THE AUSTRALIAN NATURALIST. 185 
or she cannot share in the great task. We have among us 
veterans in the work—Mr. Froggatt, whose name is a_ house- 
hold word among those engaged in agricultural and_pastorai 
work; Mr. Cheel, who astonishes even those who know him well 
by the extent of his studies and the depth of his researches; 
Mr. A. G. Hamilton, whose labours among teachers are des- 
tined to spread a knowledge and love of nature throughout the 
land; Mr, Waterhouse, whose fame is not confined to our State 
or continent; Miss Agnes Brewster, whose knowledge and 
patient research in botany, entomology and zoology are as great 
as her willingness to help others, and to pass on freely what 
she has gained at the cost of work and thought; Mr. Finckh, 
whose modesty forbids him to reveal even a tithe of his labour; 
last. Mr. A. A. Hamilton, whose patience, method and thor- 
oughness may well serve as a pattern to us all. With the aid 
and encouragement of these pastmasters in the art, why are we 
not doing more? Why does the work of the society seem to fall 
on a few? As I have said before, everyone may share in the 
work and everyone should. It is on the recorded observations 
of many that the devoted and learned few may base theiz 
theories, and it is by the continued observations of thousands 
that the same theories are either established or discredited. 
Each of us has then a part to play; we are “citizens of no mean 
country,” and should glory in it. 
Tf it were a question of each going out alone, collecting alone, 
working out genus and species alone—in fact, going through the 
whole of the drudgery unaided—there might be some. excuse 
for shirking so uphill a task. Our excursions, however, otter 
unique and unparalleled opportunities. In these we have ex- 
perts in every braneh to show us how to collect, to name our 
specimens, to point out this or that peculiarity of form or posi- 
~ tion, to indicate to us the lines on which we may work. This 
being the ease, these excursions should be well attended, should 
be looked upon as being great privileges—as they are. At 
least we should expect that, fifty per cent. of our members should 
be present. Are they? Let us consider four held quite lately. 
and during my term of office. Mr. G. A. Waterhouse headed 
one excursion to the bush at the back of Dee Why, to give prac- 
tical help and guidance in collecting and recognising some of 
our best known butterflies; Mr. Hamilton guided us at Home- 
bush Bay in order to exemplify some of his magnificent work in 
ecology; Miss Mabel Roseby gave the benefit of her knowledge 
