EDITORIAL. 
With the object of widening the scope of the Society it was 
decided at a meeting held on the 17th August, 1909, to alter 
the title of the Society to “ The Natural History and Science 
Society of Western Australia.” It was confidently hoped that 
in embracing all branches of Natural Science the Society would 
become a stronger and more useful body. 
A regrettable delay has occurred in the publication of this 
number of the Journal owing to the fact that although proof 
sheets from a type-written copy of Dr. Michaelsen's valuable 
paper on " The Fauna of South-Western Austialia have been 
available for many months, the original manuscript has only 
recently come into the possession of the Society. Dr. Michael- 
sen’s paper will be published in the next number of the Journal, 
which it is hoped will be issued early in August. 
A new departure is made in publishing a Resume of Meetings, 
and Reports of Excursions by the respective Leaders. In the 
case of the latter it is hoped that they will form a working guide 
to the Fauna and Flora of the various localities visited, and 
thus stimulate members to attend in larger numbers than has 
been the case during the past session. 
We feel it our duty to remind members that they may 
greatly benefit the Society by r influencing as many of their friends 
as are interested in scientific matters to join its ranks. With 
an increased membership it will be possible to publish a quarterly 
Journal, which will be a distinct gain to the Society. We re- 
spectfully ask members to bear this matter in mind, for being 
one of the few learned bodies in the State the Society should 
do all possible to disseminate a wider knowledge of scientific 
matters appertaining to Western Australia. 
HISTORY AND OBJECTS OF THE SOCIETY 
The Society was originally founded in 1897, under the name 
of the Mueller Botanic Society, with Botany as the chief object 
of its work, It continued as such until April, 1903, when it 
was felt that the Society Would render greater assistance in the 
dissemination of scientific knowledge by extending its scope so 
as to include other branches of Science. This was cordially 
agreed to, and the title was altered to the “ West Australian 
Natural History Society,” with which is incorporated the Mueller 
Botanic Society. Under its new' name the Society continued on 
