MEETINGS OF SOCIETIES. 239 



Paper.- -(1) "Introduction to the Study of Sponges," by Dr. A. 

 Dendy, F.L.S. The writer grouped his remarks under the two great 

 divisions of calcareous and non-calcareous sponges, and described in 

 detail tbe anatomy and canal system of various types. The lecture was 

 illustrated by diagrams and many beautiful specimens, so that the 

 subject could be followed quite easily by the uninitiated. 



(2) Messrs Luehmann and French read a note and exhibited the 

 skin of a tree-climbing kangaroo from Northern Queensland, to which 

 they gave the name Dendrolagus Muetteri. This remarkable marsupial 

 has a body about 2 ft. in length, with a tail somewhat exceeding 2 ft. 

 The disproportion between the forelegs and the hind legs is not nearly 

 so great as that of the ordinary kangaroo and wallaby ; the toes are 

 strong and curved, to enable it to climb tall and straight trees, on the 

 leaves of which it exists. This species is more nearly allied to the one 

 which was discovered a few years ago in Queensland than to the two 

 species from New Guinea. The specimen shown was got trom a straight 

 tree, about 90 ft. above the ground. 



Other natural history notes were communicated by Messrs. J. 

 Shephard, F. G. A. Barnard, T. Steel, and E. H. Hennell. 



Specimens were exhibited by Dr. A. Dendy, Mr. C. French, Jun., 

 Rev. W. Fielder, Messrs. L. O. Grundt, R. Hall, J. G. Luehmann, W. 

 Macgillivray, Baron von Mueller, and Mr. J. Shephard. 



ROYAL SOCIETY OF NEW SOUTH WALES. 



Sydney, July 1st, 1891. — H. C. Russell, Esq., Vice-President, in 

 the chair. 



New members. — Messrs. A. Bowman, J. H. Campbell, J. K. 

 Chisholm, G. Clarke, C.E., B. Demstan, J. Gill, F. B. Guthrie, Hon. 

 W. Halliday, M.L.C., C. Hedley, F.L.S., R. Hickson, M. Inst. C.E., 

 C. W. King, T. W. Seaver, A. W. Stillwell, T. Ward, S. C. Watkins, 

 M.R.C.S., F. Wells, M. Inst. C.E., R. A. Wilson, M.D., P. M. Wood, 

 M.R.C.S. 



ABORIGINAL CAVES. 



Mr. W. G. Cox, of Windgidgeon vid Gilgandra, wrote stating that 

 he knew where there was another aboriginal cave similar to one recently 

 described in a Sydney paper. It was situated close to the Munghorn 

 Gap in the Main Dividing Range, on the road from Mudgee to Woollan. 

 Tbe cave is situated in an isolated freestone rock of mammoth size. 

 These caves, he said, were generally known as the " Red-hand Caves," 

 as all the figures represented therein were in a red colour, supposed to 

 have been so coloured with the gum taken from the apple tree. There 

 were also several other caves in Dunn's Mountain, in the dividing 

 range, to the south-east of Rylstone. 



ANTARCTIC EXPLORATION. 



Baron von Mueller, who is taking a very active interest in the 

 question of antarctic exploration, wrote pointing out the need for 

 intending contributors to the exploration fund forwai-ding their con- 

 tributions at once. He stated that an endeavour would be made that 

 the exploration party should start from Sweden in March next year. 



