Appendix No. 1. xiii
instance, while, if they went to Birmingham, Sutton Park was preserved
to the people for ever, but the same work of destruction was going on,
and it would quickly lose its charms for the naturalist. Dr. Cooke went
on to point out the directions in which this destruction and this injury
were being done. We had, he estimated, altogether about 300 species of
fresh-water Alga;. We had in addition about 200 different species of
Desmids, and many other forms, all of them inhabiting still waters,
and many of them stagnant waters; a large number of fresh-water
Diatoms, not forgetting such plants as Drosera, which loved damp, mossy
spots. Then in animal life we had at least 250 different kinds of Infusoria,
and Rotifers which must be put down at not less than 150. Altogether
there were about 1200 species of minute life, of which about 000 were
vegetable and 600 animal. At a very moderate estimate he should say
that they were able to find 500 species of minute life within Epping
Forest. He had been looking over the work published by Dr. Hassell fifty
years ago, and found that he enumerated about 25 species of fresh-water
Algae, which he found for the first time, or nearly for the first time,
in Epping Forest, or within a few miles of Epping. He (Dr. Cooke) was
able to bring that number up to about 50, and he had only searched for
them one afternoon, and even then he had not gone beyond Wanstead
Flats ; so that if he estimated they would find 100 species of fresh-water
Algae in Epping Forest he was understating the fact. These plants only
grew where the water was still and stagnant, as in those little pools which
were so common on Wanstead Flats, and other parts of the Forest.
But, judging from appearances, the aim and object of the Conservators and
those in charge of such lands was, by deep drainage, to destroy all these
pools. [Hear, hear.] Everywhere, at all times and in all places, it
appeared to be imagined that the Easter Monday Cockney was the person
to be looked after and petted most carefully, and a dread was felt that
these tender people would mud their boots if they came in search of
recreation and found the Forest in its natural condition. [Laughter.] He
thought that these individuals were not to be consulted in their (supposed)
peculiar tastes and habits entirely and absolutely. The Conservators
ought to strive to maintain the vegetable and animal life on the lands
committed to their charge, and it could be done without any injury to the
purposes for which the Forest was preserved. He thought it was perfectly
clear that there was quite room enough round the various public-houses
for the people who came down there on special days set apart to make a
John Lubbock's day. The condition of the outer tract would not interfere
with them. He had been down to the Forest on holidays, and he had
never found the irrepressible Cockney beyond some ten minutes' walk
from the public-house. [Laughter.] But he found the members of the
Quekett Club with their bottles, and the entomologists and botanists with
their nets and vasculums, in the depths of the Forest, never much regard-
ing whether they got mud over their boots or not. His object was to pro-
test against the Forest being served in the way Hampstead Heath had