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scientific subjects form another feature of interest and import- 

 ance in the proceedings of our Club, not generally, I imagine, 

 adopted by other Field Clubs, as distinguished from regular 

 Natural History Societies. The Cotswold and Berwickshire 

 Clubs read their papers after each excursion, when their day's 

 work is done. Our plan, affording opportunity as it does for 

 communicating to others besides the Members of our own 

 body the result of our researches, at a season too when little 

 field work can be done, and which would otherwise be a blank 

 in great measure, so far as the Club is concerned, seems to me 

 an improvement upon theirs. And that it works well in one 

 respect is evidenced by the increased number of papers that 

 have been offered to us for reading this present season, 

 indeed almost more than we can dispose of without having 

 an additional time of meeting. The only discouraging cir- 

 cumstance has been the small attendance at these meetings 

 on some occasions, especially of our own Members. Of course 

 men will be of very different tastes. And out of the large 

 number of Members we have now on our list, we cannot 

 otherwise than expect that many, who perhaps joined the 

 Club chiefly for its excursions, will not take the same interest 

 that others do in matters of pure science. Still I think we 

 might look for some increase of the few ordinai'ily present, if 

 it were only for the sake of giving us their moral support, and 

 showing their desire to uphold the standing and character of 

 the Club as a scientific body. Though what we do for science 

 must always depend mainly upon our own individual efforts 

 in the way of research and discovery, yet will it generally bear 

 a certain proportion to the encouragement we receive from 

 others in our attempts to promote its advancement. 



It would be a thing very much to be regretted, were we 

 compelled to abandon our evening meetings, after having so 

 often expressed our desire to let the public have the benefit 

 of our researches, and especially to impart to our fellow-in- 



