TuE Zootocist—Juty, 1876. 4975 
After a goodly array of books and publications received during 
the period over which the report extends, is the President’s 
Address: this is full of good practical writing, consisting of a 
resumé of the year’s work. He begins with an apology in the 
most approved style, but soon the reader sees how needless this is. 
Next he congratulates the Society upon its flourishing condition, 
in which we join him, and then gives a list of work done at the 
monthly meetings. In looking over this we find the weakest point 
in the Society; for out of its hundred and fifty members. only a 
dozen have contributed anything in the way of papers; of these 
six are devoted to Zoology, three to Botany, and three to Me- 
teorological observations. This latter subject is almost universally 
neglected by Natural-History Societies, although so important to 
all. How otherwise than by constant and accurate observations, and 
comparison of notes, are we to acquire the golden key—for such 
there must be—which will unlock those laws which govern the state 
of the atmosphere ? 
This question of weather brings us to another important part of 
the President’s Address, that of the four field excursions, at all of 
which—to quote the President’s own words— 
“ Excepting on one occasion, the principal element of enjoyment was 
present, I mean fine weather; but these excursions, although successful in 
many points of view, were not productive of much fruit, looking at them in 
a scientific light, as, with the exception of Mr. Plowright’s list of the Fungi 
found by him at Scoulton, not a single specimen, animal or vegetable, has 
been exhibited, or even a notice of anything observed at any one of the 
four placed before the Society at its usual meetings.” 
The President then goes on to say :— 
“It is much to be regretted we do not follow the example of some other 
societies, or in fact pursue the course proposed when this Society was first 
formed. Let a day and place be fixed for the excursion, and each when 
there follow his own bent; at the close of the day let each individual produce 
the result of his labours: this might perbaps induce other members to 
become active naturalists, but at present I must confess it seems to me 
that our trips have degenerated into a series of very pleasant picnics. I 
hope you will not suppose that I would discourage these excursions; far 
from it, for while we can induce ladies and gentlemen to attend these and 
our monthly meetings, there is a chance of awakening an ardent love for 
some branch of Natural History, which may, perhaps, one day be useful to 
the Society.” 
