6 Preface. 



■which we are greatly in need, which we may take this opportunity 

 of specifying. Our collection of Sponges is very small indeed, as also 

 is that of Echinoderms ; and we should be very glad of a small 

 collection of insects illustrative of the main types of the different 

 orders. We have had a promise of a number of British Beetles to. 

 complete our collection. We want, too, more local collections. If in 

 the coming term some members of the Society would work hard at 

 collecting for us local insects or Mollusca, it would benefit all 

 concerned. 



It is to be regretted that a greater number of papers is not read by 

 the members of the Society, it is always falling back on the honorary 

 members for papers. This is not as it ought to be ; if only a few 

 more would thoroughly master some subject, and each give us the result 

 of his own reading and observations it would render the Society's 

 transactions more interesting, and help him in the habit of putting 

 in order those ideas which are so often almost hopelessly confused in 

 the brain. 



Since the publication of our last number we have lost, by death, 

 one of our best friends — the Rev. Charles Kiugsley. From the 

 earliest days of our Society he always took a deep interest in our 

 welfare, his words of encouragement to us were some of the kindest 

 and the wisest we have heard, his help some of the most efficient we 

 have had. He is now gone, but his memory will ever remain with 

 us, and his example and teaching will help us to go on in the path 

 marked out for us, till we each of us learn the lessons he learnt, and 

 love the things he loved. 



G. H. W. 

 10th April, 1875. 



