Annual Report of the Natural History Society of Mauritius. 123 



Of the discourses read at sittings of the Society, tending to 

 specify and develope ils objects, there are particularised the 

 following : — An Introductory Lecture was delivered by the 

 President, Mr. Telfair, at the first meeting- of the Society, which 

 was distinguished for ability, philosophic views, and love of the 

 uselul sciences. This was, at the same sitting, followed by a 

 discourse from Mr. G. Bouton, taking specially into considera- 

 tion, the subject of Botany. In a subsequent sitting, Mr. G. 

 Bouton read a report on the South African Quarterly Journal, 

 and ollered some suggestions for the guidance of the Society, 

 which ordered his paper to be printed. 



Mr. Julien Desjardins illustrated, in a rapid analysis, the 

 sciences which the Society seeks to cultivate, and the others 

 related to them. The subject specially selected for his en- 

 deavours, is Zoology : and satisfied of the truth of Cuvier'.s 

 decision, " that the subject is so immense, that each class is, 

 in some sort, the department of individual writers." Mr. Des- 

 jardins has limited his attention to whatsoever in each class is 

 required as a preparation for presenting a Fauna of the 

 Mauritius, where the animals of the mure perfect classes are 

 law in number, with the exception of the varied species ot 

 iishes in its seas. 



Mr. Faraguet, a pupil of the Polytechnic School of Paris, 

 whose residence in the Island, since the departure- of the 

 Astrolabe, has enabled the Royal College to attain the esta- 

 blishment of a Physical class, under his superintendence, read 

 a memoir explanatory of his just and philosophic ideas, for 

 giving greater solidity to the Association, and greater extension 

 to its undertakings. 



The Report proceeds with the following details, regarding 

 the subjects to which the attention of its members had been 

 directed : — 



PHYSICAL AND METEOROLOGIC SCIENCE. 



Mctrnrologic observations have been made for many years in the Island. 

 Mr. Lislct Geoffroy possesses Hie most complete series of observations of 

 this sort Several other members have alluded to different departments 



of the subject, and I * think it my duty to propose to the Society, that an 

 intelligent individual should be specially appointed, und remunerated, 

 lor conducting Meteorologic observations, and noting at different periods 

 of the day, the variations of liaromrtric pressure, mid of temperature, 

 witli the quantity of rain and of evaporation. 



Mr. Hoart, Assistant Civil Engineer, lias unfolded to the Society, a 

 project dictated by zeal for science and for the interests of humanity. 

 He proposes, that on some elevated station, such as the signal hill of 

 Port Louis, there should be erected a small Observatory, provided with 

 suitable instruments, for observing the Atmospheric changes, and in- 



* Julien UcHJtrdim, Secretary, 





