22 THE ESSEX FIELD CLUB.
A few new collections have been put into the Museum by the Hon.
Curator, including a collection of the Bats of the Forest, a series illustrating
the manufacture of Gun-flints; a collection showing the transformations of the
Lepidoptera, &c. The Curator is now preparing a series showing the
classification of Insects, and one to demonstrate the biology of Oak and other
Galls. These will be put into the Museum in the early Summer.
Mr. Greenhill has parted with his magnificent collection of Palaeolithic
Implements, and it has consequently been removed from the Museum, but he
has kindly left on loan a very interesting series of duplicate specimens, and
many neolithic, implements, &c. With the aid of these, the Club's specimens,
specimens lent by Mr. Crouch, the Rev. Mr. Kenworthy and himself, the
Curator has been enabled to make up a very fair collection of Stone Implements
illustrating their form, mode of occurrence, and method of manufacture.
To render possible the preparation of labels and descriptive tables in our
Museums, the Council has purchased, on very advantageous terms, an
excellent Typewriter from the Hammond Company, which has been, and will
be, of the greatest service.
The donations to the Museum have not been numerous. Prof. Meldola
has presented Dr. Cooke's valuable work on Fresh-water Algae, and two vols.
of Dr. Braithwaite's Monograph of the Mosses ; Mr. Holmes has presented a
geological map ; Mr. Tomlin, two wasp nests found at Chingford ; Mr. Wattson,
specimens of Neuroptera ; and Mr. Tower, a fine head of a Fallow Buck from
Weald Park. Several other donations have been received, and a full list will
be given when a more extended report is presented.
The experience of the winter of 1895-6, proved to the Curator the
necessity of having some means of lighting up the Museum on dark afternoons,
and the experience of this last Winter, 1896-7, has still more strongly
emphasized the necessity of providing some efficient means of keeping the
Museum Warm and Dry. If the Museum is to be a complete success as an
educational exhibition more space is also imperatively necessary. All these
matters are being anxiously considered, and it is hoped that our applications
to the Epping Forest Committee will be granted, and that the Museum will be
placed on a satisfactory footing both with regard to space and warming. The.
Council hardly feel at liberty to make a more definite report while the
negotiations are pending, but probably in a few months time they may be able
to make a satisfactory statement.
The Library.—With reference to the principal portion of the Club's
Library which is, under Rule 24, located at the Central Museum, the Hon.
Librarian there reports that during the past year sundry copies of the
Transactions of other Societies have been received by way of exchange, and
that the Essex Naturalist has been sent in return to them and to others
on the exchange list. A list of the various periodical publications in the
Library has been prepared and printed, and was issued to members with a
recent number of the E. N. The Library has been closed during the past
year, but arrangements have now for some time been made by which bound
volumes can be borrowed by members, on applying by letter to the Hon.
Librarian, Central Museum, Chelmsford, and paying the costs of carriage.
As touching the remaining portion of the Library, which is located in the
Forest Museum at Chingford, the Hon. Librarian there reports that during