102 Notices of Books . [January, 
by S. H. Wintle, on the “ Stanniferous Deposits of Tasmania.” 
In this island tin appears to be abundant. In Mount Bischoff, 
Mount Ramsay, Wombat Hill, Mount Housetop, and in a variety 
of other localities, it occurs chiefly as ruby tin-ore. Bismuth is 
also found in Mount Ramsay, in a lode from 30 to 40 feet in width, 
which has been traced to a considerable distance. Wolfram, 
chrome-iron, titaniferous iron-sand, carbonate and sulphide of 
copper, appear also to abound. The climate and the face of the 
country offer considerable obstacles to the exploitation of these 
mineral treasures. At Mount Bischoff it is said to rain nine 
months in the year, and the forests are dense, dark, and compact 
to a degree almost unexampled. “ The moisture is sufficient to 
render the country a fit habitation for a species of land lobster, 
whose circular mud-built walls and burrows are found every- 
where.” 
Prof. Liversidge communicates a most valuable memoir on the 
“ Minerals of New South Wales,” which will be highly prized 
both by scientific mineralogists and by technologists. 
The remaining pages in the volume are of less general inte- 
rest. It is to be hoped that the Society will persevere in labouring 
upon the rich harvest-field of faCts spread out before it. It has 
only to make use of its opportunities to win a high standing for 
“ Transactions,” and earn the gratitude of scientific men 
throughout the globe. 
Journal of the Royal Society of New South Wales. 1876. 
Vol. x. Edited by A. Liversidge. Sydney : C. Potter. 
The Anniversary Address, delivered by the Rev. W. B. Clarke, 
Vice-President, contains some useful remarks on the necessity 
of Specialism in Science, and especially in what he rightly con- 
siders the chief function of the Society — the study of the Physical 
History of Australia. 
In a paper on the “ Origin and Migrations of the Polynesian 
Nation,” by the Rev. Dr. Lang, the author maintains that the 
Polynesian nation is of Asiatic origin and of Malayan race, and 
was separated from the rest of mankind at a period of the ear- 
liest antiquity ; that spreading gradually over the Pacific Islands 
they reached Easter Island, and from thence the western coast 
of South America, whence they gradually became scattered over 
all the western continent. 
An essay on “Meteorological Periodicity,” by the Government 
Astronomer, Mr. H. C. Russell, is exceedingly interesting. The 
author examines the various periods or cycles which have been 
put forward by meteorologists. He mentions that in Tasmania 
a biennial cycle, consisting of a wet and a dry year alternately, 
was traced and found to recur regularly for about twenty-five 
