56 



one on those of the previous year, and although the weather, 

 over M^hich unfortunately we have no control, was not always 

 all that could be desired, they were decidedly successful. 

 Of course the various localities selected are not available for 

 everyone, and consequently an attendance of some five-and- 

 twenty members is really good. It may be asked, What is 

 the use of a field-meeting, seeing that it is seldom possible 

 for the party to assemble till well into the afternoon, and 

 consequently that the list of captures, unless we have very 

 favourable weather, is not usually great, except, indeed, for 

 those who are able to get away in the morning and 

 do the bulk of their collecting before the party assembles 

 at the appointed place of meeting. This is no doubt 

 true ; but ask those who attend the field-meetings whether 

 they enjoy them or not ! You will receive, I doubt 

 not, an emphatic and unanimous answer in the affirmative. 

 While speaking of field-meetings, it is with pleasure that I 

 call to mind how that during the last two years we have had 

 by the leaders lengthy, carefully compiled, and in some 

 cases valuable reports on these gatherings, whose perusal at 

 future dates will call to mind many a pleasant ramble with 

 congenial spirits, and whose insertion therefore in the 

 " Proceedings " will add greatly to their interest for ourselves. 

 For there is no doubt that these excursions, even more than 

 the meetings here on Thursday evenings, conduce to that 

 friendly feeling and good fellowship which should, and no 

 doubt, as a rule, does connect those whose study is Nature in 

 her various , manifestations. Of course there is also the 

 utilitarian feature of the field-meeting, whereby, under a 

 suitable leader, ne\\' localities, fresh beauties, and the many 

 interesting productions of the delightful districts on the 

 fringe of South London become better known to our 

 members. In future seasons the excellent departure in 

 the matter of reports will no doubt be continued, while I see 

 no reason why there should not be a further increase in the 

 number of such meetings. Seeing how successful was the 

 Fungus-foray last October, led by Mr. Edwards, that certainlj^ 

 ought not to be forgotten in the new century. I might 

 mention that the Banstead excursion added a new plant, 

 Silene conica, to the Surrey list. 



While on this point, there is one thing that I have often 

 had in mind, whether, as in some sort representing Natural 

 History in East Surre}-, it is not our dut}^ to work out and 

 collate, as other societies have done elsewhere, its produc- 

 tions in the various departments in which we as a Society 



