16 



It may be within our power to do something in this 

 direction during the New Year, if it is only by enlarging our 

 Annual Report, by adding an abstract of our transactions. 

 As we gather numerical strength, we may hope that our 

 transactions will increase in a proportionate ratio, and that in 

 the near future we may be enabled to publish a volume of 

 respectable size. But for the present we must be content 

 with the modest addition of a few pages to our Annual. 



The contemplated improvement is but a small one, I admit ; 

 but if it should be effective, it may be considered as the 

 legitimate outcome of the advancement made by the Society 

 during the year, and for this reason it will be welcome. 



Before concluding this portion of my address, I cannot 

 refrain from adverting to a matter which I consider as not 

 only satisfactory in itself, but as indicative of a more com- 

 prehensive interest obtaining among those workers who either 

 from choice, or the limited time at their disposal, confine their 

 attention to Entomological subjects only. 



Even in the history of the Society, there was a time when 

 anything in the way of an exhibit or communication pertain- 

 ing to any order other than Lepidoptera, received but scant 

 courtesy at the hands of those Entomologists who affected 

 rather the particular than the general. It is gratifying to 

 observe a more liberal feeling springing up among and around 

 us. The Lepidopterist is beginning to recognise the fact, 

 that, as regards insects alone, nature has not exhausted all 

 her wondrous cunning in the creation of Butterflies and 

 Moths, but that a considerable share of it has been reserved 

 for beetles, flies, and such like " beasties." l 



This augurs well for the success of the Society at the time 

 — which I hope is not far distant — when we may have in our 

 body a larger proportion of workers in other branches of 

 Natural History than we have to-day. 



In the intercourse of students in various fields of Biological 

 Science, banded together for a common purpose. I see much 

 that cannot fail to contribute to the mutual advantage of all. 



1 According to Kirby, about 12,000 insects of all Orders are known to occur in 

 our islands, and of this number, as you will probably know, only about 2080 

 belong to the Order Lepidoptera. 



