PROCEEDINGS OF THE SOCIETY. 139 
On the Geographical Distribution of the Alcedinide or Kingfishers 
- R. B. Sharpe, Esq. 
Besides these, our President has given us short addresses upon sub- 
jects connected with various branches of Natural History, which have 
been profitable and interesting. 
Of our Annual Conversazione in the Town Hall, I can only say that it 
may fairly be considered to have been, in every way, a very marked success 
—a success due in no small measure to the exertions of those who devoted 
their time to the arrangement of objects—to those who lent the objects, 
and last, but by no means least, to those ladies who, by supplying tea 
and coffee, and by undertaking the various duties connected therewith, 
contributed so materially to the comfort and sociability of the meeting. 
Although the thanks of the Society were not publicly presented to these 
ladies it was not from any want of gratitude on behalf of the members. 
Our Magazine still ‘continues, and, apparently, still gives satisfaction 
to its subscribers and contributors. It is to be regretted that it does not 
pay its expenses, but we have a balance in hand from the annual sub- 
scriptions, which it seems to me, in the absence of a museum, cannot be 
applied toa better object than the continuation of this record of our 
proceedings. Whether, at the conclusion of our present volume, we 
shall still be justified in its continuance is a matter which the future 
must decide. The papers published have been of local as well as general 
interest. ; 
Owing to considerable irregularity in the payment of subscriptions, I 
ean only lay before you a rough statement of accounts, which will, I 
trust, be considered satisfactory. 
And now I must ask you to bear with me, while at the risk of being 
thought egoistical, I say a little about myself. You, who know how 
deeply and thoroughly I am interested in this work of ours—who have 
borne with my enthusiasm for natural science, even when I have failed 
to carry you with me and make you love nature as I love her—you who 
have encouraged me by your presence at our meetings, by your kind 
assistance in many ways when called upon to render it—you, especially, 
who have aided me with your observations, and enhanced the success of 
our meetings in various methods—you will, I am sure, believe me when 
I tell you how sincerely I regret to announce to you my approaching 
departure from this place. A post in the Royal Herbarium, at Kew, has 
been offered me, which I could not, in justice to myself, decline to accept. 
: My resignation of the post of Secretary is, therefore, on this occasion no 
‘mere form—it is a necessity which none can regret more than myself, 
It has been said that my resignation would he followed by the collapse 
