Appendix No. 2. vii
gentlemen who, at a great expenditure of time, so carefully conducted the
work, and also to General Pitt-Rivers and Mr. D'Oyley for renewed help
and advice.
Pursuant to some suggestions thrown out in 1881, the Council
organised two meetings at Grays, Essex, for the purpose of making some
preliminary surveys of the curious "Dene-holes" in Hangman's Wood.
Mr. Spurrell, Mr. T. V. Holmes, and Mr. Walker very kindly placed
their valuable services at the Club's disposal, and Messrs. Brooks,
Shoobridge, and Co. rendered all the assistance in their power in the
supply of experienced men and machinery. It is unnecessary to re-
capitulate the work done at these meetings, as full particulars are given
in Mr. Holmes's paper and in the 'Proceedings.' So much interest has
been excited among our members and the general public as to the exact
nature and origin of the "Denes," that the Council has resolved to under-
take their systematic exploration. The Lewisham and Blackheath
Scientific Association has, with great generosity, voted the sum of £5 in
aid of the proposed work. Mr. T. V. Holmes has promised £5 5s. ; Mr.
Meldola £5 5s. ; Professor Boulger £3 3s.; Mr. Henry Walker £2 2s.; and
Mr. Letchford £2 2s.; but as the necessary works will be very costly,
additional aid is asked from all interested in archaeological research.
Captain Wingfield, the owner of Hangman's Wood, and Mr. Biddell, his
agent, have most courteously given the Club full permission to carry on a
thorough exploration. The Council hopes to be in a position to com-
mence early in the summer, as soon as the Forest Camp Exploration
Report is completed.
The President and Mr. John Spiller, F.C.S., again attended the Con-
ference of Scientific Societies held on August 25th, during the Southampton
meeting of the British Association, as Delegates from the Club. A report
of that meeting has been published and circulated by the Conference, and
the principal matters discussed are referred to in Mr. Meldola's annual
address.
Early in the year the condition and mode of conservation of Epping
Forest again gave rise to some anxiety, and attracted a considerable
amount of public attention. In February last the Club held a meeting,
at which the matter was fully discussed, as well as the cognate subject
brought forward by Sir Fowell Buxton (one of the Verderers of the
Forest), that some means should be adopted for the protection of our
native birds and animals from wanton destruction. As an outcome of
that meeting a full report of the discussion has been prepared, and will
shortly be issued as an Appendix to Volume III. of the 'Transactions,'
together with three suggestive papers prepared at the request of the
Council by Dr. Cooke, Professor Boulger, and Mr. Harting. The co-
operation of the Natural History Societies of London and its neighbour-
hood was solicited, and a form of " Protest " prepared by the Club has
been extensively signed and approved. The Council proposes to print
1000 copies of the memorial for circulation, and is sanguine enough to