PRESIDENTS ADDRESS. 



S29 



at the time of year, to be given up before its main object had 

 been attained. 



News has just been received that another scientific excursion 

 to tlie Pacific has met with some success. After enduring con- 

 siderable toil, hardship and danger, Dr. Willey has, in the Loyalty 

 Islands, succeeded in obtaining eggs of the Nautilus, but unfortu- 

 nately these have failed to develop. 



A remai'kable discovery in morphological botany has recently 

 been made in Japan of another connecting link bel-ween flowering 

 and flowerless plants. The discoverers are Professor Ikeno and 

 Dr. Hirase, who have found in Cycas and Ginkgo the fertilisation 

 of the ovule effected by a partial penetration of pollen tubes, and 

 a subsequent development of antherozoids for the completion of 

 the process. 



With regret we learn from "Nature," of February, 18th, that 

 the veteran paltieontologist and botanist. Baron Constantine von 

 Ettingshausen, had died at Graz at the age of 71. 



Horn Expedition. 



In my Address of last year lengthy reference was made to the 

 first instalment of the " Report of the Horn Scientific Expedition 

 to Central Australia " — Part ii. Zoology, then just published. 

 Three additional parts — Parti. Introduction, Narrative, Summary, 

 Ac, with Map, by Professor Baldwin Spencer, M. A. ; Part iii. 

 Geology and Botany, by Professor Tate, and J. A. Watt, M.A., 

 B.Sc; and Part iv. Anthropology, by Professor Stirling and Mr. 

 Gillen — have since been issued under the able editorship of 

 Professor Spencer, completing this important work. The Report 

 in its complete form, as a contribution to Australian scientific 

 literature, has fully justified our expectations of its importance, 

 and it demands a further expression of our indebtedness to Mr. 

 Horn, the promoter, and to all who have shared in its pi'oduction. 



A very substantial increase of knowledge in all departments 

 has been gained, but Professor Spencer has so ably summarised 

 the results that it is needless to attempt a re-summary. I will 

 merely refer to his remai-ks on the relations of the Autochthonian ,.. 



