THE ESSEX FIELD CLUB. 23
March 30th. These nominations were duly made in accordance with Rule VII.
(see Report of Annual Meeting, infra, p. 24).
Mr. Cole, as Curator of the Museum, exhibited some specimens of rare Essex
Lepidoptera from the Laver Collection recently presented to the Club, including
the specimen of Vanessa antiopa taken al Middlewick, Colchester, by W. Tillaney,
August 29th, 1880, and specimens of Apatura iris (one female, taken as it was flying
round a moderator lamp in |the evening in Colchester town (E.N. vol. v., p. 96),
Limenitis sybilla, etc., from the Colchester District. Mr. Cole alluded to the
interest attaching to the specimens in this collection, in consequence of the
increasing rarity of many of the species in this county.
Prof. Meldola exhibited a very remarkable aberration of Satyrus janira (the
Meadow-brown butterfly) male, taken near Noak Hill, Essex, by himself on July 29th,
1894. Each wing exhibited large pale patches in the discoidal area, more pro-
nounced, perhaps, than in any specimen yet figured in entomological publications.
He also exhibited for comparison another specimen, showing the same variation
in a less degree, which he took in New Forest some years ago.
Mr. Webb exhibited the living larva of the Stag-beetle (Lucanus cervus), dug
up a few days ago out of earth at the foot of a tree.
Mr Cole exhibited, on behalf of Mr. H. C. Snell, a stone dug up from a gravel
pit, about eight feet down, in Mr. Snell's garden, bordering on Lodge Bushes,
Buckhurst Hill, which appeared to exhibit signs of chipping by human agency.
He also exhibited a collection of about twenty specimens of stone implements,
cores, flakes, etc., recently presented to the Museum by the Rev. A. W. Rowe,
M.A., F.G.S., all from the neighbourhood of Felstead, Essex (these will be noticed
more fully later, in "Museum Notes").
Mr. Chalkley Gould exhibited a forest document of the eighteenth century,
being a Treasury Order of George II., of the 14th January (O.S.) for the payment of
salaries of certain officials of the Forest, which was of very considerable interest as
showing the status and duties of of the forest officials at that period. The full
text of the Order will appear in The Essex Naturalist, and Mr. Gould said that
he would have much pleasure in presenting the original document to the Epping
Forest Museum.
Mr. G. T. Newton, F.R.S., commented upon the small collection of fragments
of mammoth and rhinoceros bones presented to the Forest Museum by the Rev.
J. W. Kenworthy, and exhibited that evening. The specimens came from a pit
near Lea Bridge, Clapton. A fuller report on these specimens will appear
later.
Mr. Newton also exhibited and commented upon a series of bones of
Vertebrata, being portion of a large collection made by Mr. Lewis Abbott from
one of the fissures in the Kentish Rag, near Ightham, in Kent. The species
of animals might be divided into three groups : (1) Extinct forms ; (2) those
which are extinct in Britain, but are still living elsewhere ; and (3) species still
living in Britain. Mr. Newton made some very interesting observations on the
distribution of the forms, and on the probable climate during the Pleistocene
period as illustrated by these remains.1 Mr. Newton also exhibited the skin of an
Arctic Lemming, taken by himself in Norway last year.
On the proposal of the Chairman cordial votes of thanks were passed to the
exhibitors and donors.
Mr. T. V. Holmes then read a paper entitled "Notes on the Section at
1 See paper on the subject by Mr. Newton in "Quart. Journal Geological Society," vol. 1.
(1894), pp. 188-209, plates X.-XII.