TWENTY-FIFTH ANNUAL REPORT 



OF THE 



BIRMINGHAM 



NATURAL HISTORY AND MICROSCOPICAL SOCIETY, 



KEAU AT THE 



ANNUAL MEETING, HELD FEBEUARY 5th. 1884. 



The history of tlie Society during the past year has been 

 one of unusual interest and importance in relation to its probable 

 futui'e prosperity. 



The Committee have to i-tport that the work of the 

 Society has proceeded successfully in the usual way. Durin» 

 the last few months, however, a change of gi'eat magnitude has 

 been made, necessitated by the circumstances in which the 

 Committee found themselves, the result of which cannot be at 

 once foreseen, but which the Committee hope and lielieve will 

 tend to place the Society upon a firm and lasting foundation. 



The Committee have for a long time felt the want of 

 sufficient funds to carry on the work of the Society in the way 

 which they considered to be best. To meet this difficulty, the 

 voluntary Apparatus and Library Fund was created, but it was 

 found that this, while barely sufficient, threw upon a com- 

 paratively small number of members the burden of providing 

 advantages in which all shared. The authorities of the Mason 

 College have also raised the rent payable by this Society, 

 commencing with September last, from £16 to £50. Moreover, 

 in order to secure the continuance of the Midland Natttralist, 

 the loss of which the Committee believe would ba a great blow 

 to the progress of natural science in the Midlands, they have 

 been obliged to guarantee a large number of subscribers to that 

 magazine. 



