538 
PRESIDENT S ADDRESS. 
reputation as an oculist. His name appears in the first list of 
members of this Society. 
Some interesting and instructive papers have been read during the 
year. The list is unfortunately a short one, and the subjects treated 
have chiefly been ornithological. It is much to be desired that 
communications should be received from members on other subjects 
of Natural History ; and 1 must express the satisfaction of the 
Society at the exhibition of fossil and geological specimens by 
Mr. John Gunn at several of our meetings.' 
Mr. Southwell’s amusing account of the quaint and ancient 
customs with respect to the Conservation of the Fresh-water Fishes 
in the county, brings out the fact that the Salmon is probably 
the only fish formerly visiting its rivers (though even then in 
very small numbers) that has now ceased to do so. Whether that 
is due mainly to the care and forethought of the conservators 
by their judicious action, it is needless to speculate ; but it is to be 
regretted by the ornithologist that the same care could not have 
been extended to the avi-fauna, which in a very short space of 
time has so terribly diminished in the same parts of the county, 
over which, with reference to the inhabitants of its waters, some 
success in preserving them has been attained. It is, on the other 
hand, gratifying to hear from Mr. J. H. Gurney, Junr., in his 
paper on the Scilly Islands, that there, at least, through the tender 
care of the previous and present proprietors, bird life is preserved, 
and it is to be hoped that many years may elapse before the 
extirpation of a single species now inhabiting them may take 
place. 
Mr. Pycraft has submitted some interesting ornithological notes, 
but it is painful to hear of the murder of such birds as the 
Kentish Plover and Avocet in the middle of their breeding season. 
The steps lately taken by the newly formed Breydon Wild Birds 
Protection Society will in future, it is to be hoped, render such 
slaughter impossible. 
Mr. Stevenson, in his paper on the Common Snipe, brings 
further evidence to prove, what has been almost universally 
admitted by ornithologists, that the peculiar “drumming” or 
