1S79.] 
President's Address. 
57 
Hymenoptera, . Mr. F. Smith. 
Lepidoptera, . Mr. F. Moore. 
Neuroptera, . Mr It. McLachlan. 
Khynchota, . Mr. W. L. Distant. 
Spiders, . Rev. 0. P. Cambridge. 
Crustacea, j . Mr. J. Wood-Mason. 
Orthoptera, \ 
The birds have been worked out by Mr. Hume, the fishes by Dr. F. 
Day, and the mammalia (except the bats, which Mr. Dobson has examined) 
and reptiles by myself. I have also compiled the geological portion of 
the work, and I have already noticed that some very interesting fossils will 
be described by Professor Martin Duncan. The parts containing the fishes, 
Reptilia and Amphibia, Mollusca, Neuroptera, Hymenoptera and Geology 
are now ready for issue, and those on Spiders and Mammalia are in the 
press. With so much able assistance, it may be hoped that we shall suc¬ 
ceed in producing a worthy memorial of our late friend Dr. Stoliczka. 
The archaeological literature of India has been enriched by the publica¬ 
tion of two Volumes, VII and VIII, of Reports from the Archaeological 
Survey of India. Both these volumes are by Mr. Beglar. Of the “ Indian 
Antiquary,” certainly one of the most admirably edited periodicals ever 
published in India, parts have appeared monthly. The names of the writers 
in this Journal are sufficient to shew the value of the contributions, and it 
is manifest that the cessation from existence of those scientific periodicals in 
India that have attained Nirvana is due to other causes than want of raw 
material. 
Few subjects of enquiry in India have made so rapid an advance in 
the course of the last few years as Meteorology. The establishment, first 
of provincial reporters, and then of a central office for the whole of India, 
has been succeeded in the last twelve months by a plan of telegraphic 
reporting. From the commencement of the monsoon in 1878, reports have 
been received once daily by telegraph from 3 stations in Assam, 10 in Ben¬ 
gal, 3 in Burma, 8 in the North-West Provinces, 7 in the Punjab, 8 in 
Bombay and Berar, 3 in the Central Provinces, 6 in Madras and 1 in Ceylon, 
or 49 in all. These reports give readings of the barometer, wet and dry 
bulb thermometers, the wind direction and amount of cloud, all observed at 
10 a. m., and the rainfall in the preceding 24 hours, together with remarks 
on the weather. The returns of each morning are received during the day 
at the head quarters of the Government, either at Simla or Calcutta, and 
printed off, with remarks, in time to be issued early on the following morn- 
