BY ALEX. MORTON. 125 



Tasmania, but Mr. J. R. McCljmont, M.A., and Mr. J. B. 

 Walker, F.R.G.S., took np the subject in the eighties, and while 

 Mr. McClymont wrote on the geographical part of the subject, 

 Mr. Walker took up the history of settlement and of 

 discovery with much patience and ability. His delightful 

 English, his proved accuracy, his untiring care in collecting 

 facts in connection with the early history of his native 

 country, and his enthusiasm for the good of the Society, made 

 his death last year a calamity to the Society, almost everv 

 member of which was his personal friend. The historical 

 section owes its existence principally to His Lordship the 

 Bishop of Tasmania and to Mr. Walker, both of whom worked 

 with great zeal in its establishment. The vai'ious papers 

 contributed by Mr. J. B. Walker are of so much value that 

 the Grovernment have granted a sum of ^100 to have them 

 igathered and printed in one volume. 



There are many new workers, who, during the last few 

 years, have devoted themselves to special branches of science, 

 and kept up interest in the meetings by timely contributions, 

 ^mong whom, without disparagement to other workers, may 

 be mentioned Mr. L. Rodway, whose botanical notes and 

 contributions to the Flora of Tasmania have been invaluable. 

 Mr. Eodway's forthcoming work on the Botany of Tasmania 

 is to be published by the Groverument, and is arranged on a 

 most comprehensive and useful plan, whose completeness 

 leaves nothing to be desired. 



The splendid work of Mr. Petterd, who was joined aflei'- 

 wards by Mr. Twelvetrees in descriptions, merits more notice 

 than can be given to it here, for their study of mineralogy 

 has resulted in the discovery of new and rare minerals, and 

 they have much increased the general knowledge of the 

 subject. Mr. Petterd has also published a monograph ot the 

 Land shells of Tasmania, a most complete work, and has also 

 written and described many new shells, in addition to his 

 great service in the discovery and description of minerals. 



The mosses were carefully worked by Mr. A. R. Bastow 

 when he lived in Hobart, and that interesting study has 

 since been taken up by Mr. W. A. Weymouth. 



In conchology, Miss Lodder has done good service to the 

 Society, and has classified the specimens of Tasmanian shells 

 in the Museum, replacing from her own collection those 

 which were in bad order. 



The work of Mr. Sprent, whose explorations in the island 

 were carried out with utter disregard for personal comfort, 

 sboirid be cheei'fully recognised. His interest in the collec- 

 tion of minerals, wlien the mines were just beginning to be 

 opened up, was only an earnest of what might have been 

 done had his life not been so prematurely ended. 



