rill South Austroliait Natumlist. \) 



By iieAvsjui ))(>!• accounts and notes — well writtcii and ui- 

 foi-mative — t!io iiuMubers appeal to a. still wider public, and we 

 have also our ina^-aziu(^ records, for the public and for those 

 other societies with whom we exchano-e, and who are interested 

 in our Avork and welfare, as we are in theirs. 



With regard to assistijig: nature lovers in the country, more 

 midit be dor.e alonii- the lines of — (a) country branches, (b) 

 corres})ondiuii" mendjei's, ( c ) lantern lectures in. country centres, 

 etc., partieulai'ly so sijice v\'e have the mag-aziue as a unifying 

 mediu.m. Future workers will doubtless lend tlieir elforts in 

 this direction. 



The annual wild iiower shovr arid exhibition of objects of 

 natural history may be regarded as well established, though 

 mucii more is to be hoped for. With nun-e workers, there is n«) 

 limit to either the extent or the value of future tield naturalists' 

 exhibitions: these assist in fulfilling in an excellent way our 

 duty to tlie community, aiul in bringing the influence of the 

 Society to some extent to country centres, more particuldrly 

 among the young collectors. 



An additional duty of this Club lies in the ])rotection of 

 native fauna and t-iora— long ago recoginsed by the appoint- 

 ment of an able and special committee. One wdio has recently 

 come amongst us — with a i)articularly fresh and open mind — 

 has criticised the existing facts of fauna and flora protection, 

 saying that "there are no real reserves for native fauna and 

 flora in this ►State, ueither is there any really widespread public 

 feeling in favour of fauna and flora protection."* It will be 

 admitted by all that, unfortunately, the first part is all too true, 

 a.nd v.ill so continue to be until there is brought about a move 

 widesjU'ead kn(»wledge of. pride in, an.d care for our fauna and 

 flora than is at present the case. The recent slaughter of 

 opossums, tlie constant persecution of native birds and beasts, 

 the vandalism of gatherers of blossoms and wild flowers, the 

 ruthlessness of "burning ofr"* on a large scale, and so on — each 

 of Vv'hich can be to some exten.t justified — is yet so common as to 

 force one to the sad conclusion that m.uch remains to be done 

 before it can be honestly said that there is a strong, general, 

 public opinion in city and country, in favour of the preservation 

 and cai'e of our luitive ])lants and animals. 



Nevertheless, we heartily recognise the great good done, 

 year by year, by the Native Fauiui and Flora Protection Com- 

 mittee, and it is only the tremendous inertia of public feeling on 

 such matters that has prevented that body from doing all that 

 is desired by true lovers of our unique native plants and 



