168 
Euplectella Aspergillum, Venus flower basket and Pennatula Spinosa 
(Seapen), were exhibited by Mr. T. Lane. 
The following gentlemen were proposed for election as annual members at 
the first field meeting :—Captain Doughty, Hampton Park, Hereford, proposed by 
Mr. Arthur Thompson, and seconded by J.T. Owen Fowler, Esq., Rev. John Goss, 
the College, Hereford, proposed by Mr. T. Lane and seconded by Dr. Chapman. 
The thanks of the Club were voted to Mr. T. Lane for a copy of the 4th 
edition of Dr. Carpenter on the microscope for the Club Library. 
The Secretary laid on the table the meteorological reports for the past two 
years, by EH. J. Isbell, Esq., with the register of flood water on the Wye for the 
same period, by Messrs. Stephen and Thompson. 
The members afterwards adjourned to the Green Dragon Hotel to dinner, 
when they were joined by the following :—J. F. Symonds, Esq., and Mr. With 
(members), and C. M. Field, Esq., and C. Aston Key, Esq. (visitors). 
Immediately after dinner the president (the Rev. Charles J. Robinson) 
delivered his retiring address. 
Afterwards a paper on the radiometer was read by the Rev. H. Cooper 
Key, which subject was illustrated by experiments and explanations by himself 
and Mr. With. 
RETIRING ADDRESS OF THE PRESIDENT. 
It is reckoned as one of the dramatic proprieties that no actor should leave 
the stage withought some words upon his lips wherewith to cover his retreat ; and 
in accordance with this rule your president is not permitted to make a silent exit 
from the scene in which for twelve months he has been playing his allotted part. 
I should scarcely be an Englishman if I omitted to preface my address with some 
observations on the weather. Varied as our Field meetings were as regards 
locality, in one respect they were marked by a disagreeable monotony. Onno 
single occasion was there absent that discordant element—a fall of rain—to damp 
the ardour of the naturalist, to try the temper of the antiquary, and generally to 
mar the pleasure of those lovers of nature who form the bulk of our excursion 
parties. Judging by our own experience as Woolhopians we should be disposed 
to say that the summer of 1875 was the wettest on record and no doubt the rainfall 
was in some places exceptionally great. In the volume and frequency of its floods 
throughout Central England and South Wales this year was especially memor- 
able, and few of us are likely to forget the aspect of the Severn and Wye valleys 
on the 16th July after two days of continuous downpour. Mr. Isbell’s carefully 
compiled tables will enable us to estimate accurately the share in this too copious 
rainfall which our county received, and as I observe that in Monmouthshire at 
