160 
president's address. 
being sent to the Antarctic regions to learn more about its 
meteorology, more about its biology, more about its physics, 
geography, and geology, the Linnean Society of New South 
Wales will, I feel confident, most heartily endorse. That the last 
great work of geographical, biological, and geological exploration 
in the world should be undertaken by the people of the British 
Empire is a consummation devoutly to be wished for ; and it 
would be a very worthy, end of the grand work begun and con- 
tinued by the great Challenger expedition. 
There is more than mere political glory and problematical guano 
to be gained by such an expedition as that which is now con- 
templated to Antarctica. There is the good of humanity and the 
cause of truth. Scientific Societies have been appealed to to help 
on this enterprise, and we all can help, if not with our money at 
all events with our minds. If the Linnean Society of New South 
Wales cannot contribute men or money, I hope most sincerely 
that it will at least contribute a very hearty sympathy. 
Notes. 
1. Mr. C. E. Borchgrevink, who accompanied the whaler 
Antarctic on its voyage to Balleny's Island and Victoria Land, 
stated in his lecture delivered in Sydney on April 24th that 
the shade temperature was by day as high as 46° Fahr., and the 
mean temperature for January, 1895, was 32.5° Fahr. 
2. Mr. C. E. Borchgrevink obtained land plants (which Mr. J. 
H. Maiden, F.L.S., F.C.S., informs me are probably lichens) from 
Possession Island, and from Cape Adair, on the mainland of 
Victoria Land. 
3. While the proofs of the above Address were being revised 
the following announcement in the Scientific American, March 
30th, 1895, p. 202, has been brought under my notice by Mr. H. 
C. Russell, the Government Astronomer : — " Dr. Frederick A. 
Cook, the well-known explorer, has recently declared his intention 
of leading a small but well-equipped body of scientific men on an 
exploring expedition to the Antarctic regions. The time for 
leaving New York has been fixed for September 1st, 1895, and it 
