1870.] NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY. 215 



It is also a matter of regret that a succession of our wealthy 

 and influential citizens are retiring from the annual subscription 

 list, without placing their names upon the life members' roll, a 

 course your Council would strongly recommend to those who 

 desire to retire from active participation in the Society's affairs. 

 A sufficient loss is felt by the Society even by such retirement ; 

 and the withdrawal of some fifteen members from active subscrip- 

 tion to and interest in the work of the Society, to the roll of life 

 membership, forms a serious episode in the history of the present 

 year, as it too often follows that life members lose some of their 

 interest in the practical working of a voluntary association. 



A vigorous effort has been made during the past two years to 

 extinguish the debt upon the building, and this effort has been 

 attended with considerable success. The mortgage debt on the 

 building amounts to $2,600, and towards this $1,630 have already 

 been promised, and it behoves the earnest friends of the Society 

 to raise the balance if possible during the present year, in the 

 meantime it is absolutely necessary to pay some attention to the 

 drainage of the building, which is now flooded in the winter, and 

 to paint and whitewash the premises ; and it may be necessary to 

 devote some portion of this subscription to the temporary use of 

 putting the premises in necessary repair. The Council, therefore, 

 feel the necessity of a renewed effort towards the liquidation of 

 this debt, and also to replace on the roll of annual subscribers the 

 number of members who, from various causes, have retired there- 

 from. 



Our losses have numbered thirty subscribers during the past 

 session, whilst we have added only seven to the list. The number 

 of lady associates we regret to say has not been extended. An 

 appeal is therefore necessary to existing members to add to the 

 ranks of the Society. 



Theoretically, subscriptions are due in advance, in order to 

 meet the current expenses of the year, but practically, members 

 are apt to defer their payments, so that the income of the year 

 becomes a debt instead of an asset. This practice is a source of 

 embarrassment to the Treasurer, which your Council trusts will 

 not become chronic. 



Again, the " Naturalist " is a charge upon the Society of a 

 grave character. In addition to the 100 copies purchased for the 

 members, the Society distributes, for the purpose of exchanges, 

 about 70 copies gratuitously. It is quite necessary, therefore, 



