( xlviii ) 



THE PKESIDENT'S ADDRESS. 



Gentlemen, 



With yotir permission, I propose to limit the scope 

 of my address to you this evening, and, for two reasons, it 

 will be brief. The first reason is insufficient in itself, and 

 is merely this, that having a vast number of other things 

 to attend to, and being obliged to regard my rather inter- 

 mittent studies in Entomology as a recreation confined to 

 leisure hours, I have not been able during the past few 

 months to devote more than a very limited attention to the 

 subject of a Presidential Address. This I should hold to be 

 but a poor excuse, if an excuse be required ; but my second 

 reason is one to which I think more weight should be 

 attached, in the interests of the Society itself. 



The list of your Presidents has included the names of 

 many men distinguished by scientific attainments — men who, 

 unlike myself, have been fully capable of enlightening and in- 

 structing the Fellows of this Society upon general or special 

 entomological subjects, probably with far less exertion to 

 themselves, than would be requu'ed, in one less thoroughly 

 informed, to produce a bare summary of the events of the 

 year as connected with our favourite study ; nevertheless 

 many such men, however highly they would appreciate the 

 honour of presiding over the interesting meetings of this 

 Society, might not unreasonably hesitate to accept the 

 responsibility of composing and delivering a Presidential 

 Address. In many cases it might be thought to interfere 

 with the course of systematic work already taken in hand, 

 and I have no doubt whatever that you would find it easier 

 to secure the services of those whom you would most desire 

 to elect to occupy this chair, if they could feel that they 



