Proceedings . 169 



Ascension, mainly composed of finely comminuted shells ; and also a small mummy- 

 looking representation of the hxmian form in a state of repose, covered from thg 

 breast downwards in front, and from the neck along the back to the heel with 

 oriental characters and symbols, and presenting on the sm-face a semivitrified 

 aspect. Mr. Bland obtained this specimen from one of the Sarcophagi on his visit 

 to the Pyramids. 



From Mr. Selwyn, of Melbourne, was received a valuable collection of fossil shells, 

 from a geological formation of Umited extent showing itself on the seacoast of 

 Victoria, about forty miles below Williams Town, on the eastern or Brighton side. 

 The fossils are identical in several instances with shells which occm* in the cliifs 

 between the Inghs River and Table Cape, on the north coast of Tasmania, described 

 by Count Strzelecki as a raised beach, and resemble the fossils of the Paris basin 

 and London clay. The foUowing families are recognizable — Cyprea (several species), 

 Pleurotoma, Turhinella, Conus, Murex, Ranella, Typhis, Terehratula, Patella, 

 FJiorus, Ttorbo, with Dentalium, Serjpuloe, Corals, &c. 



From the same locality Mr. Selwyn forwarded fi'agmentsof a fossil- wood imbedded 

 in a siliceo-argOlaceous matrix, and having some resemblance to the fossil Casua- 

 rina of Plinder's Island. 



Mr. MHligan read the following estimate of the cost of forming a line of Electric 

 Telegraph fi'om Hobart Town to Launceston at the existing prices of labour and 

 materials, furnished by Mr. M'Gowan, Director of the line fi'om Melboiu'ne to 

 WiUiams Town, who also forwarded samples of the wire, insulators, &c., which are in 

 use there : his estimate is £100 per mile, and he would undertake to find a contractor 

 and give a guarantee that the hne woiild be m operation within six months from 

 the time of commencing. Short as the Melbourne hne is, and only recently estab- 

 lished, its convenience and value are becoming rapidly appreciated by the citizens 

 there. 



Estimated cost of constructiag a line of Electric Telegraph between Launceston 

 and Hobart Town. 



Per Mile. £ s. d. 

 For thirty posts, including the expence of distributing on 



the route of the hne 50 



For laboiu' in preparing and erecting 15 



For one mile of No. 6 galvanized iron wire, metaUicaUy 



joiated 19 



For labour in erecting , 7 



For thirty insulators (including prepared pins) 9 



TotalpermUe £100 



Making provision for a full supply of instruments, batteries, &c., necessary to 

 carry on the business of the line after its completion, say, for six stations> 

 (including the two terminal stations), the expense would be, viz. — 



£ s. d. 



For six complete sets of Morse's recording Telegraph 210 



For local insulated wires, battery, and instrument stands 140 



For six local batteries, and two main batteries, on Grove's plan 150 



Total cost of apparatus, &c., to work the line £500 



Y 



