MEETINGS OF SOCIETIES. — 493 
Wickham Coal Pits, and the Harbour Works near Newcastle. Ata 
depth of 55 feet at Stockton a piece of wood 3 feet long and 1 foot 
thick was also found. 
Dr. Cox remarked that amongst the sub-fossils exhibited by Mr. 
Wilkinson, there was to him one of special interest, he referred to the 
Syphonalia maxima, Tryon. Hitherto this species had only been 
recorded from Tasmania, but he had recently ascertained that it existed 
also on the Victorian Coast near Port Phillip Heads. Dr. Cox con- 
sidered that this sub-fossil tended [to confirm the hypothesis that a 
colder climate prevailed at some not very remote period of this colony. 
The discovery also of Voluta papillosa, and Cyprea umbilicata for 
the first time on our coast by deep sea dredgings, and alive, led Prof. 
Wyville Thompson to conclude that these molluscs had only migrated 
north, following some current of water of the same temperature as these 
species which were found in Tasmania. 
Dr. Lendenfeld stated that he had discovered sensitive and ganglia 
cells in the horny sponges, similar to those which he had observed as 
occurring in calcareous sponges. He gave a short description of these 
cells, which were much larger than the corresponding elements of 
calcareous sponges. 
ROYAL SOCIETY OF NEW SOUTH WALES. 
ANNUAL MEETING. . 
Sydney, 6th May, 1885.-—H. C. Russell, Esq., BA, F.RAS., 
President, in the chair. 
The following is an abstract of the annual report:—The total 
number of members remains the same as last year. 34 new members 
were elected during the year, and one name was restored to the roll; the 
society lost by death seven members, by resignation four, 21 had to be 
struck off the roll for the non-paymens of the annual subscription (for 
two years), the election of three new members was cancelled on account 
of the non-payment of the entrance fee and subscription, making the 
total number of members on the 30th April, 1885, 494. The vacancies 
in the list of honorary members caused by the deaths of Sir F. P. Barlee, 
K.C.M.G., and George Bentham, C.M.G., F.R.S., were filled by the 
election of Sir George Biddell Airy, K.C.B., F.R.S., and Professor John 
Tyndall, D.C.L., F.R.S. During the past year the society has received 
1147 volumes and pamphlets as donations ; in return the Journal has been 
presented to 313 kindred societies and institutions ; during the past year 
the mortgage upon the building has been reduced from £1100 to £900, 
the amount subscribed to the building fund during the year was £24 
14s., and the balance now standing to the credit of the fund in the bank 
is £19 19s. 5d. During the year the society held eight meetings, 
including one special meeting, at which 12 papers were read. The 
microscopical section held eight meetings, and the medical section five. 
At the council meeting held on the 11th December, 1884, it was 
unanimously resolved to award the Clarke medal for the year 1885 to 
Sir Joseph Dalton Hooker, K.C.8.1L, C.B., M.D., D.C.L, LL.D., &c. 
In response to the offer of prizes and its medal by the society, for com- 
munications containing the results of original research or observation 
upon given subjects, the following were received :—On the origin and 
mode of occurrence of gold-bearing veins, and of the associated minerals 
