THE AUSTRALIAN NATURALIST. 39 
determination; these were duly handed to those into whose 
departments they fell, and after examination were returned 
with the information sought for. Several boxes of insects, 
shells, and other marine specimens desired and requested by 
country members were supplied. 
The Council has again to record its indebtedness to Mr. 
Garland for kindly granting the use of his office for its 
meetings. 
In conclusion the Council desires to point out that there is 
room for advance in our membership, and with it the extension 
of the scope of the Olub’s work. 
W. J. RAINBOW, President. 
WM. B. GURNEY, Hon. Sec. 
5lst July, 1906. 
A STUDY IN NATURAL SELECTION. 
(Abstract of Presidential Address by W. J. Rainbow, F.L.S.,F.E.S8., at 
the Annual General Meeting, 2nd August, 1906.) 
One of the most interesting chapters in the Study of Natural 
Science is that which comes under the heading of “ Attack 
and Defence.” So far as spiders and insects are concerned, it 
is unnecessary to enlarge upon their need of means of defence, 
because there are no creatures more open to attack, and this 
owing to their peculiarly defenceless conditions. I intend 
to-night to speak mainly of spiders, partly because so few 
really study them, and partly because, in the active field of 
natural science, these animals were the first to claim my un- 
divided attention. 
In studying the question of Attack and Defence, there 
are two main factors to be taken into account, viz., Colouration 
and Formation. In ‘ Tropigal Nature’? Wallace divided 
“ Organic Colours ” in animals into four groups : 
1.—Protective Colours. 
( (@) of creatures specially protected. 
2 —Warning Colours. 5 (b) of defenceless creatures mimick- 
ing a. 
3.—Sexual Colours. 
4—'T'ypical Colours. 
For the purposes of my address, I purpose to divide spiders 
into the following groups: !, Protective colouration ; 2, Pro- 
tective formation; 3, Those that mimic (a) animate and (b) 
inanimate objects; 4, Those whose colours are attractive , and 
5, Warning colours. 
Now, considering the dangers with which all soft-bodied 
animals are beset, the question of protection, whether it be by 
colouration or formation, or by a combination of both, is in the 
