160 president's address. 



being sent to the Antarctic regions to learn more about its 

 meteorology, more about its biology, more about its physics, 

 geography, and geology, the Linnean Society of New South 

 Wales will, I feel confident, most heartily endorse. That the last 

 great work of geographical, biological, and geological exploration 

 in the world should be undertaken by the people of the British 

 Empire is a consummation devoutly to V)e wished for ; and it 

 would be a very worthy end of the grand work begun and con- 

 tinued by the great Challenger expedition. 



There is more than mere political glory and problematical guano 

 to be gained l^y such an expedition as that which is now con- 

 templated to Antarctica. There is the good of humanity and the 

 cause of truth. Scientific Societies have been appealed to to help 

 on this enterprise, and we all can help, if not with our money at 

 all events with our minds. If the Linnean Society of New South 

 Wales cannot contribute men or money, I hope most sincerely 

 that it will at least contribute a very hearty sympathy. 



Notes. 



1. Mr. C. E. Borchgrevink, who accompanied the whaler 

 Antarctic on its voyage to Balleny's Island and Victoria Land, 

 stated in his lecture delivered in Sydney on April 24:th that 

 the shade temperature was by day as high as 46° Eahr., and the 

 mean temperature for January, 1895, was 32.5° Fahr. 



2. Mr. C. E. Borchgrevink obtained land plants (which Mr. J. 

 H. Maiden, F.L.S., F.C.S., informs me are probably lichens) from 

 Possession Island, and from Cape Adair, on the mainland of 

 Victoria Land. 



3. While the proofs of the above Address were being revised 

 the following announcement in the Scientific Amei'ican, March 

 30th, 1895, p. 202, has been brought under my notice by Mr. H. 

 C. Russell, the Government Astronomer : — " Dr. Frederick A. 

 Cook, the well-known explorer, has recently declared his intention 

 of leading a small but well-equipped bod}'- of scientific men on an 

 exploring expedition to the Antarctic regions. The time for 

 leaving New York has been fixed for September 1st, 1895, and it 



