LINNEAN SOCIETY OF LONDOIS". 29 



to Cornwall, we should evidently obtain a diagram closely re- 

 sembling in character and numeric proportions the Soondreebua 

 'diagram. 



From all these regular results I argue backwards that the list 

 o£ 69 Soondreebun species has been well selected, that the distri- 

 bution of these species is fairly represented by the Kew Her- 

 barium, and that the specimens have been correctly determined. 



The possibility of exhibiting the distribution of this Flora so 

 simply arises from selecting a case where the distribution can (by 

 unimportant compressions) be represented m a linear series. If 

 we consider a Flora which spreads in all directions, the map or 

 diagram becomes very complex: and even then the cross and 

 lateral affinities can only be obscurely indicated. I chose a Coast 

 Flora as the simplest case. I have ventured to observe, more 

 than once during the past session, on papers where laborious 

 observations have led up to indistinct results, that in our present 

 very limited biologic knowledge, an investigator should look round 

 well (before commencing an inquiry) to discover the simplest 

 case, that in which he may observe and record the action of the 

 smallest number of causes acting at the same time. This is a 

 commonplace remark : chemists understand the principle very 

 "well ; but I think biologists require reminding that humau 

 industry is limited, and that their zeal, great as it is, ought only 

 to be expended in the most economic manner. 



I need hardly add that in an area largely occupied by a peculiar 

 set of plants, often called Mangrove vegetation, though consisting 

 mainly of plants belonging to other Orders, I have caught many 

 butterflies and beetles not noticed in the Bengal plain outside 

 the Soondreebun ; but I am not qualified, even it time permitted, 

 to address you concerning these. 



Sir Joseph Hooker moved : — " That the thanks of the Society 

 be given to the President for his excellent Address, and that he 

 be requested to allow it to be printed and circulated among the 

 Fellow s," which was seconded by Dr. John Anderson, and carried 

 unanimously. 



The Society's Grold Medal was then formally awarded to Prof. 

 Ferdinand Cohn of Breslau, and was received on his behalf by 

 Mr. B. Day don Jackson, for tx'ansmission through the Grerman 

 Embassy. 



The Obituary Notices of deceased Fellows and Foreign 

 Members were laid before the Meeting by the senior Secretary. 



