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THIRTY-NINTH ANNUAL REPORT. 



Your Committee is again in the position to report favourably 

 upon the Club's progress during the past year, which has been 

 even more prosperous than its predecessors. 



During the twelve months ending December 31st, 1904, exactly 

 fifty new members were elected. This compares very well with 

 the thirty-three elected in the previous twelve months, and, 

 with the exception of the year 1901, in which no less than fifty- 

 live members joined, it represents the largest addition to the 

 Club's strength for very many years. During the year twenty- 

 two members were lost through resignation, and seven were 

 removed for non-payment of subscriptions. Five members, nearly 

 all of considerable seniority in the Club, died during the year — 

 viz. E. Dadswell, M. F. Dunlop, C. G. Dunning, J. Spink, and 

 H. Stocks. The loss of Mr. Dadswell, who had been a member 

 since 1875, will be felt by a very wide circle of friends; and the 

 deep interest which he had always evinced in the Club's welfare 

 is marked by a legacy of <£50, which he has bequeathed to the 

 Club. An obituary notice of this gentleman and also of the late 

 Mr. C. G. Dunning, who joined the Club so long ago as 1872 

 (but who, owing to absence from London, was seldom present at 

 the meetings of late years), has already been published in the 

 Club's Journal. The total number of members on the books of 

 the Club on December 31st was 382, as compared with 379 in 

 the previous year. 



The attendance both on "gossip " nights and at the ordinary 

 meetings has been extremely good throughout the year, and 

 shows no tendency to fall off. Indeed, on several occasions the 

 numbers present on " gossip " nights have been as large as is 

 compatible with freedom of movement. The number and quality 

 of the objects exhibited has also maintained its usual high 

 standard ; but the Committee note with regret that only a very 

 small percentage of members record their observations in the 

 shape of notes or papers, for the benefit of their fellow members. 



The chief communications read at the meetings during the 

 year are as follows: — 



Jan. On a new Fresh-water Polyzoon from 



Rhodesia, Lophodella thomasi . Mr. Rousselet. 



