144 
The Australasian Scientific Magazine. [Nov. i, 1885. 
THE ZOOLOGICAL AND ACCLIMATISATION SOCIETY. 
A meeting of the council of the Zoological and Acclimatisation Society 
was held on Monday afternoon the 5th of October, at the society’s office, 
69 Temple-court, when there were present : — Mr. Robert Simson (presi- 
dent), Messrs. C. M. Officer, M.L.A., C. Purchas, J. Halfey, F. R. God- 
frey, and C. Ryan. The report of the deputation from the council which 
had waited on the Chief Secretary, and received a promise from that gen- 
tleman that he would endeavour to have the sum of £1000 placed on the 
supplementary estimates for the use of the society for building purposes in 
the Zoological Gardens was received with satisfaction, and it was explained 
that such a sum would enable the council to erect several buildings which 
were greatly needed, and to repair and alter others. Improvements were 
stated to be steadily going on, and the gardens were reported to be highly 
attractive at present. The following contributions of stock were stated to 
have been received since the last meeting of the council, the thanks of 
which were desired to be conveyed to the donors : — one native bear from 
Mr. Hugh Gilmour, Broadmeadows ; one rosella and one cockatoo par- 
rot, from Mrs. E. Hines, Royal Lark ; two Darling doves, from Mr. J. W. 
Westwood, Hotham ; one native bear, from Mr. Wm. Bott, William-street, 
Melbourne ; one monkey, from Mr. Newman, Clifton-hill ; one landrail, 
from Mrs. Dyer, Brunswick. 
THE ROYAL SOCIETY OF VICTORIA. 
The Annual Conversazione. 
The annual conversazione of the Royal Society of Victoria was held on 
Friday evening the 23rd of October, at the Society’s Hall, Victoria-street. 
Mr. R. L. j. Ellery, the late president, introduced Professor Kernot, 
his successor in that position, to deliver his inaugural address. 
THE president’s ADDRESS. 
The President.- — It was appropriate on an occasion like the present to 
inquire what was a Royal Society, and what were its objects. The Royal 
Society had its origin under kingly patronage in London more than two 
centuries ago, since when it had interested itself in all the branches of 
science, and had included in its membership some of the most illustrious 
names the world had known. Its methods were accurate observation, 
conscientious experiment, logical deduction ; and its aim was not the 
advocacy of a theory, but the discovery of absolute truth. The off-shoots 
of the parent body in these colonies recognised the same duty, and 
adopted the same methods. Their legitimate work was to discover and 
record that which was true, and widen the bounds of human knowledge, 
to expose error, and to assist the bona fide investigator. They might rest 
assured that the amount of fallacy, error, and prejudice existing amongst 
us was far greater, and the amount of real knowledge far less, than we 
