50 
NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY’S REPORT. 
Mar., 1889. 
appeal earnestly to the members for their assistance in paying 
off more of the loans during the present year, by increasing 
the income of the Society through obtaining additional 
members. By an alteration recently made in the Laws, 
ladies can now become members of the Society on the same 
terms and with the same privileges as family members, by 
the payment of lialf-a-guinea per year ; and it is hoped that 
this will lead to an increase in the number of lady members. 
The total number of members for the year 1888 is 201, 
being 7 less than in the previous year (8 ordinary members 
and 4 corresponding members) ; of the total, 7 are life mem¬ 
bers, 145 ordinary (guinea) members, 12 family (half-guinea) 
members, 5 lady (half-guinea) members, 5 honorary vice- 
presidents, 23 corresponding members, and 4 associates. 
On the occasion of the retirement of Mr. Charles Pumphrey 
from the office of treasurer of the Society an illuminated 
address was presented to him, which was kindly prepared by 
the president, Mr. W. B. Grove. 
The Council have to report that the negotiations which 
were begun upon the proposed amalgamation of this Society 
with the Birmingham Philosophical Society have been 
suspended. 
Microscopical Section ( Ex-officio: President, W. B. 
Grove, M.A. ; Secretary, W. H. Wilkinson).—During the 
year eight meetings of the section have been held, with an 
average attendance of fifteen ; and the following communica¬ 
tions have been made : — 
March 6th.—“The Present and Future of Science Teaching in 
England, with special reference to Botany,” by Prof. W. Hill- 
house, M.A., F.L.S., being the retiring president’s address. 
May 1st.—“ An Account of the Foraminifera dredged by the 
Society during the Oban Excursion in 1883,” by Mr. E. W. 
Burgess, communicated by Mr. W. P. Marshall, M.I.C.E. A 
fine slide of 67 specimens (illustrative of the paper), named and 
mounted by Mr. Burgess, was presented to the Society. 
May 29th.—“ On Kew Gardens and some of the Botanical Statistics 
of the British Possessions,” by Mr. J. G. Baker, F.R.S., F.L.S., 
communicated by Mr. J. E. Bagnall, A.L.S. 
June 6th.—“ Notes on some Foraminifera collected and mounted by 
Mr. E. W. Burgess from material obtained near Oban by the 
Society during their dredging excursion in 1883.” By Mr. J. F. 
Goode ; illustrated by specimens in microscopes, and by a fine 
series of micro-photographs in the oxy-liydrogen lantern, by 
Mr. J. Edmonds. 
The meetings of May 1st and October 2nd were devoted 
to Microscopical Soirees, and both were very successful. A 
large number of microscopes was exhibited by members 
representing all the sections of the Society. 
