LISXEA.y SOCIETr OF LONDON". 33 



ornithologist. The others were Aylmer Bourke Lambert, a former 

 Pre-ident, and the last, as I have been informed, who wore in 

 the chair the presidential three-cornered hat; and Archibald 

 Menzies, who as naturalist accompanied Vancouver iu liis voyage 

 in the Pacific, and who introduced the Araucaria imbricata into 

 England. These all died very near the ye ir of ray election. 



" Eeferring now to the progress ot the Society in status and 

 efficiency during the years that have elipsed since 1812, the 

 record cannot but be gratifying to its Fellows. Ot this the best 

 proofs are the increment in extent and value of its publications, 

 and the interest taken in its meetings. From its foundation up 

 to the date referred to (fifty-four years) eighteen volumes of 

 the 'Transactions' in quarto had been published. During the 

 succeeding fifty-four years about double that amount have 

 been produced in the same form, besides fifty-eight volumes 

 of the ' Journal ' iu octavo, which latter was not commenced 

 till 1857. 



"Then as regards attendance at the meetings, during the first 

 \ears of mv fellowship it was miserably small. If my memory 

 does not deceive me, 1 recall a night in Soho Square when only 

 five Fellows supported the President and Secretary. There was 

 a dearth of papers too, aud the discussion of such as were brought 

 forward was discountenanced by the chair. All this is now 

 happily a thing of the past, and I should not have alluded to 

 those bad times had not the Society given proof of that inherent 

 vitality which supported it under a temporary depression, and 

 subsequently raised it to its present posi.ion. 



" It remains. Sir, to thank you cordially for coupling my father's 

 name with my own in this awaid, but for which, indeed, I could 

 not have accepted it without a protest. I inherited from him 

 my love of knowledge for its own sake, but this would have 

 availed me little were it not for the guiding hand of one who 

 had himself attained scientific eminence ; who by example, 

 precept, and encouragement kept me to the paths which I should 

 follow ; launched me in the fields of exploration and research, 

 liberally aided me during his lifetime, and paved for me the way 

 to the position he so long held at Kew with so great credit to 

 himself, and benefit especially to our Indian aud Colonial 

 possessions." 



The obituary notices of deceased Fellows and Foreign Members 

 uere laid betore the Meeting by the Secretaries, as follows : — 



Joseph Armitage, son of the late Eev. Francis James Armitage, 

 of Casteitou, near Kirkby Lonsdale, AV^estmorlaud, Avas born iu 

 Iy53, and educated at Kugby, aud iSew College, Oxford, where 

 be took a First Class in iSatural Science in 1870 and gained 

 the Burdett-Coutts University Scholarship in Geology in the 

 loUowing year. He studied medicine at St. Bartholomew's 

 LLNN. SOC. PBOCEECiyuS.— SESSIO>' 1897-98. d 



