] 58 Troceedings. 



Two huDtlred specimens of minerals, with catalogue, from 

 Germany, and two boxes of mineral specimens from the Adelaide 

 mines, presented by Lieut. Harrison. 



Samuel Moses, Esq., presented two large calligraphic portraits,— 

 one of Her Majesty the Queen, Patroness of the Society ; and the 

 other of His late Royal Highness the Duke of Sussex, robed as 

 Grand Master, &c. 



Two young mice, having each a remarkable oblong white spot 

 on the forehead, taken in clearing out a cellar in Government 

 House, submitted for examination, — consigned to a member to be 

 carefully reared and re-examined. 



A paper was read by James Barnard, Esc[.,» on the larvcR of a 

 moth closely resembling, in the writer's opinion, the Hepialus 

 humuli (Fab. Havr. English Insects, iv.) or Ghost-moth of England, 

 — on its habit of concealing itself deep in the ground during the 

 day, and rambling at night, — on its unsparing destructiveness to 

 English grasses, — and on the best mode of obviating its ravages, 

 and of getting entirely rid of the insect. Rolling, except at dawn 

 in the morning or twilight in the evening, even with a very heavy 

 roller, would seem to be inoperative from the great depth at which 

 the caterpillar lies during daylight, and the fact of its commonly 

 attacking old and well-consolidated grass lands- Irrigation seems to 

 be the only effectual remedy, unless where the soil can be turned up 

 with the plough or spade. 



A pencil drawing of the Caterpillar by Mrs. Barnard was laid on 

 the table ; and the following is Mr. Barnard's description of it: — 

 " This caterpillar is fully 2 inches long, and of proportionate thick- 

 ness ; the head is horny, of a glossy dark-brown colour, with a 

 triangular scale on the apex : its body is olive-green, with a black 

 stripe down the back, and minute dark glittering dots on each 

 segment along both sides of the dorsal line : the legs, six in number, 

 are yellow ; and the pro-legs, of which there are eight, (making 

 fourteen in all), are yellowish white." 



Mr. Milligan read a portion of a report on the Coal of Fingal, 

 Mount Nicholas, and the East Coast. 



15xH December, 1848. — Monthly evening meeting; His Excel- 

 lency Sir W. T. Denison, President, in the chair. 



The Rev. R. R. Davies, of Longford, admitted on Rule xvii. 



