2 REPORT OF THE RAY SOCIETY. 



therefore, determined to issue another part, and Part VI, with eleven plates, is now 

 ready for distribution to Members for the year 1852. 



In addition to the volume of ' Botanical and Physiological Memoirs,' the Members 

 for 1853 will be entitled to the second volume of Mr. Darwin's ' Monograph on the 

 Family of Cirripedes.' It is a source of the highest gratification to the Council to 

 have been instrumental in publishing this great work, which is a worthy companion 

 of the works of Alder and Hancock, Forbes and Baird, and has secured for its 

 author one of the highest scientific honours this country has to afford. This work 

 is also ready for distribution. 



The fourth volume of the 'Bibliography,' whose progress was so unhappily 

 arrested, is being completed by Sir William Jardine, Bart., who has kindly under- 

 taken to finish the task commenced by his son-in-law. This work is now so far 

 advanced that the Council hope that it will be ready to be distributed with the two 

 other volumes in the course of a few weeks. Although this volume will complete 

 the work, it will be seen, from the time taken up in its publication, that a large 

 number of new works have been published on the various branches of Geology and 

 Zoology. The Council have it, therefore, in contemplation, to publish a supplement, 

 to which they invite the assistance and co-operation of the Members of the Ray 

 Society and their friends. The Council also hope to be able to publish, with the 

 supplement, an index to the subjects contained in the list of works given in the 

 Bibliography.' 



During the past year they have undertaken to publish another work, which they 

 believe will be regarded as a most important contribution to the series devoted to 

 British Natural History. This work consists of a Monograph, with illustrations, of 

 the British Species of Sponges, by J. S. Bowerbank, Esq. ; this work, or that of 

 Professors Williamson and Carpenter, on the Foraminifera, will be issued; for the 

 year 1855. 



Professor Allman's ' Monograph on the British Fresh- Water Zoophytes' will be 

 issued for the year 1854. 



Although the Council have to record the gratifying fact that during the past year 

 the number of Members have increased, from 709 to 723 they would still urge the 

 necessity of efforts on the part of the cultivators and patrons of natural history 

 s cience to increase the number of the Members of the Society. The claims of the 

 Ray Society, they think, rest not less on the fact that the works published are 

 substantially worth the money subscribed, but that in the literature of natural 

 history in Europe several of them are unrivalled in point of illustration and scientific 

 merit. 



The Council would again call attention to the state of their funds. Last year 

 there was due to the society 707, and on the present occasion that sum has been 

 increased to 920. The explanation of so large an amount of arrears they believe 

 will be found in their inability to send out the works earlier for 1852-3-4. As the 

 works completing the issue for these years are now ready for distribution, they 

 trust the members will at once see the necessity of paying their subscriptions. 

 According to the laws of the Society, the Council appointed J. S. Bowerbank, Esq. 

 as Treasurer, and Dr. Johnston, of Berwick-upon-Tweed, and Dr. Lankester, as 

 Secretaries for the past year. 



