LIXNEAX SOCIEXr OF LOXDOX. 39 



How about oar owu pursuits, meauwhile? We are told that 

 in times of stress we must take care not to let ourselves be 

 hampered by formula and precedent. The advice is wise. But 

 before we discard either, let us be quite certain that the formula 

 is obsolete, the precedent outworn. Let us discard that XIX. 

 Century formula which regards ' experiment ' as an activity 

 that can be exercised independently. Let us abandon the 

 XVIII. Century precedent, which treats ' application ' as of 

 less consequence than ' discovery,' Let us revert to the formula 

 and precedent of the XVII. Century. . Let us combine in our 

 work as far as may be possible the methods of " experiment 

 and observation." Let us consider it our foremost duty to apply 

 to the business of life the knowledge acquired in the course of 

 our pursuits. 



The Eev. T. R. E,. Stebbing then moved : — " That the Pre- 

 sident be thanked for his excellent Address, and that he be 

 requested to allow it to be printed and circulated amongst the 

 Pellows," which, after being seconded by Mr. John HoPKiisrsoN, 

 was carried by acclamation, and briefly acknowledged by the 

 President. 



The President then addressed Mr. Thomas Geoege White, 

 Secretary of the Agent-General for New South Wales (in the 

 absence of his chief through illness) : — 



Mr. Thomas George White, — 



Mr. Robin John Tilltabd, a citizen of the Commonwealth of 

 Australia and one of our Pellows, in his recently published 

 papers, " Life-Histories and Descriptions of Australian ^sch- 

 ninte " and " A Study of the Rectal Breathing Apparatus in the 

 Larvae of Anisopterid Dragonflies," both contained in the thirty- 

 third volume of our Zoological Journal issued in 1916, has 

 not only greatly increased our knowledge of the species, dis- 

 ti'ibution and affinities of the Australian Dragonflies, but has 

 with remarkable success studied the detailed microscopical 

 structure of their breathing organs in different stages of 

 development. In the elucidation of this material, which is 

 particularly difficult to deal with, Mr. Tillyard has made use of 

 refined and improved methods of histological research. The 

 results obtained by this painstaking work have been of great 

 value in determining the phylogenetic relationship of the various 

 groups of Dragonflies. 



It is now my pleasant duty to ask you to ti-ansmit to 

 Mr. Tillyard the Crisp Award and Medal, conferred upon him 

 by the Council of this Society for the best paper dealing with 

 Microscopical Research published by the Linnean Society since 

 the previous award given in May, 1912. 



