18 PRESIDENTS ADDRESS. 
microscopic preparations, If we had not been promised an epi- 
tome of the paper for insertion in our “ Transactions,” I should 
have considered it my duty to have entered at length into this 
highly interesting subject; suffice it to say that the old notion, 
that a series of “ suckers” on the underside of the tarsi of insects 
enabled them to adhere to smooth substances, and walk in inverted 
positions, was shown to be fallacious, and that in reality it was 
to the presence of a vast number of cup-shaped processes, covered 
with small hooked bristles, that they were indebted for the 
power. It really seems strange that such a paper should not 
have originated with some professed Entomologist, and argues a 
want of scientific investigation not at all creditable to that body 
of Naturalists. Our worthy Secretary, Mr. Mennell, next pre- 
sented his usual abstract of the returns of the Rain-fall for 1860; 
suffice to say it greatly exceeded the average. 
This was followed by a paper from Mr.V. R. Perkins, entitled 
“ Familiar Instructions for young Entomologists,” (confining the 
portion then read to the Lepidoptera), which was replete with valu- 
able personal observations and remarks on the order, which would 
prove highly interesting and useful not only to the younger 
members of the fraternity it was addressed to, but afford hints 
and reminiscences to those further advanced in the study. Mr. 
John Hancock also exhibited to the meeting a model of the cele- 
brated egg of the Great Auk belonging to the Liverpool Museum, 
formerly that of the late Earl of Derby, at Knowsley, which had 
been entrusted to him for the purpose. So perfect and so beauti- 
ful was this model that few would have suspected that it was in 
reality only a plaster copy. The exquisite and innumerable 
markings had been reproduced in a manner most strikingly 
natural and beautiful, and perhaps amongst all the different deli- 
cate manifestations of natural objects, for which Mr. Hancock is 
so well known far and near, this might be pronounced the most 
wonderful of all. This concluded the meetings of the year of my 
office, and in quitting that portion of our doings, and turning to 
the printed records of the labours of our members, I have the 
satisfaction of reminding you that two parts of our “ Transactions” 
have issued from the press in the course of the year. It is un- 
