

THE SOUTH AFRICAN BIOLOGICAL SOT^^nrf. 



10 \ 



The South African Biological Society was provisionallv 

 formed in June 1916, but it was not until the followino- 

 December that it was duly constituted as an independent 

 organization with definite aims and objects. The Society 

 may w^ell be described as an amalgamation of the South 

 African Ornitholooists' Union and the Transvaal Biolooical 

 Society enjoying the support of a number of naturalists 

 previously unconnected with either of the amalgamating 

 societies. Owning to the war, many members of the parent 

 bodies have not had the opportunity of joining, but the 

 Constitution makes provision for their admission at any 

 subsequent date as Foundation Members. At |)resent there 

 are 132 members, and of this number 65 belonged to one or 

 the other or both of the old societies. 



The history of oui- Society dates from tlie moment when 

 Mr. A. J. T. Janse began to advocate the foundation of a 

 South African Entomological Society and it took a concrete 

 form with the reasoned opposition thereto iiv Mr. A, K. 

 Haagner. Mr. Haagner opposed the '})roposai onl}^ on the 

 ground tliat there were already too many such societies in 

 South Africa and proposed, as an alternative_, that a new 

 society should be created by the amalgamation of some of 

 those in existence. More particularly lie urged that the 

 scope and activities of the South African Ornithologists' 

 Union should be enlaroed so as to embrace zoolooical matters 

 in General . 



Mr. Janse adopted the suggestion and from then onward 

 became the chief mover in all matters appertaining to the 

 creating of a new society, Mr. Haagner heartily co-operating 

 by securing the support of the members of the South 

 African Ornitholoo-ists^ Union. 



