THE NEW AUSTRALIAN MARSUPIAL-LIKE MOLE. 267 



sand backwards, which falls in again behind it as it goes, so that no 

 permanent tunnel is left to mark its course. Again emerging, at 

 some distance, it travels for a few feet upon the surface, and then 

 descends as before. T could hear nothing of its making, or occupying 

 at any time, permanent burrows. Both my informants laid great 

 stress on the phenomenal rapidity with which it can burrow, as 

 observed in both a state of nature and captivity." 



To these notes of Prof. Stirling I may add the remark that this 

 is certainly one of the most extraordinary discoveries in zoology made 

 of late years. Notoryctes typhlops, as shown by Prof. Stirling's full 

 and elaborate description and figures, is unquestionably a new and 

 perfectly isolated form of Marsupial life, and must lie referred to a 

 new section of the order Marsupialia. We must all congratulate 

 Prof. Stirling on his success in bringing before the world such an 

 important novelty. 



MEETINGS OF SOCIETIES. 



OTAGO INSTITUTE. 



D lined in, 13th October, 1891. — Professor Gibbons, President, in 

 the chair. 



New members. — Messrs. Pi. IT. Walcot and I). Harris Hastings. 



CORRESPONDENCE. 



A letter was read from the Lands department intimating that the 

 necessary steps had been taken to set apart Resolution Island as a place 

 for preserving native fauna and flora ; but that no such steps could now 

 be taken regarding Little Barrier Island, as it was not Crown land. 



Mr. A. Morton, secretary of the Australasian Association of 

 Science, wrote stating that it is absolutely necessary that the titles 

 of all papers to be read at the meeting at Hobart should be sent in by 

 the beginning of next month, as the programme is to be printed early 

 in December. 



Paper..— (1) "The History of the Greenstone," by F. R. Chapman. 

 In his introductory remarks, Mr. Chapman said that all present were 

 no doubt familiar with greenstone, which was the material of many of 

 the implements and favourite ornaments of the Maori race, and which 

 was now worked up by lapidaries, and was to be seen in every jeweller's 

 shop in the colony. This stone was specially interesting in that it was 

 found only in two or three places in the world. A similar mineral was 

 found somewhere in Central Asia ; in the great range between China 

 and Tartary, and it was used in China for ornaments, and to some 

 extent for implements, and had found its way at very remote times into 

 Europe. What he had to describe was the greenstone of the Maoris. 

 There had been some correspondence on this subject between Professor 

 Ulrich and a. leading specialist on the subject in Germany, and he (Mr. 



