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BIRMINGHAM NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY. 
agreeably, and I shall always look back to it with feelings of 
satisfaction and pleasure. 
I take this opportunity of thanking all those with whom I have 
had the pleasure of being associated for the many marks of kindness 
and goodwill which I have invariably received at their hands. 
With regard to our Society, I think you will agree with me that it 
is in a thoroughly healthy condition, both financially and with 
respect to the work which it is doing. The meetings have been 
generally well attended, and on several evenings during the past year 
interesting lectures have been given and illustrated by the lantern, 
to which visitors have been invited, and the privilege has been 
taken advantage of to a great extent. These meetings tend to 
popularise the Society, and spread a love for Natural History, and it 
is hoped that they may also be the means of adding to the number 
of our members, so that, with increased strength and improved 
finances, we may look forward to greater efforts and more useful¬ 
ness in the future. 
Our annual conversazione, which was very successful owing to 
the kind assistance of many of our friends in lending objects of 
interest for exhibition, should also tend to bring our Society under 
the notice of those who are interested in the diffusion of a taste for 
Natural History pursuits. The study of Natural History is to be 
commended from many points. We all feel the want of some 
occupation to employ our spare time and help to turn our thoughts 
from the cares and anxieties of this busy age ; and what better 
object can we have than a desire to enquire into the workings of 
Nature, which takes us into the lanes, the fields, the woods, or the 
mountains, far away from the busy haunts of men, giving increased 
interest to our excursions and holidays, infusing a healthy tone 
both into the mind and body, and preventing our spare time 
from ever becoming monotonous or irksome ? It has the further 
advantage of strengthening the sense of perception, and inculcating 
a habit of accurately observing and noting everything which is seen, 
thereby giving a value to observations which they would not 
otherwise obtain. In this way, by carefully and accurately 
recording all that he observes, the Naturalist is storing up material 
June, 1893. 
