THE ESSEX FIELD CLUB.
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Professor W. H. Flower, LL.D., F.R.S., F.L.S., Pres. L.S., etc. (Director of the
Natural History Department, and one of the Honorary Members of the Club.)
Prof. Flower delivered a most interesting and useful address, taking as his subject
the "Structure and Modifications of the Wings and Feet of Birds," with especial
reference to the introductory collection exhibited in one of the alcoves in the
Central Hall of the Museum. The lecture was illustrated by specimens, and
drawings on the black-board. These introductory collections serve much in the
same way as the preliminary chapters of any good book on ornithology, ichthyology,
entomology, botany, etc., to guide the student to a correct appreciation of the
general structure and principal modifications of the limbs and organs of the
animals and plants now or formerly inhabiting the earth. It is not too much to
say that a few hours' careful study of the specimens exhibited in any one class
would do more to instruct visitors than days of aimless wanderings among the
countless cases in the main galleries of the Museum. We believe that the idea of
such collections originated with Sir Richard Owen, and the details are now being
worked out and amplified by Prof. Flower and his assistants, in a way which will
earn the gratitude of all who visit the museum for study or even for rational
recreation.
A hearty vote of thanks was given to Prof. Flower, on the proposal of Mr. T. V.
Holmes, seconded by Prof. Boulger.
At the close of his address, Prof. Flower announced that Lord Walsingham had
presented to the museum the whole of his collections of the larvae of Lepidoptera,
preserved in such a way as to retain their natural forms and colours. It is unfor-
tunately necessary to keep entomological collections in the dark, long continued
exposure to light greatly injuring the colours ; but Prof. Flower said that Lord
Walsingham's series of caterpillars was of such great biological interest, and the
specimens of such great beauty, that it had been resolved to exhibit it in its entirety
in the Great Hall of the Museum for a few weeks, commencing with the Whitsun-
tide holidays, before consigning it to the cabinets in the Entomological Depart-
ment of the Museum. Our members will recollect that a portion of this collection
was kindly shown by Lord Walsingham at a meeting of the Club last year, on the
occasion of a lecture on the colours of larvae by Mr. Poulton.
We may also point out that the rooms devoted to the British collections of
natural history are now open, and that a most excellent series of nearly all classes
of our native animals are shown. These collections will be of the greatest value,
both to beginners and to advanced students.
Geological Section at High Beach, Epping Forest.—On April 18th
Mr. H. B. Woodward, Prof. Meldola, Mr. W. Cole, and I, inspected the excava-
tion made at the site of the new reservoir to he constructed at High Beach. We
found the section to consist of drift gravel and clay, resting upon Lower Bagshot
sand. The Bagshot sand was of a greenish yellow colour, and contained thin
seams of pipeclay. About seven feet of it were seen. The exact age of the
overlying gravel and clay is somewhat doubtful. Mr. Whitaker thinks it either
pre-glacial or the oldest drift of glacial age in the district. Beds of similar age
may be seen at Jack's Hill and at Gayne's Park, in the Epping Forest district.
The junction between this drift gravel and the underlying sand was, as usual,
highly irregular. Quartz pebbles were found here and there in the gravel—a
feature distinguishing it from the old Tertiary pebble-beds, which are entirely
composed of rolled flints. At the southern end of the excavation, which was