11 



us with such notes, are justly entitled to the undivided 

 attention of the meeting, while they are reading them. 



It is to be regretted that more papers have not been read 

 before the Society, the three with which we have been 

 favoured, one on the Entozoa, by Mr. W. West (Streatham), 

 one by Mr. R. South, on British Snake-like Reptiles, and 

 another by Mr. E. Joy, On collecting Lepidoptera at Wicken 

 Fen, afforded much information on their respective subjects, 

 and added considerably to the interest of the meetings at 

 which they were read, and the thanks of the Society are due 

 to their authors for the great care evinced in their preparation. 

 I am happy to be able to state that there is a prospect of a 

 larger number being brought forward during the coming year ; 

 indeed, I am given to understand that some few have already 

 been promised ; and we may, therefore, hope to have the 

 benefit of them at no very distant date. 



It is also a matter for regret that so little has been heard of 

 our corresponding members. There appears to be a pre- 

 vailing impression that a corresponding member has simply 

 to pay his half-crown a year, receive in return any matter 

 that may be printed by the Society for the use of its 

 members, and rest contented. But surely he has greater 

 privileges than these? He is enabled to become a corre- 

 sponding member by reason of his place of residence being 

 more than twenty miles from London ; but that is no reason 

 why he should not have the advantage of bringing his 

 queries before the meetings. I am sure that our Secretary 

 will be only too happy to read to the meetings any corre- 

 spondence that he may from time to time be pleased to 

 send up, to our mutual advantage ; and, I trust, that in the 

 future we may hear more of our corresponding members in 

 this wise than has been the case of late. 



During the summer months five excursions were held, 

 the localities visited being Horsley, Bookham, Westerham, 

 Chobham, and Epsom. In the majority of cases it was new 

 ground to the members, and the thanks of the Society are 

 due to Messrs. Windybank, Step, Carrington, Billups, and 



