8 Annual Report. 



draft constitution of the Educational Endowment Commissioners 

 as amended by the Council. 



Mr. Thompson moved that a retiring allowance of £/\'i per 

 annum be granted to Mr. Darragh as a recognition of his long 

 and faithful service to the Society. He said : — It was, as I am 

 informed, my brother William Thompson that was the means 

 of Mr. Darragh's first connection with that Museum. I have 

 seen much of him for a good many years past, and when he 

 severs his connection with that institution we shall miss an old 

 and valued friend. 



Mr. Patterson said : — It is with somewhat mixed feelings I 

 second the motion. While I regret that the time and circum- 

 stances render it necessary that the connection which has so long 

 existed between Mr. Darragh and themselves should be severed, 

 I am satisfied that the Society is in such a pecuniary position as 

 to justify it in taking the step proposed. The motion comes 

 with singular appropriateness from Mr. Thompson, the brother 

 of William Thompson, whose name lives in every book on 

 ornithology published within the last fifty years ; and it is not 

 inappropriate that I should second the motion, in view of the 

 fact that my father, with the late Mr. William Thompson, was 

 one of the seven founders of the Society, and was long connected 

 with Mr. Darragh during the period of forty-seven years he had 

 charge of the institution. That was a long period of service. 

 I have known Mr. Darragh since I was seven years of age, and 

 to know him was to appreciate and esteem him. I think we 

 shall all agree that the time has arrived when he should be 

 relieved from active duties. 



The Chairman endorsed the remarks as to Mr. Darragh's 

 long and useful connection with the Society. 

 The motion was passed unanimously. 



The meeting then took up the consideration of the draft con- 

 stitution of the Educational Endowment Commissioners as 

 amended by the Council in reference to the Society ; and, after 

 some discussion, it was adopted, on the motion of Mr. Anderson, 

 seconded by the Rev. John Kinghan. 



