MEETINGS OF SOCIETIES. 337 
W. L. Boyes, leads one to hope that many new forms from these 
imperfectly investigated regions will soon be added to our list of 
Tasmanian fishes. 
Dr. Agnew said the Council had a sum of money which was 
intended to be set apart for a memorial to the late Mr. Morton 
Allport. The Council had some difficulty in which way the money 
should be laid out ; but it was thought that a small library, includ- 
ing all the latest works on fishes, to be called the Morton Allport 
Library, would be an appropriate and fitting memorial to the 
memory of their late friend. 
3. * Tentative List of Navigators who visited Van Diemen’s 
Land prior to September 1803,” by J. R. McClymont, M.A. 
4. **C£stvus ovis, or Gadfly of the Sheep,” by A. Morton, 
curator of the Museum.—A tew notes on the introduction of what 
I am led to believe to be a new grub or fly to Tasmania, may be 
of some use to the Fellows of the Royal Society. The. above 
insect, I find, is not of any recent date, but is spoken of by a 
learned physician, Alexander Trallien, in the year 560, They are 
well known in Europe, and have been met with at times in the 
Australian Colonies. About 10 days ago Mr. Maddox, who is 
connected with a butchering establishment in this city, brought 
me ina grub that is on the table, saying that in cutting open a 
sheep’s head, near the brain, he found this grub. The sheep it 
was taken trom was one recently introduced from the neighbour- 
ing Colonies: in none of the Tasmanian sheep, he states, has he 
found anything like this. Several other gentlemen connected with 
‘sheep in this Colony have also expressed similar opinions. On 
examination, and referring to some works on the disease of 
sheep, I find it to be the Estrus ovis, or gadfly. of the sheep, 
so named from its larve inhabiting the nostrils or frontal 
sinuses of sheep in particular, although it has occasionally 
been found in goats and deer. In Europe, it assumes its 
pertect winged form in some uncertain period trom May to July; 
it then becomes an intolerable nuisance to the sheep, especially in 
woody countries and in the neighbourhood of copses—so much so 
that if only one fly appears, the whole flock is in the greatest 
agitation. The larva or grub is composed of to or II rings; 
when young it is perfectly white, with the exception of two small 
_ brown patches by the side of each other at its tail. At some time 
about the middle ot July these larve have attained their full 
growth, and seek to escape from their prison. While this is 
taking place great annoyance is caused to the sheep, which con- 
tinually stamp their feet and sneeze violently. It is stated that the 
exit of the grub is seldom seen, owing probably to the impatience 
of the sheep. Very rarely are more than three of these larve found 
in a sheep’s head; some instances have, however, been quoted 
where a head has contained nearly a dozen. M, Valisnieri, a 
French naturalist, states that a worm which he took on July the 
5th underwent its final change at the expiration of 40 days, but 63 
days passed betore one which he found in April became a perfect 
fly. The fly is considerably smaller than the size of the larve 
would indicate, the length of the wings being nearly equal to that 
of the body, which they almost entirely cover; they are described 
as being prettily striped and marked. It is a singular fact that 
