9 
From the consideration of this question, the report 
naturally passes to the financial condition of the 
Society. Your Council have reason to congratulate 
the members on the state of the Society's funds, but 
at the same time, they would take this opportunity 
of calling the attention of members to the very large 
amount of arrears of subscriptions. At the annual 
meeting in 1864, more than half of the subscriptions 
for the year were unpaid, and the Treasurer's account 
for this year shows £22 15s. in arrear, the total 
amount of subscriptions of 240 members, being £60. 
Your Council wish to remind the members that the 
present state of their funds is in great part owing to 
the gratuitous exertions of the officers of the Society, 
and to express the hope that those who enjoy the 
advantages of membership afforded by the power of 
attending any of the sectional, general, or excursion 
meetings of the Society, the facility for consulting 
books and specimens at the Institution, and the 
receipt of the printed reports of the past meetings, 
(the expenditure for which has naturally increased 
this year) will not fail to recognise the importance of 
aiding the Society's officers, by giving them as little 
trouble as possible in the collection of subscriptions, 
with respect to the non-payment of which, and 
cessation of membership, your Council have hitherto 
abstained from recommending the adoption of any 
rule. 
In the last annual report, a reference was made to 
the proposed work to be issued by the Society, giving 
