192 THE AUSTRALIAN NATURALIST. 
No. 8. Lejeunea mimosa; showing two ranks of leaves, also 
transparent perianth enclosing nearly ripe fructifica- 
tion. 
No. 9. Lejeunea; different stages of perianth and fructifi- 
cation. 
No. 10. Riccia asprella; section of thallus showing spore- ‘cases 
in various stages of ripeness; two are about to burst; 
in one the wall is gone and the spores are lying loose- 
ly. ‘These will be shed on the decay of the thallus. 
No. 12. Jamiesonella grandis; in this moss-like Hepatic the 
spore capsules are borne on a stalk, and when ripe the 
capsule breaks along four lines,|thus forming a cruciate 
form. In this slide the spores are seen, mixed with the 
’ sterile cells (elaters), whose function is to help in the 
dispersal of the spores. 
No. 12. Aneura pinguis; a thalloid form, bearing stalked spore 
capsules. The slide shows the open cruciate form. _ 
No. 13. Marchantia polymprpha; section of the female disk 
showing the developing spore-capsule. 
I trust that I have not trespassed too much on your attention 
The subject is one of: absorbing interest to me, and I have long 
been anxious to bring it under the notice of those who might 
take it up. I shall be only too glad to give all the help I can 
to those who wish to do a little work in this neglected field. 
The collecting is full of interest, as the plants grow in shady 
places by the road-side, in deep gullies, on tree trunks, and on 
rocks in moist localities. 
In conelusion, I desire to thank you for the attention which 
you have given me, and also to place on record my appreciation 
of the honour you paid to me a year ago in electing me as Pre- 
sident of our Society. I have tried to fulfil the duties to the 
best of my ability, for I have the welfare of the field natural- 
ists at heart. ‘To the best of my ability also I have striven to 
bring you to see and love Nature—as I am convinced all the 
members of this Society should, and as I have learned to do long 
ago. It is worth while even from a selfish point of View, seeing 
that— 
“Nature never did betray 
The heart that loved her.” 
