ANNIVERSARY ADDRESS. 9 
amounts to 152, and the great majority of additional observers 
are found in the interior, so filling up space which has been a 
complete blank to the meteorologist; and the statistics now 
collected are of the utmost value for the present and future inves- 
tigation of our climate. The rain map for 1879 has added to it a 
diagram showing the state of the inland rivers during the year, so 
that the effect of the rains can be traced in the rivers. I must not 
forget to mention that, owing to Mr. Russell’s exertions, a meteoro- 
logical conference was called together by the Government, and 
met at the Observatory. The report has been published, and con- 
tains important suggestions and arrangements for the study of the 
meteorology of Australia generally. Amongst minor matters 
should be mentioned the completion at the Observatory of a new 
recording instrument, which writes on a small sheet of paper, 19 
inches by 8 inches, a complete record of every change in the ther- 
mometer, the barometer, the direction and force of wind, and the 
rain, in fact it is a complete meteorological observatory in itself. 
To my excellent and most learned friend, Baron von Mueller, 
K.C.M.G., great praise is due for his indefatigable labours in 
working out the botany of this continent. In addition to the large 
share which he had in the publication of the “Flora Australiensis,” 
a work which in itself is a monument of patient industry and pre- 
eminent ability, he has lately published a valuable atlas of the 
genus Eucalyptus, of which six decades have been received by me. 
This is of the utmost importance to botanists, as the elaborate 
plates contain figures of the leaves, flowers, and fruits of the 
species which have been referred to. The sections given of the 
flower and fruit, and the descriptive letter-press, are such as to 
enable any one with slight botanical knowledge to determine with 
ease the particular species described. The Baron has also accumu- 
lated considerable additional material for a continuance or supple- 
ment of the flora. Much of this has been attained by the collec- 
tions made by Mr Alexander Forrest, during his last exploring 
expedition through North-west Australia, and by Mr. John Forrest, 
during that gentleman’s triangulation of the back country of Nichol 
Bay. From this last collection we learn the astonishing fact 
