NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY OF GLASGOW. xli 



While the work of the past session compares very favourably, 

 both in extent and importance, with that of previous years, the 

 Council regret that the necessity has arisen for directing the atten- 

 tion of the Society to a considerable diminution which has taken 

 place in the membership. While this is partly attributable to the 

 large number of removals through death, resignation, and other 

 causes, it must also be partly traced to the small number of 

 additions made to the Roll of Members during the year. This will 

 be seen from a comparative view of the accessions to the Society 

 during the 10 years from session 1876-77 to session 1885-86 in- 

 clusive. During that period 243 new Members were added to the 

 Roll (exclusive of the Members of the Glasgow Society of Field 

 Naturalists, who were admitted without formal election), being an 

 average enrolment of 243 per annum. During the past session, 

 however, as already stated, only 10 new Members were elected. 



In view of the great importance of increasing the annual income 

 of the Society (which, being chiefly derived from the subscriptions 

 of the Members, has last year fallen below the amount required to 

 meet outstanding payments), and providing more adequately for the 

 cost of printing in extenso the important communications submitted 

 to the Society for publication, as well as for the other necessary ex- 

 penses of management, a circular was recently issued by the Council, 

 setting forth the immediate necessity of adding new Members to 

 the roll. As a reduction in the amount of matter issued by the 

 Society, or a delay in its publication, would inevitably be attended 

 with serious disadvantages, the Council earnestly hope that the 

 Members will cordially respond to the appeal which has been made 

 for their assistance in placing the affairs of the Society in these 

 respects on a more satisfactory footing, and enabling its work to be 

 carried on uninterruptedly and with increasing success. In this 

 etiort all the Members individually may co-operate ; and if each 

 endeavour during the present session to introduce to the Society at 

 least one new Member, the end in view shall without difficulty be 

 fully attained. 



The Treasurer (Mr. John Renwick) submitted his Annual 

 Financial Statement, which showed a balance of £35 lis. 8d. at 

 the credit of the Society. It was explained, however, that this 

 apparent balance would be more than absorbed by outstanding- 

 liabilities, part of which would fall to be paid from the revenue of 

 the ensuing year. 



The Librarian (Mr. James J. F. X. King) reported as follows : 

 During the year 423 separate publications have been added to the 

 Library, which now contains 832 bound volumes, being an increase 

 of 76 since last report. 205 volumes (120 during the Winter 

 Session, and 85 during the Summer Session) were taken out by the 

 Members, as compared with 167 during the previous year. Vol. i., 



