xlii. 



ecliinodermata of South Australia, of a catalogue of the 

 polyzoa inhabiting our waters, a:id of a paper on the geological 

 structure of the Adelaide mountain chain. 



I notice with pleasure that science forms part of the 

 curriculum for teachers in training, and that encouragement in 

 the study of botany has been given to pupils in our State schools. 

 Cheap and good elementary text-books on botany are procurable, 

 but before a more general study of our native plants can be 

 initiated a manual is required somewhat after the model of 

 Baron P. von Mueller's " Native Plants of Victoria." At 

 present the only descriptive work is the " Flora Australiensis," 

 of seven volumes, far too costly to be accessible to the many. 

 A manual of South Australian botany, if restricted to the 

 flowering plants and ferns of the settled districts, could be 

 published at a price to bring it within the reach of all. We 

 commend the suggestion to the Minister of Education. 



Another great advantage our Society affords is the possession 

 of a library of volumes, acquired by presentation or by means 

 of exchange of our publications, which are of the greatest value 

 to the student and are not extant in other libraries in this city. 

 The number, it is true, is at present small, but the yearly 

 additions are largely on the increase. 



The increase in the number of members during the last 

 three years has been much in excess of that for any former cor- 

 responding period, but losses have been disproportionately 

 great. 



Having thus pointed out what we have at our command to 

 forward the interests of science in this colony, and what is 

 being done in its behalf, and incidentally indicated &ome of 

 the advantages that may be gained by joining our body, I will 

 now address myself to those who are still doubtful as to the 

 advantage of doing so. 



The sphere of the Society's usefulness, other things being 

 the same, is the more extended as its revenue is increased. 

 Thus we want funds to stimulate and reward those engaged in 

 investigating the natural history of this colony, and in other 

 directions not strictly of a commercial character. It is the 

 duty of all who wish to advance the study of nature to do 

 what in them lies, and relieve such enthusiastic workers, that 

 we have reason to know are amongst us, from the pecuniary 

 burthen which their self-denying labour brings upon them. 



The names of some Fellows of learned Societies, and many 

 of the learned professions, are absent from our list of Fellows ; 

 why do they not further the progress of research, and make it 

 possible for the Society to produce such works as would be of 

 inestimable value, and redound to the credit of the whole com- 

 munity, whose intellectual status has been pronounced hy 



