Ixviii PROCEEDINGS. 



In no one year, however, since that time, has there been 

 found much enthusiasm in their behalf or willingness to 

 engage in them. This may be attributed to the fact that 

 each member of the Institute considers his public or private 

 business of paramount interest, and the pursuit of science 

 in this way quite a secondary object. I often think it a 

 pity that it should be so at all times, and that we lose a 

 large amount of knowledge and profitable recreation by not 

 attending to these pleasant meetings." 



The first part of the society's "Proceedings and Trans- 

 actions", for the session of 1862-3, was published about 

 November, 1863; and the first volume (for 4 years) was 

 completed and its title-page issued in 1867. It contained 

 articles on zoology by Gilpin, Jones, Ambrose, Willis, Belt, 

 Downs, Duvar, and Sinclair; on anthropology by Halibur- 

 ton and Gossip; on botany by Lawson and Hardy; on geology 

 and mineralogy by Belt, How, Gossip, Honeyman, Jones, 

 Hamilton, and Morton; on palaeontology by Poole; on 

 metallurgy by Gesner; and on meteorology, by Myers. 



The earlier volumes were edited by its secretary and 

 president, William Gossip, whose long experience in pub- 

 lishing assured good proof-reading and typographical style. 

 In this work he was succeeded by Dr. Honeyman from 

 about 1887 till 1889, whose eye for such work was not so 

 well trained; then by Dr. MacGregor till 1901; by Piers 

 till October 1908; and then by Dr. Creighton and Dr. MacKay. 

 In looking over the earlier lists of members, a noticeable 

 feature is the number of army men who joined and often 

 assisted in the active work of the society and by contributing 

 papers. Pre-eminent among these was our vice-president. 

 Captain (now Major-General) Hardy of the gunners, the 

 author of that delightful work, "Forest Life in Acaclie'' 

 (Lond., 1869), a book which now brings a large price. He 

 was a charming writer, a keen sportsman, a good zoologist 

 and woodsman, and a skilful artist. 



