xvi President^ Address. 



South- African Coleopterous Insects, and Mr. Bolus's memoir on the 

 Orchids of the Cape. Both these gentlemen contributed liberally 

 from their own resources towards the cost of the plates, and the 

 Council, recognising the importance of illustrating these papers by 

 scientifically accurate figures, as well as the much-increased value 

 which such illustrations would give our ''Transactions," sanctioned the 

 application of a sum in each case, considerable in proportion to our 

 means, for the purpose in view. The result has been highly satis- 

 factory, as members will see on inspecting the plates published with 

 Mr. Peringuey's memoir, which were drawn by one of the first 

 entomological artists in Paris, M. Migneaux. The plates for Mr. 

 Bolus's memoir have been executed in England, from that gentleman's 

 own most careful drawings from life of the plants to which he has 

 devoted so much study, and will be issued with his paper in the first 

 part of Volume IV of the '' Transactions." 



4. As usual, the usefuhiess and interest of our monthly meetings 

 have not been confined to the papers read, but have been largely 

 augmented by the exhibition of zoological, botanical and geological 

 specimens, as well as of scientific instruments and diagrams, and by 

 the remarks of the exhibitors and other members thereon. Among 

 these I would specially refer to the numerous living South-African 

 and other reptiles, and the skin of the very rare and singular Woolly 

 Cheetah [Fells lanea, of Sclater), exhibited by the Eev. Gr. H. R. Pisk ; 

 to the fine series of orthopterous insects, illustrating the phenomena 

 of protective resemblances, brought to our notice by Mr. Peringuey ; 

 to the numerous lovely orchidaceous plants of the vicinity (one of 

 them new to science), shown us by Mr.- Bolus ; and to the instructive 

 and elaborate diagrams of average monthly rainfall, and of mean 

 maximum and minimum temperatures at various stations throughout 

 the Colony, explained by Mr. Gramble. It cannot ])e too strongly 

 impressed upon members of the Society that exhibits of this character, 

 both by the knowledge they directly impart through the eye, and by 

 the information whi^h discussion upon them elicits, are of little, if 

 any, less importance than the more formal papers read in promoting 

 accuracy of observation and btimulating research ; and I would urge 

 upon our members generallj'- how much more might be done in the 

 way of exhibits. There are many among us who cannot often find 

 the time or opportunity to draw up a paper or memoir, but who could 

 without difiiculty bring to the meetings they attend specimens and 

 objects of great scientific and general interest, and by so doing not 

 only much enhance the attractiveness of our meetings, but also not 

 rarely start a discussion and inquiry fertile in results. Of interest to 

 all, exhibited specimens are specially so to younger members ; and I 

 can gratefully recall the delight and instruction I derived as a lad 

 from witnessing as a visitor the numerous exhibits at the meetings of 

 the Entomological Society. 



5. In the same way, the reading at our meetings of letters bear- 

 ing upon matters of scientific interest would often open up a fruitful 

 field of inquiry. I was struck recently by the early accession of 

 valuable material which followed the reading by the Rev. Mr. Fisk of 

 a simple note of inquiry from Mr. Beddard, Prosector to the Zoological 

 Society, as to the alleged existence of gigantic earthworms at the 

 Cape. Several of the members present recollected having met with 

 colossal members of that humble tribe of animals ; the newspapers 



