830 PRESIDENTS ADDRESS. 



Flora to the assumed early "Cosmopolitan Flora" on pages 174 

 and 175, in which he points out that the autochthonian flora of 

 the west was, from very early times, to a large extent shut off by 

 barriers from an immigration of other types, and that it is difficult 

 to see how, if the autochthonian has been derived from the cos- 

 mopolitan, representatives of typical Australian genera only are 

 found, and not a trace of such doubtful forms as Quercus, Betula, 

 Salix, Arc, upon the presence of which in fossil remains the theory 

 of the cosmopolitan flora in Australia really rests. 



Professor Spencer's " Narrati\e " is of special interest. We 

 have many narratives of Australian travel and exploration, but 

 these ha\e been written by the leaders of expeditions, much of 

 whose time and attention was necessarily' devoted to administra- 

 tive details, and absorbed by the anxiety unavoidably connected 

 with these; but we have here a narrative from the pen of an 

 expert biologist, well versed in the subject of the natural history 

 of Australia, with a keen eye and a ready pencil, and pursuing his 

 work undistracted by drawbacks such as those alluded to above. 

 And the work is rendered additionally attractive by an admirable 

 series of topographical and other views reproduced fi'om actual 

 photographs. Nature was unfortunately in a very dry mood, and 

 the opportunity of witnessing the advent of good rains, and the 

 circumstances attendant on a Central Australian flood, did not 

 present themselves. Floods and droughts have, however, to be 

 taken as they come. 



The experiences of the expedition have afforded Professor 

 Spencer opportunity for a masterly exposition of some of the 

 probable former relations of Australia, and a comparison of the 

 special features of its botanical and zoological subdivisions, 

 resulting in the conclusion that these are not coincident. The 

 names applied to his Subregions — Torresian, Eyrian and Bassian 

 — are, I think, particularly happy, as avoiding all objections of 

 implied theory and dogmatism. 



Professor Spencei', in discussing the question of the route 1)}' 

 which Australia received its mammals of characteristic types, 



