PROCEEDINGS, AUGUST. xlvii 



NEW FISHES. 



Mr. Morton, the secretary, submitted a specimen of a new fish to 

 Tasmania, which was not only a new species, but, as he had been able to 

 discover, proved to be a new genus. It had been found on the beach near 

 Bridgewater in a rather bad state, as the crows had been at work on it 

 and taken out one of the eyes, besides eating a part of the side. Upon re- 

 ference to several works on ichthyology he could not place any to our 

 genus, and during a recent visit to Sydney he submitted it to Mr. 

 J. Douglas Ogilby, who has charge of the Icthiological department in 

 the Sydney Museum. After consulting a number ot works, the con- 

 clusion come to was that it was a new genus. It was apparently a deep 

 water fish. At first sight it appeared like the Hapuka (Oligorus gigasj of 

 TS^ew Zealand, found in our waters occasionally, but the scales and fins 

 revealed a difference, the diameter of the eye being much larger. The 

 dentition was also different. Owing to its prominent head he had given 

 it the name of Eiirmnetopos. He was very glad to have the pleasure of 

 giving as the specific name of this fish the name of one of the leading 

 members of the Society who had done more work in connection with 

 the Natural History and Geology of Tasmania than anyone else, Mr. 

 B. M. Johnston. (Hear, hear.)' He felt proud to have the honour of 

 naming this remarkable specimen submitted, Eurumetopos Johnstoni, 

 Mr. Morton also submitted a new species of the genus Triptergium, a 

 genus hitherto unrecorded in Tasmania, although Mr. Johnston had a 

 specimen, but of a different species, but had not described it. It was 

 •discovered at Clarke's Island by Mr. McLaine, and he proposed to 

 give it the specific name of Clarkei. Several species of this fish were 

 found in New Zealand and Australia. 



A DECEASED SCIENTIST. 



Some correspondence was read with reference to Mr. Augustus 

 Oldfield, a brother of Mr. E. D. Oldfield who kept a commercial school 

 in Hobart for many years, Mr. Augustus Oldfield, who was a botanist 

 for many years in Tasmania, and possessed very high testimony of his 

 scientific acquirements and disinterestedness from Sir J. Hooker, 

 Baron von Mueller, and other authorities, died in comparative obscurity, 

 and his friends desired that his name should at least be rescued from 

 oblivion, considering his valuable work. The matter came recommended 

 by Dr. Agnew, and the testimonials of the deceased gentleman were 

 read. 



Mr. Bastow said that he had frequently come across the name of 

 Oldfield in his botanical researches, and felt certain that the deceased 

 scientist had done a great deal of useful work, though he knew 

 nothing of him. 



Mr. Grant thought that in the case of a man whose work was so 

 fully acknowledged by eminent authorities, the least the Society could 

 do was to record his name as one who had done valuable work in 

 Tasmania so as to encourage others to follow in his lines. 



The President said he would assume, from the tone of the meeting, 

 that it was the desire of the Fellows that some formal recognition 

 of the labours of the deceased gentleman should be placed on the 

 records. 



mount WELLINGTON. 



Mr. Perrin read some statistics from a report by him on the 

 destruction of the ferns and trees of the Mount Wellington reserve. 



Mr. Grant pointed out that the whole of the frontage along the 

 Huon-road was in private hands, and the destruction so justly denounced 

 took place on this land . Nothing could be done without the Government 

 could be persuaded to purchase back the alienated land. 



Mr. Swan agreed with Mr. Perrin's desire to see the flora of 



