JUNE, 1900. 



The monthly evening meeting of the 

 Royal Society was held in the Art Gal- 

 lerj^ of the Tasmanian Museum on Tues- 

 day, June 19, Mr. Thos. Stephens, M.A., 

 F.G.S. (vice-president) in the chair. 



Apologies. 



The secretary read apologies for ab- 

 sence from Sir James Agnew, the Bishop 

 of Tasmania, and the Speaker of the 

 House of Assembly. 



tilection. 



The following were elected members 

 of the societv: — Messrs. G. E. Moore, 

 M. Inst. C.E., H. J. Daniels, C. B. 

 Petersen, and W. 0. Wise. 



The Late J. B. Walker. 



The Chairman (Mr. T. Stephens) said 

 he had to call the attention of 

 those present to the handsome por- 

 trait of the late J. B. Walker, 

 which had become the property of the 

 society through the kind instrumentality 

 of Mr. Beattie. Mr. Stephens became ac- 

 quainted with Mr. Walker in connection 

 with a prize won by that gentleman for 

 a poem written in the early sixties. A 

 few years later he became acquainted 

 with Mr. Walker personally, and he 

 knew him from that time to the end. 

 Mr. Walker was prominently known in 

 connection with many good works, and 

 his connection with the Royal Society 

 was intimate and singularly honourable. 

 The society was, therefore, deeply in- 



debted to Mr. Eeattie for his kindlv and 

 valuable gift. 



Colonel Legge, R.A., read a paper 

 on "The Birds of Australia: Birds. 

 Nests, and Eggs," for Mr. A. J. 

 Campbell, of Victoria. Tlie paper was 

 illustrated by a very interesting and 

 complete series of lantern slides. 



"The Falls of Niagara as a Geological 

 Chronometer, ' by Professor E. G. Hogg, 

 M.A. The lantern slides shown were in- 

 teresting, and the paper contained much 

 matter of scientific value. Opening 

 with some remarks tending to show 

 how profoundly the natural drainage 

 system of a country was modified bv thi 

 country's glaciation, Professor Hog-^ 

 proceeded to the description of the gla- 

 ciated area of the United States, par- 

 ticularly as to the locality of the Great 

 Lakes and the immediate neighbourhood 

 of Niagara. The original ice-sheet 

 here, he said, was estimated roughly to 

 have had a thickness of about 30.000 

 feet. Various details were given show- 

 ing the difference that has resulted in 

 the contour and formation of the Gre it 

 Lakes region since pre-glacial timea, 

 and so the broad influences which re- 

 sulted in the making of Niagara were 

 traced. The lecturer closed with som- 

 account of the condition and history of 

 the Falls — whose actual age is variously 

 estimatid bv opposing geological schools 

 at from 7,000 to 30,000 years. 



The meeting alo'sed with votes of 

 thanks to authors of papers. 



JULY, 1900. 



No meeting. 



