( cxxxi ) 



follows from this fact that the amount of selective pressure 

 exerted by inexperienced enemies of insects is many times 

 as great as that which is due to the educational period of 

 the mature enemies existing at any moment." * We also 

 realize the fact that insects as food are of far greater import- 

 ance than might be at first sight supposed ; for they supply 

 not only the insectivorous species but those other forms which 

 in turn prey upon them. 



Thus, when we bring together the evidence supplied by the 

 study of insects it is seen that it nowhere supports the 

 assumption upon which Lamarckian evolution is founded, the 

 assumption that acquired characters are transmissible by 

 heredity. 



Before leaving the Chair at the conclusion of my second 

 year of office I desire warmly to thank the Officers, Members 

 of Council, and Fellows of the Society, who by their kind- 

 ness have made my task so easy and altogether pleasurable. 

 You will, I know full well, accord the same generous sympathy 

 to my successor, and under his guidance I feel confident that 

 the prosperity of recent years will be continued, I hope in 

 even larger measure. 



Before taking leave of the Fellows in my official capacity I 

 desire to direct their attention to two thoughts, both of which 

 I have endeavoured to keep prominently before the Society, 

 thoughts which I trust will continue to inspire our meetings. 



First, ever to remember the high significance of the material 

 we study; to realize its priceless value for the elucidation 

 and the solution of problems the most intricate, difficult and 

 important ; to feel that this unrivalled opportunity is a serious 

 personal responsibility. 



Secondly, always to bear in mind that London is a great 

 deal more than the capital of England, and that the Entomo- 

 logical Society of London can do much to help the work of 

 naturalists all over the world — men in some conditions better 

 off than we ai^e, in other conditions less well provided, with 

 new and inspiring problems at hand calling for study, but 



* Proc. Ent. Soc. Lond. 1903, p. Ixv. The foim of the passage has 

 been slightly modified. 



