The South Australxan Naturalist. n 



An event of very great importance in this connection, and 

 one that Avill be of inestimable benefit to members of this body, 

 is the decision b}^ the Government to publisli a series of hand- 

 books on various aspects of the natural history of this State. 

 These handbooks are being prepared by those competent to do 

 so, and are, moreover, being prepared purely for the love of the 

 work. When they are published a strong incentive will surely 

 be given to amateur Vv'orkers in this Club to absorb the informa- 

 tion therein contained, and to add thereto something that it 

 within their power. The best thanks of the field naturalists are 

 due to the British Science Guild for the work done in initiating 

 the publication of these handbooks. 



In conclusion, we may mention with pleasure the selection 

 and adoption during the past year of a special badge for this 

 section of the Royal Society. During the past two years, also, 

 we have published our own magazine for the first time, and 

 have thus become articulate. I believe that no member would 

 wish to return to the old method of recording our work in a 

 few pages of the Royal Society's Transactions. The two 

 volumes of "The South Australian Naturalist" contain much 

 that is of value, and nothing that is not original. It has, I 

 believe, fully justified its existence. 



For the future I would suggest that special attention be 

 given to attracting amateur workers, to the question of develop- 

 ing the work of the "popular plant names committee," already 

 appointed, to the extension of the annual natural history exhi- 

 bition, and to the publication of a "Guide Book for Collectors." 



The study of natural history provides its own reward. 

 "Nature never did betray the heart that loved her." The 

 freshness and the sweet influence of outdoor nature provide 

 means for wiping out from the mind many cares of the work-a- 

 day world. Nature, the old nurse, has placed before us as 

 delightful a story book as is to be found elsewhere, and to those 

 who endeavour to read its pages, 



' ' ^Mienever the way seems long, 



Or the heart is beginning to fail. 



She will sing a more wonderful song, 



Or tell a more marvellous tale," 



not less to the humblest nature lover than to the great 



naturalist of whom these lines were written. 



