NOTES AND EXHIBITS. 143 



specimens from othei- pai'ts of the country of opossums which have 

 been generally looked upon as local varieties ot that species. Mr, 

 Masters pointed out the marked differences in three of those 

 exhibited, leaving little doubt of their being distinct species. 



1. A specimen from King George's Sound of rather smaller size 

 than P. vulpina, and with the tail shorter and the apical third 

 white. 



2. A Port Darwin Opossum, less than half the size of P. vidjmia 

 with the tail long, slender, and without conspicuous brush. 



3. One from the interior of King George's Sound, much smaller 

 than P. vulpina, of much softer fur, darker and more uniform 

 colour, and with the tail brushy along its whole length. 



Mr. Macleay exhibited, in connection with the paper read by 

 him, a drawer of Austialian Scaritidse containing as he announced 

 the largest and most complete collection of that group of insects 

 in the world. 



Dr. Oscar Katz exhibited pure test-tube cultures (in nutrient 

 gelatine, and agar-agar) of pathogenic and saprophytic bacteria, 

 cultivations of which he had recently obtained from Prof. FKigge, 

 University of Gottingen. Unfortunately other very interesting 

 ones sent were, on arrival in Sydney, found to be no longer 

 capable of development. A number of pathogenic micro-organisms 

 ought to be obtainable in Sydney, as infectious and conta- 

 gious diseases, both in man and in animals, are well represented 

 here. The exhibited virulent cultivations were : — (1.) Staphy- 

 lococcus pyogenes aureus, the commonest of the pyogenic micrococci, 

 and thoroughly characterised by its cultivation-appearances and 

 its pathogenic nature as regards man. (2.) Bacillus murisepticus 

 (Koch), or bacillus of mouse-septictemia ; a very minute microbe, 

 which occurs here and there in putrefying liquids, and kills house- 

 mice in about two days. Its cultures in nutritive gelatine offer a 

 most beautiful aspect. (3). Bacillus of Swine-fever or pig typhoid; 

 this organism is the cause of that epidemic disease among swine in 

 Europe, and is also fatal to mice, pigeons, and other animals. It 

 resembles No. 2, in its morphological characters, and its pure cultures, 

 (4). Bacillus crassus sputigenus (Krebohm), or bacillus of salivary 



