30 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 



" During the past year 33 new members were added to the roll, 

 while 21 names were removed, owing to resignations and other 

 causes, leaving us with an increase over that of the previous year 

 of 12 members. The total membership of the Club is now 193, 

 comprising 9 honorary, 2 life, 157 ordinary, 22 country, and 3 

 junior members. 



" It is with very great regret that we have to record the death 

 of Mr. H. P. C. Ashworth, which occurred on 20th August, 1903. 

 Mr. Ashworth filled the office of hon. secretary of the Club from 

 January, 1894. to May, 1896, when, owing to failing health, he 

 was compelled to relinquish the position. His enthusiasm as a 

 lover of nature, and his genial disposition, won him many friends, 

 who deeply regretted his death at the early age of thirty-two. 



" The attendances at our usual monthly meetings during the 

 past year show a most satisfactory increase, and are a striking 

 indication of the lively interest manifested in the work of the 

 Club. The attendance averaged about 72, as against 48 for the 

 previous year. The greatest number at any one meeting was 

 150, while on four occasions the attendance numbered 100 or 

 over. 



" The exhibition of specimens continues to be a valuable 

 feature, and keen interest is always taken in the various objects 

 shown. Your committee desire to impress upon members that 

 there is room for a still further expansion in this direction, and 

 exhibitors may feel assured that the time and trouble involved is 

 duly appreciated. 



" The number of papers read shows a decrease, as compared 

 with that of the previous year. The cause of the falling-off is 

 mainly attributed to the length of many of the papers, and the 

 discussion excited, rather than to any lack of workers ; several 

 papers having had to be postponed to a future meeting for this 

 reason. 



" Altogether twenty-five papers were read, of which 7 related 

 to zoology, 5 to botany, i to geology, 5 to general subjects, and 

 7 to trips and excursions. Of the zoological papers, i was 

 devoted birds, i to fish, i to molluscs, and 4 to insects. 



" Several papers were well illustrated with large series of 

 lantern views, which added considerable interest to the subjects 

 dealt with ; and we are again indebted to the hon, lanternist, Mr. 

 J. Searle, for providing and working the lantern on these 

 occasions. 



"The authors were Miss K. Cowle and Messrs. E. E. Barker, 

 F.R.M.S., F. G. A. Barnard, A. J. Campbell, F. Chapman, A.L.S., 

 and H. G. Grayson, J. H. Gatliff, R. Hall, F.L.S., W. Hopkins, 

 G. A. Keartland, J. A. Kershaw, F.E.S., A. E. Kitson, F.G.S., 

 J. A. Leach, Professor Baldwin Spencer, M.A., F.R.S., C. Walter, 

 G. A. Waterhouse, and G. Weindorfer. 



