288 THE ZOOLOGIST. 



authorities of the French Congo, being rather short of money, have issued 

 a decree placing a tax of fifty centimes on every Parrot exported from that 

 colony to Europe." 



We are glad to notice the growing recognition of "Zoology " as an 

 applied science. In the « Pharmaceutical Journal ' a course of " Zoological 

 Notes for Pharmacists" is now in course of publication. 



On Thursday afternoon, Oct. 6th, 1898, Mr. J. Passmore Edwards laid 

 the first stone of the Essex Local and Educational Museum of Natural 

 History. The Museum, designed by Messrs. Gibsou and Kussell, will 

 ultimately be a very handsome structure, adjoining, but distinct from, the 

 Technical Institute of the West Ham Corporation in the (Main) Romford 

 Road, Stratford. The cost of the building and ground will be about 

 £6000, towards which Mr. Passmore Edwards munificently contributes 

 £•2500, on condition that the Museum shall contain the Essex Field Club's 

 County Collections of Natural History. The balance of the cost, and the 

 up-keep of the building, will be defrayed by the Corporation of West Ham, 

 acting through their Technical Instruction Committee. In accordance with 

 the scheme of the Agreement made between the Corporation of West Ham 

 and the Essex Field Club, dated 25th July, 1898, the Museum will be 

 carried on as a Permanent Institution under that Agreement as follows : — 



(a) The Corporation agree to dedicate the main portion of the building 

 to the purposes of a Museum of Local (Essex) Natural History, Prehistoric 

 Archaeology and Anthropology, and of educational series relating to the 

 same ; to warm, light, and provide for the caretaking of the building ; that 

 the Club shall have the sole scientific control of the collections, and the 

 appointment of the Curator, and be allowed to keep its Library in the 

 building ; the Corporation also agreeing to make a grant of not less than 

 £100 per annum towards the curatorial expenses. 



(b) The Club agree to place their county collections, cases, and cabinets 

 in the Museum (excepting the Epping Forest collections, which are to be 

 retained in the Forest Museum at Chingford) ; to do their best to increase 

 and improve the same ; to undertake the selection and scientific control of 

 the collections ; to raise a certain capital sum for the further equipment of 

 the Museum ; to appoint a Curator, and to devote a sum of £50 per annum 

 towards the curatorial expenses. 



As at least £1000 will be required for the wall-cases, table-cases, 

 cabinets, and other equipments necessary to a Natural History Museum, 

 donations are invited, which may be paid to Lloyds' Bank (Essex Field 

 Club Account — Town Side), 72, Lombard Street, E.C.; or to the Treasurer, 

 W. C. Waller, Esq., Loughton, Essex. 



