peesident's addeess. 255 



Transactions to purchase them in London ; and I would also ad- 

 vise that the puhlication of the several parts, as they come out, 

 may in future be more fully advertised. 



When we compare the first published list of members with the 

 present roll, it is satisfactory to observe how large a number of 

 the most worthy names still hold their place among us ; while 

 during the twenty years which have passed another generation of 

 young and energetic workers has arisen and is now actively en- 

 gaged in carding on those investigations into the zoology/ botany, 

 and geology of the district which were begun and are still being 

 pursued by the older members. Upon the whole death has dealt 

 kindly by us since the establishment of the Club, and we still 

 rejoice in the presence among us of most of the leading original 

 members. Tet we have had to mourn the loss of many who 

 could ill be spared from our ranks, who, either from their scien- 

 tific attainments, or the genial spirit with which they delighted 

 to promote the study of that which they believed to be advan- 

 tageous to others, even if not especially pursued by themselves, 

 took interest in our welfare, and aided the Club by their support 

 at a time when such support was most needed. Reviewing, as I 

 have done, the rise, and early and later progress of the Club, I 

 should be omitting a most important feature did I not recall, 

 however briefly, the names of those who have thus played impor- 

 tant parts in the history and transactions of the Club. Of those 

 gentlemen, who have had the honour of filling the Presidential 

 Chair, all survive except four. These were Archdeacon Coxe, 

 who took great interest, as has already been shown, in the foun- 

 dation of the Club. He was elected President in 1848, and has 

 been called away from us and from the large circle of friends by 

 whom he was respected and beloved during the past year. Arch- 

 deacon Thorpe was President in 1852. Naturalists cannot but 

 feel most grateful to him for the way in which, by checking the 

 wholesale and wanton destruction of the sea birds on the Fern 

 Islands, and protecting them more especially in the breeding 

 season, he was the means of rescuing many interesting species 

 from total extermination on this part of the coast, and of retain- 

 ing for these little islands the interest which has so long been 



