EAST KENT NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY. 



THE PRESIDENT'S ADDRESS. 



Another anniversary of the East Kent Natural History Society 

 calls for a retrospect as Tvell as prospective view of our situation. 

 We may look forward perhaps with greater hope for its useful action 

 since its latter time has been spent in increased usefulness and 

 active work among its members. The past has been checjuered with 

 phases of activity and relapse ; the progress of time has not enabled 

 us to realize all the sanguine anticipations we had formed of its use- 

 fulness, but though our progress has been slow it must be confessed 

 that much good work has been accomplished. The first work which 

 the Society was called on to perform was to bring prominently 

 forward the many objects of Natural History with which we are 

 surrounded, to enlist in its ranks all those who could aid in our 

 researches, and encourage those who wished to learn something of 

 the beauties and wonders of the animal and vegetable world. It is 

 to be regretted that some of our earlier and active members have 

 been removed from us ; some by death and others from absence 

 from our county, and some age or infirmity has deprived us of their 

 services. Among the latter, none are more missed from our meet- 

 ings than our valued and honorary Secretary. We trust that his 

 health may be restored and that his useful aid and assistance may 

 yet be secured to us. Of the second the Bishop of Barbadoes holds 

 a conspicuous place in our memories. One of our best Apiarians 

 and Microscopists death has claimed from us. 



Looking to the future we may hope that the seed that has been 

 sown is beginning to bear fruit ; many new societies have sprung 

 into existence in the county ; the distance of our various active 

 members from the scene of our meeting has caused them to restrict 

 their labours to their more immediate neighbourhood ; and thou"-h 

 I could have wished they had still been of our number, I think it a 

 good sign that these societies are prospering. I regret that our title 

 now to an East Kent Society, has been jeopardized by our forgetful- 

 ness of the claims our distant members have to our consideration, 

 and hope for the future we may find some means of bringing together 

 our distant colonies with the Parent Society. 



Another matter of regret to me is the little interest which appears 

 shown in our labours by those in the City of Canterbury, who we 



