Address read to the Cotswold Naturalists’ Club, at their 
Winter Meeting, held at the Royal Agricultural College, 
February, 1855. 
By T. Barwick Luioyp Baker, Esa. of Hardwicke Court, 
President. 
THE close of another year, my friends, calls upon me, as your 
unworthy President, to resign into your hands an office which 
your kindness, and not my fitness, has continued me in for many 
years, and which I have hitherto accepted because I did not see 
clearly how to find a substitute with equal leisure and zeal in the 
cause. Now the case is altered, and I would seriously ask you to 
look through your list of members, and see if you cannot find one 
who, with more youth, activity, and leisure, and with talents really 
fitting him to preside over your discussions, has, if we may trust 
to appearances, not less—though certainly not more—good will to 
the cause than myself. If you can find such a one—and I think 
it cannot be difficult to do so—and can prevail upon him to accept . 
it—I would most gladly give into his hands one half of my office, 
namely, that portion of it which appertains to the Presidency— 
and retain for myself the other portion, which is better suited to 
my talents, namely, that of helping to find conveyances, endea- 
vouring to find the way in our rambles, reminding the members— 
most unpleasantly—of the flight of time, and—less unpleasantly 
—of the approach of the dinner hour. 
But, before I resign my office, I must recall to your recollection 
the sayings and doings, and, I trust, the enjoyings of the past year. 
In the first place I must congratulate the Club on the accession 
of some new names, which—though we are anxious to confine 
our numbers within certain limits—we cannot but rejoice to see 
on our list, namely, Dr. Voelcker and Mr. A. Williams, the Che- 
mical and Natural Philosophy Professors of the Royal Agricultural 
College; The Rev. S. Lysons, a name so well known to the Anti- 
quarians of England, and particularly of this county; The Rev. 
H. W. Bellairs, the Inspector of Schools for this and several other 
counties ; and J. H. Elwes, Esq., our worthy High Sheriff. 
Secondly, I must congratulate you, Gentlemen, on the series of 
papers which this year have been read at our meetings. 
1st, On some Kolled Bricks, from the Channel Islands, by Mr. 
Guise. — 
2nd, On the remains of an Ancient Cross, at Ampney Crucis, 
by Mr. C. Pooley. 
Piciag On a New Crustacean, from the Channel Islands, by Mr. 
uise. 
4th, On the superstitious reverence shewn to Parsley, Elder, 
and other plants. By Mr. Jones. 
5th, On Mammalian Remains, from the gravel, at Stroud, by 
Professor Buckman. 
6th, On some Maltese Echinoderms, by Dr. Wright. 
These papers, Gentlemen, are a most valuable addition to our 
Club. The credit which accrues from them to our Society is a 
point that I most highly value. Yet still we must remember that 
