34 rnocEEDixGS of the 



lirst Triassic fishes from New Snutli "Wales, Australia, and from 

 ISpilzbergen, 1 found tlie peculiar ganoid Bclonorhyvchus con- 

 spicuous in both these localities. AVlien the 'Discovery' 

 expedition met «itli fish-reniains in the Devonian rocks of 

 Antarctica, tliey collected very little wliicli niif^dit not have heen 

 found in the corresponding formations in Scotland. During 

 recent years tlie discoveries of fossil vertebrates in the west of 

 North Ameriea, w hich yielded so many novelties at the end of the 

 last century, have become comparatively monotonous. They are 

 merely perfecting our knowledge of known types and revealing 

 endless variants of the same. Even the preliminary reports on 

 tlie fossil vertebrates lately discovered bj^ the Kussians and 

 Americans in Central Asia do not promise the rich harvest of 

 novelties which it was ho])ed to obtain from that interesting 

 region. It is necessary, indeed, still to dejiend for real progress 

 on finding the records of local accidents — oases in the dreary 

 desert of uniformity. Dr. C. 1). Walcott added a whole chapter 

 to our knowledge of the earliest marine fauna by his discovery of 

 a de|)osit of greasj' shale which could preserve soft-bodied animals 

 among the Cambrian formations in the Kocky Mountains of 

 Canada. The prospectois for oil, now visiting and studying 

 the remotest corners of the globe, are also giving valuable help 

 in discovering exceptional formations and localities which pal.T- 

 ontologists may protitably explore further. We have to depend 

 on accidental help of this kind from many sources when we are 

 looking for fossils of the most fundamental import. 



In ending now my term of office, it only remains for me 1o 

 thank the I'ellows of the Liiniean Society for the great honour 

 they did me four years ago when they first elected me to be their 

 President. I also wish especially to express my appreciation of 

 the kind help and forbearance of my fellow Othcers, the Council, 

 and Permanent Staff for the ])eriod during which I have served. 

 It was just over forty years ago that I began to attend the 

 meetings of the Society, and since I became a Fellow it has been 

 OIK? of my greatest pleasures to be closeh' associiited with its work. 

 After holding the higliest office for the full term, 1 have the final 

 gratification of handing it over to an old friend and valued 

 colleague, the distinguished botanist whom you have chosen to be 

 your President to-day. 1 not only wish him all success, but hope 

 that he too will carry away happy meuiories such as those wbicii 

 I shall retain for the rest of my life. 



Canon G. E. Bullock- Webstek then moved : "That the Presi- 

 dent be thanked for his excellent address, and that he be requested 

 to allow it to be printed and circulated amongst the Fellows," 

 which, after being seconded by JMr. A. H. Maude, he put to the 

 meeting and reported carried. 



