355 
August 15. "Visit to Tasmania," by Mr. F. R. Zietz and Mr. 
J. W. Mellor. 
September 19. Annual meeting. 
The subjects under discussion were of the usual scien- 
tific order, but rather more of the educational element than 
during the previous year. This phase of work is to be com- 
mended, iviiss Benham's paper upon ''Vegetable Cells," with 
illustrative diagrams, was distinctly educational in character, 
and the same remark applies to the address upon "Geologi- 
cal Observations," by Mr. Douglas Mawson. Mr. J. W. 
Mellor and Mr. F. R. Zietz were good enough to give mem- 
bers a glimpse of the "Tuggerah Lakes" and of various places 
in Tasmania. Both of these addresses were exceedingly in- 
teresting, and on the subject of ornithology very instructive. 
An evening was devoted to the scientific results of the 
three days' excursion to Blumberg, when Mr. A. Zietz dealt 
with the bird life; Mr. Griffith, Coleoptera; Mr. J. G. 0. 
Tepper, botany; Mr. S. Smeaton, geology, Mr. E. H. Lock 
introduced a discussion on "Animal Instinct or Reason," The 
subject was a new form of study at the meetings, and proved 
interesting. 
The conversazione to celebrate the twenty-first anniver- 
sary of the Section was a great success. The exhibition of 
natural history specimens would have done credit to a 
museum, and the regret was expressed that it could not be 
on view for more than one evening. It demonstrated the 
fact that the members of the Section have been doing a 
great amount of work in making private collections. 
A very instructive and interesting feature of the even- 
ing meetings has always been the exhibits. These have not 
been so numerous as at some of the meetings of previous 
years, and it is hoped that members will not allow this prac- 
tice to lose its interest. Perhaps the most striking feature 
of exhibits has been the keen interest taken in the collec- 
tion of orchids. The Chairman of the Section has created 
quite a new enthusiasm in this branch of botanical study. 
His explorations in field work, ably assisted by Mrs. Rogers, 
have resulted in a splendid collection, taken at all times of the 
year, and the members will congratulate them upon 
having added three species not previously recorded by 
the Section, and one apparently not recorded at all in Aus- 
tralia. In the same direction, note must also be made of the 
records of Mr E. Ashby, who has from time to time sent in 
specimens and records of orchids as they appeared in the 
vicinity of Blackwood. 
