18 



Apart from the obvious advantages of having in one build- 

 ing our collections, library, and meeting-room, and of leading 

 an independent instead of a parasitical existence, the forma- 

 tion of a permanent museum would, I am convinced, promote 

 our objects in many other ways. Our " Biological Eegistry 

 Office " would become better known throughout the county, 

 and useful specimens which by accident might fall into the 

 hands of the non-scientific would naturally be sent to our 

 museum. Then the large number of species which would 

 have at first to be collected would lead our active workers to 

 co-operate for a common object — the formation of a typical 

 collection representing the natural history of the county. In 

 this undertaking our would-be beginners might well take a 

 part, and in so doing would commence to derive those educa- 

 tional advantages arising from the study of field zoology and 

 botany to which I have already referred. 



It will be far more satisfactory to have a general collection 

 formed in all parts of the county by our own members for the 

 express purpose of being deposited in our cabinets than to 

 exhibit the "tag, rag, and bobtail" of old collections, or to 

 expose to public view the faded and dilapidated specimens to 

 be seen in many local museums, both at home and abroad, 

 the authorities of which should regard their tattered posses- 

 sions with much the same feelings as did Sir John Falstaff his 

 ragged regiment. In addition to collections of species illus- 

 trating the actual productions of our district, it would be most 

 especially desirable in the case of insects to have preparations 

 showing the life-history at every stage of transformation, and 

 dissected specimens illustrating the structure and anatomy. 

 In time we might thus come to possess a collection both of 

 educational and technical value that would not be unworthy 

 of a Field Club which already includes members of many 

 of the most influential families in the county, and which 

 might ultimately become of scientific use to specialists 

 outside our own ranks—** a consummation devoutly to be 

 wished." 



The geological features of the County of Essex ha\'e been 



