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whether we shall be enabled to conthiue in our present quarters, 

 or whether we shall be cast adrift through the apathy of 

 members in not supplying him with the one thing that is 

 needful to keep us in possession of these commodious and 

 convenient quarters. 



The Library, under the fostering care of Mr. Rice, has been 

 largely increased and much enriched by many valuable works, 

 acquired by presentation, to the donors of which we feel it 

 our duty to return our very grateful thanks. In addition to 

 these gifts, the Council voted £i^ for the purchase of books ; 

 this sum our Library Committee seem to have expended 

 very judiciously, not only in acquiring a considerable number 

 of works, but several of great rarity. To members who may 

 have extensive libraries or duplicate copies of any Biological 

 works to spare, I cannot suggest a more useful and beneficial 

 mode of disposing of their surplus stock than by presenting 

 them to Mr. Rice, for the Library. He will, I feel sure, be 

 delighted to be enabled to add to the Society's valuable 

 store of literature, however small the work may be. 



The Society's Collections under the charge of our inde- 

 fatigable Curator Mr. West, still continue to grow ; but not 

 as rapidly as Mr. West could wish, and indeed might reason- 

 ably expect, considering the large number of members who 

 are interested in the different orders. I am informed that 

 there are many vacant spaces in the cabinet waiting for types 

 of even the commoner forms of lepidoptera. I feel sure this 

 is not from want of generosity on the part of our members, but 

 from the fact that they are not apprised from time to time 

 that there is a typical collection in the Society's possession for 

 the use of beginners. I hope our friends will bear this matter 

 in mind, and that soon we shall hear that there is no more 

 room in the old cabinet, and that a new one will be required 

 for types of the new species that may be discovered. 



Our Ordinary Meetings during the past year, I think we 

 may say, have been remarkably well attended, especially when 

 we consider that many of our members come from long dis- 

 tances ; in fact, in no period of the Society's history have our 

 meetings been so large, or the exhibits so numerous and 

 varied. In very many cases these have been almost of a 

 unique character, and have been accompanied by concise 



