ANNUAL MEETING—PRESIDENT’S ADDRESS. 139 
Malverns, Cotswolds, and other elevations, and our local registrar of 
the weather would gladly give practical hints as to the character of the 
instruments most likely to give useful results. Entomology is another 
subject far from exhausted as to the field for observation in the Midlands. 
Mr. Frederick Thompson Mott, to whose ability and talent for organisation 
our Leicester Society and the Union owe so much, advises the investiga- 
tion of the life-history of some one species of plant or animal, until it is 
fairly ‘‘run down,” and he instances the earth-worm, the common 
Brake Fern, or the migratory Thrushes, as affording ample scope for such 
an exhaustive treatment to be undertaken by each Society, or the Natural 
History section of each Society. He also commends to the acuteness of the 
collective Union the attractive topic of ‘“Vegetable Odours,” their chemistry, 
the conditions under which they are given off, and the functions of them, 
if any. That such functions exist we no more doubt than that 
“Nothing walks with aimless feet.” 
The question of the causes of colour in plants deserves elaborating, and 
the dates of the flowering of common plants, and of the appearance of 
insects and migratory birds generally, would involve small but very 
useful labour, if accurately observed. It is interesting to find how 
regularly some people note these things with apparently no idea of con- 
necting their notes with any scientific purpose. It would be a gain to 
Science could we prevail on the muliitudes who will tell you of these 
things to jot them down. Then, when “found and noted,” our new facts 
should be deposited in the ‘‘ Midland Naturalist” for the ensuing month. 
The habits of animals present a wide field. The ant-nests of Buddon 
Wood have an economy and mode of life well worth our study. Sir 
John Lubbock has only opened a region which is replete with problems 
of highest interest. So closely do these litile beings, and some of our 
domestic animals, approach, in their marvellous institutions, sagacity, and 
subordination, the proud confines of human intellect that we may note 
their habits and capabilities withoutfear of not growing wiser. 
Icannot leave this subject, nor could the Union meetin Leicestershire, 
without paying a tribute of respect to the memory of a gentleman who 
has been so distinguished by his pursuits in Natural History as Mr, 
Alfred Ellis, who has so recently passed from our midst. Belonging to a 
family highly esteemed amongst us for their support of education and social 
improvement, Mr. Alfred Ellis added to his other qualities a remarkable 
interest in the habits and instincts of wild animals, and by a vigilant 
provision for their wants, succeeded, like his friend, the late Charles 
Waterton, in surrounding his home at the Brand, in Charnwood Forest, 
with safe retreats for all manner of persecuted birds and animals. They 
seemed to appreciate the sympathetic thoughtfulness of their guardian ; 
and the various nooks, rocks, aud waters about his lovely forest residence 
contain many creatures whose prolonged and happy existence rewarded 
his care. Letters to the Z’imes occasionally gave to the public interesting 
details of their habits, as he observed them, and his active intervention 
with gamekeepers and others for their protection may be worthily 
imitated by members of this Union whose influence extends over so wide 
an area. His memory deserves to be held in honour by all Midland 
