iv Appendix.
At the Animal Meeting in January last, the Council recommended for
election as Hon. Members : Mr. James Britten, F.L.S. (Editor of the
'Journal of Botany') and Professor W. H. Flower, F.R.S. (Director of
the Natural History Department of the British Museum).
These gains and losses give the following results as the census of the
Club at the end of 1885 :—
Showing a net increase of eleven members as the result of the year's
work. 
Taking into consideration the adverse influences affecting scientific
societies, in common with other public institutions, during the past year,
the Council is of opinion that the above figures are by no means discour-
aging. It should, however, be borne in mind that several members at
present on the books may be struck off on the recommendation of the
Finance Committee, alluded to below, for non-payment of subscriptions.
This compelled but necessary action on the part of the Council may con-
siderably reduce the number of members for the ensuing year ; and the
Council appeals to all true friends of the Club to do their utmost to gain
trustworthy and permanent recruits, so that the roll of the Society at the
end of 1886 may compare not unfavourably with that of previous years.
The officers of the Club will be glad to afford any information to those
wishing to join, and it only needs a little vigorous exertion on the
part of our loyal members to give the Society such a membership as
would remove all anxiety as to the prompt publication of memoirs and
other necessary operations of the Club.
Finance.—The Treasurer's statement is perhaps the most unsatisfac-
tory yet put forward, but the Council must decline to bear any blame in
this connection. The expenses have been kept well within what might
reasonably be reckoned as the income of the Club ; but inasmuch as
nearly 130 members have not paid their subscriptions for 1885, the
account shows a balance of £17 10s. od. on the wrong side of the ledger.
In addition there are very considerable arrears of subscriptions from
former years. The Council considers that the above figures are more
eloquent than any words. They have nominated a Financial Committee
to attempt the calling in of unpaid subscriptions and report on the
whole subject. It is for the members themselves to remedy the evil
which undoubtedly exists.
The Library and general expenses have been augmented by the neces-
sary expenditure in connection with the removal to the new head-
quarters at 8, Knighton Villas, Buckhurst Hill ; and the amount of
routine and purely official work now thrown upon the Hon. Secretary
being far in excess of that which can be fairly expected to be performed