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JOURNAL, R.A.S. (CEYLON). [VOL. XVI. 



foster disease are the best for pearl formation. In conclusion, I am 

 sure that Mr. Collett will do Dr. Kelaart the justice to acknowledge 

 that although there may be no ponderous monograph in any language 

 on the natural history of the oysters — and a great book, according to 

 the great proverb, is not seldom a great evil —his reports on the 

 subject, though written nearly fifty years ago, are as complete as far as 

 they go on the subject as could be desired. There has been little that 

 is new that has been discovered by naturalists since, to supply the 

 desiderata Mr. Collett refers to in his Paper. I say this because I do 

 not think Ceylon has sufficiently acknowledged the debt of gratitude 

 she owes Dr. Kelaart for his researches in connection with the Ceylon 

 pearl oyster. One of the earliest sons of the soil— belonging to the 

 Burgher community, who, having secured a British decree, entered the 

 Army Medical Service, where his reputation as a scientist generally, 

 as Geologist, as Botanist, as Zoologist, especially as a Conchologist in 

 connection with the subject of Pearl Oysters — has received the 

 recognition of the whole scientific world. (Applause.) 



5. The vote of thanks to Mr. Collett for his Paper was carried by 

 acclamation. 



Mr. Collett, in replying, said he would like to answer one or 

 two points raised by Dr. Van Dort. Firstly, he would refer to Sir W. 

 Twynam as regards the pathological and zoological study of the 

 oyster ; that authority said that our knowledge in this respect was still 

 almost nil. His own Paper had been entirely theoretical, summarizing 

 the latest writings on the subject ; and he (the speaker) had taken it 

 up more as a zoological recreation for a busy planter than with any 

 scientific experience of the subject. Dr. Van Dort had expected him 

 t( put into the Paper more than he (Mr. Collett) had intended. He 

 was very gratified at the reception his Paper had received. He could 

 feel that if it had done nothing else, it had elicited a most interesting 

 discussion, and he thanked them all for their cordial vote of thanks. 

 (Applause.) 



6. The Bishop of Colombo : I propose a very hearty vote of thanks 

 to His Excellency for occupying the Chair this evening. In any 

 assembly of the inhabitants of Ceylon we are very much pleased 

 to have the Governor with us, and the Members of this Society 

 felt that in a particular degree. We are very grateful to His 

 Excellency for having made the effort to come out on this wet night. 

 Cynical outsiders might say that a Meeting of the Royal Asiatic Society 

 would be the very place to come to on a wet night, because they 

 would be sure to find something dry. (Laughter.) Such a person 

 would have been hopelessly wrong on an occasion like that evening. 

 I am not aware to what extent His Excellency gives a personal 

 study, amidst his many vocations, to those matters which particularly 

 occupy us as a learned Society, but it is quite certain that in 

 one Branch of our proceedings His Excellency encourages us by. 



