318 
Minutes of the Tasmanian Society . 
Mr. Gunn also exhibited, with a view to their analysis, a beautiful 
mineral salt from Lake Carangamite, Port Phillip, which is sold at Gee¬ 
long at thirty shillings per ton, but it is asserted that meat pickled with 
it has not kept well; and a black sand from the beach at Port Phillip, the 
specific gravity of which was only 1.3, and which was only slightly 
magnetic. 
September 27, 1844. 
J. R. Kenworthy and W. Paton, Esqrs.,were elected members. 
Read a paper “ On some fossil Bones discovered at Mount Macedon, 
Port Phillip, by Dr. Edmund C. Hobson.” (Printed at page 208, vol ii. 
of the Tasmanian Journal.) 
Read “ Observations on the heaps of recent shells which exist along 
the shores of Tasmania,” by Mr. Ronald C. Gunn, The author ob¬ 
serves that the immense quantities of marine shells formed into mounds 
of considerable size, and in many places becoming rapidly mixed with 
the soil, .along the shores of the colony, were collected by the aborigines, 
who subsisted principally upon shcll-fisli when living on the coasts. 
The shells are principally species of Mussel, Oyster, Haliotis, Turbo, 
Patella, Fasciolaria, Cardium, and some smaller species. These are so 
abundant in some places, as to give rise to the idea that they arc raised 
beaches; and the object of the author, in writing the present paper, was 
to remove that impression. 
Mr. James Grant exhibited a specimen of a species of Coot, which he be¬ 
lieved to be new, and which is very rare. He called it Fulica Tasmanica. 
Mr. Ronald C. Gunn exhibited specimens of the bark of Marquisia 
Billardieri , and suggested that perhaps the bark of this shrub, as also 
that of the Coprosmee, so abundant in the colony, might possess some of 
the properties of the Cinchona, to which they were allied. The bark of 
Marquisia tasted somewhat similar to that of Cinchona. 
It was resolved, that in future the members should meet the first Wed¬ 
nesday in every month. 
November G, 1844. 
Read “ Account of an Earthquake at Flinders’ Island, 18th August, 
1841; with additional observations, by Joseph Milligan, Esq.” No 
shock was felt at Launceston, and it does not appear that any unusual 
disturbance was observed at the Magnetic Observatory, Hobart Town. 
