xxiv 



Proceedings, 



venting it from becoming too tenacious to admit a due amount of 

 oxygen to the roots of the plant. As to other details referred to in 

 Mr. Hodgkinson's paper with regard to the vine, Mr. Wekey said 

 that having already given his opinion elsewhere in vather a wholesale 

 way on this subject, he did not think it necessary to enter into 

 details on this occasion. In concluding, he mentioned, as his opinion, 

 that in places referred to by Mr. Hodgkinson, if due care be taken 

 in selecting a sheltered site, a very much superior wine may be 

 grown than in Brighton and the coast line, where the rapid 

 changes of temperature and high winds act as a great drawback 

 to obtain the object aimed at by some cultivators. 



Dr. Maund agreed with Mr. Wekey, as to the importance of 

 oxygen being admitted to the roots of the plant, as most conducive 

 to forward its growth. 



A meteorological table, by Mr. Smyth, of the climatology of the 

 month of June was laid before the meeting. The following is an 

 abstract of the principal observations : — 



Eainfall, in inches ... ... ... ... 1*84 



Evaporation (still water exposed to the sun and air) 2'27 

 Lowest temperature on the morning of the 12th 

 June, when snow was seen on the Dandcnong 



Ranges ... ... ...^ ... ... 35^ 



Highest temperature on the evening of 1st June ... 65 



Mean temperature of month ... ... ... 50*3 



Mr. Blandowski exhibited several natural history specimens 

 recently obtained for the Museum, viz. : — 



A new species of bush rat, nearly allied to Perameles Ohesuda. Lo- 

 cality — near Melbourne. 

 New species of bush mouse. M'lvor. 



The Australian pipit, generally called the Australian lark, Anthus 

 Australis. Locality- — near Melbourne. 



Small sized Australian lark, from Hobson's Bay. 



The whistling lark of the colonists, nearly allied to Gincloramphus 

 rufescens, Arthur's Seat. 



A variety of large sized sponges, from Port Alberton. 



Boxes of minerals, containing rare specimens from the basalt forma- 

 tion of Victoria, viz. :— Analzime, zeolites, wax opal, tripoly, 

 calkspar, magnesite, phonolite, the last being the stone from 

 which the natives prepare their tomahawks. 



Among the specimens exhibited were some highly interesting 

 fossil remains, obtained from Creswick's Creek, and forwarded by 

 the President of the society, the Surveyor-General. 



Mr, Kentish stated that many persons lived at a distance from 

 town, and it would be a great convenience if their evenings of 

 meeting were to be as near the period of full moon as possible. 



Mr. Gibbons said, that the plan pursued by the late Victorian 

 Institute was to hold their meetings on the first Thursday in each 

 month, which generally occurred at a time when the moon was 

 nearly full. 



