APEIL, 1868. 



The montlily evening meeting of the Fellows was held on Tuesday, the 

 14th April, J. Barnard, Esq., in the chair. 



Dr. W. 0. Sender, Foreign Hon. Secretary of the Society of Natural- 

 ists, Hamburgh, who had been previously nominated by the Council, was 

 after a ballot declared to be duly elected as a Corresponding Member of 

 the Society. 



The Secretary, Dr. Agnew, laid on the table the following returns for 

 the past month, viz. : — 



1. Visitors to Museum, 500. 



2. Ditto to Gardens, 2071. 



3. Plants, &c., received at gardens. From Mr. J. Harriss, Melbourne, 1 

 case containing 47 plants. 



4. Plants, &c., sent from Gardens. — To Mr. E. Henderson, Sydney, a 

 collection of bulbs. — To Messrs. Taylor and Sangster, Melbourne, a col- 

 lection of bulbs, and 29 papers of seeds. — To Messrs. Handasyde and Co., 

 Melbourne, a collection of bulbs, and 62 papers of seeds. To. Dr. E. 

 Schomburgh, director of Botanic Gardens, a collection of bulbs and 29 

 papers of seeds. 



5. Times of leafing, flowering, and fruiting of a few standard plants in 

 Botanic Gardens. 



6. Books and periodicals received. 

 Meteorological Returns. 



1. Hobart Town, from F. Abbott, Esq.— Table for March, with summary 

 of observations. 



2. Port Arthur, from J. Boyd, Esq. — Table for February. 



3. Swansea, from Dr. Story. — Ditto. 



4. Westbury, from F. Belstead, Esq. — Table for March. 



5. Sydney, from G. E. Smalley, Esq., Government Astronomer. — Table 

 for February. 



The presentations were as follows : — 



1. From Mr. T. Oldham, specimen of the spur-winged Plover (Lohi- 



vanellus lohattis)^ shot at Sorell. 



2. From Mr. G. W. Eex, specimen of the hoary-headed grebe (Podiceps 



poliocephalus.) 



3. From M. Allport, Esq., specimens of fish (Galaxias sp.J from Great 



Lake, Tasmania, native freshwater Perch, English Perch from this 

 year's ova, and a Sawfish. 



Mr. F. Abbott read a paper entitled " Some continued observations on 

 the variable star r\ Argus and the surrounding nebula." 



This paper was illustrated by a drawing of the object taken at three 

 different periods from 1834-7 to February, 1868. The monographs of Sir 

 John Herschel taken at the Cape of Good Hope, and a record of the star 

 from the time of Halley, 1667, were also laid on the table. 



Discussion ensued, and votes of thanks having been accorded to Mr. 

 Abbott, and to the donors of presentations, the meeting terminated. 



