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( Ixxxvii ) 



THE PEESIDENT'S ADDEESS. 



Ladies and Gentleaien, 



While the political storm rages without, it is a relief 

 to turn aside into a haven where party feeling holds no sway, 

 and where all are ready to co-operate in the single purpose of 

 the advancement of our subject. 



My first duty is to congratulate the Society at large on the 

 continuance of its prosperity. Our Meetings during the past 

 year have been excellent in point of attendance ; one of them, 

 if I mistake not, constituting a record for recent times. The 

 communications made to us have been of gi-eat interest 

 and high scientific importance. It is difiicult to select any of 

 these for special mention without seeming to be invidious ; I 

 cannot, however, refrain from expressing the appreciation we 

 must all feel for the work done by Mr. Doncaster, Mr. Bacot 

 and Mr. Prout on the laws of inheritance ; by Mr. G. A. K. 

 Marshall on birds in relation to mimicry; and, in another 

 province of our study, for the minute and careful investigation 

 of the relations of well-known species which we owe to Dr. 

 Clia[iman and Mr. Tutt. Not the least valuable lesson to be 

 learnt from the work of these two gentlemen, and other 

 labourers in the same field, is that even among the most 

 familiar objects of our interest there still remain many 

 problems to be solved, and much untrodden country yet to 

 be explored. 



All who have had experience of the working of such 

 societies as our own, know how greatly their success depends 

 on the efforts of those whom, leaving out of sight the occupant 

 for the time being of the Presidential Chair, I may call the 

 active Officers. This Society has never been slow to acknow- 

 ledge its obligations to its Secretaries, Treasurer and Librarian 

 for their constant devotion to its interests, a devotion which 



