244 



workers. It has, however, been already stated that many of our 

 workers do not attend the meetings because they have had 

 opportunities elsewhere of meeting those with whom they are in 

 science matters eyi rapport. The utility of this Society is there- 

 fore not to be measured by the number who attend the meetings 

 but rather by the bulk of its published memoirs. The intrinsic 

 value of the contributions has always maintained a very higli 

 scientific standard. It must also be remembered that each of 

 these contributions necessitates a vast amount of labour and 

 minute and painstaking investigation, so that although the 

 quantity may not always be great, the quality is unimpeachable. 

 Another obstacle to the size of our proceedings has been at times 

 the question of ways and means, and the study of certain subjects 

 has had to be postponed owing to the unlikelihood of the Society 

 being equal to the necessary expenditure. As an example may 

 be cited what has been done with regard to the unique Calla- 

 bonna fossils. In 1894-5 a beginning was made by describing 

 and illustrating certian bones of Genyornis Newtoiii, but since 

 then there has been no further publication. On those who can 

 afford to wait fortune in the end generally condescends to smile 

 and so it is in this case. There is now every certainty that the 

 work will be pushed on with vigour, as the Government has 

 generously, and with a due appreciation of the scientific 

 value of the work, caused a sum of money to be set apart for 

 this especial object. It must be particularly gratifying 

 to all who have the welfare and encouragement of scientific 

 work at heart to have this tangible proof of the enlightened 

 interest which the present Ministry of South Australia takes, 

 not only in assisting to obtain scientific materials, but also in 

 making it available for the benefit of the scientific world. 



At the meeting held in July, 1898, an important resolution was 

 carried, expressing the desirability of a united action on the part 

 of the Australian Colonies to arrange and publish an authorita- 

 tive Treatise, as complete as possible, of the Australian race. 

 There is every reason to hope that material assistance will be 

 obtained from the various Governments for effectively carrying 

 out this national work. It will also be conceded by all that no 

 time should be lost in setting about the collecting of all available 

 information. In South Australia, apparently, no systematic and 

 comprehensive attempt has been made to study the aboriginal 

 races of this colony. In the pages of our proceedings during the 

 past twenty years appear various important, but isolated, con- 

 tributions towards the anthropology of Australia. The most 

 important of these are probably those relating to the tribes 

 inhabiting an area of country having a radius of two or three 

 hundred miles from a centre about theFinke River. The reason 



