SCIENTIFIC AND TECHNICAL SOCIETIES. 
Professor H. C. Richards, D.Sc., exhibited a hemispherical pebble of chalcedony 
from near Tripoli at the foot of Lebanon, Syria. The specimen was found 
by Mr. V. G. Harris, a member of the Australian Imperial Force. 
The specimen, which was on@ of many commonly termed “ petrified olives,” is 
hemispherical in shape, and has the appearance of one-half of a biaxial elliptical 
pebble which has been cut in two and polished on the sliced surface. It has 
a diameter of 35 mm. each way and a depth of 15 mm. © The pebble has four 
or five concentric layers of chaleedony forming an outer coating which is about 
5 mm. thick. 
Mr. Warris states that the pebble is in its natural condition, that it was 
found locse on the surface of the ground, that ‘he handled several specimens 
of the same size and shape from the same locality, and saw others further south, 
near Beelah. ; 
The polished surface has the characteristics of a wind-polished surface with 
minor dimples, pits and grooves, as one might expect, and the edges of the 
“polished ” area are quite sharp. ; 
The only feasible explanation that could be offered as to the origin of a 
number of pebbles of this shape is that it formed portion of a conglomerate 
which has, been sheared so as to cut through the pebble, and that the sheared 
surface had been subjected to wind erosion following on which the pebble had 
been weathered out of its matrix. This explanation might hold for an isolated 
pebble, but cannot be offered as the cause of frequent specimens of a similar 
shape in different localities. 
Professor H. J. Priestley, M.A., delivered a lecture entitled “The Einstein 
Theory.” => 
ROYAL SOCIETY OF TASMANIA. 
At the October meeting, Mr. L. Rodway, C.M.G., read a paper on “ Additions 
to the Fungus Flora of Tasmania.” Several new and interesting species of 
fungi were described. The value of the study of botany was dwelt upon by the 
lecturer in his introduction. He pointed out that in any community such as 
Tasmania; where the future largely depends upon agriculture, the study of 
botany was essential. It was to be regretted that up to the present this study 
had been absolutely neglected, even at the University. Independent of the 
injury done by some parasitic fungi to our crops and forests, fungi were of the 
utmost importance to the well-being of the earth. Their principal work consists 
of decomposing dead vegetable matter and bringing the soil into a fit state to 
afford food for plant life. 
Short lecturettes on the subject of “Education for Community Life” were 
given by Messrs, Johnson, Copland, Fletcher, Dechaineux, and Dickenson. 
LINNEAN SOCIETY OF NEW SOUTH WALES. 
: . Papers Reap. 
At the November meeting the following papers were read:— 
1. A revision of the Chiromyzini (Diptera). By G. H. Hardy. 
A study of the genus Metoponia and its allies, following on Miss Irwin 
Smith’s study of the larva of M. rubriceps Macquart. Attention is drawn to the 
fact that various genera hitherto proposed were founded on venation characters 
in accordance with the usual custom of grouping the Stratiomyiida, but it is 
pointed out that such a treatment is impossible with the species dealt with in 
this paper, and also that it will hyve to be abandoned as a main factor in 
grouping other species of Stratiomylidw before a natural classification of the 
family can be attained. : ai : 
2. Some new Brachiopods from the Middle Paleozoic Rocks of New South 
Wales. By John Mitchell. : ? 
From rocks of Upper Silurian age at Bowning, Hatton’s Corner, and near 
Molong, one genus and four species are described as new; Retzia salteri is 
; 697 
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