26 THE ESSEX FIELD CLUB.
shown. The whole were exhibited by the courtesy of Prof. W. W. Watts,
M.A., F.G.S., Secretary to the B.A. Committee. Running comments on the
slides were given by Mr. T. V. Holmes, F.G.S., V.P., who explained the bear-
ing of the "sections" exhibited on the geology of the coast of Essex and
Suffolk. In the Eastern Counties, for example, Mr. Holmes observed, we
have much Boulder-clay, a formation found also in many districts in the
North and West. Now it need hardly be said that to the student of Glacial
deposits living in the south-east, it is as important to note the characteristics
of those of Yorkshire, Cheshire, or Cumberland as those of his own county.
Again, in this part of England the chalk covers a very large area of the
surface and may be found at a depth not exceeding 100ft. over large districts
the surface of which is occupied by tertiary or by superficial beds. But
it may also be found in Wiltshire, Lincolnshire, and East Yorkshire, and in
North-Eastern Ireland.
Readers of the Essex Naturalist will find that in Mr. Holmes' account
of the proceedings of the Conference of Delegates at Liverpool, the want of
geological photographs from the Eastern Counties is mentioned. But the
greater average softness of the strata of these counties, which detracts from
their picturesqueness and thereby tends to check photographic enthusiasm, is
precisely the reason why the presence of geological photographers is especially
needed in them. For in the more picturesque counties, with hard rocks in
larger proportions, the sections, whether of the coast or some natural crag, or
shown in quarries or railway cuttings, tend to remain wholly or comparatively
uninjured from the effects of a few years' weathering. But a section in soft
clays, gravels, and sands, whether natural or artificial, may lose much of its
beauty and clearness in the course of a few weeks, from the mere washing
down of material belonging to the upper beds over the surface of those
beneath. In short, in Essex and East Anglia, there is special need for local
photographers to take views of sections as soon as they appear without a delay
of a single week.
A discussion was carried on by Prof. Meldola, and Mr. W. H. Dalton,
F.G.S., late of H.M. Geological Survey.
Cordial votes of thanks were passed to Mr. Holmes and to the exhibitors,
and to Professor Watts for the loan of the slides.
Tea and light refreshment was served at the close of the meeting, Mr.
Briscoe, the Principal of the Institute, having very kindly allotted one of the
lecture-rooms for the purpose.
THE 185TH ORDINARY MEETING.
Saturday, February 25TH, 1899.
The 185th Ordinary Meeting of the Club was held in the Technical
Institute, Stratford, at 6.30 p.m., the President, Mr. David Howard, F.C.S.,
in the chair.
Nominations of new members of the Council and officers were made in
accordance with the Rules, in anticipation of the Annual Meeting to be held
in March (see Report of the 19th Annual Meeting on March 25th).