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to time, probably represents an actual average attendance of 

 close upon thirty. The highest total was on the evening of 

 the Varieties' Exhibition, when about seventy were present, 

 although but sixty signed the book, and on that occasion, 

 for the first time in my recollection, the numbers exceeded 

 the seating accommodation provided. 



Though the exhibits on that occasion consisted to a very 

 great extent of Lepidoptera only, yet I think I may say that 

 our Society is quite awake to the fact — and seems to be 

 becoming more convinced of its truth year by year — that 

 Entomology embraces orders other than Lepidoptera. Nay, 

 it is inclined to go further and admit that Natural History 

 includes other branches even than Entomology, though 

 perhaps it does not seem quite so well assured of the latter 

 fact at present, or, at any rate, seems hardly prepared to 

 embrace it with any great enthusiasm. But, to speak 

 seriously, I believe the Society has widely extended its value 

 as a scientific body, since there has been a gradual and quite 

 spontaneous enlargement of its field of work and observation 

 in the direction I have mentioned. 



If it were well understood that the latter part of our title — 

 I refer to the words " Natural History " — was not an embellish- 

 ment only, but had been adopted because the work of the 

 Society covered all branches of Natural History, not only 

 Entomology, or Zoology, but Botany also, and even the 

 study of Inorganic Nature, it would do something perhaps 

 to bring about an increase in our numbers, which it seems to 

 me is a thing to be desired. 



During the year eleven papers were read — five relating 

 chiefly or entirely to Lepidoptera, two to other orders of 

 insects, one to Ornithology, and three to Botany. In 

 addition the reports of the five field-meetings were presented, 

 one evening early in the year was given up to exhibits with 

 short notes, and another to the special exhibition of varieties 

 already mentioned. High on the list must be placed the 

 two papers by Dr. Chapman, on the " Relation of the Larval 

 to the imaginal Legs in Lepidoptera," and on " Some Wing- 

 Structures in Lepidoptera," which contained a large amount 

 of original work, and which we are looking forward to 

 reading in the " Proceedings," to whose value they will 

 greatly add. Mr. Tutt's paper on the Lasiocampid Moths 

 was another of very high value. Mr. Turner's chatty paper 

 on " Collecting at Dawlish," though of an entirely different 

 nature, was most certainly not less interesting on that 

 account. We have still in (nir minds the excellent paper 



