6 ESSEX FIELD CLUB YEARBOOK, 1908.
exhibition of specimens (especially such as may be of local interest),
have been held regularly, and with great success, during the twenty-
eight years of the Club's existence.
Few local societies have succeeded in obtaining, during so long a
series of years, so constant a supply of sound original scientific
papers, relating to the natural history and geology of a defined
district, and this supply shows no sign of becoming exhausted.
A glance at Prof. Meldola's interesting address, The Coming
of Age of the Essex Field Club, and at the recently-published volumes
of the Victoria History of Essex, will show that, in the papers read
at our meetings, real contributions have been made to the right
understanding of the zoology, botany, anthropology, and geology
of Essex. The discussions of these papers, as well as the exhibi-
tions of interesting natural objects, have demonstrated the great
educational and scientific value of investigations which might appear,
at first sight, recondite or trivial. The meetings have often been
the means of bringing to light undeveloped talents, and have
encouraged young naturalists to undertake original investigations.
On many occasions, too, the Club has been favoured by addresses
or lectures from acknowledged masters of the subjects brought for-
ward, and these have had a stimulative and educational value for all
privileged to listen to them.*
Field Meetings.—These have a two-fold purpose—(1) to promote
friendliness and interchange of ideas among the members under the
pleasant conditions of out-of-door rambles and excursions, and (2) to
afford opportunities for scientific demonstrations in the field, by skilled
Conductors, of subjects of interest to biologists, geologists, and
antiquaries.
Some hundreds of these meetings have been held in all parts of the
county since the Club was founded nearly thirty years ago. They
have been the means of unfolding the beauties of the county to very
many who would not otherwise have seen them, and have proved how
rich and inviting are the many objects of interest in the Essex forests,
fields, and lanes, and on and about the shores of the bordering sea.+
One particularly-pleasant feature connected with the Field Meetings
is the large number of occasions on which prominent residents in the
County have invited the Club to meet at their houses. Among the
many who have done so are the late Rev. C. E. Barnes
and Mrs. Barnes, of Wenden; Mr. and Mrs. A. E. Briscoe,
of Little Baddow; Mr. and Mrs. E. N. Buxton, of Knighton; Sir
Thomas Fowell Buxton, Bart., and Lady Buxton, of Warlies; Mr.
and Mrs. W. S. Chisenhale-Marsh, of Gaynes Park; Mr. and Mrs.
Philip Colley, late of Writtle Park; Capt. R. B. Colvin (High Sheriff)
and Mrs. Watson, at Felix Hall; Lieut.-Col. A. M. Cranmer-Byng
and Mrs. Cranmer-Byng, of Quendon Park; Mr. and Mrs.
L. Cranmer-Byng, at Horham Hall; Mr. and Mrs. E. A. Fitch, of
Maldon; the late Sir Thomas Hanbury, K.C.V.O., at Danbury
Palace, near Chelmsford; Mr. and Mrs. G. P. Hope, late of Up-
minster Hall; the Rev. J. W. Kenworthy and Mrs. Kenworthy, of
Braintree; Mr. and Mrs. J. F. Lescher, of Boyles Court; Mr. J. N.
Paxman, of Stisted Hall; Mr. and Mrs. Pemberton-Barnes, of Haver-
* For the dates of Ordinary Meetings to be held during the current year, see the " Calendar "
on page 4.
t Field Meetings are held, as way opens, during the summer months. Their dates cannot,
therefore, be announced in the "Calendar" on page 4, but notices of them are sent to all
members.