192 Proceedings. 



Mr. Boot forwarded to the Museum a piece of polislied Purbeck stone wliicTi 

 formed part of the foimdation of the "Old London Bridge," immediately under 

 the "Ladye Chapel," the first stone of which was laid in 1176. 



A note was read from Mr. Groom, of Harefield, transmitting one of the largest 

 " Sheep Balls " which has been met with, measuring thirteen inches round. It is 

 %ie\[ known that these balls consist of a succession of layers of imperfectly digested 

 vegetable fibre. Whether the action by which this matter is accumulated is due 

 to functional disorder, or to the fact of the animal eating plants insusceptible of 

 perfect digestion by a healthy stomach, remains yet to be proved : this to the stock- 

 owner, however, appears to be of small moment, as it seems to interfere but little 

 with the health and condition of the animal affected. Mr. Groom says of this 

 particular ball, " it was taken out of a fat sheep four years old : there were many 

 others in the sheep, but this was the largest. As far as I have seen, they do not 

 appear to be injurious." 



A letter was read from Mr. Thomas Flude in reference to a sample of Coal takea 

 from the out-crop of a seam exposed by a road party in cutting for repairs near 

 Green Ponds. Mr. Flude says, " the present appearances appear to indicate an 

 obvious dip to the N.E., and running under the hiU on the eastern portion of the 

 proposed township of Shepton Montacute, on the top of Constitution Hill, and close 

 to the main line of road ; the cutting all above shows a quantity of free-stone, and 

 large iron-stone pebbles mixed with gravel of a bright red and seams of very stiff 

 clay." A sample of the coal was submitted to the meeting, having been forwarded 

 by the Du-ector- General of Eoads, by order of His Excellency Sir William Denison. 

 Mr. F. S, Dobson submitted to the meeting Thi-ee Tables of Meteorological 

 Observations taken at Government House by him, in conjunction with Mr. Hull, 

 Cor August, September, and October last. Mr. Dobson also submitted a Table 

 showing the specific gravity of twenty-five timber trees of Tasmania, ascertained by 

 hunseE, and read a short but interesting paper upon the subject. 



Mr. MiUigan read a letter fi'om J. Barnard Davis, Esq., of Shelton, Staffordshire, 

 • enclosing a proof of the first plate of his forthcoming Ethnological work, entitled 

 "Crania Britannica," and soUciting contributions from members of the Society 

 and others of skulls of the Aboriginal races of Tasmania, New Zealand, AustraUa, 

 &c., together with specimens of the hau- of the " full blood natives" of these countries 

 for microscopic purposes. The Secretary stated that he would have much pleasure in 

 forwarding to Mr. Davis any contribution of this nature entrusted to him for the 

 pm'pose, and observed that researches such as Mr. Davis was engaged in were 

 becoming of daUy greater importance, in consequence of the rapid disappearance 

 of the aboriginal races under the influence of civilization. 



After discussions on subjects before the meeting, it was moved by Dr. Agnew, 

 seconded by Mr. Barnard, and carried, — 



" That the thanks of the meeting are due to the various parties who have sent 

 donations and papers." 



The following resolution was then moved by Mr, Eilbui'n, seconded by Mr. Moss, 

 and carried unanimously, 



