28 PEOCEEDINQS OE THE 



illustrated with 43 plates and 199 woodcuts. Before completing 

 the twenty-second volume of our Journal of Botany we have 

 begun a new volume devoted to the Flora of China, of which 

 two [)arts have been published, and in our Journal of Zoology 

 three parts have been issued of the two extra volumes to be de- 

 voted to tlie results of Dr. Anderson's Exploration of the Mergui 

 Archipelago. The Transactions issued during the year have con- 

 tained 114 pages of letterpress illustrated with 23 plates and 8 

 woodcuts. The special volume devoted to Mr. Eaton's ' Mono- 

 graph of the Ephemeridse' will be completed with the next part 

 now being pushed forward ; while another separate volume de- 

 voted to Dr. Davidson's ' Monograph of the Eecent Bracliiopoda' 

 has been begun, and may be expected to be completed without 

 much delay. 



The Society has expended the large sum of £1283 on its pub- 

 lications during the year. The average amount spent for this 

 purpose during the previous ten years was £903. The illustra- 

 tions necessarily absorb a large portion of this money ; towards 

 this expense a sum of about £100 has been contributed by or 

 on behalf of the authors. The full illustration of our memoirs 

 is of the first importance, and has always been a characteristic 

 of the publicatious of the Society, although our funds have not 

 always been able to meet the cost. The whole expense of the 

 coppers and of engraving the plates for the first volume of the 

 Transactions was defrayed by Sir Joseph Banks, and all through 

 generous donors have frequently borne a portion of this heavy 

 burden. 



We are now proceeding with the 36th volume of the Transac- 

 tions. The 23rd volume of the Journal of Botany and the 21st 

 volume of tlie Journal of Zoology are in hand. Satisfactory 

 indexes to these extensive publications are of the first importance 

 to those who have occasion to consult them. One of the many 

 great services that our late distinguished President, Mr. George 

 Bentham, rendered to the Society was the preparation of the 

 index to the first 25 volumes of the Transactions. I am glad 

 that I am able to announce that a like service for the Journal of 

 Botany is being rendered to the Society by our indefatigable 

 Senior Secretary. Mr. Jackson has been for some time engaged 

 in this work, which will include, besides the Journal, all the 

 botanical references in the earlier volumes of the Proceedings of 

 the Society. 



The Library is another great means we possess of carrying 

 out the objects of the Society in promoting biological science, 

 and the necessity of maintaining it in full efficiency cannot be 

 doubted by any Eellow. The Council have opened a special 

 fund for its augmentation, and they have, in accordance with 

 the known desire of Mr. Bentham, placed the whole amount re- 

 ceived from his Bequest to the credit of this fund. They place 

 this matter before the Fellows, and request coutributious or 



