president's address. 
and detached that when information can be obtained it is very- 
precious. It often happens that fossils are found by those who 
are entirely ignorant of their value, and they are looked upon as 
fossils and nothing more, as if they were not each of them bits of 
history to be carefully treasured. If they are carried home they 
lie about for some time and are eventually lost. Such relics 
should be carefully preserved, the circumstances and manner of 
the find in each case noted and reported to the Department of Mines. 
I am certain that many interesting discoveries are lost to science 
through neglect or ignorance. 
Another work that requires carrying out more fully and over a 
larger field than at present is the formation of local herbaria, 
including the forwarding of duplicate specimens to Sydney for 
identification. The knowledge of the distribution of plants in 
this country is far from complete, but it is a most interesting and 
important subject. Ladies residing in the interior, many of 
whom I know find their time hang heavily on their hands, would 
earn the gratitude of the scientific world if they would undertake 
to carry out this object, which would be more an amusement 
than a toil. Many districts are out of reach of ladies, and must 
be explored by the sterner sex. Local officers of the Government 
service should also be expected to assist. The great army of 
forest rangers, surveyors, road superintendents and others might 
have this work made part of their duties. Whenever an import- 
ant commission is sent by the British Government for geographical 
research into a little known country, for the delimitation of 
frontiers or other serious work, a man of science is invariably 
sent to assist in the expedition. In this case as it were we have 
the new and undiscovered country close at hand. Why should we 
neglect our opportunities 1 
The additions to our knowledge of the natural history of 
Australia directly resulting from the operations of the " Horn 
Scientific Expedition to Central Australia " promise to be of the 
greatest interest and importance. Captain Sturt, the pioneer 
explorer in this region and its outskirts (1844-46), was also the 
first to furnish some insight into its natural history. In an 
