11. From Mr, Rayiicr. — A Hawk with unusually coloured plumago 



shot at River Styx. 



12. From Mi-s. T. (Jibliu. — Two green operculoe of 9,hel[a ( Turbo sj).) 



from Fiji. 



13. From Master Allport. — An Irish farthing, George III., 1806. 



14. From Master Hull. — Nest of the White Eye (Zestc.rops dorsalis.) 



15. From the Kev. H. 1). Atkinson. — Rock specimens from Trial Bay. 



One specimen of Carboniferous Limestone, with fossils, from 

 Arch Head, mouth of Huon lliver ; sample of Iron Ore from Three 

 Hut Point. 



16. From J. Meredith, Esq. — Skin of a Musk Duck (Biziura lohata.) 



17. From Mr. H. Owen. — A Japanese Coin. 



18. From Mr. W. Blythe, Honey wood. — Skin of Black Snake {Hoplo- 



cepha/us cnrtus). 



The Secretary directed the attention of the meeting to a large and 

 valuable donation of books lately received from the Government of the 

 United States, and from the Smithsonian and other scientific institutions 

 in America, He also informed the meeting that, in consideration of 

 the very liberal presents which have on various occasions been received 

 from America, it had been determined, at a late meeting of the Council, 

 to have a case set apart in the Library, and appropriately labelled, 

 for their reception. 



The following valuable publications presented by the Royal Astrono- 

 mical Society of London, in continuation of a former donation, were also 

 brought under notice : — 



Monthly Notices of Royal Astronomical Society, vols. 28 to 31 inclusive 

 (1867 to 1871), with Index to first 29 vols. (1827 to 1863). 



Memoirs of Royal Astronomical Society, vols. 35 to 39 inclusive (1865 

 to 1871).— Index to first 38 vols. 



As to the specimens sent by the Rev. H. D. Atkinson (Presentation 

 A^o. 15 J, Mr. Allport remarked that they were of great interest as 

 giving some reason for believing that the mineral bearing Silurian Rocks 

 are to be found six miles nearer Hobart Town than heretofore supposed. 

 The felspathic rock was apparently identical with that found at Port 

 Cygnet, and which seems to be there associated with the small quantity 

 of gold, and traces of copper found in the neighbourhood. The dark 

 coloured sedimentary rock which comes from the same place had not yet 

 yielded any fossils, but Mr. Atkinson was fully aware of the importance 

 of searching for them as they alone could positively determine the 

 geological age of the formation in which the felspathic porphyry occurs. 

 He had hoped Mr. Atkinson would have been present at the meeting, but 

 in his absence begged to call attention to the following extracts from a 

 letter received from him on the subject : — 



" I write to say that the rock of which I brought up specimens is much 

 more extensively distributed than I expected. I have traced it up two 

 creeks at Oyster Cove, and have seen some boulders excavated from 

 a shaft fifteen feet deep. I am of opiuion that it is Felspar Porphyry, 

 and I believe the rocks at Oyster Cove, &c., are of the same formation 

 as the Port Cygnet specimen. 



"The Felspar Porphyry (if it be so) underlies the carboniferous 

 series at Oyster Cove, Little Oyster Cove, and Trial Bay ; the rock 

 immediately overlying it is a sort of clay slate (vide specimen) about 

 200 feet thick. In several places the Porphyry ( ? ) seems to merge into 

 Tt'ap which is the characteristic igneous rock of the neighbourhood." 



Mr. Stephens fully endorsed the remarks made by Mr. AUport as 

 to the interesting character of the rock specimens from Oyster Cove, 

 one of which closely resembled the felspar porphyry of Port Cygnet, 

 but from atmospheric exposure had undergone partial decomposition. As 



