natural history work. Another stimulant would be excursions* 

 to the most interesting localities for investigating natural 

 history, say two each year. Prizes for the best collection of 

 scientific objects or the best paper might be made. 



Mr. Smeaton said he cordially agreed with the scheme. 



Mr. Molineux said with regard to the porcupine ant-eater 

 at Kangaroo Island, it was most advisable that the nature and 

 habits of the animal should be clearly known, and that there 

 was so little information on the point was due perhaps to the 

 fact that there were few scientific men on the island. The 

 animal was so common there that its fat had been used for 

 slush-lamps. 



Mr. Smeatok said the information might be obtained from 

 Mr. "Wilson, who was an old resident of the island, and was a 

 very observant man. 



Dr. G-ossE suggested that the Secretary might communicate 

 with Mr. Wilson and get specimens of the ant-eater sent. 



Mr. Moltneux expressed himself strongly in favour of the 

 Society attempting some such scheme as that proposed by 

 Professor Tate in the cause of science and for the reputation 

 of the colony. In our woods there were animals and insects 

 of which it was most important that some knowledge should be 

 obtained. There used to be a small marsupial on the Adelaide 

 Plains years ago which had now disappeared, and Mr. "Water- 

 house, to whom he spoke, said he knew nothing of such an 

 animal, but he (Mr. Molineux) remembered seeing it when he 

 was a boy. 



It was resolved that the Council should nominate a Com- 

 mittee to carry out the suggestions made by the President: 



Ordinary Meeting, February 3, 1880. 



Professor Ralph Tate, F.Gr.S., in the Chair. 



Mr. W. Telfer, Wallaroo Hospital, was elected a Fellow. 



The list of donations to the Library was read. 



The Hos". Secretary read a draft of a letter to the Governor 

 requesting him to forward a petition to Her Majesty the Queen 

 praying her to become Patron, and to allow the Society to be 

 known in future as "The Royal Society of South Australia.*' 

 The letter and petition were unanimously approved. And it 

 was also resolved to request His Excellency to become Vice- 

 Patron in case Her Majesty assented to the prayer of the 

 Society. 



EXHIBITS ANT) XOTES. 



The President reported that in connection with the proposed 

 record of Natural History phenomena he had received several 



