NOTES AND EXHIBITS. 557 



deposit, is a layer of alluvium from 1-3 feet thick. The shells? 

 it was to be noted, are all perfect pairs, which, of course, pre- 

 cludes the likelihood of the deposit having been a great midden 

 of the blacks. A number of them, again, show signs of having 

 been killed by the Boring Whe\k{7Vopho')i paivce). This mollusk 

 is one of the deadliest and most insidious of oyster-enemies at 

 the present time in oyster-waters (or in those portions) of con- 

 siderable density. The marks of the attack of this borer, coupled 

 with the presence of the habitations of tubicolous woi'ms and (in 

 one at least) indications of the presence of a boring sponge(C/io?(r<.), 

 are all simis of considerable saltness of the water about the time 

 of the death of the oysters and cockles. It is to be noted that 

 nearly all of the oysters— though of the same species as the 

 present commercial kind (Ostrea cucullata) — are of the sort some- 

 times termed " Coon oysters," these being more or less long and 

 narrow. Inspector Grane has reported that sevei'al extensive 

 deposits are found in the vicinity, some of them at a higher level 

 than that referred to. He has also reported that, throughout the 

 lower Macleay, a stratum of shells is found, sometimes of the 

 oyster only, sometimes of the cockle only, and at others of the 

 two species. In some cases, they are much above high-water 

 level, and in others below, and are covered with an alluvial 

 deposit of 6-14 feet in thickness. In a few instances two separate 

 strata of shell have been sunk through. The deposits are quite 

 evidently of very considerable antiquity, though, of course, 

 geologically "recent." They would appear to be evidence of 

 recent upheaval. 



Mr. J. L. Froggatt showed an undetermined fungus, of a 

 deep lemon-yellow colour and mucilaginous when fresh, collected 

 at Wentworth Falls, Blue Mountains, which was remarkable for 

 the rather persistent iodoforra-like smell it gave off. 



Dr. C. Hall showed a flower of Anemone coronaria exhibiting 

 one petal abnormally displaced, and attached to the calycine whorl 

 of leaves on the pedicel. 



Mr. K. T. Baker exhibited sections of one of the buttresses of 

 the historic Y\g-ivee( Ficus macrophyUa) recently cut down in 



