It would be unjust to reproach scientific investigation in Australia with its smali contribution to knowledge of a more generál interest. We must not forget and have to emphasize that the sphere of action of the Australian explorer represents a huge part of the surface of our globe, up tili now but Iittle known and very different from other parts of the world.

With the modern specialization and division of work, not only in narrow theoretic branches but also in regional spheres of scientific interest, Australian scientific results do not reap always the apprecia-tion they deserves. So for inst., the study of the Australian flora, and fauna, the research work of Australian geologists, and the important results obtained in all branches of applied science are but little known abroad after all, chiefly because they have no direct connexion with the subjects of investigators in other remote centres of scientific work, principally engaged in the various problems of their region and but seldom taking any notice of the literaturę published on the Southern hemisphere.

Considering that in the course of the last fifty years much valuable research work was accomplished in all directions with regard to the exploration of Australian nature, and that mostly by Australian investigators, either natives of Australia or to whom Australia has become the adopted country, we have to acknowledge that much was achieved in comparison to the scanty population and to the vastness of the Australian region.

The scientific work of Australian investigators is not restricted to Australia proper and to its immediate neighbourhood. It plays an important part in the exploration of remote parts of the globe which by their geographica! position and by various other features stand in a certain relation to Australia. Australian scholars took a prominent part in the exploration of the Pacific islands, especially of Melanesia, in the oceanographic investigation of vast regions of the sea, especially East and South-East of Australia, and they covered themselves with glory by their scientific activity in the exploration of the antarctic region. The most prominent members of the British Antarctic Expedition were Australians (T. W. Edgeworth David, T. Griffith Taylor, Douglas Mawsbn) and the Australian expedition under D. Mawson crowned the period of ardent exploration in the Australian quadrant of Antarctica before the Great War.

Whoever studies problems of natural science in which he has to take into account the geographical and geological conditions of the Pacific or Southern hemisphere, comes across the distinguished names of T. W. E. David, С Hedley, E. С Andrews, and T. G. Taylor. Anthropology and sociology of primitive man are represented by B. Spencer, statistics by G. Knibbs, names of world-wide reputation, not to speak of branches less familiär to me.

Six universities, a number of scientific societies and the research departmente of the Commonwealth and of each colony take part in this scientific activity.