XX. ANNUAL. REPORT. 



The Committee determined therefore to recommend to the 

 members that the annual subscription be raised from Ten 

 Siiilbngs to One Guinea. They also proposed that a copy of the 

 Mi(U<tn(l Xdtundist be sent monthly to each member, as well 

 as two tickets for tlie Society's Soiree. By this means they 

 hope to get money enough to carry on the work of the Society 

 without appealing to a voluntary fund, and at the same time to 

 secure to the members much greater advantages than they have 

 hitherto enjoyed. The Committee have great pleasure in saying 

 that these recommendations were carried at a Special General 

 Meeting in January last. 



By the exertions of Mr, W. E. H'.ighes and others, a new 

 Section has been added to the Society, called the Sociological 

 Section, for the study of Mr. Herbert Spencer's works. This 

 Section holds its meetings on Thursdays, and has been very 

 successful. Although it has struck out a path rather diverse 

 from the previous work of the Society, yet its object cannot be 

 considered an alien one, so long as the science of Anthropology 

 is a branch of Natural History. 



No large Conversazione was held last year. The Winter 

 Session, however, was opened with a Soiree on a small scale, 

 which was a great success, and was given, by permission of the 

 authorities of the College, in the Examination Hall. The 

 ordinary weekly meetings are now held in a new and convenient 

 room on the first floor. 



At the end of June, the Sixth Marine Excuroion of the 

 Society was made to Oban, and was much enjoyed by those who 

 took part in it. The results of the dredging were satisfactory, 

 and the new gear invented by Mr. W. P. IMarshall worked 

 admirably. A number of ladies took part in the excursion. 

 Reports of the results will be hereafter presented, when the 

 examination is completed. 



One Day Excursion has been made to Oxford, which was 

 unusually interesting, owing to the kindness displayed by 

 Professor Westwood, Mr. G. C. Druce, and others, in conducting 

 the party. There was also an Excursion to visit the Fisheries 

 Exhibition, and Half-day Excursions to Earlswood, Nuneaton, 

 and Barnt Green, and two others (under the auspices of the 

 Sociological Section) to "George Eliot's Country" and " Shaks- 

 peare's Country " respectively. 



The Meeting of the Midland Union of Natural History 

 Societies for 1883 was held at Tamworth, under the presidency 

 of ^Ir. Egbert de Hamel, at which the Darwin Gold Medal, 

 awarded in 1882, was presented to Professor A. Milnos Marshall 

 and Mr. W. P. Marshall for their paper on the Pennatulida. 



At the end of 1882 the Society numbered 378 members, 

 including four honorary vice-presidents, thirty-one corresponding 



