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perts in his own department. He had not that pleasurable 

 incentive to scientific labour which some of us have, from 

 our association with the Royal Society, in the opportunity 

 of publicly showing fellow-members novel or unusual exhibits 

 in illustration, of our papers, and of enlarging in a familiar 

 way upon their points of interest. His contributions were 

 regarded by him as too technical and abstruse to permit 

 this; and so he worked, as it were, alone, without this 

 encouragement and happy extraneous aid, and hence deserved 

 the greater commendation. Not only as an author, however, 

 has he aided our Society ; but also as a member of its 

 Executive. In October, 1887, he became a member of the 

 Council, and served upon it without intermission until his 

 death. In 1889 he was elected Vice-President, a position 

 which he filled for twelve years; and in 1890 he was elected 

 to the Presidency, and filled the chair for two years. As a 

 member of Council he was of great assistance. Being 

 an expert in entomology he was our referee in this depart- 

 ment of natural history on all questions of exchange and the 

 acceptance and printing of papers presented to the Society 

 in this subject ; while his shrewdness, trueness, kindness, and 

 general knowledge made him very helpful in the ordinary 

 business of the Council. When President, in 1890, he 

 delivered an excellent address at the annual meeting, in 

 which he strove to show the ultimate aim of the study of 

 natural history and the urgent necessity and great advantage 

 of collecting and recording all available facts and describing 

 all recognized novelties in our Australian continent, and to 

 do this as quickly, accurately, and fully as possible while 

 the opportunity is afforded, and before commerce, agricul- 

 ture, and extending civilization shall prevent the possibility 

 of such work. He certainly practised what he preached, and 

 is one of the best examples of such industry, accuracy, and 

 promptitude. And now that his work is done we trust 

 others will take the subject up where he has left it, so realize 

 his ideals, suffer his word of exhortation, and follow in his 

 steps. We shall miss his well-known, delicate, almost ascetic, 

 form, as though 'much study had made him very lean' : 

 we shall miss his keen face, his dark, bright, intelligent eyes, 

 his gentle and courteous manner, his quiet modesty and 

 reserve ; but we shall recall with pleasure and pride the many 

 excellent qualities of our late Fellow ; while our Transactions 

 will ever remain a monument to his interest and delight 

 in the scientific study and his wonderful knowledge of those 

 humbler members of the animal kingdom — the creeping 

 things of the earth." Mr. A. M. Lea added some reminis- 

 cences of Canon Blackburn. 



