84 THE PROCEEDINGS OF THE LINNEAN SOCIETY 



The object of the society has been succinctly stated in the 

 published rules to be " the cultivation and study of the Science of 

 Natural History in all its branches." But comparatively few 

 people are aware what a vast field of inquiry and study is included 

 under the term Natural History, as understood in its true meaning, 

 and as taught by the illustrious man whose name we have adopted 

 for this society. 



The great divisions of Nature — Zoology, Botany, Mineralogy, 

 and Meteorology include within them the sciences of Anthropology, 

 Ethnology, Animal and Vegetable Physiology, Histology, Geography, 

 Geology, Palaeontology, and to some extent even those of Chemistry 

 and Medicine. 



The extent and interest, therefore, of the many subjects com- 

 prehended within the scope of the society gave the hope that in a 

 country such as this, comprising in its population a more than 

 average number of men of good and liberal education, it would not 

 have been difficult to inaugurate and carry on successfully a society 

 formed solely for the cultivation of natural history. 



Attempts had been previously made in Sydney to establish 

 Societies of Natural History, but on a narrowor limit than the 

 present. I was for some years here connected with a society 

 which was limited to the science of Entomology. While it lasted 

 that Society was most successful. Two volumes of transactions 

 were published, and the demand for these works in Europe suf- 

 ficiently demonstrates the value placed on them by the scientific 

 world. But the sole charge of keeping up the Society ultimately 

 fell upon such a very few individuals that it was at length given 

 up. And such I fear will always be the fate of scientific societies 

 as soon as the novelty of initiation wears off, unless its objects 

 comprise a sufficient scope of subjects to hold together a number 

 of working members. It is in the belief that an ample variety 

 of subjects are embraced under the term Natural History, to effect 

 this purpose, that the present Society has been formed. It is at 

 present, as I have said, the only exclusively natural history Society 

 in New South Wales, and I believe in Australia, though there are 



