XV111 



PROCEEDINGS, JULY. 



of dredging, and the quality being equal to the European scallops it is 

 to be hoped that steps will be taken by our fishermen to place in the 

 market this class of shellfish, which would readily find consumers. As 

 the places dredged in were rather far up the river the number of species 

 of moMusca was naturally limited. Several crustaceans, chiefly of the 

 smaller kind, were obtained, one kind being found in great numbers 

 inhabiting the common mussel. This curious little crab has a wide 

 range common to the European seas, but, although found inhabiting 

 the mussel of New Zealand, has not been observed in the mussel 

 found round the .New South Wales coast. A large number of species 

 of a delicate Echin were met with, a species which is found to have 

 a very wide range, having been obtained on the N.E and North 

 coasts of Australia, Japan, 8. E. Coasts of New Guinea, East Indies, 

 Cape of Good Bope, New Zealand, and New Caledonia. Some five or 

 six species of sponges were obtained, samples of which he intended 

 to have forwarded to Mr. Arthur Dendy of Melbourne University 

 for identification, as that gentleman is at present paying considerable 

 attention to the spongidije of Australia. Several specimens of 

 foraminifera were obtained. In concluding, he said that from the large 

 number of specimens obtained during the trip, and considering the 

 very primitive and unsuitable dredge in use, he was convinced that a 

 most interesting and valuable collection of marine fauna might be 

 obtained in the Derwent, and accordingly decided during the summer 

 months to carry out a similar system of dredging to that which he was 

 engaged in for the Sydney Museum on the Queensland coast and at Port 

 Jackson during the years 1879, 1881-2. (Hear, hear.) 



TASMANIAN MOLLUSCA. 



Mr. A. Morton (for Mr. R. M. Johnston, F.L S.), read a paper on 

 " Provisional aid to the study of the Tasmanian Mollusca." The writer 

 remarked that the student of conchology in Tasmania laboured under a 

 disadvantage in that the description of the various species inhabiting 

 our waters was scattered widely in various publications of Europe and 

 America, while nearly half the number of the principal type species 

 are deposited in foreign museums and are therefore inaccessible for 

 purposes of reference to local students. Much careful work 

 required to be done before we could rest satisfied with existing classifi- 

 cation of species, for it was well-known that the specific descriptions 

 of the earlier distinguished collectors who accompanied expeditions 

 to our seas were often too meagre to satisfactorily distinguish or 

 separate them from many allied distinct species subsequently discovered. 

 He suggested that the example of New Zealand should be followed 

 in making up a duplicate collection of our shells as complete as possible, 

 and thereafter submit them to a well-known European authority 

 like Ed. \ on Martins, who could critically examine and compare them 

 with original types in European collections, and submit a report for 

 guidance of local workers. If Messrs. Legrand, Petterd, and Beddome, 

 who have so ably worked in this branch of science in Tasmania, and 

 who possess the best local collections, were to engage in a work of 

 this kind under the auspices of the Royal Society of Tasmania, he was 

 satisfied that the very best results would be attained, and we would then 

 prepare the way for the publication of a work on Tasmanian Mollusca. 

 upon which thorough dependence could be placed. He alluded also to 

 the labours of the Rev. J, T. Tenison Woods, E.L.S., and the Rev. 

 H. D. Atkinson, of Circular Head, in connection with this study. 

 He gave a comprehensive account of the bibliograpy of the subject, and 

 for the convenience of local students who are not in possession of works 

 of reference, he added a part devoted to the description of the various 

 families, mainly based upon the late G. W. Tryon's splendid work on 



