THE chairman's ADDRESS. 903 



Three Parts of the Proceedings for 1890 have been published, 

 and issued to those entitled to receive them ; the concluding Part 

 of the Volume is already well advanced. 



In the early part of the year Mr> Henry Deane, M.A., most 

 generously deposited with the Society for the use of Members the 

 greater portion of his extensive and valuable collection of Austra- 

 lian plants. This addition to the collection already in the her- 

 barium now offers considerable advantages to members desirous of 

 increasing their knowledge of the Australian flora, and it is to be 

 hoped not only that others will eaiulate the commendable example 

 of Mr. Deane, but that the opportunity now afforded of referring 

 to named collections will stimulate the pursuit of botany among 

 our members. 



You will have noticed, not without concern, that for the second 

 time our Annual Volume appears without a contribution from the 

 Society's most consistently regular and enthusiastic worker in the 

 past, as his long series of contributions contained in the first 

 thirteen Volumes of our Proceedings testifies. I am sure that I 

 but re-echo your sentiments when I say that, while we deeply 

 regret that, in the interests of his health, Sir William Macleay has 

 for some little time past found it advisable to abstain from the 

 active prosecution of those biological studies which have so long and 

 so enthusiastically occupied his attention, and by which the Society 

 has so abundantly profited, or for similar reasons from keeping 

 up his attendance at our meetings with that exemplary regularity 

 which has for so long characterised him, we at the same time 

 venture to express the hope that his well-earned rest from active 

 service will tend not only to invigorated health, but also to prolong 

 his life, so that in guiding the affairs of this Society and in watching 

 over its welfare we may long have the benefit of his extensive 

 knowledge and ripe experience. 



Among the events of the year at home there are several 

 worthy of notice on this occasion. 



First, I may mention the publication of the researches of Mr. 

 A. S. Woodward, F.Z.S., F.G.S., of the British Museum, on 



