FOR THE YEAR ENDING DECEMBER 31ST, 1887.
17
The usefulness of the Essex Naturalist as a means of regularly and quickly
acquainting members with the proceedings of the Club has fully justified the
efforts made in its establishment. The issue of the journal has enabled our Editor
to publish many of the papers in arrear, and the remaining manuscripts in hand
will be printed early in 1888.
It is a matter for regret that a greater number of our members do not contribute
to the journal. It is in the power of almost everyone to send occasional notes,
even when the preparation of longer communications is not convenient; and the
gathering up of short records of local facts was one main object kept in view in
the establishment of the NATURALIST. The Editor proposes to call attention to
this and other matters relating to our journal in an early number. The twelve
numbers issued during the year comprise 288 pages, some in small type, with 66
illustrations and five plates, three being coloured. The Council wish to express
the gratitude of the Club to Mr. Worthington Smith for most useful and interest-
ing contributions of woodcuts to illustrate his papers, and also to Mr. B. Winstone
for the two plates of maps of Essex engraved at his expense specially for the
Naturalist ; also to Mr. F. C. Gould, Mr. H. Stopes, Mr. E. A. Fitch, Mr.
F.C.J. Spurrell, Mr.W. J. Argent, and Mr. H. A. Cole, for blocks or sketches contri-
buted to our journal during the year. Mr. J. E. Harting has contributed a guinea
towards the illustration of his paper on "Wild Fowl Decoys in Essex," which
is not yet printed, and Mr. Symons has continued the gratuitous advertisement of
the "Report on the East Anglian Earthquake" in his "Monthly Meteoro-
logical Magazine." It may be well to mention that No. 12 of the Essex
Naturalist (the "Denehole Number") will cost considerably over £40,
but it is hoped that the sale of the 250 extra copies printed may reduce this
outlay.
During January last year (although dated December, 1886), was also issued
Part 2 of Vol. iv. of the old series of "Transactions," together with title-page
and index to that volume, comprising 88 pages. There still remains in hand an
instalment of "Proceedings," which will form Part 2 of Vol. iv., and it will com-
plete the old series of "Proceedings." The Council anticipates being in a position
to publish this outstanding part during 1888, and so enable members to complete the
binding of the five volumes of "Transactions" and "Proceedings," which will
comprise the journal of the Club previous to the establishment of the Essex
Naturalist (1880-1886 inclusive).
It may be interesting to note that since the foundation of the Club, eight years
ago, we have printed about 1,837 pages of matter, with numerous plain and coloured
plates, and other illustrations, giving an average of about 230 pages per annum.
It may be truthfully said that few other local societies of like standing have done
so much for their members, and in elucidation of the natural history and geology
of their respective districts, in so short a time.
The first series of Denehole explorations were concluded in the autumn, and it
will now be a matter for consideration in what way and in what directions the in-
vestigation can be continued. The Council believe that the publication of the report
will clear up many of the difficulties and misapprehensions which attach to the
problem. Its difficulties should not deter us from further attempts to discover facts
which may go to solve the question. The Essex Field Club has made the subject
its own, and the Council is clearly of the opinion that the investigations should
be continued in those directions which a careful study of the evidence already