linneajSt society or londok. xi 



election of a gentleman who should perform the duties of Secretary 

 with reference to the zoological element in our organization, has 

 rendered it very desirable so to modify the existing by-law which 

 relates to the former office, as to meet the new requirements ; and 

 you would have had such modification submitted to you before 

 this, had it not been considered more convenient to bring it for- 

 ward in connexion with some other slight changes, which the lapse 

 of years and the altered circumstances of the Society have appeared 

 to call for. This subject will shortly be referred to a committee 

 to be appointed by the Council. The effect of this alteration will be 

 to abolish the obsolete office of Under- secretary, and to secure in 

 future the services of two Secretaries, attached respectively to the 

 two branches of natural science which constitute our professed 

 objects, — a change which is in entire accordance with the spirit and 

 intention of the Charter. 



The losses which the Society has sustained by death include 

 several honoured names which have for a great number of years 

 adorned our list of Pellows. Amongst them occurs that of one 

 who, in conjunction with the revered and venerable Mr. Kirby, 

 produced, by the publication of their truly great work, an effect 

 which scarcely any single publication in Natural History has ever 

 done before or since. The ' Introductionto Entomology ' of these two 

 eminent and amiable naturalists was characterized by a very rare 

 combination of scientific accuracy, of amplitude of information, and 

 of a style and treatment as fascinating as that of the most ex- 

 citing romance. Por the last few years the infirmities of age, and 

 especially his increasing deafness, deprived Mr. Spence of that 

 close association with this Society which long constituted one of 

 his most cherished sources of enjoyment, and contributed so much 

 to the pleasure of those with whom he was so long and so inti- 

 mately connected. When I mention the names of Dr. Horsfield, 

 of Sir G-eorge Staunton, of Samuel Curtis, of Henfrey, of Col. 

 Hamilton Smith, with most of whom I have been intimately asso- 

 ciated for a considerable portion of my life, it will readily be ima- 

 gined that their removal must be painfully felt by me, as it is by 

 all who have been associated with them. Leaving, however, to 

 Mr. Busk the interesting but often painful office of further noticing 

 those whose loss we have to regret, — a duty which by long custom 

 constitutes one of the many sources of obligation under which we 

 lie to our Secretary, — I turn with great satisfaction to the general 

 condition of the Society, and to the circumstances of success and 

 progress which have characterized the past year. 



