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It is with much satisfaction that I note a considerable in- 

 crease in the number of papers read before the Society, and 

 our thanks are due to their respective authors for the great 

 care evinced in their preparation. The various subjects dealt 

 with will doubtless be treated in detail elsewhere ; it is there- 

 fore unnecessary that I should recapitulate them here. 



Two novel features have also been introduced at our meet- 

 ings, with a good measure of success. The one, a " Micro- 

 scopic Evening," brought together some score or so of 

 instruments, and afforded a fitting opportunity for members 

 working on the more minute forms to compare notes, and 

 proved a most interesting meeting to the general body of 

 members. The other was an exhibition of Photo-Micro- 

 graphic slides, by aid of the Sciopticon Lantern, by Mr. 

 Smith, of the Sciopticon Company, to whom the thanks of 

 the Society are due, for providing a most pleasant and 

 instructive entertainment. And I trust that the success with 

 which these first attempts were attended may induce further 

 trials in a similar direction. 



I am also pleased to note the receipt of an increased number 

 of communications from our corresponding members, which 

 have induced discussions of interest not only to the meetings 

 at which they have been read, but doubtless to their senders 

 also ; and I trust that our corresponding members will con- 

 tinue to avail themselves of the opportunities thus offered to 

 ventilate their observations and queries to a still larger extent 

 in the future. 



During the summer months four excursions were held, as 

 follows : — 



May 14th, the Zoological Society's Gardens, under the 

 guidance of Mr. J. Jenner Weir, who gave most interesting 

 notes upon the various animals inspected. 



June 14th, Epping Forest, Loughton to Chingford, when 

 Mr. Oldham took charge of the party. Although the weather 

 of the previous few days had been anything but promising, 

 this particular day was very fine, and insect life was fairly 

 abundant, but, as far as Lepidoptera was concerned, confined 



