AN ADDRESS TO THE MEMBERS 
OF THE 
South Xondon Entomological and ANatuyal History 
Society. 
pa are, in the ordinary progress of all institutions, 
and particularly in that of societies such as ours, 
times of inflation and of depression; in either case the re- 
tiring president is furnished with a theme on which to 
found his address: in the former many points for mutual 
congratulation will readily present themselves; the latter 
may possibly induce something more in the form of an 
admonition. 
The reports of the Treasurer and the Council that have 
already been submitted to you have put you in possession 
of the main points that have occurred in connection with 
the affairs of the Society since the last Annual Meeting, and 
you will have gathered from them that there is no very 
exciting topic on which it will be necessary for me to 
address you at any great length. On some minor matters, 
however, I should like to say a word or two in passing. 
From the Council’s report you have heard that the 
finances of the Society maintain a satisfactory position, and 
from the Treasurer that his cash balances are smaller than 
any for some years past. At first sight these may appear 
to be contradictory statements, but a small amount of in- 
vestigation will show them to be quite in harmony, the very 
fact of the smallness of the balances being, in this instance, 
an indication of progress. For many years past it has 
been the custom to allow the papers read before the Society 
to accumulate for the year, and to publish them with the 
‘‘ Abstract of Proceedings ”’ during the following year. This 
was a convenient method in so far that it was known before 
the time of publishing just what balance remained over and 
was available for the purpose ; but it was open to one great 
