July 1, 1948. 
THE SOUTH AUSTRALIAN NATURALIST 
Page Nine 
ANNUAL REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE 
OF THE FIELD NATURALISTS’ SECTION 
OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY OF SOUTH 
AUSTRALIA, 1946-47. 
On behalf of the Committee of this Section, 
your Chairman presents to members the 63rcl 
Annual Report, for the year ending July 
31, 1947. Owing to his resignation, the 
Secretary could not give this report. 
The Committee met twelve times to discuss 
and arrange the affairs of the Section, and 
1 would like to place on record our appre- 
ciation of their work. This has been done 
under adverse circumstances, and has placed 
much work on the Auditors, to whom our 
sincere thanks are due. 
There are two hundred and thirteen finan- 
cial members, one hundred and eighty-nine 
adults and twenty-four juniors, and nine 
honorary members. 
The death occurred of Mr. A. J. Wiley, an 
old and valued member. Until old age in- 
firmities prevented him, he took an active 
part in furthering the aims and endeavors of 
the Section. He was a keen Naturalist, and 
we greatly mourn our loss. 
Four Clubs, covering the subjects of Con- 
chology, Botany, Geology and Zoology have 
functioned and flourished during the year. 
These Clubs enable members of the Field 
Naturalists to specialise and further their 
knowledge in any particular branch of Nature. 
Each Club furnishes the parent body with 
an annual report, which is read to all pre- 
sent at the general meeting, and later on pub- 
lished in our magazine. 
We have had five camps at week-ends and 
thirty-nine excursions on Saturdays and holi- 
days. Evening lectures, covering many sub- 
jects of Natural Science, numbered ten. We 
tender our thanks to those who so kindly 
gave to us their time and know' ledge in 
these talks. 
The organ of the Section “The South 
Australian Naturalist,” has been issued three 
times during the year. Many favorable com- 
ments on this journal have been received 
from kindred societies, and libraries in Aus- 
tralia and overseas. 
Our annual “Wild Flower and Nature 
Show” was held at the W.A.N.S. Hall in 
October, 1946. Our thanks go to all those 
members who so generously helped. It was 
one of the most successful we have ever 
held. 
The Conversazione was held in the same 
hail. Seventy members gathered together 
for a very enjoyable evening. A Nature Quiz 
proved both instructive and entertaining. A 
film, taken and shown by Mr. Elliott of an 
overland trip to Darwin, was greatly appre- 
ciated. Some community singing and friendly 
gossip, followed by a supper, finished our 
one social event of the year. 
GEO. PATTISON, Chairman. 
19/8/1947. 
:o: 
ANNUAL REPORT OF THE LIBRARIAN 
FOR YEAR ENDING JULY 31, 1947 
There has not been such a great demand 
for the Library books as there w^as last year. 
However, 350 magazines were loaned to mem- 
bers. This shows an increase of 130 over last 
year. Only 42 books were loaned this year 
against 100 in the previous one. “Walkabout” 
magazine was subscribed to, and became very 
popular and much sought after by members, 
and “Wild Life” magazine is purchased as 
usual. Twelve magazines and scientific books 
have been exchanged for our “South Aus- 
tralian Naturalist.” 
Eight books on Natural Science have been 
donated to the Library, six of these were 
from members and two from outside sources. 
No books were purchased during the twelve 
months just ended. Members have returned 
their books more promptly this year. Better 
lighting is needed to enable members to see 
the title of the books when searching for 
them. A request for better lighting was 
made last year, but the matter has not yet 
received attention. It would be a simple 
matter to install a plug-in extension lighting. 
MRS. GEO. PATTISON, Hon. Librarian. 
