PROCEEDINGS, APRIL 



VU 



A GANOID M5H. 



The next paper, which was read by Mr. R. M. Johnston, was a 

 description by that gentleman in conjunction with Mr. A. Morton, of 

 a second ganoid fish from the lower mesozoic sandstones, near Tinder- 

 Box Bay. Last session the same gentlemen brought under the notice 

 of the Society a similar fish, obtained from the Knocklofty sandstones, 

 and named Acrolepis Hamiltoni, in honour of the President, Sir Robert 

 Hamilton. The present specimen is much better preserved, and although 

 closely allied to the first is yet distinct in several respects. Some good 

 photographs of the specimen were shown, and the writers expressed 

 their belief that there was a probability of a larger number of these 

 interesting fish remains being obtained when operations in certain 

 quarries were again carried out. He mentioned as an interesting fact 

 that a fish of similar species had been recently found at Latrobe. 



MARINE ORGANISMS. 



Mr. A. Durrand, Fellow of the Royal Microscopical Society, London, 

 exhibited a select series cf microscopical preparations of foraminifera 

 and other minute marine organisms from soundings made at depths 

 from five fathoms to about two miles among the islands of the 

 Hawaiian Group, Coast of Java, Channel Islands (Guernsey), 

 Ireland, etc., demonstrating the important part which the calcareous 

 and siliceous remains of these organisms play in submarine deposits, 

 which after upheaval and solidification, constitute a material 

 portion of limestone and similar formations, the city of Richmond, 

 United States, America, being built on an ancient sea bed covering a 

 considerable area, many feet in depth, and largely composed of the 

 inorganic remains of these tiny denizens of the deep, the beauty of 

 Which is indescribable by pen or pencil. Some of the specimens shown 

 Were from a fossil deposit over 60ft. thick at Wanganui, New Zealand, 

 and appeared as perfect as those recently alive. In connection with 

 this he stated that Mr. Morton, Secretary of the Society, and he 

 (Mr. Durrand), purposed conducting dredging operations in the 

 harbour to ascertain the distribution of these interesting forms, the 

 result of which will probably be submitted to the Society during his 

 stay, and as the microscopical life of our harbour may present 

 some unique features, being yet comparatively unexplored, the investiga- 

 tions of Messrs. Morton and Durrand are expected to result in important 

 information in this direction. 



CONGRATULATORY. 



The President moved a vote of thanks to the gentlemen who had 

 contributed papers, and mentioned as a matter for congratulation that 

 for the first time the printed proceedings of the past session were on the 

 table at the opening of a new session. 



The proceedings terminated. 



