Proceedings. 159 



six, if not seven species of this remarkable division of the Eucali/ptince, hitherto 

 confounded by all botanists under the common name of Mucalyptus globulus," 

 Mr. Swainson says he has found sufficient characters in these trees to separate 

 them as distinct from aU others, and that they will be described by him as a new 

 genus, under the name of Denisonia, and that the smallest species yet discovered 

 has been foxmd on the higher parts of Mount WeUiagton. 



Mr. MiUigan presented specimens of one of the handsomest and least common 

 sea shells of Tasmania, Valuta fusiformis (Swainson) ; and of another, scarcely 

 less beautiful and quite as rare, the Volutce papillaris of Swainson ; both from 

 the vicinity of Circular Head. Mr. Milligan also submitted for examination a 

 specimen of another rare Tasmanian volute from the same locality, which is pro- 

 bably the largest member of this family known ; and though it bears a close resem- 

 blance to V. magnifica of New South Wales, may yet, Mr. Swainson has reason to 

 think, prove a distinct species. This sheU was formerly used by the Aborigiaes 

 as a vessel for holding and carrying water in ; and it is cm'ious to remark that a 

 very large Cymha (a shell nearly allied to the volutes), found on the northern 

 coasts of New South Wales, and capable of holding nearly a gallon, is applied to a 

 similar purpose by the Aborigines there. 



A case per Antipodes, containing 34 plants, (of which 16 are dead), has been 

 presented to the Society's G-ardens by the Venerable Archdeacon Davies. 



A case per Antipodes has been received at the Gardens from Messrs. Lee of 

 Hammersmith, containing 27 plants, of which 16 only are aUve. 



A note was read by the Secretary from Mr. John Abbott transmitting an 

 extract of a letter from his brother, now on a six months' tour in Cashmere, pro- 

 mising to make large collections for the Society's Museum. 



A letter to the Secretary fi'om Mr. R. C. Wood, of Singapore, was read, giving 

 advice of the shipment of a collection of Corals of that region for the Museum. 



A paper by Mr. Swainson on the best method of relaxing the dried skins of 

 birds and other animals, in order to fit them for being stuSed and mounted, was 

 read by the Secretary. 



A paper was next read by Mr. Swainson on the cultivation of Enghsh grasses, 

 and the formation of artificial pastures, in which a comparison of the productive- 

 ness, as regards dairy produce and the feeding of live stock upon the native and 

 artificial pastures, is made, greatly in favour of the latter. Mr. Swainson says that, 

 having observed in the Illawarra District of New South Wales an indigenous grass 

 of a nutritious character as cattle-feed, which continued green and succulent 

 throughout the hottest and driest summer months, he secured so much of the seed 

 as has enabled him to make up about 60 packets (laid on the table) for distribution, 

 and that any member or other person who wiU give the necessary care and atten- 

 tion to its culture may have a packet for experimenting with or for further disse- 

 mination over the colony, the bare, dry, arid, withered aspect of which, he does not 

 hesitate to say, would by the introduction of this grass be changed to a liixuriant 

 and hvely green. Mr. Swainson has named it provisionally " Eed Timothy Grass." 



