136 pbesldent's addkess. 



erata, and not microscopic appliances. But, without doubt, such 

 researches require much time, patient and painful labour, and do 

 not bring the honest worker into much notoriety, and, as a con- 

 sequence, such subjects are rarely undertaken except by some se- 

 cluded, unknown, and enthusiastic naturalist, to whom notoriety 

 and public approbation are matters of no moment. But it is satis- 

 factory to know that there are some workers, still in our midst, 

 carrying out their unobtrusive researches in thorough earnest ; 

 and that important contributions to our Transactions are still 

 forthcoming. Prof Geo. S. Brady has kindly promised, and is 

 busy with, a comprehensive paper on some minute families of 

 the Ostracoda, a group of minute Crustacea, which will form part 

 of the next volume of our Transactions. Mr. John E. Eobson, of 

 Hartlepool, kindly offered, some years ago, to prepare a full and 

 comprehensive catalogue of the Macro-and Micro-Lepidoptera of 

 our district. Mr. Robson has recently informed me that his MS. 

 is now nearly ready for the press, and that he only requires the 

 opportunities, which he hopes a few fine summer months will 

 afford, to verify a few doubtful observations and to confirm others. 

 Thus we have material in readiness for future volumes, as Mr. 

 Eobson's catalogue will extend to the size of a full -paged volume. 

 To enable the Committee to issue these works without any un- 

 necessary delay, it may not be out of place to mention here that 

 it is very desirable that our members — those who live near and 

 those who live at a distance — should forward their subscriptions 

 to the Honorary Treasurer or Secretaries without delay, and 

 this is the more desirable as we are at present without an ap- 

 pointed collector for the Newcastle district. 



On this occasion we have to record, with much sorrow, the 

 loss of several of our older contributors and more influential 

 members. Though not a naturalist, Mr. John Clayton became 

 a member of the Club in 1858, and, though seldom able to be 

 present, except on the occasions of the Club's visit to the Chesters 

 and at some of our evening meetings in former years, yet he al- 

 ways took a lively interest in our proceedings. On two or three 

 occasions, when the members visited the Camp at the Chesters, 

 Mr. Clayton acted as chief guide to the party, shewing them 



