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cei-tain plants — but ^his is not tlie time nor the place. It 

 is only after a more careful study of the work that the 

 time will come for making observations thereon. 



We invite our young naturalists to respond to the 

 appeal of the authors of the flora, by following the exam- 

 ple of our colleague Bewsher. — It is very desirable that 

 the dependencies of Mauritius should be well and tho- 

 roughly explored, and that their hidden botanical riches 

 should in their turn be made known and described, 



Mr Ev. Dupont made the same suggestions in a letter 

 addressed to your Secretary. 



Would it not be opportune, said he, to move Govern- 

 ment, in the name of our Society to cause a scientific 

 exploration of our dependencies to be made ? In the 

 Salomon Islands, for instance, might not some insects or 

 terrestrial shells still unknown be found, as well as at 

 Agalega and other Islands ? 



Your Secretary took up the question, and inentioned 

 it to His Excellency in an interview previous to his de- 

 parture for Seychelles ; he pointed out the advantage 

 which might be derived by the Society and the Museum. 



His Excellency listened favorably and promised to 

 examine the subject on his return to Mam-itius. 



The foregoing is nearly a complete record of the 

 labours of our Society during the year 1877. Unforeseen 

 circumstances have prevented the publication of our Trans- 

 actions dming the year 1876. It Avould have formed our 

 9th Volume and the materials for the 10th are now ready 

 at hand. 



