LINNEAN SOCIETY OF LOKDOK. XIU 



ground for congratulation than the mere accession of numbers, and 

 that we may look with confidence to numerous rising naturalists, 

 who will honourably fill the places of those who, as the natural 

 consequence of the lapse of time, are passing away from the scene 

 of our laboiu's. 



I can also point with equal satisfaction to the contents of the 

 publications, in both forms, which have emanated from the Society 

 during the past year. In accordance with a wholesome arrange- 

 ment on which we have acted for the last few years, a Part of the 

 Transactions is regularly published, so as to be ready for delivery 

 to the Fellows as nearly as possible on the reassembling of the 

 Society after the recess. The part of the Transactions which Avas 

 published in November last is in no respect inferior to those 

 which have preceded it, and the illustrations are of a very high 

 character in that department of art. "Without any depreciating 

 comparison, I would especially point to Mr. Fitch's illustrations 

 of Dr. Hooker's paper on the Pitcher-plants, as aflfording a remark- 

 able example of artistic effect combined with scientific accuracy of 

 detail, in mere outline, such as I am confident could have been 

 produced by no other artist. The bold freedom of hand, never 

 entrenching upon the necessary severe accuracy of character, is 

 unsurpassed. I cannot refrain from adding that, for defraying 

 the expense of placing these beautiful plates on stone, we are 

 again indebted to the liberality of the distinguished author of the 

 paper. 



I took occasion, at the last Anniversary, to express my regret 

 that the Zoological element in our publications had been consider- 

 ably subordinate to the Botanical. I have great pleasure in ob- 

 serving that this inequality has been in great measure obviated 

 during the past year. Out of sixteen papers contained in the last 

 part of the Transactions, seven are of a Zoological character, and 

 nine are Botanical ; and with regard to the Proceedings, it has be- 

 come necessary, from the influx of Zoological papers suited for 

 publication in that form, to issue a supplementary part of Zoolo- 

 gical Proceedings similar to those which have been already added 

 to the ordinary quarterly issue in Botany. 



It is unnecessary for me to enter into any analysis of the various 

 papers contained in these publications, but I would for a moment 

 advert to another, and, as I conceive, not an unimportant element 

 in our customary work, — I mean the conversational discussions 

 which arise out^ of the^ communications read at the ordinary 

 meetings. 



