31 



read some notes on the genito-urinary system in the male Lepidosiren and 

 Protopterus^ in which he gave an illustrated account of the more important 

 anatomical features of the organs. Mr. Kerr dwelt particularlj- on the pre- 

 sence in both Lepidosiren and Protopterus of very definite remains of a testi- 

 cular network, and pointed out that the presence in all three Dipnoi of the 

 connection between the testis and the kidney gave greatly increased pro- 

 bability to the view that this connection is a very ancient and primitive fea- 

 ture of Gnathostomatous Vertebrates. Mr. Kerr also pointed out that the 

 conditions in the Dipnoi shed considerable light upon the relations of testis 

 and testis-duct in the Crossopterygians and the Teleosts. — A communi- 

 cation was read from Mr. Alfred E. Pease, M.P., F.Z.S., containing some 

 field-notes on the Antelopes obtained during his expedition to Somaliland 

 and Southern Abyssinia in 1900 — 1901. P. S. Sclater, Secretary. 



3. Linnean Society of New South Wales. 



1) Descriptions of New Species of Australian Coleoptera. By A. 

 M. Lea, Government Entomologist, Tasmania. — Mr. T. Steel exhibited 

 the following specimens of interest from New Zealand : — Maori Rat, Mus 

 exulans] New Zealand Frog, Liopelma Hochstetteri\ Tuatara Lizard, Hatteria 

 punctata; Lizard, Naultiniis ornaius] Fish, Acajithoclinus litorius and another 

 little fish with sucker disc, found very abundantly under stones between tides 

 in Auckland Harbour; Porcelain Crab, Petrolisthes elongatus^ found in exces- 

 sive abundance associated with above fishes; Fresh-water Crab, Hymenicus 

 varitis; Fresh-water Shells, Potamopyrgiis coralla^ P. antipidum^ P. cuwingiana^ 

 P. pupoides, Latia neritoides\ Fresh-water Sponge, Spongilla (sp.?), fine large 

 specimens from Lake Takapuna, Auckland; Pteropod, Cavoliva affinis. — 

 Mr. David G. Stead exhibited a portion of a hardwood wharfpile, bored by 

 the Teredo or "Ship-worm," which had been excavated from Lower Pitt- 

 street during the recent sewerage operations at a depth of about 12ft. Al- 

 though the pile must have been embedded in the mud for a great number of 

 years, it was in an excellent state of preservation. He also showed the ova 

 of a large "Australian Cray-fish" [Astacopsis serratus^ Shaw), and of Ibacus 

 Peronii, a somewhat uncommon Crustacean, from Port Jackson. Also a spe- 

 cimen of the beautiful little Octopus pictus, which frequents rock-pools along 

 our shores. — Mr. W. W. Froggatt exhibited a collection of Lac-producing 

 Coccids of the genus Tachardia, containing all the Australian species except 

 one, and all the foreign species except three. Also several undetermined 

 native species, among them several probably new. The lac insects are well 

 known in commerce, as from Tachardia lacca of India 25000 tons of lac 

 are collected in India alone. The tests of the sexes are very distinct; those 

 of the males are slender, thin and turned up at the apices, where the open- 

 ing is covered with a thin plate. The female surrounds herself with a mass 

 more or less rounded, in the centre of which she remains glued to the bark. 

 Without legs or antennae, she is provided with two curious tubes on the 

 dorsal surface known as the lac tubes. — Mr. Percy Williams exhibited a 

 large specimen of a "Funeral Stone" from Wilcannia, together with a draw- 

 ing of the same. The characters and lines were described, and the exhibitor 

 propounded a theory that it was probably an historical record of a Chief or 

 King of a tribe, or of a tribe itself. — Mi-, G. A. Waterhouse exhibited 

 specimens of Rhopalocera, viz.: — Liphgra brassolis, Westw., Casgapa beata. 

 Hew., Mynes Geoffroyi^ Bois. 



