406 Proceedings of the 



ish-black colour, externally earthy, but when broken across 

 exhibit generally a glossy lustre, somewhat resembling the 

 fracture of jet. They burn easily* with a considerable flame, 

 and emit a vapour of a harsh bituminous odour. From a rough 

 trial, much gas is yielded during combustion. Lignite has 

 also been found in other parts of Australia ; and, being so 

 abundant at Ballarat, might be applied to various economic 

 purposes in public works, though its disagreeable odour would 

 render it objectionable for domestic use. A portion of it was 

 examined microscopically by Mr A. Bryson, who ascertained 

 it to be an Araucarian conifer ; and he thinks it probable that 

 it belongs to a more recent flora than those found in a silicified 

 state, which appear to be of the Tertiary period, thus indicat- 

 ing that in all probability the strata covering these lignites 

 are of the older volcanic rocks. It is somewhat remarkable that 

 trees analogous to the Araucarian pine predominated during 

 almost every vegetable era. Thus the huge trunks of Craig- 

 leith and Granton in the coal formation, the fossil trunks of 

 the Lias and other secondary periods, and the lignites of the 

 continent of Europe, and Devonshire, with many of the silici- 

 fied woods of Saxony, Egypt, Antigua, Australia, and Van 

 Dieman's Land, are believed to be principally Araucarian. 



Mr Oliphant also exhibited a number of specimens of recent 

 woods from Australia, some of which seemed well adapted for 

 manufacturing purposes, being beautifully grained, and sus- 

 ceptible of a high polish. 



III. Entomological Notes for 1857. 



1. Lepidoptera. By R. F. Logan, Esq. 



2. Coleoptera. By Andrew Wilson, Esq. 



(Numerous specimens were exhibited.) 



1. Lepidoptera. 

 It has again become my duty to report on the proceedings 

 of the Entomological Committee during the year that has just 

 passed over our heads ; and I do so with the consciousness 

 that we have accomplished very little in one of the finest sea- 

 sons, perhaps, that entomologists have ever known in this 

 country. It is long since we have had a season in which the 

 average temperature has been so high, accompanied during 



