78 THE AUSTRALIAN NATURALIST. 
N.S.W. NATURALISTS’ CLUB. 
ARMIDALE BRANCH. 
Av the Annual Meeting of the above Branch (which, we are 
glad to note, is flourishing), Mr. W. G. Thomas presiding, the 
following report was submitted by the Hon. Secretary, Mr. 
_ A. E. Hunt :— 
“The operations of the Armidale Natural History Club 
for the past twelve months have been of a highly satisfactory 
character. The membership roll totals 30, and enthusiasm in 
the work of the Club has been well maintained. One great 
incentive to increased effort and deeper research has been the 
affiliation of the Armidale body to the N.S.W. Naturalist 
Club in Sydney. This brings the Club into touch with the 
leading scientists of the State, who have expressed their 
readiness to assist in every possible way. It is recognised 
that there is an immense field for original research in the 
natural history of Australia, and the parent Association looks 
to its Branches to help in unravelling the mysteries and dis- 
' covering the wonders and beauties of nature. This may 
largely be accomplished by the collection of local specimens, 
in the recording of life histories, especially in the insect world, 
in the analysis of rocks and soils, in microscopic investigation, 
etc., and it is along these lines that the Club has been working. 
“ There have been in all 14 meetings during the year, under 
the Presidency of Mr. W. G. Thomas, with Mr. J. Scholes and 
Mis. L. Ross as Vice-Presidents, the Hon. Secretary and 
Treasurership having devolved upon Mr. ‘A. H. Hunt. 
“One of the most pleasing features of the Club's operations 
has been the original research undertaken by members, the 
results of which have been made available in papers and 
lectures. Mr. Cory, of Saumarez, gave a highly-appreciated 
paper on reptiles, and exhibited a number of iteresting 
specimens. ‘Silica and its Compounds’ formed the subject of 
a most instructive paper by Mrs. Mallam, the specimens ex- 
hibited in illustration thereof being numerous, rare, and 
beautiful. Members spent a very pleasant and profitable 
evening when Mrs. A. H. Perrott read papers dealing with 
fossil wood, the cicada, and the New Zealand gum-fields. The 
best thanks of the Club is due to Mr. H. Tonkin for his lantern 
lecture on ‘ The Geology of New England,’ which was open to 
the general public, and attended by a large and appreciative 
audience. The life-history and anatomical wonders of the 
cicada were unfolded to members by Mrs. L. Ross. By special 
request, the Hon. Secretary read the address of the President 
of the N.S.W. Naturalists’ Club on ‘A Study in Natural 
Selection,’ and at the same time seized the opportunity to give 
a few hints on the collection and preservation of specimens, 
and to briefly describe the wonders revealed in the aquarium 
