83 



iscientific world attaches to tliis, as it is tlie first recorded exhi- 

 bition of such an ovum before any scientific society, and Dr. 

 Haacke may fairly claim a priority in the actual demonstration. 

 •of the oviparous character of the birth of the echidna. 



The membership of the Society consists of 126 Fellows, 12 

 Hon. Fellows, 14 Corresponding Members, two Life Members, 

 .and three Associates, making an increase of eight since last 

 year. Several names have been removed from the roll, on ac- 

 count of death and other causes, so that the actual increase is 

 small, although the nominations and elections during the 3"ear 

 ■compare favourably with that of former ones. Amongst other 

 deaths, your Council would specially refer to that of Mr. C. 

 A. Wilson, who had been a Fellow of the Society for more than 

 thirty years. During the earlier period of his membership he 

 •devoted himself with great zeal and devotion to the pursuit of 

 natural history, confining his attention chiefly to the varieties 

 of the Coleoptera with which the colony abounds. He always 

 took a great interest in the affairs of the Society, and was ever 

 ii leading member, until of late years his continualU'-increasiug 

 ill-health obliged him to retire more into private life. 



Since the last annual meeting the Field Xaturalists' Section 

 has become an accomplished fact, and from the large number 

 of members on its roll the Council hopes that it has in this 

 way met a popular want, and that a valuable nursery has been 

 started, whence the Society may ultimately receive a supply of 

 working Fellows. To further the object aimed at by the Sec- 

 tion, the Council has during the year paid to it a grant of £10 

 to meet preliminary expenses. 



A radical change in the constitution of what was formerly 

 the Adelaide Institute has necessitated a corresponding change 

 in the relations of the Society to that body — the Society no 

 longer being incorporated with it. In future it will stand in 

 the position of an affiliated Society to the Public Library, 

 Museum, and Art Gallery of South Australia, The rapid 

 increase in the School of Design, &c., &c., has necessitated the 

 Society removing from the old room into a more commodious 

 place in the new wing of the Museum. During the transition 

 from the one place to the other the Couucil of the Adelaide 

 Universsity very generously put one of its lecture-rooms at the 

 •disposal of the Society, for which the warmest thanks of your 

 ■Council are due. 



During the past year a request has been received from the 

 Librarian of the Public Library, Museum, &c., for a large 

 increase in the number of the Society's Proceedings supplied 

 O-oO), which your Council feels flattered in thinking indicates 

 an increased appreciation of the work performed by the 

 Society. The list of foreign exchanges is also ever on the 



