XVlll. ABSTRACT OF PROCEEDINGS. 



Maiden, Dr. Walter Spencer, Mr. Garment, Mr. H. G. Smith, 

 and the President. Prof. Guthrie replied. 



Mr. H. A. Lenehan exhibited a crystalline formation in 

 a rain-gauge from Bathurst, and Mr. H. G. Smith two 

 photographs of gigantic trees in Victoria. 



The following is an abstract of the first popular science 

 lecture of the present session, deJivered on the 23rd June, 

 by Charles Hbdlby, f.l.s., Australian Museum, Sydney, 

 on " The Distribution of Life in Australasia." The lecture 

 described the Australian fauna, its isolation from the rest 

 of the world, its rich development of marsupials and strik- 

 ing features. The general methods of zoogeographic study 

 were outlined. Three divisions of Australian life comprise 

 the Autochthonian, the Euronotian, and the Torresian. 

 The first has a poor fauna but a rich flora, which is nearly 

 allied to that of South Africa. The second is related to 

 that of South America, and is believed to have reached 

 this continent across Antarctica when the latter enjoyed a 

 mild climate and extended long promontories to the north- 

 ward. The third element is a recent migration from Papua 

 and arrived by Cape York when Torres Straits was dry 

 land. 



ABSTRACT OF PROCEEDINGS, AUGUST 3, 1904. 



The General Monthly Meeting of the Society was held 

 at the Society's House, No. 5 Elizabeth-street North, on 

 Wednesday evening, August 3rd, 1904. 



C. O. Burge, m. inst. c.e., President, in the Chair. 



About twenty members were present. 



