58 



The Chairman was glad that such notice had been taken, not only of thia 

 magnificent presentation, but of the great courtesy which we had invariably 

 experienced in our communications with Dr. Mueller, who, he might further 

 remark, had also promised to furnish us at all times to the utmost of his ability 

 with any shrubs and plants (not being in our own collection) which we might 

 wish to procure for our gardens, or other places of public resort. 



The motion was carried unanimously, and the Secretary was requested to 

 transmit a copy of it to Dr. Mueller. 

 Meteorological Returns :— 



1. Hobart Town, from F. Abbott, Esq. 

 a. Table for June. 



6. Summary and analysis of observations for ditto. 



2. Port Arthur, from J. Boyd, Esq. 

 a. Table for June. 



6. Reading of Government's schooner's barometer for ditto. 



3. Tamar Heads, from R. Henry, Esq. 

 Tables for May and June. 



4. Westbury, from F. Belstead, Esq 

 Table for June. 



5. Ross, from M. Duncanson, Esq. 

 Tables for March, April, and May. 



The following remarks by E. S. Hall, Esq., on the meteorology of the 

 month were read : — 



*' The deaths during last month are not yet all registered, therefore I have 

 not been able to complete my tables, and consequently cannot send my usual 

 monthly report. The deaths registered, however, considerably exceed the June 

 avei'age of the previous nine years, 'f here were only six children died under 

 five years old, while the deaths at all ages above 60 were 24. 



" Atmospheric pressure attained the highest maximum ever recorded, and 

 the month range was only exceeded once in the last 25 years — i. e., in June 

 1851. Never before was there so windy a June. The highesc previously had 

 little more than one-third of this year's. Temperature was above the average, 

 with a daily range above the 20 j'ears' mean. Rainfall was within a trifle of 

 the 20 years' mean ; cloud the same. Ozone was more abundant than in 

 any June recorded, except last year's. Catarrhal affections have been almost 

 universal. Many persons call it influenza, and imagine the visitation to be 

 the same, and as severe as in 1861. The atmospheric peculiarities of the two 

 periods were quite distinct, and 1861 almost the reverse of what 1866 has had. 

 It is remarkable that in June this year there is not a single record of ' positive 

 electricity.' " 



The following presentations to the Museum were brought under the notice 

 of the meeting : — 



1. From J. Maclanachan, Esq. A hen Golden Pheasant. 



2. From Air. Willing. A bittern (^otowrus^MS^ra^ts). 



3. From M. Allport, Esq. Specimens of Echidua setosa, and Platypus 

 {Ornithorynchus anatinus). 



4. From F. Sharland, Esq. A Nankeen Night Heron {Nycticorax 

 Caledonicus). 



5. From VV. Johnston, Esq. A limestone fossil (cast of Pecten), from Haon 

 Road. 



6. From Mr. R. Wood. Five do do. 



7. From F. Cox, Esq. Specimen of iron ore from Brighton. 



8. Prom H. M. Hull, Esq. Specimens of Tasmanian shells. 



9. From Mr. G. Smith, Old Beach. Head of fowl with malformed beak. 

 (With a letter.) 



10. From H.B. Tonkin, Esq., a seed from Queensland. 



11. From Mr. Cummins, a 20 dollar Spanish note. 



12. From His Excellency Colonel Gore Browne, a bottle of petroleum 

 from New Zealand. 



13. From Mr. Smith, specimens of granite and iron ore from River Forth. 



14. From R. C. Read, Esq., Redlands, sample of charred grain, found 

 on ploughing up a field which had not been under cultivation for 40 years. 

 The form of the grain (barley) is perfectly preserved. 



