114 president's address. 



RETIRING PRESIDENT'S ADDRESS. 



Ladies and Gentlemen, — Twenty years have passed 

 by since in a humble way, but with much enthusiasm, this 

 Society was founded, and the present time seems a very 

 suitable one in which to review its labours, to record its 

 triumphs, and to brace ourselves for new efforts. It is a 

 matter of much thankfulness that the majority of those earnest 

 spirits who were present at its inception, and with whom, 

 indeed, the idea of such a Society originated, are still among 

 its most active members. And in looking back over the work 

 done during these twenty years one is astounded at the richness 

 of the field wherein they have laboured, and admire the 

 foresight of those who saw the need of such a Society that 

 the work might be systematically carried out and as 

 systematically recorded. Little did the most sanguine dream 

 in those early days that their research would meet with such 

 abundant reward. The area to be worked was small, but in 

 every department it has proved a happy hunting ground. 

 Our peculiar insular position, yet so near the mainland, 

 accounts for the existence of many interesting and curious 

 phenomena with regard to the distribution of both animal and 

 plant life. Many interesting problems offer themselves for 

 investigation, and will be referred to later. 



In reviewing the work accomplished during these twenty 

 years we naturally give first place to Mr. Marquand's magnum 

 opus, published last year, " The Flora of Guernsey and the 

 lesser Channel Islands." Although assisted by many able and 

 zealous workers, the giant's share of the labour fell upon the 

 author, and he is to be congratulated on the production of a 

 work in every way worthy of the subject, and destined to be 

 the standard authority on the Botany of the Bailiwick for 

 long years to come, and worthy to take its place beside the 

 excellent " floras " of the adjoining French coast, and those 

 of the Mother Country. Not only is the astonishing number 

 of 2,653 species of plants recorded for the district, but much 

 valuable and extremely interesting matter on local names and 

 folklore is added. To the same indefatigable worker we are 

 indebted for a list of the Mollusca of the same district ; this 

 includes 317 marine and 76 land and fresh water species. 



Passing on to Entomology, to that veteran Mr. Luff 

 belongs the honour of cataloguing 1,776 species of insects of 

 various families for Guernsey, and 559 for Alderney. Truly 

 a marvellous record, the recreation of a busy man. 



