210
THE ESSEX FIELD CLUB.
siderable amount of soluble salts in the vicinity of the habita-
tions of man and domestic animals. One might also suggest
that early man was induced to eat halophytes because of their
succulence. But this is pure conjecture.
The ecological study of plants leads finally to the problem
of the origin of species. Many littoral species can be said to
have a great plasticity, and to be able to adopt different forms
in different situations. The genus Atriplex, for instance, seems
at present to be actively evolving, witness the great variety of
forms and the difficulty of classifying them.
THE ESSEX FIELD CLUB.—REPORTS
OF MEETINGS.
Saturday, 25th January 1913.
This Meeting was held, as usual, in the Physical Lecture Theatre
at the Municipal Technical Institute, Stratford, Essex, the President,
Mr. W. Whitaker, B.A., F.R.S., F.G.S., etc., in the chair.
New Members.—The following were elected Members :—
Mr. B. W. Bryan, Woodside, Nelmes Park, Hornchurch.
Mr. James Guest, 83, Harold Road, Leytonstone.
Mr. Walter Fox, "Hispar," Harrow Drive, Romford.
Mr. Joseph Ross, 18, Queen's Grove Road, Chingford.
Mr. Edgar S. Syms, 22 Woodland Avenue, Wanstead.
Congress of the SE. Union of Scientific Societies.—Mr. D. J. Scour-
field, F.R.M.S., the Club's Delegate, gave a verbal account of the pro-
ceedings at the Congress held at Folkestone in June 1912. The full
report of the Congress will be found in The South Eastern Naturalist for
1912, which is the organ of the Union.
An Additional part of Ogborne's History of Essex.—Mr. John Avery
said:—"In 1813 a prospectus was issued appealing for subscribers for
the purpose of publishing the History of Essex by Mrs. Elizabeth Ogborne,
the work being illustrated by numerous engravings from original drawings
taken upon the spot by Mr. J. Ogborne. It was estimated that the work
would be completed in twenty parts, forming four handsome quarto
volumes. It was intended that the first part, comprising the Half Hundred
of Beacontree, would be ready for publication in January 1814. Con-
siderable delay appears to have taken place, and in a circular announcing
the publication of Parts 2 and 3 it was stated that the fourth part was
in a state of forwardness, and would appear in the course of the Spring
1818. But it was supposed that this fourth part never appeared. In
1900 I directed attention in the county press to a thin book in the West
Ham Public Library, without any title page, which for the purpose of
identification had been lettered "The History of Lambourne." It was
printed by Maurice, the printer of Ogborne's Essex. In size of page,