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history, and we shall anxiously watch the proceedings of the
Conservators with respect to this portion. For my own part,
I cannot help expressing the opinion that Mr. Wallace's sug-
gestion to make this tract into "several distinct portions of
forest, each composed solely of trees and shrubs which are
natives of one of the great forest regions of the temperate
zone," appears to be most feasible and inexpensive.
The Epping Forest and County of Essex Naturalists' Field
Club has been formed in a county already made famous in the
annals of science by such names as those of the illustrious
John Ray, son of a blacksmith, who was born in 1627 and
died in 1705 at Black Notley, between Witham and Braintree ;
of Dr. Derham (1657—1735), rector of Upminster, whose
"Physico-Theology" went through at least thirteen editions.
Samuel Dale (1659—1739), an Essex Naturalist, wrote the
"History of Harwich" (1730), and Richard Warner (1711—
1775) was the author of the "Plantae Woodfordiensis" to
which I have already referred. In more recent times our
county produced the celebrated Edward Doubleday, and the
Epping Naturalist, his brother, Henry Doubleday, who was
born in 1809 and died in 1875. Francis Walker, the entomo-
logist, born also in 1809, died at his residence, Elm Hall,
Wanstead, in 1871. Let us hope that to this list the future
historian of science may have to add the names of some whose
natural history studies were first instigated by the foundation
of this Field Club.
When our Society shall have arrived at that happy mecha-
nical condition known as a "moving equilibrium," I would
suggest that those of our members who have kindred tastes
should co-operate for the purpose of assisting natural history
in fields where "many hands can make light work." Thus
our entomologists might work together for two or three
seasons and devote their entire attention to collecting some
neglected order, such as the Diptera, Hemiptera, Ac, and thus
hasten the accumulation of materials necessary for the pro-
duction of local catalogues, and the same might be done for
other groups of animals or plants.
Our field meetings will, I trust, lead to many a social
ramble, the pleasures of which will be greatly enhanced by