BIRMINGHAM NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY. 
51 
The Saturday Afternoon Excursions have been continued, and 
eleven of them have been carried out during the past year, and a 
full report of these has been prepared, with a complete list of 
captures, and preserved for reference in the Library. The number 
of members attending scarcely compares favourably with the 
previous year. It has been suggested that in the future some 
excursions on Wednesday afternoons shall be arranged. 
The Council regret to report the loss of three members by 
death during the past year : Mr. John Rabone, Miss Taunton, and 
Mr. W. C. Wynn ; and refer with special regret to the loss of 
Mr. Rabone, who was an old and valued member of the Society, 
and a regular attendant at the meetings. During the last four 
years lie rendered valuable service to the Society as its Treasurer. 
The fifteenth annual meeting of the Midland Union of Natural 
History Societies was held at Oswestry, on August 23rd and 24th, 
the President (Mr. J. F. Goode), Mr. W. H. Wilkinson, and 
Mr. R. W. Chase being the delegates representing the Society at the 
meeting. Dr. T. Stacey Wilson and Mr. W. Wickham King were 
elected Secretaries of the Union, and several motions were proposed 
and carried for increasing the usefulness of the Union. A Conver¬ 
sazione was held at the Quinta, by the kind invitation of Colonel 
and Mrs. Barnes ; and geological and botanical excursions were 
made in the neighbourhood of Oswestry, which were very successful. 
The Treasurer, Mr. R. W. Chase, reports that the amount 
received during the year in subscriptions is £151 4s,, and sales 
of “Midland Naturalist,” 9s., which, with the balance in hand of 
£25 11s. 9d., gave an available income of £177 4s. 9d., the expen¬ 
diture being £171 Is. 4d., leaving a balance in hand of £6 3s. 5d. 
The reduction of the balance in hand compared with last year 
amounts to £19 8s. 4d., a donation of £10 having been given to 
the assistant secretary, and an increase of £9 6s. 9d., made in the 
expenditure on the Library during the year. 
All subscriptions have been paid with the exception of two. 
The total number of members for the year is 192, of whom 7 are 
life members, 137 ordinary (guinea) members, 11 family (half¬ 
guinea) members, 7 lady (half-guinea) members, 5 honorary vice- 
presidents, 20 corresponding members, and 5 associates. 
March, 1893. 
