105 



brouglit before the Society, as the facts had already been laid 

 before the public. 



Mr. T. D. Smeaton said he had observed the transit, and 

 corroborated the facts which Mr. Todd had published. 



Mr. T. B. Adamsois" said he also had observed the transit, but 

 had not seen the black drop that they had looked for. Mr. 

 Todd had referred to an invitation having been given by himself 

 to any gentlemen who had telescopes to go to the Observatory 

 and assist to observe the transit, but had said that no one had 

 responded. He would have been glad, but he had been there 

 on the previous night, and intended to go back, only he found 

 there was no shelter, and it was windy. There had been some 

 very interesting spots on the sun recently. He had seen the 

 large red spot on Jupiter very clearl}^ lately, 



Mr. Todd said as to the red spot on Jupiter, which he 

 believed he had been one of the first to observe, it was becoming- 

 hazy, as though a volume of cloud were forming over it. He 

 thought it might be that they were looking down upon the 

 lower atmosphere, or perhaps the surface of the planet, and 

 that clouds were now intervening. As Jupiter's satellite had 

 been seen through the edge of the planet, it showed that much 

 of what appeared to be the planet was surrounding atmos- 

 phere. He had seen two of the rings of Saturn the other 

 evening very plainly, and should be glad to assist any one who 

 was curious on the noint, but it was seldom so good an oppor- 

 tunity presented itself. 



Mr. S. PoLLiTZER, C.E., read a paper entitled "Formulae for 

 determining Elements of Railway Switches and Crossings," 

 and explained them on the blackboard. 



A paper by Mr. E. GtUEST, " Notes upon two South Austra- 

 lian Moths," was read. (See p. 95.) 



ORDiTfAEY MEETiJfa, Eebetjaey 7, 1882. 



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



The donations to the Library were laid upon the table. 



Wm. Gardner, Esq., M.D., Edward Davies, Esq., AVilliaui 

 Eowler, Esq., and John Thomas Smyth, Esq., B.A., were elected 

 Eellows. 



The Curator of the Adelaide Museum exhibited a specimen 

 of meteoric iron found in the Gawler Ranges, near Tardea, in 

 1875. The meteorite was found in a superficial limestone about 

 fifteen inches under the surface of the groimd, and contains a 

 certain proportion of nickel. Also a " Sea Pen," and a Plaice 

 caught by the South Australian Fishing Company, 



Mr. Molixevx said, in reference to the Plaice shown, it was 

 found at the mouth of the Port Creek, and was the first one he 

 2 



