XXXn PROCEEDINGS, OCTOBEE. 



THE AUSTRALIAN CURLEW. 



Mr. Morton, acting for Colonel Legge, read a note embodying a 

 comparison of the Australian Curlew with its near Asiatic ally, and its 

 more distantly related representative in Europe and Western Asia. 

 The curlews of the old world, like other members of the Wader family 

 (Charadriidid), resemble one another in plumage. Dnlike the American 

 curlews, which have a distinguishing characteristic in the buff tinting of 

 the under wing and axiliaries, the old world species differ chiefly in 

 the character of the markings of the breast. A marked characteristic, 

 however, of the Australian bird is its length of bill. As regards our 

 Curlew (N. Cyanopus) on arriving in Tasmania in September, some 

 specimens have the buff tinge of the breeding season still remaining 

 on the breast and flanks, and accompanying this is a rufescent hue on 

 the longer upper tail coverts and central tail feathers. Although 

 the Australian Curlew is a migratory species, breeding in northern 

 climates in summer and " wintering" here in our summer, many seem 

 to remain throughout the year with us. It migrates north as far as 

 Hakodadi, in Japan, and east as far as New Zealand. The Eastern 

 curlew ranges across the continent to China, southward to China, and 

 down the East coast of South Africa. The range of the European 

 Curlew is throughout Europe, taking in the Orkney, Faroe, and 

 Shetland Isles, and extends down the coast of Africa to Damara Land. 

 It would therefore appear to take in the west coast, while the Asiatic, 

 or "Eastern" Curlew monopolises the east coast and the extreme 

 south in its wanderings. 



astronomical papers, 

 Mr. A. B. Biggs, of Launceston, forwarded two papers, which were taken 

 as read. One was entitled " Observations of comet of July and 

 August, 1889, taken at Launceston, Tasmania," and "Recent measure- 

 ments of ra Centauri." 



SILVER ORE. 



Mr. A. J. Taylor exhibited a specimen of the silver ore struck at the 

 100ft. level in the Silver Queen mine at Mount Zeehan. 



PALEOZOIC POSSILS. 



Mr. Johnston tabled a paper, which he said formed a sequel to a 

 paper he had read some time ago dealing with additions to the list of 

 upper palseozoic fossils. The paper, at the author's request, was taken 

 as read. 



FUTURE SUBJECTS. 



Mr. Johnston reminded those present that some time ago the 

 President had suggested that the Society should deal with a wider 

 range of subjects. He had brought down a paper, "Root Matters 

 in Social and Economic Problems," and if thought desirable it might 

 be printed and circulated amongst the Fellows in time for discussion at 

 the next meeting. 



The President stated that the Council would be pleased to consider 

 the suggestion. 



VOTES OF THAKKS. 



The President, in moving a vote of thanks to the authors of the 

 papers, referred in flattering terms to the one read by Mr. Walker. 

 It was well that they should now perfect the early history of the 

 colony for they were nearer to the old times than those who had to 

 follow, and it was aworK which the Society should take in hand, as it 

 was to a Society of this sort that anyone would come for accurate 

 records of their early history. 



The vote was accorded by acclamation, and the meeting terminated. 



