10. From the Hon. J. Maclanachan, Esq. — An Egyptian Ooose 

 (Chenalopex c;/yptiacaj. 



11. From the Ruv. J. Ross — A large prepared specimen of the 



Monitor Lizaiil of Australia. 



12. From Mr. Blyth, Honeywood — Two Black Snakes. (Hoplo- 



cepJudus curtus.) A peculiar Insect from the bark of a stringy-bark 

 tree. 



13. From Mr. S. Baynton — Specimen of Silicified Wood, from Brown's 



River Beach. 



1 4. From Mr. Brunt — Fossils from Travertine bed.s, Geilston Bay, 

 Fossiliferous limestone from Bridgewater. 



15. From Mr. Jeffrey — Fossiliferous limestone, from near New Norfolk. 



16. From Mr. T. Williams — Specimen of the Pacific Heron (Ardea. 

 pacifica), shot at Lake Tiberi;is. 



The Secretary observed that this siiecimen was of interest, as it afforded 

 the first known indication of the presence of the Ardea pacifica in Tas- 

 mania. As to its habitat, Gould in his description of the bird only states it 

 is "a summer visitor to the whole of the Southern Coast of Auistralia." 



17. From Mr. J. E. Risby — A large Crab found on beach at Pirate's 



Bay, Tasman's Peninsula. 



18. From Captain Audley Coote — Specimens of the New Zealand 

 Telegraph Cable, shewing shore-end, intermediate, and deep-sea 

 portions, neatly mounted in plate glass case. 



19. From Major Dumbleton — Two casts of Fossils from the Mersey. 



20. From F. A. Blackman, Esq. — Samples of two qualities of sugar, 

 from the plantation (Antvjua) of A. H. Brown, Esq., Mary River, 

 Queensland. 



In reference to presentation No. 18, the following extract from a letter 

 from Captain Nares of H.M.S. Challenger to the donor was i-ead : — " On 

 the Australian coast the incline from the 100 fathoms line, which was 

 17 miles from Sydney, into a depth of 2,100 fathoms at 57 miles 

 distance, was about 1 in 20, which is less abrupt than we had 

 previously found to be the case further to the southward of 

 Twofold Bay, where it was about 1 in 6. The bottom, which consists 

 of soft ooze, then slopes down to a depth of 2,600 fathoms at a 

 distance of 240 miles from the coast of Australia, the temperature being 

 33°, which conditions continue for 140 mUes. From this extreme dejjth 

 the bottom slopes with a gentle incline, with soft ooze, for 400 miles, 

 until, at a position 780 miles from Sydney, and 335 miles from the 

 entrance to Cook's Straits, we obtained soundings in 1,100 fathoms. 

 Between this and New Zealand only shallow soundings below 400 fathoms, 

 with hard bottom, were obtained. The bottom on this part was ex- 

 tremely hard, so much so that we obtained little or no samples in the 

 sounding rods, but as both the trawl and dredge dragged freely along, with- 

 out catching in any irregularities, it must have been of a smooth nature." 



In reply to a remark as to the very low temperature at the deep sounds 

 ings, mentioned by Captain Nares, the Secretary observed it certainly 

 at first sight seemed extraordinary that about the latitude of Sydney, 

 the deep water of the Pacific should have a temperature only one 

 degree above the freezing point. This, however, was quite in accordance 

 with Dr. Carpenter's theory of vertical oceanic circulation. Stated briefly 

 this theory was to the effect that the polar cold primarily, and the equa- 

 torial heat secondarily establish a vertical circulation by which the icy 

 polar water flows along the bottom towards the equator, whilst the 

 warm and lighter surface water of the tropical seas flows in the opposite 

 direction. This theory therefore pointed to an almost polar cold at the 

 greatest ocean depths irrespective of latitude. 



Mr. Stephens drew attention to a specimen of fossil wood (presenta- 



