THE ESSKX MELD CLUB. 83 



iLe wnule question of " the protection of our native Fauna and 

 Flora from the destruction and actual extermination which now 

 threaten many interesting species." (Essex Naturalist, X., 

 179). On tliis occasion Mr. C. G. Barrett, Mr. Harting and 

 Prof. Boulger dealt with the necessity for protecting the rarer 

 insects, birds, mammals and plants respectively. It is to be 

 hoped that this policy will be strenuous)}' maintained during the 

 future career of the Club. Since the year 1880, when the original 

 rule was framed, new sources of danger have arisen which make 

 the protection even of our commoner animals and plants (unless 

 absolutely destructive) a matter of serious importance. I refer 

 to the introduction of " nature-teaching " into rural schools, an 

 innovation in educational methods at which nobody can rejoice 

 more than 1 do, but which, unless kept well in check at the 

 outset, is liable to lead to wanton destruction by the undiscipJined 

 raids of uninstructed school children (see Essex Naturalist, 

 XL, 236, and Nattire, Vol. LXIV., p. 394, August 22nd, 1901). 



II.— BOTANY. 



Many contributions to the local lists of plants will be found 

 throughout our publications. Among general lists I may refer 

 to Mr. Shenstone's reports on the flowering plants of the Col- 

 chester district (Essex Naturalist, I., 22 ; III., 222), Mr. 

 Powell's paper on the flowering plants of Epping Forest {Ibid. 

 VI., i) and Mr. F. W. Elliott's paper on the trees and shrubs of 

 Epping Forest {Ibid. X., 377). As Essex is the home of the 

 rarest British Primula, P. elatior, it is but natural that this genus 

 should have received special attention, and our first botanical 

 contribution of importance was Mf. Miller Christy's paper in 

 1882-83 on the species of the genus Primula in Essex {Trans., 

 III., 148), followed in 1891 by Mr. French's paper on the range 

 of P. vulgaris and P. elatior in N. Western Essex (Essex 

 Naturalist, V., 120), and in 1898 by Mr. Miller Christy's notes 

 on a phyllodic aberration of P. acaulis and on a hybrid between 

 P. elatior and P. veris {Ibid. X., 307). Mr. Shenstone's paper on 

 the more remarkable oak trees in Essex {Ibid. VIII., 89), richly 

 illustrated as it is by prints taken from photographs, must be 

 regarded as a valuable contribution to Essex botany. Among 

 other local records attention may be called to Mr. Arthur Lister's 

 note in 1882 " On the occurrence of Carex pseudo-cyperus and the 



