X Vili Minutes of Proceedings. 
Ordinary Monthly Meeting. 
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 380, 1891. 
Mr. D. Git, LL.D., F.R.S., PRESIDENT, IN THE CHAIR. 
The undermentioned presents were announced and the thanks of 
the Society voted to the donors : 
Sitzungsberichte der Kaiserlichen Akademie der Wissenschaften. 
Mathematisch-Naturwissenschaftliche Classe. Vols. XCIII 
—XCVIII. 
Denkschriften~ der Kaiserlichen Akademie der Wissenschaften. 
Mathematisch Naturwissenschaftliche Classe. Funfundfunf- 
zigster Band. 
Bulletin of the U.S. National Museum, No. 38. 
Proceedings of the U.S. National Museum, Vol. 12, 1889. 
Smithsonian Report of the U.S. National Museum, 1888. 
Smithsonian Report, 1888. 
Smithsonian Report, 1889. 
The American Anthropologist, Vol. III., No. 4, Vol. 1V., Nos. 
1 and 2. . 
Proceedings of the American Philosophical Society, No. 134. 
Journal of the Cincinnati Society of Natural History, Vol. XIIL., 
Nos, 3—4. 
Occasional Papers of the California Academy of Sciences. 
A Revision of the South American Nematognathi or Cat- 
Fishes. 
Land Birds of the Pacific District. 
Archivos de Museu Nacional de Rio de Janeiro, Vols. VI., VII. 
Le Muséum National de Rio de Janeiro et son influence sur les 
Sciences Naturelles au Brésil. 
Mr. Garwood Alston exhibited a specimen of carbonaceous matter 
an basaltic rock—a rare occurrence in geology—from Louriesfontein in 
Calvinia. The greatest width of the seam was eight inches. 
He also exhibited photographs of hard nodules in Karoo shale. 
Dr. Marloth said that similar carbonaceous matter was found in 
some other parts of the Colony, but that it would be necessary to 
inspect the surroundings before expressing any opinion about the 
“specimen. 
Mr. Garwood Alston also exhibited photographs of a furrow or 
canal, the construction of which he had been superintending, nine 
