22 



received the extra amount required would be small, The whale was of 

 the variety called "sulphur bottom," and about sixty-five feet in length. 



In the absence of the author, the Secretary read the concluding portion 

 of " Notes on the Hobart Town Reservoir," by T. Stephens, Esq., F.G.S. 



The Rev. W. W. Spicer, M.A., F.R.M.S., read a paper entitled " Notes 

 on the Flora of Tasmania." The author gave a most graphic and masterly 

 sketch of the distribution of the flora throughout the island, with descrip- 

 tions of many of its peculiar forms, and of their effect on the scenery, 

 contrasting them with the vegetation at home and elsewhere. The paper 

 throughout betrayed a perfect and practical acquaintance with all the 

 known flora of Tasmania, and was listened to with the greatest interest 

 and attention. 



In reference to a subject which was brought forward at a late meeting of 

 the society, to wit, the difference in the time of the leafing of trees here and in 

 England, His Excellency mentioned he had recently noticed in the Gardens 

 at Government House that the Oak came into leaf earHer than the 

 Sycamore, whilst the reverse was the case in England. This he thought 

 was very remarkable, but more extended observations were desirable. 

 His Excellency also presented a parcel of the pods of proso2>«.s julijlora 

 obtained from the Royal Gardens, Kew. On the parcel being opened 

 it was found that almost every pod had been attacked by a sort of weevil, 

 the vitality of the seed being probably destroyed in consequence. (By the 

 advice of the Superintendent of the Public Gardens these pods have been 

 steeped in Avater in order to destroy the insect, and with a hope that is 

 some the power of germination may not be lost.) 



The proceedings terminated with a vote of thanks to the donors of 

 presentations, and a special vote to Mr. Spicer for his most interesting 

 paper on the "Flora of Tasmania." 



After the meeting, Mr. Lewald, who has had experience in chemical 

 analysis under the "Adulteration of Food Commission," in England, 

 showed, by means of the Society's microscope, how, by polarised light, 

 various animal and vegetable fats may be distinguished from each other ; 

 and how, therefore, in the case of mixture of any of these substances for 

 the purpose of fraud, the adulteration may be detected. The substances 

 subjected to the polariscope were sperm oil, paraffin, beef fat, mutton fat, 

 and cocoa butter. 



