MEETINGS OF SOCIETIES. 403 
S. Africa to S. America, and so northwards even to Japan. It is how- 
ever principally Australian, and has for its metropolis the extra-tropical 
districts cf the western coast. Next in richness and variety of forms 
comes New South Wales, the countries to the north and south showing 
a very rapid diminution in the number of species. The Australian 
distribution of the order is further discussed, and the economic value of 
certain species is pointed out. 
(7) ‘**On a New Snake from the Barrier Ranges,’ by William 
Macleay, F.L.S., &. The description is here given of a species of 
Furina to which the specific name of ramsayi is affixed. Some 
specimens of it were exhibited, as well as specimens of Vermicella, 
Typhlops, and Delma, from the same locality. 
Sydney, 25th February, 1885.—Professor W. J. Stephens, M.A., 
F.G.S., President, in the chair. 
New Members.—-Mr. Ogilby, Australian Museum, and Dr. 
Coppinger, H.M.S. Nelson. 
Papers.—(1) * On some Reptiles from the Herbert River District, 
Queensland,” by William Macleay, F.L.8., &. Five new species are 
here described, Hinulia picta, and Tetradactylus guttulatus of the 
Family Scincide, and of Ophidians Nardoa crassa, Tropidonotus ater 
and Hoplocephalus assimilis. 
(2) “ Notes on certain Ceylonese Coleoptera, described by the late 
Francis Walker,” by A. Sydney Olliff, Ksq. In these notes Mr. Olliff, 
who had examined Mr. Walker’s types in the British Museum, 
endeavours to clear up the synonymy of the Clavicorn Families. The 
name Asana was proposed for TZrogosita rhyzophagoides of Walker, 
which cannot be referred to any known genus. In form it resembles 
Lipaspis, but is characterized by the presence of a scutellum. 
(3) “On the Flight of Birds,” by R. von Lendenfeld, Ph.D. In 
this paper the author comments on the recent ingenious conclusions of 
Miillenhaff, and also gives an explanation of the mode in which birds 
like Vultures circling in the air, can rise without flapping their wings. 
Mr. C. 8. Wilkinson exhibited some Fossil Bones which had been 
recently obtained from the coral sand rock on Lord Howe Island. 
Amongst them was an almost complete skull somewhat resembling that 
of the Horned Lizard Megalania prisca, from the Pleistocene deposits on 
the Darling Downs, Queensland. 
Mr. Wilkinson also exhibited specimens of shells of oysters found 
in the beds of clay and sand at a depth of 40 feet below the surface, in 
sinking the new shaft of the Bullock Island and Wickham Coal Com- 
pany, near Newcastle. Mr. Brazier identified this oyster, which must 
have been 12 inches in length, as a large form of the Ostrea edulis. 
Dr. J. Cox exhibited other specimens of the Ostrea edulis from 
Port Jackson, and found firmly attached to a bottle. He pointed out 
the great difference between this oyster, which will not keep for more 
than a day, and the English native oyster, and suggested that they are 
of separate species. Mr. E. P. Ramsay mentioned that the same oyster 
