64 



leave on the mind of the observer an element of doubt. 

 My position with regard to British species is as follows : — 

 I have specimens of about twenty-four species, but have 

 not yet been able to get drawings or descriptions of many of 

 them while alive. Cabot or Roster have excellent figures and 

 descriptions of six others. Of the remaining eleven, two or 

 three are with little doubt migrants. Of six it will probably 

 be difficult to obtain British specimens in any case, but the 

 remaining three ought to be obtained next season if carefully 

 sought. 



I must not draw this address to a close without thanking 

 you all for the kindness and consideration I have always 

 received at your hands. ]\Iy inexperience I fear has been 

 against my conducting the business of this Society in the 

 brilliant manner to which you have grown accustomed ; but 

 then I have been unfortunate in following such Presidents 

 as have held the chair of late. I have, however, been 

 excellently backed up by the working officers, and you are to 

 be congratulated on having again secured the services of all 

 of them. Than our Secretary, Mr. Stanley Edwards, no 

 member, I am sure, has the welfare of the Society more at 

 heart ; while the capacit}' for work of the Report Secretary, 

 Mr. Turner, is a thing to be admired — and envied. The 

 holder of the purse should be a man of undoubted courage — 

 not indeed that he will have a weighty balance to defend — 

 but for the very opposite reason ; and in our Treasurer we 

 have the very man for the post. In the hands of Mr. Sauze, 

 our courteous and obliging Librarian, the valuable array of 

 books is in safe custody, and he appears to have but one 

 cause of complaint — the want of room to house his charge. 

 The unceasing and almost affectionate care that Mr. West 

 bestows upon the collections, over which he has so long 

 presided, is as well known as his kindness in helping 

 members to make use of them. It is pleasant to know that 

 additions to the cabinet, some of which lately have been of 

 considerable value, are well looked after and freely consulted. 

 There is one member not now holding an official position, 

 but who in a quiet unostentatious manner has done during 

 the year — and always does — a vast amount of work for the 

 Society, much of which must be unknown to many members. 

 As this can scarcely be adequately acknowledged in the 

 Council's report, I think it is my clear duty to mention it 

 here. The member I refer to is, of course, Mr. iVdkin. 

 And now but one duty remains — to introduce to you 5'our 

 newly-elected Chairman. In Mr. Fremlin you have a 



