618 Analyses of Books. [October, 
or by institutions of learning, or by private collectors, so long as 
they are intended for cabinet specimens and not for use in the 
arts.” Alas that such a petition should be necessary ! 
Mr. Romyn Hitchcock read a paper on the alleged reticulate 
structure of bioplasm (protoplasm or bioplasm), which he con- 
troverted. In the discussion which followed, Mr. A. H. Elliott 
referred to the experiments of Mr. Crookes on radiant matter, and 
enquired whether there were any means of explanation of the 
motions of the granules of living matter analogous to the mole- 
cular motion observed by that investigator. Dr. Schceney re- 
marked that mere molecular motions were simply helped or 
retarded by the different physical forces, but that the agencies 
concerned in the phenomena of life were quite different frorn the 
other cosmic forces. Mr. Hitchcock observed that it had been 
suggested, in regard to the distinction between living and non- 
living matter, that they may differ in the same way as in inor- 
ganic bodies— atoms of the same substance are subjeCt to 
different arrangements — one mode of arrangement being peculiar 
to living matter. 
In a discussion on the determination of organic matter in 
potable water it was remarked that the water of the Dismal 
Swamp was dark in colour and teeming with organic mattei and 
yet was not unhealthful. 
On June 4th, Dr. J. S. Newberry read a paper among othei 
things disproving the theory — adopted by some English savants 
— that an ice-epoch must have been a warmer period than at 
present, with more copious precipitation. 
Papers and Proceedings of the Royal Society of Tasmania for 
1882. Hobart : “ Mercury ” Office. 
In the “ Proceedings ” we find the usual climatological notes. 
The winter seems to have been severe for the latitude. During 
July (16th) snow fell at Hobart to the depth of 2 to 3 inches. 
On August 26th another snowstorm occurred, and on July 29th 
the minimum temperature registered was 21 0 F. ! Even in 
October, when the horse-chestnuts were in flower and the vines 
budding, we find mention of flakes of snow. 
The principal paper inserted is entitled “ General and Critical 
Observations on the Fishes of Tasmania,” by R. M. Johnston, 
F.L.S. The author enumerates 190 species of fish as occurring 
in Tasmania. 
It is remarked that since the use of seine-nets in the Derwent 
