( vii ) 



four species from Britain, and a new genus and species of Oxyura from 

 Brazil. 



Mr. W. F. Kirby read some " Notes on new or little-known Species of 

 Hymenoptera, chiefly from New Zealand." Eight species, belonging to 

 various families, were characterized as new. 



May 2, 1883. 

 J. W. Dunning, Esq., M.A., F.L.S., &c, President, in the chair. 

 The President read the following : — 



Gentlemen, 



Before proceeding to the important business of the evening, I crave 

 your indulgence whilst I make a few preliminary remarks. You scarcely 

 need to be reminded that we this day complete the fiftieth year of our 

 existence. It was on the 3rd May, 1833, that nine gentlemen — Messrs. 

 Children, J. E. Gray, G. R. Gray, Hope, Horsfield, Rudd, Stephens, Vigors, 

 and Yarrell — met and resolved to found the Entomological Society of 

 London. No time was lost; for on the 22nd of the same month the first 

 General Meeting was held at the Thatched House Tavern, the Rev. Win. 

 Kirby was chosen Honorary President, 103 Members were enrolled, and a 

 Council of thirteen were chosen to complete the organization of the Society 

 and prepare Rules for its government. Rooms were taken at No. 17, Old 

 Bond Street, and on the 4th November, 1833, under the Presidency of 

 Mr. Children, the then Secretary of the Royal Society, a Code of Bye-Laws 

 was adopted, and our first Scientific Meeting was held. 



Of the Original Members, six, and six only, still survive — Prof. C. C. 

 Babington, the Rev. Leonard Jenyns (now Blomefield), Sir Sidney S. 

 Saunders, Mr. W. B. Spence, Mr. G. R. Waterhouse, and Prof. Westwood. 

 Of these Mr. Waterhouse has the additional distinction of having been one 

 of the original Council, and the first Curator of the Society. 



Our meetings continued to be held at 17, Old Bond Street from J 833 

 until 1852, when we removed to No. 12, Bedford Row; during nine sessions 

 commencing in 1866, by the kindness of the Linnean Society, we assembled 

 in Burlington House, but our Library remained at Bedford Row. In 1875 

 the Library and place of meeting were again united in this house; and 

 though the building operations now in progress have prevented us from 

 indulging in any celebration of our Jubilee, we shall soon be in the enjo} r - 

 ment of improved accommodation, and I hope it may be long before the 

 Society has again to change its quarters. 



The Bye- Laws have been from time to time revised — in 1834, 1838, 

 1847, 1818, 1851, 1855, 1862, 1864 aud 1876; but, in the main, the 



