MEETINGS OF SOCIETIES. 177 
favoured this theory. In regard to Lake Tekapo, the terrace on 
which the remains were found was about 12 to 14 feet above the 
surface of the water; but he did not think this lake was cutting 
down its level at nearly the rate of many other of the Alpine lakes. 
There could, however, be little doubt as to the contemporaneity of 
Moas with the human inhabitants of these islands, and he thought 
that while their extinction was due partly to the destructive fires 
which swept over the open country, it was also perhaps aided by 
the climatic differences which prevailed between the comparatively 
dry east coast, as compared with the humid forests of the west. 
The Chairman announced that on Saturday evening, June 14, 
the first of a series of three popular lectures on ‘“‘ The Physiology 
of the Senses ”’ would be delivered by Professor Scott, to be fol- 
lowed next month by a course of three lectures on ‘‘ The Psycho- 
logy of the Senses” by Professor Macgregor. 
BIN NHAN SOCIETY,.OF NEW : SOUTH, WALES. 
Sydney, 30th April, 1884.—Dr. James C. Cox, F.L.S.,, Vice- 
President, in the chair. 
New member—M. Harrison, Esq. 
Papers—1. ‘‘ On the preservation of tender Marine Animals,” 
by R. von Lendenfeld, Ph.D. 
Betore placing Meduse, Actiniz, and other delicate organisms 
into spirits it is necessary to treat them with poisonous chemical 
substances so as to harden the tissue and prevent the whole trom 
shrinking. The methods employed for this purpose are described. 
It is often difficult to keep animals expanded ; warmth and instan- 
taneous poisoning are recommended for attaining this end. 
220° the Scyphomeduse of the Southern: Hemisphere,’ Part 
fie by RK. von Lendenfeld, Ph.D. 
The numerous large jelly-fish belonging to the Family Dis- 
comedusidz, which have been described from the Southern Hemis- 
phere, are referred to, and short diagnoses, together with com- 
plete references, are given of every southern species. The classi- 
fication used is that of Heckel. The Medusz studied by Dr. Len- 
denfeld, three of which are introduced to science in this paper, are 
described more minutely. The number of species of Discomedu- 
side found was: Adelaide, 1; Port Phillip, 3; Lyttelton, 1; Port 
Jackson, 3. Five of these were described by the author for the 
first time. 
3. ** Note on the development of the Versuride.” by R. von 
Lendenfeld, Ph.D. 
The family of the Versuride, comprising large Rhizostomous 
Medusz, is comparatively rare in the Northern Hemisphere. The 
development has only quite recently been described by Claus, who 
studied the Mediterranean Cakilovliza. Dr. Lendenfeld has been 
successful in obtaining several young stages of the spotted brown 
blubber, which he has named Stilorvhiza punctata, and he has found 
its development very different from anything that has been observed 
hitherto. The eight marginal bodies (organs ot sense) in the prin- 
cipal radii of the first and second order exist in the young larva. 
But besides these the larva possesses a greater number of similar 
marginal bodies which become less in number with increasing age. 
Firstly there are 24, then 16, and finally 8. But the umbrella mar- 
