Ivii 



Humidity. — Dew point, 39'8; elastic force of vapour, 0*245 ; humidity, 



0-785. 

 Condensation. — Number of days on which rain fell, 12; amount col- 

 lected, I 23in. 

 Clouds. — Mean daily amount, 5*7 ; (scale, 0—10). 

 Wind. — Mean force, 2*1; (scale, (0 — 12.) Prevailing direction, South 



and W.N.W. 

 Remarks. — The highest temperature in the shade was 60 deg. on the 

 12th; the lowest, 31 'o, and 30*5, on the nights of the 23rd and 24th 

 respectively. The highest recording of the barometer, 30*248in. at 9 

 a.m. on the 30th ; the lowest, 28-972in., at .3 p.m. on 27th. Fogs 

 frequent on nights and in early mornings. Very sharp frosts on nights 

 of 23rd and 24th. A gale of wind from westward on 11th and 12th. 

 Slight shocks of earthquake have been felt frequently in the north and 

 N.E. portions of the colony, but on the evening of the 30th, within a 

 space of ten minutes, between 7.50 and 8 p.m., heavy shocks and loud 

 rumblings were experienced all over those parts. Slight aurora observed 

 at Low Heads on 30th, and at Launceston on Slst. The last four days 

 very fine spring-like weather. 



Rainfall in Tasmania, July, 1883 : — 

 Southport, rain fell on 18 days; amount 4*97 



Time of leafing, flowering and fruiting of a few standard plants in the 

 Botanic Gardens during July 1883 : — 



10th. Cy tisus leucanthus, commencing to flower. 



15th. Paper almond, ditto. 



20th. Arbutus unedo, ditto. 



21st. Garrya elliptica, ditto. 



27th. Yellow crocus, ditto. 



30th. White mulberry, commencing to break. 



The presentations to the Museum were as follows : — 



1. From Mr. J. H. Cowen. A "Brain Bowl," taken from a 



cannibal chief at " Tui Tui Coko," Fiji. 



2. From Mr. J. R. McClymont. Specimen of sponge, from East Coast, 



Tasmania. 



3. From Mr. P. Lee, Campbell Town. A male specimen of the musk 



duck, {Blziuralobata.) 



4. From Dr. Higgins and Mr. W. F. Petterd, Launceston. Two 



specimens of a new species of native rat (Mus ietragomoms), named 

 and described in a paper contributed by the donors. 

 The Secretary read a letter from a gentleman in New South Wales, 

 addressed to a resident of Hobart, of which the following is an extract : — 

 " W« are in search of an authenticated portrait of Tasman, and so far have 

 been unsuccessful. Possibly Tasmania might have such a thing, and you 

 would be a likely person to say whether my surmise is correct. If it is, 

 I feel sure you will aid the designer of our beautiful, but defunct, 

 Garden Palace in getting an idea of the personal appearance of the 

 ancient navigator after whom your tight little island is named. Per- 

 haps you have a bust or statue, if not a picture, of the hero in Tasmania : 



