president's address. 1217 



than was hitherto supposed. Some interesting changes which one 

 of the kirge Jellyfish in our harbour has undergone during the last 

 forty years were described in another Paper. It appears that the 

 specimens collected in Port Jackson in the early part of this century 

 until 1845, when Huxley found this animal, were always blue, as 

 they are to this day in Port Phillip. Here in Sydney their colotir 

 has changed and now they ai"e brown ; so that a new variety has 

 been formed within the last forty years. In other Papers the 

 Author dwells on several physiological facts concerning the diges- 

 tion of Sponges, &c. Some short Geological Papers in the Glacial 

 Period in New Zealand, and the Eruption of Krakatoa were 

 also furnished by Dr. R. von Lendenfeld. 



The interest of our monthly meetings has been much enhanced 

 by exhibits of Natural history specimens, many of which have 

 been brought forward in illustration of the papers read. At our 

 last meeting Mr. W. H. Caldwell, B.A., exhibited some specimens 

 showing certain stages in the development of the Monotremes. 

 And at a meeting of the Royal Society he gave an account of the 

 results of his recent discoveries in this colony and Queensland in 

 reference to the embryology of Marsupials, Monotremata and 

 Ceratodus. These embryological researches of Mr. Caldwell are 

 of the highest value, and will awaken in all scientific cii-cles a 

 lively interest in the study of the unique fauna of Australia. 

 Probably in no other part of the globe can the principles of the 

 descent of animal and plant life through vast periods of time be 

 studied with greater advantage. 



The Honorary Librarian, Mr. W. A. Haswell, M.A., B.Sc, 

 informs me that during the year nearly 1500 additions have been 

 made to the Society's Libi'ary. In no previous year has such a 

 large number of works been received in exchange from the 

 Society's foreign correspondents ; and two gentlemen have made 

 very munificient donations of books. These are the Hon. William 

 Macleay and Monsieur Theodore Lefevre, Secretary of La Societe 

 Royale Malacologique de Belgique, from the latter was received 

 a large collection of Belgian Scientific publications. 



