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president’s address. 
branches of natural science had found a more prominent place in 
the doings of the Society. Botany and geology have been but 
feebly represented during the evening meetings, and it is 
disappointing that results obtained from the microscope and 
telescope seem to have been entirely ignored by our Society. The 
fact that our brethren from the kindred society, who accompanied 
us on our summer excursion, now find it necessary to give two 
whole evenings, instead of one as formerly, to microscopical 
matters ought not to be without its lesson to us. A good 
astronomical paper would, in my opinion, also occasionally be 
both welcome and instructive, and even horticultural notes might 
come as a pleasing variety, and be not out of place in this “ city’ - 
of gardens.” 1 should also much like to see the “magic lantern” 
introduced at our meetings, as I am confident this favourite 
method of illustration would be the means of popularising our 
monthly assemblies. 
I commend these few remarks for the consideration of those in 
authority. They are made in no spirit of criticism, but merely as 
suggestions, with a view of increasing the good work done by the 
Society and enhancing its popularity. 
I would now briefly allude, in their order, to the notes and 
papers given. 
At the April meeting, Mr. J. H. Walter gave an account of 
a visit to an Egyptian Ostrich Farm. 
At the May meeting, Mr. Southwell read some interesting notes 
on a Decoy at Eeltwell, and exhibited a fine example of the old 
race of Norfolk Bustards. 
In September, Mr. Eldred described in detail some foreign animals 
living in British Parks, and gave some entertaining descriptions 
of the menageries formed by the late Earl of Derby, at Knowsley, 
and by the Duke of Bedford, at Woburn. Mr. S. E. Harmer 
sent a note on some bones of a Pelican from the Cambridgeshire 
Fens. Mr. Mottram gave us an account of a visit to the 
Swannery at Abbotsbury, near Weymouth, and Colonel Butler 
communicated the occurrence of an Albatross in Cambridgeshire, 
and of a Honey Buzzard in Suffolk. 
