16 
PRESIDENTIAL ADDRESS. 
By A. W. Mera. 
After the Secretary’s report, which has just been read, it appears 
unnecessary for me to go into any details concerning our Society, 
beyond expressing satisfaction at the general progress we have made. 
Considering the unusually poor season that we have just passed 
through, I think we must agree that the amount of work done by the 
Society has been most satisfactory. 
I have often heard it remarked that a season is considered good or 
had according to the amount of work each individual has done, and 
consequently, what one Entomologist may consider a bad season, 
another, who has worked harder, will consider very good ; hut be that 
as it may, I cannot help coming to the conclusion that the season of 
1907 has not been a good one. There is no doubt that the summer 
has been abnormally cold, and to my knowledge there were night 
frosts well into June in the neighbourhood of Brentwood in Essex, 
where I then saw the young oak leaves blackened by frost; and I 
should think probably that not a month during the whole summer 
passed without some night frosts. 
It will he remembered that in the very early Spring there were a 
few unusually hot days, which gave promise of a fine and early 
summer, which, however, was quite delusive. During that early 
burst of heat, I saw several hybernatecl Vanessidae on the wing, and 
also a few Pieris rapae, which occurred as early as March the 
29th and 31st. This is only the second time that I have ever seen 
rapae as early as March, although I know it frequently does occur by 
then ; but with my limited opportunities for observation (having to 
spend most of my time when the sun is shining in the region of 
Threadneedle Street), it was something like 40 years since I saw rapae 
in March, and, strangely enough, on both occasions it was on a Good 
Friday. After that short space of premature summer most of us 
know what an unsatisfactory turn the weather took. 
On June loth, in most unpropitious weather, our first excursion, 
led by Mr. Edlesten, to Warley Common, was joined by a handful of 
members, the party being well protected with water-boots, leggings, 
and overcoats; however, in spite of everything, we managed to have 
a most enjoyable outing. Although our captures were naturally few, 
some very interesting species were taken, including a black specimen 
of Stauropus fagi. 
On July 6th, under rather better climatic conditions, our second 
excursion, to Chalfont Road, was led by Mr. Pickett. We were taken 
through some magnificent country for collecting, but the day was too 
dull for day flying insects, and the only one seen by me was a solitary 
specimen of Lycaena icarus. Nevertheless, the weather was not had 
enough to prevent moths from emerging, and a large number of 
Spilote ulmata were seen, this being the insect of the day. For some 
reason this species appeared to be more uniform in markings than it 
