Miscellanea. 
77 
The wood of the species of Athrotaxis was very soft and easily 
worked. 
Dr. Grant produced specimens of some small animals from 
King George’s Sound. They are there called Tait or Noolbengar 
by the aborigines, and are found in the trees. 
May 20, 1846. 
Mr. Gunn stated that he had seen a specimen of that beautiful 
pigeon, the Lopholaimus Antarcticus, which had been shot by 
Mr. Brumby at M’Rac’s Hills in the Norfolk Plains district. It 
was the only specimen he had ever seen in the colony, and must 
be a rare visitant. 
Read the Report of the Expedition of Dr. Leichardt from 
Moreton Bay to Port Essington. 
Mr. Gunn exhibited specimens of a very curious species of 
Sphteria, or fungoid caterpillar, found during the last week in 
April by the boys at Mr. W. Id. Hawkes’ Academy, Franklin 
Village, about four miles south of Launceston. It occurred abun¬ 
dantly in a sandy soil at the back of the school, the caterpillar 
having burrowed into the ground to undergo its metamorphosis; 
and whilst underground the fungus became developed, coming up 
through the hole made by the caterpillar in descending, and the 
end of the stipes projecting two to three inches above the surface, 
although the whole length of the fungus varied from five to 
eighteen inches. The extremity of the fungus was of a dark oli¬ 
vaceous black colour, shading off into a yellow, and all the part 
underground was white. The fungus in all instances sprung from 
behind the head of the caterpillar. The upper end of the fungus 
was club-shaped, and usually about half an inch in diameter. 
June 17, 1846. 
Joseph Milligan, Esq., read a paper “ On the Fossil impressions 
found in Shale and Sandstone at Hobart Town; as also on the 
recent formations at Launceston and Hobart Town, and their 
peculiar Fossils”—which he illustrated by numerous specimens. 
An abstract of his paper will appear in the next Number of the 
Tasmanian Journal. 
July 1, 1846. 
Read a paper “ On the occurrence of Trilobites in the Proto- 
zoic rocks of New South Wales. By the Rev. W. B. Clarke, 
M.A., F.G.S., &c.” 
Dr. W. R. Pugh drew the attention of the members to the fact 
that water at the level of his house in Launceston (about fifty 
