164 



ment of the Society for the identification of specimens and tlie 

 registration of observed phenomena. The " Transactions and 

 Proceedings" for 1879-80, Avhich were published in the early- 

 part of this session, show a decided advance both in the 

 quantity and in the value of the matter which has been 

 collected by the Society, and it is believed that in the volume 

 for the present session the same standard of progress will be 

 maintained. Owing to the scattered nature of the Society's 

 membership the attendance at the monthly meetings is neces- 

 sarily small, and the true value of its work can only be 

 estimated from its publications ; that its value is appreciated 

 beyond the limits of the colony is shown by the recognition 

 accorded to the Society by other scientific bodies which have 

 received copies of its Transactions. It was intimated in the 

 last annual report that it was intended to supplement the 

 purely technical papers with lectures of a more popular 

 character upon scientific subjects, but the result of the one 

 attempt in this direction was not such as to encourage the 

 Council to continue in this course. The membership of the 

 Society is not as large as the Council feel it has a right to 

 expect. The number in all classes is now 102, the same 

 number as at the last annual meeting. In addition to th^ 

 members enrolled in the various classes, nine gentlemen have 

 been appointed local correspondents by the Council in accor- 

 dance with Eule 25. 



The death of our honorary member, Mr. J. L. Young, has 

 removed another of the small band of pioneers in scientific 

 research who founded the Adelaide Philosophical Society in 

 January, 1853, and one who, while closely identified with the 

 Society in its early days, was also distinguished for his efforts 

 to imbue the youth of the colony with a taste for science. 



The balance-sheet shows that the finances of the Society con- 

 tinue in a sound condition, but it must be remembered that as 

 the value of the Society's work increases, so also will the cost 

 of publication of its Transactions, which already forms the 

 chief item of expenditure. 



