6 



1884. — August 1 6th, to Chailey. 



„ September 13th, to Newhaven. 



The Annual Excursion took place on the 8th of July, to 

 Petworth and Bignor, when there was a large attendance, and a 

 very pleasant day was spent. 



The Papers read before the Society during the past 

 Session, as shewn by the appended list, have possessed more 

 than usual interest and importance. Without wishing to make 

 invidious selections from a series where all the papers were good, 

 your Committee would specially draw your attention to the 

 originality and comprehensive grasp of the subject displayed by 

 Dr. Joseph Ewart in the treatment of his paper on " Poisonous 

 Snakes and their Poisons." The classification of the Corals of 

 the Brighton Museum has been entrusted to Dr. Miles, and in an 

 essay thereon, read before the Society in February last, he has 

 shewn the value, in such cases, of steady painstaking industry, 

 when it is guided by a true spirit of scientific research. One of 

 our readers, the Rev. J. Hannington, has been recently elevated 

 to a Central African See. May we not learn, from this result of 

 his labours, how the pursuit of Natural History is consistent with 

 highest phases of Missionary life? Two evenings during the 

 Session were occupied by Mr. Seymour Burrows. This gentleman, 

 in his intelligible discourse on the Diatoms, and in his subsequent 

 microscopical demonstration of them, shewed a knowledge of the 

 subject attained by few. Geology and Palaeontology have not 

 been neglected by our Members, as the interesting remarks of 

 Mr. Edward Crane and Dr. Corfe can testify. Considered as a 

 whole, the papers have displayed great scientific knowledge and 

 training, and your Committee trust that the high standard 

 attained by the papers during the past Session may be upheld in 

 forthcoming ones, and that the Members generally may shew by 

 increased attendance at the Meetings that they have a genuine 

 interest in the welfare of the Society. 



