52 



the Cephalopoda and Echinodermata — groups with which he is pecu- 

 liarly conversant. Our Secretary, Mr. Jones, offers to devote himself 

 to the elucidation of the Myadce, Grijphoeadce, and others of the 

 Conchifera, of which he has made a particular study ; and our 

 accomplished colleague. Dr. Lycett, has expressed his willingness to 

 undertake some of the genera not included in the foregoing groups. 

 Thus by degrees we may hope to possess complete illustrations of all 

 the forms which characterise our local deposits, cleared of the confusion 

 of synonyms — a guide to our local Geologists, and a standard of 

 reference to all workers in the same field elsewhere. 



This leads me, while regarding with pleasure the continuous efforts 

 made by our Club to advance the study of Geological science amongst 

 us, again to draw your attention to a point in connexion with our 

 mission as a scientific body, upon which I have commented on a 

 former occasion, and which I again desire to urge upon your notice. 

 It cannot be doubted that the domain of Nature in Gloucestershire is 

 equally prolific in subjects for study and elucidation in the realms of 

 animal and vegetable life, as we know that it is in those mineral 

 treasures which the labors of our members have so ably and exten- 

 sively illustrated. How happens it, then, may 1 ask, that so few of 

 us devote ourselves to the observation and registration of facts of so 

 much local interest and importance, the gathering of which seems 

 to lie at the door of every Naturalist amongst us. The answer must 

 be, either that many amongst us are not Naturalists in the true sense 

 of the term, or else that they are too indolent or too indifferent to 

 devote time and attention to these subjects. I am far from believing 

 that every lover of Nature is a good and original observer ; but it is 

 in my view one of the chief objects of our association to stimulate and 

 develop habits of observation and analysis which may find employ- 

 ment in the investigation of the infinite variety of forms, habits, and 

 instincts with which the vital principle is associated ; and by affording 

 a ready medium for the registration of facts to co-operate with local 

 observers in securing and giving value to their labors. Having regard 

 to these objects, and knowing how much such enquiries are aided by 

 association, I took advantage of my induction into your Presidential 

 Chair to suggest the desirability of forming Sections, whose duty it 

 should be to apply themselves especially to the examination of those 

 branches of Natural Science to which they might respectively be 

 attached, and in particular to draw up lists of the local " Fauna" and 

 *' Flora" of the county, wliich have as yet met with no systematic 

 expositors. 



From our friend and colleague, Professor Buckman, I continue to 



