Presidenfs Address. xV 



''Does the Moon influence Weatlier?" Mr. Andrew Smith: "On 

 disturbances to Thermometers from Local Causes." 



IV. mohff^j (8).— [A] Zoohgi/ (6). Eev. G. H. R. Fisk : "Note 

 on alleged existence in the Colony of Earthworms six feet in length." 

 Dr. E. Holub : "List of Animals collected near Cape Town." The 

 late H". W. Oakley : " On the Snake called the Mamba of Natal." Mr. 

 L. Peringuey : " Insects Injurious to Forest Trees in South Africa," 

 and "First Contribution to the South- African Coleopterous Fauna." 

 Mr. R. Trimen: "Note on a remarkable Marine Fish, Amphisile 

 punctulata, taken at Port Natal." [B] Botany (2). Mr. H. Bolus : 

 " Note on the Orchids of the Cape Peninsula." Dr. E. Holub : "List 

 of Plants collected near Cape Town," [This is actually a portion of 

 the same paper of Dr. Holub' s as is mentioned under the heading 

 "Zoology."] 



V. Philology {\). — Dr. F. W. Kolbe : "Linguistic Pioneering in. 

 South Africa." 



VI. Engineering (3). — Capt. Balfour: "Irrigation in the Valleys 

 of the Visch and Zak Eivers, in the Calvinia and Fraserburg Dis- 

 tricts." The late Mr. E. Elmgren : " On the Form of Cross Section of 

 a Channel for Constant Velocity of Water at di:fferent Depths." Mr. 

 J. G-. Gamble : " On Siphons for use in Reservoirs." 



VII. Jffl^^A6w^«^^V5 (1).— Mr. F. Guthrie: "Note on the Calculus of 

 Variations." 



VIII. Miscellaneous {&) . — Mr. G. Alston: "Description of Model 

 of an Ostrich Camp, with Electric Reporter of Fence Gates left open, 

 &c. ; and of a Mode of ascertaining whether an Ostrich Egg contains 

 a Living Embryo." Dr. J. Meiring Beck : " Pathology from an Evo- 

 lution Point of View." Colonel J. H. Bowker : " Other Days in South 

 Africa." Dr. D. Gill : "Account of Longitude Operations connecting 

 Aden with the Cape." Mr. G. Gresswell : "In what sense, and how 

 far, can the Evolution Theory be reconciled with Sound Philosophy ? " 

 and "The Evolution Theory as the Fundamental Assumption in the 

 Science of Ethics." 



This total of twenty-five papers is smaller than that of the two 

 preceding terms of two years, which were, respectively, twenty- 

 nine for the term 1881-83, and twenty-seven for the term 1879-81, 

 and is identical with the number read during the first and second 

 years of the Society's existence. Of these twenty-five memoirs, read 

 during the two years just completed, thirteen were ordered to be 

 printed, and it is hoped that the new part (the second and concluding 

 one of Volume III.) of our "Transactions" containing them will be in 

 the hands of members before the delivery of this address. On the 

 merits of these memoirs selected for publication it is not for me to 

 descant ; but the Society will, I am assured, recognise the care and 

 judgment exercised \)j the Council in the matter, albeit their critical 

 action renders our published volume somewhat slenderer in bulk than 

 might have been expected, in addition to the memoirs just men- 

 tioned, I am glad to be able to report that the second part of the 

 "Catalogue of Printed Books and Papers relating to South Africa," 

 vid., that relating to Meteorology, has been completed by Mr. J. G. 

 Gamble, and will shortly be published by the Society. 



3. While on the subject of publications I cannot refrain from 

 congratulating the Society on the action taken by the Council in the 

 matter of plates to illustrate Mr. Peringuey's paper on New Species of 



