205 



struction. The entire anatomy of tlie bird was described in 

 detail, and articulated skeletons of various birds were sbown 

 in illustration of the subject. Mr. Beazley then proceeded to 

 give a practical demonstration of the method of preparing and 

 stuffing birds, also deer, lizard, and leopard, skins of whicb 

 he exhibited. He showed a beautiful specimen of the large 

 fish CossyjjJius Gouldii, or blue groper, and explained the method 

 of preparing it. A hearty vote of thanks was accorded the 

 lecturer at the close of the meeting. 



Sixth Eveis-ixg Meeting — TrESDAT, August 18, 1885. 



There was a moderate attendance. Professor Tate occupied 

 the chair and directed attention to an exhibit of a mass of 

 fossil oyster shells from the Eiver Murray cliffs, and said the 

 particular species was found in beds of three, four, and even 

 twenty or thirty feet thick. It differed in certain particulars 

 from the Port Lincoln oyster. He gave it the name of 

 O. Sturtiana^ in honour of Captain Sturt, who first recorded its 

 occurrence at Overland Corner. The Professor also directed 

 attention to a specimen of iSolen vaginoides. It seemed almost 

 confined to the north shores of Kangaroo Island, but had been 

 found in the Port Creek, though not alive. 



Professor Tate then read the following paper on 



MOLLUSCAX LIFE IN ST. TIXCENT GULF. 



A. SuEFACE Life. — The only species at all common is the 

 squid (Sepioteuthis Maitritiana) ; another cephalopod has 

 occurred, it is Spirula Jwvis. The violet-tinted shells of 

 lanthina exigim and I. violacea have been taken ; but on the 

 open coastline the lanthince and another species, I. communis, 

 the delicate Argoncmta, and a few Pteropods are sometime s cast 

 up in great numbers. The majority are swimmers; the lantliincd 

 are sustained by floats. 



B. Bottom Life. — The action of the waves below the sur- 

 face decreases as the depth increases, ceasing at a few fathoms. 

 Below this surface-disturbance no movement occurs except that 

 caused by the quiet flow of ocean currents. The molluscs ex- 

 posed to the action of the waves exhibit a rich variety of adap- 

 tation of structure to the various conditions under which they 

 live. These variations are chiefly in respect of the powers of 

 attachment or locomotion, according as to whether the habitat is 

 unstable or not under the attacks of waves and currents. The 

 mollusca, in respect to habitat, or the kind of bottom on 

 which they reside, may be considered under the following 

 heads: — (1) Those which live between tide-marks in bays and 



