xxii Proceedings, fyc. 



enervating effect of all tropical climates, which not only indisposes to, 

 but incapacitates for, much exertion ; still, a person who could give 

 up the time, and felt an interest in the subject, might do much. I 

 have not seen your memo, on " Australian Exploration," to which 

 you refer, but have no doubt it is a very interesting one ; your per- 

 sonal knowledge, experience, and abilities must necessarily make it 

 so. Now and then I hear of what is doing in South Australia, but 

 generally long after the events. They seem very energetic, and to 

 be making great exertions in exploring to the north and north 

 west. I should like greatly to know the nature of the country 

 inland to the N.E. of the Great Bight, about the 129th parallel of 

 longitude ; as, when passing along the coast line, I found large 

 flights of parrots coming from that direction to feed upon berries on 

 the coast, and then flying back again to the N.E. Now, the parrot 

 always occupies a watered and a wooded, and generally a hilly 

 country. There is, therefore, much yet to be discovered I believe, 

 as point after point is gained from which to take a fresh departure. I 

 feel sure, too, that the natives here crossed the continent from the 

 north to the south, for reasons given in my travels ; and, if they 

 did, there must be a country supplying water and food at intervals. 

 We shall yet, I think, see Australia traversed from north to south 

 one of these clays, and a good deal appears to have been recently and 

 to be now doing towards accomplishing this. It would give me very 

 great pleasure to re-visit a country in which I have spent so many 

 years, where I have still many kind and valued friends, and where 

 I universally experienced the greatest kindness. It has always been 

 regarded by me in the light of a home, and if God spares my life I 

 dare say I shall return to it again. 



" With assurances of my regard, 



" Believe me yours, very truly, 



" S. Eyre. 

 " To Dr. Ferdinand Mueller." 



Dr. Macadam, as Honorary Secretary of the " Exploration Fund 

 Committee," intimated that the Committee had succeeded in obtain- 

 ing subscriptions to the amount of £2400, thereby securing the pro- 

 visional donation of £1000 by a citizen of Melbourne. 



The following letter was read from Wood Bielby, Esq., " On 

 Variations of the Compass, noticed in the neighbourhood of Mount 

 Gambier" : — 



"Cranbourne, August 29th, 1859. 



"Sir, 



" I beg to bring under your notice a letter of mine to 

 the 'Herald,' published last Friday, in which I have alluded to 

 remarkable phenomena relative to irregularity of the compass, ob- 

 served near Mount Gambier some years ago. Possibly the subject 

 may be worthy of further investigation, as several unhappy ship- 



