254 PfiESIDENl's ADDBESS. 



first two volumes recorded the proceedings of the Club during 

 four years. Each of the Yols. Ill and IY contained the writings 

 of the members during three years ; but at the present time it is 

 found necessary to issue an entire volume every other year. The 

 first six volumes were published under the title, " Transactions 

 of the Tyneside Naturalists' Field Club." At the conclusion, 

 however, of the sixth volume, there will be found the "Terms of 

 an Agreement between the Natural History Society of Northumber- 

 land, Durham, and Newcastle-upon-Tyne, and the Tyneside Natu- 

 ralists' Field Club.'''' By one of the terms of this agreement (an 

 agreement advantageous to the interests of both Societies) it is 

 resolved, that in future the Transactions of the two Societies 

 shall be published jointly, under the title of u Natural JBJistory 

 Transactions of Northumberland and Durham.' 1 '' It is under this 

 name, therefore, that the first part of what would otherwise have 

 been the seventh volume of the Transactions of the Tyneside 

 Naturalists' Field Club has now appeared. 



The volumes published by our Club hold at the present moment 

 a very high position in the literature of British Natural History. 

 It is no presumption, I think, to speak of them as the most valu- 

 able Natural History Transactions published by any provincial 

 scientific body in England. They are now much sought after, 

 not only in our own country, but also on the Continent; and 

 I have myself received, during the past year, many gratifying 

 proofs of the esteem in which the Transactions are held by our 

 fellow-labourers across the water, and especially by the natural- 

 ists of Scandinavia and Germany. The time has come when it 

 seems to be almost imperative that the volumes which record our 

 proceedings should be brought out by a London publisher, or at 

 any rate, that a London agent should be appointed for their sale. 

 Negotiations have, at my suggestion, been carried on during the 

 last few months with one well-known firm, with a view to their 

 becoming the publishers of the Transactions ; and although the 

 particular correspondence referred to did not result in a satis- 

 factory agreement, I trust that this most desirable step will not 

 be lost sight of, and that before the next Anniversary comes it 

 may be in the power of those naturalists who wish to obtain the 



