ANNUAL REPORT.
265
who should join as a matter of county patriotism and good feeling. One-
twentieth per cent. of the whole population of Essex would give the Club a
membership sufficient for all the work that has ever been projected as coming
within its scope and ability.
Meetings.—Six ordinary meetings were held during 1903, at which the
papers, lectures, and other communications taken, fully sustained the scientific
character of the Club. The Council have to thank Mr. D. J. Scourfield,
F.R.M.S., for his lecture on the "Locomotion of Aquatic Organisms"; Mr.
A. S. Kennard for a demonstration of a fine series of Flint Implements found in
the Thames Valley ; Mr. George Massee, F.L.S., for a lecture "On some points
in the Life History of a Parasitic Fungus,'' Mr. Somerville Hastings for a lecture-
demonstration of a very fine series of photographs of Fungi, taken by himself ;
Professor G. S. Boulger, for a lecture on "Seed Dispersal," illustrated by a series
of lantern slides ; Mr. J. T. Winkworth, for a demonstration of a very fine
collection of "varieties" of Helix nemoralis, collected by himself mainly in
Essex, and Mr. R. B. Lodge, for a lecture "Some pictures of Bird Life, at home
and abroad," illustrated by a magnificent series of photographs from nature.
Our President kindly acted as the Club's Delegate at the Southport Meeting of
the British Association, and he presented a very full report of the proceedings of
the Local Scientific Societies' Committee at our Meeting on November 28.
This report has been published in the Essex Naturalist.
The extremely unsettled weather during the greater part of last summer
seriously interfered with the arrangement of Field Meetings, and on one occasion
(June 20) it was found necessary to abandon the meeting at the last moment,
after the circulars had been issued to members. At the Field Meetings the
following gentlemen rendered essential service, and the Council beg to heartily
thank them :—Councillors Gurney Benham, Mr. C. E. Benham, Dr. H. Laver,
Mr. E. N. Buxton, Mr. W. H. Dalton, Mr. J. M. Wood, Mr. Paul, Mr.
F. Enock, Mr. T. V. Holmes, Mr. E. T. Newton, F.R.S., and Mr. W. Whitaker,
F.R.S. At the Fungus Foray on October 24, the Club was again favoured with
the valuable expert assistance of Dr. M. C. Cooke, Mr. George Massee, and Mr.
A. Lister, F.R.S.
Most welcome hospitality was accorded by the Right Hon. James Round,
M.P., at his house, Birch Hall, on April 13, and on the enjoyable riverside
excursion on June 30, by our member, Mr. J. M. Wood, C.E. We have also to
thank our member, Colonel Bryan, C.E., for permission to hold the meeting at
the Tottenham Reservoirs, which meeting was abandoned in consequence of bad
weather, as above stated.
The best thanks of the Club are due to the Education Committee of
the Corporation of West Ham, and to the Principal, Mr. Briscoe, for the use
of the Meeting Rooms, and for many facilities in the conduct of the evening
Meetings.
The Essex Naturalist.—The quarterly issue, announced in the last
annual report, was commenced in April, and the Council venture to think it has
met with general approval. Three parts were published within the year,
comprising 160 pages, with six plates, two maps, and many other illustrations
The place of the January part was taken by the heavy part completing Vol. XII.,
which, though dated 1902, was really paid for in 1903, and which partly accounts
for the extra cost of our journal in the latter year. The Council may point to the
number and character of the papers, etc., printed, as a good reason for the