56 



during the year for short papers, such, that is, as would not 

 occupy more than ten minutes or so in the reading. There 

 are, doubtless, many who have not the necessary time to 

 prepare a lengthy paper, but who at the same time may have 

 much valuable information that should not be too long hidden 

 away in their note-books. Three or four such papers, with 

 the discussion that might be expected to arise in connection 

 with them, would, I feel sure, provide enjoyable occupation 

 for a meeting. These should, of course, be arranged before 

 the commencement of the session, and their titles should be 

 entered on the syllabus in the same way as are those of the 

 papers to which a whole evening is devoted. 



It is often the case that a paper might be made much more 

 interesting if every one present did what he could to bring 

 up exhibits bearing on it. Those who are not well up in the 

 subject to be introduced — and we do not all work at the 

 same thing- — would often welcome a good number of examples 

 in illustration of it. 



With regard to the exhibits at ordinary meetings, is it not 

 a fact that it has become the custom to exhibit in the 

 majority of cases only varieties, aberrations, and abnormal 

 forms generally, although I admit that some exhibitors are 

 good enough at times to shew the ordinary forms for com- 

 parison ? In some species we see so many varieties that it 

 may possibly come to be expedient, for the sake of those 

 unacquainted with the insect, or whatever it may be, to 

 shew the normal form as a curiosity. Ho^^' often, too, 

 interesting exhibits might be made of all the species of a 

 genus for the sake of comparison, for not a few of us are 

 learners, and in some orders especially. You must under- 

 stand that I do not make these remarks in a querulous spirit, 

 but the wish has been expressed that there should be more 

 exhibits at ordinary meetings, and I thought I might make 

 a suggestion to those who have large collections to their 

 hand. 



I have already referred to the success of the Varieties' 

 Exhibition last year — a success greater even, perhaps, than 

 that of the preceding year — possibly in consequence of that 

 success. Such an exhibition will no doubt become an annual 

 feature of our syllabus. But need it be of varieties always? 

 How interesting, for instance, would be an exhibition of life- 

 histories of various insects in various orders ! Nor need it 

 be confined to insects only by any means, for, as I have 

 said before, we are not an Entomological Society simply. 



Last year five field-meetings took place — an increase of 



