lxxi. 



a fact which proves inferentially that they are uot common — 

 that they are obtained perhaps with difficulty, and possibly by 

 exchange. Other articles of virtu have been transported to 

 different parts of the continent, and why not these ? Though 

 we may in this way account for their wide-spread distribution, 

 yet the evidence is not conclusive till they shall have been 

 traced to their natural sites. 



I submit the following documentary evidence of the value 

 set upon the obsidian bombs by the Australian black. A 

 correspondent, writing from Salt River, King George's Sound, 

 states : — " The black stones are very rare, and much prized by 

 the natives, who believes the possessor bears almost a charmed, 

 life, and is able also to cure sick people of any complaint they 

 may be afflicted with, as also to bewitch their enemies, or any 

 one with whom they have a grievance, tormenting them with all 

 kinds of diseases and finally destroying life itself." Mr. 

 Canham, of Stuart's Creek, writes : — " With the stones will be 

 found one to which a strange story is attached. I was told by 

 the native I had it from that it was taken out of the breast of 

 a sick man by one of their ' koonkies,' or doctors, who, how- 

 ever, did not succeed in saving the patient's life, as some other 

 ' koonkie ' of another tribe had a greater power than this one 

 who took the stone out. The sick native, I mention, died 

 here of disease of the lungs, and all the koonkies in the country 

 could never have saved him." 



In conclusion, I lay before you a summary of such works and 

 papers as have come under my notice bearing upon the natural 

 history of this province which have been published during the 

 past year ; and also some addenda to the list furnished last 

 year. 



" Transactions of the Entomological Society of New South 

 Wales," vol. 1, 1866; vol. 2, 1873. 



The Society was founded in 1862, and is now merged into 

 the Linnean Society. The two volumes published during its 

 existence contain, as may be expected, most useful information 

 for the Australian entomologist. Contributors thereto, aware 

 that the descriptions of Australian insects are dispersed 

 through so many different books, and transactions of scientific 

 Societies, have, in treating upon native insects, reprinted the 

 specific descriptions of known species as given by the various 

 authors, and have thereby relieved in some measure colonial 

 entomologists from the disadvantages they labour under from 

 want of access to the literature of the subject. 



The example set us by the Sydney naturalists might advan- 

 tageously be imitated by workers in various departments, as 

 well as by entomologists. Conspectuses of genera, accompanied 



