145 



H. pictilis, Tate ; H. Stanleyensis, Petterd ; Bulimus Bufresni, 

 Leach ; and B. Tasmanicus, Pfr. The last mentioned species 

 was found in abundance upon the leaves of Xerotes longifolia, 

 where, no doubt, among the roots the living specimens of 

 Pupa Lincolnensis may be found. The name P. Tasmanica, 

 first given to the shell, has been withdrawn, as on comparison 

 with Angas' P. Lincolnensis, kindly given me by Mr. Petterd, 

 I found that the Tasmauian form was not specifically distinct 

 from it. 



Hitherto conchologists were of opinion that the genus Fupa 

 had no representatives in Tasmania. The discovery of the first 

 representative will, therefore, be of more than usual interest 

 to local naturalists. 



Hobart, 



December 12, 1881. 



ON THE STATE OF THE SURVEYS IN TASMANIA. 



By G. McIntyre, Authorised and Licensed Surveyor, 

 Christchurch, New Zealand. 



[Bead 9th May, 1882.] 



At recent meetings of the Royal Society the question of the 

 present state of the surveys in Tasmania and the best methods 

 to be adopted for placing them upon a sound basis was under 

 discussion, and various suggestions were made on the subject. 

 Subsequently, on the 27th October, a letter was published in 

 The Mercury under the heading " Field Surveyors," which was 

 intended as a reply to the unfavourable comments which had 

 been made upon the existing survey system. This letter was 

 signed by Mr. J. E. Calder, a gentleman who for several years 

 held the ofiice of Surveyor-General for Tasmania, and is there- 

 fore entitled to consideration as dealing with a subject with 

 which it is only reasonable to assume he is well acquainted. 

 Statements, however, are made and reasonings adopted which 

 are open to criticism; while the general impression conveyed 

 to the mind of the unprofessional reader amounts to this : — 

 That the surveys of Tasmania are as good as it is possible to 

 make them in a timbered and rugged country, and that a 

 trigonometrical survey is practically useless. 



A system of survey for a large extent of country cannot be 

 considered as in any degree accurate or reliable, unless it is 

 based upon a reference to the True Meridian, which is constant 

 and not subject to the fluctuations and uncertainties attaching, 



