722 president's address. 



There are so many peculiar forms of Australian Batrachia that a 

 life-time might be spent in working out the development of some of 

 the more interesting forms. Pseudophryne, with its limited number 

 of large ova, undergoing the early stages of their development out 

 of the water, and that remarkable genus Chelydobatrachus may be 

 mentioned as particularly likely to yield important results. 



Among the reptiles the development of the crocodiles is now, 

 since the publication of the results of Clarke's and Yoeltzkow's 

 observations, no longer terra incognita ; but the peculiar fresh- 

 water tortoises of Australia would, doubtless, well repay investi- 

 gation in this direction, and so, no doubt, would many of the 

 genera of Lacertilia and Ophidia. 



Of the birds, the anatomy of some of the peculiar families, such 

 as the scrub birds, the lyre birds, and others, is only known (and 

 that imperfectly) as regards the skeleton. The most interesting 

 of the birds, as regards the development, is, of course, the emu, 

 some of the stages of which I have had the opportunity of 

 examining, though the later stages still require to be investigated. 



Our information on the development of those characteristic and 

 remarkable Mammals — the Monotremes — is still of the most 

 meagre character, and among the Marsupials not only is there 

 little known as to the embryology, but in many cases, such as 

 Peragalea^ Chaeropus, and ffypsiprymnodon, even the anatomy 

 of many of the systems of organs is unknown. 



The foregoing is, I am conscious, a very imperfect sketch of 

 some of the things we do not know ; but it may serve to indicate 

 how much still remains to be done by the biologist in Australia, 

 while it may by chance be of use in suggesting some subjects of 

 investigation likely to yield interesting and important results. 



On the motion of Dr. Cox, a vote of thanks was accorded to 

 Professor Has well for his able address. 



Dr. Cox moved and Mr. Maiden seconded, — " That, in the 

 opinion of this meeting, in order to commemorate in a suitable 

 manner the late Sir William Macleay's benefits to the Society 



