xli 



necessity. Some few made an attempt at tins, but their 

 professions requiring them to leave Brisbane, the matter has 

 had, in most instances, to be given up. One, however, J. F. 

 Shirley, Avho possessed previously a knowledge of English 

 botany, took as a specialty the Lichens, and after assiduous 

 application we now have from his labors a carefully compiled 

 monograph of the Queensland species of this most interesting 

 order of plants. Thus it will be seen that our Field Naturalists' 

 section, while being a pleasure and profit to its immediate 

 members, has also been of use to others outside its circle. 

 As some small recognition of the help rendered to the cause 

 of Australian botany by the members of this section, some of 

 the new species which have been met with on tliese excursions 

 have been given the names of members. Thus a beautiful 

 slender tall shrub, belonging to Sapindacene, is named Cupania 

 ShirU'i/nna, Bail. ; a noble fig tree, Ficus Wnthinsinna, Bail. ; a 

 rubiaceous shrub, I'sychotria Shnnionihiana, Bail. : and one of 

 the most beautiful of our Proteaceous shrubs JMrophila Shirhyoe, 

 Bail. 



In this short sketch of the rise and progress of Australian 

 botany conciseness has been aimed at, while, at the same time, so 

 far as possible, all the prominent botanists and collectors who 

 have worked at the Australian flora have been duly brought 

 under notice ; some, however, may have been passed over in 

 the cause of brevity, especially when two or more worked at 

 the same time. In the matter of dates, sometimes these may be 

 found wanting; when given, however, such may be relied upon 

 as correct, as all these, as well as the notes on each, have been 

 obtained from undoubted authorities. 



In concluding this rather lengthy Address, the opportunity 

 is embraced of expressing the hope that members seeing what 

 has been accomplished for botany by the so-called Field Naturalists' 

 section of the Society, will be roused into activity and form 

 other sections. Leaders are wanting in Geology and Zoology, 

 or branches of these sciences. The leaders are the great 

 desideratum ; students are both numerous and desirous to join 

 when once the leader is ready. 



