94 [Proc. B.N.F.C., 



finally to a meeting of a few equally interested in this branch of 

 scientific pursuit, who constituted the members of the future club. 

 Its first published report bears date 1864, just ten years ago, and 

 presents a list of members numbering 100. It is pleasing to com- 

 pare this first report, occupying some twelve pages, with that issued 

 for last year, which comprises 100 pages, and contains a list of 

 between 200 and 300 members. It is also gratifying to note, on 

 turning over the pages of the reports published annually during this 

 interval, that, while death and other incidents, such as change of 

 residence, have deprived the Club of not a few active and valued 

 members, still many of its original ones remain. Among the latter 

 are two of our earlier hon. secretaries — Messrs. W. H. Patterson and 

 Charles H. Brett; as also Messrs. W. Gray and Hugh Robinson — 

 the latter recorded as a member of the original committee, and the 

 former one of the hon. secretaries of the Club in its third year. 



The objects of the society are stated in its first report, namely, 

 " The practical study of Natural Science and Archaeology," and 

 these remain unchanged at the present date. The constitution 

 and rules, with slight modifications, continue as they were at its 

 start, and, as they are found in each of its reports, a gratifying 

 proof of the good judgment which guided its original members in 

 this particular. It is in no spirit of self-laudation, but in one of 

 legitimate pleasure and pride at the steady success which has 

 marked its progress from the first, that I notice this onward course, 

 as seen in the several reports of our Club. This I am led to ascribe 

 to that natural feeling of brotherhood and reciprocity, which marks 

 all the real students of natural science, as well as to the uniform 

 spirit of kindness and good fellowship which has prevailed among 

 our members during the same period. It is extremely interesting 

 and gratifying to take even a slight retrospective glance at the list 

 of papers which have been read at our stated meetings, and to note 

 the localities whieh have been visited in our summer and autumn 

 excursions. 



The botanical productions and geological formations, the mineral 



