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THE ESSEX FIELD CLUB.
reason to be dissatisfied on the whole with our output. It must
be remembered that the chief source of expenditure in a society
such as this is publication. By this is our utility made manifest
to our members and to the public at large. But publication is
limited by income, and the latter is dependent upon our member-
ship. We have, like most other societies, seen periods of
elevation and depression —we have passed through our crises and
we may now flatter ourselves that the Club has found a home
where its labours can be carried on peacefully and uninterrupt-
edly. In view of our past achievements we are at any rate
justified now in pleading for further support. A list of Members
of under 300 means an income of about £150 to £200 per
annum, out of which we have to meet the cost of publication and
to furnish our contribution to the curatorial expenses of the
museum. If our members would like to have a larger volume of
the Essex Naturalist every year—and this is a consummation
devoutly to be wished—we must increase the numbers of our
subscribing members. Our subscription is not ruinous ; I know
of no society of a like nature from which its members get so
much in return for their subscription in the way of meetings and
publications. I certainly think that our journal might be issued
more frequently and more regularly, and now that the chief
burden of organizing the museums is off our Editor's shoulders
we may look for improvement in this respect. But the total
amount of printed matter—apart from the frequency of issue—
cannot very well exceed our present volumes with the income at
present available. It is an encouraging indication that we have
discharged our functions towards the scientific world that the
supply of original contributions has practically never failed
during the twenty-one years of our existence. That seems to
me one of the very healthiest signs of our vitality, and I confess
that it is an experience which, in view of the history of many
local societies, has caused me no little surprise. Our position
has generally been that we have had more material in hand than
we have been able to afford to publish. That is the state of
affairs at the present time. Much as we have accomplished
during the twenty-one years passed under review there yet
remain vast fields for future workers. To encourage this work
by joining our ranks, if only out of public spirit for the credit of
the County, is assuredly the duty of all who have the intellectual
and scientific welfare of that County at heart.