Minutes of Proceedings. xxiii 



Br. Siiaw staled that he gathered the same heath in the Koude 

 Bokkeveld about six years ago. 



The Rev. G. H. R. Fisk exhibited a lizard, Tarentula Capensis, sent 

 to him from Port Nolloth by the Eev. 0. Earp Jones, and read a note 

 thereon. 



Dr. Shaw exhibited a concretionary mass of stones resembling 

 conglomerate, which had formed around an old bolt which had lain 

 in the sea for some time. The mass was cemented together by the 

 rust formed from the bolt. 



Dr. Shaw then read his paper on "Fossil Plants from the Storm- 

 berg, Indwe, and Molteno Coalfields," and Dr. Marloth his paper on 

 " The Adulteration of Food in Cape Town." 



The Hon. J. X. Merriman, in proposing a vote of thanks to Dr. 

 Shaw and Dr. Marloth, said that he was glad that the latter gentle- 

 man had taken up the question of adulteration. He hoped he would 

 take up the adulteration of liquor in order to shew the quantity of 

 poison which was sold to natives under the name of brandy. Mr. 

 Merriman considered that it was one of the greatest evils with which 

 we have to contend. 



The vote of thanks was carried unanimously. 



Ordinary Monthly Meeting. 



Wednesday, November 25, 1 885. 



Proe. MacOwan, B.A., F.L.S., President, in the Chair. 



The Eev. G. H. R. Fisk read a communication from the Prosector 

 to the Zoological Society giving instructions for preserving earth- 

 worms. 



The Hon. J. X. Merriman then read his paper entitled " Some 

 Remarks on the Taxation of the Cape Colony," in which he shewed the 

 proportion of taxation to gross revenue, giving similar figures for 

 Grreat Britain, New Zealand, and the Australian Colonies. He also 

 shewed the proportion of Customs dues, to imports, and further com- 

 pared the revenue raised from tobacco and intoxicants at the Cape 

 with that of Q-reat Britain, Victoria, and New Zealand, 



Some remarks were made by the Hon. C. A. Smith, Dr. Gill, and 

 Mr. Bolus, to which Mr. Merriman replied, and the meeting closed 

 with a vote of thanks to Mr. Merriman. 



Special Meeting. 



Monday, January 11, 1886. 



Prof. Mac j wan, B.A., F.L.S., President, in the Chair. 



The President read a letter from Inhambane, addressed to Dr. 

 Waters of the S.S. "Melrose," relating to a gum-bearing tree which 

 was discovered by the writer, Mr. J. Heathcote, about three years 

 ago. This tree is found in that part of Eastern Africa called the 

 " Great Thirst Land." 



Mr. Peringuey then made a communication to the Society regarding 

 the presence of Phylloxera Vastatrix, in this part of the Colony. He 

 stated that he discovered the first specimen on January 2. 



He then proceeded to describe the insect in its various stages, from 



