209 



o£ South Australia in superposition. Dissimilarity of life did 

 not always indicate difference of age. Some cases of fine 

 specimens were exhibited and examined. 



Mr. A. Molineux then read an interesting paper on 

 "Methods of Exploring the Sea Bottom," in which he de- 

 scribed various appliances used in trawling and dredging, and 

 referred to an element of danger in the pursuit, viz., stings 

 from various fish that are armed with poisonous barbs and 

 spines, e.g., catfish, perch, gurnet, and particularly the " cob- 

 bler" (Apistes marmoratus), stated that he had tried grappling- 

 irons for the deeper waters of the passage between Cape Jervis 

 and Kangaroo Island without encouraging success, and con- 

 cluded by pointing out that when dredging and trawling are 

 conducted for scientific purposes a great many particulars were 

 recorded, viz., latitude and longitude ; depth, temperature, and 

 density of water ; direction and force of wind ; the tides ; the 

 number, species, varieties, character, &c., of specimens ob- 

 tained ; the time of year, and many other things. 



After an expression of opinion on the desirability of further 

 dredging operations in the Grulf the meeting closed. 



Seventh Evening Meeting — Tuesday, September 15, 1885. 

 Professor Tate occupied the chair. There was a good atten- 

 dance. One new member was elected. A number of speci- 

 mens obtained on the trawling expedition of the previous 

 evening, consisting of sponges, crustaceans, fishes, ascidianes, 

 molluscs, and other denizens of the Grulf, were exhibited, and 

 the President made explanatory remarks. A specimen of a 

 rare snake — the Hoplocephalus spectahilis of KrefEt — found at 

 Scott's Creek, near Nairne, was exhibited by Professor Tate. 

 The reptile was alive, and of a poisonous species, but Professor 

 Tate stated that it was very small, and practically harmless. 

 It was very little known. A specimen was obtained some 

 twenty years ago in the Port Lincoln district by Mr. Masters, 

 and he (the speaker) had found one since at Ardrossan. Mr. 

 J. G, O. Tepper, F.L.S., showed some orchids from Kangaroo 

 Island, comprising Caladenia loUJolia, C. clamgera, C.jilamen- 

 tusa.j Diuris longi folia, Liperanthus nigricanes, Prasophylhiin 

 (sp. large-flowered), Caladenia (with very small flowers, per- 

 haps new), and Pterostylis sp. The President announced that 

 owing to the continued illness of Dr. Stirling, his lecture, 

 " The Borderland of the Animal and Vegetable Kingdoms," 

 was postponed. Mr. Molineux described in a conversational 

 way some of the marine curiosities secured at a trawling ex- 

 pedition on the previous evening. A so-called native hare 



