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parts of the country for closer communication and intercourse 

 with others more advanced in the study of Entomology. 

 The Council at once considered the matter, and feeling that 

 there was no necessity for the establishment of a separate 

 society, whilst at the same time admitting that country 

 students were labouring under great disadvantage, drafted a 

 code of rules, offering especial facilities and advantages to 

 country members studying any branch of Biology. These 

 rules were almost upon the identical lines proposed by Mr. 

 Matthews, and resulted in that gentleman almost immediately 

 joining our ranks ; and some 15 other students, including one 

 lady, have been added to our list of members, several of 

 them already claiming one of the advantages offered, namely, 

 the identification of their specimens ; one gentleman at 

 Hastings having sent no less than three boxes of Coleoptera, 

 amongst which were many local forms, as well as some great 

 rarities. This, I think, is pretty conclusive evidence that our 

 Council have not been men of idleness, but men of energy 

 and action, knowing, when a want does arise, how to deal 

 with it for the benefit of your Society. 



During the past season the Council organized six Excur- 

 sions, as compared with four in the previous season. 



May 1 2th. — To the Zoological Society's Gardens, under 

 the conductorship of Mr. Jenner Weir. It certainly would 

 not be within the scope of this address to attempt to give 

 an account of this rich collection, probably the finest in 

 the world. Particular attention, however, was drawn to 

 the large Night Heron aviary, constructed after the plan 

 of that at Rotterdam. Already in this spacious volary two 

 distinct species of Ibis had paired, and reared their hybrid 

 young, making their rude nest on the top of a tree, and 

 it might be expected in future that such interesting events 

 would take place frequently. The new structures in which 

 the Society's fine series of Wolves and Foxes, comprising 

 sixteen species, are now exhibited, were also much admired. 

 Altogether the visit was much enjoyed by all present, and by 

 none apparently more than by Mr. Weir, whose visits to the 

 Gardens from time to time have extended over considerably 

 more than fifty years. 



May 26th. — To Horsley, Surrey, under the able guidance of 



