104< 



hrevicuhnis, from near Clarendon. These three species made 

 up a total of 29 new to the flora of the colony, which had been 

 added to it since the publication of the census last year, and 

 the success which had attended the exploration of Mr. Tepper, 

 himself, and others was most encouraging. A great deal could 

 be done towards the elucidation ot" our flora, he pointed out, by 

 working out the life-history of many plants which as yet are 

 known only in the shape of dried specimens. He also took 

 the opportunity of describing AVilpena Pound, where two of 

 the specimens exhibited that evening had been obtained, and 

 of urging that the Pound — which botanically was quite an 

 oasis — should be made a Government Eeserve. 



Mr. J. H. Angas forwarded to the Society a statement of 

 the various strata met with in an unsuccessful bore for Avater 

 put down in the neighbourhood of Lake Erome. The boring- 

 rod had stuck when at a considerable depth, and another bore 

 was being put down at the spot first selected. The expense 

 may be calculated at about 30s. per foot. (See p. 99.) 



Professor Tate said there had been a great deal of criticism 

 in the papers with respect to the teachings of scientific geolo- 

 gists, and they had been twitted with not agreeing ; and the 

 tone of some of the letters seemed to point to adverse opinions 

 being given by professional men on a piece of alleged coal 

 found in the Northern Areas. Por the sake of geological 

 science he wished to explain how the two opinions were likely 

 to be correct. He then pointed out that the stuff first found 

 on the AVoolundunga Forest Reserve, and sent to the Porest 

 Board, was pronounced by the Chairman of the Board and 

 others as a substance that might be carbonised remains of 

 mallee roots. He judged that this deposit had not been found 

 to be a thing likely to pay. The Forester watched closely the 

 operations of the people who had found it ; but he had 

 absented himself for two hours once, and on returning coal 

 had been discovered. This second coaly material had after- 

 wards been shown to him, and he had no hesitation in pronoun- 

 cing it to be good Newcastle coal. (Hear, hear.) 



The President — It was taken there. 



Professor Tate — Picked up on the railway line, or brought 

 there from Port Augusta. He had gone with the Conservator 

 of Forests to the spot when the discovery was first reported, 

 and from extended geological observations he was sure no 

 coal did occur there. The opinions given on this subject had 

 not been given on the same object, and both were doubtlessly 

 true. 



Mr. C. Todd, F.E-.A.S., read a paper entitled " Notes on 

 Observations of the Transit of Mercury," but explained that 

 he read it in order simply that the matter might be formally 



