vi
Appendix.
respecting the early history of the county and the wider questions
involved in the facts which are gradually being revealed by means of such
methods of inquiry concerning the non-historic periods in the life of the
human race.
At the York meeting of the British Association the following members
of the Club were honoured by being appointed a Committee to report
upon this Loughton earthwork:—General Pitt-Rivers, Mr. B. Meldola,
and Mr. W. Cole (Secretary). The Council can only hope that the second
work may be at least as successful as the first, and that the Committee
may be enabled to present a satisfactory report at the Southampton Con-
gress of the British Association.
The Library has been growing steadily during the year, and it speaks
well for the generosity of the members that almost all the books upon the
shelves have been gratuitously presented, the only exceptions being a few
volumes of ' Transactions,' &c., which have been acquired by exchange or
purchase. The numerous scientific periodicals also which month by
month have been laid upon the Library table, we owe to the kindness of
several members, four of these journals only being received in return for
the ' Transactions' of the Club. The Council recommends to the mem-
bers generally this convenient method of benefitting the Society. There
seems to be no reason why the Beading Boom should not, in this way, be
constantly supplied with the best periodical literature of science without
any charge upon the general funds. The Librarian will be most happy
to give information and advice to any one who may wish to act upon the
suggestion in the future.
That the Club is beginning to take an honourable position among the
older scientific Societies throughout the country is evidenced by a reference
to the list of those with which it exchanges publications. The Council
takes this opportunity of acknowledging the readiness with which the
request to become thus associated has been responded to. The object in
view has been to open relations with the leading Society in each county,
and it is proposed to judiciously extend the "Exchange List" to counties
which are still unrepresented, as opportunities may arise. In thickly
populated districts it has been found desirable to include two or more
Societies in the scheme, the subjects of study being more specialised than
is the case in agricultural counties. The policy of presenting the
' Transactions ' to the London Chartered Societies and a few of the chief
scientific journals will be continued, but in no case will the number of
copies presented or exchanged be allowed to exceed 100. A list of
Societies, &c., to which publications are presented is appended to this
report.
The number of books borrowed during the year has been very small,
but it is hoped that as the Library increases in value and extent, the mem-
bers will recognise the advantage of using it more frequently. A catalogue
is in preparation, and when issued it will no doubt stimulate the circula-
tion of the volumes, which at present number 150.