210 



(Peragalca lagotkj, with a young one in the pouch, was shown 

 by Mr. Beazley ; it came from Orroroo. 



Anjs^ijal Meeting — Tuesday, October 13, 1885. 



There was a fair attendance. Eouruew members were elected. 

 Along one side of the room was arranged a fine collection of 

 K'ew Zealand ferns by Mr. J. Gr. O. Tepper, F.L.S. There were 

 exhibited on the table a number of specimens obtained on 

 trawling expeditions, and they were briefly noticed by Prof. 

 Tate, who named a cuttlefish as Sepia brevhnamis, so called 

 from the short arms. The largest size he had met with was 

 thirteen inches. A great novelty presented was the young of 

 the Echidna. The Professor also described a tray of interest- 

 ing shells ; also some orchids (submitted by Mr. Tepper) 

 which were not of any recorded species. 



Professor Tate said the work of the past year had not been 

 of such an encouraging kind as could have been desired. They 

 had had a good deal of lecturing during the winter evenings, 

 but the Society had not progressed. That might arise from the 

 novelty wearing off, but those that remained were the ardent 

 students. In comparing the work done by this Section with 

 that done by a similar Society in Melbourne, he might say that 

 the field excursions here were better attended than those of 

 the Melbourne Pield Club, but on the other hand the night- 

 w^ork over there was far in advance of ours. There was 

 always a long list of exhibits drawn from all parts of the 

 world, and generally an indication of better work by the 

 students. The excursions here had been comparatively well 

 attended, but the evening meetings poorly so. PerhajDS the 

 members had lost sight of the real object of the evening meet- 

 ings, which was to supplement the knowledge gained at the 

 excursions. Although he ceased to be Chairman he would ever 

 be ready to show as active an interest in the Society as hereto- 

 fore. The Secretary then read the following : — 



ANNUAL EEPORT OF THE COMMITTEE. 



" In submitting the second annual rejDort of the Section the 

 Committee are pleased to be able to regard the year's proceed- 

 ings as on the whole of a satisfactory and encouraging nature. 



"The novelty attaching to the inauguration of the Section (it 

 being an entirely new feature for the colony) has now had 

 time to wear off, and, although the large gatherings at the first 

 few meetings have not since been equalled, the attendances 

 this year, especially at the whole-day excursions, have been 

 well sustained. 



