for the year 1866. 115 



of the Society during the years 1861-62-63, and 64. 

 Arrangements have now been made that will, I trust, 

 prevent our work getting thus into arrears for the future. 

 It very frequently happens that it is of gTeat importance 

 that papers and communications read before this Society 

 should be published without delay, in some cases to secure 

 priority of discovery, and often to make known useful 

 information. Your Council have, therefore, decided to 

 publish the papers at least once a quarter. 



At the first meeting of the Society in May, your late 

 President, the Rev. Dr. Bleasdale, gave his inaugural 

 address. An instructive and suggestive paper by Mr. 

 Thomas Harrison, entitled "Victoria as a field for Geolo- 

 gists," was read at the next meeting on the 22nd May. 



At the June meeting. Dr. Bleasdale laid before the 

 Society his report on the Exhibition of Colonial Gems and 

 Jewellery, and Works of Art in the Precious Metals, which 

 had taken place a short time previously. 



A paper entitled " The Probable Erosion of the Mountain 

 Ranges of Gipps Land," was also read by your late Secre- 

 tary, Mr. Thomas Rawlinson. A most interesting discussion 

 followed the reading of this paper, which related principally 

 to the denudation of the mountain lands of that district, and 

 the formation of the alluvial plains to the southward of 

 them. At the same meeting, I also gave a short account of 

 the application of Spectrum Analysis to the Heavenly 

 Bodies. 



At the next meeting a most important paper " On the 

 Skeleton of the Gorilla in the National Museum," was read 

 by Professor Halford, which will be perused with interest 

 by all engaged in the study of comparative anatomy. The 

 comparisons of the human skeleton with that of the gorilla 

 and many other apes was most exhaustively discussed. 

 You are aware, gentlemen, of the difference of opinion that 



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