THE ESSEX FIELD CLUB.
45
"History of Salt-making in Essex"), and was announced to read another that
evening ("On the Breeding of the Kite and Buzzard near Maldon in the Fifties
and Sixties of last Century"), while he had in preparation other original papers
which he hoped to communicate during next session. He begged, therefore, that
these communications might be accepted in lieu of a formal Presidential
Address, fearing that otherwise he might weary the members.
Reviewing the past session, the President said that he thought he might
congratulate the members on a satisfactory, if not on a sensational, year's work.
There had been at times, it was true, a shortage of original scientific papers
offering. They had had, in consequence, at their Ordinary Meetings, a rather
larger number than usual of lectures and addresses. Some of these had been,
however, particularly good, especially those by Mr. Yeatman Woolfe on
"Sponges," and Mr. Thos. W. Reader, F.G.S., on "The Evolutionary History
of Carts and Waggons." This shortage of original papers had occurred before,
but had never lasted long. There were signs, moreover, that this shortage had
already passed away ; for a good supply of papers was offering for the meeting
that evening and for the meetings to be held next session. He desired, never-
theless, to take this opportunity of reminding members that an ample supply of
original scientific papers, contributed by them, was a matter of prime and absolute
necessity if the Club was to continue to carry on the good work it had done in
the past.
Turning to other matters, the President alluded to several of the very
successful Field Meetings which had been held during the year, particularly those
at Rayleigh (in conjunction with the Geologists' Association), Danbury, and
Spains Hall—the latter one of the pleasantest meetings of the kind he could
recollect. The valuable work done by Mr. Reader in connection with the
Library, by Mr. Chittenden in mounting the collection of local Mosses, and by
Mr. Victor Taylor in connection with the Photographic Survey of the County,
had placed the Club under a very heavy debt to these gentlemen. Mr. William
Cole, also, had published in the Essex Naturalist an account (illustrated by
excellent drawings by his brother, Mr. Harry Cole) of his work in exploring the
Redhills on our coast, and this was unquestionably a very valuable contribution
to our knowledge of this obscure subject.
In the last issue of the Year Book, continued the President, the Council had
put forward a kind of manifesto, in which were set forth certain definite aims to
which, it was thought, the Club's attention might well be given in the immediate
future. He was glad to say that several of those aims had been advanced sub-
stantially during the year. Thus, the exploration of the Redhills on our coast,,
which was spoken of as being very desirable, had now been taken in hand by a
joint-committee of the Club and the Essex Archaeological Society, which had
already done excellent work. Another matter which was put forward as urgent
was the completion of the Forest Museum, and this, if not actually in hand, was
under active consideration. Two other objects which were mentioned (namely,
the preparation of a General Index to the Club's publications, and the establish-
ment of a Biological Station) still remain to be dealt with.
During the year the Club had lost, by death or otherwise, several members.
Those who had died included Mr. Benjamin Winstone, of Epping, an original
member ; Mr. G. H. Baxter, of Hutton Park, who owned a fine collection of
stuffed birds ; and Alderman Smoothy, of Braintree, who was a very frequent
companion at Field Meetings years ago. On the other hand, a very considerable