PRESIDENTS ADDRESS. 



branch, uot only on its purely scientific side, but also in its economic application. 



The Special Meeting held on 14th June last in Commemoration of tlie centen~ 

 ary of the birth of Sir William Macleay, the Society's benefactor, was a very 

 successful function. As one of the results we have now on record (in Part iv. of 

 the Proceedings for 1920) a detailed historical record of the Society's interest in 

 Ale.xander, William Sharp, and George Macleay. 



The Society's Honour Roll was unveiled at the above meeting by Professor 

 Wilson, and now hangs in the Hall as a permanent record of the names of tliose 

 Members of the Society who served the Nation abroad during the Great War. 

 The Roll is the work of Mr. Hardy Wilson, who has furnished the following 

 explanation of the design : — 



"1 have used Roman lettering surrounded by the Roman roll and bead; the 

 whole design contained within an adaptation of the Roman egg and dart orna- 

 ment. 



In the coloured border are introduced ancient Chinese symbols. At the cor- 

 ners are endless knots which signify eternal or everlasting. From the knot.s de- 

 pend strings of Bay leaves, sjTubols of honour. At the centre of each side is a 

 very ancient Chinese sign, representing Victory. Thus the border may he read: — 

 Everlasting Honour for their Victory. 



Adjoining are conventionalised bats. The bat is a favourite device in old 

 Chinese Art, and signifies happiness. At the angles is a peach, another old sign, 

 for longevity. This margin, then, may be read: — 



Wishing them long life and happiness." 



A coloured reproduction of the Roll accompanies Part iv. of the Proceedings 

 for 1920 as a frontispiece. 



On the occasion of the visit of H.R.H. the Prince of Wales to Sydney in 

 June last the Council decided to present to His Royal Highness an address of 

 loyalty and welcome on behalf of tlie Members of the Society. The text of the 

 address, as oflieially approved, was as fV)llows : — 



"We, the Members of the Linnean Society of New South Wales — a Society 

 founded in 1874 to develop the study of the Natural History of Australia, as its 

 great English prototype, the Linnean Society of London, has done to encourage 

 that of the Natural History of the British Isles — desire to be allowed to offer to 

 Your Royal Highness, with all due respect, this brief record of our loyalty to the 

 Throne, of the pleasure evoked liy tlie visit of Your Royal Highness as the repre- 

 sentative of our revered Sovereign, and our respectful greetings and sincere wishes 

 for an enjoyable and fructif^dng visit, and for the welfare of Your Royal High- 

 ness." 



The concluding Part of Volume xlv. of the Society's Proceedings was issued 

 on 7tli March. The complete volume (0.53 and xxi. pp., 32 Plates, and 138 Text- 

 figures) contains thirty-two papers, nine of which were contributed liy memliers of 

 the Society's research staff. This completes the fii-st volume in the new size, and 

 the result of the change in size may be considered wholly satisfactory. 



The greatly increased cost of scientific publications has been the cause of 

 much worry to Councils of scientific Societies the world over (S(?e Nature, Oth 

 May, 1920, p. 285), and in very many cases it has been found necessary to 

 greatly restrict publication or to raise subscriptions. We are indeed fortunate, 

 and we should acknowledge our debt in this respect to our Benefactor, Sir Wil- 

 liam Macleay, in having been able to carry on with only very little restriction in 

 the amount of printing. The issue of the Monthly Abstract of Proceedings was 



