( clxi ) 



lections, I find that two facts stand out as having forcibly- 

 impressed themselves on my mind, and both must, I think, be 

 as gratifying to you as to myself: (1) that, whatever may 

 once have been the case, Entomology is now taken seriously 

 outside Entomological circles ; it is ridding itself of the stigma 

 of Dilettantism, and winning recognition among the acknow- 

 ledged Sciences; and (2) that the Entomological Society of 

 London is looked upon, as having attained a position far 

 above that which is suggested by its unpretentious title ; as 

 no mere local association of fellow-townsmen — even though 

 the town be the capital of an Empire—but as representing, 

 for practical purposes, the entire fraternity of British Ento- 

 mologists. To how large an extent this is really the case, 

 was brought home to many of us in another way at the 

 Oxford Congress ; where, from the Presidency downwards, 

 practically all responsible positions committed to Englishmen 

 were occupied by Fellows of the Entomological Society of 

 London — and the same remark might be made, as to at least 

 a very large majority of the exhibitors and the readers of 

 Papers. 



An announcement very recently made confirms the two 

 points to which I have just alluded. Entomology has hitherto 

 been treated by the authorities of the. National Museum as 

 a subdivision only under the Keepership of the Zoological 

 Department. We are glad now, as Entomologists, to hear 

 that in future it is to receive autonomy, and be elevated into 

 the rank of a separate Department with an Entomologist as 

 its chief ; and as members of this Society we are glad to note 

 also that the first occupant of the new oflBce, Mr. C. J. Gahan, 

 is a present Fellow and former Officer of our own. 



Happily for myself and for you, it is no longer expected 

 that a Presidential Address (according to the ideal recom- 

 mended by one of my predecessors) should " review the 

 Entomological work of the whole world for the past year." 

 It is impossible for me to "review" (or even to acquaint 

 myself with) all contributions made to it by our own Fellows — 

 there is much that does not happen to reach me, and much 

 that professedly confines itself to subjects with which I am 

 wholly unacquainted. But it happens that this year I have 



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