QUEENSLAND PHILOSOPHICAL SOCIETY. 
The annual meeting of this society was held 
on Thursday evening, January 25. Sir James 
Cockle, F.R.S., presided, and the following 
members were present : — Messrs. J. K, Handy, 
W. Pettigrew, B. L. Barnett, H. Starke, S. W. 
Griffith, A. Raff, C. S. Mein, S. Diggles, J. S. 
Gray, Dr. Bancroft, and Captain O’Reilly. Two 
visitors were also present. 
After the transaction of the ordinary business, 
the secretary read the following report of the 
society’s proceedings for 1871 : — 
“ During the past year the meetings of this 
society have been regularly held, and though 
few papers have been read by the members, 
various scientific matters have been introduced, 
and made the subject of interesting and animated 
discussion. Among these may be mentioned 
Mr. Diggles’ observations on the newly natu- 
ralised insect, Danais Archippus, a very hand- 
some butterfly, indigenous to America, and now 
the most common and widely distributed of any 
of the beautiful family to which it belongs in 
Queensland. Mr. Diggles, in the course of his 
remarks, was led (from the facility shown by 
this insect in adapting itself to its new habitat) 
to suggest that attempts should be made to 
introduce other fine species of the family whioh, 
like it, feed only upon plants of no economical 
value. This species was common throughout 
the winter about Brisbane, and all the northern 
portions of the colony. 
“ Dr. Bancroft directed attention to the valu- 
able bitter bark obtained from the Alstonia 
constricta, and exhibited the active principle, 
which is a body similar to quinine, but differing 
in its crystalline form and reaction with tests. 
He had visited the hills near Dalby on which 
the tree grows, and from the experiments he 
had made, believed the bark would prove a 
most valuable antiperiodic and tonic. 
“ Amongst the various observations of inte- 
rest, it was shown that the jarra wood of 
Western Australia, which was supposed to resist 
the attacks of the Teredo navalis, commonly 
known as the cobra, was in no respect better 
than many other hardwoods of these colonies, 
specimens taken from the hull of the Francis 
Cadell being exhibited which were completely 
riddled. 
** The society having published the letter re- 
ceived from Professor Max Muller concerning 
the importance of collecting vocabularies of the 
languages of the aborigines of Australia, Mrs. 
Barlow contributed a valuable list of words 
used by the natives of the Lower Condamine. 
“The Vice-President (Chas. Coxen, Esq.) 
still continues his useful labor in setting up the 
valuable specimens of birds for the society’s 
museum. The fine collection of shells belong- 
ing to that gentleman still continue to adorn 
the society’s room. 
“ At the request of the Government the 
society handed over the principal portion of the 
geological collection, consisting of minerals and 
fossils. They are now classified and arranged 
in glass cases in two rooms of the Parliamentary 
Buildings. These rooms are by no means well 
adapted for the suitable display of the speci- 
mens. 
“ The society have brought the subject of a 
museum before Government by a deputation 
which waited upon the Minister for Works. 
On that occasion they endeavored to point out 
the necessity for a building, and the advantages 
of the original site for its erection — in the un- 
used space of the Botanic Gardens near the 
guard-house. The plans submitted to the 
deputation were deemed suitable, being elegant 
in design and capable of erection at a moderate 
cost, and also having the valuable qualification 
of capability of addition to any extent. It is 
to be regretted that no step has yet been taken 
to establish a general museum in Brisbane, and 
that only a mineral collection is open to inspec- 
tion, as a considerable amount has been spent 
which might have aided in furthering the erec- 
tion of a general museum. The deputation 
informed the Minister for Works that on such 
a building being provided they were prepared 
to remove to it their collections of other objects 
of interest. They also intimated their full convic- 
tion that on its becoming known that there was 
a suitable building erected contributions now 
often lost would be secured to the colony.” 
Upon the motion of Mr. Pettigbew, se- 
conded by Mr. A. Raff, the report was adopted. 
The society then proceeded to the election of 
office-bearers for the current year. 
