103 



The President sliowed, on belialf of Mr. Horn, ?. specimen 

 of the New Zealand vegetable caterpillar, out of whose head 

 had grown a long-stalked fungus which fed on the juices of the 

 caterpillar until they were exhausted, at which time the fungus 

 had attained maturity. 



Mr. Todd exhibited two photographs of the new transit 

 instrument provided for the Adelaide Observatory, which had 

 entirely superseded the old instruments used for the purpose. 

 The telescope was provided with two circles 30 inches in 

 diameter, both of which were read off by four micrometer 

 microscopes. A room was now being built for its reception, 

 where it was intended to be placed on granite foundations, and 

 in a short time he hoped to be placed in a much more favourable 

 position for taking observations than he had been formerly. 

 In a short time the meteorological department of the Observa- 

 tory would be very much enlarged, and the whole institution 

 would be placed on a footing of equality with the great 

 European observatories so far as the instruments were 

 concerned. 



Mr. Todd then read his paper on "The Eccent Atmospheric 

 Disturbances on the East Coast." 



Mr. Todd, C.M.G ., E.E.A.8., read a paper on the Transit of 

 Mercury to take place on the 8th instant. He invited gentle- 

 men desirous of taking observations to bring their instru- 

 ments to the Observatory, and he would supply them with 

 chronometers. 



OrdijS'ary Meetixo, Dec. 6, 1881. 



His Honor Chief Justice Way, President, in the chair. 



Donations to the Library were annouDced. 



A resolutio]! was agreed to that the hour of meetings be 8 

 p.m., instead of 7.30 p.m. 



Mr. F. Gr. Wateehouse, Curator of the South Australian 

 Museum, exhibited three species of freshwater fish recently 

 taken from hill streams near Mount Compass. 



Mr. 8tielixg Smeatots" exhibited a living specimen of 

 Echidna Jiystrix (Porcupine Ant-Eater) from the South-East. 



The Peeside]S't showed some freswater fishes found in creeks 

 near Tankalilla. 



Prof. E. Tate, referring to remarks made by Mr. .T. G. O. 

 Tepper at last meeting respecting the New Zealand caterpillar, 

 confirmed the same. 



Prof. E. Tate exhibited specimens of the following plant- 

 species hitherto unrecorded for South Australia : — Hyhanihus 

 Tatei and Pilularia globullfera, from Wilpena Pound, and Carex 



