XXXIX ' 



Commander Shortt's instruments were placed, and did not think they could 

 ever give the normal state of the air. The verandah had a roof, and was 

 enclosed on both sides. The instruments were against a weatherboard wall, 

 and sheltered from the west and south-west ; and altogether a more 

 sheltered place could hardly be found, and the lowest temperature could 

 not possibly be obtained. 



Mr. Johnston then read an elaborate and valuable paper, entitled 

 ' General and Critical Observations on the Fishes of Tasmania, with a 

 Classified Catalogue of all the known species." The time was too limited 

 to admit of more than the first two divisions of the subject being read, 

 and the remaindei', including the classified catalogue, was deferred until 

 the next monthly meeting. Discussion on the portion read was also 

 deferred until a future occasion, in order to admit of its being printed and 

 circulated. 



The usual vote of thanks was accorded to the contributors to the 

 Museum, and also to the authors of the papers read. 



SEPTEMBER, 1882. 



The monthly meeting of the Society was held on Monday, the 11th 

 September ; Mr. T. Stephens, V.P., in the chair. 



The following gentlemen, who had previously been nominated by the 

 Council, were balloted for, and declared duly elected as honorary Members 

 of the Society, viz.:— Baron Ferd. von Mueller, K.C M.G., M.D., F.R.S., 

 Government Botanist of Victoria ; and the Eev. J. E. Tenison -Woods, 

 F,L.S., F.G.S,, F.R.G.S,, etc., etc. 



The Hon. Secretary (Mr. Baenard) laid before the meeting the following 

 returns for the month of August : — 



1. Number of visitors to Museum — On Sundays, 1,012 ; on week days, 



666 ; total, 1,678, 



2. Do, to Gardens— Total, 4,192. 



3. Plants received at Gardens : —From Messrs. Shepherd and Co., Sydney, 



16 plants. From Messrs. Vilmoriu and Co., Paris, a general col- 

 lection of flower and shrub seeds. From Mr. W. R. Guilfoyle, 

 Director of Botanic Gardens, Melbourne, seeds of Pinus 

 Australis (the Georgia Pitch pine). From Professor McOvven, 

 Cape Town Botanic Gardens, sods of Disa grandiflora, a magnifi- 

 cent Orchid from the Table Mountain, in good condition. 



4. Books and periodicals received. 



5. Presentations to Museum. 

 Meteorological Returns. 



1. Hobart, from Captain Shortt. Table of observations for August. 



Registers of rainfall at various stations through the colony. 



2. From the Marine Board. Monthly tables from Mount Nelson for 



August ; Swan Island for May ; Goose Island for June and July ; 



and King's Island from February to July inclusive. 

 Time of leafing, flowering, etc., of a few standard plants in the Botanic 



Gardens during August : — 

 20th. Sambucus niger commencing to break. 

 24th. Horsechestnuts do, 

 28th. Gooseberries do. 

 28th. Elm commencing to flower. 

 29th. Poplar commencing to break. 

 30th. Apricots commencing to flower. 

 Results of the Hobart observations : — 

 Barometer. — Mean for month, 29*836iu. 



