340 president's address — section d. 



pp. 146-185). The foraminifera obtained off the Palm Islands were 

 identified by Messrs. Jensen and Goddard {o'p. cit. XXIX., 1905, p. 

 827; XXXII., 1907, p. 296). Among the mollusca, especially from 

 the Palms and Green Island, are several new and interesting forms. 



As the guest of Dr. W. E. Roth, then Protector of Aborigines for 

 Queensland, I cruised down the Gulf of Carpentaria in May and June, 

 1903. Opportunities occurred for dredging off Mapoon and in Van 

 Diemen's Inlet, where interesting collections were made. Material 

 was utilised in an article on Megalatractus (Rec. Aust. Mus., VI., 

 1905, pp. 98-100, Pis. XXI.-XXII.) 



In October, 1904, the writer organised a party to study the 

 southern extremity of the Barrier Reef. The point selected was Mast- 

 head Island. A large collection of criistacese and mollusca has been 

 worked out (P.L.S., N.S.W., XXXI., 1906, pp. 453-479, &c.), and a 

 few records of other groups have also appeared. 



Another party was formed in August, 1906, to search the reefs 

 off' Cooktown. An essay on their structure by Mr. T. G. Taylor and 

 myself appeared in the last volume of this Association. 



Finally, Mr. A. R. McCulloch and I were despatched by the Aus- 

 tralian Museum to collect in Torres Strait from August to October, 



1907. A large zoological collection is now in course of study and 

 publication. A new Cephalocordate (Haswell, Rec. Austr. Mus., VII., 



1908, p. 33) was the first fruits of the trip. 



This chronicle may be concluded by a reference to the charming 

 book on the natural history of Dunk Island, " Confessions of a Beach- 

 comber," published by Mr. E. J. Banfield a few months since. 



4.— THE FIELD FOE WORK. 



The marine fauna of Queensland will provide fruitful material 

 for the study of generations of investigators. Such work is too great 

 for individual effort, too long for individual life. A biological survey 

 should be organised and directed by an institution, such as a museum, 

 a university, or a fisheries' bureau. 



A few specimens, intelligently selected, properly preserved, and 

 accompanied by field notes of habit and environment, with sketches 

 01 appearance in life, are of more service to science than great quan- 

 tities of numerous species carelessly collected. For the continuity of 

 research it is essential that types of species should not remain in 

 private hands where they are ultimately destined to disappear or to 

 lose their identity. 



For an orderly examination our first step must be the enumera- 

 tion of the species. Let preliminary catalogues of the fauna be 

 produced, group by group. At first these lists will be imperfect 

 through errors of omission and misidentification. . They will form a 

 target of criticism by every writer and collector. Growing better 

 through several editions by correction and supplement, such lists may 

 ultimately grow into systematic monographs. Then the way will be 

 open for higher and more fascinating studies of morphology, tax- 

 onomy, and the analysis and synthesis of philosophical deduction. 



" He who leads must lift," is President Roosevelt's stirring say- 

 ing. That I may not seem to lay on fellow-workers a task that I 

 would not handle myself, I now submit a preliminary list of the 

 marine mollusca of Queensland. 



