Oct, i, 1885.] The Australasian Scientific Magazine, 115 
PAPERS. 
The following papers were read : — 
1. Iceland and the Icelanders, by T. B. Woollnough. The paper gave 
an interesting description of the country and the inhabitants. 
2. The Split Mosses, Bog Mosses, and Earth Mosses of Tasmania, by 
Mr. R. A. Bastow. The paper was a continuation of a series of Papers on 
Tasmanian Mosses that Mr. Bastow is engaged on. 
3. Descriptions of some Fossil Leaves from Mount Bischoff, by Mr. R. 
M. Johnston, F.L.S. The two new fossil leaf impressions described by Mr. 
Johnston belong to the genera Taxites and Eucalyptus. The former was 
discovered by Mr. Thureau at Mount Bischoff, associated with clays, and in 
drift deposits underlying the basalt sheet formerly referred to in connection 
with the Tertiary Leaf Beds at this place. The species has been named 
Taxites Thureaui , in honour of its discoverer. The locality from whence 
the splendid new specimen of Eucalyptus ( E . Milligani, Johnston) was 
obtained is not known, although supposed to be from Tertiary Leaf Beds 
at Macquarie Harbour, where probably it was discovered by the late Dr. 
Milligan. It is associated with well-known forms in Tasmanian Tertiaries 
belonging to the genera Fagus, Laueus, Cinnamomum, Magnolia, etc. 
EXHIBITS. 
Mr. T. Stephens exhibited a specimen of the Coal which had been found 
at some distance from Longford, on the road leading from that township to 
Launceston, and near Jordan’s Bridge. The existence of coal had been 
suspected in the neighbourhood for the last forty years, but it had been 
left to Mr. Mason, a landed proprietor in the district, to prosecute a. search, 
and he was rewarded by finding a seam which was stated to be four feet in 
thickness. He (Mr. Stephens) thought that these coal measures might be 
traced from near Hadspen to a place where he had reported favourable 
indications many years ago on the North Esk, and eventually to the Fingal 
Valley. The infiltration of water had loosened its texture, and had given 
it a flaky character, and it was that appearance, together with some of the 
surface indications, which led some persons to suppose that it was a lignite 
and not a true coal. It was, however, a true coal, and belonged to the 
same system as all the Southern and Eastern coal measures. There was 
an admixture of sulphide of iron, but not, apparently, in any objectionable 
quantity. The calcite present in the specimen was a point of resemblance 
between this and some of the Jerusalem and Fingal coal. It was not 
likely to prove prejudicial to the use of the coal for ordinary purposes. It 
seemed highly probable that the discovery would be a valuable and im- 
portant one to those persons on whose property it was found. From some 
preliminary investigations, the proprietor had come to the conclusion that 
it rose in an easterly direction, and he was now driving from the lowest 
level that he could find in that direction, so as to strike it on a rise, and 
eventually drain the mine by gravitation. 
Mr. R. M. Johnston remarked that the specimen which had been sent to 
him had rather a ligneous appearance. He had no hesitation, however, in 
saying that he believed it to be good coal, and from the presence of 
Zeugophyllites elon^atus, Fhyllotheca, Tacniopteris , and Sphenopteris, iden- 
tical with species in the coal measures at New Towm and York Plains. 
There was no doubt in his mind that it belonged to the mesozoic coal 
measures. 
The Curator drew attention to two fine specimens of fish that had been 
secured, both new to the Museum, during the month. One of these, the 
