

PROCEEDINGS, NOVEMBER. 



Morton in determining to carry out in the summer months of this year 

 a more complete system of dredging, similar to that adopted by him 

 some time ago en the coast of Queensland. The lastpaper bearing on 

 Zoology was read by Mr. Andrew on ostrich farming. In this paper 

 he gave, from personal observation and experience, some account of 

 the bird and its habits when in a domesticated state. In Geology 

 we have had from Mr. Johnston and Mr. Morton a description 

 of a second ganoid fish from the Lower Sandstones near Tinder 

 Box Bay, similar to the one discovered last year, which the 

 discoverers named after me, Acrolepis Hamiltoni, Mr. W. A. 

 Montgomery read "Notes of Some Observations of the Geology of the 

 West Coast," a subject which is of particular interest at the present 

 time, and Mr. Barnard, our respected vice-president, brought under 

 the notice of the Society some notes by Mr. S. H. Wintle respecting a 

 fossil tree found beneath a hundred feet of basalt. In botany we have- 

 had some notes by Mr. Johnston on the discovery of a fern, hitherto 

 unknown in Tasmania, although found on the continent of Australia, and 

 Mr. Morton has compiled "A Complete List of Ferns found in Tasmania,, 

 with Full Descriptions of the Genera and Species." In this list, 

 which will be invaluable to students and collectors, he gives so far as is 

 practicable the authorities and the localities in Tasmania where each 

 fern is found, and the locality in which the species is found in 

 the other colonies. In this section also Mr. A. J. Taylor read two 

 papers, one on coco-de-mer, and the other on the native hop as a cure 

 for hydatids. In meteorology we have had a paper from Mr. E. C. 

 Nowell on the influence of the moon on the rainfall, and on this paper 

 Captain Shortt made some interesting remarks in which he stated that 

 his observations showed that the influence of the planets also over the 

 weather is considerable, and he promised a paper on this subject on some 

 future day. Br. Barnard has submitted to us a very important paper 

 this evening on " Actinomycosis, Human and Bovine, and its relations- 

 to Tubercolosis, illustrated by mounted specimens prepared by Mr. 

 A. Park, M.R.C.V.S." From Mr. J. B. Walker we have had two 

 further contributions respecting the early discovery and settlement 

 of Tasmania, the first entitled — " Notes on the localities men- 

 tioned in the journal of Tasman's discovery of Tasmania," and the 

 second on the settlement of Northern Tasmania, in which he describes 

 the discovery and occupation of Port Dalrymple and the River Tamar. 

 Mr. Walker also contributed a paper on the Antarctic Expedition of 

 the Erebus and Terror. This latter paper, although only a compilation 

 from Sir James Ross's book, is of much interest at a time when 

 further Antarctic exploration is being carefully considered and 

 discussed. In connection with this subject' also, Mr. Morton 

 read a paper on " What science and commerce may gain from 

 an Antarctic expedition." The interesting correspondence which 

 has taken place with the Royal Society of Victoria on this subject 

 will, of course, be printed with our proceedings. Baron Oscar 

 Dickson has undertaken to furnish an expedition which Baron Norden- 

 skiold is to take command of, provided the Australian colonies con- 

 tributed £5,000 — a moiety of the estimated cost of it. Our Society 

 has voted £50 out of its funds towards this object, and further con- 

 tributions will, it is hoped, be forthcoming. Although it is, I believe, 

 the general desire of our members, and, I may say, of Tasmania 

 generally, to do our part in helping forward this scheme, the 

 munificence of which on the part of Baron Dickson we so heartily 

 appreciate, yet there is, I gather, a strong feeling in the community 

 generally that it will only be by a fully equipped expedition, involving 

 a very much greater outlay than £10,000^ under the British flag, 

 promoted jointly by Australia and the Mother Country, an expedition 

 which will have to pass at least one winter in the Antarctic circle, 



