APEIL, 1878. 



The monthly evening meeting of the Society was held on Tuesday, 

 April 9, T. Stephens, Esq., M.A., F.G.S., in the chair. 



The following gentlemen, who had previously been nominated by the 

 council, were balloted for, and declared duly elected as Fellows of the 

 Society, viz., Charles G. Beddome, Esq , of Sandy Bay, and James Back- 

 house Walker, Esq., of Hobart Town. E.. P. Eamsay, Esq., F.L.S., 

 etc., Curator of the Australian Museum, Sydney; and the Rev. W. W. 

 Spicer, M.A., F.E.M.S., were elected as corresponding members. 



The Hon. Secretary (Dr. Agnew) brought^forward the usual returns for 

 the past month. 



1. Number of visitors to Museum, March, total, 2,420. 



2. Ditto to Gardens, March, 4,462. 



3. Plants and seeds received at Botanic Gardens during March : — 

 From Messrs. Vilmorin, Andrieux & Co., Paris — 36 packets flower 

 seeds, in collections. From Baron von. Mueller — 12 packets seeds 

 from America. From Mons. J. Verschaffelt, Ghent — One box containing 

 rhododendrons, etc., etc., all in good condition. 



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

 during the month: — 



5. Books and periodicals received. 



6. Presentations to Museum. 

 Meteorological Returns — 



1. Hobart Town, from F. Abbott, Esq.— Table for March. 



2. Swan Island, and South Bruni, from the Marine Board — Tables for 

 February ; Mount Nelson ditto for March. 



The presentations to the Museum were as follows : — 



1. From H. M. Hull, Esq. — Fossil shell, from limestone brought 

 from New Zealand. 



2. From the Rev. J. "White. — A sheet of Tapa cloth from Fiji. 



^ 3. From the Rev. J. E. Tenison- Woods, and tbe Rev. H. D. Atkinson. — 

 Type specimens of new species of Tasmanian shells. 



4. From R. M. Johnston, Esq. — Fossil shells from Cape Barren and 

 Badger Islands, Bass' Straits. 



5. From Mr. G. T. Johnson.— A large spider crab, from Eagle Hawk 

 Neck, Tasman's Peninsula. 



The Secretary, after some remarks as to the great loss the society 

 would sustain by the absence from their meetings of the Rev. W. W. 

 Spicer, observed that the subject had been brought forward at last 

 month's meeting. At that time, however, Mr. Spicer had not resigned 

 liis seat at the Council, but subsequently he had done so. A special 

 meeting of the Council was then convened, when the following minute 

 •was agreed to, and was conveyed to Mr. Spicer before his departure : — 

 •** The Council of the Royal Society, having this day received, with fereat 

 regret, the resignation of the R<3v. W. W. Spicer, who is about to leave 

 Tasmania, desire to place on record an expression of their sense 

 of the loss the society will sustain by his departure. They feel 

 that their best thanks are due to Mr. Spicer, not only for the 

 large amount of special work which he has accomplished for the 

 Museum and the society, but also for his labours generally in the 

 cause of the natural history of the island. And, whilst thanking him 

 for the past, the Council cannot but express a hope that in the future Mr. 

 Spicer, as a corresponding member, will still maintain those pleasant 

 relations which, during his stay in the colony, have existed between 

 himself and the Royal Society." 



The following extract from Mr. Spicer's reply, showing he would 



