Societies and Academies

Abstract

LONDON Zoological Society, April 29.—Anniversary Meeting.—Prof. W. H. Flower, F.R.S., president, in the chair.—After some preliminary business the report of the council on the proceedings of the Society during the past year was read by Mr. Sclater, the secretary. It stated that the number of fellows on December 31, 1881, was 3213, against 3309 at the same time of the previous year. The total receipts for 1881 had amounted to 25,810l., against 27,388l. for 1880. The ordinary expenditure for 1881 had been 24,651l., against 24,753l. for 1880; and the extraordinary expenditure 1036l., against 1825l. for the preceding year. The sum of 1000l. had been devoted to the repayment of the mortgage debt on the Society's freehold premises, which had thus been reduced to 6000l. This expenditure had left a balance at the bankers of 1203l. to be carried forward for the benefit of the present year. The assets of the Society on December 31 last, after payment of all liabilities, were estimated to amount to nearly 20,000l., exclusive of the value of the library and collection of living animals. As regards the gardens in the Regent's Park, little has been done in the way of special works during 1881, but the buildings and walks had been kept in good repair, and several of the former had been thoroughly repaired and painted. The number of visitors to the Society's Gardens in 1881 had been 648,604, against 675,979 in 1880. The zoological lectures having been well attended during the past year, would be continued during the present season. The number of animals in the Society's collection on December 31 last was 2294, of which 617 were mammals, 1389 birds, and 258 reptiles. Eleven mammals, 17 birds, and 11 reptiles belonging to species new to the collection had been exhibited in 1881, and during the same year a considerable number of mammals, birds, and reptiles of a different species (of which detailed lists were given) had reproduced their kind in the Society's Gardens.—It was moved by Viscount Powerscourt, seconded by Mr. Howard Saunders, that the best thanks of the meeting be given to the Council for their report. The motion having been adopted, the meeting proceeded to elect the new Members of the Council and the officers for the ensuing year, and a formal ballot having been taken, it was declared that Mr. H. E. Dresser, Prof. Mivart, F.R.S., Mr. Henry Pollock, Mr. W. Ayshford Sanford, and Capt. George E. Shelley had been elected Members of the Council in place of the retiring Members; that Mr. F. Du Cane Godman had been re-elected into the Council in the place of Mr. Edward R. Alston, deceased; and that Prof. Flower, LL.D., F.R.S., had been re-elected president, Mr. Charles Drummond reasurer, and Mr. Philip Lutley Sclater, M.A., Ph.D., F.R.S., secretary to the Society until the next anniversary.