THE ESSEX FIELD CLUB.
FOUNDED JANUARY 10th, 1880.
Patron.
H.R.H. THE DUKE OP CONNAUGHT AND STRATHEARN, E.G.
(Ranger of Epping Forest.)
Presdient
T. VINCENT HOLMES, F.G.S., M.A.I., &c.
Vice-Presidents.
PROFESSOR G. S. BOULGER, F.L.S., F.G.S.
E. N. BUXTON, M.B., D.L., Ac.
EDWARD A. FITCH, F.L.S., &c.
HENRY LAVER, M.R.C.S., F.L.S.
PROFESSOR R, MELDOLA, F.R.A.S., F.C.S.
RIGHT HON. LORD RAYLEIGH, F.R.S., &c.
This Association, the only Scientific Society of like aims in Essex, was
founded for the study and investigation of the Natural History, Geology,
and Pre-historic Archaeology of the County ; the publication of the results
of such investigations ; the formation of a Library of local and scientific
works; the formation of a Museum to illustrate the natural productions
of Essex; and generally to aid in the dissemination of practical knowledge
of Natural Science and Antiquities. A further very important object of
the Society is to promote a reverence for the natural features of the
County, its Flora and Fauna, and its numerous pre-historic Monuments,
and to incite a desire to protect them from wanton spoliation and injury.
The Club holds Ordinary (Scientific) Meetings about once a month,
and "Field Meetings" are organized during the summer in various
parts of the County and elsewhere, for out-door observation, under
the guidance of experienced Naturalists, Geologists, and Archae-
ologists. Other Meetings at the National Museums, Lectures, &c, are
arranged from time to time. In organizing the Essex Field Club, the
main desire of the founders was to establish an Association which should
be both popular und scientific, and which should represent, from the point
of view of its foundation, the whole County of Essex ; to form a central
body to which communications and specimens relating to Essex and
general Natural History, Ae., might be sent for careful consideration
and discussion, so that the ' Transactions' should in time comprise
a body of fact and inference, useful to the local and scientific student, as
well as interesting to the ordinary reader.
The 'Transactions' are issued at intervals, as materials accumulate,
and are produced in the best style by Messrs. West, Newman & Co., the
well-known printers of natural-history books; and plates and woodcuts
are used to elucidate the text whenever possible. Since the formation of