10 



tion during winter. On the morning of Christmas Eve, I 

 estimated that there were offered in the market of Toulon 

 alone, no less than three thousand blackbirds and thrushes, 

 with perhaps three thousand other birds of less size. Jays are 

 eaten, as are occasionally rooks, which are very rare here. This 

 habit of consuming, for food, everything possible, extends 

 equally, among the people, to the denizens of the sea. Octo- 

 pus and sea-urchins are counted dainties to be served even 

 at the tables of the rich. 



It is interesting here to see the ripe fruits on some plants 

 which rarely fruit in England, such as various Eucalypti, 

 bay-trees, lilacs, laurels, Euonymus japonica, laurustinus and 

 others. 



Of butterflies, since my arrival at the end of November, on 

 sunny days there were many, up to the early days of this 

 year, chiefly Vamssidcs and Colias edusa. I saw one of these 

 latter in the noonday sun flying by the side of a pine-wood, 

 while the snow was white on the ground in shaded places. 



Before concluding this letter to you all, I should be wanting 

 in gratitude to my friends who have assisted me in the 

 Council, if I did not acknowledge the uniform courtesy of my 

 Officers and Councillors, and their great energy on behalf of 

 the well-being of the Society's affairs during the past year. 

 My thanks are also due to the Vice-President, who has so 

 kindly occupied the chair at your meetings during my enforced 

 absence. I have only to add that I wish our Society a 

 prosperous future ; and I look forward to being with you at an 

 early meeting, when I hope for the rest of the year to give 

 such aid towards that prosperity as may be within my power, 



I am, Gentlemen, faithfully yours, 



JOHN T. CARRINGTON. 



