Soon after the publication of the last Report, Mr. E. Wilson, 

 the then President of the Society, returned to the Colony, and at 

 once entered upon the active duties of his position. During his 

 absence from the Council-table, he had not been unmindful of the 

 interests of the Society, and he was enabled to inform the Council 

 upon his return, that the establishment of the gazelle in the Colony 

 had been promised by Sir Charles Nicholson, the acclimatisation 

 of the edible crab by Mr. George McLeay, that of the nightingale 

 and hedge-sparrow by Miss Burdett Coutts and Mrs. Brown, whilst 

 Sir Daniel Cooper had already sent off a valuable shipment of 

 birds, promising at the same time that these should be supple- 

 mented from time to time. Another important service rendered to 

 the cause of acclimatisation has been the securing of a promise by 

 the Lords of the Admiralty, that H.M. ships may in passing from 

 one station to another, be rendered available for the purpose of 

 conveying animals, provided that no expense be thrown upon the 

 department. Another important work in acclimatisation was the 

 preparation by the English Society of a set of questions, con- 

 cerning the animal and vegetable productions of the various 

 countries, a copy of which has been sent, through the agency 

 of the Foreign and Colonial Offices, to all H.M. Consuls and 

 Governors throughout the world. A copy of these questions was 

 courteously laid before the Council by His Excellency Sir C. H. 

 Darling, K.C.B., and a Committee, consisting of Dr. Mueller, 

 Professor McCoy, and Dr. Madden, prepared the replies on behalf 

 of the Society. The answers to these are now being arranged for 

 publication in England, and when completed, cannot fail to be a 

 serviceable guide to all Acclimatisation Societies in their labours. 



The Council have long felt it very desirable to have some dis- 

 tinctive medal with which to reward services often of a most valuable 

 character rendered to the Society, and to carry out this object. 

 Mr. Wilson applied himself with characteristic energy. He 

 succeeded in obtaining from several of the Banks a donation of £2\ 

 each, and there is every reason to believe that the other Banks will 

 give the same amount towards this special fund. Since his return, 

 he has been as active as ever in the prosecution of acclima- 

 tisation, and it is with unfeigned regret that the Council have to 

 state, that in consequence of a complaint in his eyes, rendering 

 necessary another visit to Europe, Mr. Wilson has, in spite of their 

 earnest remonstrances, pressed upon the Council his resignation as 

 President, which resignation the Council have most reluctantly 

 accepted. 



