4644 Society of British Entomologists. 



New Part of the ' Transactions.' 



Part 3 Vol. iii. of the ' Transactions,' published in January, was laid on the table. 

 — J. W. D. 



Society of British Entomologists. 



Annual Meeting, January 2, 1855. — Mr. H. Harding, President, in the chair. 



The Secretary laid before the Members a statement of the affairs of the Society. 



The President said that it gave him great pleasure to hear, from the Keport read 

 by the Secretary, of the flourishing state of the Society. There was only one draw- 

 back — the slow progress made in the addition of species to its cabinet during the past 

 year : he hoped the Members would bear this in mind, and make up for it in the 

 ensuing season. 



The President then said " According to custom I will, with your permission, take 

 a review of the past year. The season of 1854 has by most entomologists been consi- 

 dered a very bad one : the beautiful mild weather in the spring is, without doubt, 

 remembered by all; vegetation felt the influence of the bright sun and warm nights ; 

 many larva; were making rapid progress in consequence of the early bursting of the 

 young buds, but a series of cold nights and blighting winds from the North-east, until 

 the early part of June, destroyed them. On the 10th of June I went to the coast: 

 what was the prospect of vegetation there? the whitethorn, which should have been 

 in blossom, had its leaves blackened and dried up: where now were all thelarvse which 

 were called into life by the early spring? all dead for want of food. This and the late 

 cold weather was no doubt the cause of the bad season for many species : the Noctuae, 

 excepting in a few instances, made their appearance in the usual course. Through 

 the exertions and enterprising spirit of our entomologists, however, many rare and 

 some new species have been taken, for some account of which I refer you to Stainton's 

 * Entomologist's Annual,' which is now before me on the table, a work which has been 

 kindly presented by the author, who I hope may live long to continue it. I am much 

 pleased with the observations of the editor at page 3 : they breathe a true scientific 

 spirit, not always met with even in those calling themselves scientific men ; but it is a 

 spirit that ought to animate all inquirers after truth. In conclusion, I would remind 

 my friends that there is a great deal to be done among the smaller Lepidoptera : many 

 discoveries are in store for those who will seek them, but it ought always to be borne 

 in mind that they must be diligently sought after. I intend in a few weeks to begin 

 the campaign for 1855, and exhort all my entomological friends to do likewise. 

 Science ' expects every man to do his duty.' " — J. T. N. 



