VI 



2. From Mr. Eichard Chick. Sections of five telegraph cables from 



India, Egypt, the Balearic Isles, the Mediterranean, etc. 



3. From Mr, E,. M. Johnston. Specimens of lignified Pine, from the 



deep lead auriferous drifts. Back Creek, Tasmania. 



4. From His Excellency Sir J. H. Lefroy. Specimen of Marble from 



Beaconsfield. 



5. From Mr. R. B. Dyer. Specimens of Crustaceans and Echinodermata 



from Southport. Specimens of the foliage and fruit of the so-called 

 " Pepper Tree " (Drimys aromatica). Eggs of Mutton Bird (Nectris 

 hrevicaudusj, and Penguin ( Sphenisciis minor). 



6. From Mr. Rayner. Specimens of Iron Ore from the New Norfolk 



District. 



Library. — From Mr. H. J. Buckland. — 1. Buckland's " Geology and 

 Mineralogy," 2 vols., 1837 (Bridgewater Treatise). 2. " Reliquiae Dilu- 

 vianro," 1 vol., 1823, by the same author. 



The Secretary read a paper by Baron von Mueller, K.C.M.G., M.D., 

 F.R.S., entitled " Suggestions for an extended elucidation of the Plants of 

 Tasmania." 



The Chairman said that it would be seen that Baron von Mueller was 

 deskous of getting information upon the botany of Flinders Island ; 

 he had already applied to the Society to assist him in this direction, and 

 steps had been taken which would probably result in local assistance 

 being procured in the way sought by the Barun, if not for Flinders, at 

 least for Clarke's Island, and probably the botany of both islands is nearly 

 the same. 



Mr. R. M. Johnston hoped that the local collectors in Tasmania woidd 

 further the object of the learned phytologist. It was very desirable that 

 the natural history of the Cryptogams of Australia should be brought up 

 to the same state of perfection as the other divisions of the " Flora 

 Anstraliensis." Mr. Benthara committed the completion of this onerous 

 task to the illustrious Baron, and he (Mr. Johnston) was glad that there 

 was now a probability of its being carried out. 



Mr. Stephens read notes on a species of Eucalyptus (E. hcemastoma), 

 not hitherto recorded in the Flora of Tasmania, with its identification by 

 Baron von Mueller. This tree is commonly known as the Gum-topped 

 Stringy Bark. 



Mr. Johnston was glad that Mr. Stephens had devoted his attention so 

 closely to the study of our Eucalypts, for it was only by a close special 

 study of some particular family or group that we could now hope to 

 improve or add to our existing knowledge. The proper classification of 

 the Eucalypti is a very difE.cult matter, and the exact determination of 

 closely allied species is rendered still more perplexing on account of the 

 extreme variability due to local environments. Mr. Johnston gave an 

 instance of this variability by reference to E. amygdallna as it grows in 

 the Domain, in comparison with the same species as it grows on the hills 

 around Launceston, 



Mr. DowDELL remarked that the timber of the Gum-topped Stringy 

 Bark was known to be of a very superior quality — in fact, second only to 

 that of the Blue Gum — and always commanded a ready sale in the market. 

 The wood was easily distinguished from that of the Swamp Gum by the 

 greater firmness of its grain. 



Mr. Grant expressed his surprise at learning that the Gum-topped 

 Stringy Bark — the subject of the paper — had not been previously described 

 by botanists, since it had long been well known in commerce, and was a 

 valuable timber. He had been supplied with a large number of sleepers of 

 this wood by Mr. Gates, whose mills were near Victoria, Huon River, and, 

 therefore, the trees must abound there. The timber could readily be 

 recognised by those accustomed to notice sawn woods. It had a difiereut 

 shade of colour to stringy bark, and to white or swamp gums, and also a 



