236 



gravels of France, from Madras Presidency, and from Somaliland. 



Paper. — " On Some Australian Insects of the Family 

 Psyllidae," by W. M. Maskell, of Wellington, N.Z. 



8. Dixon reported result of the deputation to the Minister of 

 Education in reference to preparing a manual on insectivorous 

 birds and predatory insects for U3« in Public Schools. 



Ordinary Meeting, April 5, 1898. 



Prof. Tate, F.G.S. in the chair. 



Exhibits. — Prof. Tate showe'd pieces of prismatic sandstone 

 from the Hawkesbury series, N.S.W. and Western Victoria. 

 Also some " limestone biscuits " from Biscuit Flat, S.E. ; having 

 referred to certain speculations of Rev. J. Tenison Woods in his 

 work on South Australian Geology, 1862, as to the origin of 

 these biscuits, he went on to describe the appearance of the 

 biscuits — their highly calcareous nature. A section through the 

 narrow part shows concentric rings around a central spot or 

 space, and in several examples a fresh water shell (Bulinus) 

 is found to be the nucleus. Mr. Thomas Smeaton wrote describ- 

 ino" some observations made by him some 30 years ago on lime- 

 stone biscuits from S.E. and elsewhere, and came to much the 

 same conclusion as Prof. Tate. 



Mr. Tepper, F.L.S., showed a piece of green opal from 

 Coolgardie, W.A. Also a pupa of codlin moth obtained from, 

 apple stem between three apples, and which had made a nest in 

 a bottle where it had been placed subsequently. 



A. Zeitz, Assistant Director of Museum, brought under the 

 notice of the meeting a small green pigeon (Ghalcophaps 

 chrysochlora) caught at Bews near Kadina, very rarely found so 

 far South, its proper home being Queensland and New South 

 Wales. Also a small fish of the perch tribe (Chelmo truncatus) 

 and of the scaly finned family, so named because the dorsal and 

 anal fins are thickly covered with scales. Also an unusually 

 large specimen of the blue-tongued lizard {Cyclodes gigas) from 

 Leighs Creek; about 18 inches long. 



Papers. — "Description of new Coleoptera," by Rev. Thos. 

 Blackburn, M.A. 



Ordinary Meeting, May 3, 1898. 



W. L. Cleland, M.B. (President), in the chair. 



Obituary Notice. — J. G. O. Tepper, F.L.S., drew attention 

 to the death of W. M. Maskell, of Wellington, N.Z., a corres- 

 ponding member of the Society. It was decided to send a letter 

 of condolence to the Hon. Secretary of the Philosop^iical Society, 

 Wellington. 



