CXV111. PRESIDENT S ADDRESS. 



connection was discussed. It is suggested that cromlechs were 

 not, as has been supposed, originally made for burial places, but 

 for habitation. This seems not improbable from their structure. 

 A MS. has recently been discovered in the Bibliotheque Nationale 

 of France which is supposed to be a portion of the Opus tertium 

 of Roger Bacon, and indicates a clear knowledge of the compo- 

 sition and explosive power of gunpowder before the middle of 

 the i 3th century. 



GENERAL. 



I hardly know in what section to mention the phenological 

 results of the year, as meteorology, zoology, and botany all have 

 claims on them. Fortunately, there is a refuge under " General." 

 In regard to phenology, or first appearances of birds, insects, 

 and flowers as regards the Biitish Isles, the swallow, cuckoo, and 

 nightingale were all late in arriving in 1907, and wild flowers 

 behind their average dates in appearing. Potatoes, apples, 

 pears, and strawberries were deficient, but most crops good. 

 Proposals to improve and simplify the calendar by making one 

 day in each year and a second day in leap year dies non, and by 

 other re-arrangements, have been brought forward, but for many 

 reasons it is to be hoped that they will continue to receive as 

 little support as they appear to have already done. 



A sign of the growth of interest in the subjects dealt with by 

 our Club is the extension of the British Museum buildings, the 

 greater part of the money being provided by the nation, the 

 foundation stone having been laid by the King last June. On 

 the other hand, it is to be regretted that the number of visitors 

 to the Museum has decreased. The opposite is, however, 

 fortunately the case with our Dorset Museum, thanks to the 

 excellent management of the Curator and the attractions of the 

 exhibits. Lastly, I would offer my congratulations to all the 

 Members of our Club on the fact that it has attained a roll of 

 membership probably never dreamt of by its founders in 1875. 

 1 can only hope that, now it has reached the limit which has 



