4 
The Ray Society does not, however, contiiie itself to printing 
original matter, but will include in its objects the editing, translating, 
and reprinting of rare or inaccessible works of really scientific 
value. 
Aware how imperfectly the majority of British naturalists are 
acquainted with the state of their science in foreign countries, 
the Council considered that they could not better occupy their first 
volume than by giving translations of several recent Reports on the 
state of Zoology and Botany, which have appeared on the continent. 
It was hoped that this volume could have been got ready in time for 
the present meeting, but although every exertion has been used, we 
shall be compelled to await its appearance a few months longer. Some 
of the proof sheets have however been bound into a volume, to serve 
as a specimen of the form in which it is proposed that the works shall 
be issued. 
In preparing works for our future volumes, a very numerous list 
of proposed publications has been laid before the Council, among 
which it has been decided to publish the following at an early 
period. 
I. Memorials of John Ray; consisting of the ^ Life of John 
Ray,’ by Derham ; the ‘Biographical Notice of Ray,’ by Baron 
Cuvier and M. Dupetit Thouars, in the Biographie Universelle; 
published and unpublished Letters of Ray, &c. Edited by E. 
Lankester, m.d.f. l.s. 
II. ‘ Iconographia Linnseana,’ to be published in parts, and to con- 
sist of Illustrations of the original specimens in Zoology of Linnaeus, 
at present existing in the Museum of the Linnaean Society. Edited by 
Professor Bell, f.r.s., and Professor Forbes, f.r.s. 
Of this the Council intend publishing a part yearly or half-yearly, 
as their resources will permit. 
III. A ‘ Monograph,’ with coloured drawings, of every species of the 
British Nudibranchiate Mollusca, by Messrs. Alder and Hancock ; 
in parts. 
Without pledging themselves to publish all the following works, 
the Council present the names of some which have been brought 
before them for consideration : 
1. A Translation from the Greek, with Notes, of the Works of 
Aristotle on Animals, and of Dioscorides on Plants. 
2. A Translation from the Spanish of Azara's Birds of 
Paraguay. 
3. An edition of the ‘ Systema Naturse’ of Linnaeus. 
4. A Translation from the German of the ‘ Principles of Philo- 
sophical Botany’ of Dr. J. M. Schleiden. 
