264 THE president's ADDRESS, 



In Geology we have had papers on " The Iron Blow at the 

 Linda Gold-fields," by Mr. G. Thureau and Mr. E. M. 

 Johnston, and on the discovery of a fossil fish by Mr. R. M. 

 Johnston and Mr. A. Morton, which they did me the honour 

 to name after me, Acrolepia Hamiltoni. Mr. Johnston also 

 laid before us a paper supplementary to one previously 

 submitted by him, giving additions to the list of Upper 

 Palseozoic fossils. 



In ornithology Col. Legge submitted a paper on the 

 Australian Curlew, and Mr. Morton called attention to one 

 or two rare birds, of which specimens have recently been 

 obtained for the Museum. 



In astronomy we have had papers from our valued con- 

 tributor, Mr. A. B. Biggs, on " A new dark field micrometer 

 for double star measurements," or "Observations of the 

 comet of July and August, 1889, taken at Launceston," and 

 on recent measurements of " a Centauri." 



An interesting question respecting smut in grain was raised 

 by a letter from Mr. Joseph Barwick, and was commented on 

 in papers submitted by Mr. F. Abbott and Mr. T. Stephens ; 

 and another question raised by the same gentleman (Mr. 

 Barwick) respecting the value, probable extent and source 

 of supply of the salt to be found in what is known 

 as the Salt Pans in the Midland district, gave rise to some 

 interesting discussion. 



Mr. J. H. Maiden, Curator of the Technological Museum, 

 Sydney, a corresponding member of our Society, was good 

 enough to send us a paper on Australian and Tasmanian 

 Sandarach, pointing out its value as an article of commerce. 



Dr. Hardy read a paper on a case of poisoning of a child 

 by eating a portion of the trumpet lily flower, in which he 

 suggested that much valuable information, from a medical 

 point of view, might he obtained from an investigation into 

 the properties of the Australian flora. I ventured last year 

 to appeal to the medical fellows of our Society to do some 

 work for us, and I hope that next session we may have further 

 contributions from Dr. Hardy, and also from other of our 

 medical friends. 



We have had to-night some valuable notes, by Mr. A. 

 Morton, on an insect found infesting the orchards of Hobart, 

 with a few remarks on the subject of insect pests generally, 

 a matter of great importance in a fruit-growing community 

 like ours. 



At our June meeting a very interesting letter was read from 

 the Hon. Stanley Dobson on the height of trees, pointing out 



