Address to the Cotteswold Natmalists' Field Cluh. Bead at the 

 Annual Meeting, held at Elmore Cowrt, on Wednesday, March 

 21, 1866. By the President, Sir W. V. Guise, Bart., F.L.S. 



Gentlemen, — 



The return of spring summons us again to the field; and as 

 your President I claim the privilege of assembling you for the 

 first meeting of the season under my own roof, where I hope the 

 non-observance of one of our early rules, which forbad the 

 acceptance of hospitahty, may be condoned. The rule is a good 

 one in its way, and it would be well that a too frequent infraction 

 of it should not be encouraged. I have, however, taken upon 

 myself occasionaUy the responsibihty of dispensing with its too 

 rigid observance; and perhaps there is no occasion upon which 

 it may be so appropriately relaxed, or more gracefully dispensed 

 with, than upon that of our annual gathering, when so much of 

 pur time must necessarily be occupied with routine business. 



I am again happy to have it in my power to report most 

 favourably upon our condition and prospects, which are in every 

 respect satisfactory. Our numbers continue undiminished, our 

 work maintains its usual high character, and the attendance at 

 our field meetings has been, with one notable exception, good. 

 To that exception I must call your serious attention. Upon the 

 19th of July last the Club accepted the invitation of our friend 

 and colleague Professor Buckman to Bradford Abbas, upon which 

 occasion your President found himself almost alone at the 

 rendezvous, much to his own disappointment and that of our 

 worthy associate, who had made most hospitable arrangements 

 for the entertainment of the Club. 



