508 DONATIONS. 



of conical form, 19 inches in length, and four inches in diameter 

 in the middle ; the surface presents a smooth worn appearance. 

 Dr. Cox suggested that it had probably been used for grinding 

 nardoo, and that view seemed to receive most favour, though a 

 number of different opinions were expressed. 



Mr. Macleay also exhibited for Mr. Wilkinson, a number of 

 Helix-like Shells, wound spirally round the leaf-stalks of a species 

 of Eucalyptus, at Branxton, on the Hunter. These shells, 

 though calcareous, were pi'onounced not to be the production of 

 any Molluscous animal, and the general opinion was that they 

 must be egg cases of some insect. 



Mr. Dean exhibited a very perfect specimen of a caterpillar 

 fungus (Sj)hceria Robertsi) from New Zealand. 



Mr. Grilliatt exhibited two large masses of vegetable matter 

 encrusted with lime taken by him from the surface of the Tarri- 

 bar Spring, Bando, Liverpool Plains. The spring was over- 

 grown with moss, weeds, &c, and amongst them on the water, 

 the deposit exhibited was formed. 



A large collection of shells and echinodermata from Cossack, 

 Western Australia, sent by Mr. J. F. Bailey, of Melbourne, for 

 exhibition were on the table. Among the rareties were Conns 

 trigonus. Reeve. Conns Victoria. Reeve. Ancillaria cingulata. 

 Sowb. Ancillaria elongata. Gray, Oliva Caldania. Duclos, Spon- 

 dylm Tfrightiamis, Cross. Mr. Bailey also sent some packets 

 of sand and other microscopic material for distribution among 

 the members of the Society. 



Dr. Cox exhibited a cluster of mud oysters, some of them 

 measuring seven inches long by six broad, from Eden, Twofold 

 Bay. It was unusual to find this kind of oyster attached either 

 to others of its kind as in this instance, or to rocks. Formerly 

 this species, judging from the number of the shells found in 

 the cooking ovens at the camps of the natives along our shores, 

 was very abundant, but is now fast disappearing. Although 

 growing in abundance to the south, this oyster is never likely 

 to become a marketable commodity, owing to the fact that it will 



t live beyond twenty-four hours out of the water. 



