208 peesident's addeess. 



the study of Natural History. A step in the direction has been 

 made, and it is to a member of this Society that we are indebted 

 for one of these progressive educational schemes, and entered 

 upon in such a disinterested spirit. Alderman Barkas has given, 

 with all his characteristic eloquence and lucidity, a course of ten 

 popular lectures to juveniles at the Museum. So popular did 

 they prove that the number attending had to be restricted. "Who 

 can say that some of the children, who listened to the Alderman 

 with interest and delight, may not in the future rival in their 

 attainments the most eminent naturalists of our time ? And, 

 again, we have had other naturalists in our midst, who have 

 worked with that modest, unobtrusive assiduity that has ever 

 been a characteristic of great men. 



I have said that there have been very few papers contributed 

 of late, but I would like to congratulate Mr. Abel Chapman 

 upon his admirable account of a voyage to Spitzbergen, and I 

 believe that a narrative of his late visit to Spain would be wel- 

 comed by the members. 



The painstaking and intelligent Keeper of the Museum, Mr. 

 Joseph Wright (who, it will be remembered, contributed an in- 

 teresting Memoir of the late Thomas Belt to our Transactions), 

 informs me that the relatives of the deceased gentleman propose 

 to publish a second edition of his valuable work, "The Naturalist 

 in Nicaragua.*' I was glad to hoar that Mr. Wright's memoir 

 was included in the new edition. 



The Newcastle of to-day presents many advantages to students 

 of Nature that were not within our reach a quarter of a century 

 ago. In addition to our Museum we have several beautiful 

 public parks, and in particular Jesmond Dene, which, after many 

 years of careful cultivation, and stocking with numerous varie- 

 ties of plants, shrubs, and trees, by Lord and Lady Armstrong, 

 has been handed over to the city, for the benefit of the public ; 

 a beautiful arboretum and an aviary combined, where the 

 feathered songsters may live and multiply unmolested. 



Perhaps some botanist will emulate the example of Alderman 

 Barkas, and will invite the children to accompany him to the 

 Park, where he may give them simple, practical lessons in 



