THE ESSEX FIELD CLUB 



(Founded January io</i, 1880. ) 



patron: 



H.R.H. THE DUKE OF CONNAUGHT AND STRATHEARN, K.G., 

 , Ranger of Epping Forest. 



president : 



DAVID HOWARD, J.P., F.I.C., F.C.S. 



permanent 



PROFESSOR G. S. BOULGER, F.L.S. 



F.G.S. 

 FREDERIC CHANCELLOR, J.P., 



F.R.I.B.A. 

 EDWARD A. FITCH, F.L.S., F.E.S. 



T. V. HOLMES, F.G.S., M.A.I. 

 HENRY LAYER, M.R.C.S., F.L.S. , 



F.S.A. 

 PROFESSOR R. MELDOLA, F.R.S., 



F.R.A.S. 



The Essex Field Club is intended to band together those taking an 

 interest in Natural Science, residing within or near the borders of the 

 County, so as to create and foster a taste for the out-of-door study of 

 Nature. 



The PUBLICATIONS of the Club have gained general estimation, because 

 of the care which has been taken to confine them to their original purpose, 

 the record of investigations and elucidations of the NATURAL HISTORY (in its 

 widest sense), the TOPOGRAPHY and PRE-HISTORIC ARCHEOLOGY of the 

 COUNTY OF ESSEX. Since the foundation of the Club in 1880, over 4,500 

 pages of such material has been published, and a large proportion of the 

 articles are of value to students residing outside the Club's limits. 



ORDINARY (SCIENTIFIC) MEETINGS are held at frequent intervals for the 

 reading of papers and the exhibition of specimens, etc., and FIELD MEETINGS 

 are arranged during the summer months, and held in various parts of the 

 County under the guidance of experienced Naturalists, Geologists, and 

 Archaeologists. 



The Club has carried on several SPECIAL INVESTIGATIONS eg., the 

 examination of the two EPPING FOREST CAMPS, an EXPLORATION of the 

 DENEHOLES, the RED-HILLS," etc, and has published several valuable 

 REPORTS, illustrated with plans and maps. Considerable efforts have been 

 made to catalogue the FAUNA and FLORA of the County, and it is wished to 

 extend this work as funds and opportunities will permit, particularly in the 

 direction of a systematic Exploration for MARINE and ESTUARINE forms of 

 life by DREDGING, etc., and their preparation and preservation in the Essex 

 Museum, for future reference and study. 



Although bearing a county title, the Club offers exceptional advantages to 

 metropolitan residents. Many parts of Essex are but little known, although 

 of the greatest interest to the naturalist, geologist, and antiquary. 



Very considerable material has been accumulated towards a LOCAL and 

 EDUCATIONAL MUSEUM, which will shortly be established in a handsome 

 building at Stratford (by the generosity of Mr. Passmore Edwards, and in 

 conjuction with the corporation of West Ham) to form a home for 

 County collections and specimens, where they may be consulted by all 

 interested in Essex A BRANCH MUSEUM to illustrate the Natural History 



