THE ESSEX FIELD CLUB.
197
Mr. Cole called attention to the many cases of decay and death of Birch
trees in Epping Forest, apparently due to some kind of fungoid attack. Mr.
Elliott and Mr. Massee spoke also on this subject. Since the meeting our
member, Mr. Paulson, has began to study this matter, and we may look for a
report from him at the next Cryptogamic meeting.]
The meeting soon after ended the members making their way to Theydon
Bois station, to catch return trains.
MEETING AT THE MUSEUM OF PRACTICAL
GEOLOGY, JERMYN STREET
Saturday, December i6th, 1899.
On this afternoon a meeting was held in the Theatre of the Museum of
Practical Geology, by the courteous permission of Sir Archibald Geikie,
F.R.S., Director of the Museum. Our esteemed hon. member, Mr. F. W.
Rudler, F.G.S., the Curator, received the party, and very kindly acted as
Conductor throughout the meeting.
The 191st Ordinary Meeting was held, as above, at 3 o'clock, Mr. D
Howard, President, in the chair.
The following were elected members of the Club :—Miss Maud M. Biggs,
Mr. F. W. Hildyard, F.L.S., Mrs. Hildyard, and Mr. Robert Paulson.
Mr. W. M Webb, F.L.S., exhibited a species of Woodlouse (Isopoda)
new to Britain (Porcellio ratzburgi, Brandt) from "Warley, Essex. Mr. Webb
gave some details of the occurrence of the new species, which also probably
occurs at Brightlingsea. The particulars are embodied in Mr. Webb's paper
in the last part of the Essex Naturalist (ante p. 127)
Mr. Rudler then gave a short lecture on "The arrangement of Museums
illustrating the Geologic Sciences," accompanying his remarks by the exhibition
of a series of new and old maps of the Geological Survey. The main object
of the lecture was to give the members some idea of the objects and mode of
exhibition of specimens in the collections.
At the conclusion of the meeting Mr. Rudler conducted the party through
the Museum, giving many most pertinent and interesting "lecturettes" in
connection with the several departments.
Before leaving, at the end of the afternoon, on the proposal of the Presi-
dent, a vote of thanks was very cordially given to Mr. Rudler for his lecture
and for his excellent and most instructive demonstrations.
[In the circular calling the meeting the following reference to the late
destructive fire at the Municipal Institute, Stratford, was printed. This fire
completely upset all the arrangements proposed to be made for the winter
meetings of the Club :—
Owing to the disastrous fire at the Municipal Technical Institute at
Stratford, on the morning of October 23rd last, the Physical Lecture Theatre
(which had been so kindly placed at our disposal during last Session, by the
Technical Instruction Committee), was destroyed. Pending the restoration
of the building, it is hoped that arrangements for meeting in another room
may soon be made, but in the meantime the Council are organising two or
three Meetings in the National Museums during mid-winter and spring.
All Members of the Club will deeply regret the terrible misfortune which
has overtaken the Institute and Library (probably the finest of their kind
in or near London), but it is anticipated that the building will be restored
in a year's time. The Natural History Museum most fortunately escaped
without injury.]