( lv ) 



later on." Sir Joseph Hooker transmitted the vine-roots to this 

 Society, and they have been examined by the Committee, who 

 will report thereon, probably to our next Meeting. By the 

 courtesy of Messrs. M'Lachlan and Fitch, I am able to announce 

 the result ; all doubt has been removed, the Phylloxera having 

 been unmistakeably found on the roots in considerable numbers, 

 most of them being very small, but a few being more than half- 

 grown. 



Messrs. Godman and Salvin's splendid work, ' Biologia 

 Centrali- Americana,' has continued to appear with commendable 

 regularity, the 27th zoological part having been published in 

 December. The entomological portion already comprises large 

 instalments of Lepidoptera, Coleoptera, and Khynchota, and a 

 beginning has been made of the Hymenoptera. As Mr. Champion 

 alone obtained about 15,000 species of insects during his four 

 years' residence in Central America, there will be no lack of 

 material, whilst the execution of the work leaves nothing to be 

 desired. 



Miss E. A. Ormerod continues her useful labours in collecting 

 information about noxious insects, and disseminating it amongst 

 agriculturists and others, to whom it may be practically service- 

 able. 



Time does not permit me to notice the numerous valuable 

 contributions to Science that have appeared in the entomological 

 magazines. But I have said enough to show that the year 1883 

 has been one of healthy activity on the part of our Members, 

 whose aggregate activity is the measure of the Society's vitality. 

 We have entered on our second half-century with the steady pace 

 and vigorous tread of men who refuse to retreat. There is work 

 for the Society to do, and we mean to do it. 



I congratulate you upon the smooth working of the new 

 machinery for the election of your Council and Officers. No 

 notice of any other name having been sent to the Secretaries 

 before the end of last month, as required by the revised Bye-Laws, 

 the candidates for office have been relieved from suspense, and no 

 ballot is required to-night. My duty is to declare that, by virtue 

 of Chapter 20, Section 5, the gentlemen named in the printed 

 lists that were circulated are the Council and Officers for 1884. 



