LIlfNEAN SOCIETY OF LONDON. XXXIU 



May 24th, 1872. 

 Anniversary Meeting. 



George Bentham, Esq., President in the Chair. 



This day, the Anniversary of the birth of Linnseus, and the day 

 appointed by the Charter for the Election of Council and Officers, 

 the President opened the business of the Meeting with the following 

 Address : — 



Gentlemen, 



In mj anxiety to advance as much as possible the systematic works 

 I am engaged in, the ' Flora Australiensis ' and the ' Genera Plan- 

 tarum,' I found that I had delayed so far beyond the usual period 

 the preparation of the annual Address which seems now to be ex- 

 pected from the Chair at all anniversary meetings of scientific 

 societies, that I must beg of you to consider what I have now to 

 lay before you not as a regular review of the progress of our 

 sciences during the past years, but merely as a few notes upon 

 biological works to which my attention happens to have been drawn, 

 and which may serve to pass the time which must necessarily elapse 

 before the close of the ballot. 



As a general summary of the current zoological literature the 

 ' Zoological Record ' maintains its high value. The volume for 1870 

 has lately appeared under the new editorship of Mr. Newton, and 

 the arrangements now made for its further prosecution are very 

 hopeful ; yet I must again urge upon all our Fellows who as 

 amateur zoologists or patrons of tbe science have joined our ranks, 

 to give their further support to the " Zoological Eecord Association " 

 in order to secure the continuance of this annual summary for the 

 sake of the working members, to whom it is so essential. I would 



Linn. Peoc. — Session 1871-72. / 



