40 THE PROCEEDINGS OF THE LINNEAN SOCIETY 



absence from Sydney lias expired, the actual time available for the 

 purposes of the voyage was much less than I calculated on. The 

 " Chevert," though a good, dry, and comfortable ship, was unable 

 to sail against the wind, and it was so constantly against us during 

 a great part of the expedition, that I do not think we had more 

 than sixty days for collecting during the five months' cruise. The 

 laborious task of arranging, naming, and describing this very large 

 collection still remains to be done. I am desirous that the com- 

 plete zoology of the expedition should be published in this 

 country, and indeed, would be glad if all papers on this subject, 

 particularly those descriptive of new species could make their 

 appearance in the transactions of this society. It may, how- 

 ever, be a long time before some of the classes of marine animals 

 can be entered on. For the present, Mr. Masters, I hope, will 

 undertake the mammals and birds of the Expedition. Mr. 

 Brazier, I have no doubt, will take the testacean mollusks in 

 charge. I may, probably, if I have time, take in hand the 

 reptiles, fishes, and insects ; but, I confess, that I cannot at 

 present think of any one who is likely to do justice to the 

 Crustacea, echinodermata, annelida, polyzoa, polypifera, and other 

 still lower forms of animal life. 



I have confined this paper to a brief notice of the zoological part 

 of my collection alone, but I have not neglected ethnology and 

 geology. As regards the botany of the Expedition, I am in hopes 

 that Sir W. Macarthur may communicate something to the Society 

 on that subject. 



Mr. Masters exhibited a number of fine specimens of the 

 gigantic Batocera Wallacei, taken in the vicinity of Hall Sound, 

 New Guinea. 



DONATION. 



A very fine and perfect skull of a species of Xiphius was 

 presented to the Society by Dr. Charles M'Kay. 





