340 



covered by Mr. Bradley), and polyzoa, shells, and seaweeds. 

 These frequently provoke more comment and lead to more 

 personal contributions than the set papers, and constitute an 

 attractive feature of our Society. 



Nor must we neglect to mention the different Sections — 

 the Field Naturalists', the Microscopical, and the Malaco- 

 logical — where much preliminary work is done, where work- 

 ers are trained, and material is provided for not a few of the 

 papers presented to the monthly meetings. Possibly less pub- 

 lic recognition is bestowed upon them than they deserve. 



Special mention may here be made of the efforts and 

 successes of the Field Naturalists in connection with the 

 fisheries protection and the preservation of our native flora 

 and fauna, and we are very hopeful of securing a large tract 

 of country in Kangaroo Island as a reserve for the latter pur- 

 pose and as a health resort. 



This record is, to my mind, one of which we need be in 

 no degree ashamed, with which we may be very pleased, 

 though of course we ought not to be satisfied with it, and by 

 which we should be encouraged. It indicates assiduous and 

 intelligent endeavour along truly scientific lines. And along 

 many lines. And this variety of subjects dealt with is one of 

 the most satisfactory features, and the one I wish to be most 

 impressed with, and wish most to impress. Only by such di- 

 versity can the Society be made generally interesting or 

 generally useful, and deserve its name. Apart from this, it 

 is liable to degenerate or develop (whichever view we may 

 take of it) into a Geological Society, or an Ornithological, 

 or a Physical, or a Malacological. But there seems no danger 

 of this. We could wish, however, for still further extension 

 and variety. And there is abundant scope. As we have in- 

 dicated, we want seme botanical enthusiasts — horticultural, 

 floricultural, agricultural — to observe phenomena in the vege- 

 table world and record them, propound their difficulties, and 

 enlist the sympathy and co-operation of their fellows. 



We need a phycologist to deal with our seaweeds — a most 

 prolific field, and a very attractive one : and withal one easily 

 explored, for it can be worked from the shore, and one which 

 will yield a very beautiful collection for a home cabinet. 



So in the animal kingdom. The ants and the spiders in 

 their abundance, and with their marvellous forms and habits, 

 are waiting for an admirer and investigator. 



We need someone to devote himself to Malacolog^^ — as 

 distinct from Conchology— the study of the shellfish them- 

 selves. It is an inexhaustible subject. It may be compara- 

 tively easy for the beginner, and mav be made as intricate 



