XU PEOCEEI>INaS OF THE 



But if any such feeling of finality in our labours could ever 

 enter tlie mind or pervade the feelings of the Society, surely no- 

 thing could be more entirely misplaced, nothing more calculated 

 to interfere witli the fulfilment of our great mission, and to para- 

 lyse those efforts without which we must fail in carrying out the 

 objects of our corporate existence. It is, indeed, in our present 

 improved condition, with an increased income, enlarged communi- 

 cation with the scientific world, and a closer association with 

 other scientific bodies, employed like ourselves zealously and con- 

 stantly in the advancement of knowledge, — with responsibilities 

 increased in proportion to our means and the requirements of 

 scientific progress, — that we ought to recognize an irresistible 

 claim upon our energies, and fresh inducements to enter, with all 

 our powers, and with all the zeal which so noble an object de- 

 mands, upon the fulfilment of the duties which are imposed upon 

 us, and which we have solemnly accepted as our own. 



That it is unnecessary, however, to employ any argument to 

 remind the Society of those duties, or to stimulate it to their 

 fulfilment, is proved by the state of activity and vigour by which 

 it is at present characterized. The number and importance of the 

 communications which have occupied our ordinary meetings, where 

 we have no longer the necessity of listening to, or {proh pudor !) 

 of nodding over the fortunately interminable commentary on the 

 Hortus Malabaricus, which served for so many years as a piece 

 de resistance, not to say a stop-gap, to prevent the formal expose 

 of our occasional literary bankruptcy, — these circumstances, with 

 the usually satisfactory attendance at our meetings, show a degree 

 of active vitality which is at once a cause of thankful satisfaction 

 and of hopeful anticipation. 



With reference to the latter portion of our functions, there is, 

 however, one point which calls for observation, and has been a 

 source of great regret. I aUuded to it at the last Anniversary, 

 and made some observations upon the subject, to which I am 

 sorry to have again to recur. I mean the comparative paucity of 

 zoological communications when contrasted with the number and 

 extent of those devoted to the sister science. 



The high character of many of those zoological papers which 

 we have received, does not render it less a matter for serious con- 

 sideration, whether some plan might not be adopted to effect an 

 improvement in so important an element of our functions. That 

 the principal cause of the deficiency is to be sought in the same 

 direction as that to which I pointed on the former occasion, can- 



