9. From the Hon. ilic MinisttT of Ijaiuls and Works, a sample of 



Stone Alum from Brooks' Creek, lUaek Boy. 



[Tlie 8kohet.\ky observed that no information was forwarded with the 

 specimen as to tlie <|uantity whicli (undd be obtained, or tlie expenses 

 which woidd be incurred in purifying it on tlie spot, or in forwarding 

 it to a. shipi)ing port for exportation to Melbourne or England, for the 

 purpose of preparing it for the market. He had been informed by 

 Mr. Justin Browne tliat i)urilied alum was worth al)out 10s. Gd. per cwt. 

 in the English market. On the whole, however, he feared from what 

 he had occasionally learned that our supplies of alum, which occurred 

 in various localities in the island, were not so accessible or in suthcient 

 quantities to be of any economic value. 



Mr. Justin Bikjwnk said the common alum was worth from 9s. to 

 lOs. per cwt., and the refined about 5Gs. There were only two 

 localities in Britain where it was prepared, Whitby and Hurlett, 

 whicli furnished uj) wards of 4,000 tons annually. About 7,000 tons 

 were also exported amiually from China. [Full information on the sub- 

 ject of alum can be obtained on reference to lire's Dictionary of 

 Manufactures, a'iid Muspratt's Chemistry. ] 



10. From Mr. Nash, Kangaroo Point, a German Lottery Ticket, 



11. From K. C. Read, Esq., New Norfolk, specimen of black marble 

 from the Florentine Valley, Eiver Gordon. 



12. From Mrs. W. Giblin, two specimens, male and female, of the 

 Sydney Parrot, or King liory (A jjrosmictus scajnilaf us.) 



13. From Mr. W. M. CampbeU, Port Cygnet, a White Hawk 

 ( Leucospiza Novce HoUandm. ) 



14. From Frederick T. Walker, Esq., Rhodes, a bow, 6 arrows, 

 and a branch of coral used as a club, from Tanna, New Hebrides. 

 Two clubs, 2 pieces of Tappa cloth, 3 mats, a pillow, 3 pieces 

 of sponge, a sample of sugar cane, a piece of Angora root (from 

 which the drink called Kava is made), and 2 beetles, from Fiji. 



15. From the United Happy Valley Company, per M. Seal, Esq., 

 a specimen of auriferous quartz from Christmas Reef (very rich) ; 

 ditto from New Reef, Ovens, Victoria. 



16. From Mr. Gates, Jerusalem, a Diving Petrel (Puffinaria urinatrix) 

 caught in a corn-field at a considerable distance inland. [These 

 birds have occasionally been found in similar situations, having 

 probably been driven in from the coast by stress of weather. ] 



17. From Mr. W. Smith, Port Davey, portions of skull of Sperm 

 Whale, 1 pelvic bone of ditto, ear bone of whale, curiously twisted 

 saplings from Port Davey, nest and eggs of White-shafted FantaU, 

 ( Rhipklura alh'iscapa. ) 



18. From Captain Fisher, of the Wild Wave, portion of tusk of 

 Mastodon, from Siberia. [This specimen was found underground 

 in lat. 65 N., long., 167 E. ; the length of the whole tusk was 

 about 15 feet.] 



19. From G. Stokell, Esq., perfect skeleton of a Sandwich Island 

 native. 



20. From Mr. J. Clark, a common rat caught by a mussel on a pile 

 of the fish market wharf. [The mussel had closed its shell with 

 one toe of the rat between the valves, and so held it firmly until 

 it was observed and destroyed. The mussel retained its hold for 

 two days after removal from the pile, and then the valves had 

 to be prized open with the point of a knife.] 



21. From Mr. Oscar Hedberg, tanned skin ofaJaquar(?) 



22. From Mr. J. Tapp, ship Figaro, a Danish coin, 1 mark. 



23. From Mr. F. Abbott, jun., a Blue Mountain Parrot ( Trichoglossus 

 Swainsonii.) 



