1z 
lend the weight of his name to the Society in its early days, 
but to the last he took a deep and lively interest in its welfare— 
ever ready with advice or help. Only a month before his death 
he wrote to Mr. J. Pricr, one of his oldest friends, regretting 
that his many avocations away from home, and his domestic 
ties when at Oulton, prevented his doing more for us, and being 
present at our meetings. We all remember the very interesting 
Paper he gave us in these rooms, and our Annual Conversazione 
has never lacked treasures from his valuable collections at 
Oulton,—treasures the result of long and laborious work ; for 
amidst all his public duties he found time to cultivate a branch 
of Geological Science, which had previously been little studied, 
and of which he has left a lasting memorial in his vast collection 
of Fossil Fish. We have also to mention, with regret, the 
death of F. BucKLAND, EsgQ., another of our Honorary Members, 
for, though personally unknown to many of us, he held a very 
high place amongst Naturalists, bringing his talent and obser- 
vation to bear on the living fish, thereby contributing to our 
knowledge of their habits, and enabling us to make better laws 
for the preservation of our rivers, which laws may materially 
tend to the increase of our national food supply. 
In concluding this Report your Committee desire ever to 
encourage the objects for which this Society was founded, 
while they feel confident in so doing that it is a means to an 
end, the full value of which those alone will discover who enter 
on real work. Our ‘ Pleasure Section,” as it has been pleasantly 
called, gain health and enjoyment, and open eyes and hearts 
alike, it is to be hoped, to the beauties of Nature; while the 
mysteries of creation fill the searcher after truth, for truth’s 
sake, with unbounded reverence and delight, and prove a sure 
safeguard against anything like narrow-minded worldliness. 
HENRY STOLTERFOTH, 
M.A. Cantab., M.D. Edin., 
Screntific Secretary. 
Bee ae e's? 
