XCl 



number of members in the society. He thought it would be better 

 if the members who took an interest in these subjects met together, 

 and then laid the result of their investigations before the society at 

 their monthly meetings. 



Mr. Justin Browne thought there should be an arrangement between 

 the libraries about buying such books so as to obtain at least one com- 

 plete series of all works relating to the colony. There was no necessity 

 for each library buying copies of the same v/orks, many of which were 

 very expensive, but they might so arrange as to make a complete set 

 amongst them. He thought Mr. Walker should put his suggestion in 

 the shape of a formal motion. 



Mr. Walker then moved, — " That the Council be requested to 

 communicate with the trustees of the Public Library and the com- 

 mittee of the Parliamentary Library with the view of making 

 arrangements for the purchase of books, dealing with voyages to the 

 island, and the history of the colony." 



Dr. Perkins seconded the motion. 



Mr. T. Stephens, while sympathising with the general principles 

 of the motion, asked : Where are the available funds of the Royal 

 Society to purchase these books ? That was the awkward point, but 

 he hoped there would be some way found out of the difficulty. 

 They must not expect to do too much at first, and by patience the 

 object in view might be achieved. He could tell them at one time 

 there was a much larger collection of works in the public libraries, 

 and the reason of their diminution was not far to seek. He did not 

 wish to find fault with any one, but there had been a great deal of 

 culpable carelessness in lending out books. 



Mr. Walker thought there was sufficient scope for the action of the 

 society. They were supposed to be a learned body — let them provide 

 the learning and zeal, and the other richer libraries could provide the 

 money. (Laughter.) 



The motion was then agreed to. 



Mr. A. Morton, Curator of the Museum, read a few notes on the 

 " (Estrus ovis, or gad-fly of the sheep." This fly deposits its eggs in 

 the nostril of the sheep, where they are soon hatched, and then crawl 

 up the nostril and frontal sinuses of the sheep, giving great annoyance 

 to the animal so afflicted. Accompanying this paper was one of the 

 grubs, taken from the head of a recently introduced sheep from 

 the neighbouring colonies. The butchers of Hobart state that they 

 have not hitherto noticed the grub in any of the Tasmanian sheep. It 

 is, however, well-known in Europe and the colonies. 



Mr. E. D. Swan said the insect had been heard of in Tasmania 

 before. 



Mr. Morton said it was not until that evening that he had learned 

 that the gad-fly had been previously heard of in Tasmania. 



Mr. Park said he had never heard of many cases, though he had 

 seen sheep protecting themselves from it by boring their noses into 

 the sand. 



votes of thanks. 



Mr. Justin Browne proposed a vote of thanks to the gentlemen 

 for their able papers. 



Mr. E. D. Swan, in seconding, moved that a special vote of thanks 

 be awarded to Mr. Morton for preparing the specimens which had 

 been presented to the society. 



The motions were unanimously agreed to. 



The proceedings then terminated. 



