78 THE ESSEX NATURALIST
Members, others were well attended. The Skippers Island Survey
made further progress and many Members took advantage of the
privilege of visiting it to continue their studies there. The Coun-
cil's warmest thanks were extended to Mr. E. P. Williams for his
hospitality on the island. In addition, the Council was pleased to
note, and where possible help, Members' private field studies on
various aspects of Essex natural history; some of these studies
has already formed the subjects of talks at indoor meetings,
others will be presented in The Essex Naturalist in due course.
All these activities maintained the Club's standing as a local
scientific society and represented the accomplishment of its objects
to encourage "the study of the natural history, geology and
antiquities of the County of Essex and its borderlands".
ANNUAL REPORT OP THE GEOLOGY GROUP, 1961
During the year the Group's major activities consisted of two
indoor meetings and two field visits.
At the Annual General Meeting of the Group on 27th April,
some short geological films were shown to the ten members pre-
sent. On 16th November the other indoor meeting consisted of an
interesting lecture by Dr. Kenneth Alvin on "Coal and its Plants".
There was an audience of seventeen.
The field meetings were held at opposite ends of the County.
At the first, on 17th June, fourteen members visited the fossilifer-
ous exposures of the Lower London Tertiary at Charlton and
Abbey Wood. Fourteen members met at Parkeston Quay on 7th
October for a visit to Wrabness and the River Stour where a most
interesting day was had by both the Geologists and the Botanists.
ANNUAL REPORT OF THE MAMMAL GROUP, 1961
This report covers the first fourteen months of the Mammal
Group's existence, from the inaugural meeting of November 3,
1960, to the end of 1961. During this period we have held six
meetings; one a field meeting to trap small mammals in the parish
of Theydon Garnon, the others indoors. These indoor meetings
have covered a wide range of topics, including discussion meetings
on deer and squirrels, members' notes and papers, to a highly
successful demonstration of skinning techniques.
Field activities have been more extensive in the individual
sphere and Members of the Group are very active in field studies.
A survey of Essex deer was initiated during 1961. This reliance
on individual effort is, of course, inevitable in studying mammals
which are always active and often sparsely distributed.
Your Committee has met on three occasions and as well as
planning meetings for the Group programme, has considered the