32 



nd other parts of Australia. Mr. Stephens also remarketl that Table Cape 

 might be registered as a ncw,locality for the Alsophila A ustralis. Its chief 

 peculiarity cousisted in the persistence of the bases of the fallen fronds along 

 the whole stem, and in the prickly einderniis with which they were covered. 

 It is ilescribcd in Hooker's Flora as occurring near the Asbestos Hills, and at 

 Macquarie Harbor, but it had, he believed, been found by Mr. Gunn in other 

 places, 



Mr. M, Allport observed that this tree fern is also found on Maria Island, 

 where it grows away from the watercourses, and may be readily distinguished 

 from the common tree fern by the greater breadth of the fronds in proj>ortion 

 to their length, and the slender stem which scarcely exceeds a foot in diameter 

 when the tree is 25 feet high. 



A parcel of small pearls, procured on the East Coast, from our salt-water 

 mussel was exhibited. In reference to pearls Mr. M. Ailport observed that 

 the Unio (fresh-water mussel) of Tasmania closely resembes the pearl 

 bearing Unio of Great Britain, and it is remarkable that it is found only in 

 those rivers running to the north and west coasts, while it is absent in 

 those running to the southward and eastward, though many of both sets of 

 streams take their rise within a very short distance of each other, in the same 

 mountains. 



The address of the Chairman of the Physical Section of the Royal Society 

 (E. Swurbreck Hall, Esq. ) on the opening of the session of .1865 was read 

 by the author. That portion of it which alluded to the new illuminating 

 agent was illustrated by the burning of a small portion of magnesium wire, 

 which had been procured for the occasion from Mr. Knight, (the Pyrotechnist) 

 by Dr. Hall. The light was inconceivably brilliant, and had something of a 

 bluish tint. The Secretary read some further details as to its capability from 

 a lecture delivered by Professor Uoscoe at the meeting of the British Associ- 

 ation held last year at Bath. 



The attention of the Fellows was directed to the exhibition of the apples 

 and pears, from the Koyal Society's Gardens, of which 70 varieties were on 

 the table. 



The usual vote of thanks to the author of the paper just read, and to the 

 donors of presentations, having been passed, the proceedings terminated. 



