52 



The presentations to the Museum were as follow : — 



1. From Mrs. Downing, Battery Point, a Scorpion, with 20 young 



ones ; two specimens of Squid. 



2. From Mr. Young, Bellerive, a Crab, and a specimen of Hippo- 



campus sp. 

 8. From J. A. Moore, jun., Esq., New Norfolk, a Coot (Fulica 



Australis.J 

 4. From Mr. Williams, Sandy Bay, Egg cases of Sting Ray. 

 6. From Dr. Officer, a Platypus fOrnithoryyichusanatinusJ. 



6. From F. G. Waterhouse, Esq., Curator, South Australian Institute 



Museum, Adelaide, 91 specimens (55 species) South Australian 

 and other Birds. 

 This valuable presentation was received as a very liberal exchange for 

 specimens sent to Adelaide from this Museum . 



7. From Mrs. C. Meredith, 50 specimens (30 varieties) of Algae, &c., 



from Prosser's Bay. 

 The Secretary directed special attention to the many beautiful forms of 

 these algse and corallines. A hope was expressed by some of the Fellows 

 that Mrs. Meredith would still continue her labors and add to the value 

 of her gift by future contributions of a similar kind to the Museum. 



8. From Mr. William Norris, Franklin, Huon, Nest of an insect taken 



from the middle of the limb of a tree. The limb was two feet in 

 diameter, and grew about 200 feet from the ground. An insect 

 resembling a Wire-worm was found in the nest. 



In reference to this nest Mr. M. AUport observed that the insect which 

 produced it probably belonged to the family of hymenopterous insects, 

 known as wood-boring wasps, as a somewhat similar, though smaller, 

 structure made by one of the same family was common in decaying 

 stumps in many parts of the colony. The nest has evidently been de- 

 serted some time, and the wire-like worm, mentioned by Mr. Norris, was 

 probably an interloper. Though the delicate fabric has the appearance of 

 being carved out of the solid wood it is really built of a sort of paper, 

 composed of the woody fibres, worked into a paste by the insect. If a 

 few more colonists would but imitate the good example of Mr. Norris, much 

 interesting information as to our indigenous animals would soon be 

 collected. 



The Secretary directed the special attention of the Fellows to the splen- 

 did skeleton of the Black Fish (Gen, 0)xaj which had just been set up, 

 and was so creditable to the skill, and practised manipulation of the 

 curator, Mr. Roblin. 



Mr. W. Knight, junr., read a paper on a specimen of chrome iron ore 

 from the West Coast of the island. This was carefully analysed by Mr. 

 Knight, who exhibited to the meeting the various compounds he had ob- 

 tained from the ore, i.e., bichromate of potash, chromic acid, chromate of 

 lead, chromate of potash, sesquioxide of chromium, and hydrated ditto. 



In the discussions which ensued no precise information was elicited aS 

 to the quantity of the ore which could be obtained. 



Mr. Knight, at the request of the meeting, promised to procure further 

 information as to the commercial value of the ore, and the facilities, if 

 any, for obtaining it in quantities for exportation. 



In proposing the usual vote of thanks, with special reference to Mr. 

 Knight for his paper, and to Mr. Waterhouse of Adelaide, the mover, (Mr. 

 M. AUport) fully concurred in the remarks previously made by Dr. 

 Agnew, as to the credit due to Mr. Roblin for the preparation of the very 

 fine skeleton of the Black Fish now before them. 



The vote having been carried unanimously, and the chairman having 

 specially thanked Mr. Knight, the meeting terminated. 



