Appendix No. 2. v
existence, and to form one would be a task well worthy of the ambition
of a local Society.
As will be seen by the ' Journal of Proceedings, the county collections
of the Club have been increased during the year, but not to the extent
anticipated or desired. Mr. Harcourt's donation of a collection of dried
flowers from Epping Forest, preserved by Mr. English's process, deserves
special notice. Six cases have been received, and the others will be
delivered as ready. Mr. Hope's presentation of specimens of Essex
birds, and Miss Ridley's collection of British ferns, also call for grateful
acknowledgment. The Council has purchased a first-rate insect cabinet
of 30 drawers, at a cost of £20, but ornithological, botanical, geological,
and other cabinets are urgently needed to receive the specimens in hand
and those which are promised. A full statement of the wishes and needs
of the Curators will be published during the ensuing spring.
Nine ordinary and seven field and other meetings have been held, at
which average attendances have been shown of about 32 and 40 respec-
tively. The Council is very desirous of increasing the interest of the
meetings by encouraging exhibitions, &c., and asks for the cordial aid of
members in this way. A few suggestions will be put forward shortly,
which it is hoped will have the desired effect. At the seven field
meetings the Society has had the benefit of the guidance and knowledge
of the following gentlemen, acting as Referees or Conductors, and to
whom the Council begs to offer its most grateful thanks :—Professor
Boulger, Dr. Cooke, Canon Du Port, Messrs. James English, E. M.
Holmes, T. V. Holmes, Andrew Johnston, and Saville Kent, Professor
Morris, Messrs. C. B. Plowright, W. W. Reeves, N. F. Robarts, Worth-
ington Smith, P. C. J. Spurrell, Fisher Unwin, Henry Walker, and Dr.
Wharton. Special acknowledgments are also due for the honour con-
ferred upon the Club by Professor Owen, General Pitt-Rivers, and Dr
Woodward in taking upon themselves the tasks of expositors and
lecturers at the meetings held at the British and South Kensington
Museums on April 1st and May 13th. The Rev. W. Linton Wilson and
Mrs. Wilson, with their accustomed hospitality, again entertained the
Club at Chigwell on July 22nd, on which occasion also a refection was
provided at the Luxborough Fruit Farm, by the kindness of Messrs.
Meldola and W. Cole. The annual Cryptogamic Meeting of 1882 was
one of the most successful assemblies hitherto held by the Club, and it
is hoped that the " Loughton Fungus Foray " will become a popular and
permanent reunion of London botanists. Saturday, September 29th, has
been chosen as the date of the " Foray " for 1883.
Various local newspapers have again aided the Club by reporting
meetings and in other ways. Special thanks are due to the editors
of the 'Essex Times,' 'Chelmsford Chronicle,' and 'Essex Weekly
News.'
The Council cannot but feel that the field meetings form a most
important part of the work of the Club, and that every effort should be