223 



read a paper on the Malagasy Genus of Rodents Brachyuromys^ and entered 

 into the question of the mutual relation of some of the groups of the Miiridae 

 [Hesperomymae^ Microtinae, Mun'nae, and Spalaciaae) with each other and with 

 the Nesomyiììo- of Madagascar. The Malagasy Rodentia were considered as 

 forming a subfamily Nesomyinae, the lowest of Muridae^ being forerunners 

 of the American Hesperomyinae^ the Old-World Murinae and the Microtina» 

 [Arvicolìnaé] . One of the genera from Madagascar [Brachyiii-omys] was stated 

 to bear close affinities to a genus of the Spalacidae. Reasons were given for 

 regarding the last-named family as only lowly-organized Muridae. P. L. 

 Sci at er, Secretary. 



3. Linnean Society of New South Wales. 



April 28th, 1897. — 1) Botanical, — 2) Descriptions of the Nests andEggs of 

 three Species of Australian Birds. By Alfred J. North, C.M.Z.S. Descrip- 

 tions are given of the eggs of Cractitus rufescens^ De Vis, from the Herbert 

 River, Q., Sphenura Broadbenti, McCoy, from the Otway Forest, Victoria, and 

 Dendrocygna Eytoni, Gould, from the Macquarie River, N.S.W. — 3) On some 

 new or little-known Australian Fishes. By J. Douglas Ogilby. Two new 

 genera are characterised, namely, Monothrix, for a Brotulid allied to Dine- 

 maiichthys but differing in the dentition, the uniradial ventrals, &c., and 

 Austrophycis^ for a Gadid, closely allied to P/iystculus and SHota, with which 

 it agrees in the forward position of the anal fin, but difi'ers in the dentition 

 and other particulars. Full diagnoses are given of the clupeid genera Hyper- 

 lophus and Potamalosa] and ten species of fishes are described as new. — 4) On 

 the Development of the Port Jackson Shark [[Heterodontus Philllpi) . Part, 

 i. Early Stages. By W. A. Haswell, M.A., D.Sc, Challis Professor of Bio- 

 logy , Sydney University. — The hope is not unreasonably sanguine that the 

 embryonic development of a type so ancient as Cestracion [Heterodontus] might 

 exhibit some important primitive features. With regard to the stages now 

 described, however, any expectations of this kind cannot be said to have 

 been fulfilled ; and what impresses one most in the results is the extra- 

 ordinary persistency of certain characteristics which are not known to have 

 any vital significance. There can be little doubt, for example, that the orange 

 spot which forms such a striking feature of the e^g of an Elasmobranch in 

 its early stages, has been handed down with but little change from Palaeozoic 

 times. — 5) Description of a new Helix. By C. E. Beddome. The new species 

 is near H. Mossmani, Brazier, in its markings, but differs in being umbili- 

 cated and white-lipped. Hab. — Yeppon, near Rockhampton, Q. — 6) De- 

 scriptions of new Species of Australian Land Planarians : with Notes on Collecting 

 and Preserving. By Thomas Steel, F.C.S. Seven species of Geoplana irora 

 New South Wales and Queensland are described as new. — 7) Descriptions of 

 new Species of Fijian Land Planarians. By Thomas S te el, F.C.S. One species of 

 Geoplana and one of i?Äy»e^oJe»mÄ are described as new : and Bipalium kewense^ 

 Moseley, is recorded as common under logs on the Navua River, Viti Levu. — 

 Mr. W. W. F r o g g a 1 1 exhibited specimens of the so-called Queensland Fruit Fly 

 (Hallerop/ioracapi/ata, Viied, sp.) in the pupal, larval, and perfect forms, together 

 with some apples from Inverell, N.S.W. , showing how these are affected by 

 the attacks of this destructive pest which has been reported from the northern 

 parts of New South Wales as well as from Gosford and Penrith. Also spe- 



