618 president's address. 



of the expedition, Dr. Karl Scherzer, says — [p. 14] .... ''Among the ex- 

 cursions in the immediate neighbourhood of Sydney, we at onee selected a visit 

 to the well-known naturalist, Mr. [W. S.] Maeleay, who resides at a beautiful 

 estate near Elizabeth Hay. In his beautiful garden, one sees the most interesting 

 plants of Australia side by side with splenditl specimens from all other parts of 

 the world. A stroll through the extensive grounds derives a double iutere-st 

 when in company with its highly-cultivated proprietor, and we are the more 

 grateful for this good fortune, as the venerable old gentleman [set. 6G] lives in 

 strict seclusion" [Narrative of the Circumnavigation of tiie Globe by the Austrian 

 Frigate "Novara." By Dr. Karl Sclierzer, English Edition. Vol. iii., p. 16, 

 1863] . 



Seientitic or otiwr friends of W. S. Madeay, who lesided for some time 

 or permanently in Australia, and of whom there are records or mementos of some 

 kind, most of these forming part of the memorials of liim, may next be men- 

 tioned. These include, besides Dr. James Stuart, to whom reference has already 

 been made — Mrs. .1. S. Calvert [nee Louisa Atkinson), Dr. George Bennett, 

 Rev. W. B. Clarke. Sir William Denison. Rear- Admiral P. P. King, Dr. L. 

 Leiehhardt, Sir William Macarthur, Baron von Mueller, Sir Charles Nicholson. 

 Mr. A. W. Scott and his accomplished daughters, Harriet (Mis. C. W. Mor- 

 gan), and Helena (Mrs. Edward Forde) of Ash Lsland, Mr. Justice Therry, 

 Dr. John Vaughan Thompson, and tlie Rev. Dr. Woolls. Sir Thomas Mitchell and 

 Sir Alfred Stephen are referred to in the extracts given from Robert Lowe's 

 biography . 



Miss Louisa Atkinson (Mrs. J. S. Calvert) [1834-72] lived at "Fernhurst," 

 Kurrajong Heights, before her marriage, in 1870. She collected plants for Dr. 

 Woolls and Baron von Mueller, and many of them are recorded in the Baron's 

 "Fragmenta," or in the "Flora Australiensis." Mr. Maiden lias given a bio- 

 graphical notice and a portrait of this accomplished woman in his pajier "Records 

 of Australian Botanists — (a) General, (h) New South Wales" [Journ. Proc. R. 

 Soc. N.S. Wales, Vol. xlii.. 1908, p. 83]. Miss Atkinson was also interested 

 in "Vegetable Caterpillars," and corresponded with W. S. Maeleay on the sub- 

 ject. In a letter to Miss Scott of Ash Island, dated July 23rd, 1861, referred to 

 again later on, W. S. Maeleay wrote — "I know two species of Sphaeria that 

 grow from the Charagiae of this Colony, and a Lady-friend of mine, who is a 

 capital botanist, though no entomologist, is now preparing a work on the New 

 Holland species of Sphaeria, which she is studying in the country." The Lady- 

 friend referred to was Miss Louisa Atkinson. Her \nsiting-card, and some 

 "Notes on the Sphaeria and Grub," written after a visit to Mount Tomah, in 

 search of specimens, on April 22nd [year not given] are included among rlie 

 relics of W. S. Maeleay. Miss Atkinson says in her Notes, that she and her 

 comi^anion dug up rbout eighteen vegetal)le caterpillars, but they were old ones, 

 not in good condition, as no fre.sh ones seemed to have develojied since her last 

 researches . 



Most of W. S. Macleay's scientific friends in Sydney were nieiiil)ers of 

 the governing body of the Australian Museum. In those early days, when there 

 was no scientific Society specially concerned with biology, the (^otonial Museum. 

 later the Australian Museum, was the rallying-ground for natur.alists, especiallv 

 those interested in zoology; and the Meetings of the Committee or of tlie Board 

 brought them together and kept them in touch. 



