124 ROYAL «OCIETY FROM THE YEAR 1840 TO 1900. 



most use to the possessor, and the most beneficial to his 

 fellow creatures. A list of the subjects dealt with during the 

 period of the Society's existence, shows how vari( d was the 

 field of its activities, aud how eminently practical was much 

 of its work. 



In June, 1874, the first contribution from Lieutenant 

 Legge was recorded in the form of a paper on the birds of 

 Tasmania, and accompanied by '20 prepared type specimens 

 as the beginning of a type col'ection of birds. Col. Legge's 

 interest in the Society has been constant since that time, and 

 though, during his residence in Ceylon, he gave up his spare 

 time to the description of the birds of that tropical country, 

 he began on his return here to take the same place in the 

 Society as before he left, and is now one of its best friends. 



The contributions of Mr. R. M. Johnston began in 1873, 

 and have been continued ever since. Geology, paleontology, 

 ichthyology, and economic science have all been treated in 

 his thorough and masterly manner, and he is a worker to 

 whom we are all very much indebted. In 1880 Mr. Johnston 

 came to take up his residence in Hobart, and from that time 

 the period of most active exertions in behalf of the Society 

 comme jced. The Government published Mr. R. M. John- 

 ston's book on the Geology of Tasmania, a work which was 

 the fruit of years of patient observation and careful study, 

 and is an invaluable text book. His hand book of Tasmanian 

 Botany has also been of the greatest use to students. To 

 convey some idea of the work done to the Society by Mr. K. 

 M. Johnston, I give a list of the subjects contributed by that 

 gentleman :— Pisces, 14 ; Conchology, 9; Botany, 4 ; Geology, 

 Paloeontology and Mineralogy, 45 ; Economic Science, 12. 

 A total of 84 papers. 



Of earlier date still, are the contributions of Mr. T. 

 Stephens, M.A., Avhose papers on geological subjects have 

 been continued from time to time for more than forty years, 

 and whose interest in the work of the Society is unabated. 



Dr. Swarbreck Hall and Mr. Francis Abbott are also two 

 contributors, whose statistical and other papers were very 

 numerous and instructive. For some years Dr. Hall con- 

 tributed papers on the relation of the climatic condition to 

 the health statistics of the colony, and Mr. F. Abbott's 

 Meteorological papers were looked forward to with great 

 interest month by month. Mr. F. Abbott, jun., the present 

 superintendent of the gardens, followed in his father's foot- 

 steps, and though of late the pressure of other duties have 

 prevented much work of a special nature for the Society, his 

 membership has continued unbroken. 



For many years after its establishment, the Royal Society 

 did nothing towards advancing the historic knowledge of 



