PRESIDENTS ADDRESS. 
3 
In another branch of botany we have been favoured with a very 
interesting paper on the Flora of Spitzbergen by Colonel Feilden and 
Mr. 11. I). Geldart, which will be found printed in the ‘Transactions,’ 
as is also an interesting note from Mr. Anivot, on a recent measure- 
ment of the Winfarthing Oak, which, to his surprise, had decreased 
eighteen inches in circumference since the year 1874. Similar 
decrease seems also to have been shared by other large trees ; these 
variations are very striking phenomena and difficult to account for. 
Mr. Clayton, of Bradford, is stated to have found small differences 
between the circumferences of various tree trunks between the 
months of October and February, and in these cases the alteration 
was attributed to frost. Mr. Hotblack favoured us with some 
interesting observations on the Herring, which should be read 
in conjunction with Mr. Stacy- Watson's paper in our last year's 
‘ Transactions,’ and the latter gentleman has contributed the usual 
paper on the Herring Fishery which has been a feature in the 
‘Transactions’ since the year 1881. As a matter of course, com- 
munications on ornithology have been numerous : for these we are 
indebted to Air. J. H. Gurney, the Rev. M. C. H. Bird, and the 
Rev. •! ulian Tuck, Mr. Southwell also contributing his usual report 
as to the more interesting additions to the Castle Museum. Insects 
have not been neglected, and in this department Mr. W. II. Tuck, 
of Tostock, has been a contributor ; and we are indebted to 
Mr. Bridgman for the exhibition of a specimen of Pezomachus 
corruptor, bred from the larva of a Beetle by Mr. Thouless, 
the first instance which has come to Mr. Bridgman’s notice of 
an Ichneumon of this genus being bred from a Coleoptera. 
Mr. Petches’ list of Land and Fresh Water Mollusca, found by 
him in West Norfolk, is of value, coming from a district which 
has been little worked. Mr. W. G. Clarke’s paper on Flint 
Implements found in the neighbourhood of Thetford, illustrated 
by an extensive series of specimens of Neolithic work, was a 
particularly interesting and valuable communication. 
We have also to thank Mr. Patterson for his frequent and 
interesting notes from Yarmouth. 
On 28th June a joint excursion of the Society with the Yarmouth 
b 2 
