Genus ANARTA Och. GROUP 2. A. Myrtilli, Ros,-Plentiful on the wing on heaths and mosses. Summer. H. Arbuti, Fab.-Between Spittal and Parkgate, and at Orrel and Ford. B. Partheneus.-Birchwood, Woolton, on the wing. May 1st, 1849. VARIEGATÆ. Genus ABRASTOLA Och. A. triplasia, Lin.-In Gardens, particularly over Valerian Flowers. July P. chrysites, Lin.-Flies over flowers at dusk. June and August. P. Iota, Lin-Flies over Honeysuckle flowers at dusk. July. P. V. aureum, Engr.-In profusion around West Kirby and Frankby, over Briar flowers. GROUP 5. P. Gamma, Lin.-Abundant about clover fields. August. FAMILY 8. Genus GONOPTERA Lat. G. libatrix, Lin.-Plentiful, flying, near old ditches. Comes to sugar. INTRUSE. AMPHIPYRIDE Gn. Genus AMPHIPYRA Och. GROUP 4. A. tragopogonis, Lin.-Under coping stones and on sugar. August and September. Genus MANIA Tr. GROUP 1. June and August. M. typica, Lin.-Abundant about brambles. FAMILY 3. STILLBIDE St. Genus STILLBIA St. S. hybridata, Hb.-On the wing, at Stourton wood, evening. Hangs on long dead grass at night. EXTENSE. FAMILY 4. CATACALIDE Bdv. Genus CATOCALA Och. GROUP 1. C. Fraxini, Lin.-Two specimens only have been taken. One in Mrs. Peacock's garden, Saughall Massey, and one in a smithy, at Uptonthe latter much burnt. SERPENTINE. FAMILY 2. EUCLIDIDE Gn. Genus EUCLIDIA Och. GROUP 1. E. Mi., Lin.-Plentifully flying over meadows at Kirkby, Hale, Lydiate, and Parkgate. May. Daytime. E. glyphica, Lin.-Rock Ferry, Sutton, and Speke. June. FAMILY 3. POAPHILIDE Gn. Genus PHYTOMELRA Haw. P. Ænea, W.V.-Plentiful on Simonswood Moss and Prenton Hill, on the wing, evening. May. [The foregoing is only a portion of the entire list. The remainder, which was not ready in time to go to press, is reserved for a future volume of the Transactions.-ED.] PROCEEDINGS, SEVENTH SESSION, 1854-55. ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING. This MEETING was held in the Committee Room of the Lyceum, Bold Street, on Wednesday, the 18th of October, 1854, at Two o'clock, p.m. THOMAS MOORE, Sen., Esq., in the Chair. The Secretary then read the following REPORT: "At the close of the sixth year of the Society's labours, the retiring Council are able to report the condition of the Society, with great satisfaction to themselves, and they trust also, to the Members at large. They believe that they may speak in terms of congratulation, not merely in reference to past results, but to the promises of future success. "The past Session has been one of more than the average interest, no fewer than nineteen communications, varying in extent and importance, having been laid before the Society at eight meetings. These have been classified, in the contents, under six general heads; and eleven of them have been illustrated by a suitable number of engravings. The Volume for the Session, which is of more uniform interest than some of the others, has been issued to the Members. It was distributed in August; but it was ready in July, and was delayed by the absence of some of the plates. "The collection of the Society has gone on steadily increasing under the charge of our Honorary Curator, whose exertions on behalf of the Society are undiminished. During the past Session, nearly 100 separate volumes, monographs, and portions of incomplete works, have been added to the Library, mainly by donations and the friendly interchange with other societies of a similar kind. Several objects have also been added to the Museum: and there can be no doubt that if we possessed suitable means of displaying them to the Members and others, a very large number of donations would be added. "During the past Session, the attention of the Society was occupied on several occasions with a proposition respecting the Union of two or more local societies, whose objects are in a great measure similar. The delegates from four societies unanimously concurred in the propriety of forming a great society in Liverpool, embracing numerous members of various talents and acquirements, and worked in sections. A union of three of those societies was recommended for this purpose, and the members of two of them, (the Historic Society and the Literary and Philosophical Society), adopted this recommendation, both in respect to the fact and the manner of it. New deputies were appointed by these two societies for the arrangement of details, and a Report, dated May 18th, was prepared and printed, the entire rejection of which would not have interfered with the principles previously affirmed. On the 22nd of June the Report was adopted unanimously by the Historic Society, with a resolution allowing a wide margin on the subject of an equitable name, and another providing for the contingency of either rejection or unnecessary delay on the part of the Literary and Philosophical Society. These resolutions were forwarded to that society, but no reply was ever received, either from its Council or Members. Indeed, to this hour, the Members of the Historic Society are not aware, either officially or otherwise, that any resolution has been passed by the Literary and Philosophical Society, respecting the Report of May 2A 18th-of adoption, rejection, or modification. In these circumstances, the Historic Society re-assembled on the 30th of August, and resolved* to act alone on the principles *The following is the Report which was adopted on the 30th of August:"In compliance with the directions of the Society, given on the 22nd of June last, the Council have turned their attention to the possibility which was then contemplated, of this Society standing alone, and extending its objects and operations. The resolutions which were then adopted were duly forwarded to the Secretary of the Literary and Philosophical Society; but no answer has since been received, either from the Council or Members of that body. The time appears, therefore, to have arrived, when the Historic Society should act independently; and its Council are strongly of opinion that the course which circumstances thus point out will be found to be by far the best, not only for the respectability of the Society, but for the interests of general literature and science in Liverpool. "The Council, however, cannot regret the cordiality and unanimity with which their Members received the proposals of union, emanating, as they did, from common friends. Having no private or personal objects to serve, and being desirous only to promote the public good, by the cultivation of sound learning, they were willing to share their labours, their honours, and their property, on terms of perfect equality. They have the satisfaction of knowing that this feeling is duly appreciated by those whose co-operation they were mainly desirous to secure; but they are unwilling to let the most favourable opportunity pass for securing the primary object, in the delays which are attendant on one that is merely secondary. "In the Report which was presented by the deputies from the four principal learned Societies of the town, dated 10th February last, the formation of a great Society with sectional divisions, was unanimously recommended. The reasons of a public character which were then assigned remain unchanged; and those respecting economy in the intellectual and pecuniary expenditure, have acquired, if possible, additional weight. But it was felt from the first that, in any case, the Members of the Historic Society would form the materials of which this great one would mainly consist; and that the plan of publication hitherto pursued by it would, with slight modifications, be the one adopted. This Society, therefore, is the only one that could adopt such a course alone; and it is the only one which will be able to present from its foundation an unbroken series of annual volumes. "The Laws, which were compiled with much care, as part of the second Report of the delegates, require very little modification to adapt them to the new circumstances of the Historic Society. The following are the principal points : "On the subject of a name, they recommend that the original name of the Society be retained unaltered-The Historic Society of Lancashire and Cheshire. They are fully aware that this expresses somewhat imperfectly the objects of the Society; but it has always been open, more or less, to the same objection. It is, at the same time, that under which the Members have become favourably known to the learned in the United Kingdom and on the continent. From the very establishment of the Society, too, the Members who have taken the deepest interest in its pros. perity have looked forward to the procuring of a Royal Charter; and they will naturally do so now with increased interest and confidence. If a change of name be thought desirable, that will be the proper time to introduce it, when the Society will take rank not merely as the first in a limited locality, but as one of the first out of the metropolis, for the promotion of general learning. "The Council recommend that the Sections be three in number, instead of four-for Archæology, Literature, and Science, respectively. The last of these would include Natural History, in its various branches, as Geology, Botany, Zoology, and Physical Geography. It so happens that this is the division of subjects in use in the Royal Irish Academy; but it is here suggested, not from imitation or example, but on independent grounds. This arrangement would require no alteration in the present number of ordinary Members of Council. The whole eighteen might at once be divided into those three Sections, according to their respective tastes or acquirements; and the six new Members to be elected at the next Annual General Meeting, would of course displace two in each Section. "A triennial change in the Officers and Council of the Society has always been recognised by the laws; and to render the threefold division more complete, the Council recommend that there be three official Vice-Presidents (the Mayor of Liverpool and the High Sheriffs of Lancashire and Cheshire), and three elected Vice-Presidents, one at least of whom shall retire annually. On the same principle they would have the maximum limit of Honorary Members a number divisible by three; for example, 36, instead of 40, as recommended in the Report of the 18th of May. They also recommend the adoption of certain verbal modifications before printing the Laws, having reference merely or mainly to improved expression. "The Council are not yet able to speak with certainty respecting the time and place of holding their meetings. If the Members should think proper, however, to entrust to them the duty of procuring suitable accommodation, they have no doubt of being able to make satisfactory arrange ments, of which they will take care that timely notice be given. Although they recommend the formation of only three Sections, it is highly desirable that there should be four meetings monthly. The fourth would be devoted to miscellaneous subjects, and would probably be even more interesting than the ordinary sectional meetings. It would afford opportunities for verbal descriptions of objects illustrative of Antiquity, Natural History, Arts, Manufactures, Manners of the two Reports of the delegates. The Society accordingly extended its objects and operations from local and special to general; it classified its inquiries under the three heads of Archæology, Literature, and Science; and raised the annual subscription of Resident Members to a guinea, that of Non-resident Members remaining as before. "Since this last date, upwards of 80 gentlemen selected by the Council have been enrolled as new Members, without entrance fee, the proportion of resident to non-resident being greater than on any former occasion, viz., three to one. The privilege extends, for such gentlemen as may be thought desirable, to the 31st of December; and there can be no doubt that a large number of valuable Members will yet be added. The present list contains about 410-a number larger than would have resulted from a union with the Literary and Philosophical Society, allowing for duplicate Members and a few secessions. The Society has also enrolled during the year 12 Honorary Members,+ making in all 27, or three-fourths of the entire number fixed by the new Laws. All of those who were most recently added are eminent for their scientific attainments; so that the list of Honorary Members includes gentlemen of the highest distinction in each of the three great subjects to which the Society directs its attention. "Since the Society was founded, it has several times joined in invitations to the British Association for the Advancement of Science to honour this town with a second visit; and several of its Members attended, both at Belfast and Hull, to give effect to these invitations. At the latter place the invitation was accepted; and the Members of this Society will not soon forget the interesting meetings which were held last month in the rooms of St. George's Hall. The testimony which was borne to the value of our local efforts, as well as the impulse given to intellectual inquiries, cannot but be highly beneficial to the Members of this Society, as well as to the public generally. The Historic Society's operations for the year were closed by a Soiree given to the and Customs; for the reading and discussion of Papers connected with more than one of the Sections; and for the introduction of subjects of general interest, at which an unusually large number of visitors might desire to be present. "In both Reports, certain duties were delegated to the Council of the enlarged Society, which it was expected to discharge before the commencement of the approaching Session. One of these was the selection of gentlemen of high qualifications, and desirous of the honour, to be enrolled without entrance fee. It was felt that among the Members of the other learned Societies of the town, and among gentlemen who have hitherto not been connected with any of them, there are many whose varied talents and acquirements enable them to advance the interests of the Society, and who are desirous to bear a part in its useful labours. The Council of the Historic Society feel that in the altered circumstances such duties will necessarily fall upon themselves; and they will endeavour to discharge them faithfully and impartially. They believe, however, that after the unexpected delay of three months which has taken place, the limit for such enrolments should be extended from the 18th of October to the close of the present year. "The Council feel that the congratulations which were expressed at the close of the sixth Session were well founded, and that few Societies in the kingdom, as certainly none in these counties, can present a parallel to their successful and harmonious labours. They entertain the fullest confidence that the present is only the commencement of a new and more distinguished era; and that they will be able to promote the cause of Physical Science, Natural History, Philosophy, Arts and Manufactures, as they have hitherto done that of Literature and local Archaeology. Nor could any period be more auspicious than the present for extending the principles and enlarging the operations of the Society. It has given decisive proofs of its capability, and has received in return the amplest evidence of public confidence. It is rich in intellectual resources, as well as in funds and accumulating property; and it will stand before the distinguished men of the kingdom, during their visit to the town, as the principal organised body for the promotion of objects kindred with their own." + These were selected by the Council, in compliance with a resolution passed on the 30th of August; and they were unanimously elected at a Special General Meeting, held on the 27th of September. [At the meeting of the Society on the 9th of March, 1854, and again at the meeting on the 6th of April, it was announced that Mr. Mayer had kindly offered to exhibit to the Members of the Society, the whole Faussett collection of Anglo-Saxon Antiquities, recently purchased by himself. About the same time it was intimated that Mr. Thomas Wright, of London, had expressed his readiness to write a paper descriptive of them, and to come down to Liverpool, if necessary, to read it. The thanks of the Society were unanimously given to both gentlemen, and their respective offers were accepted. A meeting for this purpose was fixed to be held in May; but it was found necessary to postpone it till after the close of the Session. On the 11th of July, the Council unanimously resolved to hold the meeting while the Members of the British Associa |