Society of British Entomologists. 3369 



Proceedings of the Society of British Entomologists. 



January 6, 1852. — Mr. Harding, President, in the chair. 



The Secretary read a Keport of the affairs of the Society for the past year. 



The President congratulated the members upon the prosperous state of the Society, 

 which had been going on steadily if slowly, this being the eighteeuth Anniversary. 

 The Society was without debt or drawback of any kind ; and with plenty of materials 

 to work upon, and hands and hearts ready and willing to work, it must progress. He 

 was happy to see that none of that aristocratic feeling prevailed in this, as it did in 

 some other Societies, which closed their ranks against the working man ; as knowledge 

 increased, however, he trusted that such an ungenerous feeling would vanish. Dur- 

 ing the past year, many of those which were considered our rarer insects had been 

 captured ; indeed some species which were looked upon as doubtfully native had been 

 taken in soma plenty. Much of this success was to be attributed to working among 

 the larvae ; and he would impress upon the miuds of the members the necessity of at- 

 tending to this branch of Entomology, which they would find both interesting and 

 profitable. He also stated that whilst the leaves and stems of plants had been well 

 searched, the roots had been comparatively neglected, and thus many insects had been 

 overlooked. The President further remarked, that although during the last ten years 

 Entomology had made great progress, British entomologists were still much behind 

 their continental brethren. This consideration should stimulate the members to fur- 

 ther exertions in behalf of their favourite branch of Natural History. 



Mr. Sequiera observed that this was the first annual meeting of the Society he had 

 had the pleasure of attending ; and begged to be allowed to make a few observations, 

 which, although perhaps containing nothing new, might tend to show the advantage 

 of joining this or some other Society of a similar character, and thus be the means of 

 extending a love of that science to which he was sure all present were attached, and 

 which had afforded them the means of passing so many happy hours, both in their 

 meeting-room and in the merry green wood. He advised all who felt in the slightest 

 degree interested in Entomology, to study the first principles of the science ; and then, 

 as they proceeded in their researches, new beauties would be discovered, which would 

 otherwise have remained hidden and unsuspected. A little previous knowledge of fa- 

 milies and genera would render the student far more perfect either in the collection or 

 arrangement of insects, than he would become in twice or thrice the length of time 

 expended in collecting without this knowledge. Nothing would tend more to the 

 attainment of this important end, than becoming- a member of a Society. Opportuni- 

 ties of improvement would thus be afforded, by means of books, conversation, compa- 

 rison with specimens in cabinets, and mutual instruction. Mr. S. stated that he could 

 speak from experience on this point. Being but a young beginner himself, he could 

 truly say that he had gained more information in the short time he had belonged to 

 this Society, than he should have obtained in years by other means. All his inquiries 

 had been met in the true spirit of imparting information, for which he begged to ex- 

 press his thanks s and he trusted that the time was not far distant when this Society 

 would be looked upon as a pattern in the diffusion of knowledge. 



Mr. Dalman proposed that the cabinet should be arranged according to Mr. Dou- 

 bleday's List. 



Mr. Oxley proposed a vote of thanks to the President. 



Mr. Briant proposed a vote of thanks to the Secretary for the use of his microscopes. 



All the above were carried unanimously.— J. T. Norman. 

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