[ Ixiv ) 



The attendmiee at our monthly meetings has been unpre- 

 cedentedly large. I liave the tigures before tne. In January 83 

 Fellows and visitors attended, in February 3"-2, in March 37, in 

 April 37, in May 35, in June 34, in July 35, in August •■20, in 

 September 25, in October 42, in November 39, and in December 

 40; or an average of over 34 for each meeting. In the early 

 years of my connection with this Society '20 was considered a very 

 large attendance at any one meeting, and it was but rarely that 

 such a gathering occurred. 



And I believe the interest of what we may term the business of 

 the meetings has been in proportion to the attendance. The 

 papers read have, if not numerous, been of great value, and there 

 has been no lack of interesting exliibitions in nearly all orders of 

 insects. In connection with exhibitions, it occurs to mo to 

 suggest that occasionally the exhibitors have come to the meetings 

 not sufficiently posted up in their subject. It must be remem- 

 bered that we come here not l\nowing what objects may be 

 exhibited ; it usually happens that some of us are able to say 

 something about these objects ; but the field of Entomology is 

 vast, and occasionally there are subjects on which the combined 

 knowledge and memory of the meeting are at fault, and perhaps 

 on points on whicli reference to our own library before the 

 meeting would have furnished the desired information. More- 

 over, it would greatly assist our hard-worked acting Secretary if 

 exhibitors would arm themselves and him witli written notes at 

 the meeting. 



But amidst all these subjects for mutual congratulation there 

 is one which, to my mind, is not so satisfactory as it might be, 

 and before alluding to it prominently, I have questioned some of 

 tiio older Fellows, so as to be quite sure that I am not placing 

 myself in the position of a pessimist or alarmist. There are some 

 notable exceptions, but, considering our increased numbers, and the 

 increase in the pursuit of Entomology exhibited generally, I do not 

 detect amongst our younger Fellows so many indications as existed 

 formerly of a desire to take up special branches of original 

 research, and thoroughly work them out. And this applies 

 especially to our metropolitan Fellows, who have the advantage 

 in having vast collections and libraries easy of access. In the 

 country there is no falling oif in the number of quiet plodding 

 workers, diligently studying their local insect-f lunaj, and patiently 



