THE AUSTRALIAN NATURALIST. 187 
the plant, of environment and modifications, we may well hesi- 
tate to apply the name.to ourselves. In short, if we do not go 
out with a definite object, even were it to learn something of on> 
plant, to get one new light on the life history of an insect, we 
are not truly field naturalists. If we do not seize every oppor- 
tunity of increasing our knowledge of the wonderful workings 
of nature, if we are not only ready but anxious to learn froni 
those who are willing to teach us, if we do not count every ex- 
cursion missed as a real loss, then we are hardly true field 
naturalists. . 
Nor does our responsibility end here. We must net only love 
nature ourselves, but we must be jealous for her, eager that 
others should know and appreciate even as we do ourselves. 
We have an immense field in which to work. Close and care 
ful observation and record are needed of our plants (many, alas 
fast disappearing before the “improvements” of the speculative 
builders), of our birds and of our insects. I never go into the 
bush withont realising the colossal amount of work to be done 
among the plants (for of these I can speak with more confi- 
dence). How is it to be done? This is a pertinent question, 
and the answer, to be practical, should be something like this: 
It can only be done in plants, for example, by every member 
who is interested in botany, taking up a species and studying 
it carefully, noting its habit, its variations, and the like, then, 
by proceeding to collect and compare other species, until a 
genus is completed. This would be a good life work for each 
amateur botanist among us, and, believe you me, who speak 
from the experience of years, in no other way can we do satis 
factory work. Mere desultory observation now and then of 
this plant, and at another time of that, can lead nowhere. Hav- 
ing a “craze” for now one Family and now for another, can 
lead nowhere. Only steady work along definite Imes ean ac: 
complish anything. Determination not to be daunted by diffi- 
culties, not to be turned aside by obstacles, not to be drawn 
away by other attractions, this and this alone can bring us to 
any measure of success and make our Society live and active. 
Our Journal, the Australian Naturalist, is valuable, but ib 
might and should be made more so. Ifthe account of every excur- 
sion could end with a notice of some work done, no matter 
how little, of some observations made no matter how small, of 
some new comparison or contrast, what a valuable Journal it 
would be for present readers in all the places where it cireulates; 
