548 Proceedings. 



elephant class, with a shorter trunk and relatively shorter tusks. This 

 was the earliest kind of elephant that was known prior to Dr. Andrew's 

 recent discoveries near Lake Moeris, in Egypt. These discoveries included 

 the paleo-mastodon and the moeritherium, the latter having a pig-like 

 skull with almost the full complement of teeth as found in the pig at the 

 present day. This animal was mvich smaller than the elephant, being 

 about the size of a moderate-sized deer. The moeritherium belonged to 

 the Eocene period, and was the ancestor of the elephant, an animal whose 

 grotesque features were rendered commonplace only by familiarity. There 

 were older types still, hinted the professor, bringing us to the far-off 

 animal who was the parent not only of the elephant, but, through another 

 line, of man also. 



2. " Exploration in the Sounds District," by Dr. Marsh.iJl. 



He (Dr. Marshall) had accompanied Mr. Grave and others on an 

 expedition through a vallejr lying between Clinton and Milford Sound 

 offering an alternative route to the one now taken by tourists. There 

 were good and sufficient reasons for the lack of enterprise in the way of 

 exploration in this district at present. Supplies of food were difficult 

 to obtain ; the weather was very wet, the rainfall exceeding 250 in. in the 

 course of a year ; and the denseness of the vegetation. Dr. Marshall's 

 further remarks on his tour, which was full of interest and not unattended 

 with danger, were illustrated with lantern photographic views. The 

 scenery was wild and rugged, but beautiful and imposing. There were 

 many tarns and avalanches, precipices and abysses. Incidentally, the 

 lecturer touched on the question of the formation of rock-basins, and ex- 

 pressed his preference for the glaciation theory. 



On the motion of Dr. Fulton, the lecturers were accorded a heart}' 

 vote of thanks. 



Seventh Meeting : ISth November, 1906. 



The President, Dr. Marshall, in the chair. 



New Member.— Mr. F. W. Sims, F.E.Met.Soc. 

 Exhibits. — 1. Mr. G. A. Rawson exhibited photos of groups 

 of the Natives of Port Darwin — some in corroboree costume. 



These were excellently taken, but gave no confirmation to the re- 

 ported discovery of the missing link mentioned by the German scientist 

 Dr. Klaatsh. That report stated that one individual possessed feet like 

 hands, or like a monkey's feet, with the big toe as far back on the foot 

 as the thumb is on the hand. 



Dr. Benham pointed out that it was not likely that such a i ape cha- 

 racter would be found — that some error in cabling must have occurred. 



2. Mr. G. Howes exhibited a case of moths, collected recently 

 by himself and two other members. 



3. Dr. Benham exhibited a large duck's egg within which 

 was a smaller spherical egg, consisting of a complete shell, con- 

 taining, however, white only. 



Papers. — 1. " Some New Species of Amphipodous Crustacea," 

 by G. M. Thomson, F.L.S. 



