86 THE ESSEX FIELD CLUB.
which would be fitted eventually. The diagrams were original coloured drawings
made by Dr. M. C. Cooke specially for the Museum, and consequently they were
of interest and educational value.
Nomination of Officers and Council.—In view of the Annual Meeting
Nominations of Officers and New Members of Council were made. (See report
of the Annual Meeting.)
Lecture on British Vespidae and their Vespiaries.—A lecture on this
subject was delivered by Mr. Edward Connold, F.E.S., illustrated with over fifty
lantern slides, photographed by Mr. Connold from actual specimens in his
possession, illustrative of the British Social Wasps and their Architecture. The
six species of British Vespidae were depicted as seen under natural conditions.
The mechanism by which the sting is moved, and the wings linked together was
explained. The construction of a Vespiary, from its earliest stage until
disintegration takes place, was fully shown. And a unique set of charming views
portrayed the actual digging out of a nest of Vespa germanica, which had
contained about 45,000 inhabitants.
At the close of the lecture an interesting discussion on the habits of wasps was
carried on by the Chairman, Mr. F. Enock, Mr. Elliott, Mr. F. H. Varley, Mr.
W. Cole, and the Lecturer, and at the end Mr. Connold was cordially thanked
for his very interesting and well illustrated lecture.
THE 23rd ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING.
Saturday, April 4TH, 1903.
The 23rd Annual Meeting of the Club was held as usual at Stratford,
Professor G. S. Boulger, F.L.S., Vice-President, in the Chair.1
The minutes of the Annual Meeting, held on March 22nd, 1902, and printed
in the Essex Naturalist, Vol. xii., pp. 261-2, were read and confirmed.
The Chairman said that the members were sorry that Professor
Meldola's continued illness prevented his presence amongst them, and the same
regrettable cause would deprive them of a Presidential address that evening.
It was also announced that the Treasurer was unavoidably detained on the
Continent. The usual financial statements from him and the passing of the
balance-sheet was postponed until a later meeting.
The Secretary read the Annual Report of the Council for the year 1902. This
was received and adopted, and it is printed in the present part of the E.N.
pp. 88-91.
At the meeting on February 28th last, the following members retired from
the Council by the Rules:—Rev. W. S. Lach-Szyrma, Right Hon. Lord
Rayleigh, F.R.S., Mr. E. N. Buxton, J.P., and Mr. J. E. Harting, F.L.S. And
there was one vacancy.
At the same meeting the following were duly proposed :—Rev. W. S. Lach-
Szyrma, Right Hon. Lord Rayleigh, Mr. E. N. Buxton, Mr. J. E. Harting, and
Mr. Robert Paulson.
As Officers for 1903 the following were nominated :—President—Mr. F. W.
Rudler, F.G.S., Vice-President Anth. Inst, (late Curator of Museum of Practical
Geology); Treasurer—Mr. David Howard, J.P., F.C.S.; Hon. Secretaries—
1 It had been necessary to postpone this meeting from the date originally fixed (viz.,
March 28th) in consequence of the Students' Conversazione at the Institute taking place on
that evening.