Soon after the publication of the last Report, Mr. E. Wilson, 
the then President of the Society, returned to the Colony, and at 
once entered upon the active duties of his position. During his 
absence from the Council-table, he had not been unmindful of the 
interests of the Society, and he was enabled to inform the Council 
upon his return, that the establishment of the gazelle in the Colony 
had been promised by Sir Charles Nicholson, the acclimatisation 
of the edible crab by Mr. George McLeay, that of the nightingale 
and hedge-sparrow by Miss Burdett Coutts and Mrs. Brown, whilst 
Sir Daniel Cooper had already sent off a valuable shipment of 
birds, promising at the same time that these should be supple¬ 
mented from time to time. Another important service rendered to 
the cause of acclimatisation has been the securing of a promise by 
the Lords of the Admiralty, that H.M. ships may in passing from 
one station to another, be rendered available for the purpose of 
conveying animals, provided that no expense be thrown upon the 
department. Another important work in acclimatisation was tho 
preparation by the English Society of a set of questions, con¬ 
cerning the animal and vegetable productions of the various 
countries, a copy of which has been sent, through the agency 
of the Foreign and Colonial Offices, to all H.M. Consuls and 
Governors throughout the world. A copy of these questions was 
courteously laid before the Council by His Excellency Sir C. H. 
Darling, K.C.B., and a Committee, consisting of Dr. Mueller, 
Professor McCoy, and Dr. Madden, prepared the replies on behalf 
of the Society. The answers to these are now being arranged for 
publication in England, and when completed, cannot fail to be a 
serviceable guide to all Acclimatisation Societies in their labours. 
The Council have long felt it very desirable to have some dis¬ 
tinctive medal with which to reward services often of a most valuable 
character rendered to the Society, and to carry out this object) 
Mr. Milson applied himself with characteristic energy. He 
succeeded in obtaining from several of the Banks a donation of £21 
each, and there is every reason to believe that the other Banks will 
give the same amount towards this special fund. Since his return, 
he has been as active as ever in the prosecution of acclima¬ 
tisation, and it is with unfeigned regret that the Council have to 
state, that in consequence of a complaint in his eyes, rendering 
necessary another visit to Europe, Mr. Wilson has, in spite of their 
earnest remonstrances, pressed upon the Council his resignation as 
President, which resignation the Council have most reluctantly 
accepted. 
