Proceedings, &c., for 1887. 187 



as having been in progress for a long time past, and he 

 trusted that when it was seen, it would be availaVjle to 

 everj^one. Unfortunately, the Botanical and Biological 

 Section was rather thinly represented in that evening's 

 meeting. The investigation of the flora of the Colony, if 

 recorded in the Transactions, would give great value to them 

 in the eyes of naturalists in other parts of the world. 



The discussion on Mr. Howitt's paper was adjourned to the 

 following meeting. 



The President requested Baron von Mueller to take the chair, 

 which he did, and the President then exhibited some models of 

 Engine-Grovernors and Dynamometers, of which he conversationally 

 explained the construction, and replied to questions and remarks 

 from Mr. A. C. Wannan and Baron von Mueller. 



Thursday/, 13th October, 1887. 



Present : the President, Professor Kernot, in the chair, and 

 thirty-two members and associates. 



Mr. Hugh Conley was elected by ballot, an associate of the 

 Society. 



The President announced that the usual Conversazione would 

 be held on Priday, the 9th December. 



The President reported that Professor Spencer was unable to 

 attend to read his promised paper on " The Structure and Classi 

 ficatory Position of Megascolides Australis," which was therefore 

 postponed. 



Mr. Griffiths moved the suspension of the laws so far as 

 necessary, to enable Mr. D. McAlpine, who was not a member of 

 the Society, to read a paper, entitled : " Observations on the 

 Movements of Detached Gills, Mantle Lobes, Labial Palps and 

 Foot in Bivalve Molluscs." This was agreed to, and Mr. 

 McAlpine read his paper (see Transactions, Art. XIII.) 



The President remarked on the curious facts that had been 

 described by Mr. McAlpine ; others of a similar kind had before 

 been described. 



Dr. Jamieson said that original observations were always 

 interesting. It was, however, not uncommon to find detached 

 portions of bodies make independent movements ; he had antici- 

 pated something more from the paper. The ciliary action in 

 question, usually took place on a fixed surface, and swept up 

 and drove particles along the surface. When detached and 

 placed on a fixed surface, the cilia, by their normal action, moved 

 the unattached body along the surface. He compared this 



