369 



FIELD NATURALISTS' SECTION 



OF THE 



lloyiil godctp of §outh Australia. 



ANNUAL REPORT 



For the Year EXDixr; 30th September, 1893. 



In presenting their annual report the Ccjmmittee are pleased 

 to record the successful completion of the first decade of the 

 Section's existence. 



Evening Meetings. — During the year nine evening meetings 

 have been held, at wliich the average attendance has been greater 

 than that of the previous year. It was arranged that during 

 this session the meetings of this Section and those of the Micro- 

 scopical Section should be held jointly. Both Sections, therefore, 

 now meet on the same night, and alternately provide the chief 

 business for the evening. This union has proved very satis- 

 factory to })oth Sections, and renders the meetings of greater 

 interest, whilst economising time and expense. The annual 

 conversazione (held in October, 1892) was again a most successful 

 and interesting gathering, about 130 members and friends being- 

 present, and a varied programme of a scientific and social char- 

 acter being provided. Papers for this Section have been con- 

 tributed by Dr. R. H. Perks, F.R.C.S., Messrs. J. McEwin, A. 

 F. Calvert, M.E , J. G. O. Tepper, F.L.S., and S. Smeaton, B.A. 

 A considerable numl^er of exhibits in various departments of 

 natural liistory have proved not the least attractive feature of 

 the evening meetings. 



Excursions. — The outdoor meetings for the practical study of 

 natural history contiiuie to be appreciated Ijy the members. In 

 consequence of the increased interest shown in this direction at 

 the close of last year (the first excui'sion after the annual meeting- 

 being attended by over forty persons) a greater number were 

 arranged during the year just closing, ten excursions having been 

 held, as against five in the previous year. The chief feature of 

 these excursions has been that, notwithstanding the great number 

 held since the inception of the Section, all those of the past year 

 have covered new ground. The longest excursion was that to 



