THE ESSEX FIELD CLUB. 3OI 



but they could have a few representative and educational collections, which 

 would serve to illustrate the natural history of Epping Forest. He called 

 upon the Hon. Secretary to explain the new scheme which was to be con- 

 sidered that afternoon. 



Mr. Cole laid before the meeting a printed statement of the plans for the 

 re-arrangement and the estimated cost of carrying out the same. In doing so 

 he called particular attention to the vertebrate classes — birds and animals : 

 whether they should be exhibited at all, and, if so, how they should be 

 exhibited. The wish of the Epping Forest Committee of the Corporation of 

 London, that no large upright cases should be placed in the middle of the 

 rooms, and that no fitting should cross the main timbers of the walls, would 

 necessitate considerable change in the methods of arrangement, and a replace- 

 ment of some of the old cases by others. And these stipulations would also 

 bar any collections of vertebrates (mammals, birds, fishes) mounted in the 

 ordinary museum way After full consideration of the matter, and in view of 

 the fact that their Essex Museum of Natural History at Stratford was now 

 easily accessible to all interested in the forest, Mr. Cole submitted that it was 

 not desirable for the Club to have two general collections of vertebrates, and 

 that they should avoid as much as possible any duplication of their work, 

 which meant waste of time, money, and energy. Many of their visitors and 

 members would, however, regret to find birds and beasts unrepresented, and 

 he thought that the plan he now submitted would fairly meet the views of all, 

 and would coincide with the wishes of the Corporation Committee If the 

 scheme were adopted and sufficient funds were obtained it was proposed to 

 have an exhibition of birds and animals mounted in natural groups in humble 

 imitation of the beautiful cases in the British Museum of Natural History. 

 It wa; also proposed to show a complete series of the eggs of birds frequenting 

 the Forest and examples of the most curious, pretty, and well-constructed 

 nests. Of the invertebrates, they intended to show corhplete sets of butter- 

 flies, the larger moths, beetles, bees etc. Further there would be a set illustra- 

 ting the geology of the Forest, and a collection showing the botanical and 

 pictorial characteristics of the Forest trees, as well as works of early man, 

 illustrations of the Forest Camps, and other antiquities. Some of these 

 collections, notably the groups of birds (which must be choice examples of the 

 taxidermist's art) would be very costly, and would involve much care and 

 labour in gathering together and proper preparation, but he thought that the 

 estimate of /'300 would enable them to fit up the Museum in a satisfactory 

 manner. 



The Secretary read out a list of subscriptions already promised, amount- 

 ing to nearly /loo. 



Mr. J. E. Harting, F.L.S., proposed the first resolution in the following 

 terms : — 



" That Ihis meeting approves and lonjirnis the scheme of re-organization of the 

 Epping l-iirest Museum of the Essex Field Club, put forward in the printed statement 

 of the Hon. Curator, dated Dec. 8th, and pledges itself to do all in its power to promote 

 the interests of the Museum on the lines laid down." 



