ABSTRACT OF PROCEEDINGS. Xlll. 



crust in years of minimum, thus forcing lava out of 

 fissures. He quotes the statements of various meteorolo- 

 gists, who are of opinion that the average barometric 

 pressure at the earth's surface for years of sunspot minima 

 is greater than in maxima years, and that the mean 

 temperature is at the same time lower. 



If the connection which this paper tries to prove is 

 found by future researches to be real and not merely 

 accidental, the writer thinks that it should be possible to 

 forecast earthquakes, though he admits the necessity of 

 considering many other factors closely, for example secular 

 contraction, perigee, perihelium, and atmospheric con- 

 ditions, which undoubtedly affect, to a smaller extent 

 than sunspots (the writer thinks), volcanic and seismic 

 phenomena. 



EXHIBITS. 



1. Numerous coloured diagrams and maps illustrating 

 Mr. Maiden's paper on "The Parks of Sydney." 



2. In the absence of the exhibitor (Mr. O. A. Siissmilch) 

 Prof. David described the following specimens: — (a)Beekite 

 on fossil coral (Mucophyllum) from Spring Greek, (b) speci- 

 mens of Lingula gregaria from Devonian rocks at Nyrang 

 Creek. 



3. Prof. David exhibited specimens of " Tinguaite," a 

 rather rare variety of nepheline segirine rock from Barigan 

 near Lue, N. S. Wales, discovered by J. E. Carne, f.g.s., of 

 the Geological Survey of N. S. Wales. 



