PRESIDENTIAL ADDRESS. 3 



I was consequently much pleased to see this suggestion appear 

 in the April number of the Journal much more fully elaborated 

 and embodied in the form of a letter from " A Member," but the 

 reception that it met with at the hands of our members seems to 

 have been a very discouraging one, for I learn upon enquiry that 

 one reply only was forthcoming — and that not from a member, but 

 from a subscriber to the Journal only ! 



I am inclined to attribute this result not so much to the 

 apathy of our members as to the over-elaboration of the scheme, 

 and to think that, provided the " temporary correspondent," the 

 " election of correspondent," and the " common fund," with 

 divers others of the proposed regulations, were dispensed with, 

 the various members who might be inclined to join the different 

 circles would get quickly and unostentatiously to work, without 

 involving our already over-wrought Secretary in further unneces- 

 sary labour. 



That difficulties would arise in the practical working of such 

 circles — judging from my own previous experience — there is little 

 doubt; but few things of any value are to be accomplished 

 without, and as these difficulties arise they might readily be solved 

 by cordial co-operation and goodwill. 



Leaving this question for what it may be worth to the con- 

 sideration of members, I will turn for a short time to the subject 

 of my own special work, with the object of enlisting the interest 

 of some of our junior members, at any rate, in the study of 

 Acarology, in which, although much has been already accom- 

 plished, there remains still very much more for diligent investi- 

 gators to unravel, and, I take it, a section of our Society could be 

 engaged in no better manner than in providing both facts and 

 materials towards some future work upon any of the different 

 families comprised in the Acarina of our country, for, with the 

 exception of the admirable manual on " The British Oribatidce," 

 by my friend, Mr. Michael — the second volume of which has been 

 issued by the Ray Society during the present year — I believe there 

 is no other comprehensive work in the English language upon any 

 of the other families. It is much to be hoped, however, that he 

 may be induced to perform a similar service for the extensive 

 family of the Gamasidce, and so earn the further gratitude of all 

 English Acarologists. 



