21 



5. From Dr. Story, Swansea, Skin of wedge-tailed Eagle fAquila 



fncosaj. Ditto of White Hawk (Astur JVovce SoUandiaJ . Two 



ditto of Echidna. Two ditto of water Rat. Skeleton of Bird. 



Curious growth of Asparagus. Ditto of root of the She-oak Tree 



(Casuarina quadrivalvisj . 



The growth of the she-oak consisted of a large mass of roots, about 4 



feet in length, which was found growing between the bark and wood of 



the tree. 



Mr. Abbott, jun., thought that, by some chance, one of the roots had 

 become turned up, and finding, perhaps, an injury in the bark, had been 

 enabled to penetrate between the liber and alburnum; finding there 

 abundance of moisture and support, it had shot forth the large mass of 

 rootlets now before the meeting. 



6. From Mr. T. Roblin, skeleton of Native Devil (Sarcojihilus ursinus) 



mounted. 

 This valuable specimen was prepared by Mr. Roblin before he was 

 attached to the Museum as Curator. 



7. From J. Davies, Esq., a fish of the family Zeidce — probably the 



Southern analogue of the John Dory of Northern latitudes. It 

 was caught by Mr. Brent, junr., with a line, at Austin's Ferry. 



8. From Mr. Schofield, a collection of shells from "Wreck Reef. 



9. From J. Dickenson, a 2 cent coin of United States of America. 



10. From Mrs. Magrath, two coins, one of the French Republic, the 

 other a farthing of Queen Victoria, and 13 polished pebbles from 

 New Zealand. 



11. From Mrs. Oldfield, a portion of the Mulberry tree which grew in 

 the Tower of London, and under which were found, in the reign of 

 Charles II, the bones supposed by some to be those of King Edward 

 V. and his brother Richard Duke of York. The specimen is 

 genuine, having been received by Mrs. Oldfield from her father, 

 who was for forty years connected with the Tower as Keeper of the 

 Crown Jewels. 



The following extract from a letter from Mr. Edwards, of San 

 Francisco, was read, as some of the Fellows might feel inclined to put 

 themselves in communication with the writer: — "I was then, and still 

 am, earnestly devoted to the study of entomology, but unfortunately, 

 during my brief stay in Tasmania, I could procure but very few of the 

 species of that district. I now write to you for the purpose of proposing 

 an exchange. I will send shells, insects, Crustacea, or anything else you 

 may want from this part of the world, and wish to receive in return any 

 coleoptera, or lepidoptera from Tasmania. Can this be accomplished, or 

 do you know any one in your island >vho would fall in with my views ?" 



Mr. Abbott read some *' Notes on the simultaneous disappearance of 

 Jupiter's four satellites^" on the 22nd and 2oth August. 



After the paper discussion ensued, chiefly in reference to the expeditions 

 contemplated to our hemisphere, for the very important purpose of observ- 

 ing the transits of Venus in 1874 and 1882, and so determining, amongst 

 other matters, the exact distance of the sun from the earth, and other 

 questions depending upon it. 



A vote of thanks was subsequently passed to the author of the paper, 

 and the donors of presentations, when the meeting separated. 



