12 



to the solutions recommended by Mr. Goadby for that 

 purpose. I have since made some trials of them, but 

 regret to say that my experiments have not been very 

 successful. The conclusion to which I have come is, that 

 each may be useful, but that experience is required in order 

 to knoAv the cases in which they may be successfully applied. 

 For the preservation of certain objects, I have found a 

 solution of creosote more effectual than any of the other 

 fluids in use, alcohol included. The Pavonarue on the 

 table are an instance of its application. It has the advan- 

 tages of simplicity and cheapness, being composed by 

 adding to pure water as much creosote as will dissolve in it, 

 which is only between one and two per cent. If some 

 of the chemists, members of the Society, could be 

 prevailed upon to turn their attention to the subject, I am 

 persuaded that they might confer upon science a most 

 important benefit, by discovering means of preserving 

 objects of natural history and anatomical preparations in 

 greater perfection than has yet been accomplished. 



Dr. Inman read a paper upon some of the Geographical 

 and other peculiarities of Australia. 



The Author began his observations by descanting upon 

 the causes which had hitherto obstructed discovery in this 

 great continent. These were the almost entire absence of 

 navigable livers — the general want of fresh water in the 

 interior of the country — and the low levels of its gigantic 

 plains, which were subject to the most tremendous inunda- 

 tions during the rainy seasons. The most prominent of the 

 geographical peculiarities of the Australian continent were 

 the lowness of its mountains, and their comparative nearness 

 to the sea. In the south, at one part, the shore was formed 

 by a huge unbroken precipice, six hundred miles long, and 

 in others the summits of the hills were seen within about fifty 

 miles from the coast, the highest points of which were not 

 more than seven thousand feet above the level of the sea. 

 As might have been anticipated, the character of the hills 

 was different in different parts, being granitic in the south, 

 sandstone in the west and south-west, and basaltic in the 

 north and north-vest. Metallic ores had been found in 

 abundance in the first, but the two last were barren. 



As a natural consequence of the vicinity of the moun- 

 tains to the coast, the rivers were short and small, navigable 

 only for a short distance, and during uncertain periods. 

 From the hygrometric peculiarities of the chmate, they 

 were subject to the most extraordinary changes ; and it 

 was not unfrequent to see a torrent, as broad, deep, and 



