14 PKOCEEDINQS OF THE 



Peesidektial Addeess. 



Gektlemen, — I propose to occupy ten minutes with some 

 remarks on the present position of this Society, and then to read 

 you the Introduction to a paper on the Soondreebun of Bengal 

 which I have had in hand some time. 



The Linnean Society was formed, according to its Charter, " for 

 the Cultivation of Natural History in all its branches, more 

 especially the Natural History of Great Britain and Ireland." 

 The breadth of its object has never been narrowed. There have, 

 however, been established subsequently several Societies for the 

 cultivation of special branches of Natural History : such are the 

 Zoological Society, the Entomological Society, the Malacological 

 Society. There remain numerous branches of Zoology, such as 

 Crustacea, Corals, &c., down to Sponges, on which Papers come 

 mainly to the Linnean Society. Papers on the larger animals, 

 as on Birds, go generally to the Zoological Society, as papers on 

 Insects go generally to the Entomological Society; but not 

 exclusively. The position of this Society with reference to these 

 Societies may be compared with the pos^ition of the Koyal Society 

 with reference to the Linnean and Geological Societies. The 

 Koyal Society has by no means given up Botany or Geology ; 

 nevertheless, papers on Sytematic, Morphologic, Economic, and 

 Geographic Botany are usually read here — not at the Eoyal 

 Society ; papers on Stratigraphic and Petrologic Geology are 

 usually read at the Geological, not at the Royal Society. The 

 reason for this subdivision of work has been the increase of interest 

 in scientific investigations, and in the consequent number of 

 papers to be read, printed, and otherwise dealt with. It is also a 

 convenience to have papers specially geologic collected in one 

 Journal instead of their being scattered through the voluminous 

 publications of the Eoyal Society, which has still got as much 

 work left as it can manage. 



In the subject of Botany, no similar subdivision by the establish- 

 ment of special Societies has yet been made. I believe this room 

 to be the only place in the Metropolis where papers are taken 

 And discussed. 



This Society shows life, by its Evening Meetings, its Publi- 

 cations, and its Library. Now, during the past Session at least 

 two-thirds of the time of the Evening Meetings has been occupied 

 by Botany. My opening remarks have been designed to show 

 you that this is so by the force of circumstances — the march of 

 events ; and that the predominance of Botany has not been empha- 

 sized by those who have to arrange the business at our Evening 

 Meetings. 



I do not propose to attempt to recapitulate the Papers of 

 the past year : they are, or shortly will be, in the hands of all 

 the Members. I have been much interested by many Exhibits 

 during the Session ; such as that of Mourera fiuviatilis by 



