COMMITTER’S ADDRESS. 199 
Mr. H. B. Brady progresses with his catalogue of the Fora- 
minifera; and we hope that Dr. Donkin will undertake that of 
the Diatomaceze, for which he has such rich and ample materials. 
The committee regret that the catalogue of Lepidoptera, so 
ably begun by Mr. George Wailes, has not made progress during 
the past year, they however hope, that this and other branches of 
Entomology, will receive attention during the ensuing one. 
None of our members have yet been found willing to undertake 
the Flora of our district, the committee would gladly report that 
it had been otherwise, as they believe that such a publication 
would give an impetus to the botanical studies of our members. 
Mr. Joshua Alder has ready for publication a supplement to 
his already rich and valuable catalogue of Zoophytes. 
Mr. T. J. Bold promises further additions to the Coleoptera, 
and that gentleman and Mr. Perkins have collected a very large 
number of species of Hemiptera, of which order of insects they 
trust to be able before long, to furnish us with a catalogue. 
It has long been a matter of surprise that no one has taken 
up the study of our Carboniferous Fossils, and especially the 
Flora of the Coal Measures,—since the great work of Lindley and 
Hutton, nothing has been done to extend our knowledge in this 
department. We are happy to be able to state that one branch, 
at any rate of the Fauna, namely the fishes of the coal measures 
has been undertaken by Mr. Thomas Atthey, and Mr. James 
W. Kirkby; the large number of interesting specimens obtained 
by these gentlemen, have been mentioned in former addresses; 
during the past year Mr. Atthey has very largely added to his 
collection, and among the rest, many specimens, larger and more 
perfect than any previously obtained. A little attention to the 
subject by other members has served to show that these fish 
remains are far from uncommon, and further investigation over a 
wider area would no doubt add greatly to our knowledge of their 
distribution. 
The very interesting question of whether the Floras of different 
seams differ, and consequently whether seams can be distinguished 
by their plants, is receiving some attention from Mr. J. B. Simp- 
son, of Ryton, and is well worthy of the study of others whose 
