88
ANNUAL REPORT.
Victoria History of Essex.—It was announced that Dr. H. C.
Sorby, F.R.S., had kindly subscribed on behalf of the Club for a set of
this important work for the Library. The first volume, recently published, was on
the table.
Eoliths from Grays.—Mr. A. S. Kennard presented a set of specimens of
supposed Eolithic "worked " stones from near Grays, Essex, for the Museum.
Cordial votes of thanks were passed to Mr. Seton-Karr, to Dr. Sorby, and to
Mr. Kennard for these donations.
Papers Read.—Mr. A. S. Kennard read two short papers by himself and
Mr. B. B. Woodward, F.G.S., F.L.S., one being entitled "Notes on Sections in
the Lea Valley at Canning Town," and the other "Note on the occurrence of
Fresh-water Mollusca in a Water-Main at Poplar." (These papers are printed in
the present part of the E.N.)
Thanks were voted to the authors of these papers on the proposal of the
President, who alluded to the value of such notes, which were typical of the kind
of work which a local scientific society should encourage.
Lecture.—Mr. D. J. Scourfield, F.R.M.S., gave a lecture on the
"Locomotion of Microscopic Aquatic Organisms," which was illustrated by
about 40 photographic lantern slides, many of them being taken from original
drawings. The Lecturer commenced with the amoeba and its allies, the lowest
known forms, in which the locomotive organs were not permanent, but mere out-
pushings of the protoplasm, which were again absorbed into the body mass. From
these he passed to the Infusoria, which moved by means of whip-like threads
(flagella) or rows of shorter threads (cilia), dealing afterwards with the rotifers,
with discs fringed with cilia, and the higher forms bearing spines simulating limbs,
and so on to the minute crustaceans, in many of which the feelers are modified to
serve as organs of locomotion, while the chief function of the legs is to bear the
gills, and thus carry on the process of respiration.
A short discussion was carried on by Professor Boulger and the Lecturer, who
was cordially thanked on the proposal of the President. It is probable that the
substance of Mr. Scourfield's lecture will be given in the form of a paper in the
Essex Naturalist.
ANNUAL REPORT OF THE COUNCIL FOR
THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31st, 1902.
[Read and adopted at the 23rd Annual Meeting on April 4th, 1903.]
Financial.—[Owing to Mr. Howard's absence from England the statement
of account was not read at the meeting. It will be published later.]
Meetings.—Twelve were held in the year, one (the "Fungus Foray")
being a two-day meeting. The papers, "notes" and exhibits have fully
equalled in interest those of former years. All the papers read have been or
will be published in the Essex Naturalist. The most important meeting of
the year was that held on June 14th in Hainhault Forest, in support of Mr.
Buxton's scheme of re-afforestation. This was marred by the wet weather, but
was nevertheless a remarkable assembly, and we may hope did something in aid
of the realisation of a grand idea. On June 17th Lord and Lady Rayleigh very
kindly received the Club at Terling Place, and Lord Rayleigh delivered an