244 JOURNAL OF SCIENCE. 
true Horn-sponge, a Hircinia, with flesh-spicules. Now the author 
is enabled to prove his hypothesis by further discoveries, which he 
made during the investigation of the numerous and valuable 
sponges of Port Jackson. He found, namely, three species pos- 
sessing ‘ flesh-spicules,’’ which according to the structure of their 
fibrous skeleton, should be placed in the Families of the Horn- 
sponges, 
6. Note on the slimy coating of certain Boltenias in Port Jack- 
son. By R. von Lendenfeld, Ph. D. 
Some solitary Ascidians, similar to the ordinary Boltenia aus- 
tvalis which grows close to low tide mark, but which are touud in 
deep water exclusively, are covered with a very slippery slime, an 
occurrence without precedent in Ascidians. This slime was in- 
vestigated by the author, and found to consist of a thick layer ot 
ova in their follicula-capsules. The slime is supposed to be 
tormed by the cylindrical cells of the folliculz. 
7. Report on the Australian Echinodermata, exhibited at the 
Fisheries Exhibition, London. By F. Jeffrey Bell, M.A., &c. 
This paper was communicated and read by E. P. Ramsay, 
F.L.S., &c. It contains a list of all the named species in the 
collection sent to London, viz., 10 species of the class Cvinoidea ; 
12 of the Asteroidea, 19 of the Ophiurioidea, and 30 of the Echimoidea, 
with critical notes, &c. 
Mr. Macleay exhibited for Mr Wilkinson a very peculiar conical 
stone implement, found by Mr. A. G. Brook, of Gondoblui Station, 
embedded in the soil on the plains near the Queensland border, 
between the Narran and Barwon Rivers. The note accompanying 
the exhibit states that there are no rocks near that locality, and 
that the old aboriginals of the district know nothing aboutit. The 
stone is composed ot a soft fine white sandstone, is of conical form, 
1g inches in length, and four inches in diameter in the middle; the 
surface presents a smooth worn appearance. Dr, Cox suggested 
that it had probably been used for grinding nardoo, and that view 
seemed to receive most favour, though a number of different 
opinions were expressed. 
Dr. Cox exhibited a cluster of mud oysters, some of them 
measuring seven inches long by six broad, from Eden, Twofold 
Bay. It was unusual to find this kind of oyster attached either 
to others of its kind, as in this instance, or to rocks, Formerly 
this species, judging from the number of the shells found in the 
cooking ovens at the camps of the natives along our shores, was 
very abundant, but is now fast disappearing. Although growing 
in abundance to the south, this oyster is never likely to become a 
marketable commodity, owing to the fact that it will not live 
beyond twenty-four hours out of the water. 
E, P. Ramsay, F.L.S., &c., exhibited on behalf of Mr. A. 
Campbell, of Melbourne, a specimen of Pachycephala rufogularis 
(Gould), in a remarkable rutescent state of plumage. The whole 
ofthe head, fore and hind neck, chest, sides, and centre of the 
abdomen, were of a rich rust red, the interscapular region, rump, 
wing coverts and secondaries, washed with the same colour. The 
specimen was shot near Melbourne some months ago, in company 
with another of apparently the same plumage. 
