EEPOKT of the COUNCIL. 



During the Session 1897-98 there have been seven 

 ordinary meetings and one field meeting of the Society. 

 The latter was once more held at Hilbre Island, and a 

 very enjoyable afternoon was spent in searching the rocks 

 and rock-pools at low water. 



The communications made to the Society have been 

 representative of almost all branches of Biology, and the 

 exhibition of microscopic preparations and other objects 

 of interest has been a prominent feature of the meetings. 



On the invitation of the Council, Dr. W. H. Gaskell, 

 F.K.S., from Cambridge, lectured before the Society at 

 the April meeting, and chose as his subject "The Lam- 

 prey and its Transformation," under which title the 

 Society had the privilege of hearing an account of Dr. 

 Gaskell's important work on the origin of the Verte- 

 brates. 



The Council record with deep regret the death of one 

 of the life-members, Dr. C. Herbert Hurst, formerly of 

 Manchester, lately of Dublin. Dr. Hurst was at one 

 time an active member of the Society, and contributed 

 vigorously to the interesting discussions at the meetings. 

 His important paper on "A new Theory of Hearing" 

 was published in our ninth volume. 



The Library continues to make satisfactory progress, 

 and additional important exchanges have been arranged 

 during the year. 



The Treasurer's usual statement and balance sheet are 

 appended. 



