JUBILEE COMMEMORATION MEETING.
51
delights of all the years. I think a stand should be made against
the ruthless cutting down of trees, for their removal will mean
a shortage of birds, and that will mean that we human beings
will be eaten up by insect life. If you have studied bird life
you will know that they are constantly catching insects, which
multiply by the million. Every blade of grass and everything
we plant would soon be eaten up by insects if it were not for
the birds; and with the trees away we shall certainly lose the
birds. The hedges are going, and posts and rails are taking
their place, and the birds of Essex will soon be very few unless
something is done to prevent the reckless destruction of the
hedges and trees.
I hope you do not think I am speaking too seriously on this
subject. The Field Club is a powerful organisation, and should
do its best to preserve the country from more and more depre-
dation.
I am pleased I have been invited to take part with you in
this interesting gathering. I think, among the older members,
none has taken a deeper interest in the records of the Field
Club and its work. My chief disappointment to-day is that
I am not able to stay with you to listen to the lecture on Essex
Bird-Life which is to take place this evening.
I hope and trust that the Essex Field Club will go on and
flourish.
The next speaker to be called upon was Brigadier-General
R. B. Colvin, Lord Lieutenant of Essex, who said: I thank
you, Mr. Mayor, for your very kind welcome here this afternoon,
and I beg to offer you, Mr. President, and your Club, on behalf
of the County, our best congratulations on having attained your
fiftieth birthday. We do hope that you will have many
successful anniversaries to record in the future, both in your
time and in the years that follow. You are the president of
one of the most important institutions, certainly one of the
most important scientific institutions in the county. It is true
that your Headquarters are at one corner of the County, and
perhaps for that reason, and the modesty which you and your
Club at all times have exercised, the Essex Field Club does not
appear so much in the limelight as its merits should occasion
it to be. Few people in the County can realise the great work
you have done and are doing. The people who are interested