11 



ing as it would have done if they had had the pleasure of 

 listening to the very excellent paper with which they should 

 doubtless have been favoured by Sir "Walter James, he 

 should be sorry if they were unable to pass the time pro- 

 fitably on that account. He would suggest that they 

 should turn the meeting into a conversazione, by which means 

 they would all be able to contribute to the general edifica- 

 tion of the company. Captain Cox then proceeded to 

 direct the attention of the meeting to a piece of black- 

 thorn, on the branches of which were a number of 

 caterpillars, a Gastropacha Quercifolia, or oak lappet ; 

 and the nature and habits of which he described at consi- 

 derable length, the information communicated being the 

 result of his own observations extending over between 

 three and four years. He remarked that to watch the 

 wonderful changes through which the caterpillar passed 

 would amply repay any one for the care and trouble re- 

 quired in breeding them. He concluded a very interesting 

 address by proposing a vote of thanks to Sir "Walter James 

 for his services as president of the society during the past 

 year. 



Mr. G. RiGDEN seconded the motion, which was agreed 

 to unanimously. 



The Rev. J. Mitchinson briefly proposed a vote of 

 thanks to the "Vice Presidents for the past year, which, on 

 being seconded by Mr. Andrews, was also agreed to. 



J. Brent, Esq., said it was well known that no society 

 could flourish except under good management. It had 

 been shown during the past year that the Natural History 

 Society was under good management ; and he had the 

 pleasing duty to propose a vote of thanks to the Secretary 

 and Treasurer for the past year, and that they be re-elected. 

 In bearing his humble testimony to the services rendered 

 by the Secretary, be could state that they had been in the 

 highest degree efficient. They were all aware that to pro- 

 perly carry on the objects of a society of that description 

 involved a great deal of labour, and they were consequently 

 Tery deeply indebted to those gentlemen who were willing 



