Tl PEOCEEDINGS, MAY. 



the case of transport, we may, by careful observation and experiment,, 

 see how far we can make use of this organisation to dispose of our 

 fruit with the best results to ourselves. With this object we have 

 established an agency in London, to reduce expenses, to control sales, 

 to find out so as to prevent or make claims for all damages, and 

 generally to exercise a supervision on behalf of growers. 



Discussion on this paper was postponed till next meeting. 



The Secretary read a paper contributed by Mr. J. Shirley, B.Sc, of 

 Queensland, a corresponding member, on " A list of the known lichens 

 of Tasmania," and oue by Mr. A. T. Urquhart on "Some Tasmanian 

 spiders," from a collection supplied by Mr. A. Morton, curator of the 

 Tasmanian Museum. The other papers on the agenda were held over 

 till next meeting. 



The Chairman proposed a vote of thanks to the gentlemen who had 

 contributed papers, which terminated the proceedings. 



MAY, 1892. 



The monthly meeting of the Royal Society of Tasmania was held at 

 the Museum on Tuesday, May 11. His Excellency the Governor Sir 

 R. G. C. Hamilton, K.C.B., LL.D., presided. There was a good 

 attendance of Fellows. 



His ExcELLEXCY expressed his regret at being absent from the last 

 meeting. This was the first time he had been with them since the late 

 Science Congress had met, and he congratulated them upon the 

 success which had attended their labours in this respect. This was, 

 he was sure, largely due to the exertions of Mr. A. Morton, the 

 General Secretary, who had been indefatigable in his efi'orts to make 

 the afi"air a success. Mr. Ogilvy bad thrown out a very valuable sug- 

 gestion, to which reference was made in his address at the meeting of 

 the Science Association. The idea was that they should have corre- 

 sponding members stationed in various places. The country should 

 be mapped out into districts, and each separate district be recognised 

 as being under certain persons' observations, who would undertake to 

 forward anything of any importance which might come under their 

 notice in their particular districts. They might also be communicated 

 with at will upon the subject, and inquiries instituted. He would 

 like the matter to be discussed at the next meeting of the Society. 

 Perhaps they might think the matter over, and make preparations for 

 the discussion in the meantime. He then invited discussion [upon the 

 paper of Mr. W. E. Shoobridge. 



Mr. A. Morton said that the suggestion of Mr. Ogilvy was bearing 

 fruit already. He had received a number of specimens from different 

 parts of the island. One was a specimen of a very large crane {Ardecc 

 2Xicifica) seldom found in Tasmania, although common in Australia. 

 Another was a white crane {Herodias alba) also scarce here. A duck, 

 hitherto unrecorded in Tasmania, called the " blue bill " {Erismatura 

 australis) was also sent. The Australian coot was another species of 

 bird rather scarce in Tasmania, and recently found here in some pleni- 

 tude. He was at a loss to account for the influx of these birds into 

 the island at this period. 



His Excellency stated that he had observed that the crane species 

 ivere unusually plentiful this year. 



