PRE FA C E . 



At last, after luauy delays aud difficulties, our new number appears, 

 testifying, however, it is to be hoped, that the Society is still in a 

 flourishing condition, and is still doing the work for which those who 

 went before us established it. 



It has been said, with much truth, that the value of a Scientific 

 Society depends on the value of the original papers contributed to it, 

 but we would claim for our Society that it be judged by another test, 

 namely, whether it is encouraging its members in the study of 

 science, and training thena in those habits of observation which will 

 hereafter enable them to do good original woik. We hope that such 

 is the case ; we find old members of the Society coming back and 

 reading papers to us, or sending us specimens from their neighbour- 

 hoods ; and our present members are working steadily, each at his 

 own special subject. It is a matter also of congratulation that such 

 a distinguished member of the scientific world as Mr. Francis Fry 

 should have consented to read to us the paper which is printed in this 

 number, but of the interest of which those who did not see the 

 beautiful experiments by which it was illustrated can form but a poor 

 idea. The Society is also in a flourishing condition as regards both 

 numbers and funds. 



Many valuable additions have been made to the Society's collections 

 of late— in particular Mr. Tuely's magnificent gift of a collection of 

 exotic Lepidoptera ; and a perfect collection of British birds' eggs, 

 from H. Bernard, O.O., must be mentioned. The new Museum is 

 now ready, and offers a good opportunity to those who are well- 

 disposed towards us to bring us their contributions that it may be 

 filled with good end interesting objects. There are some things of 



