THE president's ADDRESS. 263 



fisliermau tells ine that h.e once saw another otter sTrim ashore 

 off the Gribben, with a fair sized conger wriggling and struggling 

 in its mouth, when it took the fish up the cliff and quietly 

 devoured it. 



There are many otters in this locality, and they generally find 

 food enough about the cliffs and in the sea ; but occasionally, 

 when there is a continuance of rough weather at sea, they visit 

 inland, and lately killed and partlj^ eat one of my swans, while 

 sleeping in the midst of the pond. 



Dr. Barham, who is ever ready, with willing zeal, to work for 

 oui' Institution, and to promote its welfare, has a suggestion to 

 make on the subject of our reports on meteorology. He thinks 

 we are in a position to summarize a body of meteorological 

 observations sufficient to present a full and satisfactory memoir 

 on the climate of Cornwall, and his suggestion is that these 

 observations should be published as part of our Journal ; but in 

 such a form as to allow of its being sold separately. The Fauna 

 of this county has been published by tis in a similar manner. 

 He has also very kindly offered to undertake the duties of editor, 

 either alone or with the help of our friend Mr. Whitley, to whom 

 we are already so much indebted for his meteorological labours. 

 You will hear from Dr. Barham himself his suggestions, and we 

 shall be most read}^ to accept the services he offers if the Council 

 decide on the publication. 



It will be a work valuable to those of us who are gardeners, 

 and what is more important, it will esj)ecially be valuable to 

 health seekers. 



I think we niay attribute something of the longevity of so 

 many of our inhabitants to the mildness and salubrity of our 

 climate. Some of you, who may not have noticed an account 

 which was published some time since of longevity at Looe in 

 this county, may be interested in my referring to it in connexion 

 with our statistics of meteorology. 



"Within the year 1875, seven persons died at Looe, of the 

 following ages, 95, 87, 87, 83, and 3 aged 81, an average of 

 85 each ; and there are yet living at Looe 14 persons aged 

 respectively, 95, 2 of 94, 3 of 90, 2 of 89, 4 of 88, 87 and 86, 

 being an average of 90 j^ears. There are also 17 others alive, 



