17 



r)iirini,' tlic cvenin<r, the President iiniiouncetl tluit the Prize of 

 Five Guineas ottered by the Society for the best collection of 

 Lepidoptera taken in the West Kent District, had been awarded 

 to Mr. Barrett. In presenting the Prize, the President stated 

 that the two judges (^Ir. Stainton and himself) were of opinion 

 that much credit was due to Mr. Barrett for having made so 

 excellent a collection, and for the accurate knowledge of this 

 department of Entomology displayed in the classification of the 

 specimens. 



November ooth.~l^\xQ President read a paper on Hybridism, 

 and brought before the Society instances of Hybrid birds which 

 had proved to be fertile. 



DeMiiber i7th.—^lv. Billinghurst read a paper on "Cape 

 Diamonds," which he illustrated by numerous and valuable 

 specnnens, showing the peculiarities of their form and colour, and 

 gave explanatory remarks on the geographical distribution of 

 diamonds, and on the various modes of diamf)nd cutting. 



Library. 



The following books have been added to the Library durin^r 

 the year : — ' ^ 



The Depths of the Sea. B,/ Wyvilh Thrnnpsou. 

 Alonograph of Collembola and Thysanura. B,/ Sir John 



Lubbock, Bart. 

 Monograph of Xumertean Annelids. Bn Dr. Marinlosli. 

 Popular Science Review, 1873. 

 Quarterly Journal of Science, 1873. 

 Quarterly Microscopical Journal, 1873. 

 Astronomical Ptcgister. Presented bij T. W. Burr, Esq. 

 There have also been received fi-om the Societies :— 



Proceedings of the Manchester Literary and Scientific 

 Society, and Papers read before the Eastbourne Natural 

 History Society. 



According to the constitution of our Society, the President 

 cannot hold office for more than two consecutive vear^ this 

 necessitates the retirement of Mr. Weir from the chair lie has so 

 ably hlled during the years 1872 and 1873. The Council desire 



