14 



I am sorry to find that there are several members of the 

 society who have allowed their subscriptions to go into arrear. 

 These gentlemen have been continually written to by our 

 treasurer, but unfortunately without receiving any reply, which 

 does not, I think, show a nice feeling towards the society, and 

 is anything but creditable to those gentlemen. The Council 

 have therefore decided to erase their names from the list of 

 members. 



It has been the wish of, I think, each returning President to 

 try and find out by what means our meetings could be made 

 larger and more attractive, for it is very disheartening to find over and 

 over again almost the sajne faces without seeing fresh ones turn 

 in occasionally. Papers have been suggested, but unfortunately 

 none have been read during the whole year. I understand from 

 our Secretary that two gentlemen have kindly volunteered to 

 favour us with papers during the season of 1884, and if we can 

 induce others to follow it may be the means of making the 

 meetings more interesting, and I sincerely trust that this will be 

 the result. 



Lwas sorry to learn that the "Pocket Box Exhibition" was 

 not better attended than it was in October last, but hope that, 

 should there be another next seasion, it will be more suc- 

 cessful. When the Society held a similar exhibition ten years 

 ago we had three times as many members attend, and three 

 times the quantity of boxes on view, causing a most enjoyable 

 evening, as all the older members will doubtless remember, with 

 all due respect to those members who oppose a public exhibition 

 of insects. I cannot help saying that I am in favour of holding 

 a conversazione once in three or four years. It seems to me to 

 give fresh zeal and energy to the members, by bringing so many 

 of our old friends together, and if funds could be raised sufficient 



