17 



" Mosses and Lichens." Also that we hope to have a Field Day 

 in June, and shall be glad to receive any suggestions this evening 

 as to the locality, and any offer as to the paper to be then read." 



On the motion of Mr. Smurthwaite, seconded by Mr. Knight, 

 the report was received and adopted. 



Mr. Kev. J. Burgess moved that their best thanks be given to the 

 honorary secretary. He said all naturalists' clubs where very 

 largely indebted to their secretary, and that one above most clubs. 

 His services had been so long and so able, that he was quite sure 

 thay would not like to close the meeting or even to hear the 

 President's address without thanking Mr. Ullyett. 



Mr. Walton seconded the motion, which was unanimously 

 carried. 



Mr. Ullyett briefly acknowledged the compliment. He then said 

 Dr. Fitzgerald had asked him to read the annual address, and to 

 express his regret that he could not be present. Nothing but 

 illness would have prevented him. 

 He then read the 



president's address. 



It is with no ordinary feelings that I had hoped to look around 

 to-night at the members of the Society I have now so happily 

 presided over for 17 years, and although I might miss perchance 

 the faces of some old fi-iends, I should see, nevertheless, others 

 who have been constant from the first. Seventeen years ! I feel 

 much ijiore like the father of you all than your lormal President ! 

 and I venture to say if societies like ours did no other good than 

 fostering feelings such as exist among us as naturahsts, they would 

 not be formed in vain. 



But although friendly feelings, and even a moderate amount of 

 mutual laudation, are all very well, they are not the end and aim 

 of our Society ; our object is to give and receive instruction. I 

 wish I could congratulate you on a greater quantity of honest work 

 done by members. There is, indeed, a small and ever willing body 

 of working " bees," if I may so call them, all men too of scant 

 leisure, who do all the work in the shape of reading papers, and to 

 them our best thanks are due, but the rest, whom I am afraid I 

 must call " drones," look placidly on but give no help ! Yes, I 

 know quite well what you will say. That you are so modest and 

 humble you feel sure you could write nothing which would instruct 

 or interest the society ; but you are wrong. There are none among 

 you, of either sex, who could not, by a little methodical expenditure 

 of time and trouble, do work which would both interest and instruct 

 us. It is only necessary to take some one subject and make it 

 thoroughly your own. Do not attempt too much ; select some 



