THE PRESIDENT'S ADDRESS. 



Gentlemen, 



It has been customary for your retiring President 

 at the Annual Meeting of this Society to give a short resume 

 of the year's doings. I do not think it is possible for me to 

 devise a better system than that followed by so many of my 

 predecessors, and I propose, therefore, to devote my few 

 remarks to this subject. 



Of the earlier history of this Society — from the years 1872 

 to 1883 — I have little knowledge. I joined the Society in 

 1884 at the invitation of our first President, now, to our 

 regret, passed from amongst us. I first met Mr. Wellman 

 at those pleasant meetings Mr. Carrington used to hold at 

 the Westminster Aquarium. At that time the Society was 

 under a very dark cloud ; it had only forty-four members, of 

 whom two were life members and six corresponding. The 

 total income of the Society amounted to some ;£'i6, and we 

 had only about eighty volumes in our library. We have 

 now one hundred and eighty members on our books, our 

 income for the year amounts to ;£"go, and our library contains 

 about five hundred volumes, besides pamphlets innumerable. 

 We have elected during the year twelve new members. 

 I had hoped for even a larger number, but from what we 

 already know of some of these additions, they will, I feel 

 sure, make up in quality for lack of quantity. 



As a further sign of progress, allow me to point to our 

 Transactions. In the year 1883 they consisted of a very 

 small pamphlet of some 24 pages inclusive. The Proceed- 

 ings for 1895 are, of course, not out yet, although I am 

 credibly informed they are well up to date. Those for 1894 

 consisted of a closely printed book of 140 pages, containing, 

 I venture to state, material for the information and study of 

 every one interested in natural history or its pursuits. 



At our Annual Dinner, held on the 26th February, Mr. 

 J. T. Carrington, in either proposing a toast or returning 

 thanks —I am not quite sure which- — suggested that he 

 thought our meetings would be much improved and en- 

 livened if we became possessed of a lantern, as there were 

 many amongst our members who had the opportunity and 



