THE ESSEX FIELD CLUB.
87
The general collection of insects now publicly exhibited in table cases, although
sufficiently extensive to occupy an entire gallery, necessarily includes only typical
examples of each order. The main collection, which is by far the very finest in
the world, is contained in an array of cabinets occupying several rooms in the
basement of the museum, and is accessible only to entomological students. As
Mr. Waterhouse said, it would be impossible on such an occasion to enter into an
explanation of the reasons for the precise arrangement of the specimens that had
been adopted, and in his demonstrations he confined himself simply to a few of
the more important insects, considered from an economic point of view, or notable
from their great beauty, size, strangeness of appearance, or mode of life—the
nests of bees and wasps, of which there was a noble series, wood-boring beetles,
edible insects, silk-producers, the marvellous forms of the "stick "and "leaf"
insects, the homes of the trap-door spiders, etc., etc., all came in for a passing
notice, and at the close Mr. Waterhouse was heartily thanked for his kindness,
on the motion of Mr. White and Mr. J. Spiller. The remainder of the afternoon
was spent in the examination of the series of insects of all orders, now
displayed in the British section.
A Spring Forest Ramble,
Saturday, May I2th, 1888.
On this afternoon, the customary forest "Spring Meeting" of the Club was held,
mainly for a forest walk. The members assembled at the Theydon Bois station at
a little after 3 o'clock, and rambled through the woods and glades, the route
being through Genesis Slade, by Piercing Hill, and Epping Thicks to Ambresbury
Banks, and thence back to Theydon. The woods were very lovely in the first
blush of their fresh spring adornments, and the ramble was much enjoyed.
The forest deer were sighted several times.
At half-past five an excellent Tea was served at Messrs. Riggs and Son's estab-
lishment at Theydon Bois.
After Tea an Ordinary Meeting (the 89th) was held, Prof. R. Meldola,
F.R.S., Vice-President, in the chair.
Mr. T. B. Linley was elected a member of the Club.
The Secretary stated that he had received the following letter from Mr. E. N.
Buxton, one of the Verderers of the Forest, and a Vice-president of the Club,
with reference to the discussion on the jay shooting question which took place at
the last Ordinary Meeting of the Club (see page 83):—
" Knighton, Buckhurst Hill,
" May 10th, 1888.
" Dear Sir,—I see that at the last meeting of the Essex Field Club, Prof.
Boulger and others severely criticised the action of the Forest Authorities in
destroying a proportion of the jays. With the greatest respect for Prof. Boulger's
scientific knowledge, I doubt whether his remarks were made with a full know-
ledge of the conditions, and I shall be obliged if you will give the same publicity
to what is to be said on the other side. 'A fair field and no favour' to every-
thing that runs, flies, creeps, or swims, is our principle also, but not that one
kind of predatory animal should increase to such an excessive extent as to exter-
minate other kinds which have an equal right to live. The jays were in excessive
and abnormal numbers, and with the exception of migrants and birds that build
under cover, had almost succeeded in turning the forest into a solitude, so far as
bird life was concerned. Since we began to limit the number of the jays it has
been noticed by many good observers that there has been a remarkable change in
this respect. Blackbirds and thrushes, for instance, are much more numerous