SCIENTIFIC SOCIETIES. 237 



both discovered last month at Weymouth, and the latter previously known 

 only from the Baltic. 



Mr. J. E. Harting exhibited and made remarks on a specimen of 

 Cuculus canorus in the rare hepatic plumage {Cuculns hepaticus, Sparmann), 

 recently obtained at Bishop's Waltham, Essex. 



Mr. W. T. Thiselton Dyer, C.M.G., then gave an abstract of a paper 

 by the late Mr. John Ball, F.R.S., " On the distribution of Plants on the 

 southern side of the Alps," prefaced by some account of the author's life 

 and special work in relation to the alpine Flora. 



May Mth: Anniversary Meeting. — Mr. C. B. Clarke, F.R.S., 

 President, in the chair. 



The Rev. A. Thornley and Mr. Rudolf Beer were admitted Fellows of 

 the Society. 



The Treasurer presented his Annual Report, duly audited, and the 

 Secretary having announced the elections and deaths during the past 

 twelve months, the usual ballot took place for new members of Council. 

 The following were elected : — Prof. J. B. Farmer, Mr. A. Gepp, Prof. 

 Howes, Dr. St. G. Mivart, and Mr. A. S. Woodward. 



On a ballot taking place for the election of President and Officers, 

 Mr. Charles Baron Clarke was re-elected President; Mr. Frank Crisp, 

 Treasurer; Mr. B. D. Jackson, Botanical Secretary; and Prof. G. B. 

 Howes, Zoological Secretary. 



The Librarian's Report having been read, and certain formal business 

 disposed of, the President delivered his Annual Address, prefaced by some 

 remarks on the present position of the Society. On the motion of Sir 

 Joseph Hooker, seconded by Dr. John Anderson, a vote of thanks was 

 accorded to the President, with a request that he would allow his Address 

 to be printed. 



The Society's Gold Medal was then formally awarded to Prof. Ferdinand 

 Cohn, of Breslau, and was received on his behalf by Mr. B. D. Jackson for 

 transmission through the German Embassy. 



The President having called attention to the retirement of the Zoological 

 Secretary, Mr. W. Percy Sladen, after holding office for ten years, an 

 announcement which he felt sure would be received with universal regret, 

 it was proposed by Mr. Carruthers, seconded by Mr. Crisp, and supported 

 by Mr. Charles Breeze, " That the Fellows of this Society, regretting 

 the retirement of Mr. Walter Percy Sladen from the post of Zoological 

 Secretary, which he has occupied for the past ten years, desire to record 

 upon the Minutes of the Society's Proceedings an expression of their high 

 appreciation of the services which he has rendered to the Society, and of 

 the very able manner in which he has at all times discharged the duties of 

 his office." 



