PREFACE, 
‘1HE numbers in the Society have been well main- 
tained, and the interest shown in the Lectures 
and Excursions has been as keen as ever. 
The Microscopical Section, which was started 
last year, has not had sufficient support given to 
it to make it worth while continuing its existence. All members 
of the Society must be very thankful to Mr. Scott for having done 
all he has for this Section, and perhaps, if there is any more 
interest shown in microscopical work in the future, he may consent 
to give it another trial. 
There were five Excursions this year, one of a purely Archzeo- 
logical character, for we visited Hayles Abbey, where the excavations 
started last year under the superintendence of Mr. Baddeley and 
Mr. Bazeley have been continued during the summer. Everyone 
went enjoyed himself thoroughly, and we cannot be too grateful 
to the above two gentlemen for the care with which they explained 
to us the arrangements of the buildings and shewed to us the finds 
which had rewarded the excavators, We were very fortunate in 
being able to see a considerable strip of the pavement in the north 
aisle actually 77 situ. 
In the beginning of the year, Mr. Witchell gave us a lecture 
on Observations which he had made on some of the habits of the 
commoner English birds. His kindness in giving up his time to 
come and talk to us on a subject he is so familiar with was much 
appreciated, and no ene who heard him could have gone away 
without feeling what an enormous amount can be observed, and 
