12 



height of summer, when the majority of the members are 

 more busily engaged upon field than Society work. These 

 numbers will be found to compare favourably with the records 

 of even recent years ; and it is no great way that one has to 

 look back to find a time when what was this year our smallest 

 meeting would have been considered a splendid attendance. 



The Exhibits at our meetings have again included objects 

 in varied branches of Natural History, many of them in 

 themselves of much interest, and frequently accompanied by 

 carefully worked-out notes, which could not fail to materially 

 increase their scientific value, and affording an opportunity 

 for the discussion of matters relating to them not otherwise 

 attainable. 



The typical collections, under the care of our Hon. Curator, 

 Mr. W. West (Greenwich), are maintained in good order, and 

 have been enriched by the addition of specimens from some 

 few of our members. Their efficiency would, however, be 

 much increased were they more complete ; and I feel con- 

 fident that there are many among our present members who 

 only need to be informed of the state of the case to induce 

 them to render the necessary assistance. If each member 

 were to hand over to the Curator any spare duplicates that he 

 may have of species that are wanting in the Society's collec- 

 tions, there would very shortly be few blanks left. 



The Library has been improved by the presentation of 

 sundry volumes and periodicals by members and friends of 

 the Society, to whom our best thanks are due ; also by the 

 purchase of others ; and various magazines that have been 

 acquired in parts have been bound, and are thus in a con- 

 dition to be of use to members. It was with much regret 

 that I learned some few weeks since that Mr. W. Chaney, 

 who has so efficiently filled the post of Honorary Librarian 

 since the commencement of 1883, would be prevented by his 

 domestic arrangements from again offering himself for re- 

 election. To his energy and untiring attention the present 

 satisfactory condition of our Library is largely due. If he 

 had a fault, he erred in the smallness of his demands upon 



