10 
his views and wishes in regard to the accomplishment of a complete 
History of the Geology, Paloeontology, Mineralogy, Botany, and 
Zoology of our locality, and as far as might he possible, its entire 
collective natural history, including the highest and lowest forms 
of animal and vegetable life. A work of such large dimensions, 
and requiring such assiduous labour, can be surmounted only by 
the combined and continuous efforts of many naturalists qualified 
by previous experience and exactitude of knowledge in various 
departments; a work however worthy of their united powers, and 
offering great opportunities and a high reward. It must be a source 
of just pride to the society that it can feel alle as well as willing to 
undertake so important a work, and that it can look forward with 
confidence to its completion in due time. The society has however 
fairly committed itself to this undertaking with full faith in the 
powers of many distinguished members, and with the praiseworthy 
determination to carry out their resolve to the best of their ability. 
At the last meeting, your Council was entrusted with the arrange- 
ments necessary for working out this scheme, and preparations are 
already being made. A careful study of details is however requisite, 
and the amount of work before the society appears to increase daily 
as each detail passes under consideration. 
Under these circumstances, it seems to the Council that there is a 
necessity for strengthening its hands by the addition of members. 
According to Kule III, two of the present members retire, to be 
replaced by newly elected members. It is not proposed to set this 
Eule aside ; on the contrary, the election of additional members 
will form one of the first things to be done after the election of 
President, Yice-Presidents, Treasurer, and Secretaries. But it is 
believed that under the present press of work, the Council might 
advantageously consist of nine members instead of six. One of the 
Council (Mr. Hugh Owen) has left our neighbourhood, so that by 
rule, one member only would have to retire. The arrangement by 
which the retiring members are to be distinguished from those 
remaining on the Council is, as will be. seen by referring to Eule 
