REPORT OF THE COUNCIL. 
April 29, 1868. 
Brrore commencing the ordinary topics of their Report 
to the Society on the occasion of its thirty-ninth Annual 
Meeting, the Council cannot refrain from alluding to the 
loss suffered by the Society since the last Anniversary by 
the death of their late lamented President, the Right Hon. 
Sir George Clerk, Bart. The late Sir George Clerk had 
been a Member of the Society since 1830, and, before his 
election as President in 1861, had frequently served on the 
Council, of which he was for many years a most active 
and efficient member. As President, he was unremitting 
in the discharge of the duties of his office, and ever anxious 
to promote the interests of the Society. 
In selecting as his successor the Viscount Walden, a 
choice which the Council trust that the Members of the 
Society will confirm by their votes this day, the Council 
feel that they have taken a course which will be in every 
way conducive to the best interests of the Society. The 
Council believe that their present President is not only 
qualified by his high position for the post, but will be 
the more acceptable to the Society as being himself a work- 
ing zoologist, and being also, from experience acquired 
during several years which he has been an active member 
of the Council, fully conversant with the business of the 
Society and its aims and objects. 
I. GENERAL CONDITION OF THE SOCIETY. 
1. STATE OF THE ROLL OF MEMBERS. 
a. Fellows and Annual Subscribers. 
The number of Fellows, Fellows Elect, and Annual 
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