PROCEEDINGS OF THE SOCIETY. 369 



to the list, and in addition 21 other Fellows have been elected or 

 nominated since the beginning of this year. 



This accession of new Fellows exceeds that of any other year 

 since the foundation of the Society, with the single exception of 1867, 

 when the announcement was made of the intended increase of the 

 subscription from 11. Is. to 21. 2s. 



The vacancies in the list of Honorary Fellows have been filled 

 up by the election of gentlemen eminent in Biological research or 

 Microscopy, resident for the most part abroad, each of the principal 

 foreign countries having now one or more representatives. 



The Council have every reason to congratulate the Society on 

 the success which has attended the new Bye-Law allowing the 

 election of Ex-officio Fellows. Eighty-sis Societies in all have been 

 nominated, and these have been selected from the various leading 

 Societies throughout the continent of Europe, the United States, and 

 the Colonies, as well as in this country. The Council have from time 

 to time received very gratifying evidence of the appreciation with 

 which this association of kindred Societies has been regarded. 



Dui-ing the past year, 17 Ordinary Fellows have died or resigned 

 (6 compounders and 11 subscribers). The total number of Ordinary 

 Fellows, on the 31st December, 1879, was therefore 440, of Honorary 

 Fellows, 49, and of Ex-officio Fellows, 86, or 575 in all. 



Invested Funds and lieveniie. 



Having regard to the expenditure required for the fitting and 

 arrangement of the New Library, together with the expenses entailed 

 by other improvements made duriug the course of the year, the 

 Council fully anticipated that it would be found necessary to intrench 

 upon the Capital of the Society, but they were glad to find that as the 

 increase in the year's Revenue, after allowing for deaths, &c., amounted 

 to more than 210Z., they w'ere able not only to meet the special ex- 

 penses above referred to, but to invest the whole of the Composition 

 fees received during the year, and still leave a surplus, which has been 

 applied for the Journal as hereinafter explained. 



By the reinvestment of part of the funds upon Freehold Mort- 

 gages, an additional revenue of 221. 10s. per annum has been obtained. 



Library, Instruments, &c. 



The negotiations referred to in the last Report of the Council were 

 subsequently completed, and the Society is now in possession of an 

 admirable Library, which affords many advantages over the old 

 arrangements. 



During the past year the Books have been rearranged, and some 

 important additions have been made, consisting of the purchases out of 

 the Quckctt Fund, a list of which is given in the Proceedings of the 

 Meeting of the 9th April, 1879. 



The collection of Insiriimeuls lias been increased by four Micro- 

 scopes, presented by Mr. Crisj) — tlircc modern instrumcuts, and one 

 which is of interest, as being the first form of Binocular Microscope 

 designed by M. Nachct. Several pieces of accessory apparatus have 



VOL. III. 2 B 



