26 THE ESSEX FIELD CLUB. 



shown. The whole were exhibited by the courtesy of Prof. W. W. Watts, 

 M A., F.G.S., Secretary to the B.A. Committee. Running comments on the 

 slides were given by Mr. T. V. Holmes, F.G.S., V.P., who explained the bear- 

 ing of the "sections" exhibited on the geology of the coast of Essex and 

 Suffolk. In the Eastern Counties, for example, Mr. Holmes observed, we 

 have much Boulder-clay, a formation found also in many districts in the 

 North and West. Now it need hardly be said that to the student of Glacial 

 deposits living in the south-east, it is as important to note the characteristics 

 of those of Yorkshire, Cheshire, or Cumberland as those of his own county. 

 Again, in this part of England the chalk covers a very large area of the 

 surface and may be found at a depth not exceeding looft. over large districts 

 the surface of which is occupied by tertiary or by superficial beds. But 

 it mav also be found in \Viltshire, Lincolnshire, and East Yorkshire, and in 

 North-Eastern Ireland. 



Readers of the Esskx Natukalist will find that in Mr. Holmes' account 

 of the proceedings of the Conference of Delegates at Liverpool, the want of 

 geological photographs from the Eastern Counties is mentioned. But the 

 greater average softness of the strata of these counties, which detracts from 

 their picturesqueness and thereby tends to check photographic enthusiasm, is 

 precisely the reason why the presence of geological photographers is especially 

 needed in them. For in the more picturesque counties, with hard rocks in 

 larger proportions, the sections, whether of the coast or some natural crag, or 

 shown in quarries or railway cuttings, tend to remain wholly or comparatively 

 uninjured from the effects of a few years' weathering. But a section in soft 

 cla}S, gravels, and sands, whether natural or artificial, may lose much of its 

 beauty and clearness in the course of a few weeks, from the mere washing 

 down of material belonging to the upper beds over the surface of those 

 beneath. In short, in Essex and East Anglia, there is special need for local 

 photographers to take views of sections as soon as they appear without a delay 

 of a single week. 



A discussion was carried on by Prof. Meldola, and Mr W. H. Dalton, 

 F.G.S.. late of H.M. Geological Survey. 



Cordial votes of thanks were passed to Mr. Holmes and to the exhibitors, 

 and to Professor Watts for the loan of the slides. 



Tea and light refreshment was served at the close of the meeting, Mr. 

 Briscoe, the Principal of the Institute, having very kindly allotted one of the 

 lecture-rooms for the purpose. 



THE 185TH ORDINARY MEETING. 



Saturday, February 25TH, 1899. 



The 185th OKi:)iNAiiY Mekting of the Club was held in the Technical 

 Institute, Stratford, at 6.30 p.m., the President, Mr. Da\id Howard, F.C.S., 

 in the chair. 



Nominations of new members of the Council and officers were made in 

 accordance with the Rules, in anticipation of the Annual Meeting to be held 

 in March (see Report of the igth Annual Meeting on March 23th). 



