does not allow us to particularise. 
In the afternoon the Town Market was visited, the Round Church, 
