2 LIVERPOOL BIOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 
establishment of this exchange list, which was effected 
during last session, is a distinct step in advance, and is 
calculated to benefit us in two ways. In the first place it 
secures the circulation of our papers abroad in the very 
quarters where they will be most useful and most appre- 
ciated, and in the second place it brings to us a valuable 
series of foreign publications which we might otherwise 
have some difficulty in getting access to. The importance 
of this last fact to our workers will be at once seen when 
I mention that already the library contains 527 books 
and pamphlets received in exchange for our three first 
volumes of ‘‘ Proceedings.”’ 
Now I am recounting these proofs of our Society’s 
favourable position not with a view of inducing any feeling 
of self-satisfied complacency, which would be fatal to 
further advance; on the contrary it is with the object of 
rousing all the members of the Society to fresh efforts by 
the consideration that if we do our duty we have the 
possibility of a grand future before us. It is true of a 
scientific society, as of many other organisms and insti- 
tutions, that to stand still is impossible. If there is no 
advance there must be retrogression. Personally I shall 
use my best endeavours to make this coming session one 
of active advance, and I know that my efforts will be most 
ably supported by my colleagues on the council, but I am 
anxious to, induce every individual member to take such a 
personal interest in the affairs of the Society as will ensure 
our rapid progress towards a higher level of usefulness and 
a wider sphere of operations; and there are three heads 
under which I would indicate what we can each and all of 
us do for the common good, and these are—the number, 
the attendance, and the work of our members. 
Our Society is increasing each session, but still the 
number on our roll of membership ought certainly to be 
