12 



Step. These gentlemen, by charging themselves with par- 

 ticular duties, contributed materially towards the recovery of 

 the Society from its unpleasant position, and by their energy 

 and tact enabled us to secure our present commodious rooms. 

 We have now the advantage of being within a short distance 

 of the City, and the London Bridge and Metropolitan Railways. 

 Thus favourably situated we may reasonably expect to 

 obtain additional recruits from among those dwellers on the 

 other side of the river, who are interested in Natural History, 

 as well as from those who reside in localities south of the 

 Thames. 



It is to be regretted that for some obscure reason or other, 

 one or two of our old Members have withdrawn their support ; 

 but as a set off against this, we have had the satisfaction of 

 welcoming the return to our ranks of certain workers who 

 had been estranged from the Society for some years. 



As you will have learnt from the Treasurer's report, our 

 financial position is not only sound, but we have a respectable 

 balance in hand. 



The attendance of Members and the business transacted by 

 the Society, during the year now drawing to a close, not only 

 maintains the improved character manifested during the 

 latter part of 1884, but on one or two occasions has afforded 

 evidence of still greater improvement. This encourages me 

 to exhort you to exert yourselves to the utmost to prevent 

 the Society from again subsiding into the inert condition 

 which at one time promised to put a period to its existence. 

 Let us endeavour to raise it to such a state of efficiency and 

 usefulness, as will establish it in the front rank of local 

 Natural History Societies. 



If it is our desire, as I have every reason to believe it is, 

 that the Society should be considered something more than a 

 Conversational Club, it is of primary importance, that when we 

 meet to transact the business of the Society, we should give 

 our undivided attention to such business, especially during the 

 time that interesting facts are being communicated. 



Our Exhibition this year eclipsed anything of the kind 

 hitherto attempted by the Society. Although the greater 

 proportion of the exhibits pertained to the class Insecta. 



