Proceedings. cxliii. 



Fourteenth Annual Soiree. 



The fourteenth annual soiree was held on Wednesday, the 

 22nd November, 1883. The attendance of members and their 

 friends again shows an increase, having been 815, \'iz., mem- 

 bers, 151 ; exhibitors (non-members), 69 ; visitors, 595. 



The number of microscopes placed at the service of the 

 company was again less than formerly, being only 102, the 

 smallest number for many years. Whilst on some occasions 

 the number of instruments might have been thought to be 

 more than could be properly enjoyed, care must now be taken 

 that this most important feature of the soirees maintains its 

 old predominance and interest. The microscopes were con- 

 tributed as under; Croydon, 42; Royal, 3; Quekett, 13; 

 South London, 12; New Cross, 7; Greenwich, 3 ; Sydenham 

 and Forest Hill, 3 ; Tower Hill, 2 ; Lambeth, i ; unattached, 

 8. Members of the South London Entom. and the Entom. 

 Soc. of London also contributed other exhibits, as did 29 other 

 members of the foregoing clubs not credited with microscopes. 



The floral decorations were again the object of general 

 admiration, and were again contributed by our vice-president, 

 Mr. Crowley. 



Mr. Laughlin's band, as usual, enlivened the proceedings of 

 the evening, and the refreshments were dispensed by Mrs. 

 Fuse}'. 



Among the exhibits calling for special remark the first place 

 this year must be given to the grand series of exotic lepidoptera, 

 exhibited by Mr. Crowley ; amongst those specially attracting 

 attention were the various silk producing insects, the leaf 

 insects, and the splendid Peruvian diurnal lepidoptera. 



A special feature of this year's exhibition were the numerous 

 and excellent collections of British mollusca contributed by Mr. 

 by McKean (chiefly local) ; by Mr. Mennell, land and fresh 

 water; by Mr. Lovett, marine, especially such as are used for 

 food ; and by Mr. Jenkins, land and fresh water. Together, 

 these collections formed an admirable and most instructive 

 series. 



Mr. W. H. Beeby's ver}- fine series of British Cyperacea; 

 (sedges) and of other rare Surrey plants were well displayed on 

 the wall of the Small Hall. 



On these walls also were Mr. Topley's models and raised 

 map of the South-Eastern portion of England and the opposite 

 coast of France. 



Mr. Edward Bidwell, whose peewit's eggs were such an 

 interesting contribution last year, now showed 100 nests 

 of various birds all containing a cuckoo's egg, admirably 



