70
THE ESSEX FIELD CLUB.
though only twenty-three years of age, gave promise of becoming an exception-
ally close observer and a good ornithologist. Before leaving England he
deposited a volume containing a summary of his observations on the birds of the
Orsett district up to the summer of 1891 with Mr. Miller Christy, who will make
use of it when preparing the first supplement to his "Birds of Essex."—Ed.
Old Loughton Hall—Erratum.—In my article on Old Loughton Hall (p.
19, supra) there is, as Mr. Maitland kindly points out to me, an error, which I
hasten to correct. It was not Mr. W. W. Maitland, but his father, Mr. John
Maitland, who succeeded to the property in 1825, on the death of Miss Whitaker.
This mistake will also involve a corrigendum on page 20, where (line 6) the
"home of his widow" should read ''the home of his son's widow."—W. C.
Waller.
THE ESSEX FIELD CLUB.
Annual Report of the Council for the Year Ended
December 31st, 1892.
[Read and adopted at the Annual Meeting, held at Chelmsford on April 15th, 1893.]
The main official business of the Council during at least the latter half of last
year was concerned with the negotiations for the amalgamation of the Essex and
Chelmsford Museum with the Club, and the final arrangements not having been
completed within that year, it is deemed best to present on this occasion only a
summarised report, with the view of placing full details of the present position
and prospects of the Club on record in the form of a statement in The Essex
Naturalist and in the next Annual Report.
After very careful consideration of the circumstances of the case, the Council
and the Committee of the Essex and Chelmsford Museum came to the conclusion
that they would best serve the interests of the Club by carrying out the amalga-
mation at once, under the powers conferred by the agreement, without waiting
for attainment of the sum necessary to commence the proposed building of the
Museum. They were of opinion that work should he commenced as soon as
possible in the old Museum at Chelmsford pending the erection of new build-
ings. They considered that the interest of the members and the public in the
scheme would be greatly enhanced by making a beginning in the Museum, and
that the work of preparing and arranging the specimens already in the possession
of the two Societies, and those which will be presented, could be as well carried on
in the old as in a new building. It was therefore agreed to effect the amalgama-
tion, and that a certain proportion of the funds already promised should be called
in and spent in the purchase of suitable cabinets and cases, so that such speci-
mens might be properly displayed.
In accordance with these resolutions, the amalgamation has now been
arranged, needing only some legal formalities to be completed. It is hoped
that these will be in order by the annual meeting, and when finally settled the
deed of amalgamation and other particulars will, as above mentioned, be printed