ANNUAL REPORT FOR 1965
379
eight photographs, of the life-history of the Lacewing Chrysopa
septempunctata Wes., 1935/36, p. 52. Another insect which he
was the first to breed was the Wood Cricket Nemobius sylvestris
Fabr. His account appeared in the same journal, 1937/38, p. 89.
I feel that Mr Syms's outstanding trait and the one which
endeared him to so many of us was his readiness to help and advise
the beginner. Quite recently he taught a class in natural history
and he was certainly never happier than when sharing his
knowledge with the young naturalist.
C. B. Pratt.
Annual Report for 1965
The membership total has remained as for the previous year,
the number of gains being equal to the losses. Among the new
members the Club welcomes the Innominate Society of Colchester,
the Colchester and Essex Museum and the West Ham Biological
Society.
Forty-nine meetings were held during the year, the twelve
general meetings being very well attended. Among these the
visit to the Homes of Essex exhibition at Ingatestone Hall, fol-
lowed by a ramble at Mill Green, and the joint meeting with the
Suffolk Naturalists' Society at Dedham, and the excursion to Little
Waltham and Boreham call for special note. The purchase of a
screen for the projector has added to the visual comfort at indoor
meetings.
Unfortunately, Mr D. I. Chapman will be unable to continue
his work as Meetings Secretary. His enthusiasm has contributed
much to the success of the programmes of the past years. Mr W.
M. Young, B.Sc, also was unable to continue to find time to
edit The Essex Naturalist. Our warmest thanks are due for his
past services. Fortunately, Mr A. Wheeler has consented to take
over from Mr Young, and since then two outstanding issues of our
journal have been published, bringing publication almost up-to-
date. The Club is grateful for a grant of £50 that has been
authorized by the Governors of the Passmore Edwards Museum
as a contribution towards the cost of publication of articles in
The Essex Naturalist.
The study of the deer in south-west Essex has made consider-
able progress during the year and the meetings on the subject
have been well supported by members and visitors. Special
exhibits have been mounted in the Passmore Edwards Museum
based on the materials collected. The Nature Conservancy have
made a grant of £600, spread over a period of three years, for
biological studies on the Fallow Deer. The Club's thanks are
due to Nature Conservancy for this generous aid.
The field meetings on the ecological surveys at Skippers Island
and Baldwins Hill in Epping Forest will in future be left to the