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large majority of the Daphnias preferred being under the yellow liquid rather 
than in the exposed half, that in the second a large majority preferred being 
under the green liquid rather than in the exposed half; that in the third a 
large majority preferred the exposed half to that which was shaded and in 
the 4th, that a large majority preferred the half on which the extra amount 
of light was thrown. It is evident then, that in the first and second troughs 
the Daphnias did not go under the solution for the sake of the shade, because 
other Daphnias placed by their side under similar conditions preferred a 
somewhat brighter light. It seems clear, therefore, that they were able to 
distinguish the yellow and green light and that they preferred it to white 
light. No such result was given with blue or red solutions. In such cases 
the Daphnias always preferred the uncovered half of the trough. It is of 
course impossible absolutely to prove that they perceive colours, but these 
experiments certainly show that rays of various wave lengths produce distinct 
impressions on their eyes; that they prefer rays of light of such wave lengths 
as produce upon our eyes the impression of green and yellow. It is of course 
possible that rays of different wave lenghts produce different impressions 
upon their eyes, but yet that such impressions differ in a manner of which we 
have no conception. This however seems improbable, and on the whole 
therefore it certainly does appear that Daphnias can distinguish not only 
different degrees of brightness but also differences of colour. — The Rev. 
A. E. Eaton gave adigest of an extensive Monograph of the Ephemeridae 
or Mayflies, Part I. In this the subject is prefaced by the historical account 
and his views of the group generally; the genera are defined and a tabular 
conspectus of the present known species indicated. — J. Murie. 
4. Linnean Society of New South Wales. 
March, 28th 1883. The following papers were read: 1) (Botanical). 
2) »On tooth-marked bones of extinct Marsupials.« By Chas. W. de 
Vis, B.A. A large proportion of fossil marsupial bones from the Darling 
Downs,, recently examined by Mr. de Vis, are considered by him to show 
more or less decided traces of the action of the teeth of carnivorous animals. 
The tooth-marks are ascribed to the agency partly of the Native Dog, partly 
of the T’hylacoleo, and partly of an extinct species of Sarcophilus which was 
identified by a portion of a tibia. 
3) »On Brachalletes Palmeri«, an extinct Marsupial. By Chas. W. de 
Vis, B.A. A femur from the Darling Downs differs so markedly from that 
of Macropus and Halmaturus in the less prominent character of the great tro- 
chanter, that it is considered to belong to a new generic type, proposed to be 
named Brachalletes. 
4) On the habits of the »Mallee Hen« (Leipoa ocellata) by K. H. Ben- 
nett. This gives an interesting and detailed account from the author’s own 
observation of the nidification and general habits of this very curious bird. 
Mr. Macleay exhibited a specimen of Dendrolagus Dorianus, a new 
species of Tree Kangaroo from Mount Owen Stanley, New Guinea, descri- 
bed by Mr. E. P. Ramsay at the January meeting of the Society. He 
pointed out that the hair on the body all turned the wrong way. 
Mr. Macleay also exhibited some specimens of a Moth, with a fun- 
gus upon which their larvae had fed. He stated that the larvae were inhabi- 
