86 THE ESSEX FIELD CLUB. 



which would be fitted eventually. The diagrams were original coloured drawings, 

 made by Dr. ^I. C. CooUe specially for the Museum, and consequently they were 

 of interest and educational value. 



Nomination of Officers and Council. — In view of the Annual Meeting 

 Nominations of Officers and New Members of Council were made. (See report 

 of the Annual Meeting.) 



Lecture on British Vespidse and their Vespiaries. — A lecture on this 

 subject was delivered by Mr. Edward Connold, F.E.S., illustrated with over fifty 

 lantern slides, j^hotographed by Mr. Connold from actual specimens in his 

 possession, illustrative of the British Social Wasps and their Architecture. The 

 six species of British Vespidse were depicted as seen under natural conditions. 

 The mechanism by which the sting is moved, and the wings linked together was 

 explained. The construction of a Vespiary, from its earliest stage until 

 disintegration takes place, was fully shown. And a unique set of charming views 

 portrayed the actual digging out of a nest of Vespa germanica^ which had 

 contained about 45,000 inhabitants. 



At the close of the lecture an interesting discussion on the habits of wasps was 

 carried on by the Chairman, Mr. F. Enock, ]Mr. Elliott, Mr. F. H. Varley, Mr. 

 W. Cole, and the Lecturer, and at the end ]\Ir. Connold was cordially thanked 

 for liis very interesting and well illustrated lecture. 



THE 23rd ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING. 

 Saturday, April 4TH, 1903. 



The 23rd Annual Meeting of the Club was held as usual at Stratford,. 

 Professor G. S. Boulger, F.L.S., Vice-President, in the Chair. ^^ 



The minutes of the Annual Meeting, held on March 22nd, 1902, and printed 

 in the Essex Naturalist, Vol. xii., pp. 261-2, were read and confirmed. 



The Chaiiman said that the members were sorry that Professor 

 jSIeldola's continued illness prevented his presence amongst them, and the same 

 regrettable cause would deprive them of a Presidential address that evening. 



It was also announced that the Treasurer was unavoidably detained on tlie 

 Continent. The usual financial statements from him and the passing of the 

 balance-sheet was postponed until a later meeting. 



The Secretary read the Annual Report of the Council for the year 1902. This 

 was received and adopted, and it is printed in the present part of the E,N. 

 pp. 88-91. 



At the meeting on February 28th last, the following members retired fiom 

 the Council by the Rules : — Rev. \V. S. Lach-Szyrma, Right Hon. Lord 

 Rayleigh, F.R. S., Mr. E. N. Buxton, J.P., and Mr. J. E. Harting, F.L.S. And 

 there was one vacancy. 



At the same meeting the following were duly proposed : — Rev. W. S. Lach- 

 Szyrma, Right Hon. Lord Rayleigh, Mr. E. N. Buxton, Mr. J. E. Harting, and 

 ISIr. Robert Paulson. 



As Officers for 1903 the following were nominated : — President — iSIr. F. W. 

 Rudler, F.G.S., Vice-President Anlh. Inst, (late Curator of Museum of Practical 

 Geology) ; Treasurer — Mr. David Howard, J.P., F.C. S. ; Hon. Secretaries — 



I It had been necessary to postpone this meeting' from the date originally £xed (viz., 

 March 2Sth) in consequence of the Students' Conversazione at the Institute taking place on 

 that evening. 



