ABSTRACT OF PROCEEDINGS. 293 



one; it began with a revolutionary coup, carried out by 

 the Governor of the day, a coup as bold and dai'ing in its 

 way as that by which Louis Napoleon founded the Third 

 Empire. There were some curious human touches in the 

 history Mr. Piesse had put before them. For instance, 

 there was the curious rule that no lady member should 

 change her proxy within 12 months. He wondered if the 

 secretary had discreetly concealed from them what the 

 records of the Society contained on this point. Was it 

 that the male members of the Society felt they could not 

 possibly deserve the confidence of the lady members for 

 more than 12 months, or did they have their doubts about 

 the stability of the female mind? On behalf of all the 

 members he tendered their most grateful thanks to Mr. 

 Piesse for presenting to them such a clear, concise, and 

 interesting narrative of the Society's early history. 



A number of books, documents, and portraits connected 

 with the early years of the Society were shown. Among 

 these were the Minute Book of the Tasmanian Society for 

 1841; a list of the original Fellows of the Society; the 

 first book purchased for the Society's library (Loudon's 

 "Encyclopaedia of Plants," purchased in 1846); a book 

 presented by the University of Cambridge in 1847 (the 

 first presentation to the library) ; the visitors" books of 

 the Society"s Museum from 1852 to I860, and of the Gar- 

 dens from 1856 to 1859; a microscope by Andrew Ross, 

 formerly the property of Mr. J. E. Bicheno, F.R.S., F.L.S., 

 purchased for the Society by direction of Sir William 

 Denison in 1851, and afterwards the subject of a debate 

 in the Legislative Council on 28th January, 1852; and 

 portraits of early Presidents and members. 



Oilier Papers. 



The following papers were taken as read : — 



"Tasmanian Bryophyta" (continued). Bv L. Rodway. 



"Some New Australian Asilidae (Diptera)." By Arthur 

 White. 



"Notes on a Fossil Whale from Wynyard."' By H. H. 

 Scott (communicated by R. N. Atkinson). 



11th November, 1913. 

 The Monthly General Meeting was held at the Museum 

 at 8 p.m., Mr. L. Rodway in the chair. 



Election of Members. 

 The Honorary Acting Secret^ary read a notification from 



