The number of Books in the Library is now 986, exclusive 

 ot unbound Periodicals and Pamphlets. It is gratifying to the 

 Committee to report that use of them by the readers in the 

 Public Free Library has much increased. 



A donation of four slides — two of them illustrating Vegetable 

 Tissue infiltrated with difi'erent substances —has been received 

 from Mr. J. Curteis. 



It will be seen from the List (at the end of the Eeport) of 

 Societies associated with this Society, and with which publications 

 are exchanged, that the Society is becoming Avidely known 

 tliroughout this country and also in America, and the Committee 

 have heard with pleasure that several of the Papers which have 

 been read in this Society have been considered to be of sufficient 

 importance to be subsequently read before some of the Scientific 

 Societies in London. 



Your Committee have ofi'ered a prize of j£5 5s. for the best 

 collection of Wild Flowers found in the County of Sussex during 

 the present year, to be sent in before the end of January next, 

 upon certain conditions. They hope this will be the means of 

 further promoting the study of Botany, and obtaining a good 

 collection of the Wild Flowers of the Countj' . 



The Conversazione was held in the Royal PaviUon on the 

 1st of March, and was very successful, a detailed account of it 

 will be found in the proceedings. 



The Field Excursions since the last Eeport have been as 

 follows :— October, 1876, Hassock's Gate ; May, 1877, Balcombe; 



