xl. ABSTRACT OF PROCEEDINGS. 



contains both gold and one or more of the platinum metals; 

 these metals do not appear to be uniformly diffused through 

 the meteorite, for some parts apparently contain a much 

 larger proportion than others. The meteoric iron was dis- 

 solved in hydrochloric acid, the usual black carbonaceous 

 residue was then ignited and afterwards ground in an agate 

 mortar. On washing off the lighter powder the metals are 

 seen as lustrous yellow and silvery spangles ; by means of 

 a needle these can for the most part be picked up and 

 separated. The first few white metallic spangles obtained 

 were insoluble in a mixture of nitric acid and hydrochloric 

 acids when warmed and evaporated to dryness on a micro- 

 scope slide (the tests were at first applied under the micro- 

 scope) and it looked as if the white spangles consisted 

 solely of iridium metals, insoluble in nitrohydrochloric acid, 

 but afterwards it was found that another portion of the 

 meteorite yielded a larger quantity of them and this treated 

 with a larger volume of aqua regia dissolved. Both gold 

 and platinum were separated from the solution by the usual 

 wet methods ; iridium and other metals of this group are 

 probably present. The amount of the platinum metals in 

 the Boogaldi meteorite is comparatively large, being at 

 the rate of several ounces per ton; details will be found in 

 the paper. 



Remarks were made by Mr. J. H. Maiden and Dr. Walter 

 Spencer. 

 5. "Is Eucalyptus variable?" by J. H. Maiden, Director, 



Botanic Gardens, Sydney; Government Botanist of 



New South Wales. 



SYNOPSIS :— 



I. The variability of characters considered seriatim. 



II. Has variation in Eucalyptus now ceased ? 



III. Some studies in variation. 



IV. Mannas, Kinos, Oils, etc., are non-essential or adaptive characters and 



examination of them must be simply looked upon as aids to 

 diagnosis. 



