NOTES AND EXHIBITS. 677 



his recent travels among the Aborigines of the North coast of 

 Australia between Broome, on the North-west, and the Gulf of 

 Carpentaria, and at Melville Island, for the purpose of ethno- 

 logical and anthropological study. The Aborigines of the 

 northern half of the Continent were more numerous than was 

 generally supposed, and their number might be estimated as 

 between 100,000 and 150,000. Professor Klaatsch concluded 

 his very interesting observations with a fervent appeal, on behalf 

 of the Northern Blacks, for greater consideration in the way of 

 a more adequate provision of reserves and for more effective 

 protection than the Southern Blacks had received in the past. 

 Apart altogether from humanitarian questions, the demand for 

 their more enlightened treatment was justifiable on scientific 

 grounds alone. 



Professor Wilson gave expression to the pleasure and interest 

 which Dr. Klaatsch's narrative and conclusions evoked; and he 

 expressed his cordial concurrence with the timely note of warning 

 which had been given, and emphasised its importance. 



On the invitation of the President, Mr. Coleman Phillips, a 

 visitor from New Zealand, addressed the Meeting in support of 

 the views upon the subject of rabbit extermination, which he had 

 long advocated, and which he had explained to the Society on a 

 previous occasion (Proceedings for 1901, p. 146). The speaker 

 contended that New Zealand had undoubtedly conquered the 

 rabbits by means of " natural enemies and natural diseases." 



54 



