40 



THE 44th ANNUAL REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDING 

 SEPTEMBER 30th, 1901. 



The Committee have pleasure in being able to report that the Society is in a more satisfactory 

 condition than it h^s been for many years. The membership showsa slight increase over the precedinj? 

 year. We have lost by removal, resignation, or death, three members, and five new ones have joined 

 thus making the number 100, including eight coiresponding members, seven honorary members, and 14 

 associates. 



The death of the President, Mr. Stephen Horsley. has caused deep and universal regret, and thia 

 is the first time in the history of the Society that a President has died during his tenure of the office. 

 Mr. Horsley became a member of the Society in 1894, on his return from India, and in 1895 he accepted 

 the Hon. Secretaryship in place of Mr. F. Baker. In 1899 he was chosen as President, and every mem- 

 ber of the Society knows how well he discharged his duties, first as Secretary, and then as President. 

 The Committee feel that the loss the Society has sustained by his death is almost irreparable. A pro- 

 posal was made that the expense of a memorial cross over his grave should be provided by the members, 

 and as this proposal was gratefully accepted by his widow and children, subscriptions were invited and 

 the necessary amount has been provided. A brief account of his life will be found on page 33 of the 

 Transactions. 



Mr. Sidney Harvey, who was President for several years before Mr. Horsley, has consented to be 

 President for the coming year, and the Committee feel that his acceptance of the duties will give much 

 satisfaction to every member of the Society. 



The year just closed marks the beginning of a new era in the Society's existence. The official 

 year now begins on October 1st instead of on January 1st, and this year tho Society will revert to the 

 former practice of publishing its own transactions, inasmuch as the union with the Dover Society ha& 

 been dissolved by mutual consent 



During the past year the Scientific meetings have been held every fortnight, instead of once a 

 month, and they have generally been well attended. A detailed account of the proceedings is given on 

 pages 1 to 33. 



Excursions during the summer months have taken place every fortnight. Moat of them wete 

 well attended and proved to be enjoyable and interesting, but experience seems to point to the 

 advisability of making no excursions during the latter half of August and the first two weeks of 

 September. 



Although the evening meetings and excursions have been well attended the Committee feel 

 that there is cause tor regret that the original work and investigations do not come up tothe standard 

 of previous years. There are several ways in which members might do much for the advancement of 

 a knowledge of Natural Histoi-y, and the Committee desire to call the attention of members to the 

 able and suggestive Report which has been received from Mr. A. S. Reid, M.A., F.GS., who for several 

 years has been the Delegate of your Society to the Association of Corresponding Societies in connection 

 with the British Association. The Royal Meteorological Society also invites records of systematic 

 observation on the first appearances of flowers, birds, and insects, and also on the occurrence and effects 

 of severe frosts, gales and storms. 



Captain McDakin represented your Society at the Congress of the South-Eastern Union of 

 Natural History Societies, and he reports that the invitation for the Union to meet in Canterbury next 

 June was i-eceived and accepted with great satisfaction. It is probable that nearly 50 delegates will be 

 present, and it is hoped that every member will be ready to assist the President and Committee in their 

 efforts to make the Congress a success. 



Miss Holmes and Miss Phillpotts have during the past year carefully examined the Society's 

 Herbarium and have made many valuable additions to it. This Herbarium is now almost complete, and 

 it contains such a collection of Kentish plants as perhaps liardly any other Society possesses. 



The late President did good work for the City while he held the office of H-morary Curator of the 

 Beaney Institute, and Messrs. Small and Maudson rendered him valuable aid in naming and placing the 

 Collection of Insects and Butterflies in the Royal Museum. To the Rev. W. M. Rodwell has now been 

 entrusted the care of most of the Natural History specimens in the Museum, and it is hoped that our 

 members will render him their best assistance. 



A. LANDER, 



Honorary Secretary. 



