MEETINGS ©OF SOCIETIES. 231 
the specific name pezrzez must be dropped; with regard to the 
genus I am somewhat uncertain, but as I am by no means sure 
of the generic importance of the characters by which Megamera 
is distinguishhed from J/cera, I prefer to place the species 
under Mara, as Mr. Thomson has done. The only point in 
which the descriptions of the two species really differ is with re- 
gard to the length ofthe superior antenne. Mra petrier is given 
as having the superior antenne “as long as body,” while that 
of Megamera sub-carinata is “nearly as long as the cephalon 
and pereion” ; the length of the antenne is however variable in 
this asin many other species of the Amphipoda. I have Loth 
male and female specimens from Sydney, the females resembling 
those from Lyttelton Harbour and described in the “ Transac- 
tions of the N. Z. Institute” Vol. XV., p. 82. Curiously enough 
the males agree with those described by Mr. Thomson from 
Stewart Island, and differ from my Lyttelton specimens in hav- 
ing “the whole lower surface (of the propodos of the posterior 
enathopoda) very densely fringed with two rows of long simple 
hairs.” These hairs which are of the same size throughout their 
whole length, and thus differ from the ordinary setz tound in 
this genus, are entirely absent in the Lyttelton specimens. An 
interesting question thus arises, but for the present must remain 
unanswered—What is the function of these hairs, and why should 
specimens from Sydney and Stewart Island have them, while 
those from Lyttelton have not ? 
CHARLES CHILTON. 
Ree PINGS “OF SOCIETIES. 
a 
hOvaAr sOCiIELY OF. EASMANIA. 
Hobart, June 9, 1884.—His Honour Mr. Justice Dobson in the 
chair. . 
New members—Rev. J. B. W. Woollnough, Messrs. A. Park 
and G. Hinsby. 
The Hon. Secretary (Dr. Agnew) brought forward the usual 
returns. 
Papers—1. ‘‘ Results ofa critical examination of the mollusca 
of the older tertiary of Tasmania.” 
2. “ Descriptions of some new fossil mollusca, from Table Cape,” 
3. “On the community of species of aquatic pulmonate snails 
between Australia and Tasmania.” All three by Professor R. 
Tate, F.G.S., F.L.S., &c., of Adelaide. 
4. ‘Additions to the list of Table Cape fossils, together with 
further remarks upon certain fossil shells supposed to be identical 
with living species.” 
5. ‘Notes on a fossil (Cypmis alburyana), from Geilston.” 
6. ‘* Description of a new species of Vitrina, from the Travertin 
Beds, Geilston.” All three by Mr. R. M. Johnston, F.L.S. 
7. ** Notes on boring operations in search of coal in Tasmania,” 
me Med Stephens, F.G.S. 
