ries into all the bearings of this question at the meetings 

 of Jan. 20 and of Feb. 5, were Resolutions to the effect 



That it is expedient to supply the present vacancy in the 

 Secretaryship by the appointment of a paid Officer ; 

 and assuming that the whole time of the future Secre- 

 tary shall be at the disposal of the Council, they con- 

 sider that his salary cannot with propriety be fixed at 

 less than £250 per annum. 



In pursuance of this determination the provisional elec- 

 tion of the present Secretary was unanimously agreed to, 

 in accordance with the Charter, which provides for 

 emergencies of this character. 



II. SCIENTIFIC ESTABLISHMENT. 



Publications and Scientific Meetings. 



The Fourth Part of the third volume of the Transactions 

 has been published since the last Anniversary, and is now 

 ready for delivery at the Office. It contains four import- 

 ant papers by Prof. Owen, and an illustrated account of 

 a new genus of Lophidce discovered at Madeira by the 

 Rev. R. T. Lowe. 



The 'Proceedings' for 1847 have been published up 

 to March 23. The future numbers will be ready for de- 

 livery to the Fellows at the expiration of a month after 

 the Scientific Meeting to which they relate. 



The volume for 1846 contains original descriptions of 

 54 species of Vertebrata and of 269 species of Mollusca 

 not previously noticed by Naturalists. 



Library. 



The decline in the finances of the Society, which has 

 been the subject of regret for some years, has fallen se- 

 verely upon the progress of the Library ; and therefore, 

 with the exception of certain serials already commenced, 

 there have been no purchases during the past twelve- 

 month. 



The Council, however, being fully impressed with the 

 value of this branch of the establishment, have devoted a 

 sum of money to the purpose of binding all those works 

 which absolutely required it ; and they have now to report 



