174 



The President read a note on the so-called origin of Potato- 

 tubers as propounded by Bernard in the Comptes Rendus, 

 which, but for the fact that it appeared in such a high -class 

 scientific journal, he should have thought must surely have been 

 a huge joke. 



Mr. Karop contributed a note on " Red Rain Dust from 

 Australia," which had been collected by Captain C. J. Gray and 

 sent to him for examination. This did not appear greatly to 

 differ from other samples, which were found to consist of a vast 

 number of different bodies in a finely powdered condition raised 

 to great heights by wind-storms and carried about by atmospheric 

 currents until they were brought down by the rain. The subject 

 was investigated very thoroughly by Prof. Ehrenberg, who pub- 

 lished many papers relating to it. 



Mr. Earland said that Mr. Mottram had sent him some red 

 rain dust also from Melbourne. He was given to understand 

 that its origin had been traced to a district in the middle of 

 Australia, and that it always came with a north wind. 



Mr. Karop thought it probable that both lots were from the 

 same source. Some of Ehrenberg's samples, however, were taken 

 as much as a hundred miles out at sea. 



Notices of meetings and excursions for the ensuing month 

 were then given, and the proceedings terminated with the usual 

 conversazione. 



May 17th, 1901. — Ordinary Meeting. 



George Massee, Esq., President, in the Chair. 



The minutes of the meeting of April 19th, 1901, were read 

 and confirmed. 



The following gentlemen were balloted for and duly elected 

 members of the Club : — G. P. Deeley, H. Gladding, S. Harvey, 

 T. G. Kingsford, Hon. T. Kirkman, E. H. Lund, J. P. Miles, 

 A. E. Mitchell, G. A. Pedley, M.R.C.S., D. Powell, M.A., 

 A. Reynell, E. H. Rundle, W. Selman, A. G. Soutter, 0. Whiting, 

 L. M. Wilde, and W. F. G. Winter. 



The donations to the Library and Cabinet were announced. 



