49 



4-5 feet in girth ; one which that naturalist has measured waa 

 unbranched for 27 feet, and was 5| feet in girth at 3 feet above the ground. 

 In poor sandy soil it forms a dwarf bush. Of the bark, he adds, the 

 natives used to make the catamarans, or canoes, so admirably figured in 

 Labillardieres voyage, which were stitched with the bark of Sida, pulchella 

 and Plagianthus sidoides.''] (Currajong.) 



8. From Mr. F. Wise, a Smolt caught with rod and line in the Derwent 



at New Norfolk. 



9. From Dr. J. Milligan, F. L. S., a copy of " The I-ast of the Tas- 



manians," and one of '* The Daily Lifeof theTasmanians," by J. 

 Bonwick, F.R.G.S. 



The Secretary read some " Notes on an experiment with the fumes of 

 sulphur, and on other methods for the destruction of rabbits in their 

 burrows," by W. Archer, Esq., F.L.S. The fumes were forced into a 

 burrow by means of bellows, attached to a receptacle in which the sulphur 

 was burned ; and that this was effectually done was proved by the 

 escape of sulphurous vapour from the bolt-holes. When the burrow 

 was afterwards opened, however, no trace of the fumes was left, nor 

 •were the animals destroyed. The experiment was recorded as a " guide or 

 warning to others who may be induced to try further experiments with 

 the fumes of sulphur, or with any other vapour." (Carbonic acid gas 

 ■would not become condensed, and it would be fatal to animal life, but 

 its use would probably be much too expensive). 

 Mr. Abbott read a paper " On the Sun and its Office in the Univers©." 

 Some discussion of a conversational character having taken place, 

 Mr. M. Allport begged to call the attention of the meeting to the fish 

 presented by Mr. Wise (presentation No. S), on account of its high scientific 

 importance, as furnishing a complete answer to the theory raised by 

 Dr. Giinther in reference to the salmon first sent to England. The Doctor 

 then assumed that the fish sent was hatched from one of the eggs imported 

 from England in 1866. This assumption was met by the statement that 

 the fry unnaturally detained in fresh water had reached a higher 

 state of development than the smolt sent to England, and as the fish 

 now presented was but just assuming the smolt stage, all the argu- 

 ments used in reference to the smolts first caught apply with tenfold 

 force to this specimen. It was, moreover, fortunate that the Museum 

 possessed one of the fry hatched from the English eggs received per 

 Lincolnshire in 1866, and which died in the spring of 1867. Upon com- 

 paring this with the fish now caught, it would be found that they accorded 

 with one another so closely, as to leave little doubt of their identity in 

 species. No report had yet been received from England as to the smolt 

 last sent, though they had heard of its safe arrival. Mr. Allport further 

 observed that Mr. Youl, in writing to Sir Robert Officer, had expressed 

 a wish that the Salmon Commissioners should make it publicly known that 

 after careful examination he entirely concurred with Dr. Giinther in 

 the opinion that the specimen first sent to England was a Salmon trout 

 {Salmo trutta.) 



His Excellency read the following extract from a letter which he had 

 received from F. S. Corrance, Esq., M.P., an experibuced salmon fisher 

 in Scotch, Irish, and Norwegian rivers, and who had considerable oppor- 

 tunities of studying the habits of the fish : — " Concerning your salmon 

 experiment doubts will soon cease. For although a few fish would bo 

 undiscoverable in deep water, so soon as the spawning season begins they 

 will be evident enough upon the upper fords and shallow waters. The 

 success of the experiment will depend upon the mollusca upon the sea 

 banks, and the absence of formidable enemies outside, more than the 

 capabilities of the rivers themselves. And £ take it that the destruction 



