V 



66 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 



to write a letter of condolence and sympathy to Mrs. Bage. Mr. 

 C. French supported this motion, which was carried unanimously. 



PAPERS. 



The only paper of the evening was communicated by Dr. A. 

 Dendy, F.L.S., on "An Introduction to the Study of Sponges," 

 and partook of the nature of a lecturette, which, being illustrated 

 by diagrams and many beautiful specimens, was followed with 

 interest by everyone present. Typical examples of the two great 

 divisions of sponges — calcareous and non-calcareous — were cited, 

 and their structure, both external and internal, was dwelt upon in 

 detail. The description of the canal system and general anatomy 

 of the ordinary bath sponge ( Euspongia officinalis) was specially 

 interesting, and a very fine example, dredged near the Heads, 

 was shown in illustration. A large number of mounted sections, 

 illustrating the method of microscopical examination of sponges, 

 was also exhibited. 



NATURAL HISTORY NOTES. 



Messrs. T. G. Luehmann and C. French, F.L.S., read a note 

 on, and exhibited the skin of, a tree-climbing kangaroo from 

 Northern Queensland. Other notes were communicated by 

 Messrs. F. G. A. Barnard, E. H, Hennell, T. Steel, F.C.S., and 

 J. Shephard. The latter described a very beautiful specimen of a 

 social form of Rotifera, captured by Mr. W. Mann at Heidelberg 

 — probably a new species of Lacinularia, or a variety of 

 L, socialis. 



EXHIBITS. 



The meeting terminated with the usual exhibition of specimens, 

 of which the following is a list : — By Dr. A. Dendy. — Specimens 

 of Victorian sponges. By Mr. C. French, jun. — Eggs of the 

 Marsh Tern (^Hydrochelidon Jluviatilis). from Colac, Victoria, and 

 of the Bass' Straits Tern {Thallascus poliocercus), from Tasmania. 

 By Rev. W. Fielder. — Specimens collected on the Elwood beach 

 after the recent storm (including Ibacus peronii, Nudibranchiata, 

 Octopoda, Gephyreans, Prawns, Chitons, and Holothuroids). By 

 Mr. S. O. Grundt. — Album containing specimens of Arctic 

 vegetation. By Mr. R. Hall. — Mole from Scotland. By Messrs. 

 T. G. Luehmann and C. French. — Dendrolagus from N. Queens- 

 land. By Mr. W. M'Gillivray. — Perfect snake slough (found by 

 Mr. E. Crellin), By Baron von Mueller. — Several new or very 

 rare plants, some from Mr. J. Bradshaw's recent expedition 

 to Prince Regent's River, belonging to the genera Sloanea, 

 Hibiscus, Celastrus, Spermacoce, Eriachne, Andropogon ; also, 

 Hypoestes moschata, discovered by Mr. Holtze in Arnheim's 

 Land, and remarkable for its very strong musk scent. By Mr. T. 

 Shephard. — Mounted specimens of a Rotifer (probably a new 

 species of Lacinularia). 



