towards the mouth theory. It ia quite within the range of instinct poas'bility to 

 belieTe that the colour of the eggs, varying in some decree, the cuckoo selects a 

 nest with eggs in it, of a hue somewhat resembling her own. 



The interest and instructiveness of this paper were greatly enhanced by 

 the beautiful drawings by the pencil of BIis. Armitage, which were shown at 

 the time of its being read. 



Mr. James Lloyd, of Kington, and the Eev. Robert Blight have also 

 given to the ciub very useful and completa lists of Herefordshire birds. 



I believe the only other paper relative to vertebrates read before thn 

 society last year was my own on British Cheiroptera, and the only remark 1 

 shall trouble you with reference to it is (to say) that the published account is only 

 an abstract, and therefore I hope will only be regarded as such. 



The most important zoological work, however, last year was undoubtedly 

 done by the entomologicd labours of Dr. Chapman and Mr. Steele. The inves- 

 tigations of these gentlemen upon the economy of the mason wasps and their 

 parasitic allies, the Chrysididie, have unquestionably added valuable knowledge 

 to this department of zoology ; and when we consider the boundless field for 

 careful research and observation which entomology afiPords, I think the club must 

 deem itself fortunate to have such workers among its members, and I, for one, 

 live in hopes of a rich harvest of entomological lore being yet in store for us from 

 these gentlemen. I would ventiu-e to ask them to direct especial attention to 

 some of those insects which at present are such a scourge to the farmer, such 

 as the turnip beetle, the wireworm, the blight, rust, and others. If they could 

 suggest any remedy against the attack of these animals their names would be 

 handed down to posterity as great, not only to men of science, but blessed by 

 the whole body of agriculturists. 



Meteoroloot, &c.— In Meteorology we have to thank Dr. Stewart for 

 his able and interesting commxmication, and his suggestions might with great 

 benefit to science be adopted by some of the members of this society. At all 

 events let us hope that the learned doctor himself will by his efforts some day 

 throw some light on those most interesting and most important but most obscure 

 phenomena connected with the science of meteorology. 



To medical men some of the points raised in Dr. Stewart's paper must 

 possess the highest interest; but I fear that the problem of the "Effect of 

 Climate upon Health," beyond the more obvious and apparent results which 

 are now tolerably well known, is one so dependant on such a multitude, not only 

 of climatal and meteorological influences, but also on so many physiological 

 peculiarities, that there is little hope of its ever being completely and satis- 

 factorily solved. However, careful and numerous observations may go a long 

 way towards settling some of the, at present, many doubtful points. 



To Mr. Isbell we are again indebted for those very careful and elaborate 

 at&tements with respect to the temperature, rainfall, &c., &c., of the year 1869, 



