president's address. 15 



sible, after the receipt of the news, I forwarded, on the Society's 

 behalf, a cablegram expressive of sympathy, to the President of 

 the Royal Geographical Society of London. To this brief state- 

 ment, I shall only add, that the Lord Mayor's Fund is still open, 

 and offers to us, individually, an opportunity of showing honour 

 to the memory of Captain Scott and his gallant comrades, as well 

 as practical sympathy with those who are left to mourn their 

 grievous losses. 



We are all thankful for the safe return of those members of the 

 Mawson Expedition, who have come back recently in the "Aurora." 

 But our warmest sympathy is due to Dr. Mawson, in his delayed 

 return to his base under circumstances so exceedingly trying and 

 depressing, necessitating another period of exile from home; nor 

 can we forget his six companions. 



A Century of Civilisation from a Zoologist's Point of 



View. 



Though Governor Phillip occupied New South Wales in 

 1788, the advent of civilised man cannot be said to have 

 made any impression upon the Australian continent outside 

 the circumscribed area round Port Jackson until 1812 (just 

 about one hundred years ago), when the increasing flocks and 

 herds were able to pass over the Blue Mountains, and spread 

 out, north, south, and west. The advance of the pioneer 

 stockowners once started, soon brought about very marked 

 changes in these, until then, virgin lands, even though it was 

 simply a pastoral occupation of them until many years later. 



In 1824, the site of Brisbane was selected, and a northern 

 settlement came into existence ; while, at this date, Sir Gordon 

 Bremer formed military stations on Melville Island, and at 

 Raffles Bay, on the north coast. Though these northern settle- 

 ments were abandoned seven years later, they left their mark 

 on the Australian fauna through the introduction of the 

 Indian buffalo, which, spreading into the swamps and marshes 

 beyond, increased into large herds. 



On the 1st of June, 1829, Captain Freemantle hoisted the 

 British flag on the West Australian coast, and, between that 



