3 



Continent, or of some of the lands of a great archipelago, 

 were destined to throw a light on the history of the whole, 

 which it will take many years' study to bring to a focus. 



The late Mr. Gunn. — Our Society, gentlemen, has sustained 

 great losses, to some of which, as already noticed by the 

 Council, it is needless for me to refer. I may, however, remind 

 you of the very recent death of the late Mr. Eonald Campbell 

 Gunn, who for nearly half a century did honour to this and 

 earlier societies. The infirmities which attended the close of 

 his career prevented my ever having tlie pleasure of making 

 his acquaintance, but I allow myself to quote from the pen of 

 his illustrious friend and fellow- worker, Sir Joseph Hooker, 

 the tribute his scientific labours had earned twenty years 

 ago: — "Ronald Campbell Gunn, F.R.S. and L.S., to whose 

 labours the Tasmanian Flora is so largely indebted, was the 

 friend and companion of the late Mr. Lawrence, from whom 

 he imbibed his love of botany. Between 1832 and 1850, Mr. 

 Gunn collected indef atigably over a great portion of Tasmania, 

 but especially at Circular Head, Emu Bay, Rocky Cape, the 

 Asbestos and Hampshire Hills, Western Mountains, Minders, 

 and other islands in Bass' Straits, the East Coast, the whole 

 Valley of the Derwent, from its sources to Recherche Bay, the 

 lake districts of St. Clair, Echo, Arthur Lakes, and the 

 country westward of them to Macquarie Harbour, and the 

 Franklin and Huon rivers. There are few Tasmanian plants 

 Mr. Gunn has not seen alive, noted their habits in a living 

 state, and collected large suites of specimens with singular 

 tact and judgment. These have all been transmitted to 

 England in perfect preservation, and are accompanied by 

 notes that display remarkable powers of observation, and a 

 facility for seizing important characters in the physiognomy 

 of plants such as few experienced botanists possess." " I had 

 the pleasure," continuesSir J. Hooker, "of making Mr. Gunn's 

 acquaintance at Hobart, in 1840, and am indebted to him for 

 nearly all I know of the districts I then visited ; for we either 

 studied together in the field or in his library ; or when he 

 could not accompany me himself, he directed one of his 

 servants, who was an experienced guide and plant collector, to 

 accompany me, and take charge of my sjDecimens. I can 

 recall no happier weeks of my various wanderings over the 

 globe than those spent with Mr. Gunn, collecting in the Tas- 

 manian mountains and forests, or studying our plants in his 

 library, with the works of our predecessors, Labillardiere and 

 Brown."* Such men are not too often met with in any com- 

 munity, and are rarely honoured as they deserve until they are 

 gone. We can at least offer the expression of our respect and 

 high appreciation to the friends he has left. 



* " Flora Tasmaniaj," I., p. cxxv. 



