PliESlDENTS*S ADDRESS. 293 



of that gentleman to the Society of his own splendid ornithologi- 

 cal collection. The setting up of these birds is the work of his 

 own hands, and whether they be regarded in a scientific or an 

 artistic point of view, they are equally unrivalled. 



The Berwickshire l^aturalists' Club visited Newcastle, on 

 "Wednesday, September 24th, 1884. On that occasion your 

 President, Col. J. R. Young, John T. Spence, Esq., and your 

 Honorary Secretaries, were appointed by your Committee as 

 a deputation to meet the members of the Berwickshire Club. 

 The place of meeting was the Museum of the Natural History 

 Society, and the party were welcomed by the late Eev. J. F. 

 Bigge, representing the Natural History Society, and your Presi- 

 dent, on behalf of your Club. After minutely inspecting the 

 various collections the members proceeded to the Armstrong and 

 Jesmond Parks, and afterwards to the residence of Charles Murray 

 Adamson, Esq., at Crag Hall, where they were most kindly re- 

 ceived, and also had the opportunity of examining that gentle- 

 man's valuable collection of Birds Eggs and other branches of 

 Natural History. At the dinner, held at the Turf Hotel, several 

 of our members joined the Berwickshire Naturalists, and passed 

 a very enjoyable hour, under the pleasant and genial influence 

 of the President, Capt. Norman, H.N. 



The most important publications, relating to Natural Science, 

 which have been issued during the year, are further volumes of 

 the "Eeport on the Scientific Results of the Yoyage of H.M.S. 

 Challenger.''^ The Eeport (Yol. YI.) on the Tunicata, by Prof. 

 Herdman, is a very complete account of the entire group. The 

 first description of an Ascidian we owe to Aristotle, who gave all 

 the more salient points in the anatomy of these animals. After 

 Aristotle, Pliny and ^lian were the only authors who mentioned 

 them, for no less a period than fourteen hundred years, when 

 they were again described by Bellonius and Eondeletius. After 

 this period the group of the Tunicata attracted the attention of 

 many naturalists, and the names of Gaertner, F. 0. Muller, 

 Savigny, C. Schmidt, Huxley, Joshua Alder, and Albany Han- 

 cock, will be familiar, as observers who have added considerably 

 to our knowledge of their forms. 



