264 ANNUAL REPORT. 



in the excellent photographs showing the workings^ they saw flat surfaces 

 of chalk at a height of three, four or five feet above the floor. These surfaces of 

 chalk were called by the photographer " altar-tables.' ' He could not agree 

 with the photographer on this point, as the probable explanation of these raised 

 surfiices seemed to him to be in a wholly different direction. These galleries, 

 when fully developed, were about 12ft. high. Here and there, however, 

 Avere some 6ft. or less. Those now 12ft. high had once been much lower, 

 their present height having been attained simply by lowering the floor. The 

 so-called "altar-tables" were therefore (he thought) simply the remains of 

 intermediate stages in the development of these galleries. And instead of 

 there being any arrangement of the galleries leading up to these "altar- 

 tables " — as might be expected on that hypothesis — they seemed to him to occur 

 at odd corners here and there, just as might be expected if they simply marked 

 stages in the excavation of the galleries. Nevertheless these Chislehurst excava- 

 tions, if considered simply as workings for chalk, were extremely interesting, and 

 well worth visiting, and he thought the public much indebted to those who 

 had lighted them up and opened them for examination. 



The Caterham Bourne. — Air. Holmes also exhibited photographs showing 

 the unusual amount of water lately flowing down the bourne in the usually dry 

 chalk valley at Whylleafe, near Caterham, Surrey, the result of the abnormal 

 rainfall of last year (1903). 



A paper by Mr. T. V. Holmes, F. G.S., entitled " On the Origin of the term 

 'Sarson Stones' " was taken as read owing to want of time. It appears in the 

 present part of the Essex Naturalist (pp. 275 — 9). 



ANNUAL REPORT OF THE COUNCIL FOR 

 THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31st, 1903. 



[Read and adopted at the 2^th Animal Meeting on April idtli, 1904.] 



Financial. — ]\Ir. Howard's financial reports for the last two years are 

 presented with this.. The adverse balance is accounted for by the increase in the 

 cost of the Essex Naturalist for the past year, and in a falHng off in the roll 

 of subscribing members, consequent upon the lamentable number of deaths of old 

 members of the Club. Many of these were original members, and as the Club is 

 now entering upon its 25th year, it is but natural that such losses should occur. 

 The Council considers that the working members of the Club have a just cause of 

 complaint that their efforts are not sufficiently supported by residents in the 

 county. In a large and populous district such as Essex, there are surely 

 hundreds of persons who might reasonably be expected to join the Society. The 

 common excuse, inability to attend the meetings, is surely not a point to urge 

 against the Club. The Head-Quarters must be in some one spot, and Stratford is 

 certainly the most accessible place it. convenience of travelling from all parts of 

 the County and the North and East of London is considered. And membership 

 of a Society like ours (and it may be added, of our co-workers, the Essex 

 Archaeological Society) surely should be put on higher ground than mere personal 

 convenience. Well-wi.shers of the popularisation of natural science and 

 archaeology should determine to support the Society, as well as those residents 



1 Obtainable at the Bickley Arms Hotel. 



