11 



during the year, showing us some excellent photo-micro- 

 graphic slides of structural details of insects. These were 

 prepared from material supplied to him by members of the 

 Society. 



Ten papers have been read at our meetings during the 

 year ; but this total is hardly to be considered as good as it 

 should be when we look at the number of active workers 

 there are in our Society. When I venture to say that I 

 think those papers that occupy about fifteen or twenty 

 minutes in reading offer certain advantages over longer ones, 

 I hope it will not for a moment be thought that I desire 

 conditions should be imposed on authors as to the length 

 of their papers. With short papers we have time for 

 discussion, and there is also opportunity to exhibit specimens 

 in the earlier part of the evening. 



A number of highly interesting specimens have been 

 brought under our notice during the session, and the remarks 

 made thereon, and the occasional discussions, were of a most 

 instructive character. The plan of members exhibiting their 

 series of the species of a particular genus on the same 

 evening is an excellent one, as it enables us to extend our 

 knowledge of the variation of the species under review. An 

 opportunity is also afforded for debating certain points in 

 connection with the species, as was the case when Mr. 

 Barrett introduced the genus Dianthcecia. 



In view of the large number of aberrations of the more 

 highly variable species that have been named it would 

 perhaps be a good idea to take each of those species in turn, 

 and ask members to exhibit all the forms of that species 

 that they could determine. By this means we might ob- 

 tain some additional knowledge of the distribution of the 

 varieties, and at the same time we should, perhaps, be able 

 to rectify any mistakes that might have occurred in identifi- 

 cation. 



With regard to discussion, it is perhaps hardly necessary 

 to observe that neither in controversy nor debate should 

 matters of fact be treated as subordinate to preconceived 

 opinion. Neither should we endeavour to pervert issues by 

 specious argument. 



Whatever estimate we may hold of our own ability to put 

 straight that which we may consider awry, we exceed our 

 power when we attempt to ride rough-shod over the convic- 

 tions of others, and endeavour to force our opinions upon 

 them. We should remember that it is not by mere 

 verbosity and a liberal use of the first person singular that 



