ANNUAL REPORT. 305
Both the President and Prof. Meldola, in proposing a hearty vote of
thanks to the lecturer, congratulated him on the valuable results of his patient
labours. Prof. Meldola made some extended remarks on the study of the life-
histories of insects, which is a field so little explored, but one capable of
affording most noteworthy advances in natural history. He also alluded to
the curious physical conditions under which aquatic insects lived, such as the
assistance to or control over their movements given by the surface-film and to
the tremendous internecine warfares in which the insect inhabitants of every
pond engaged. He looked upon Mr. Enock's lecture as a really remarkable
contribution of Entomological Science.
In returning thanks, Mr. Enock gave some hints on methods of working
in such observations, and made some amusing remarks illustrative of the
long-continued patience often required to achieve such results as those
described in his lecture.
ANNUAL REPORT OF THE COUNCIL FOR THE
YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31st, 1899.
[Read and adopted at the 20th Annual Meeting, postponed (on March 31st) to November 14th,
1900.]
The report which the Council has the honour to present to the members
may be put into a few paragraphs, as apart from business connected with the
Essex Museum of Natural History, the work during 1899 was of a routine
character.
Finance—The accounts for the year 1899, which are at length laid
before you, were audited in May by Messrs. f. D. Cooper and W. Crouch,
to whom the Council is much indebted for their services. On comparing
these accounts with those for 1898 it will be seen that the debit balance
shown on the General Account has been reduced from £43 8s. to £26 9s. 1d.
Postage was reduced from £18 0s. 7d. to £15 0s. 3d. It will also be observed
that, in accordance with the agreement with the Corporation of West Ham,
a sum of £50 (for the year 1899) was transferred to the Museum Maintenance
Account. It will further be noted that owing to the satisfactory sales of
publications, the long-standing deficiency on that account has been reduced
from £25 to £18—in round numbers. The other accounts call for no especial
mention until the summary is reached, when it will be seen that the Life
Composition Fund was, on December 31st, represented by £57 4s. 8d. in
cash, as against £28 13s. 2d. in 1898 ; and that the total deficiency on all
accounts had been reduced by a sum of £23 4s. 2d., leaving it at just over £50,
an amount which, if the present policy of the Council is adhered to, will soon
be eliminated from the accounts.
Membership—During the past year 1899 the Club has lost one member
by death, thirteen by resignation, and two by removal ; and it has elected
twenty-three new members, leaving a nett gain of seven members This
brings the total membership, inclusive of Honorary Members and Life-
Compounders, up to 296.