ROYCE FUND
N14EL24/A, 1997-04-29
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   As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 29, 1997.    

                              1933 Act Registration No. 333-23639    

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               SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                     Washington D. C. 20549
                                
                            FORM N-14
                                
     REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
                                
               {X} Pre-Effective Amendment No. _1_    
               { } Post-Effective Amendment No. ___

- ------------------------------------------------------------------------

                         THE ROYCE FUND
                                
                Telephone Number:  (212) 355-7311
                                
       1414 Avenue of the Americas, New York, N. Y. 10019

- -------------------------------------------------------------------------

                   Charles M. Royce, President
                         The Royce Fund
                   1414 Avenue of the Americas
                      New York, N. Y. 10019
                                
                       (Agent for Service)

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------

The  Registrant hereby amends this Registration Statement on such
date  or  dates  as may be necessary to delay its effective  date
until  the  Registrant  shall  file  a  further  amendment  which
specifically  states  that  this  Registration  Statement   shall
thereafter  become effective in accordance with Section  8(a)  of
the  Securities Act of 1933, or until the Registration  Statement
shall  become  effective on such date as the  Commission,  acting
pursuant to Section 8(a), may determine.

Registrant  has  elected to register pursuant to  Rule  24f-2  an
indefinite number of shares of beneficial interest.  Accordingly,
no  fee  is payable herewith because of reliance upon Rule 24f-2.
The Rule 24f-2 Notice for the fiscal year ended December 31, 1996
was filed on February 27, 1997.

                       Page 1 of __ pages
            The Exhibit Index is located on page __

Cross-Reference Sheet

Form N-14 Item                           Caption in Prospectus/Proxy Statement

     1
Beginning of Registration Statement      Cross-Reference Sheet;
and Outside Front Cover Page             Front Cover
of Prospectus


     2
Outside Back Cover Page of Prospectus    Back Cover

     3
Fee  Table,  Synopsis  Information,      Summary of Proposed Transaction;
Risk Factors                             Fee Table; Comparison of Pennsylvania 
                                         Mutual Fund and Royce Value Fund; 
                                         and Reasons for the Proposed
                                         Combination; and Determination by 
                                         the Trustees Regarding the Combination


     4
Information about the Transaction        Information about the Combination;     
                                         Comparison of Pennsylvania Mutual 
                                         Fund and Royce Value Fund; Reasons   
                                         for the Proposed Combination; and
                                         Consequences of the Combination.
                                         See also Prospectus for Pennsylvania
                                         Mutual Fund's Consultant Class dated
                                         April 30, 1997    

     5, 6
Information about Registrant,            Comparison of Pennsylvania Mutual 
                                         Fund and Royce Information about  
                                         Acquired Series Value Fund; Reasons   
                                         for the Proposed Combination; and 
                                         Capitalizations

     7
Voting Information                       Statement Concerning the Special  
                                         Meeting; and Required Vote


     8
Interests of Certain Persons             Not applicable


Form  N-14 Item                  Caption in Statement of Additional Information

     9                           Not applicable
Additional Information
For Reoffering by Persons
Deemed to be Underwriters

     10, 11
Cover Page; Table of Contents    Cover Page; Back Cover

     12, 13
Additional  Information about    Statement of  Additional Information 
Registrant and about Series      of The Royce Fund dated April 30, 1997;
being Acquired                   Prospectus of Pennsylvania  Mutual Fund's
                                 Consultant Class dated April 30, 1997    

     14
Financial Statements             1996  Annual Report to  Shareholders including 
                                 Schedule of Investments of Pennsylvania  
                                 Mutual Fund, which includes audited
                                 financial statements as of and for the  
                                 year ended December 31, 1996; 1996  Annual 
                                 Report to Shareholders including Schedule of 
                                 Investments of Royce Value Fund, which  
                                 includes audited financial statements as  
                                 of and for the year ended December 31,
                                 1996; and Pro-Forma Combining Financial       
                                 Statements of Pennsylvania Mutual Fund as 
                                 of and for the year ended December 31,
                                 1996 (unaudited)    


                         THE ROYCE FUND
                  1414 AVENUE OF THE AMERICAS
                   NEW YORK, NEW YORK  10019

                                            May 2, 1997    

Dear Shareholder:


      The  Board  of  Trustees  of The Royce  Fund  has  recently
approved  and  unanimously endorsed a proposal  for  Royce  Value
Fund,  a series of The Royce Fund, to be acquired by Pennsylvania
Mutual  Fund, a series of The Royce Fund, in exchange for  shares
of  a  newly-created Consultant Class of Pennsylvania Mutual Fund
("Pennsylvania  Mutual").  Pennsylvania Mutual,  which  has  more
than  20 years of operating history and $456,867,950 million of 
net assets as of December 31, 1996, has the same investment objective  
and substantially identical investment policies and restrictions as
Royce Value Fund.    

      As a result of this transaction, Royce Value Fund would  be
combined  with  Pennsylvania  Mutual  and  you  would  become   a
shareholder  of  Pennsylvania Mutual.  The  aggregate  net  asset
value  of  your shares of Royce Value Fund will be equal  to  the
aggregate  net asset value of the Pennsylvania Mutual  Consultant
Class   shares  that  you  will  receive  as  a  result  of   the
Combination.   The Combination is anticipated to be tax-free  for
Federal income tax purposes.

      THE COMBINATION IS BEING PROPOSED BECAUSE IT IS BELIEVED
THAT THE COMBINED PENNSYLVANIA MUTUAL WILL HAVE LOWER ADVISORY
AND OTHER OPERATING EXPENSE RATIOS, BEFORE FEE WAIVERS, THAN
ROYCE VALUE FUND OR THE INVESTMENT CLASS OF PENNSYLVANIA MUTUAL.

     The Board has called a Special Meeting of Shareholders to be
held  on May 28, 1997 to consider this transaction. YOUR VOTE IS VERY 
IMPORTANT!  If the Fund does not  receive a sufficient number of votes 
prior to the meeting date, it will have additional expenses for proxy 
solicitation, and the meeting may have to be postponed.    

      PLEASE COMPLETE, SIGN AND MAIL YOUR PROXY CARD AS SOON AS
POSSIBLE.  IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS REGARDING THE PROXY
MATERIAL, PLEASE CALL INVESTOR INFORMATION AT 1-800-221-4268.

      An  outside firm that specializes in proxy solicitation has
been  retained  to assist the Fund with any necessary  follow-up.
If  the  Fund  has  not received your vote as  the  meeting  date
approaches,  you  may receive a telephone call  from  Shareholder
Communications Corporation to ask for your vote.   We  hope  that
their call does not inconvenience you.

                         Sincerely,
                         
                         CHARLES M. ROYCE
                         President


                         THE ROYCE FUND
                        PROSPECTUS/PROXY      

      This  Prospectus/Proxy  Statement  is  being  furnished  in
connection with a Special Meeting of Shareholders of Royce  Value
Fund ("Value Fund"), a series of The Royce Fund (the "Trust"), to
be  held on May 28, 1997, at which Value Fund shareholders will be
asked to vote on the proposed combination of Value Fund with  and
into Pennsylvania Mutual Fund ("Pennsylvania Mutual"), a separate
series  of  the  Trust.   Under  the  proposed  combination  (the
"Combination"),  Value Fund will transfer all of  its  assets  to
Pennsylvania  Mutual  in  exchange  for  shares  of  Pennsylvania
Mutual's  Consultant Class and for the assumption by Pennsylvania
Mutual of all of its liabilities, which shares will stand to  the
credit  of  the  persons  who  are  shareholders  of  Value  Fund
immediately  prior to the time of the Combination.  At  the  time
the  Combination is effected, each person who, immediately  prior
to  such time, is a shareholder of Value Fund, (a) will become  a
shareholder  of Pennsylvania Mutual's Consultant  Class  and  (b)
will cease to be a shareholder of Value Fund.  If approved by the
shareholders  of Value Fund, the Combination is  expected  to  be
effected on or about June 17, 1997.    

      This  Prospectus/Proxy Statement, which should be  retained
for  future reference, sets forth concisely the information about
Pennsylvania  Mutual  that  a prospective  investor  should  know
before  investing  and is accompanied by a copy  of  Pennsylvania
Mutual's  Consultant Class Prospectus dated April 30, 1997, which is
incorporated  herein by reference.  Additional information  about
the Trust is contained in the Statement of Additional Information
of  the  Trust  dated April 30,  1997.  Additional  information is
contained  in  a Statement of Additional Information  also  dated
April 30,  1997  relating to the transaction described  in  this
Prospectus/Proxy  Statement.  Each such Statement  of  Additional
Information  has  been  filed with the  Securities  and  Exchange
Commission, is incorporated herein by reference and is  available
without  charge and may be obtained, together with Pennsylvania Mutual's 
1996 Annual Report to Shareholders (which was previously mailed to both
Value Fund and Pennsylvania Mutual shareholders) by writing to the Trust 
at 1414  Avenue of the Americas, New York, New York 10019 or calling
toll-free at 1-800-221-4268.    

      The  Trust is an open-end diversified management investment
company  whose  shares  are currently offered  in  eleven  series
("Series").   Each Series generally operates as a separate  fund,
with  its own investment objectives and policies designed to meet
its  specific investment goals.  Pennsylvania Mutual's investment
objective is long-term capital appreciation.  It seeks to achieve
this  objective  primarily  by investing  in  common  stocks  and
convertible securities of small companies.  Production of  income
is incidental to this objective.

  THESE SECURITIES HAVE NOT BEEN APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED BY THE
  SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR BY ANY STATE SECURITIES
   COMMISSION, NOR HAS THE COMMISSION OR ANY STATE SECURITIES
     COMMISSION PASSED UPON THE ACCURACY OR ADEQUACY OF THIS
  PROSPECTUS.  ANY REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY IS A CRIMINAL
                            OFFENSE.
                                
                                
        -------------------------------------------------
                                
                                
                 Prospectus dated April 30, 1997     

              SUMMARY OF THE PROPOSED TRANSACTION

      This summary is qualified by reference to the more complete
information   contained   elsewhere  in   this   Prospectus/Proxy
Statement,  in  the prospectuses of Value Fund  and  Pennsylvania
Mutual's  Consultant  Class  and in the  Plan  of  Reorganization
attached to this Prospectus/Proxy Statement as Exhibit A.

PROPOSED TRANSACTION

      The  Board  of  Trustees of The Royce Fund,  including  the
Trustees  who  are  not  "interested persons"  (the  "Independent
Trustees"), as defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940,  as
amended  (the  "1940  Act"), has unanimously  approved  the  Plan
providing for the acquisition of all of the assets of Value Fund,
a  separate series of The Royce Fund, by Pennsylvania Mutual, and
the  assumption by Pennsylvania Mutual of all of the  liabilities
of  Value  Fund.  The aggregate net asset value of the Consultant
Class  shares of Pennsylvania Mutual issued in the exchange  will
equal the aggregate net asset value of the Value Fund shares then
outstanding.   In  connection  with the  Combination,  Consultant
Class  shares  of  Pennsylvania Mutual  will  be  distributed  to
shareholders  of Value Fund, and Value Fund will  be  terminated.
As  a  result of the Combination, each shareholder of Value  Fund
will  cease  to be a shareholder of Value Fund, and will  receive
that number of full and fractional shares of the Consultant Class
of  Pennsylvania Mutual having an aggregate net asset value equal
to  the aggregate net asset value of such shareholder's shares of
Value  Fund.  No sales charge will be imposed on the transaction,
and,  following the Combination, shareholders will own Consultant
Class  shares of Pennsylvania Mutual.  As a condition to closing,
Value  Fund  and Pennsylvania Mutual will obtain  an  opinion  of
Rosenman  &  Colin LLP, counsel to the Trust, to the effect  that
the  Combination  will qualify as a tax-free  reorganization  for
Federal   income  tax  purposes.   See  "Information  about   the
Combination."

INVESTMENT OBJECTIVES AND POLICIES

      Pennsylvania  Mutual  and  Value  Fund  have  substantially
similar  investment  objectives  and  policies.   The  risks   of
investing  in the two Funds are substantially the same,  although
the  investment restrictions of Pennsylvania Mutual are  slightly
different from the investment restrictions of Value Fund.   These
differences  are not expected to affect the manner in  which  the
assets  of Pennsylvania Mutual will be managed compared to  Value
Fund.  See "Comparison of the Series" below.

REASONS FOR THE TRANSACTION

      For  the reasons set forth below, the Board of Trustees  of
The  Royce  Fund, including all of the Independent Trustees,  has
unanimously  concluded that the Combination will be in  the  best
interests  of  the  shareholders of  Value  Fund,  and  that  the
interests  of  existing shareholders of Value Fund  will  not  be
diluted  as  a result of the Combination.  The Board of  Trustees
therefore  has  submitted the Combination  for  approval  by  the
shareholders  of Value Fund at a Special Meeting of  Shareholders
to  be  held on May 28, 1997.  Approval of the Combination
requires  the  vote  of a majority of the outstanding  shares  of
Value  Fund.   The  Combination will not be effected  unless  the
requisite approval is provided .  See "Required Vote" below.    

     The Trustees of The Royce Fund have approved the Combination
because they believe it would benefit shareholders of Value  Fund
and Pennsylvania Mutual.  In reaching their decision to recommend
Value  Fund shareholder approval of the Combination, the Trustees
took into account a variety of factors discussed below in greater
detail,  including  the  fact that the Combination  would  permit
Value   Fund  shareholders  to  pursue  substantially   identical
investment  goals  in a larger fund, which  should  result  in  a
reduced  expense ratio due to the spreading of certain  operating
expenses  over  a larger asset base.  See "Determination  by  the
Trustees  Regarding the Combination" below.   The  Trustees  also
considered  the fact that the investments of Pennsylvania  Mutual
have been and will continue to be managed in a manner similar  to
Value Fund.  As mutual funds investing in common stocks of small
and/or micro-cap companies, both Pennsylvania Mutual and Value Fund
are generally subject to the same investment risks.  Shareholders of
each Fund also have identical redemption, exchange and other rights.    

      THE  BOARD  OF  TRUSTEES OF THE ROYCE FUND,  INCLUDING  THE
INDEPENDENT TRUSTEES, UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS APPROVAL OF THE PLAN
OF REORGANIZATION.

                           FEE TABLE

     The table below sets forth information with respect to Value
Fund and Pennsylvania Mutual as well as pro forma information for
Pennsylvania Mutual's Consultant Class after giving effect to the
Combination.   The  table was prepared by the Trust's  management
based on the net asset, fee and expense levels of Value Fund  and
Pennsylvania Mutual as of December 31, 1996.

<TABLE>
  
                                                                             Pro Forma
                                                                             Combined(i.e.,
                                                                             Pennsylvania
                                                                             Mutual
                                                                             Consultant Class
                                           Value        Pennsylvania         following the
                                           Fund         Mutual               Transaction)

<S>                                       <C>          <C>                 <C>         

Shareholder Transaction Expenses           
 Sales Load                                None         None                 None
 Deferred Sales Load                       None         None                 None
 Redemption Fee - on purchases held
   for 1 year or more                      None         None                 None
 Early Redemption Fee - on purchases
   held for less than 1 year                1%           1%                   1%

Annual Expenses
 Management Fees (after waivers)          .87%         .76%                 .74%
 12b-1 Fees (after waivers)               .67%          None                .67%
 Other Expenses                           .32%         .23%                 .24%
 
  Total Fund Operating Expenses          1.86%         .99%                1.65%

</TABLE>

      The  purpose  of  the  above table  is  to  assist  you  in
understanding  the various relative costs and expenses  that  are
borne  by  shareholders  of Value Fund and  Pennsylvania  Mutual.
Value  Fund  12b-1  fees  would have been  1.00%  and  its  total
operating expenses would have been 2.19% without such fee waiver.
Pennsylvania  Mutual's Consultant Class would bear  a  12b-1  fee
equal  to that of Value Fund.  A portion of Pennsylvania Mutual's
management  fee  was  waived  in  1996.   Pennsylvania   Mutual's
management  fees  would have been .80% and  its  total  operating
expenses  would  have been 1.03% without such  waiver.   The  Pro
Forma Combined Financial Statements do not reflect such waiver as
it may not continue into 1997.

           NOTICE OF SPECIAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
                         THE ROYCE FUND

To the Shareholders of
Royce Value Fund:

       NOTICE   IS  HEREBY  GIVEN  that  a  Special  Meeting   of
Shareholders  of  Royce Value Fund, a series of The  Royce  Fund,
will  be  held  at the offices of the Trust, 1414 Avenue  of  the
Americas, New York, New York, on May 28, 1997 at 3:00 p.m.
(Eastern Time), for the following purposes:    

           1.   To approve a Plan of Reorganization providing for
     (a)  the acquisition of all of the assets and the assumption
     of   all   of  the  liabilities  of  Royce  Value  Fund   by
     Pennsylvania Mutual Fund in exchange for Pennsylvania Mutual
     Fund's  Consultant Class shares, and (b) the liquidation  of
     Royce  Value  Fund  and  the pro rata  distribution  of  its
     Pennsylvania  Mutual  Fund Consultant Class  shares  to  its
     shareholders.

           2.  To transact such other business as may come before
     the meeting or any adjournment thereof.

      The  Board  of Trustees has fixed the close of business  on
April 18,  1997  as  the record date for the  determination  of
those  shareholders  entitled to vote at the  meeting,  and  only
holders  of record at the close of business on that date will  be
entitled to vote.    

      Royce Value Fund's Annual Report to Shareholders, including
the  accompanying Schedule of Investments, for  the  year  ended
December  31,  1996  was previously mailed to  shareholders,  and
copies are available upon request, without  charge,  by
writing  to the Trust at 1414 Avenue of the Americas,  New  York,
New York 10019 or calling toll-free at 1-800-221-4268.    

                           IMPORTANT

       To   save  the  Trust  the  expense  of  additional  proxy
solicitation,  please insert your instructions  on  the  enclosed
Proxy,  date  and sign it and return it in the enclosed  envelope
(which requires no postage if mailed in the United States),  even
if  you  expect  to  be  present at the meeting.   The  Proxy  is
solicited  on  behalf of the Board of Trustees, is revocable  and
will  not  affect your right to vote in person in the event  that
you attend the meeting.

                    By order of the Board of Trustees,

                    John E. Denneen
                    Secretary
   May 2, 1997    

STATEMENT CONCERNING THE SPECIAL MEETING OF
SHAREHOLDERS OF THE ROYCE FUND


     This Prospectus/Proxy is solicited on behalf of the Trustees of
The  Royce Fund (the "Trust"), for use at the Special Meeting  of
Shareholders  of Royce Value Fund, a series of the Trust,  to  be
held  at  the offices of the Trust, 1414 Avenue of the  Americas,
New  York, New York 10019 (10th Floor), at 3:00 p.m., Eastern Time,
on May 28, 1997 and at any adjournments thereof.    

     The purpose of the meeting is the approval or disapproval of
the proposed Combination of Value Fund with and into Pennsylvania
Mutual.

      The Proxy may be revoked at any time before it is exercised
by  written  instructions to the Trust or by filing a  new  Proxy
with a later date, and any shareholder attending the meeting  may
vote  in person, whether or not he or she has previously filed  a
Proxy.

     Shares represented by all properly executed proxies received
in  time for the meeting will be voted.  Where a shareholder  has
specified a choice on the proxy with respect to Proposal 1 in the
Notice  of  Special  Meeting, his or her  shares  will  be  voted
accordingly.   If  no  directions are  given,  the  shareholder's
shares  will  be voted in favor of this Proposal.   The  cost  of
soliciting  proxies  will  be  borne  by  Quest  Advisory   Corp.
("Quest"),  the Trust's principal investment adviser, which  will
reimburse  brokerage firms, custodians, nominees and  fiduciaries
for their expenses in forwarding proxy material to the beneficial
owners  of  Value Fund's shares.  Some officers and employees  of
the  Trust  and/or  Quest may solicit proxies personally  and  by
telephone, if deemed desirable.  Quest may engage the services of
a  professional  solicitor,  such as  Shareholder  Communications
Corporation,  for help in securing shareholder representation  at
the meeting.

   On  April 18, 1997, the record date for the meeting, there were
14,148,196 shares  of  Value Fund outstanding.   The  shareholders
entitled to vote are those of record on that date.  Each share is
entitled  to  one vote on each item of business at  the  meeting.
Shareholders vote at the Special Meeting by casting  ballots  (in
person  or  by proxy) which are tabulated by one or two  persons,
appointed by the Board of Trustees before the meeting, who  serve
as  Inspectors and Judges of Voting at the meeting and  who  have
executed an Inspectors and Judges Oath.  Neither abstentions  nor
broker non-votes are counted in the tabulation of such votes.    

      No one was known to the Trust to be the beneficial owner or
owner  of record of 5% or more of Value Fund's outstanding shares
of  beneficial interest as of the record date.  As of such  date,
all  of  the Trustees and officers of the Trust as a group  owned
less than 1% of the outstanding shares of Pennsylvania Mutual and
of Value Fund.

         APPROVAL OR DISAPPROVAL OF THE COMBINATION OF
                       ROYCE VALUE FUND
             WITH AND INTO PENNSYLVANIA MUTUAL FUND

INFORMATION ABOUT THE COMBINATION

      The Trustees of the Trust are proposing that the net assets
of  Value  Fund  be  acquired  by  and  combined  with  those  of
Pennsylvania  Mutual.  The proposed Plan of  Reorganization  (the
"Plan"), attached as Exhibit A, provides that Pennsylvania Mutual
will  acquire all of the assets and assume all of the liabilities
of  Value Fund in exchange for shares of the Consultant Class  of
Pennsylvania Mutual at the Closing, which is defined in the  Plan
to  be 4:00 p.m. (Eastern Time) on June 17, 1997 or such later date as
may  be  set by the Board of Trustees or President of the  Trust.
The  discussion of the Plan contained herein is qualified in  its
entirety by the full text of the Plan.    

      As  a  result of the Combination, the shareholders of Value
Fund  will  receive that number of full and fractional shares  of
the  Consultant Class of Pennsylvania Mutual which are  equal  in
value  as of 4:00 p.m. (Eastern Time) on the date of the  Closing
to  the  respective values of their pro rata shares  of  the  net
assets   of  Value  Fund  transferred  to  Pennsylvania   Mutual.
Portfolio  securities of Value Fund and Pennsylvania Mutual  will
be valued in accordance with the valuation policies of the Trust,
which are described under "Net Asset Value Per Share" at page 8
of   the   enclosed  Prospectus  of  the  Consultant   Class   of
Pennsylvania Mutual.  The Combination is being accounted for as a
tax-free business combination.    

     The Trustees of the Trust have determined that the interests
of  existing shareholders of Value Fund will not be diluted as  a
result of the transaction contemplated by the reorganization.

      The  distribution of Pennsylvania Mutual's Consultant Class
shares   to   Value  Fund  shareholders  will  be   effected   by
establishing accounts on the share records of Pennsylvania Mutual's
Consultant Class in the names of Value Fund's shareholders, with each  
account representing the respective number of full and fractional shares
of  Pennsylvania Mutual's Consultant Class due such shareholders
and issued and outstanding share certificates of Value Fund being
automatically cancelled. New certificates for Pennsylvania Mutual's 
Consultant Class shares will not be issued as part of the Combination, 
but may be obtained upon request after the Combination.    

      The Plan may be terminated and the reorganization abandoned
at   any   time,  before  or  after  approval  by  Value   Fund's
shareholders,  prior to the Closing by the Board of  Trustees  of
the Trust.

       All   fees  and  expenses,  including  legal,  accounting,
printing,  filing  and  proxy  solicitation  expenses,  portfolio
transfer  taxes  (if any) or other similar expenses  incurred  in
connection  with the consummation by Value Fund and  Pennsylvania
Mutual  of the transaction contemplated by the Plan will be  paid
directly by Quest.

COMPARISION OF THE SERIES AND REASONS FOR THE PROPOSED COMBINATION

Pennsylvania Mutual
- -------------------

      Pennsylvania  Mutual's  investment objective  is  long-term
capital  appreciation,  primarily through investments  in  common
stocks and convertible securities of small companies.  Production
of income is incidental to this objective.

      Normally, Pennsylvania Mutual will invest at least  65%  of
its  assets  in common stocks, convertible preferred  stocks  and
convertible   bonds   of  small  companies  with   stock   market
capitalizations under $1 billion at the time of  investment.   In
the  upper end of this range, $300 million to $1 billion in stock
market  capitalization, Pennsylvania Mutual focuses on a  limited
number  of  companies  with  superior  financial  characteristics
and/or  unusually attractive business prospects, companies  Quest
classifies  as  "premier."  Pennsylvania Mutual also  focuses  on
companies in the lower end of the range, below $300 million,  the
sector known as "micro-cap."  The remainder of its assets may  be
invested  in  securities of companies with  higher  stock  market
capitalizations  and non-convertible preferred  stocks  and  debt
securities.

Value Fund
- ----------

      Value  Fund's  investment objective  is  long-term  capital
appreciation, primarily through investment in securities of small
companies.  Production of income is incidental to this objective.

      Normally, Value Fund invests  at least 65% of its assets in
common stocks, convertible preferred stocks and convertible bonds
of  small companies with stock market capitalizations under  $750
million  at the time of investment.  The remainder of its  assets
may  be  invested  in securities of companies with  higher  stock
market capitalizations, non-convertible preferred stocks and debt
securities.

INVESTMENT RISKS

       Value   Fund  and  Pennsylvania  Mutual  are  subject   to
substantially similar risks, including (a) the risk  that  common
stock prices will decline over short or even extended periods and
(b) the risk of investing in small-cap companies that may be more
volatile in price than larger capitalization companies.

FUNDAMENTAL INVESTMENT RESTRICTIONS

      Except  as  set  forth below, Value Fund  and  Pennsylvania
Mutual  have identical fundamental investment restrictions (which
may not be changed without shareholder approval).

    Investment Restriction      Value Fund            Pennsylvania Mutual
    ----------------------      ----------            -------------------
                                                      
    Illiquid Securities         May not invest more    May invest in illiquid
                                than 10% of its       securities to the extent
                                assets in securities  permitted by Securities
                                without readily       and Exchange guidelines
                                available market      (currently, up to 15%
                                quotations            of net assets)     
                                
     Diversification            May not invest more    With respect to 75%
                                than 5% of its         of its total assets,
                                assets in the          may not invest more
                                securities of any      than 5% of its assets 
                                one issuer except      in the securities of any
                                U.S. Government        one issuer except U.S. 
                                securities             Government securities
    Other Investment              
    Companies                   May not invest in      May invest in
                                securities of other    securities of other
                                investment companies   investment companies
                                                       to the extent permitted 
                                                       by applicable law
                                            
                    ________________________


      The preceding description of the investment objectives  and
policies  of  Value Fund and Pennsylvania Mutual is qualified  in
its entirety by the information relating to both series contained
in  their respective Prospectuses and in the Trust's Statement of
Additional  Information dated April 30, 1997.  The Prospectus  for
Pennsylvania Mutual's Consultant Class is enclosed herewith,  and
copies  of  Value Fund's Prospectus and the Trust's Statement  of
Additional Information dated April 30, 1997 are available upon
request  by writing to the Trust at 1414 Avenue of the  Americas,
New  York, New York 10019, or by calling toll-free at (800)  221-
4268.    

      Both Value Fund and Pennsylvania Mutual also have identical
redemption   and   purchase  features  and  identical   brokerage
practices.  For 1996, the respective portfolio turnover rates  of
Value Fund and Pennsylvania Mutual were 30% and 29%.  As of April 18,
1997, the record date, Value  Fund  had  net assets of approximately 
$136.8 million, and Pennsylvania Mutual had net assets of approximately
$$423.5 million.    

     MANAGEMENT

     Quest, the Trust's principal investment adviser, manages the
portfolios  of  both  Value  Fund and  Pennsylvania  Mutual.   As
compensation for its services, Quest is entitled to  receive  the
following fees per annum from each series:

               1.00% of first $50 million of average net assets
                .875% of next $50 million
                .75% of average net assets over $100 million

These  fees  are payable monthly from the assets  of  the  series
involved.   For  1996, the fees paid to Quest  were  .87%  (after
waivers) of Value Fund's and .76% (after waivers) of Pennsylvania
Mutual's average net assets for such year.

     DISTRIBUTION AND 12B-1 FEE

     Value Fund and the Pennsylvania Mutual Consultant Class each
has a Distribution Plan pursuant to Rule 12b-1 to provide for the
orderly  growth  and  stabilization of  its  assets.   Under  the
Distribution  Plan,  Value Fund pays, and  Pennsylvania  Mutual's
Consultant  Class  will  pay, a fee to Quest  Distributors,  Inc.
("QDI"),  the  distributor of the Trust's shares, not  to  exceed
1.00% per annum of its average net assets.  The fees paid to  QDI
may  be  used by QDI to pay sales commissions and other  fees  to
those  broker-dealers who introduce investors to Value  Fund  and
Pennsylvania   Mutual's  Consultant  Class  and   various   other
promotional, sales-related and servicing costs and expenses.  The
fees  payable  to  QDI  are allocated between  asset-based  sales
charges  and  personal service and/or account  maintenance  fees.
For 1996, the fees paid to QDI were .67% (after waivers) of Value
Fund's average net assets.

     DIVIDENDS

      Value Fund and Pennsylvania Mutual distribute substantially
all  of  their  net  investment income and net  realized  capital
gains,  if  any, to their shareholders annually in December.   If
the  Combination is approved, in order to maintain its tax status
as  a  regulated investment company and avoid the  imposition  of
taxes  on  undistributed income, Value Fund will make  its  final
distribution   of  net  investment  income  and   capital   gains
immediately prior to the Combination.  The distribution  will  be
taxable  to those persons who are shareholders of Value  Fund  on
the record date for such distribution.

     TAX CONSEQUENCES OF THE COMBINATION

      It  is anticipated that the transaction contemplated by the
Plan  will  be a reorganization described in Section 368(a)(1)(C) 
of the Internal Revenue Code and, as such, will be tax-free for 
Federal income  tax purposes. The consummation of the Combination 
is conditioned upon  the  receipt by the Trust of an opinion of 
counsel to the effect that, for Federal  income  tax  purposes, 
(a)  no  gain  or  loss  will  be recognized by (i) Value Fund upon 
the transfer of all its  assets and  liabilities  to Pennsylvania 
Mutual in exchange  solely  for shares   of  Pennsylvania  Mutual's  
Consultant  Class  and   the assumption of Value Fund's liabilities 
by Pennsylvania Mutual  or (ii)  Pennsylvania Mutual upon its receipt 
of the assets of Value Fund  in  exchange for shares of Pennsylvania 
Mutual's Consultant Class, (b) no gain or loss will be recognized by 
the shareholders of Value Fund on the distribution to them of such shares  
of Pennsylvania  Mutual's  Consultant Class in  exchange  for  their
Value  Fund  shares, (c) the basis of the shares of  Pennsylvania
Mutual's Consultant Class received by a shareholder of Value Fund
in  place of his Value Fund shares will be the same as the  basis
of his Value Fund shares surrendered in exchange therefor and (d)
a  shareholder's  holding period for such shares of  Pennsylvania
Mutual's  Consultant Class will include the period for  which  he
held  the  Value  Fund shares surrendered in  exchange  therefor,
provided that he held such Value Fund shares as a capital  asset.
Such opinion will rely on certain representations of the Trust as
to  Value Fund and Pennsylvania Mutual that are anticipated to be
true as of the date of the proposed Combination, and will reflect
counsel's  analysis and interpretation of existing statutory  and
other authority in the absence of any court decision or published
regulation  or  ruling addressing these questions  in  comparable
circumstances.   The Internal Revenue Service or  a  court  could
interpret the applicable Federal law differently.  The Trust  has
not  made  any  investigation  as  to  the  state  or  local  tax
consequences  of  the  proposed  Combination.       

    At the time of the Combination, Pennsylvania Mutual's net asset
value may reflect undistributed income or capital gains or net
unrealized appreciation in the value of its securities.  Any
distribution by Pennsylvania Mutual of these amounts after the
Combination will be taxable to its shareholders, including the
former shareholders of Value Fund.  Each  Value  Fund shareholder  
should consult his own tax adviser with  respect  to the  Federal,  
state and local tax consequences  to  him  of the  Combination.    

     CAPITALIZATION

      The capitalizations of Value Fund and Pennsylvania Mutual's
Consultant  Class  as of December 31, 1996,  and  the  pro  forma
capitalization  of  Pennsylvania Mutual as of  that  date,  after
giving effect to the Combination, are as follows:

<TABLE>
                                                        Value Fund
                                                     Combined into
                        Value      Pennsylvania      Pennsylvania
                        Fund       Mutual            Mutual's    
                        ----       ------            --------

<S>                  <C>            <C>                  <C>

   Net assets        $145,410,680   $456,867,950         $602,536,130    
   Shares  outstanding 15,152,732     64,250,277           84,744,885    
Share value              9.60           7.11                  7.11
</TABLE>

     DETERMINATION BY THE TRUSTEES REGARDING THE COMBINATION    

      The  Trustees of the Trust have unanimously determined that
Value  Fund's  and  Pennsylvania Mutual's  participation  in  the
Combination  is  in the best interests of each such  series,  and
that  the interests of existing shareholders of each such  series
will not be diluted as a result of its effecting the Combination.
In  recommending to Value Fund shareholders that  Value  Fund  be
combined  into  Pennsylvania Mutual, the Trustees of  the  Trust,
including   the   Independent  Trustees,   concluded   that   the
Combination  would  permit  Value  Fund  shareholders  to  pursue
substantially identical investment goals in a larger fund,  which
should result in a reduced expense ratio due to the spreading  of
certain operating expenses over a larger asset base.

     In particular, the Trustees reviewed the unaudited pro forma
combining  financial statements, including the pro forma schedule  
of investments of Pennsylvania  Mutual as of and for the year ended  
December  31, 1996.   Such pro forma combining financial statements,
which  are  included  in the Statement of Additional  Information
relating  to  the  transaction described in this Prospectus/Proxy
Statement,  show the separate assets, liabilities and  operations
of Value Fund and Pennsylvania Mutual and the effect of combining
them  as  of and for the year ended December 31, 1996.  Based  on
such  pro  forma  combining financial  statements  and  on  other
information  presented to them, the Trust's management  estimated
that,  for  the  year  ending December  31,  1997,  the  proposed
Combination should reduce the annual expense ratio for Value Fund
shareholders from approximately 1.86% to approximately 1.65%,  as
set  forth  in  the  Fee Table on page 4 of this Prospectus/Proxy
Statement.   There  is,  however,  no  assurance  that  operating
expenses  will  be  reduced  to the  extent  set  forth  in  such
combining financial statements and Fee Table.    

     RECOMMENDATION OF THE TRUSTEES; REQUIRED VOTE    

      THE TRUSTEES RECOMMEND THAT VALUE FUND SHAREHOLDERS VOTE TO
APPROVE THE PROPOSED COMBINATION.  Approval of the  Combination
will  require  the  favorable  vote  of  more  than  50%  of  the
outstanding shares of Value Fund.

      Shareholder  Communications Corporation  ("SCC")  has  been
retained by Quest to assist shareholders with the voting process.
Certain  shareholders of Value Fund may receive  a  call  from  a
representative  of  SCC if the Trust has not yet  received  their
vote.  Authorization  to  permit SCC to execute  proxies  may  be
obtained by telephonic or electronically transmitted instructions
from shareholders of Value Fund.

      In all cases where a telephonic proxy is solicited, the SCC
representative  is  required  to ask  the  shareholder  for  such
shareholder's  full  name, address, social security  or  employer
identification number, title (if the person giving the  proxy  is
authorized  to act on behalf of an entity such as a  corporation)
and   the  number  of  shares  owned  and  to  confirm  that  the
shareholder  has received the Prospectus/Proxy Statement  in  the
mail.   If  the information obtained agrees with the  information
provided to SCC by the Trust, then the SCC representative has the
responsibility to explain the process, read the proposals  listed
on  the  card and ask for the shareholder's instructions on  each
proposal.   The  SCC  representative,  although  he  or  she   is
permitted to answer questions about the process, is not permitted
to  recommend to the shareholder how to vote, other than to  read
any  recommendations set forth in the Prospectus/Proxy Statement.
SCC  will  record  the shareholder's instructions  on  the  card.
Within  72  hours,  SCC  will send the shareholder  a  letter  or
mailgram   to  confirm  the  shareholder's  vote  and   ask   the
shareholder   to  call  SCC  immediately  if  the   shareholder's
instructions are not correctly reflected in the confirmation.

     ADJOURNMENT OF MEETING; OTHER MATTERS

     In the event that sufficient votes in favor of Proposal 1 in
the  Notice  of  Special Meeting are not  received  by  the  time
scheduled  for  the  meeting, the persons named  as  proxies  may
propose one or more adjournments of the meeting to permit further
solicitation of proxies for such Proposal.  Any such  adjournment
will  require  the affirmative vote of a majority of  the  shares
present in person or by proxy at the session of the meeting to be
adjourned.   The persons named as proxies will vote in  favor  of
such adjournment those proxies which they are entitled to vote in
favor of Proposal 1.  They will vote against any such adjournment
those proxies required to be voted against Proposal 1.

      While  the meeting has been called to transact any business
that  may  properly  come before it, the only  matter  which  the
Trustees intend to present is the matter stated in the Notice  of
Special  Meeting.   However,  if any additional  matter  properly
comes  before  the meeting and on all matters incidental  to  the
conduct of the meeting, it is the intention of the persons  named
in  the enclosed proxy to vote the proxy in accordance with their
judgment on such matters unless instructed to the contrary.

       SHAREHOLDER PROPOSALS

      The Trust does not hold annual shareholder meetings.  Shareholders
wishing to submit proposals for inclusion in a proxy statement for a
subsequent shareholder meeting should send their written proposals to the
Secretary of the Trust, 1414 Avenue of the Americas, New York, New
York 10019    

       INFORMATION FILED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

      The  Trust is subject to the informational requirements  of
the  Investment  Company  Act  of  1940,  as  amended,  and,   in
accordance therewith files reports and other information with the
Securities  and  Exchange Commission.   Such  reports  and  other
information  can be inspected and copied at the Public  Reference
Room  maintained  by  the Commission at 450 Fifth  Street,  N.W.,
Washington, D.C. 20549.  Copies of such material can be  obtained
at  prescribed  rates from the Public Reference  Section  of  the
Commission, Washington D.C.  20549.

     EXPERTS

       The   audited   financial  statements  and  schedules   of
investments of Royce Value Fund and Pennsylvania Mutual Fund  are
incorporated  by  reference  into  the  Statement  of  Additional
Information  relating  to  the  transaction  described  in   this
Prospectus/Proxy Statement and have been so included in  reliance
upon  the  reports  of  Coopers & Lybrand L.L.P.,  given  on  the
authority of such firm as experts in auditing and accounting.

                                                        Exhibit A
                     PLAN OF REORGANIZATION


     This Plan of Reorganization (the "Plan") pursuant to Section
368(a)(1)(C)  of  the Internal Revenue Code of 1986,  as  amended
(the  "Code")  is  hereby adopted by The Royce Fund,  a  Delaware
business trust (the "Trust"), as of this 13th day of March, 1997,
on  behalf  of  its series designated as  Royce Value  Fund  (the
"Acquired  Series") and Pennsylvania Mutual Fund (the  "Acquiring
Series"),  such  Series  constituting separate  corporations  for
purposes of Code Section 851(h).    

      1.   At the Closing (as defined below), the Acquired Series
shall,  in exchange solely for shares of the Consultant Class  of
the  Acquiring Series and the assumption by the Acquiring  Series
of  the  liabilities of the Acquired Series, transfer all of  its
assets  and liabilities to the Acquiring Series; the Trust  shall
issue, on behalf of the Acquiring Series, and shall distribute to
each  shareholder of the Acquired Series, in complete liquidation
of  the  Acquired  Series, shares of beneficial interest  of  the
Consultant   Class  of  the  Acquiring  Series   (including   any
fractional  share  rounded  to the nearest  one-thousandth  of  a
share)  equal  in aggregate value to the aggregate value  of  the
shares  of  beneficial interest of the Acquired Series (including
any  fractional share rounded to the nearest one-thousandth of  a
share)  then  owned  by  such  shareholder,  such  values  to  be
determined  by  the net asset values per share  of  the  Acquired
Series and the Acquiring Series at the time of the Closing.

      2.   The distribution on behalf of the Acquiring Series  to
the shareholders of the Acquired Series shall be accomplished  by
the  Trust's establishing an account on the share records of  the
Acquiring  Series in the name of each registered  shareholder  of
the Acquired Series, and crediting that account with a number  of
shares  of the Consultant Class of the Acquiring Series having  a
value  at  the  Closing equal to the value of the shares  of  the
Acquired  Series (including any fractional share rounded  to  the
nearest   one-thousandth  of  a  share)  then   owned   by   such
shareholder,  as  determined  on  that  date. Outstanding shares of
the Acquiring Series to be issued at the Closing will be determined
by multiplying outstanding shares of the Acquired Series by the
quotient of the Net Asset Value of the Acquired Series divided by
the Net Asset Value of the Acquiring Series.  Issued and outstanding
share certificates of the Acquired Series will be deemed to have been
automatically cancelled at the Closing.    

      3.   The Acquired Series shall liquidate, and the foregoing
distribution  of shares of the Consultant Class of the  Acquiring
Series  shall be made to the shareholders of the Acquired  Series
in  complete  liquidation of the Acquired  Series.  The  Acquired
Series shall automatically terminate immediately thereafter,  and
shall be dissolved.

     4.   The distribution to shareholders of the Acquired Series
of  shares of the Consultant Class of the Acquiring Series at the
Closing  under  this Plan shall not be subject to  any  front-end
sales  load,  and the termination of the interest of shareholders
of  the Acquired Series in such Series at the Closing under  this
Plan shall not be subject to any contingent deferred sales charge
or redemption fee.

      5.    The completion of the transaction in Section 1  above
(the  "Closing") shall occur on June 17, 1997 at 4:00 p.m., Eastern
Time,  at the office of the Trust in New York, New York  or  such
other  date, time or place as may be determined by the  Board  of
Trustees  or  the  President.  At the Closing,  the  Trust  shall
receive  an opinion of Rosenman & Colin LLP or other special  tax
counsel to the Trust, to the effect that, for Federal income  tax
purposes,  (a)  no  gain or loss will be recognized  by  (i)  the
Acquired  Series  upon  the  transfer  of  all  its  assets   and
liabilities to the Acquiring Series solely in exchange for shares
of   the  Consultant  Class  of  the  Acquiring  Series  and  the
assumption  of its liabilities by the Acquiring Series,  or  (ii)
the  Acquiring  Series  upon its receipt of  the  assets  of  the
Acquired  Series in exchange for shares of the Consultant  Class,
(b) no gain or loss will be recognized by the shareholders of the
Acquired Series on the distribution to them of such shares of the
Consultant  Class of the Acquiring Series in exchange  for  their
shares of the Acquired Series, (c) the basis of the shares of the
Consultant   Class  of  the  Acquiring  Series  received   by   a
shareholder of the Acquired Series in place of his shares of  the
Acquired  Series will be the same as the basis of his  shares  of
the  Acquired Series surrendered in exchange therefor and  (d)  a
shareholder's  holding period for such shares of  the  Consultant
Class  of the Acquiring Series will include the period for  which
he held the shares of the Acquired Series surrendered in exchange
therefor, provided that he held such Acquired Series shares as  a
capital asset.    

      6.    This  Plan  may be amended at any  time  and  may  be
terminated  at any time before the completion of the  transaction
described  in  Section  1, whether or  not  this  Plan  has  been
approved by the shareholders of the Acquired Series, by action of
the  Trust,  provided  that no amendment shall  have  a  material
adverse effect upon the interests of shareholders of the Acquired
Series or the Acquiring Series.

      7.    A copy of the Trust's Certificate of Trust is on file
with  the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware, and notice
is  hereby  given  that this Plan is executed on  behalf  of  the
Trustees  of  the  Trust as the trustees of  the  Trust  and  not
individually, and that the obligations under this instrument  are
not binding upon any of the trustees, officers or shareholders of
the  Trust  individually, but binding only upon  the  assets  and
property of the Acquired Series and the Acquiring Series.

      8.   At any time after the Closing, the Trust on behalf  of
the  Acquired  Series shall execute and deliver  such  additional
instruments of transfer or other written assurances and take such
other  action  as  may  be necessary in  order  to  vest  in  the
Acquiring Series title to the assets transferred by the  Acquired
Series under this Plan.

 9.    This  Plan  shall  be construed  in  accordance  with
applicable Federal laws and the
laws  of  the  State of New York, except as to the provisions  of
Section 7 hereof which shall be construed in accordance with  the
laws of the State of Delaware.

                    THE ROYCE FUND


                    By:   /s/ Charles M. Royce
                    Charles M. Royce, President

Attest:
/s/ John E. Denneen
John E. Denneen, Secretary






                    TABLE OF CONTENTS             Page



     Cover Page                                       1
     Summary of the Proposed Transaction              2
     Notice of Meeting                                5
     Statement Concerning the Special Meeting         6
     Information about the Combination                7
     Comparison of the Series and Reasons for      
       the Proposed Combination                       8
     Investment Risks                                 8
     Fundamental Investment Restrictions              9
     Management                                      10
     Distribution and 12b-1 Fee                      10
     Dividends                                       10
     Tax Consequences of the Combination             11
     Capitalization                                  11
     Determination by the Trustees Regarding
       the Combination                               12
     Recommendation of the Trustees; Required Vote   12
     Adjournment of Meeting                          13
     Shareholder Proposals                           13
     Information Filed with the Securities and       
       Exchange Commission                           13
     Experts                                         14
     Exhibit A: Plan of Reorganization               15    




                        APPENDIX 1

PROXY               ROYCE VALUE FUND              PROXY
                 1414 Avenue of the Americas
                     New York, NY 10019
                              
 This Proxy is Solicited on Behalf of the Board of Trustees
                              
   The undersigned hereby appoints Charles M. Royce and John E.
Denneen, or either of them, acting in absence of the other,
as Proxies, each with the power to appoint his substitute,
and hereby authorizes them to represent and to vote, as
designated on the reverse, all shares of the Fund held of
record by the undersigned on April 18, 1997, at the
Special Meeting of Shareholders to be held on May 28,
1997, or at any adjournment thereof.    

This Proxy, when properly executed, will be voted in the
manner directed by the undersigned shareholder.  If no
direction is made, this Proxy will be voted FOR Proposal 1.

 PLEASE VOTE , DATE AND SIGN ON REVERSE AND RETURN PROMPTLY
                  IN THE ENCLOSED ENVELOPE.
                              
  Please sign exactly as your name(s) appear(s) on reverse.
  When shares are held by joint tenants, both should sign.
  When signing as attorney, executor, administrator,
  trustee or guardian, please give full title as such.  If
  a corporation, pleas sign in full corporate name by
  president or other authorized officer.  If a partnership,
  please sign in partnership name by authorized person.


HAS YOUR ADDRESS CHANGED?          DO YOU HAVE ANY COMMENTS?

- ------------------------           -------------------------

- ------------------------           -------------------------

- ------------------------           -------------------------




X PLEASE MARK VOTES
  AS IN THIS EXAMPLE


   ROYCE VALUE FUND
                                                       For  Against  Abstain

                          1. PROPOSAL TO APPROVE A PLAN
                             OF REORGANIZATION PROVIDING
                             FOR (A) THE ACQUISITION OF 
                             THE FUND'S ASSETS AND THE
                             ASSUMPTION OF ITS LIABILITIES 
                             BY PENNSYLVANIA MUTUAL FUND 
                             AND (B) THE LIQUIDATION OF 
                             THE FUND AND THE PRO RATA 
                             DISTRIBUTION OF PENNSYLVANIA 
                             MUTUAL FUND CONSULTANT CLASS 
                             SHARES TO ITS SHAREHOLDERS.

                          2. THE PROXIES ARE AUTHORIZED TO VOTE
                             UPON SUCH OTHER MATTERS AS MAY
                             PROPERLY COME BEFORE THE MEETING.




Please be sure to sign and date this Proxy.  Date:   Mark box at right if an 
                                                     address change or comment 
                                                     has been noted on the 
                                                     reverse side of this 
                                                     card.  / /


Shareholder sign here  Co-owner sign here         RECORD DATE SHARES:


                         THE ROYCE FUND

              STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
                         April 30, 1997    

      This  Statement of Additional Information contains material
which  may  be  of interest to investors in connection  with  the
proposed  transfer of assets of Royce Value Fund to  Pennsylvania
Mutual  Fund  in exchange for shares of the Consultant  Class  of
Pennsylvania Mutual Fund.  This Statement is not a Prospectus and
is  authorized  for  distribution only  when  it  accompanies  or
follows  delivery of the Prospectus/Proxy Statement of the  Trust
dated  April 30, 1997.  This Statement consists of  this  cover
page  and  the  following  described documents.   Copies  of  the
Prospectus/Proxy  Statement and of the  1996  Annual  Reports  to
Shareholders and Schedules of Investments of Pennsylvania  Mutual
and  Royce  Value Funds, referred to in I and II  below,  can  be
obtained  by writing to the Trust at 1414 Avenue of the Americas,
New  York,  New York 10019 or by calling toll-free at (800)  221-
4268.    

                       Table of Contents

I.   Financial   Statements   and   accompanying   Schedules   of
     Investments  of Pennsylvania Mutual Fund as of and  for  the
     year  ended  December 31, 1996, with Report  of  Independent
     Accountants.

II.  Financial   Statements   and   accompanying   Schedules   of
     Investments of Royce Value Fund as of and for the year ended
     December 31, 1996, with Report of Independent Accountants.

   III. Statement of Additional Information of The Royce Fund dated
        April 30, 1997.    

   IV.  Pro  Forma  Combining Financial Statements and  Schedule  of
        Investments of Pennsylvania Mutual Fund  as of and  for  the
        year ended December 31, 1996 (unaudited).    


     I.  The financial statements and schedules of investments of
Pennsylvania  Mutual Fund as of and for the year  ended  December
31, 1996, with Report of Independent Accountants, are included in
Pennsylvania  Mutual Fund's 1996 Annual Report  to  Shareholders.
Such  Annual  Report  has  been filed  with  the  Securities  and
Exchange  Commission pursuant to Rule 30b2-1 under the Investment
Company  Act  of 1940, as amended, and such financial  statements
and   schedules  of  investments  are  incorporated   herein   by
reference, together with the management discussion of Pennsylvania
Mutual Fund's performance included in such Annual Report.    


      II.   The financial statements and schedules of investments
of  Royce  Value Fund as of and for the year ended  December  31,
1996,  with  Report of Independent Accountants, are  included  in
Royce  Value  Fund's  1996 Annual Report to  Shareholders.   Such
Annual  Report  has been filed with the Securities  and  Exchange
Commission  pursuant to Rule 30b2-1 under the Investment  Company
Act  of  1940,  as  amended,  and such financial  statements  and
schedules of investments are incorporated herein by reference.

   III.   The Statement of Additional Information of The Royce Fund
dated April 30, 1997, has been filed with the Securities and
Exchange Commission as part of Post-Effective Amendment No. 41 to
The Royce Fund's Registration Statement on Form N-1A and is
incorporated herein by reference.    

   IV.   Pro  Forma Combining Financial Statements and Schedule  of
Investments  of Pennsylvania Mutual Fund as of and for  the  year
ended December 31, 1996 (unaudited).    


Pennsylvania Mutual Fund
Pro Forma Combining Financial Statements

The Pro Forma Combining Financial Statements, including the Pro-forma Schedule 
of Investments should be read in conjunction with the separate financial 
statements of Pennsylvania Mutual Fund and Royce Value Fund, which are 
incorporated by reference in this Statement of Additional Information.


Pro Forma Combining Statement of Net Assets
December 31, 1996
(unaudited)

<TABLE>


                                                             Pennsylvania          Royce                               Pro Forma
                                                                Mutual             Value          Pro Forma            Combined
                                                                 Fund              Fund           Adjustments          Fund

<S>                                                         <C>               <C>               <C>               <C>


Investments at value (Cost $302,844,886 and $105,421,809     $449,969,127     $144,546,068                        $594,515,195


   Cash and Other Assets
 less Liabilities                                               6,898,823          864,612          257,500          8,020,935    
                                                               ----------      -----------      -----------        -----------

   Net Assets                                                $456,867,950     $145,410,680         $257,500       $602,536,130    
                                                              -----------      -----------      -----------        -----------
                                                              -----------      -----------      -----------        -----------

Analysis of Net Assets:

Capital Shares at par                                             $64,250          $15,153                             $79,403
Additional paid-in capital                                    285,116,930      103,032,355                         388,149,285
   Undistributed net investment income                               -               -             $257,500            257,500    
Accumulated net realized gain on investments                   24,562,529        3,238,913                          27,801,442
Net unrealized appreciation on investments                    147,124,241       39,124,259                         186,248,500
                                                              -----------      -----------      -----------        -----------
   Net Assets                                                $456,867,950     $145,410,680         $257,500       $602,536,130    
                                                              -----------      -----------      -----------        -----------
                                                              -----------      -----------      -----------        -----------


Pro Forma Combining Statement of Operations
For the year ended December 31, 1996
(unaudited)

                                                             Pennsylvania          Royce                               Pro Forma
                                                                Mutual             Value          Pro Forma            Combined
                                                                Fund               Fund          Adjustments           Fund

Investment Income:
     Dividends                                                 $9,911,040       $2,703,864                         $12,614,904
     Interest                                                   1,174,006          332,511                           1,506,517
                                                              -----------      -----------                         -----------

     Total Income                                              11,085,046        3,036,375                          14,121,421

Expenses:
  Investment advisory fee                                       4,302,768        1,322,009      ($187,500)(a)        5,437,277
  Distribution fee                                                   -           1,518,249                           1,518,249
  Other fees and expenses                                       1,292,957          491,271        (70,000)(b)        1,714,228
                                                              -----------      -----------    ------------         -----------
    Total Expenses                                              5,595,725        3,331,529       (257,500)           8,669,754
    Fees waived by investment adviser and distributor            (198,074)        (505,034)          -                (703,108)    
                                                              -----------      -----------    ------------         -----------
    Net Expenses                                                5,397,651        2,826,495       (257,500)           7,966,646    
                                                              -----------      -----------    ------------         -----------
    Net Investment Income                                       5,687,395          209,880        257,500            6,154,775    


Realized and Unrealized Gain on Investments:
    Net realized gain on investments                          107,094,818       26,488,833                         133,583,651
    Net change in unrealized appreciation on investments      (50,091,647)      (6,780,188)                        (56,871,835)
                                                              ------------     ------------                        ------------
      Net realized and unrealized gain on investments          57,003,171       19,708,645                          76,711,816


   Net Increase in Net Assets from Investment Operations      $62,690,566      $19,918,525       $257,500          $82,866,591    
                                                              ------------     ------------   ------------         ------------
                                                              ------------     ------------   ------------         ------------
</TABLE>


See accompanying Notes to Pro Forma Combining Financial Statements.


PENNSYLVANIA MUTUAL FUND
NOTES TO PRO FORMA COMBINING FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
DECEMBER 31, 1996
(unaudited)
- ------------------------------------------------------------

1.   Basis of Combination

     The Pro Forma Combined Financial Statements reflect the
accounts of  Pennsylvania Mutual Fund and Royce Value Fund
at December 31, 1996 and for the year then ended.  Such
pro-forma financial statements give effect to the proposed
transfer of all assets and to the assumption of all
liabilities of Royce Value Fund by Pennsylvania Mutual Fund
in exchange for shares of a newly-created Consultant Class
of Pennsylvania Mutual Fund.  The pre-existing shares of
Pennsylvania Mutual Fund will become Investment Class shares.



     The Pro Forma Adjustments to the Pro Forma Combining
Financial Statements are comprised of the following:

     (a)  Reduction of investment advisory fee as a result
of greater average net assets reaching the lowest breakpoint
of 0.75 on the sliding fee scale.

     (b)  Certain operating expenses will be reduced due to
economics of scale resulting from the combination of Funds.    




PENNSYLVANIA MUTUAL FUND
PRO FORMA COMBINED SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS
December 31, 1996
(unaudited)

<TABLE>


Pennsylvania       Royce                                                           Pennsylvania           Royce
  Mutual           Value                                                              Mutual              Value
   Fund            Fund        Combined                                                Fund               Fund          Combined
  Shares          Shares        Shares         Security Name                           Value              Value           Value

   <C>            <C>          <C>          <S>                                  <C>                <C>               <C>

INDUSTRIAL PRODUCTS
   114,600        35,400       150,000      Ag-Chem Equipment Co., Inc.*           $2,091,450           $646,050        $2,737,500
   126,100        23,400       149,500      American Filtrona Corporation           5,343,487            991,575         6,335,062
     2,800         9,500        12,300      Ameron International Corporation          144,550            490,437           634,987
    31,018        17,000        48,018      Ash Grove Cement Company                1,760,271            964,750         2,725,022
   105,887        14,905       120,792      BHA Group, Inc. (Class A)               1,707,428            240,343         1,947,771
         0        16,500        16,500      BW/IP, Inc. (Class A)                           0            272,250           272,250
    94,000        42,000       136,000      Blessings Corporation                     875,375            391,125         1,266,500
         0        36,500        36,500      W. H. Brady Co. (Class A)                       0            898,812           898,812
    23,000             0        23,000      CFC International, Inc.*                  258,750                  0           258,750
    45,200             0        45,200      Carbo Ceramics, Inc.                      949,200                  0           949,200
   126,000        25,000       151,000      Cascade Corp.                           2,031,750            403,125         2,434,875
     1,874            78         1,952      Central Steel & Wire Company            1,077,550             44,850         1,122,400
    60,250        15,200        75,450      CLARCOR Inc.                            1,333,031            336,300         1,669,331
     5,330         1,500         6,830      ConBraCo Industries, Inc.               2,318,550            652,500         2,971,050
         0        10,800        10,800      Core Industries Inc.                            0            178,200           178,200
    78,800        22,800       101,600      Curtiss-Wright Corporation              3,969,550          1,148,550         5,118,100
   165,848        47,388       213,236      Delta Woodside Industries, Inc.*        1,057,281            302,099         1,359,380
         0        38,000        38,000      DeVlieg-Bullard, Inc.*                          0            105,688           105,688
         0        15,800        15,800      Donaldson Company, Inc.                         0            529,300           529,300
         0         3,000         3,000      Eastern Co.                                     0             39,375            39,375
   147,332             0       147,332      Fab Industries, Inc.                    4,051,630                  0         4,051,630
    30,000             0        30,000      Falcon Products, Inc.                     427,500                  0           427,500
         0        47,800        47,800      Fansteel Inc.*                                  0            298,750           298,750
         0         3,433         3,433      Federal Signal Corporation                      0             88,829            88,829
         0         7,600         7,600      Giddings & Lewis, Inc.                          0             97,850            97,850
   148,000        46,200       194,200      P. H. Glatfelter Company                2,664,000            831,600         3,495,600
    61,912        19,087        80,999      Gorman-Rupp Company                       843,551            260,060         1,103,611
         0        20,400        20,400      Greif Bros. Corporation (Class A)               0            576,300           576,300
    59,400        14,512        73,912      C. H. Heist Corp.*                        460,350            112,468           572,818
         0         3,600         3,600      Holophane Corporation*                          0             68,400            68,400
   129,700        23,800       153,500      International Aluminum Corporation      3,307,350            606,900         3,914,250
         0        16,800        16,800      Kaman Corporation (Class A)                     0            218,400           218,400
    97,900        27,800       125,700      Kaydon Corporation                      4,613,538          1,310,075         5,923,613
    68,600        36,700       105,300      Kimball International, Inc. (Class B)   2,838,325          1,518,462         4,356,787
         0        12,370        12,370      Knape & Vogt Manufacturing Company              0            204,105           204,105
    41,325         8,325        49,650      Lancer Corporation*                       841,997            169,622         1,011,619
    24,920        23,221        48,141      Lawter International, Inc.                314,615            293,165           607,780
    38,960        23,412        62,372      LeaRonal, Inc.                            896,080            538,476         1,434,556
   323,112        81,149       404,261      Lilly Industries, Inc. (Class A)        5,896,794          1,480,969         7,377,763
    98,190        22,500       120,690      The Lincoln Electric Company            2,970,248            680,625         3,650,873
    51,700         7,900        59,600      Liqui-Box Corporation                   1,680,250            256,750         1,937,000
         0         3,500         3,500      Lydall, Inc.*                                   0             78,750            78,750
         0        20,400        20,400      MacDermid, Incorporated                         0            561,000           561,000
         0        14,200        14,200      Mine Safety Appliances Company                  0            756,150           756,150
    62,000        18,100        80,100      Minuteman International, Inc.             558,000            162,900           720,900
         0        14,405        14,405      The Monarch Cement Company                      0            212,474           212,474
         0        14,405        14,405      The Monarch Cement Company Cl. B*               0            212,474           212,474
         0        10,000        10,000      The Monarch Machine Tool Company                0             82,500            82,500
         0        14,300        14,300      Moore Products Co.*                             0            257,400           257,400
    32,900         5,200        38,100      Paul Mueller Company                    1,233,750            195,000         1,428,750
   136,820        34,755       171,575      Myers Industries, Inc.                  2,308,837            586,491         2,895,328
    22,400         9,900        32,300      Nordson Corporation                     1,428,000            631,125         2,059,125
    42,550        12,366        54,916      Oil-Dri Corporation of America            638,250            185,490           823,740
         0        13,400        13,400      The Oilgear Company                             0            201,000           201,000
   182,900        38,800       221,700      Oregon Steel Mills, Inc.                3,063,575            649,900         3,713,475
   198,500        58,500       257,000      Oshkosh Truck Corporation (Class B)     2,109,062            621,562         2,730,624
   177,350        44,400       221,750      Penn Engineering and Manufacturing 
                                            Inc. (Non-Voting)                       3,635,675            910,200         4,545,875
    49,550             0        49,550      Penn Engineering and Manufacturing 
                                            Inc. (Class A)                          1,028,163                  0         1,028,163
         0         1,000         1,000      Pioneer Metals, Inc.*                           0            215,000           215,000
    73,693        21,200        94,893      Preformed Line Products Company         2,892,450            832,100         3,724,550
   123,400         6,700       130,100      Puerto Rican Cement Company, Inc.       3,856,250            209,375         4,065,625
   107,064             0       107,064      Quaker Chemical Corporation             1,753,173                  0         1,753,173
         0        12,600        12,600      Regal-Beloit Corporation                        0            247,275           247,275
    73,310        21,225        94,535      Robroy Industries, Inc. (Class A)       1,374,562            397,969         1,772,531
         0         9,600         9,600      Sealed Air Corporation*                         0            399,600           399,600
   160,700        20,200       180,900      Simpson Manufacturing Co., Inc.*        3,696,100            464,600         4,160,700
   212,510        66,400       278,910      The Standard Register Company           6,906,575          2,158,000         9,064,575
         0        37,000        37,000      Steel of West Virginia, Inc.*                   0            277,500           277,500
    70,100             0        70,100      Synalloy Corporation                    1,104,075                  0         1,104,075
         0        59,500        59,500      Tab Products Co.                                0            528,063           528,063
    63,700        18,300        82,000      Tecumseh Products Company (Class A)     3,654,788          1,049,963         4,704,751
         0         3,800         3,800      Tennant Company                                 0            104,500           104,500
    96,500        32,750       129,250      Todd Shipyards Corporation*               627,250            212,875           840,125
         0        36,500        36,500      UNC, Inc.*                                      0            438,000           438,000
    76,500             0        76,500      Unifi, Inc.                             2,457,562                  0         2,457,562
    95,132        15,800       110,932      Versa Technologies, Inc.                1,236,716            205,400         1,442,116
    43,500        17,800        61,300      Watts Industries, Inc. (Class A)        1,038,563            424,975         1,463,538
    36,418             0        36,418      Woodward Governor Company               4,807,176                  0         4,807,176
   105,800        34,600       140,400      Zero Corporation                        2,116,000            692,000         2,808,000
                                                                                  -----------         ----------       -----------
                                                                                  110,249,003         33,408,746       143,657,749
                                                                                  -----------         ----------       -----------


INDUSTRIAL SERVICES
    56,500        53,100       109,600      ABM Industries Incorporated             1,045,250            982,350         2,027,600
    64,094        15,270        79,364      Aceto Corporation                         893,310            212,826         1,106,136
   136,900        45,987       182,887      Air Express International Corporation   4,415,025          1,483,081         5,898,106
    64,400             0        64,400      AirNet Systems, Inc.*                     949,900                  0           949,900
         0         8,500         8,500      Angelica Corporation                            0            162,562           162,562
   287,600        83,948       371,548      Arnold Industries, Inc.                 4,565,650          1,332,674         5,898,324
   131,200        46,000       177,200      Guy F. Atkinson Company of California   1,377,600            483,000         1,860,600
         0        16,425        16,425      Banta Corporation                               0            375,722           375,722
    98,400        27,500       125,900      Bowne & Co., Inc.                       2,423,100            677,187         3,100,287
         0        13,500        13,500      Camco International Inc.                        0            622,687           622,687
         0        32,800        32,800      Dames & Moore                                   0            479,700           479,700
    31,600        32,900        64,500      Devcon International Corp.*               193,550            201,513           395,063
     5,000        10,400        15,400      Devon Group, Inc.*                        137,500            286,000           423,500
    77,700        26,200       103,900      DIMON Incorporated                      1,796,813            605,875         2,402,688
   213,800        42,700       256,500      Ennis Business Forms, Inc.              2,405,250            480,375         2,885,625
    22,800        54,300        77,100      FCA International Ltd.*                    35,768             85,185           120,953
         0           280           280      Fisher Companies Inc.                           0             27,440            27,440
   321,521        62,846       384,367      Frozen Food Express Industries, Inc.    2,893,689            565,614         3,459,303
         0        13,250        13,250      G & K Services, Inc. (Class A)                  0            500,188           500,188
         0         4,400         4,400      Global Industries, Ltd.*                        0             81,950            81,950
         0         4,100         4,100      Gulfmark International Inc.*                    0            237,800           237,800
   190,737        57,337       248,074      The Harper Group                        4,530,004          1,361,754         5,891,758
    70,800             0        70,800      Kenan Transport Company                 1,398,300                  0         1,398,300
         0        24,400        24,400      Lawson Products, Inc.                           0            533,750           533,750
   108,600        29,500       138,100      Lufkin Industries, Inc.                 2,715,000            737,500         3,452,500
    95,400        30,900       126,300      Merrill Corporation                     2,194,200            710,700         2,904,900
   165,500             0       165,500      Morrison Knudsen Corporation*           1,489,500                  0         1,489,500
   223,100        70,000       293,100      New England Business Service, Inc.      4,796,650          1,505,000         6,301,650
         0         2,100         2,100      Nichols Research Corporation*                   0             53,550            53,550
         0        15,600        15,600      Offshore Logistics, Inc.*                       0            302,250           302,250
         0        42,600        42,600      Perini Corporation*                             0            332,813           332,813
         0         6,000         6,000      Pittston Burlington Group Brinks Group          0            162,000           162,000
    94,650        20,800       115,450      Plenum Publishing Corporation           3,312,750            728,000         4,040,750
   147,500             0       147,500      Rush Enterprises, Inc.*                 1,770,000                  0         1,770,000
   201,656        54,200       255,856      Rykoff-Sexton, Inc.                     3,201,289            860,425         4,061,714
   103,200             0       103,200      Sevenson Environmental Services Inc.    1,883,400                  0         1,883,400
         0        42,400        42,400      Standard Commercial Corporation*                0            858,600           858,600
    29,300        25,000        54,300      Stone & Webster, Inc.                     922,950            787,500         1,710,450
   264,377        67,500       331,877      TBC Corporation*                        1,982,828            506,250         2,489,078
         0         7,500         7,500      Treadco, Inc.                                   0             78,750            78,750
         0        32,800        32,800      The Turner Corporation*                         0            336,200           336,200
         0        11,300        11,300      The Union Corporation*                          0            258,488           258,488
   194,200        53,800       248,000      Vallen Corporation*                     3,228,575            894,425         4,123,000

         0         2,700         2,700      Werner Enterprises, Inc.                        0             48,937            48,937
    91,900        27,200       119,100      Willbros Group, Inc.*                     896,025            265,200         1,161,225
                                                                                   ----------         ----------        ----------
                                                                                   57,453,876         21,205,821        78,659,697
                                                                                   ----------         ----------        ----------

CONSUMER PRODUCTS
   171,800         5,300       177,100      Aldila, Inc.                              832,156             25,672           857,828
    58,711        16,500        75,211      Allen Organ Company (Class B Non-Voting)2,333,762            655,875         2,989,637
    18,900        11,800        30,700      Baldwin Piano & Organ Company             212,625            132,750           345,375
    73,675        19,800        93,475      Bassett Furniture Industries, 
                                             Incorporated                           1,805,037            485,100         2,290,137
    37,506         6,370        43,876      Burnham Corporation (Class A)           1,106,427            187,915         1,294,342
         0         4,040         4,040      Burnham Corporation Cl. B *                     0            119,180           119,180
   144,225             0       144,225      Conso Products Co.*                     1,856,897                  0         1,856,897
    79,200        25,100       104,300      Ethan Allen Interiors Inc.              3,049,200            966,350         4,015,550
    25,350         6,325        31,675      Farmer Bros. Co.                        3,853,200            961,400         4,814,600
   126,700             0       126,700      Fedders Corporation (Class A Non-Voting)  633,500                  0           633,500
    36,600             0        36,600      Flexsteel Industries, Inc.                475,800                  0           475,800
    77,300        26,700       104,000      Garan Incorporated                      1,497,687            517,312         2,014,999
         0         5,300         5,300      Genesee Corporation (Class B)                   0            223,925           223,925
    30,100         9,500        39,600      Gibson Greetings, Inc.*                   590,713            186,437           777,150
         0        15,350        15,350      Guilford Mills, Inc.                            0            408,694           408,694
    61,200        18,600        79,800      Haggar Corp.                              971,550            295,275         1,266,825
    50,100         3,000        53,100      J & J Snack Foods Corp.*                  676,350             40,500           716,850
         0         8,400         8,400      Jean-Philippe Fragrances, Inc.*                 0             54,600            54,600
    56,470        26,900        83,370      Johnson Worldwide Associates, Inc. Cl     748,227            356,425         1,104,652
   273,200        66,300       339,500      Juno Lighting, Inc.                     4,371,200          1,060,800         5,432,000
     9,900             0         9,900      Justin Industries, Inc.                   113,850                  0           113,850
    94,100        12,600       106,700      K-Swiss Inc. (Class A)                    929,237            124,425         1,053,662
    70,900        23,600        94,500      La-Z-Boy Chair Company                  2,091,550            696,200         2,787,750
         0         1,700         1,700      Lady Baltimore Foods, Inc.*                     0             83,725            83,725
   124,600        38,300       162,900      Lazare Kaplan International, Inc.*      2,133,775            655,887         2,789,662
   114,450        25,900       140,350      Liberty Homes, Inc. (Class A)           1,530,769            346,413         1,877,181
         0        21,950        21,950      Liberty Homes, Inc. (Class B)                   0            289,466           289,466
   273,929        41,162       315,091      Lifetime Hoan Corporation*              3,218,666            483,653         3,702,319
    38,000             0        38,000      Lund International Holdings, Inc.*        465,500                  0           465,500
         0        11,700        11,700      Marisa Christina, Incorporated*                 0             96,525            96,525
    16,100         2,800        18,900      Matthews International Corporation (C     454,825             79,100           533,925
   203,300        71,822       275,122      Midwest Grain Products, Inc.*           3,456,100          1,220,974         4,677,074
     9,800        24,700        34,500      National Presto Industries, Inc.          366,275            923,162         1,289,437
    84,000        15,200        99,200      Oshkosh B'Gosh, Inc. (Class A)          1,281,000            231,800         1,512,800
    38,200        40,800        79,000      The Rival Company                         950,225          1,014,900         1,965,125
         0        11,500        11,500      Russ Berrie and Company, Inc.                   0            207,000           207,000
         0         1,850         1,850      Seaboard Corporation                            0            492,100           492,100
    83,100             0        83,100      Semi-Tech Corporation*                    306,431                  0           306,431
   153,800        29,000       182,800      Skyline Corporation                     3,806,550            717,750         4,524,300
         0         8,400         8,400      The L. S. Starrett Company (Class A)            0            238,350           238,350
         0        32,700        32,700      The Stride Rite Corporation                     0            327,000           327,000
   156,200        51,000       207,200      Sturm, Ruger & Company, Inc.            3,026,375            988,125         4,014,500
   172,900        22,500       195,400      Thomaston Mills, Inc. (Class A 
                                              Non-Voting)                           1,945,125            253,125         2,198,250
   152,600        48,800       201,400      Thor Industries, Inc.                   3,853,150          1,232,200         5,085,350
         0        25,900        25,900      Thorn Apple Valley, Inc.*                       0            343,175           343,175
   484,000        94,900       578,900      The Topps Company, Inc.*                1,936,000            379,600         2,315,600
    65,000        16,400        81,400      Velcro Industries N.V.                  4,062,500          1,025,000         5,087,500
    37,900        26,450        64,350      WLR Foods, Inc.                           469,013            327,319           796,332
    38,500         7,200        45,700      Weyco Group, Inc.                       1,549,625            289,800         1,839,425
                                                                                   ----------         ----------        ----------
                                                                                   62,960,872         19,744,983        82,705,855

CONSUMER SERVICES
    82,700        38,600       121,300      ASA Holdings, Inc.*                     1,809,063            844,375         2,653,438
         0         3,200         3,200      Bob Evans Farms, Inc.                           0             43,200            43,200
   102,300        19,200       121,500      Bowl America Incorporated (Class A)       677,737            127,200           804,937
   157,500        50,300       207,800      Buffets, Inc.*                          1,437,188            458,987         1,896,175
    36,100             0        36,100      Comair Holdings, Inc.                     866,400                  0           866,400
         0        18,800        18,800      Cornell Corrections, Inc.*                      0            166,850           166,850
   143,900        41,200       185,100      Jenny Craig, Inc.*                      1,277,113            365,650         1,642,763
    12,259         4,272        16,531      Grey Advertising Inc.                   3,101,527          1,080,816         4,182,343
         0         5,200         5,200      IHOP Corp.*                                     0            122,850           122,850
   118,800        37,600       156,400      International Dairy Queen, Inc. Cl. A   2,376,000            752,000         3,128,000
    83,600             0        83,600      International Dairy Queen, Inc. Cl. B   1,609,300                  0         1,609,300
    45,250             0        45,250      The Marcus Corporation                    961,562                  0           961,562
    68,600        22,000        90,600      PCA International, Inc.*                1,114,750            357,500         1,472,250
         0        12,000        12,000      Earl Scheib, Inc.*                              0             84,000            84,000
   301,882        34,700       336,582      Shoney's, Inc.*                         2,113,174            242,900         2,356,074
         0         8,300         8,300      True North Communications Inc.                  0            181,562           181,562
                                                                                   ----------          ---------        ----------
                                                                                   17,343,814          4,827,890        22,171,704

FINANCIAL INTERMEDIARIES
    16,975         7,931        24,906      Alleghany Corporation*                  3,598,700          1,681,372         5,280,072
   126,050        39,925       165,975      ALLIED Group, Inc.                      4,112,380          1,302,553         5,414,933
    21,700         5,100        26,800      ALLIED Life Financial Corporation         379,750             89,250           469,000
         0        18,100        18,100      Argonaut Group, Inc.                            0            556,575           556,575
    26,020         5,280        31,300      Baker Boyer Bancorp (Walla Walla, WA)     969,245            196,680         1,165,925
         0        16,800        16,800      Baldwin & Lyons, Inc. (Class A)                 0            298,200           298,200
    83,978        41,700       125,678      Baldwin & Lyons, Inc. (Class B)         1,543,096            766,237         2,309,333
         0         5,700         5,700      Bar Harbor Bankshares                           0            206,625           206,625
         0        12,750        12,750      W. R. Berkley Corp.                             0            647,062           647,062
         0        10,172        10,172      CU Bancorp                                      0            118,250           118,250
    27,000             0        27,000      Capitol Transamerica Corporation          830,250                  0           830,250
   171,142        29,900       201,042      The Commerce Group, Inc.                4,321,336            754,975         5,076,311
    38,349        10,890        49,239      Community Banks, Inc. (Millersburg, PA)   997,074            283,140         1,280,214
         0         5,670         5,670      Dauphin Deposit Corp. (Harrisburg, PA)          0            187,110           187,110
         0         5,700         5,700      Equitable of Iowa Companies                     0            261,487           261,487
         0         1,580         1,580      Exchange Bank (Santa Rosa, CA)*                 0            102,305           102,305
    13,800             0        13,800      F & M Bancorporation (Tulsa, OK)          607,200                  0           607,200
     1,042           264         1,306      Farmers & Merchants Bank of Long Beach  1,927,700            488,400         2,416,100
       715           120           835      The First National Bank of Anchorage    1,147,575            192,600         1,340,175
    74,850        31,920       106,770      Fremont General Corporation             2,320,350            989,520         3,309,870
         0         2,500         2,500      Fund American Enterprises Holdings, Inc.        0            239,375           239,375
   189,800        30,000       219,800      Gryphon Holdings Inc.*                  2,680,925            423,750         3,104,675
         0        20,737        20,737      Hanmi Bank (Los Angeles, CA)*                   0            243,660           243,660
   140,900             0       140,900      Highlands Insurance Group, Inc.*        2,853,225                  0         2,853,225
    59,200         9,500        68,700      Intercargo Corporation                    506,900             81,344           588,244
    37,249             0        37,249      Keystone Heritage Group, Inc. (Lebanon)   856,727                  0           856,727
   167,672        40,356       208,028      Leucadia National Corporation           4,485,226          1,079,523         5,564,749
    57,609        15,704        73,313      MAIC Holdings, Inc.*                    1,951,505            531,973         2,483,478
         0        19,400        19,400      NYMAGIC, INC.                                   0            349,200           349,200
    11,671         7,594        19,265      National Bancorp of Alaska, 
                                             Inc. (Anchorage)                         799,464            520,189         1,319,653
    74,400             0        74,400      Nobel Insurance Limited                   934,650                  0           934,650
         0         6,311         6,311      ONBANCorp, Inc. (Syracuse, NY.)                 0            234,296           234,296
    18,806        16,587        35,393      Orion Capital Corporation               1,149,517          1,013,880         2,163,397
   132,321        18,220       150,541      PXRE Corporation                        3,274,957            450,945         3,725,902
   297,150        15,700       312,850      Pennsylvania Manufacturers Corporation  4,680,113            247,275         4,927,388
   193,500        33,600       227,100      Piper Jaffray Companies Inc.            3,023,438            525,000         3,548,438
    27,825             0        27,825      RLI Corp.                                 928,659                  0           928,659
    19,591         8,251        27,842      Reliance Group Holdings, Inc. Warrant      47,214             19,885            67,099
         0        12,600        12,600      Student Loan Corporation                        0            469,350           469,350
         0        13,600        13,600      Surety Capital Corporation*                     0             55,250            55,250
         0         4,200         4,200      Transatlantic Holdings, Inc.                    0            338,100           338,100
    90,300        23,200       113,500      Trenwick Group Inc.                     4,176,375          1,073,000         5,249,375
    16,757         4,800        21,557      TriCo Bancshares                          364,465            104,400           468,865
         0         9,460         9,460      Webster Financial Corporation (Waterbury)       0            347,655           347,655
    19,400         5,900        25,300      Wesco Financial Corporation             3,627,800          1,103,300         4,731,100
   212,500        29,200       241,700      Zenith National Insurance Corp.         5,817,188            799,350         6,616,538
                                                                                   ----------         ----------        ----------
                                                                                   64,913,004         19,373,041        84,286,045

FINANCIAL SERVICES
   170,500        34,000       204,500      E.W. Blanch Holdings, Inc.              3,431,313            684,250         4,115,563
    45,307        26,732        72,039      Comdisco, Inc.                          1,438,497            848,741         2,287,238
    56,400        21,050        77,450      Crawford & Company (Class B)            1,290,150            481,519         1,771,669
   175,050        43,700       218,750      Crawford & Company (Class A)            3,785,456            945,012         4,730,468
    99,433        10,866       110,299      DUFF & PHELPS CREDIT RATING CO.         2,398,821            262,142         2,660,963
    55,700        16,300        72,000      Eaton Vance Corp.                       2,652,713            776,288         3,429,001
   153,700        38,800       192,500      Arthur J. Gallagher & Co.               4,764,700          1,202,800         5,967,500
   178,500         2,000       180,500      Hilb, Rogal & Hamilton Company          2,365,125             26,500         2,391,625
    47,834        10,570        58,404      Investors Financial Services Corporation1,327,393            293,318         1,620,711
    54,800        13,000        67,800      The John Nuveen Company                 1,452,200            344,500         1,796,700
    49,700         6,300        56,000      New England Investment Companies, L.P.  1,205,225            152,775         1,358,000
   239,900        27,800       267,700      Phoenix Duff & Phelps Corporation       1,709,288            198,075         1,907,363
   176,100        51,800       227,900      The Pioneer Group, Inc.                 4,182,375          1,230,250         5,412,625
         0         4,800         4,800      Poe & Brown, Inc.                               0            127,200           127,200
         0         5,000         5,000      T. Rowe Price Associates, Inc.                  0            217,500           217,500
         0         6,200         6,200      SEI Corporation                                 0            137,950           137,950
   333,900        89,300       423,200      Willis Corroon Group plc                3,839,850          1,026,950         4,866,800
                                                                                  -----------          ---------        ----------
                                                                                   35,843,106          8,955,770        44,798,876
                                                                                   ----------          ---------        ----------

NATURAL RESOURCES
         0        20,000        20,000      Alamco, Inc.*                                   0            225,000           225,000
         0        30,676        30,676      Alico, Inc.                                     0            575,175           575,175
         0         5,000         5,000      Apco Argentina Inc.                             0            127,500           127,500
         0        15,952        15,952      Avatar Holdings Inc.*                           0            510,464           510,464
         0         5,000         5,000      Belden & Blake Corporation*                     0            127,500           127,500
   237,100        71,100       308,200      CalMat Co.                              4,445,625          1,333,125         5,778,750
    39,800        12,000        51,800      Consolidated-Tomoka Land Co.              661,675            199,500           861,175
         0        11,300        11,300      Cousins Properties Incorporated                 0            317,812           317,812
    32,700        13,000        45,700      Devon Energy Corporation                1,136,325            451,750         1,588,075
    50,100             0        50,100      Dreco Energy Services Ltd. Cl. A *      1,834,912                  0         1,834,912
         0        16,200        16,200      Equity Oil Company*                             0             49,613            49,613
    85,900             0        85,900      FRP Properties, Inc.*                   2,190,450                  0         2,190,450
   166,500        50,300       216,800      Florida Rock Industries, Inc.           5,452,875          1,647,325         7,100,200
    59,800             0        59,800      MK Gold Company*                           89,700                  0            89,700
         0        10,600        10,600      McFarland Energy, Inc.*                         0            128,525           128,525
   172,600        57,600       230,200      The Newhall Land and Farming Company    2,912,625            972,000         3,884,625
         0         9,950         9,950      Penn Virginia Corporation                       0            465,162           465,162
         0         5,250         5,250      Vornado Realty Trust                            0            275,625           275,625
         0         7,200         7,200      Western Investment Real Estate Trust            0             93,600            93,600
                                                                                   ----------          ---------        ----------
                                                                                   18,724,187          7,499,676        26,223,863
                                                                                   ----------          ---------        ---------- 

HEALTH
         0         5,400         5,400      Diagnostic Products Corporation                 0            139,725           139,725
   248,800        72,800       321,600      HAEMONETICS CORPORATION*                4,696,100          1,374,100         6,070,200
    50,100        37,860        87,960      Life Technologies, Inc.                 1,252,500            946,500         2,199,000
    10,000             0        10,000      Nitinol Medical Technologies, Inc.*       125,000                  0           125,000
                                                                                    ---------          ---------         ---------

                                                                                     6,073,600         2,460,325         8,533,925
                                                                                     ---------         ---------         ---------

TECHNOLOGY
         0         5,900         5,900      American Power Conversion Corporation           0            160,775           160,775
         0        18,900        18,900      Astrosystems, Inc.*                             0             89,775            89,775
   128,200             0       128,200      BGS Systems, Inc.                       3,509,475                  0         3,509,475
         0        12,064        12,064      Bell Industries, Inc.*                          0            257,868           257,868
    62,300         7,700        70,000      CEM Corporation*                          498,400             61,600           560,000
         0         2,100         2,100      Cohu, Inc.                                      0             48,825            48,825
    18,887         7,775        26,662      DH Technology, Inc.*                      453,288            186,600           639,888
   108,500         5,500       114,000      Dallas Semiconductor Corporation        2,495,500            126,500         2,622,000
    52,838        12,800        65,638      Dionex Corporation*                     1,849,330            448,000         2,297,330
   171,200        29,000       200,200      Electroglas, Inc.*                      2,760,600            467,625         3,228,225
    77,200        73,900       151,100      Exar Corporation*                       1,196,600          1,145,450         2,342,050
    49,205         5,156        54,361      Hach Company                              934,895             97,964         1,032,859
    18,900             0        18,900      ILC Technology, Inc.*                     245,700                  0           245,700
     9,600         3,200        12,800      MacNeal-Schwendler Corporation*            75,600             25,200           100,800
   174,100        53,500       227,600      Marshall Industries*                    5,331,813          1,638,438         6,970,251
         0        15,600        15,600      Milgray Electronics, Inc.*                      0            230,100           230,100
    46,400         9,200        55,600      Modern Controls, Inc.                     487,200             96,600           583,800
   164,703        47,200       211,903      National Computer Systems, Inc.         4,199,926          1,203,600         5,403,526
   138,900             0       138,900      Newport Corporation                     1,232,737                  0         1,232,737
    83,200        23,800       107,000      PCD Inc.*                               1,081,600            309,400         1,391,000
         0        16,925        16,925      Pioneer-Standard Electronics, Inc.              0            222,141           222,141
   107,862        18,200       126,062      Richardson Electronics, Ltd.              889,862            150,150         1,040,012
   248,900       102,100       351,000      Scitex Corporation Limited              2,364,550            969,950         3,334,500
         0        12,600        12,600      Sunair Electronics, Inc.*                       0             26,775            26,775
    53,150        11,100        64,250      Woodhead Industries, Inc.                 730,812            152,625           883,437
         0        10,000        10,000      XATA Corporation*                               0             71,250            71,250
                                                                                   ----------          ---------        ----------

                                                                                   30,337,888          8,187,211        38,525,099
                                                                                   ----------          ---------        ----------

RETAIL
         0         5,000         5,000      J. Baker, Inc.                                  0             26,563            26,563
         0        20,500        20,500      Blair Corporation                               0            394,625           394,625
    91,900             0        91,900      CATHERINES STORES CORPORATION*            505,450                  0           505,450
    73,000             0        73,000      Cato Corporation (Class A)                365,000                  0           365,000
   229,400        57,200       286,600      Charming Shoppes, Inc.*                 1,161,337            289,575         1,450,912
    35,800        11,500        47,300      Claire's Stores, Inc.                     465,400            149,500           614,900
         0         5,700         5,700      Crown Books Corporation*                        0             66,975            66,975
         0         4,900         4,900      Dart Group Corporation (Class A)                0            455,700           455,700
         0        50,800        50,800      Deb Shops Inc.                                  0            215,900           215,900
   270,800        86,700       357,500      The Dress Barn, Inc.*                   4,062,000          1,300,500         5,362,500
   206,700        82,000       288,700      Family Dollar Stores, Inc.              4,211,513          1,670,750         5,882,263
   120,000        37,300       157,300      Mikasa, Inc.*                           1,230,000            382,325         1,612,325
   160,555        58,905       219,460      Pier 1 Imports, Inc.                    2,829,781          1,038,201         3,867,982
   183,300        66,200       249,500      Sotheby's Holdings, Inc. (Class A)      3,413,963          1,232,975         4,646,938
   172,000        47,500       219,500      Stanhome Inc.                           4,558,000          1,258,750         5,816,750
    89,600        21,800       111,400      The Talbots, Inc.                       2,564,800            624,025         3,188,825
                                                                                   ----------          ---------        ----------
                                                                                   
                                                                                   25,367,244          9,106,364        34,473,608
UTILITIES                                                                          ----------          ---------        ----------

    83,829        17,889       101,718      Southern Union Company                  1,844,258            393,558         2,237,815
    36,600         9,638        46,238      Southwest Water Company                   507,825            133,733           641,558
                                                                                    ---------            -------         ---------
                                                                                    2,352,083            527,291         2,879,374
PREFERRED STOCKS                                                                    ---------            -------         ---------

    28,600         4,100        32,700      Bird Corp. ($1.85 Cv. Pfd.)               450,450             64,575           515,025
         0         12,500      12,500       Sterling Financial Corporation $1.812           
                                               Conv.                                        0            384,375           384,375
                                                                                      -------            -------           -------
                                                                                      450,450            448,950           899,400
                                                                                      -------            -------           -------

REPURCHASE AGREEMENT
           State Street Bank and Trust Company, 4.90% dated
           12/31/96, due 1/02/97, maturity value $17,904,872
           and $8,802,396, respectively (collateralized by
           U.S. Treasury Notes, 5.75%, due 12/31/98,
           valued at $18,260,002 and $8,980,165, respectively)                     17,900,000          8,800,000        26,700,000
                                                                                   ----------          ---------        ----------



TOTAL INVESTMENTS                                                                $449,969,127       $144,546,068      $594,515,195
                                                                                  -----------        -----------       -----------
                                                                                  -----------        -----------       -----------
</TABLE>
                              PART C -- OTHER INFORMATION


Item 15.  Indemnification

      (a)   Article  XI  of  the  Declaration  of  Trust  of  the
Registrant provides as follows:

                          "ARTICLE XI
          LIMITATION OF LIABILITY AND INDEMNIFICATION

LIMITATION OF LIABILITY

                Section  l.   Provided they  have  exercised
     reasonable  care and have acted under the  belief  that
     their  actions are in the best interest of  the  Trust,
     the Trustees shall not be responsible for or liable  in
     any  event  for  neglect  or wrongdoing  of  any  other
     Trustee  or  any officer, employee, agent or Investment
     Adviser,   Principal   Underwriter,   transfer   agent,
     custodian or other independent contractor of the Trust,
     but  nothing contained herein shall protect any Trustee
     against  any  liability to which he would otherwise  be
     subject  by  reason of willful misfeasance, bad  faith,
     gross  negligence in the performance of his  duties  or
     reckless  disregard  of  the  obligations  and   duties
     involved in the conduct of his office.

                 Every  note,  bond,  contract,  instrument,
     certificate or undertaking and every other act or thing
     whatsoever  executed or done by or  on  behalf  of  the
     Trust or the Trustees or any of them in connection with
     the  Trust  shall be conclusively deemed to  have  been
     executed  or done only in or with respect to  their  or
     his  capacity as Trustees or Trustee, and such Trustees
     or Trustee shall not be personally liable thereon.


     INDEMNIFICATION

               Section 2.

                 (a)    Subject   to  the   exceptions   and
     limitations contained in Section 2(b) below:

                     (i)   Every person who is, or has been,
     a  Trustee  or officer of the Trust (including  persons
     who serve at the Trust's request as directors, officers
     or  trustees of another entity in which the  Trust  has
     any  interest as a shareholder, creditor or  otherwise)
     (hereinafter  referred to as a "Covered Person")  shall
     be  indemnified by the appropriate Fund to the  fullest
     extent  not  prohibited  by law against  liability  and
     against all expenses reasonably incurred or paid by him
     in   connection  with  any  claim,  action,   suit   or
     proceeding in which he becomes involved as a  party  or
     otherwise  by  virtue of his being  or  having  been  a
     Trustee or officer and against amounts paid or incurred
     by him in the settlement thereof; and


                       (ii)       The  words  "claim",  "action",
"suit" or "proceeding" shall apply to all claims, actions,  suits
or proceedings (civil, criminal, administrative, investigatory or
other,  including appeals), actual or threatened, while in office
or  thereafter,  and the words "liability" and  "expenses"  shall
include,  without limitation, attorneys' fees, costs,  judgments,
amounts   paid   in  settlement,  fines,  penalties   and   other
liabilities.

                (b)    No  indemnification shall be provided
     hereunder to a Covered Person:

                     (i)    Who  shall, in  respect  of  the
     matter or matters involved, have been adjudicated by  a
     court or body before which the proceeding
     was  brought  (A)  to be liable to  the  Trust  or  its
     Shareholders  by  reason  of willful  misfeasance,  bad
     faith,  gross  negligence in  the  performance  of  his
     duties  or  reckless disregard of the  obligations  and
     duties involved in the conduct of his office or (B) not
     to  have acted in the belief that his action was in the
     best interest of the Trust; or

                     (ii)   In  the  event of a  settlement,
     unless there has been a determination that such Trustee
     or  officer did not engage in willful misfeasance,  bad
     faith,  gross negligence or reckless disregard  of  the
     duties involved in the conduct of his office,

                          (A)    By the court or other  body
     approving the settlement;

                           (B)    By  a  majority  of  those
     Trustees  who  are neither Interested  Persons  of  the
     Trust  nor  are  parties to the matter,  based  upon  a
     review of readily available facts (as opposed to a full
     trial-type inquiry); or

                           (C)     By  written  opinion   of
     independent  legal  counsel, based  upon  a  review  of
     readily   available  facts  (as  opposed  to   a   full
     trial-type inquiry).

                (c)    The rights of indemnification  herein
     provided  may be insured against by policies maintained
     by   the  Trust,  shall  be  severable,  shall  not  be
     exclusive  of or affect any other rights to  which  any
     Covered Person may now or hereafter be entitled,  shall
     continue  as  to  a person who has ceased  to  be  such
     Trustee  or  officer and shall inure to the benefit  of
     the  heirs,  executors  and administrators  of  such  a
     person.   Nothing  contained herein  shall  affect  any
     rights  to  indemnification to which  Trust  personnel,
     other than Trustees and officers, and other persons may
     be entitled by contract or otherwise under law.

                (d)   Expenses in connection with the preparation
and  presentation  of  a defense to any claim,  action,  suit  or
proceeding  of  the  type  described in subsection  (a)  of  this
Section  2 may be paid by the applicable Fund from time  to  time
prior to final disposition thereof upon receipt of an undertaking
by  or on behalf of such Covered Person that such amount will  be
paid  over  by  him  to the applicable Fund if  and  when  it  is
ultimately  determined that he is not entitled to indemnification
under  this  Section 2; provided, however, that either  (i)  such
Covered Person shall have provided appropriate security for  such
undertaking, (ii) the Trust is insured against losses arising out
of  any  such advance payments or (iii) either a majority of  the
Trustees  who  are neither Interested Persons of  the  Trust  nor
parties  to the matter, or independent legal counsel in a written
opinion,  shall have determined, based upon a review  of  readily
available  facts  (as  opposed to a trial-type  inquiry  or  full
investigation), that there is reason to believe that such Covered
Person  will  be  found  entitled to indemnification  under  this
Section 2."

           (b)(1)     Paragraph  8  of  the  Investment  Advisory
Agreements by and between the Registrant and Quest Advisory Corp.
provides as follows:

                "8.  Protection of the Adviser.  The Adviser
     shall  not  be liable to the Trust or to any  portfolio
     series  thereof for any action taken or omitted  to  be
     taken by the Adviser in connection with the performance
     of   any  of  its  duties  or  obligations  under  this
     Agreement or otherwise as an investment adviser of  the
     Trust  or  such series, and the Trust or each portfolio
     series  thereof  involved, as the case  may  be,  shall
     indemnify  the  Adviser and hold it harmless  from  and
     against  all  damages, liabilities, costs and  expenses
     (including  reasonable  attorneys'  fees  and   amounts
     reasonably paid in settlement) incurred by the  Adviser
     in or by reason of any pending, threatened or completed
     action,   suit,   investigation  or  other   proceeding
     (including an action or suit by or in the right of  the
     Trust or any portfolio  series thereof or its security 
     holders)  arising out of or otherwise based upon any 
     action actually or allegedly taken or omitted to be taken 
     by the Adviser in connection with the performance of any  
     of its duties or obligations under this Agreement or 
     otherwise as an investment adviser of the Trust or such 
     series.  Notwithstanding the preceding sentence of this 
     Paragraph 8 to the contrary, nothing contained herein  
     shall protect or be deemed to protect the Adviser against 
     or entitle or be deemed to entitle the Adviser to
     indemnification in respect of, any liability to the Trust  
     or to any portfolio series thereof or its security holders 
     to which the Adviser would otherwise be subject by reason of   
     willful misfeasance, bad faith or gross negligence in the 
     performance of its duties or by reason of its reckless 
     disregard of its duties and obligations under this Agreement.

     Determinations  of  whether and  the  extent  to  which  the
     Adviser  is  entitled to         indemnification  hereunder
     shall be made by reasonable and fair means, including (a)  a
     final decision on the merits by a court or other body before
     whom  the action, suit or other proceeding was brought  that
     the Adviser was not liable by reason of willful misfeasance,
     bad  faith,  gross negligence or reckless disregard  of  its
     duties or (b) in the absence of such a decision, a reasonable 
     determination, based upon a review of the facts, that the Adviser
     was not liable by reason of such misconduct by (i) the vote
     of a majority of a quorum of the Trustees of the Trust  who
     are neither "interested persons" of the Trust (as defined in
     Section 2(a)(19) of the Investment Company Act of 1940)  nor
     parties  to the action, suit or other proceeding or (ii)  an
     independent legal counsel in a written opinion."

           (c)   Paragraph  9 of the Distribution Agreement  made
October  31,  1985  by  and  between  the  Registrant  and  Quest
Distributors, Inc. provides as follows:

                "9.   Protection  of the  Distributor.   The
     Distributor shall not be liable to the Trust or to  any
     series  thereof for any action taken or omitted  to  be
     taken  by  the  Distributor  in  connection  with   the
     performance  of any of its duties or obligations  under
     this  Agreement or otherwise as an underwriter  of  the
     Shares,  and the Trust or each portfolio series thereof
     involved,  as  the  case may be,  shall  indemnify  the
     Distributor  and hold it harmless from and against  all
     damages,  liabilities,  costs and  expenses  (including
     reasonable attorneys' fees and amounts reasonably  paid
     in  settlement) incurred by the Distributor  in  or  by
     reason  of any pending, threatened or completed action,
     suit,  investigation or other proceeding (including  an
     action  or suit by or in the right of the Trust or  any
     series thereof or
     its security holders) arising out of or otherwise based
     upon  any action actually or allegedly taken or omitted
     to  be taken by the Distributor in connection with  the
     performance  of any of its duties or obligations  under
     this  Agreement or otherwise as an underwriter  of  the
     Shares.   Notwithstanding the  preceding  sentences  of
     this  Paragraph  9  to the contrary, nothing  contained
     herein  shall  protect  or be  deemed  to  protect  the
     Distributor against, or entitle or be deemed to entitle
     the  Distributor to indemnification in respect of,  any
     liability  to  the  Trust or to  any  portfolio  series
     thereof   or   its  security  holders  to   which   the
     Distributor  would otherwise be subject  by  reason  of
     willful  misfeasance, bad faith or gross negligence  in
     the  performance  of its duties or  by  reason  of  its
     reckless disregard of its duties and obligations  under
     this Agreement.

           Determinations of whether and to  the  extent  to
     which  the  Distributor is entitled to  indemnification
     hereunder  shall be made by reasonable and fair  means,
     including (a) a final decision on the merits by a court
     or  other  body before whom the action, suit  or  other
     proceeding  was  brought that the Distributor  was  not
     liable  by  reason of willful misfeasance,  bad  faith,
     gross negligence or reckless disregard of its duties or
     (b)  in  the  absence of such a decision, a  reasonable
     determination, based upon a review of the  facts,  that
     the  Distributor  was  not liable  by  reason  of  such
     misconduct by (a) the vote of a majority of a quorum of
     the  Trustees of the Trust who are neither  "interested
     persons"  of the Trust (as defined in Section  2(a)(19)
     of  the  1940 Act) nor parties to the action,  suit  or
     other proceeding or (b) an independent legal counsel in
     a written opinion."
     Item 16.  Exhibits:

                The Exhibits required by Items 16(1) through (4),
          (5), (7), (8), (10), (13) (16) and  (17), to the extent
          applicable  to  the Registrant, have  been  filed  with
          Registrant's  initial Registration  Statement  (No.  2-
          80348) and Post-Effective Amendment Nos. 4, 5, 6, 8, 9,
          11, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 26, 27,
          28,  29,  30, 31, 32, 33, 34 and 35 thereto  and,  with
          respect   to  Pennsylvania  Mutual  Fund,  its  initial
          Registration Statement (No. 2-19995) and Post-Effective
          Amendment Nos. 43, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 51, 52, 53,  56,
          and  58 and with the Registrant's Registration Statement  
          (No. 333-23639) thereto, and are incorporated by reference
          herein.    
       
          (11)  Opinion and Consent of Counsel as to the legality of the
          securities being registered.       


          (12)  Opinion and Consent of Counsel as to tax  matters
          and consequences to shareholders.    

          (14)  Consent of Coopers & Lybrand L.L.P.  relating  to
          Royce Value Fund and Pennsylvania Mutual Fund.

          (17)  Financial Data Schedule.    

       

Item 17.  Undertakings

          (1)   The  undersigned Registrant agrees that prior  to
          any  public  reoffering  of the  securities  registered
          through the use of a prospectus which is a part of this
          registration  statement by any person or party  who  is
          deemed to be an underwriter within the meaning of  Rule
          145(c)  of  the  Securities Act [17 CFR 230.145c],  the
          reoffering  prospectus  will  contain  the  information
          called for by the applicable registration form for  the
          reofferings  by persons who may be deemed underwriters,
          in  addition to the information called for by the other
          items of the applicable form.

          (2)   The  undersigned  Registrant  agrees  that  every
          prospectus that is filed under paragraph (1) above will
          be  filed as a part of an amendment to the registration
          statement  and will not be used until the amendment  is
          effective, and that, in determining any liability under
          the  1933  Act, each post-effective amendment shall  be
          deemed  to  be  a  new registration statement  for  the
          securities  offered therein, and the  offering  of  the
          securities  at  that time shall be  deemed  to  be  the
          initial bona fide offering of them.

          (3)   The undersigned Registrant agrees that an opinion
          as to the tax consequences of the Combination will be
          filed as part of a post-effective amendment to this
          Registration Statement once the Combination has been
          completed.    



                                SIGNATURES
                                     
     Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933 and the
Investment Company Act of 1940, the Registrant has duly caused this
registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned,
thereunto duly authorized, in the City of New York and State of New York on
the 28th day of April, 1997.    



                                        THE ROYCE FUND


                                   By:  S/CHARLES M. ROYCE
                                        Charles M. Royce, President

     Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this
registration statement has been signed below by the following persons in
the capacities and on the dates indicated.

SIGNATURE                   TITLE                      DATE
                                                       
   S/CHARLES M. ROYCE       President, Treasurer and   4/28/97
Charles M. Royce            Trustee
                            (Principal Executive,
                            Accounting
                            and Financial Officer)
                            
S/HUBERT L. CAFRITZ                                                
Hubert L. Cafritz           Trustee                    4/28/97

S/THOMAS R. EBRIGHT                                                
Thomas R. Ebright           Trustee                    4/28/97

S/RICHARD M GALKIN                                                
Richard M. Galkin           Trustee                    4/28/97

S/STEPHEN L. ISAACS                                                
Stephen L. Isaacs           Trustee                    4/28/97

S/WILLIAM L. KOKE                                                
William L. Koke             Trustee                    4/28/97

S/DAVID L. MEISTER                                                
David L. Meister            Trustee                    4/28/97    
                                     
                                  NOTICE
                                     
     A copy of the Trust Instrument of The Royce Fund is available for
inspection at the office of the Registrant, and notice is hereby given that
this instrument is executed on behalf of the Registrant by an officer of
the Registrant as an officer and not individually and that the obligations
of or arising out of this instrument are not binding upon any of the
Trustees or shareholders individually but are binding only upon the assets
and property of the Registrant


                         THE ROYCE FUNDS
                   1414 AVENUE OF THE AMERICAS
                    NEW YORK, NEW YORK 10019



                                   April 28, 1997



The Royce Fund
1414 Avenue of the Americas
New York, NY 10019

Dear Sirs:

      I am General Counsel to The Royce Fund, a Delaware business
trust (the "Trust").  In connection with the proposed combination
(the  "Combination") of Royce Value Fund, a series of the  Trust,
into Pennsylvania Mutual Fund, another  series of the Trust,  and
the registration under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, of
shares of beneficial interest of the Trust in Pennsylvania Mutual
Fund,  to be issued in exchange for shares of beneficial interest
of the Trust in Royce Value Fund, I have examined such matters as
I have deemed necessary, including the Plan of Reorganization for 
the  Combination adopted by the Trust as of March  13,  1997  and
resolutions of the Trust's Board of Trustees pertaining  thereto.
Based on the foregoing, I am of the opinion that:

           (i)  The Trust is a Delaware business trust duly formed 
           and existing under the laws of the State  of  Delaware; 
           and

          (ii)  Each  of  the shares of the Trust in Pennsylvania
          Mutual  Fund  to  be  issued  at  the  closing  of  the
          Combination  in  exchange for shares of  the  Trust  in
          Royce  Value  Fund, will, if issued in accordance  with
          the  provisions  of  such Plan  of  Reorganization,  be
          legally  and  validly  issued,  fully  paid  and   non-
          assessable.

     I hereby consent to the use of this opinion as an exhibit to
the Trust's Registration Statement on Form N-14, to be filed with
the Securities and Exchange Commission for the registration under
the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, of shares of the Trust.

                                   Very truly yours,


                                   S/HOWARD J. KASHNER
                                   Howard J. Kashner
                                   General Counsel



April 29, 1997




The Royce Fund
1414 Avenue of the Americas
New York, New York 10019


Gentlemen:

You have requested our opinion regarding the discussion of
U.S. federal income tax consequences under the captions
"SUMMARY OF THE PROPOSED TRANSACTION -- Proposed
Transaction" and "Tax Consequences of the Combination" in
the Prospectus/ Proxy Statement (the "Prospectus/Proxy
Statement") that is included in Pre-Effective Amendment No.
1 to the Registration Statement on Form N-14 (the
"Registration Statement") of The Royce Fund (the "Trust")
filed on April 29, 1997 with the Securities and Exchange
Commission (the "Commission") under the Securities Act of
1933, as amended (the "Securities Act").  The
Prospectus/Proxy Statement relates to the proposed
combination of Royce Value Fund, a series of the Trust, with
and into Pennsylvania Mutual Fund, a separate series of the
Trust.  This opinion is being delivered in accordance with
the requirements of Item 601(b)(8) of Regulation S-K under
the Securities Act.

We have reviewed the Prospectus/Proxy Statement and such
other materials as we have deemed necessary or appropriate
as a basis for our opinion described therein, and have
considered the applicable provisions of the Internal Revenue
Code of 1986, as amended, Treasury Regulations, pertinent
judicial authorities, rulings of the Internal Revenue
Service, and such other authorities as we have considered
relevant to such opinion.

Based upon the foregoing, it is our opinion that the
statements made under the captions "SUMMARY OF THE PROPOSED
TRANSACTION -- Proposed Transaction" and "Tax Consequences
of the Combination" in the Prospectus/Proxy Statement, to
the extent that they involve matters of federal income tax
law, are correct in all material respects as of the date
hereof.  We have not, however, independently verified any of
the financial statements or assumptions set forth under such
headings or elsewhere in the Registration Statement.

In accordance with the requirements of Item 601(b)(23) of
Regulation S-K under the Securities Act, we hereby consent
to the use of our name under the caption "SUMMARY OF THE
PROPOSED TRANSACTION -- Proposed Transaction" in the
Prospectus/Proxy Statement and to the filing of this opinion
as an Exhibit to the Registration Statement.  In giving this
consent, we do not admit that we come within the category of
persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the
Securities Act or the rules and regulations of the
Commission thereunder.

                                        Very truly yours,

                                        Rosenman & Colin LLP



                                        By:_________________
                                           A Partner



             CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS


To the Board of Trustees of The Royce Fund: Pennsylvania
Mutual Fund and Royce Value Fund:

We consent to the incorporation by reference of our reports
dated February 14, 1997 accompanying the Funds' Annual
Report to Shareholders, and accompanying Schedules of
Investments for the year ended December 31, 1996, in the
Funds' Statement of Additional Information in Pre-Effective
Amendment No. 1 to the Registration Statement under the
Securities Act of 1933 of The Royce Fund on Form N-14 (File
No. 333-23639).  We further consent to the reference to our
Firm under the heading "Experts" such Statement of
Additional Information.


                                   COOPERS & LYBRAND


Boston, Massachusetts
April 28, 1997


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