ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 141 
than perform the humble function of the string that binds the pearls 
together. 
“At the outset it was part of the plan of operations that a Collection 
of Insects should be formed; and in 1835 the Rev. Wm. Kirby preseuted 
his entire collection of entomological objects to the Society, unfettered by 
any restriction whatever. It was found, however, that the formation and 
maintenance of a General Entomological Museum were more than the 
resources of the Society would warrant; and in 1855 the Exotic Collection 
was discontinued. Eventually, after thirty years’ experience, the formation 
of a British Collection was also abandoned; the Kirbyan cabinets, and all 
the type-specimens, found a permanent home in the British Museum; and 
the Curator of the Society was merged in the Librarian. 
“Of the nine gentlemen who have filled the office of Curator or 
Librarian,—Messrs. Waterhouse, Pickering, Shuckard, Westwood, Bain- 
bridge, Frederick Smith, Janson, T. A. Marshall, and Grut,—Mr. Smith 
oceupied it for fourteen and Mr. Janson for twenty years; the present 
occupant is only in his sixth year of office, but it must be the wish and 
hope of all that he will continue to give us the benefit of his services for 
many years to come. 
«Of Treasurers we have had but six—Messrs. Hope, Yarrell, Samuel 
Stevens, M‘Lachlan, J. Jenner Weir, and Edward Saunders. Of these 
Mr. Yarrell acted for eighteen and Mr. Stevens for twenty years. I trust 
the present Treasurer will grow as old in office as the oldest of his 
predecessors. 
“Originally there was but one Secretary, and the first was George 
Robert Gray ; but at the beginning of 1834 he gave place to Mr. Westwood, 
and although Mr. W. B. Spence was for two or three years appointed Foreign 
Secretary, it-was not until 1847 that two Secretaries were authorized by 
the Bye-Laws, and Mr. Westwood was provided with a colleague. ‘The 
subsequent occupants of the office have been Messrs. Evans, Edward 
Doubleday, Douglas, Stainton, Wing, Shepherd, Janson, Dunning, Sharp, 
M‘Lachlan, Grut, Verrall, Butler, Meldola, Distant, Fitch, and Kirby; so 
that by a curious coincidence the Society has during fifty years had just 
as many Secretaries as it has had Presidents. 
“Tneluding our Honorary President, who died in 1850 at the 
patriarchal age of ninety-two, I have had twenty predecessors in this chair. 
It has throughout been one of our rules that the officers shall be elected 
annually, and that the President shall not hold that office for more than 
two years consecutively. Messrs. Children, Stephens, Newport, Spence, 
G. R. Waterhouse, Newman, J. EK. Gray, Douglas, I’. Smith, Pascoe, 
A. R. Wallace, Sir 8.S. Saunders, and Stainton have each held it for two 
consecutive years; Mr. Curtis for one year; Mr. Bates for three; Mr. 
W. Wilson Saunders and Sir John Lubbock for four; the Rev. F. W. 
