848 president's address. 



members has steadily enlarged, the contributors to the " Proceed- 

 ings " have increased, and their contributions will undoubtedly, 

 in my opinion, maintain, as hitherto, the favour of the press and 

 of the naturalist. The donations and loans of books of a varied 

 and reliable nature, appertaining to natural history, have greatly 

 exceeded in number and value the gifts of the previous year ; 

 and our library now will bear, in its excellence, more than a fair 

 comparison with those of other kindred self-supporting associa- 

 tions. This exceptional acquisition is due to the liberality of the 

 founder of this Society, Mr. Macleay, by his recent munificent 

 gift, being the second of a similar nature, of standard and 

 scientific works exceeding 600 volumes. The loan also by the 

 same gentleman, consists of a large number of works peculiarly 

 suited to our wants. 



Beyond these seasonable favours in aid of our Society, Mr. 

 Macleay lately at his own cost caused a course of free lectures 

 on the animal kingdom to be given, and engaged the services 

 of Mr. Haswell, a gentleman thoroughly competent to do the 

 good work. These lectures were well attended and appreciated, 

 and consisted of no less than 20 in number, commencing with 

 " Introductory remarks on life in plants and animals," passing 

 through the various leading types of animal structure, and 

 terminating with the life-history and structure of the mam- 

 malian group. 



This liberal, behavour in the cause of Science has elicited an 

 appropriate response on the part of the Government ; two rooms 

 at the Garden Palace have been set apart for the Society — the 

 one to be used as a library, a lecture room, and as a meeting and 

 reading room for the members ; the other specially as an office 

 for the transaction of business by the council of the Society. The 

 foregoing are facts well known to you, but I am desirous by their 

 repetition that they should be known to others, and remembered. 



The literary papers read by our corresponding members during 

 the past twelve months contain, among other matters, many 



