8 
president’s address. 
do more,” the important four lines were written by his own 
hand. 
One more gap has occurred in our ranks during the past year, 
and that of a most amiable and excellent man and naturalist, 
who, although known to comparatively few of the present generation 
of naturalists, will, indeed, he missed by those who had the 
privilege of his friendship. Mr. Frederick Loud died at his 
residence at Fairfield Avenue, Staines, on the 10th of August, 
1889, at the advanced age of seventy-nine years. Mr. Bond was 
not much given to writing, hut was a constant correspondent to 
the ‘Zoologist,’ of which journal he was one of the founders, his 
first communication appearing in 1843, and his last in 1889. But 
if he published little, his vast experience was at the service of all 
who sought his help ; and how great his store of information was 
may he readily imagined, when it is remembered that he was 
blessed with ample means to enable him freely to indulge the 
keen love of out-door observation which was his greatest delight. 
Mr. Bond possessed rich collections of birds and eggs. The latter, 
simply invaluable, as representing many British localities in which 
the species have long ceased to breed, was unfortunately disposed 
of some years ago, and has been removed to France. 
As the reader of the annual address is expected, at the close of 
his review of the current events of the year, to enlarge on some 
topic with which he is more or less familiar, I fear I cannot escape 
obtruding upon you some rather crude notions of my own on 
a branch of natural history, somewhat recondite it is true, and yet 
inferior to none in the important relations it bears to the material 
interests of mankind. Many of my hearers will doubtless 
remember the very eloquent address on Pathogenic Bacteria, 
delivered in this room a few years since by one of my predecessors 
in this chair, Sir Peter Fade. It has occurred to me I might 
profitably follow in the footsteps of my distinguished colleague, as 
although I cannot hope to emulate his eloquence and scientific 
acumen, I have at least this advantage over him, viz., that our 
knowledge of these baneful micro-organisms has very materially 
increased since the date of his address. The fierce light of science 
