IXXX JOURNAL OF PROCEEDINGS. 



and some other Diptera, were common in the ship from England here, 

 breeding in the rotten potatos, &c. No wonder, therefore, that this 

 fly is so much diffused ; and it will probably be difficult to fix its 

 original country. I can state, from personal observation, that the 

 Musca domestica of Canada, the United States, Cape of Good Hope, 

 and Hobart's Town (where they are very numerous), are identically 

 one and the same species with that of England, and from the facility 

 with which it propagates, I think it probable that it is to be found 

 in every part of the world. 



" It is about here (in the vicinity of the Line,) that the luminous 

 appearance of the sea attains its maximum, and on a dark night, 

 with a fresh breeze, is extremely beautiful ; that it is produced by a 

 variety of causes, some by animals and several species of them, and 

 some by chemical action, I have but little doubt, and with proper 

 conveniences for examination (which I had not) much might be ef- 

 fected. Its only abounding when the sea is agitated, has been 

 thought by some a proof of its entirely chemical origin, but I have 

 observed it, though faintly, in the calmest water. While lying at 

 anchor off Margate, when returning from America, I drew up on my 

 fishing-line a piece of sea- weed, on which a spot of light showed 

 itself by regular pulsations or flashes, but with my common magni- 

 fiers I was unable to discover any traces of its origin. 



" Of the entomological productions of the Cape of Good Hope I 

 made but few captures. There was not much variety near the town. 

 Grasshoppers were numerous, a large red species in particular ; they 

 are perfect salamanders ; I never had so much difficulty in killing an 

 insect before : dipping the tin in water as near boiling as I could ob- 

 tain it was useless, and only made them more lively ; thrusting it 

 it into the fire for several minutes was not sufficient, although it 

 considerably injured the specimens ; and I gave it up in despair, leaving 

 them to die in their own way. I captured two specimens of Anthia 

 of the species with sulcated elytra, on the sides of the Table Moun- 

 tain, and some of the following genera : Dromius, Harpalus, Ontho- 

 phagus, Hister, Melolontha, Pedinus ? Lytta ? Coccinella, Anthicus, 

 Hydrobius, Dermestes, &c. Of the Fossores I observed several spe- 

 cies, and should think they must be an abundant tribe here." 



After giving an account of his arrival in Van Diemen's Land (or 

 Tasmania as it is now called), with his impressions upon the country, 

 he proceeds : " Last Wednesday I was at Mr. Frankland's, the sur- 

 veyor-general ; there were several gentlemen present, and we had 

 the pleasure of instituting a Society of Natural History, which, if 

 it exist, I trust will be of essential service to the science : at present 

 it is but in embryo. It is proposed that we should meet once a month. 



