annual report 
ix 
zoological subjects. A short article by Dr. Gimlette on a curious 
Kelantan charm and 'another by Mr. Hamilton entitled “ The 
Boris. ” extended the range of interesting material published. 
The fact, however, remains that the burden of authorship 
falls on too few. The papers published during the year came 
from twelve authors. In 1918, ten, and in 1919 seven, members 
contributed papers. Our membership list shows that about 83 per 
cent reside in Malaya and are therefore to a large extent in touch 
with or in reach of all sorts of subjects which are well worth study 
and writing up. But only about 3 or 4 per cent of our members 
contribute papers during the year. 
The Council is aware that some members criticize recent num- 
bers of the Journal on account of the somewhat large proportion 
of technical papers which fill its pages. The publication of such 
papers naturally forms an important part of the Society’s work 
and is in itself a valuable contribution to Science. Earlier Journals, 
however, contained a large number of non-technical papers on 
travel, local customs, natural history, etc., which could not fail to 
interest all members. They make remarkably good reading now. 
On the other hand some of our more technical papers are admitted- 
ly indigestible and not likely to be read by, say, one per cent of 
our membership, if that. The remedy lies with Members. Our 
field of work is wide. It embraces the Malay Peninsula and neigh- 
bouring Malayan countries. Many interesting tales of travel there- 
in, of their history, their peoples, geographical , zoological, botanical, 
geological peculiarities, remain to be told. 
The success of the Society depends on three factors : large 
membership roll, plenty of funds, and, thirdly, active assistance 
of members itn providing material for the Journal. In the first 
two the position of the Society is satisfactory, in the third the 
Council feels that there is room for improvement. Papers already 
received for 1921 indicate that the supply has by no means Tim 
dry. But lit is hoped that more sources of supply may yet be 
tapped. 
The Treasurer’s statement of accounts for the year 1920 shows 
balances carried forward to the total of $8,309.27 
Finances against $7,142.89 at the end <of the year 1919. Of 
this amount, $2,500 has been invested in Victory Loan, 
$2,200 Temains invested in S. S. War Loan, while the Fixed De- 
posit at the Mercantile Bank has been reduced from $2,500 to 
$ 2 , 000 . 
The total of $1,670 for subscriptions received during the year 
shows a satisfactory increase over an average total of $1,127 for 
the previous five years. This was in part due to the payment of 
$435 arrears of subscriptions for 1915-1919. Five members com- 
pounded for life membership. Receipts from sale of Journals and 
A Lips, amounting to $765, showed a slight increase over the average 
of $716 for the previous five years. 
