cxcii
Journal of Proceedings.
Mr. Crouch, who pointed out the chief features already mentioned, and
the members retained to " The Cedars " for tea.
After tea an Ordinary Meeting (the sixty-eighth) was held in the
grounds, Mr. T. V. Holmes, President, in the chair.
The following were elected members of the Club : Rev. H. V. H.
Cowell, Messrs. R. Cooper, L. J. Petre, C. Ridley, and George Western.
The Secretary read letters of apology from several botanists and
others who were unable to attend the meeting.
A hearty vote of thanks to Mr. and Mrs. Royle for their kindness and
hospitality shown during the afternoon, was proposed by the President,
and carried by acclamation.
Mr. Royle briefly responded.
The Secretary read a letter from the British Association, announcing
that the Essex Field Club had been chosen as one of the " Corresponding
Societies" of the Association.
Mr. Howard Vaughan, M.E.S., then read extracts from a paper.
"Notes on the Lepidoptera of Leigh, Essex, and its Neighbourhood,"
being the results of some years' collecting in that district [this paper is
printed in the ' Essex Naturalist,' vol. iii., pp. 123-110, having been
revised in 1889]. A long discussion arose on the occurrence and
habits of many of the species mentioned by Mr. Vaughan, in which Mr.
Varley, Mr. White, Mr. Cole, and others took part, and, on the motion
of the President, a hearty vote of thanks was accorded to the author.
The meeting shortly afterwards broke up.
Saturday, October 2nd, 1886. Ordinary Meeting.
The sixty-ninth Ordinary Meeting was held in the Loughton Public
Hall, at half-past six o'clock, the President in the chair.
The following were elected members : Messrs. A. Harrison and J.
Castell-Evans.
A lecture was delivered by Mr. Alfred R. Wallace, F.L.S., entitled,
" The Darwinian Theory : What it is, and how it is Demonstrated." The
lecturer treated of the following subjects amongst others : Scientific
opinion of the origin of species in the pre-Darwinian period. What
Darwin undertook to prove, and what he has proved. Variation, its
nature, amount, and universality. The struggle for existence. Natural
selection, a survival of the fittest. Illustrations of the theory.
The lecture was illustrated by diagrams, &c.*
A discussion ensued, in which the President, Prof. Meldola, Prof.
Boulger, Mr. Bros, Mr. W. Cole, the Lecturer, and others took part. A
hearty vote of thanks was accorded to Mr. Wallace for his lecture, and
the usual conversazione followed.
* The subject of this lecture subsequently formed a chapter in Mr. Wallace's
hook on " Darwinism," London. 1889.