6 
One of the most important features in the growth 
and progress of the Society this year, and a strong 
evidence of its desire to make higher attainments in 
science, has been the formation of Sections, to which 
those interested in the promotion of special branches 
of science have attached themselves. Shortly after 
the last annual meeting a letter was received by your 
Council, stating that several members of the Society 
were desirous of pursuing the study of Entomology 
in greater detail than would be generally desired, and 
proposing to meet at intervals specially for this 
object. Your Council felt that this was a new era 
in the Society's proceedings, considering that the 
example thus set by Entomologists, would probably 
soon be followed by members interested in other 
sciences. They therefore gave most earnest and 
careful consideration to the manner, in which such a 
bond of connection might be formed between the 
Sections and the original Society, as should in no way 
interfere with the promotion of the objects of the 
Society at large, at the same time leaving the 
management of the Section, as far as possible, in the 
hands of those most immediately interested in its 
proceedings ; and your Council, while expressing the 
hope that their efforts in this direction have not been 
in vain, would take take this opportunity of tendering 
their thanks to the officers of the Sections which have 
been formed, for the admirable spirit in which they 
met the views and wishes of the Council, and carried 
into operation the regulations laid down for their 
guidance. 
