THE GEELONGh NATUEALIST. 
15 
would strongly recommend the following places as being specially 
adapted for the cultivation of oysters, viz., Western Port Bay, 'to- 
wards Tooradin; Mud Island, near Queenscliff; on the Bellarine 
Coast, near Clifton Springs; the western portion of Corio Bay, 
from Hutton's Wharf to the North Shore, and the Duck Ponds 
(Lara) Lagoon. The above-mentioned places are within a short 
distance from a centre, and therefore easily supervised. 
I feel assured that the class of oysters known as the Stewart 
Island, from New Zealand, would thrive well in any of the above 
mentioned places. 
MR. J. B. WILSON, M.A., F.L.S. 
SixcE our last issue we, and the scientific and scholastic 
worlds, have suffered a severe loss by the death of our Patron, 
Mr. J B. Wilson. 
To the very last he showed his deep sympathy with and 
interest in our work. Only a month before his death he did 
yeoman service for the club at a critical juncture. Though he 
was an enthusiastic and accomplished scientist, yet his vast 
store of knowledge was always at the disposal of the merest tyro. 
Especially as a club shall we miss his generous help and wise 
counsels The writer treasures up the kindly letters he received 
early in his scientific career from Mr. Wilson, who welcomed 
him to the ranks of scientific workers as a *' brother botanist." 
While his researches ^verenot limited to any one particular 
branch of natural science, yet it was to the study of the varied 
forms of marine life that he more especially devoted himself 
with great distinction and success. Particularly in this branch 
he achieved a world-wide reputation, and was universally 
regarded as an authority. A great many algae, polyzoas and 
kindred forms were first described by him, and he added 
greatly to our knowledge in these interesting branches by his 
patient and methodical investigation. Undaunted by a stiff 
breeze or heavy swell he perseveringly prosecuted his dredging 
operations, and his well-known yacht was quite a feature in 
the Straits during vacations. 
In 1882 Mr. Wilson was elected a Fellow of the Linnean 
Society of Great Britain, a distinction only accorded for 
original research which must be certified by competent and 
reliable persons. Last year he was also elected a Cor- 
responding Member of the Eoyal Botanical Society of 
Eegensburg, Bavaria. This was another high tribute to his 
scientific attainments. Those who knew him best, loved and 
admired him most, and will now^ long, in the pathetic words 
of our late laureate, 
" For the touch of a vanished hand, 
And the sound of a voice that is still." 
