11 
able to show to the Members undoubted specimens of Radiolarians, 
and this discovery has since been abundantly confirmed by com- 
petent authorities. 
The Papers read by Mr. A. O. Waker and Mr. SHEPHEARD 
have added to the previous knowledge of the local fauna; and 
Mr. Barurte’s Paper on the City Flora shows that this depart- 
ment is by no means neglected, and that we are likely soon to have 
a complete list of the plants found within the City boundary. 
The Committee now feel that they are in a position to publish 
a second number of their Proceedings. The idea at present is, not 
to publish the Papers read before the Society, but only such parts 
of them as deal with observed facts. At the present day there 
are abundance of Elementary Works published on all the subjects 
which occupy the attention of the Society, and of course much 
of already printed matter must necessarily be reproduced in our 
Papers, even to the exclusion of lists of names These lists of 
names, however, mark real work done by the Members, and will 
always be of value, shewing at once the richness or poverty of 
the district worked by the Society. We cannot promise that 
the coming number of the Proceedings will be entertaining reading, 
still its local value will, it is hoped, compensate for this deficiency. 
During the past year there have been some changes in our 
Officers and Committee. The Rev. J. L. Brprorp retired from 
the office of Chairman of the Natural Philosophy Section ; and at 
the first meeting of the Section Mr. G. WarmoucH WEBSTER, 
F.C.S., was elected to the vacant office. In the Committee we lose 
the services of the Rzv. E. L. Y. Dreacuz, who has left Chester, 
haying been appointed to the living of Northenden. We have 
to deplore the loss, by death, of Mr. G. Cross. Mr. Cross was an 
able botanist, and a staunch supporter of the Society. He will be 
greatly missed, not only as a sound and accurate teacher, but by 
all those who knew his personal and unpretending character, and 
who will feel they have lost a good and true friend. 
Your Committee have met seventeen times during the past 
year for the despatch of business, and they trust what they have 
done has met with the approval of the Members. 
