FOR COUNTY LOCAL SOCIETIES. 185
In Essex considerable changes in the flora and fauna may
be anticipated in consequence of rapid extension of building, the
cutting down of woods and hedges, alterations on the coast
brought about by the draining and cultivation of salt marshes
and the silting up of estuaries, &c. Dr. Sorby has described the
changes in the shallow-water fauna of the coast during the last
fourteen or sixteen years. Inland and near the towns, the
destruction of raptorial birds and mammalia by gamekeepers
and the increase of insectivorous birds consequent upon the
enforcement of the Wild Birds Acts, are causes which apparently
determine the disappearance of many insects and mollusca which
is so regrettable. These are strong reasons for the preparation
of more detailed floral and faunal catalogues than any yet pro-
duced, of the character which I understand Dr. Smith and Mr.
Rankin will advocate in their paper. If such work is not done
soon it will be too late, as the rapid changes of environment and
food will exterminate some species and modify the habits of
others. And I would emphasize the importance of our local
museums being furnished with extensive and accurately localised
sets of plants, animals, and fossils before destructive influences
have blotted out for ever many rare forms and variations. The
sea has washed away a great part of our fragment of Waltonian
Crag, and the builder has covered up or carted away our
river-terraces and brick-earth deposits.
This scientific collecting and registration, if done systematic-
ally and thoroughly, will need not only much careful work, but
also the expenditure of considerable sums of money.
The desirability of carefully registering and systematically
exploring the prehistoric remains in Essex has engaged our
attention for many years past. As long ago as 1883 our Vice-
President, Professor Meldola, F.R.S., read a paper before this
Conference on "Local Societies and the Minor Prehistoric
Remains of Britain." The paper was printed in extenso in the
Transactions of the Essex Field Club vol. iv. pp. 116-122. The
destruction of some of these remains, and the precarious tenure
of existence of such as remain, have often been the subject of
remark, as in the noteworthy address of Mr. Read referred to
above. I am very glad to say that the suggestions of these
gentlemen with regard to cataloguing and mapping these in-
teresting relics is now being carried out in Essex. Our