37 



figured in the Zoological Society's Transactions, the parr markings were 

 very distinct, and the stunted and misshapen appearance of the fish was 

 unmistakeable. 



Presentation No. 6 was interesting, as, according to Mr. Allport's 

 observations, nothing of the kind, as far as numbers were concerned, had 

 ever occurred till last year. Since that time large numbers had been 

 found in the stomachs of rock cod. This was a proof of the existence of 

 great quantities of these prawns in our waters, and a systematic search 

 would probably secure this delicacy for our market. The same might be 

 said as to the large edible crabs, numbers of which were formerly captured 

 on our coasts when the whales were brought on shore for the extraction 

 of the oil. It was to be hoped that fishing as practised at home would 

 be tried here for both these crustaceans. 



The Secretary called attention to the following publications lately 

 received from London, viz. : — Proceedings of Zoological Society of London, 

 Journal of Linnean Society, Journal of Geological Society, Journal of 

 Royal Asiatic Society, Journal and Proceedings of Royal G-eographical 

 Society. Presented by the various societies. Also a complete set of the 

 reports of the Paris Exhibition of 1867, the gift of the Society of Arts, per 

 Dr. Milligan. 



The following books, for which the Society subscribes, were also re- 

 ceived in the same parcel : — Ray Society's vol. for 1868, " Vegetable 

 Teratology," the Transactions of the Society of Arts for 1868-9, and the 

 report of the British Association for 1868. 



The Secretary read the following extracts from a letter he had re- 

 ceived by last mail from Dr. Milligan : — 



''London, I7th June, 1870. 

 " By the Ethel, Captain Harmsworth, you will receive a parcel contain- 

 ing a copy of each of the two books lately published on the Aborigines 

 of V. D. Land by Mr. James Bonwick, formerly holding some position on 

 the staff of the education department in Tasmania, and first known to me 

 as an author b^ his having applied to me for scraps of information, 

 touching topographical peculiarities, and geological conditions in sundry 

 parts of the colony, which he embodied in school geographies, which he then 

 brought out. I forget what I said (in a former letter) about the books 

 which I have sent to you, but whatever it was it would scarcely be in their 

 praise, for I consider that a spirit most unfriendly and disingenuous as 

 regards the early colonists pervades the whole production. It is a great 

 pity that he has not related a few of the numberless attempts which 

 were made by the more respectable and intelligent of the early settlers to 

 educate and improve the children of the aborigines, and the absolute 

 failure of success in ninety-nine cases out of every hundred. This would 

 have been only fair. 



* * * * * * * 



"In the same parcel you have three packets of seeds which I have pro- 

 cured for the Royal Society's gardens, from the Secretary of the Royal 

 Horticultural Society here : the several packets are respectively contribu- 

 tions to the flower and kitchen departments of the gardens, and to your 

 arboretum. Besides which I have sent one packet of seed of the plant 

 which yields the well known and valuable fibre of which the grass cloth of 

 China and India is manufactured. Should you succeed in maturing it, 

 and I can perceive no natural bar to your doing so, you will confer a 

 valuable boon on the colony, seeing that there must arise an unlimited 

 demand for such a fabric (as grass cloth) on the continent of Australia, 

 if indeed it does not already exist." 



[This plant is now growing in the public gardens, and Mr. Abbott, the 

 Superintendent, states that it is readily propagated from cuttings. It also 



