THE ESSEX FIELD CLUB. 47 



simple and economical the arrangement? of a local museum were at the outset, the 

 more steady the rise of interest, the more gradual its progress, and the offers of 

 co-operation in its formation — the greater will be the chance of ultimate suc- 

 cess. For educational purposes it seemed to him that there could be nothing 

 better than the exhibition of a series of well-selected types, supplemented with 

 accurate illustrations, each with a line or two of description such as may be seen 

 in the Mineralogical Gallery of the Natural History Museum. More than this could 

 hardly be attempted, having regard to the size of the building. The selection and 

 arrangement of such types would be best carried out by a Museum Committee com- 

 posed of specialists who, each in his own department, might furnish a simple 

 scheme for an instructive exhibition of such objects as those to which he has 

 devoted particular attention, whether they be geological, botanical, zoological, or 

 archaeological. In a comparativel}' inexpensive way much may be done by means 

 of charts and diagrams suspended on the walls — and the main object in view 

 should be not to show what a mass of material has been collected by those who 

 are directly concerned with the formation of the museum, but to indicate to the 

 visitor what he may e-xpect to discover and examine for himself out of doors — in 

 other words to put him in the way of making original observations. He felt sure 

 that a visitor to the museum so instructed would derive tenfold enjoyment in his 

 future rambles through the Forest. 



Prof. Boulger, in reply to some observations made during the afternoon, said 

 that he was sure nothing could be further from their minds than a desire that 

 there should be an extermination of the animals or plants that exist in the Forest 

 at the present time. He did not think there were many things in the Forest 

 that would be in danger of extermination, and the small number of specimens re- 

 quired in the museum, and with which good educational work could be done for 

 the benefit of visitors and residents, could be obtained without any risk of that 

 kind. 



Prof. Meldola highly approved of the motion submitted by Mr. Dyne. This 

 idea of a local museum in connection more especially with the Forest district 

 had been often in their minds, and he remembered being present on the occasion 

 to which the Chairman referred when they held a meeting at Mr. Buxton's to 

 consider the scheme. Things had ripened since then, and it seemed to him the 

 opportunity for action had now arrived. On behalf of the Essex Field Club he 

 could assure the meeting that if they met with adequate support they would do 

 their share of the work to make the museum a thoroughgoing success. The in- 

 stitution, as had been pointed out by Sir William Flower, should be strictly a 

 local museum. By so limiting it the best kind of educational work could be 

 accomplished. 



Mr. Howard Saunders wished the museum great success. If they had an able 



curator and a special committee he thought something might be done to assist 



real students of natural histor}'. and not destroyers, by guiding them to the more 



I interesting parts of the Forest and pointing out some of its more interesting 



I features — more particularly its sylvan features. 



The motion was carried by acclamation. 



Mr. T. Hay Wilson pointed out that some of the members of the Essex 

 I Field Club had already subscribed very liberally towards the museum at 

 Chelmsford, from which they would draw very considerably for their local 

 museum, and it behoved the local residents to support the present scheme. He 

 suggested that a subscription list be at once commenced, so that the local committee 

 might be able to approach the authorities with a definite scheme. They estimated 



