19 



have been the work of the Ancient Britons, and the Camp at 

 Anibrosbury Banks that of their Eoman enemies/'' 



That surviving remnant of primitive forest, of some 4,900 

 acres, which we claim as the chief centre of our studies, is, by 

 Act of Parhament, to remain for ever unenclosed and unbuilt 

 upon ; and, as a Society founded for promoting a knowledge 

 of the natural history of the neighbourhood, we cannot but 

 rejoice that such a state of affairs has been established — 

 chiefly by the energetic action of the Corporation of London. 

 But while, as naturalists, we rejoice at the large area thus 

 unreservedly thrown open for our investigations, as men we 

 must not forget to give our sympathy to those who have 

 indirectly suffered by the culpable actions of the depre- 

 dators. 



As to the future of the Forest, we cannot do more than 

 forcibly support the views unanimously expressed wherever 

 the subject has been discussed — that it should be left alone as 

 much as possible. By this means alone can it be preserved 

 as a " Natural Forest." The workings of nature are con- 

 nected and bound up in such endless and unsuspected ways 

 that any interference on the part of man may unknowingly 

 upset the adjustments that have taken ages for their perfec- 

 tion ; and in addition to any obvious results that may follow 

 from some change made in primitive forest land there may 

 ensue an endless chain of consequences to the animals and 

 plants that were totally unlooked for. The opinions of 

 naturalists have already been expressed on this point — fore- 

 most among whom Mr. A. K. Wallace f has pointed out the 

 evils that would arise from indiscriminate and extensive 

 draining. With regard to the large tract of land of nearly 

 1,000 acres which was formerly enclosed and in most part 

 cultivated, but which is now thrown open and added to the 

 Forest, we have a magnificent area for experimental natural 



* See the pamphlet on this subject by Mr. B. H. Cowper, published by 

 the Committee of the Eppmg Forest Fund. 



t Fortnightly Revieir, Nov. 1st, 1878. See also the paper by Mr. Wm, 

 Paul, and the discussion in the Journal of tire Society of Arts, Jan. 30, 1880. 



