HARVARD UNIVERSITY. ES AR yy OF THE MUSEUM OF COMPARATIVE ZOOLOGY. aes Nekpber IS-185- pal eLearners Pad Tie ys Os ae j : ’ ‘ On ' 7. ? ‘ f » ne * o* Moy ee A ra , ; se ; yi 4 i , \ BN, oat ' 4 a", ' ‘ At t - M i M -¢ , j ¥ ~ bd \ re, cain | | dLeleletaletalalatalatataatal PEOoEEU ii! | | ? TRANSACTIONS AND PROGEEDINGS: ‘ | 725 [ime | : REPRO RT ROYAL SOCIETY of SOUTH AUSTRALIA. OY EDs BE eo NE ap (FOR 1883-84.) Sa Pia ants ane ae Hay olaide : G. ROBERTSON, 103, KING WILLIAM STREET. Parcels for transmission to ues aor of ae Aus- =| tralia, from Europe and America, should be addressed *‘ per |& = W.C. Rigby, care Messrs. Thos. Meadows & Co., 35, Milk = XK NWite es Street, Cheapside, London.” | Sa fem acer eee) Webb, Vardon, & Pritenard, Printers, Adelaide. TRANSAUTIUNS AND PROCEEDINGS AND 1 A Gan Oe he CF THE ROYAL SOGIETY of SOUTH AUSTRALIA. es 2 Eh Bape ie (FOR 1883-84.) Adelaide : G. ROBERTSON, 103, KING WILLIAM STREET. 1885. Parcels for transmission to the Royal Society of South Aus-: tralia, from Europe and America, should be addressed ‘‘ per Wr. C. Rigby, care Messrs. Thos. Meadows & Co., 35, Milk Street, Cheapside, London.” " Ropal Society of South Australia. Patron : HER MAJESTY THE QUEEN. Gice-Datron: HIS EXCELLENCY SIR WILLIAM ROBINSON, K.C.M.G., C.B., &. OPP ie HRS. [ELEcTED OcToBER 7, 1884.] President : PROF. H. LAMB, M.A., F.B.S. Gice-Dresidents : H. C. MAIS, Eso., M.LC.E. H. T. WHITTELL, Eso,, M.D. (Representative Governor). Hon. Creasurer : Hon. Secretarp : WALTER RUTT, Eso, C.E. | W. L. CLELAND, Ese., M.B. Other Members of Council : WALTER HOWCHIN, Eso., F.G.S.| D. B. ADAMSON, Esa. (Editor) CHAS. TODD, C.M.G. W. E. PICKELS, Esa., F.R.M.S. W. HAACKE, Esoa., Ph.D. R. L. MESTAYER, Esa., C.E. Assistant Secretary : MR. A. MOLINEUX. C ORE NEES: Bk PAGE. James Stirling: Notes on a Geological Sketch-Section ati the Australian Alps (plates i. and ii. Ne is : ets Samuel Dixon: Notes on the supposed Coal-beds of the Fitzgerald River 9 E. Meyrick: List of South Australian Micro-Lepidoptera ae 10 Clement L. Wragge: Remarks on the ‘‘ Red Glow” on fe Se alt Professor R. Tate: Notes on the Physical and Geological Features of the Basin of the Lower Murray River (plate iii.) .. 24 J.G. O. Tepper: A Rare and Curious Hemipterous Insect (plate iii.s) 47 J.G. O. Tepper: A Beautiful and Rare Beetle (plate iii.a) 48 J. G. O. Tepper: Plants of Kangaroo Island 50 Charles H Harris: Variation of the Compass in South Australia (Abridged) .. ve ee os a 54 W. A. Jones: Notes on the Crepuscular Glimmer, or Red Glow 56 Professor R. Tate: Description of New Species of South Australian Plants oy a * ae ae A : 67 Professor R. Tate: Additions to the Flora of Extra-Tropical South Australia ; ee ete Bo are a: 46 a 42 MISCELLANEA. Botany: Botanical Notes by Professor R. Tate: Additions to the Flora, Additional Localities for Plants, &ec. . ate is oe ote Ck Breviocrapuicant Notices: 1. Fossils from Mount Hamilton and Peak. 2. Cretaceous Fossils from Queensland. 3. Trilobites from South Australia .. ae AG 56 S64 a ~E on! tO Abstract of Proceedings we R0 sts we ae 4s Sieg pb President’s Address ee ee ee ee ee ee ee ee 85 Donations to the Library .. os oe oe oe oe -- 102 List of Fellows, Members, &c. re a ee “A oe «#108 APPENDIX. Transactions of Field Naturalists’ Section .. ee oe ws « 212 : ae *. d oe te 3 . ye) 4 atadg} mee : wah a parerds | soivest- feat i ine Hpetess) Aas SSG GB 4 uy at Mprayat ony t te alien fies Peresqucely a ee eienyobs ia: © ine weitere Dah diod t Fei: ‘ . ae ate ; ae ts cast oii G-eR iit FO cee 1. Sa PORDAS RE: | ; Hf + ‘ . We a a Ye. aly i eo z Lpras tis Hes) aaa oT Lip a? Ae | Mis Wwe -aart ston ee we! ; eS) ie ee wh LJlC Shs: Tov k vet es “2h9rGu an SS art ote: . ‘ @ Gh © (435i alain) toseal sao arain) oe wait cD. = 7 7 < ; mT ee { siz ‘ - as aoe : kay: Be brs aay oP ox ... (iulitadely) eiteiiiardt® foe Telit tls , st luvlal oiienina teal ans ctf iy pee bP 2a nitabta ** ** -* as ** 4 . y : = . Pe | eae ‘ , i a‘n {>}. 79 TOPE A? SONG aPteye) sii? Ho $3 ae # - a ea 7 ‘ ° hae, oe ; ; a Sage: heya. Br. oh ba a hes! mits 44 sisal ee. Ty 2 va = = His beet En. ln. pea ortk 6b gaia “* -* #4 -* ** + * * -* ay 2 * Ss ; a Sth Preece a. oe . ‘ . “SARA ae fe >13 CaP | onc ti} 13: es < ble r x cute pies at & sox, in siete Cat | . - ae *- ht ae Th Bik rs | Mab als 4 4 aot Firs fotlimert (oars aos Heo pete he 4. beep dati! eT. ye aT) OY ehiaetys a e* oa) ae E * -¢ as Par: Plate I. ans lly Hed we xr LIVINGSTONE C% 2100 OTHERS 4600 F300 3900 Dry Cull, oa M"CoBBERAS 6025- VWCORIA R® woo M7 PARSLOW 3700 SMOKING CULLY HILL M7LIVINCSTONE M7~LEINSTER £300 M7 PENDERCAST LIMESTONE C* 3000 g nr 7 S ENS HS Bs Hit 24RCO R* 2560 Days c4 2109 DAYS HILL D HiehPI Wat | Victoria Plains 3000 | M7BR | Q@owambakt Slat 7 “ 6220 Plead of Rilo Per sooo Mag fod Sprr Gnecess Felse¥es ok _ Mrcacaous sii Bezosiof trBruswe WMiucateous SAeists ¥ Verlaary Zapostt ark Parphyritzre (Shit) pes arjyllacsus Porphyr Melanophi Mélamorph:c otortle arm Devwonrare guartypenzh, Wabrare coleren. Shale Pryliiee aa Bt n Nerbetiet fis Blew, orripeg rigite peGS Fa rae RTE er POTS grant Tehests AYRE ppbstestman Gruvolcatebuss Caleay’ Papa aang, oy (eg GUI CE eA (oer a pt lene Mealamonphice schists CLM Brothers inaturatecl ie \ Kemerepricch bo sro} Ye wetesrene = | j Foner Beworsear voleare 5 7 povotlyemy Upper earn re slaées Bstetesferees Oe oo Yruarrble Beals Soverlaz aU WakiveDare dy Atidile Dpevenain SialevEmestane i | vane grand Bykes with aurtlercus Tielamorpiin 3) ~ pecarcaverss assing dornward Drelumorghe granule penetraled came: "nto g mare Fiimisonok . \ithssiok | ; pelacr ter) Spars hE mare free Bae acbase passizig erie appar t nts ee age g: Ma ete z e Geological Sketch Sechon Australian Alps hon SCALE VERTICAL 4000 fle Iinch HORIZINTAL. 4 pales to Tiuch Plate II, “4 | S DRY HULL ; pPRrcuzer 333 a Sioteg— TONCIO CAP SS DIVIDING RANEE DAYS HILL Geseoncc) W330 LIVINGSTONE ge eta) REE Sheng Trirusive Crarile : ie ao a é Pra es =i . NOTES ON A GEOLOGICAL SKETCH - SECTION THROUGH THE AUSTRALIAN ALPS. By James Srietine, F.L.S., Corr. Member. Plates I. and IT. [Read February 5, 1884.]| An examination of the different rock masses which compose the. Australian Alps reveals many interesting geological features, not only in respect to their stratigraphical relations, but in the evidences of long-continued denudation which has laid bare the deep-seated crystalline schists and their intrusive rock masses. The surface configuration over which the sec- tional line has been determined is most varied, passing from the porphyritic bosses of the rugged Cobberas Mountains, across the Upper Silurian slates and marble-beds in the valley of Limestone Creek, through the metamorphic schists and granites of the Mitta-Mitta source-basin and its included Omeo plains and tableland, to the Main Dividing Range ; thence across the deep gorge formed by the Dargo River (where the metamorphic schists merge into unaltered Lower Silurian slates and sandstones) to the basaltic tableland of the Dargo high plains, which has sealed up the river valleys of Miocene age. The lithological characters of the different rock masses are as follows:—At a are a series of open mossy upland flats, forming a low gap in the Main Dividing Range. These flats are made up of deposits of Tertiary or Post-Tertiary gravels, containing stream-tin and fine gold, and rest on a bottom of decomposing granite. The gravels are overlain by a moderate depth of alluvium, held together by the thin wiry interlaced roots of various Alpine shrubs. Samples of stannite in a quartz matrix have been found in the ridges zm situ, indi- cating a probable lode not far distant. On the spurs from Mount Pilot the granite merges upward into a coarse granitoid schist, while on a high lateral range proceeding westerly the latter rock passes into a series of highly-inclined argillaceo- mica schists.* Descending the southern slopes of Mount Pilot, towards Forest Hill, the open park-like basin of Coowambat Flat is reached ; here are seen outcrops of yellowish to bluish and greyish shales, calcareous shales, and limestones, the last con- 2 taining numerous impressions of minute brachipoda and corals of alleged Middle Devonian age.* | These limestones and shales dip about N. 85° W. at 65°, and rest unconformably on the Silurian sediments to the north, and on the brownish fragmental quartz porphyries which make up the mass of the Cobberas Mountain to the south. Higher up on the north-west side of the Cobberas Mountain are isolated patches of reddish conglomerates, apparently younger than the shales of Coowambat. On the eastern side 8£f the Cobberas Mountain are seen dense, almost granitic, salmon-coloured porphyries, made up of translucent whitish quartz crystals and prisms of orthoclase- felspar imbedded in a reddish felsitic base, with plates of hexagonal mica of a greenish-bronze colour, and, according to the microscopic examination by my friend Mr. Howitt, F.GS., “an amorphous, yellowish-green, apparently hydrated, mineral found sparingly in small cavities.” The summit of Mount Cobberas consists of bosses of compact fragmental porphyries, having similar petrographical characters to those on the eastern side, with the addition of the imbedded fragments of indurated slate and other rocks, thus forming a trappean breccia. These fragmental porphyries are continuous on the south and south-west side of the mountain to the sources of the Native Dog Creek, where outcrops of fossiliferous lime- stone are observable. This limestone is similar to that at Coowambat, and probably of the same age; but, unlike the latter, it is wholly surrounded by the quartz porphyries, filling a pocket in these igneous rocks. From this place northerly across the Main Dividing Range towards Limestone Creek the porphyries are more silicious in character, stand out in large weathered blocks, and yield a gritty, although not unfertile, soil. At Stony Creek, erosion has laid bare thick beds of fossili- ferous limestone, marble and slaty shale, the first containing among other molluscs the well-known Spirigerina reticularis, common to Upper Silurian and Lower Devonian formations, and undescribed species of Beyrichia and Atrypa. The marble beds are crowded with stems of Actinocrinus and obscure im- pressions of trilobites. The unaltered fossiliferous limestones, at this place, are in direct contact with the overlying porphyries, while the crystallization of the rocks increases with the depth. This would appear to confirm the suggestions made by Mr. Howitt * «Devonian Rocks of North Gippsland,” by A. M. Howitt, F.G.S. t “On Caves Perforating Marble Deposits, Limestone Creek,” by J. Stirling, F.L.S. Trans. Roy. Socy. Vict., 1883, p. 11. 3 in his valuable paper on the Devonian rocks of North Gipps- land, viz., that “the great masses of quartz porphyries” (such as those I have described, p- 2) “are the denuded stumps of the volcanoes, around which accumulations of felstone ash and agelomerate, with felsitic rocks of indefinite character are seen to be grouped.”’* In other words, they are the last traces, though obscure as to their original characters by metamorphism, of the once trachytic ash and agelomerates of Upper Palezoic volcanoes. Crossing the spur dividing Stony Creek ‘and Limestone Creek, the porphyries are seen to be penetrated by strings and veins of quartz, and in some places to assume an almost vesicular appearance. At lower levels towards Limestone Creek, the sedimentary rocks again appear, consisting of finely- laminated slates, sandstones, and interbedded bands of whitish marble or dense -blue limestone, dipping W. at 70°. The marble bands are from 10 to 250 feet thick, more saccharoidal than the Stony Creek deposits, but full of seams of limonite, parallel to the bedding planes, and much jointed; they are also perforated by numerous caves. On the grassy sub- alpine flats of Limestone Creek are deposits of auriferous Tertiary gravels from 5 to 12 feet deep. Ascending the steep spurs to the west, the slates become more corrugated and micaceous. On the upland flats, near the crest of the ra nge, masses of diorite are seen ; the rich carpeting of grasses proving the fertility of the soil decomposed from these potash-yielding rocks. These intrusive masses are probably connected with the periods of Paleozoic volcanic activity, as the rocks at con- tact are indurated and otherwise altered. As the crest of the range is reached, the slates become very much corrugated, micaceous, and full of quartz veins; further to the north, along the line of these semi-altered slates, veins of micaceous iron-ore are plentiful in a quartz matrix. On the crests of the range the rocks assume a vertical dip and decidedly meta- morphic character as gneissose schists; while in descending towards Marengo Creek masses of granite are seen standing out in huge tors. This is probably a metamorphic granite, and is continuous across the valley of the Marengo Creek to Mount Leinster, which is a bold rounded peak on the Dividing Range. At the summit of this mountain the granite gives place to quartz-porphyry of an intrusive character, which has ap- parently been exposed by sub-aerial denudation. On the west side the metamorphic schists are constituted of argillaceous, argillaceo-micaceous, and areno-argillaceous materials dipping from vertical to 85° to W. On the slopes * ‘ Devonian Rocks of Gippsland ;” p. 200. 4 towards Morass Creek, masses of quartz-porphyry are again seen, the argillaceous rocks at contact assuming a jaspery silicified appearance. The gradual passage from the unaltered Silurian sediments into mica schist, gneiss and granite, plainly to be seen on the outer margin of the metamorphic area at Omeo, is in striking contrast to the sharp well-defined line of demarcation between the intrusive porphyries and the argil- laceous sediments they invade. The metamorphic schists occupy the bed of Morass Creek, and are overlain by a con- siderable depth of alluvium, where crossed by the line of section: Ascending the thickly-wooded slopes of Mount Brothers the schists give place to a ternary granite similar in texture to that occupying the valley of the Marengo Creek, but towards the crest of the mountain, the latter is replaced by a distinct porphyritic granite, made up of large prismatic crystals of whitish felspar scattered through a base of smaller felspathic crystals, with quartz and black mica. The huge blocks which occupy the crest of the mountain stand out in rounded masses, exfoliating in concentric layers. Descending to the south, towards Omeo Plains, the metamorphic schists, which underlie this lacustrine area, appear to pass downward into a metamorphic granite; while to the east, at Mount Sisters, about three miles distant, are bluffy outcrops of an intrusive granite, which further to the east passes into a quartz-porphyry. The Omeo Plains consist of about 16,000 acres of splendid agricultural land; fine open plains, with the Omeo Lake in their centre. Some idea of the fertility of these sub-alpine tablelands may be gleaned when it is stated that in 1882 fifty to sixty bushels of wheat to the acre was not an uncommon yield. On the southern margin of these plains, towards Omeo, are open, well-grassed ridges, showing outcrops of mica and argil- laceo-mica schists; further to the south, at Smoking Gully Hill, are bands of nodular argillaceous schist, intersected by brownish quartz porphyry dykes and seams of igneous, probably dia- basic, rock. At lower levels, these argillaceo-mica schists pass into hard crystalline rocks, gneissose and quartzitic schist very much ramified by numerous igneous and intrusive dykes; these are well seen in the bed of Wilson’s Creek, an affluent of Tavingstone Creek. Ascending the rounded eminence to the south, known as Day’s Hill, a mass of intrusive granite is seen to have been lain bare at the crest of the hill. The schistose rocks at contact are very much altered, assuming the character of hornfels. The rough sketch represented by plate II. will serve to illustrate the peculiar features of this intrusive mass, and also indicate the position of the alluvial gold workings in the bed of an ancient lake or tarn, which extended, in Tertiary 5 times, from the base of Day’s Hill to Mount Livingstone. At Day’s Creek, on the southern base of the former hill, erosion has lain bare several interesting sections of the strata, showing numerous intrusive dykes intersecting the beds of quartzite, eneiss, and mica schist, which form the metamorphic rocks at this place. These dykes are dioritic, felsitic and, probably, diabasic, and have all altered the bounding rocks to a more or less distance from contact. One noticeable feature of them is that the mica schists, in the passage downwards, pass into a rock resembling that variety of the felspar-group known as porphyritic gneiss. On the western slopes of Day’s Hill are deposits of Tertiary auriferous gravels, fully 100 feet above the present level of Livingstone Creek. These gravels form part of what was evid- ently a continuous mass extending to the base of Mount Livingstone, about three miles distant, and now partially de- graded by the erosion of the Livingstone Creek. The upper portion of these deposits consists of rounded fragments of various rocks, now found zw situ, such as quartz, mica schist, gneiss, felstones, diorites, &c., in every stage of decay, from exfoliation in concentric layers to kaolin and magnesian clay. It is at the bottom of these gravels that the auriferous wash- dirt oceurs. At Dry Hill, near Mount Livingstone, they have been exposed by mining operations to a depth of 60 feet, and are here seen to rest on what is locally called a “false bottom” of decomposing boulders of igneous rock of larger dimensions, to a depth of 40 feet, where the bed rocks occur. The boulders are evidently derived from volcanic caps similar to those re- maining in situ. The bed of the ancient lake has been eroded on three sides, and the surrounding hills degraded. It is stated that there are at least four of these lake basins along the valley of the Livingstone Creek, which have been drained by the creek having cut through their margins. In the basin of Dry Gully (one of the creeks which has eroded its passage along the margin of the ancient lake) are rich auriferous reefs, intersecting the metamorphic schists, the quartz becoming highly pyritous at a depth of 100 feet and lower. The following minerals have also been found in the neighbourhood :—Phosphate, carbonate and sulphide of lead, silicate and carbonate of copper, native silver, argentiferous galena, rutile, black tourmaline plentiful in quartz seams, fibrolite, micaceous iron-ore, &e. From Mount Livingstone, which is made up of argillaceous and micaceous schists with bands of nodular argillaceous schist and gneiss, the sectional line crosses some fine uplands of limited extent, as at Jim and Jack and Parslow’s Plains, where large masses of granite are seen to form the principal rock. On the spurs to the east of 6 Parslow’s Plains, there are signs of silicification and induration with numerous felsitic dykes, indicating an intrusive granite ; but on the western side towards Mount Parslow, the granitic rock masses appear to pass upward into coarse gneiss and mica schists—the gneissic rocks forming the principal mass in the bed of the Victoria River. From the Victoria River to the crest of the Main Dividing Range the rocks are principally metamorphic, veined with white quartz and intersected by dioritic and felsitic dykes; but in descending towards the Dargo River the gradual passage from gneissose rocks to mica schist, thence to micaceous shales and the unaltered Silurian slates and sandstones is plainly seen. On King’s Spur there is also a leptynite schist containing decomposed garnets, and a band of rock composed of quartz and green hornblende.* Ascending what is known as Mayford Spur on the west side of the Dargo River, the slates and sandstones are continuous for about 1,400 feet above the level of that river, where they are seen to be overlain by deposits of heavy auriferous gravels, with bands of foliated sandy clay containing impressions of the Miocene plant Cinnamomum polymorphoides, McCoy. In this locality at similar levels are masses of silicious conglomerates and ferruginous bands containing imperfect Lauraceous leaves and Salisburia Murraya, McCoy, nearly allied to some Miocene forms from the arctic regions. These Miocene deposits are overlain by extensive sheets of basalt, forming the Dargo High Plains at elevations of from 4,000 to 5,000 feet above sea level. As this section traverses an extent of territory not yet examined by the Geological Survey of Victoria, it may be interesting to conclude with an outline of the probable strati- eraphical relations of the different rock masses. SILURIAN. There does not appear to be any remnants of Pre-Silurian or Archean rocks within the area; it is not improbable, however, that the Paleozoic voleanic and plutonic activities have com- pletely transmuted any such Archean sediments into the granitic masses, now laid bare by denudation within the Lower Silurian areas. The great mass of metamorphic schists, &c., would appear to be simply the metamorphosed Lower Silurian sediments, although there are not wanting evidences that the Upper Silurian rocks have been tilted, folded, and compressed along with the Lower Silurian, and, like them, subjected to the influence of metamorphic action. Mr. Selwyn remarks} * «« Progress Report Geol. Surv., Victoria, 1878,” p. 98. + ‘* Progress Report Geol. Surv., Victoria,” vol. 5. + Intercolonial Exhibition Essays.” 7 that there is considerable unconformability between the Upper and Lower Silurian rocks of Victoria, which would appear to indicate that the Lower Silurian were subjected to consider- able denudation, and to periods of plutonic activity before the upper beds were laid down. Whether the regional metamor- phism of the Mitta Mitta source basin is connected with plutonic forces during Silurian times by the lowering of the area within the influences of central heat, which would re- compose and erystallise the lower portions of the crumpled Paleozoic sediments, or are the “latest results of that general process of transmutation, which all sedimentary deposits have undergone and are still undergoing from the moment they begin to be covered more or less thickly with other more re- cent deposits,” is still a matter of uncertainty. The re- searches of Mr. Howitt* among the Devonian rocks of Gippsland have unmistakeably shown that the close of the Silurian or the beginning of the Devonian periods in the Australian Alps was one of powerful volcanic activity, during which the porphyries of Mount Cobberas and adjacent mountains were laid down as accumulations of ash or tufa, subsequently con- solidated ; and there is every probability that the intrusive porphyries, which have invaded the metamorphic schists, are connected with the volcanic and plutonic activity of that time. DEVONIAN. The representatives of this system, crossed by the line of section as at Coowambat and Native Dog Creek, are indicated by the fossils to be Middle Devonian, and as they are evidently superior to the porphyries upon which they rest unconform- ably, the latter may provisionally be classed as Lower Devonian. The absence of Lower Devonian sediments is noticeable—indeed, I am not aware that any such exist in Victoria. The Middle Devonian formation is well developed in the isolated patches of limestone at Bindi, on the Tambo River, and Buchan, on the Buchan River, to the south from the line of section. At both of these places an abundance of its characteristic fossil, Spirifera levecosta, may be collected ; while at Mount Tambo, to the east of the Omeo Plains, bold outcrops of purple conglomerates and sandstones are seen, apparently stratigraphically superior to the marine limestones at Bindi, and are regarded by Mr. Howitt as of Upper Devonian age.* All these Devonian areas form now mere pockets in the land surface, indicating vast periods of time, during which the oscillations of the surface resulted—first, 1n subsidence, during which they were laid down on the bed of the ocean ; and, second, in emergence and folding, occasioned * « Devonian Rocks of Gippsland,” A. M. Howitt, F.G.S. 8 probably by plutonic and volcanic action; and, thirdly,’ in ex- tensive sub-aerial denudation when the crests of the curves were removed. MI0cENE TERTIARIES. From the laying down of the Upper Devonian sediments to the sealing up of the Miocene valleys by the lava-fiows, there is a manifest break in the continuity of geological formation, which can only, I think, be accounted for by supposing, either that powerful denudation has removed any remnants of Mesozoic formations, or that volcanic activities, which termi- nated the Devonian period, raised the land surface to above sea level so that no Mesozoic sediments were deposited. To the north of the line of section, are other and more extensive lava- flows covering Miocene river-beds, as at Bogong High Plains, 6,000 feet above sea level. The extent and geotectonic features of this area, indeed, of the whole of the area embraced by the Tertiary basalts, have been so ably delineated by the Govern- ment geologist, Mr. Murray,* that I must refer those desirous of obtaining valuable information on these areas to that gen- tleman’s published reports. It may, however, be interesting to note that according to the petrographical examinations by Mr. Howitt, no good distinction exists either in structure or composition between the so-called older and newer basalts of Victoria (among the latter have been classed the basalts of the Western District). To those desirous of obtaining complete scientific knowledge of the structure and composition of the intrusive rocks invading the metamorphic areas, Mr. Howitt’s contributions} to the subject will be specially valuable, leaving nothing to be desired on the score of accurate information of the structural and stratigraphical relations of the rock masses within the areas he has examined. As this gentleman is at present assiduously working at the area south from the line of section described in this paper, his determinations of the com- position of the dykes and intrusive masses may be looked for- ward to with considerable interest. In the meantime, the in- formation supplied may not be without interest to geological readers. * «Geol. Sur., Victoria,—Dargo and Bogong,” vol. 5. + “Granites and Diorites of Swift’s Creek,” by A. W. Howitt, F.G.S. Trans. Roy. Soc., Victoria. ‘‘ Rocks of Noyong,” Trans. Roy. Soc., Victoria, 1883. NoTES ON THE SUPPOSED COAL=BEDS OF THE FITZGERALD RIVER. By Samvuet Drxon. (From a letter addressed to Professor R. Tate.) [Read February 5, 1884.} As to the mineral pitch or bituminous substance reported for years past to exist in Kangaroo Island, I feel positive, it is washed up by the sea and perhaps borne by it a considerable distance. In 1867, I spent a long time on the south coast of West Australia searching for it, and found it in every case, un- doubtedly brought there by the sea, as the whole littoral between Cape Arid and Doubtful Island Bay is Post-Miocene resting on granite and micaceous schists I was induced to make the expedition owing to the late Mr. Roe, Surveyor-General of Western Australia, reporting the existence of coal on the Fitzgerald River; and it was thought some connection might exist between the known occurrence of the bitumen and the reported beds of coal; but unfortu- nately for the theory and myself too, the supposed coal was nothing but a few very thin beds of brown lignite more or less mixed with quartz pebbles and with fragments of gum of the srass-tree and portions of the seed vessels and leaves of Eucalypts, and seemed to me undoubtedly of the same geo- logical age as the bright-hued sandstones—green, purple, pink, &c.—which are cut through by the Fitzgerald and its trifling tributaries. I am also of opinion that Mr. Gregory is mistaken in reporting this bed of lignite as resting unconformably on ear- boniterous shales (see Proceedings of the Geological Society for 1861, p. 480), as there are no shales of that character, but only metamorphic sandstones, jaspers and micaceous schists, the latter being similar to those exposed by the sea close to the bore made by Messrs. O’Halloran and others on the neck at Kangaroo Island. The only interest this bed possesses will, I think, be found in its containing the flora of the period of depostion of the Murray Chifs; and the sandstones of the Fitzgerald seem to me to represent the original shore of the sea of that period and I further think it will be found that in general characteristics the flora then was very similar to the present, and belonged to a similarly dry climate. 10 LIST OF SOUTH AUSTRALIAN MICRO- LEPIDOPTERA. By E. Meyrick, B.A. [Read July 8, 1884. | The following list includes all the described species of Micro-Lepidoptera known to me as inhabiting the colony of South Australia—about 180 in all. Besides these, however, I possess many others as yet undescribed, which cannot there- fore be included here. The whole form only an insignificant fraction of the number probably occurring, which I estimate at not less than 4,000. The main purpose of the list is thus to convey to residents in the colony some idea of the work which lies before them in the discovery and study of these groups. In the identification of specimens, and in any other respects, I shall always be very glad to assist any who may care to communicate with me. The species hereafter given were mostly taken by myself during a collecting tour made in 1882. I collected round Adelaide and on the Mount Lofty Range early in October, and at Quorn, Petersburg, and Wirrabara Forest later in the month; at the beginning of November I passed through Wal- laroo, and paid a visit to Port Lincoln; and in the middle of the same month I was at Mount Gambier. I examined also the collection made by Mr. E. Guest, of Balhannah, on the Mount Lofty Range, and that in the possession of the Univer- sity Museum ; also a few species collected by Prof. Tate and the Rey. T. Blackburn. To these and my other South Aus- tralian friends I am, moreover, indebted for much kindness and valuable assistance during my visit. Those species marked with an asterisk are not yet known to me as occurring outside South Australia. The undescribed species which I obtained will be found pub- lished from time to time in my papers in the “ Proceedings of the Linnean Society of New South Wales,” the “Transac- tions of the Entomological Society of London,” and elsewhere. PYRALIDINA. EpPIPpASCHIAD®. *Catamola funerea, Walk. Ardrossan. elassota, Meyr. Quorn. Stericta habitalis, Gn. Mount Lofty, Ardrossan. 11 PYRALIDID#. *Balanotis hercophora, Meyr. Port Darwin. Ocrasa albidalis, Walk. Mount Lofty. Asopia farinalis, Z. Mount Lofty ; introduced from Europe. Oenogenes fugalis, Feld. Mount Graham. Persicoptera pulchrinalis, Gn. Mount Lofty. MvsoriMIp. Musotima ochropteralis, Gx. Mount Lofty. HyDROCAMPID. Paraponyx nitens, Butl. Lake Alexandrina. BorypiD. Pachyarches psittacalis, Hb. Port Darwin. Phacellura indiea, Saund. Port Darwin. Glyphodes excelsalis, Walk. Port Darwin. diurnalis, Gn. Port Darwin. Sceliodes cordalis, Ddld. Mount Lofty. Nomophila noctuella, Schiff Mount Lofty, Wirrabara, Port Lincoln. Hellula undalis, f Mount Lofty, Quorn, Port Lincoln. Mecyna polygonalis, Hb. Adelaide, Quorn, Port Lincoln. Larva. on Templetonia egena and T. retusa. *Metallarcha calliaspis, Meyr. Petersburg, Port Lincoln; amongst Beyerta opaca. *Metallarcha diplochrysa, Meyr. Petersburg, Port Lincoln, Beachport ; amongst Beyeria opaca. *Metallarcha epichry sa, Meyr. Quorn, Petersburg ; amongst Dodonea lobulata. *Metallarcha eurychrysa, Meyr. Ardrossan. *Kurycreon xenogama, Meyr. Adelaide (foot of the range). capnochroa, Meyr. Port Lincoln. *Criophthona finitima, Weyr. Quorn. Sedenia rupalis, Gz. Quorn, Port Lincoln, Kangaroo Island. cervalis, Gn. Mount Lofty, Wirrabara. Tritza ustalis, Walk. Adelaide, Wirrabara, Ardrossan. ScOPARIAD®. Eclipsiodes crypsixantha, Meyr. Port Lincoln. Tetraprosopus Meyrickii, eat. Mount Gambier; on trunks of Eucalyptus. Xeroscopa philonephes, MWeyr. Mount Lofty. *Scoparia epicryma, Meyr. Mount Gambier. eremitis, Meyr. Wirrabara. % homala, Weyr. Adelaide ; on fences. spelea, Meyr. Wirrabara, Mount Gambier. 12 CRAMBIDZ. Thinasotia bivittella, Don. Adelaide, Ardrossan. relatalis, Walk. Mount Lofty. opulentella, Z. Mount Lofty. grammella, Z. Mount Lofty. lativittalis, Walk. Ardrossan. Diptychophora ochracealis, Walk. (prematurella, Meyr.). Adelaide, Mount Gambier. Ptochostola dimidiella, Weyr. Penola. PHYCIDIDS. Ceroprepes almella, Meyr. Ardrossan. Tylochares cosmiella, Meyr. Mount Lofty, Wirrabara. Cateremna leucarma, Meyr. Mount Lofty. subarcuella, Meyr. Ardrossan. Zophodia (?) ensiferella, Weyr. Mount Lofty, Port Lincoln. Eucarphia vulgatella, Weyr. Mount Lofty, Ardrossan, Port Lincoln. Etiella chrysoporella, Meyr. Adelaide, Quorn. Behriu, Z. Mount Gambier, Adelaide, Wirrabara, Port Lincoln. Salebria oculiferella, Weyr. Mount Lofty, Ardrossan. 4 gypsopa, Meyr. Adelaide, Port Wakefield. *Heosphora euryzona, Meyr. Wirrabara. Crocydopora_ stenopterella, MMeyr. Adelaide, Wirrabara, Quorn, Port Lincoln. Homeeosoma vagella, Z. Mount Gambier, Adelaide, Wirrabara, Port Lincoln. Anerastia distichella, Weyr. Wirrabara, Port Lincoln. Ephestia elutella, H6. Adelaide—introduced from Europe. GALLERIAD®. Aphomia latro, Z. Adelaide. TORTRICINA. GRAPHOLITHIDS. Scolioplecta comptana, Walk. Mount Lofty. Aphelia lanceolana, Hd. Mount Lofty; a cosmopolitan species. Stigmonota iridescens, Meyr. Adelaide. Crocidosema plebeiana, Z Mount Lofty, Port Lincoln; introduced from Europe. Paleobia anguillana, Weyr. Port Lincoln. fidana, Meyr. Adelaide. Holocola perspectana, Walk. Quorn, Port Lincoln. biscissana, Meyr. Wirrabara, Port Lincoln. Strepsiceros ejectana, Walk. Port Lincoln. macropetana, Meyr. Mount Gambier, Mount Lofty, Wirrabara, Port Lincoln. 13 TORTRICIDE. Dichelia mediana, Walk. Mount Lofty. isoscelana, Meyr. Mount Lofty. Capua chimerinana, Meyr. Mount Lofty. melancrocana, Meyr. Mount Lofty. Pyrgotis insignana, Meyr. Mount Lofty. Acropolitis dolosana, Walk. Mount Lofty. lignigerana, Walk. Mount Lofty. signigerana, Walk. Mount Lofty. Tsochorista ranulana, Meyr. Mount Lofty, Wirrabara. paneolana, Meyr. Mount Lofty. Proselena annosana, Meyr. Wirrabara. Paleotoma styphelana, Weyr. Mount Lofty. ' Caceecia lythrodana, Meyr. Mount Lofty. postvittana, Walk. Mount Gambier, Mount Lofty, Port Lincoln. Caccecia liquidana, JJeyr. Mount Lofty, Wirrabara, Port Lincoln. Cacecia tessulatana, Meyr. Wallaroo, Port Lincoln. Tortrix subfurcatana, Walk. Mount Lofty. glaphyrana, Meyr. Mount Lofty, Port Lincoln. indigestana, Meyr. Port Lincoln. standishana, Vewm. Mount Lofty. Dipterina rupicolana, Meyr. Mount Lofty. Arotrophora arcuatalis, Walk. Mount Gambier, Wirrabara. CONCHYLIDID&. Heliocosma incongruana, Walk. Mount Lofty. Heterocrossa neurophorella, Meyr. Mount Lofty. TINEINA. GELECHIADZ. Bryotropha simplicella, Walk. Adelaide. Lita solanella, Boisd. Adelaide. Gelechia aversella, Walk. Quorn, Wirrabara. CRYPTOLECHIAD®. Cryptophasa unipunctana, Don. Mount Lofty. Chalarotona parabolella, Walk. Mount Lofty. DEPRESSARIADS. Semnoceros radiosella, Walk. Mount Lofty. OECOPHORID®. Palparia aurata, Walk. Mount Lofty, Ardrossan. semijunctella, Walk. Ardrossan. uncinella, Z. Port Lincoln. 14 Eochroa callhanassa, Meyr. Mount Lofty. dejunctella, Walk. Mount Lofty. protophaés, Meyr. Mount Lofty. Heliocausta severa, Meyr. Wirrabara. eleodes, Meyr. Mount Lofty. ad paralyrgis, Meyr.. Mount Lofty. parthenopa, Meyr. Mount Lofty. euselma, Meyr. Mount Lofty. Hoplitica sobriella, Walk. Mount Lofty. repandula, Z Mount Lofty. pudica, Z. Mount Lofty. Ee episema, Weyr. Mount Lofty. leucophanes, Meyr. Port Lincoln. . tanyscia, Weyr. Mount Gambier, Adelaide, Peters- burg. *Kulechria sciophanes, Weyr. Quorn. 6 ombrophora, Meyr. Quorn. acerea, Meyr. Petersburg. *Oenochroa endochlora, Meyr. Quorn, Wirrabara, Ardrossan. Linosticha canephora, Meyr. Mount Gambier. ee banausa, Weyr. Adelaide; darker than usual. exarcha, Weyr. Mount Gambier. *Mesolecta psacasta, Meyr. Port Lincoln. pe! ephogenes philopsamma, JMeyr. Wallaroo. eethalea, Ieyr. Mount Gambier, Mount Lofty. Philobota arabella, Newm. Mount Lofty. biophora, Meyr. Adelaide. auriceps, Butl. Mount Lofty. * - hypocausta, MWeyr. Adelaide. * pedetis, Meyr. Mount Lofty, Wirrabara, Port Lincoln. Philobota herodiella, Feld. Mount Lofty. productella, Walk. Mount Gambier, Adelaide, Petersburg, Port Lincoln. *Philobota crocobapta, Weyr. Port Lincoln. pretiosella, Walk. Mount Lofty. = brochosema, AMZeyr. Mount Lofty. interlineatella, Walk. Port Lincoln. xanthiella, Walk. Mount Lofty. bimaculana, Don. Mount Lofty. *Compsotropha charidotis, Meyr. Wirrabara. Peltophora atricollis, Meyr. Mount Lofty. argutella, Z. Mount Lofty, Wirrabara, Port Lincoln, Ardrossan. Saropla celatella, Weyr. Port Lincoln. *Coeranica eritima, Meyr. Quorn, Wirrabara, Port Lincoln. Coesyra dichrella, Z. Mount Lofty. 15 Coesyra distephana, Meyr. Port Lincoln. basilica, Weyr. Wallaroo. zygophora, Meyr. Port Lincoln. parvula, Meyr. Mount Lofty. = aspasia, Weyr. Port Lincoln. = apothyma, Weyr. Petersburg. *Microbela epicona, Meyr. Petersburg, Ardrossan. Heterozyga coppatias, Meyr. Adelaide. Oxythecta hieroglyphica, Meyr. Port Lincoln. *Crepidosceles exanthema, Meyr. (uorn. *Ocystola thymodes, Meyr. (Quorn. tyranna, Meyr. Quorn. enopha, Meyr. Port Lincoln. erystallina, Meyr. Mount Lofty. chionea, Jeyr. Wirrabara. homoleuca, Meyr. Wirrabara. Sesconee pseudospretella, Stt. Port Lincoln; introduced from Europe. Crossophora suppletella, Walk. Mount Gambier. * * K * * GLYPHIPTERYGIDE. Hypertropha tortriciformis, Gn. (desumptana, Walk.). Mount Lofty, Quorn, Port Lincoln. Eupselia carpocapsella, Walk. Mount Lofty, Quorn. theorella, Meyr. Quorn. Glyphipteryx meteora, Meyr. Mount Lofty, Wirrabara. paleomorpha, Meyr. Mount Gambier. Phryganostola euthybelemna, JZeyr. Wioirrabara. PLUTELLIDS. Thudaca obliquella, Walk. Mount Lofty, Port Lincoln. Plutella cruciferarum, Z. Adelaide, Wirrabara, Quorn, Port Lincoln ; introduced from Europe. TINEADH. Chrysoryctis irruptella, Walk. Port Lincoln. purella, Walk. Mount Lofty, Quorn. Scardia (?) australasiella, Don. Wirrabara, Port Lincoln. Blabophanes meliorella, Walk. Mount Lofty, Wirrabara, Port Lincoln. Blabophanes ethelella, Newm. Wirrabara. Tinea pellionella, Z. Mount Lofty, Port Lincoln ; introduced from Europe. HyYPONOMEUTID. Endrosis lacteella, Sehigi Kingston, Mount Lofty ; introduced from Europe. 16 GRACILARIADH. Gracilaria alysidota, Meyr. Port Lincoln. didymella, Meyr. Petersburg, Port Lincoln. BEDELLIADZ. Bedellia somnulentella, Z. Port Lincoln. 17 REMARKS ON THE “RED GLOW.” By Crement L. Wraeas, F.R.G.S., E.R. Met. Soe. [Read May 6, 1884.] After some preliminary observations, the author pro- ceeds :— It seems very evident that there exists even now some re- flecting medium in the upper regions of our atmosphere altogether abnormal and at a great height, as evidenced by the prolongation of the intense glow apart from the ordinary phenomenon of twilight caused by common atmospheric re- fraction. What, then, is this medium? this great reflector that is the primary cause of these exquisite glows that invest our landscapes with such lurid unearthly tints, and call to mind the idea of life in Mars? From a scanty perusal of the masses of evidence and observation already accumulated, my present belief is that our planet is surrounded by an abormal envelope of dust, either cosmic or telluric. Once prove this— and its proot appears easy—and the ‘“‘sun glow’ phenomena may be explained, as pointed out by Prof. Michie Smith, of Madras, in accordance with facts illustrated by Mr. Aitken before the Royal Society of Edinburgh (Trans. R.S.E., vol. xxx., p. 837). The sun’s rays as white light fall on the dust particles, whose minute spicule scatter and absorb, reflect, sift, and split up the rays at the proper angles, and with greater or less intensity, according to the thickness of the air strata and height of the reflecting medium. These spicule may assist the condensation of vapour into that light haze so generally observed, and cause ice spicule deep enough to give the effects of absorption, but not to such an extent as to form cloud. Hence I, at present, insist that vapour and meteorological factors, if they influence the displays at all—as I shall pre- sently inquire—are entirely secondary; and as such modify and regulate the passage of light, so assisting in the production of that galaxy of varying tint and colour which we have so ad- miringly beheld. The determination of the nature of the primary reflecting layer, and to determine how it came to oc- cupy its present position, are the chief points in the discussion. Tt has been argued that vapour is the main cause, absorbing certain of the sun’srays. I confess that this hypothesis appears. to me wholly absurd and untenable. The cause, as I have al- B 18 ready strongly emphasised, is abnormal. How, then, could vapour be the main cause? How is it that the aqueous vapour of our atmosphere never before (to my knowledge, at least) assumed this peculiar state? If there was such an abnormal amount of vapour high in the atmosphere as to give rise to sunsets and sunrises which by their wondrous beauty have astonished both savage and civilised men, at least no known factors in terrestrial meteorology could possibly have first occasioned it. Moreover, I shall show from my own ob- servations that the spectroscope has denied the existence of this vapour on occasions of some of the finest sunset displays. L see no objection, however, to the main dust theory, and it can, I consider, equally be held under the hypothesis of either cosmic or telluric dust. Each is equally tenable, but analysis of col- lected material can only determine the truth. It is known that some 10,000,000 meteorites enter our atmosphere daily, their matter being dissipated in dust in the higher regions, at an average height of twenty to forty miles. This meteoric matter is trifling when compared with the volume of the at- mosphere itself, which is said to weigh 5,178,000,000,000,000 tons, while only 182,500 tons of ordinary meteoric matter are precipitated yearly, if we take, according to Prof. Langley, an average of 500 tons of meteoric dust cast into our atmosphere each day. But the earth, as Mr. Ranyard supposes, may have encountered a huge meteoric zone of dust, which augmented to a vast extent the normal dust envelope with which we are surrounded. Now, what are the objections to this theory of abnormal cosmic dust? First, Mr. Ellery, considering the major diameter of our elliptical orbit, declares it must be impossible, since such a zone must have a breadth of about 183,000,000 miles. This certainly appears to upset the hypothesis of cosmic dust. But let us for a moment consider. Our entire system, with its diameter of some 5,491,996,000 miles, is but an atom lost in the immensity of space; our gigantic sun, with his diameter of 852,900 miles, a star of the Milky Way, resembling in physical constitution, as the spectroscope proves, others of the so- called ‘fixed stars” of the Kosmos. I ask, then, is it unthinkable that our entire system, in its lightning speed through space, should have encountered some gigantic zone of cosmic material enveloping the whole of it? Next it is supposed that any cosmic material would be con- sumed by the heat of impact. Of this it is, I think, impos- sible to speak positively, as the amount of consumption and dissipation would bear a ratio to the velocity of impact and of the meteoric dust-belt, and such would probably offer little re- sistance to the atmosphere, being extremely fine and impalp- 19 able. Favouring the condensation of a hazy vapour it would, however, primarily give rise to the sun-glow. I shall presently endeavour to show why the dust does not fall quickly to the earth, no matter what may be its origin. Possibly it may be related to the cause of the zodiacal light, which, according to one hypothesis, is formed of myriads of solid particles. Coming now to the telluric hypothesis, the mass of evidence relating to the Javan eruptions points strongly to Krakatoa as the cause. The eruptions commenced in May last, cul- minating in the fearful convulsions of August 26th. Consider the immense amount of volcanic dust erupted ; counted probably by millions of tons of dust, and exceeding by far the dust con- tributed by meteorites during the whole year. Consider the tearing asunder of the atmosphere over that mighty furnace, and the height to which particles of dust would be launched. Some idea of the atmospheric wave generated is gathered from the fact that the barometer on board a steamer 150 miles distant rose and fell half-an-inch every two or three minutes, as re- ported by Mr. Bishop, of Honolulu. Observations show that this gigantic air wave was visible on the barometer curves at several stations for five days after its origin; that its velocity was 674 miles an hour, that it travelled before its extinction more than 82,200 miles, and that it passed 3} times round the entire circumference of the earth. (‘ Nature,’ No. 738, p. 182). Apart from the blood-red and green suns, showers of dust and pumice and other startling phenomena, of which we have heard so much, and which I pass by, my opinion as to Krakatoa being the cause is greatly strengthened by the over- whelming fact that material brought down by rain in Holland and snow in Spain—crystals of hypersthene, pyroxene, and magnetic iron with volcanic glass—has been proved to be iden- tical with the matter found in the Java ashes. It is objected, with much reason, to this volcanic theory :—How could the dust have spread so rapidly as to reach Trinidad in a week, while it took double that time to travel to India and Ceylon. This objection seems as fatal to the volcanic hy- pothesis as does Mr. Ellery’s to the meteoric one; and with our knowledge of the general distribution of atmospheric pressure at that season of the year, is a difficult one to meet. Our first thoughts are of the great low pressure areas of Central Asia at that summer season; and we wonder why the heavier air currents which set inland from over the cooler ocean to take the place of the heated ascending currents of the Asiatic continent, did not convey the dust to India first. Perhaps closer consideration will enable us to give a satisfactory answer. The eruption of Krakatoa took place in a zone of low barometer, in a branch of the equatorial calm belt. My own observations on 20 Ben Nevis have lately shown that over a surface low pressure area there exists a relatively high-pressure region, caused by the accumulation of the air in higher regions, carried upwards by the warm ascending currents ; and especially must this be the case at great elevations in low latitudes. We have but a faint idea of the actual force of that eruption. It would at any rate carry volcanic dust far into the higher atmosphere, and land it safely on the high-pressure zone existing high over the calm belt. Bear in mind now that a similar high-pressure area existed in the upper atmosphere over the surface low-pressure areas of India and Central Asia; and that the tendency of motion of this lofty high-pressure was towards the southern hemisphere, where a general surface high-pressure existed, overtopped, as in the case of all surface anticyclones, by a relatively lower pressure. Thus currents from the upper atmosphere of Southern Asia would flow southwards to preserve equilibrium, and feed the surface high pressure of the southern hemisphere at that season of the year. These currents would (but only for a short time on account of its proximity) hinder the dust from approaching India, and would carry it southwards, causing the ‘red glows’ to be experienced earlier in Australia and South Africa, for instance, than in European latitudes. But I have still to offer some explanation of the fact of the “‘red glow” phenomena travelling due west, via the Seychelles, Cape Coast Castle, and Trinidad, at the rate of nearly 70 miles an hour, reaching the latter place, 11,700 miles away, within a week. I see no way at present of accounting for this, but on the theory that, owing to the rapid rotation of the earth at the equator, viz., 507 yards a second, or 1,038 miles an hour, the higher at- mosphere in equatorial region lags behind, causing a strong cur- rent to set westwards from the same causes that explain, for in- stance, the phenomena of the north-east and south-east trade — winds; and the circulation of the tides assisted by the earth’s ro- tation as a secondary result of the moon’s attractive influence. This equatorial east wind, if such exists, is in the high-pressure zone over the calm belt, and sends off branches to northward or southward of the Line respectively to maintain the great systems of surface anticyclones in either hemisphere, according to the geographical distribution of land and water and the season of the year. The objection that more dust should have been expelled to spread so widely will not hold in my opinion, as we have but a faint idea of the vast amount actually expelled and: diffused by the currents as impalpable powder. Lastly we have one common objection to the main dust theory, viz., How can the matter remain suspended for such a long period in opposition to that force which we call gravity ? 21 It is pretty clear that the suspension over the weight of atmo- sphere of impalpable dust in the rarified regionsmay be prolonged for an indefinite period. Not that it has no tendency to fall. On the other hand, I conceive, as I have already hinted, that it is subject to great alterations of level, depending pro- bably on barometric pressure, which may intensify or minimise the “ sun-glow;” though, as I shall afterwards show, this con- nection is hardly determined. The upward currents in times of low barometer at the earth’s surface, when—allowing for differences of altitude—a comparatively high or accumulated pressure (as I have already shown) seems to prevail aloft, would buoy it up, as an upward currentdoes a feather or ordinary motes of dust; and it would keep playing over the tops of the upward currents on a plan analogous to the phenomena of the so-called “ willow-leaves” on the solar photosphere which are reasonably supposed to be the tops or crests of the currents in the sun. If this is so, the objection to floating dust even higher than 40 miles—the traditional height of the twilight-producing atmosphere—is overcome. Again, according to Faraday, metallic gold, when minutely divided, required months to sub- side when suspended in water; and on this experiment I see no reason why the dust-powder should not remain suspended over the haze of vapour. But if objection is raised to these explanations of the suspension, we have the repulsive agency of electricity to account for it, as has already been suggested, assuming that the dust, if from Krakatoa, is negatively electri- fied. The particles would mutually repel each other, as in the case of electrified gold-leaf, and be repelled and buoyed up by the repulsive action of the earth. I have endeavoured to meet the chief objections to the dust theory, and will now proceed to a few words in conclusion on the atmospheric or possible secondary causes of the ‘‘ sun- glows.” My meteorological and spectroscopic observations in con- nection with the glow are very conflicting, and further discus- sion of them is necessary before I can see my way to establish a connection. That the glows have become intermittent, and have been observed to be less intense during times of low barometer, seems certain. This may be explained by supposing an abundance of absorbing vapour, meteorologically derived, which would be increased by the primary stratum of dust favouring condensation. So the red light of less refrangibility would be impeded or cut off and partly absorbed by the vapour of a low-pressure area, and we might expect the “ red- glow” to be not so intense, while the more refrangible green and blue tints of the sunset would not be interfered with. I think Mr. Todd has also observed this minimum of intensity 22 during periods of low barometer. Under such conditions the dust would probably be at a higher level. The displays cer- tainly seem to have been especially fine when the air was dry and the red light unimpeded, during times of high barometer; and at such times (considering the downpour of air upon the centre of an anticyclonic system) I conclude that the dust stratum is lower. For instance, near Warsaw, in Russia, on November 30th, 1883, barometer 30°16; January 2nd last, 30°46; and January 8rd, 30°27; on all of which days the “ red-glow” is reported as being intense*. Prof. Piazzi Smyth also cor- roborates this. So to a certain extent do my own observations made at the Torrens Observatory, near Adelaide; but on other occasions the sunset displays seem to be entirely indifferent to barometric and hygrometric influences. I will give a few examples. On January 28th the barometer was high—30:22 at sea-level —and the sunset and red “ after-glow”’ magnificent—the latter appearing on the horizon about one hour and a quarter after sundown like some great fire. Relative humidity at 9 o’clock was 77 %, indicating a decidedly moist condition of the atmo- sphere for South Australia—hardly in accord with the dry air and high barometer theory so ably advocated by Professor Piazzi Smyth, but on this occasion I had not access to the spectroscope. On January 30th the same phenomena were almost identical, but the barometer was lower, relative humidity less—69 7-+—yet a broad nebulous band to the left of the D line in the spectrum indicated much moisture in the thick strata of the atmosphere. Under such spectroscopic conditions I should have expected that the red rays would have been stopped off and absorbed by the abundance of aqueous vapour shown by the spectroscope. In these two instances the results of observation appear decidedly conflicting. On March 5th the glow was again magnificent, barometer at 30°07 and pressure gradually decreasing, with a dry surface 1 yegy the * 1 ; ; j 3 Aid SES hoses si 5h : weekly JAS, PASS 4 L ¢ * , 23 me to enter the following verbatim remark in my notes at the time :—“‘ My spectroscopic observations of to-night, taken as they were about 5° above the horizon, prove unquestionably to my mind that these wondrous sunset phenomena are not due to vapour. Not even at that altitude was earth moisture detected of any note.” It is, however, noteworthy that lemon- yellow effects have lately prevailed at sunset to the exclusion of the red, and that the telluric bands in the spectrum rapidly darken, indicating rapid absorption as the sun sinks. Again, on April 7th :—“ Wo deep red after glow was visible, yet the air, by hygrometer and spectroscope, was dry, and the red glow might have been confidently expected; and the barometer was high.” In conclusion, I have great difficulty at present in connecting these abnormal sunset effects absolutely with any meteoro- logical factors of which we are cognisant at the earth’s surface; and I can only look to the primary cause, high in the atmo- sphere, whose effects may be regulated by atmospheric con- ditions. 24 NOTES ON THE PHYSICAL AND GEOLOGICAL FEATURES OF THE BASIN OF THE LOWER MURRAY RIVER. By Proressorn Raten Tare, F.G.S., F.L.S., &e. Plate III. [Read June 3 and July 1, 1884.] CONTENTS. Introduction. Sections of the Older Tertiary or Physical Features of the Murray Murravian. ; Plateau. Paleontology of the Older Tertiary. Hydrographical Notes. Sections of the Newer Tertiary. River Alluvium. Leading Botanical Features. Origin of the Gorge. INTRODUCTION. Captain Charles Sturt entered what is now South Australian territory towards the end of January, 1829, and navigated the river Murray to its mouth. His published observations* remain to this day the only connected account of the physical and geological features of the Lower Murray-river. “A Study about the River Murray” is the title of a paper read before this Society July 3, 1883, and of a pamphlet, privately printed, by Mr. 8. Pollitzer. That work deals essen- tially with river hydraulics, though some geological matters are introduced. Facts in support of a large loss of water of the river by subterranean drainage are put forth by Mr. Rawlinson in Trans. Roy. Soc. 8. Aust., vol. I., pp. 124-126, 1878, and by myself in vol. IV., pp. 182-133, 1881. The purely geological works and papers treating of the area under review are few. Firstly, there are the above-quoted volumes by Sturt, upon which Tenison-Woods, in his ‘‘ Geo- logical Observations in South Australia,’ 1862, has largely drawn for his disconnected account of the geological features of the Murray-river. My own efforts in this connection have been of a fragmentary kind, and will be found at the following references : — “‘ Strata Exposed in the Government Well, Murray Plains,” Geological Magazine, November, 1877; “Correlation of the Coral-bearing Strata in South Australia,” Trans. Roy. Soc. 8. Aust., vol. L, 1878; “Correlation of the Older Tertiary deposits of South Australia,” id. vol. II., pp. li.- * Two Expeditions into the Interior of Southern Australia; 2 vols. 1834- Fig2. Map of the Wesrriiny - AWwev fromm [Mancheloun tthe (aisocn Brumdary Seate ot es 3 A Index to Figms z 3 ail Allusion. ? é =| SVewer Tartiavy. i“ ty ¢ hy a ot 4 Wf Yf Yy a®? = G ; OY Whey Glder Tevtiavy Yy a ei y AV YY} SS . S WN SS oe Vy /, Yuan) Wy ph Ss | “4 Y WY WY pz Wf merwvativ Sartion acres the G he viver at Panchstown Sle. Sup Sey. BLaNcHTOWwN Ss 1 ‘ 25 lviii., 1879; and “ Geological Sections around north-east shore of Lake Alexandrina,” id. vol. IV., p. 144, 1881. The literature of the paleontology of the Tertiary deposits of the Lower Murray-river is more extensive than that of its geology, and will be referred to when I come to speak on that part of my subject. My personal knowledge of the Lower Murray-river is the result of several weeks’ sojourn in each year during the last eight years at various points of its course from the North-west Bend to its mouth. That part of the river from the North-west - Bend to the frontier was explored during a boat excursion occupying three weeks in the month of January of the present year. PuysicaL Features OF THE MURRAY-PLATEAU. If you approach the Murray from the westward, say in the latitude of Truro, you will see from the summit of the pass over the Belvidere Range, that the precipitous front of the Range, composed of Pre-Silurian rocks, bounds a vast sea of green without any sensible interruption so far as the eye can reach. You are looking down on the “mallee scrub” or desert of the Murray, the chief constituents of which are several species of Eucalyptus, notably E. dwmosa, H. uncinata, and E. oleosa. ‘The trees grow close together like reeds, and certainly not thicker, without a branch, until about fourteen feet from the ground, and so dense are they, that ten and twelve stems may be counted springing from one root, and occupy little more than a square foot of ground. Where a road has been cut through it, it appears as though there were a high wall on each side.” * : By a rapid descent from the Range we reach, at an elevation of about 400 feet above sea level, the edge of the talus, which stretches out on to the plateau for a distance of about sixteen miles. Here begins the true Murray plateau, with its out- croppings of limestone, and though its surface is somewhat undulating yet it preserves a pretty uniform level of not per- haps more than 200 feet elevation throughout its whole breadth, which extends far beyond the confines of this colony. At the southward this plateau ends in an ill-defined escarpment at Wellington, where the river discharges itself into Lake Alex- andrina. This extensive plateau is interrupted by the gorge of the Murray-river, for it cannot be called a valley, since it is en- closed by lofty continuous cliffs, appearing as if the plateau had been rent asunder to allow of a passage for its waters; the river occupies, however, a very small part of the bed of the gorge. * T. Woods, ‘‘ Geol. Observ.,” p. 34. 26 The country through which the Murray flows from the boundary of the colony to Lake Alexandrina is essentially the same; and as the gorge-like feature persists throughout, it might be thought because of this uniformity that the geological structure is identical from end to end, but it is not so. From structural and physiographic features I divide the course of the South Australian portion of the river into three sections :— 1. From the boundary to Overland Corner. This length of the river is 143 miles, whilst the distance between the two places is only 60 miles. The width of the gorge varies from six to two and a half miles. 2. From Overland Corner to Lake Alexandrina. At the former locality the gorge suddenly contracts to a width of about one mile; and as far as the North-west Bend the average width is one mile and a quarter, whilst south hence to below Blanchetown, it is three-quarters of a mile. Here and there it opens out to greater width as at Mannum, but is again contracted at its southern end. 3. The Lacustrine section from Wellington to its mouth. [Mr. Pollitzer divides the river from Blanchetown according to his estimate of the rock nature of the cliffs into four sec- tions:—1. Blanchetown to the North-west Bend, limestone. 2. North-west Bend to Overland Corner, partly limestone and partly sandstone. 3. Overland Corner to the Great South Bend, and 4. Thence to the Boundary. The third and fourth, “‘ sandstone in various shapes, and clay.’’] The cliffs of the upper section of the river are composed chiefly of sand, whilst those of the lower section are marine calciferous sandstone, as long since observed by Sturt, who writes “a remarkable change in the geology of the country, as well as to an apparent alteration in the natural productions— the cliffs of sand and clay ceased, and were succeeded by a fossil formation’’ (loc. cit., II., p. 189). Indeed, as I shall hereafter explain, we have at Overland Corner—the locality indicated by Sturt in the foregoing quotation—the junction of two sets of unconformable beds. HypDRoGRAPHICAL NOTES. On the accompanying map (pl. III., fig. 1) the unshaded portion indicates a depressed area within the cliffs sufficiently low to be inundated by high floods; in the upper section of the river this is relatively of great extent, and is closely reticulated with creeks and lagoons; in the lower section the river sweeps along a line of cliffs, having on the other side an alluvial bank beyond which is a more depressed area occupied by a lagoon 27 stretching to the foot of the opposite cliff. (See pl. III., fig. 2). The extent of the flood-waters is marked by the presence of the “‘ box” or ‘‘swamp gum-tree” (Hucalyptus largiflorens) ; it and the red gum-tree (#. rostrata) are the only species of the genus inhabiting the alluvial tracts. The latter grows about the permanent water ; whilst its congener prefers drier ground, though it is evident that its seeds require longish immersion in water to effect germination. ZH. largiflorens attains a maximum height of about 100 feet where growing in spots annually flooded ; but depauperated specimeus may here and there be seen considerably beyond the limits of the greatest flood on record, which seems to demonstrate that at no distant date still higher floods have occurred than we know of. This fact is so well-known on the river that no permanent habitation of any value is erected within the zone of the “ box.” Mr. Pollitzer has shown by table the fluctuations of the water-level at Overland Corner during the last five years, from which we gather the highest elevation above zero of the Over- land Corner gauge, for each year, to be as follows :—1879, 18 feet in December ; 1880, 18 feet in January ; 1881, 10 feet in January ; 1882, 10 feet in November ; 1883, 9 feet in January. The river is at a minimum level varying from March to May, begins to rise with the winter rains in June, and has the largest volume by the melting of snow in the summer months of December and January. The volume of water is largely dependent on these two sources, and an intermittent supply is furnished by the Darling. The tropical rainfall, which comes usually in February and March, and partially so in December, sets the Darling in flood. The flood-waters of the Darling reach the Murray after an interval of four weeks, the average velocity being about 50 miles per day. The volume of water in the Darling is at other times insignificant. If the tropical rains of December be heavy, and should the winter at the sources of the Murray be protracted, then the united flood- waters of the two rivers deluge the whole country within the gorge of the Lower Murray—these exceptionally high floods occur only at long intervals of time. In the upper section of the river the flood-waters have a great area over which to spread themselves, whilst within the narrow gorge of the lower section the volume of water is com- pressed, and in consequence the maximum heights of the flood are here very much greater than they are in the upper section. The highest flood-marks at Morgan are 36 feet above summer water-level. 7 The much-discussed question of how to improve the naviga- bility of the Murray raises several subsidiary ones, the im- 28 portance of which has been either overlooked or ignored. If the river were an equally discharging one, some earnest con- sideration might be given to the suggestions made by Mr. Pol- litzer and in part entertained by the Government, viz., that of shortening the river-way by canals and by narrowing the width of the old river-bed. Of course an actual obstruction to navi- gation is presented by snags and a few rocky bars, which should be removed. But considering the very intermittent flow, our object should be rather to impound the waters than to seek by reduction of length of waterway to run them off at three, four, or more times their present velocity. Another question involved, and one which touches vested interests, is what effect would the proposed scheme have upon the periodic flooding of the alluvial flats. The effect would simply be to render unavailable for summer pasturage a vast extent of country, which now by natural irrigation secures to the grazier feed at a time when the upland country is totally unable to support his stock. : Mr. Pollitzer has pointed out among other defects of the river “the feeding of dead branches. Happily they are scarce on the Murray. There are innumerable creeks fed by the Murray, but only by its high water; at low almost all of them are dry.’ No doubt the vast reticulation of creeks and lagoons of the upper section of the river, filled when the river is in flood, is actually a reservoir which by discharging into the river as the water falls, helps to maintain a larger volume of flow than would be otherwise possible. But with respect to the bifurcation of the river by islands the case is different, as thereby the area is increased at the expense of depth of water. In the case of Craigie’s Creek, which is the most prominent among the by-channels of the Murray, the defect may be over- come at comparatively trifling cost by simply damming it at the ineurrent end, which interrupts a nearly straight line of river bank, and is, moreover, only a few yards across. . The water of the Murray is always thick with suspended matter, its white opacity increasing with the rise of the river. After flood the water of the lagoons and creeks has become clear, and its discharge into the river when falling materially helps to diminish its muddiness. This discharge, taking place during the summer months, is doubtless the chief source of the large quantity of organic matter dissolved in the water. A jar of muddy water taken at this time will, if freely exposed, be- come offensive before it has become clear. The lagoons and creeks are teeming with animal and vegetable life. The falling water is marked by the putrescent remains of animals and bleached masses of vegetable matter. Dying and dead snails of species of Lymnea and Bulinus crowd in myriads the de- 29 pressions on the dessicating muddy flats. The water moved by the wind laves the shore and contaminates itself with its own rejectamenta. One property of the water of the Murray is the remarkably low quantity of saline matter in solution, and its softness. Water collected in January in a fast falling river yielded at the rate of seven grains of dissolved earthy matter per gallon, whilst the quantity of calcic carbonate was 3°9 grains only per gallon. River ALLUVIUM. It has been stated that the river occupies only a small part of the gorge, the rest being an alluvial deposit. The alluvium of the banks consists largely of fine sand mixed with fine clay in sufficient amount that when the whole is moistened to admit of being shaped into a cohering mass; when dry, however, the whole is perfectly incoherent. In the more inward-lying parts of the alluvial tract more clay has accumulated. The materials of the cliffs have not contributed, except in a partial way, to the formation of the alluvium ; conspicuous among the con- stituents of the alluvium are spangles of white mica, which clearly indicate transport from a distance, as that mineral is not present in the cliffs of the Murray until an inlier of mica slate, fourteen miles north of Mannum, is reached; a distance of more than 800 miles from the Boundary. Mr. Pollitzer insists that the alluvium “actually is a marine deposit” (p. 10). Whether his hypothesis, “that the gorge was made by a salt-water stream formed by the receding sea,” demanded a marine deposit, or whether it was an inference based on the fact “that if you bore a hole in these deposits you will meet with brackish water, in spite of having fresh Murray water within a few inches,” I cannot say; but it is most certainly true that Mr. Pollitzer has ignored the evidences of its fresh-water origin in the form of numerous shells still living in the river and its lagoons, whilst the existence of brackish water in the deposit admits of other explanation. In fig. 2, plate III., which represents a cross section of the gorge, I show that the debris of the cliff adjacent to the lagoon is interstratified with a clayey alluvium. The bed of talus, which is composed of sand and angular pieces of stone, admits freely the passage of water, whilst the contiguous clays confine it within that stratum. The water in the taluses is derived from the surface flow down the chff-face, and in its passage takes up salt from the calciferous sand-rock. As some evidence of the appreciable quantity of the sodic chloride in the calciferous sand-rock, I have to state that the steep face of the cliff occu- pied by that rock is where protected by an overhanging ledge 80 covered by a sheet of hard brittle material of an eighth to one-fourth inch thick, constituted of the disintegrated calci- ferous sand cemented by common salt. An analysis of 40 grains dried at 100° C. yielded 16:28 grains of common salt extracted by distilled water and weighed after heating to red- ness. A portion of the calciferous sand-rock, taken from beyond a few inches of the surface, yielded the following — Salts extracted by boiling water ... F O°4 Salts dissolved by Pee acid*™ |... ;aiaem Insoluble residue... ae -o.) Ope 100°0 It is, therefore, no longer a matter for wonder that the pent- up waters within the alluvium are brackish. In no instance in the lower section of the river do the walls of the gorge approach so closely as to confine the river, and very rarely are the alluvial flats in opposition, the rule being that the river flows along one side of the gorge for a more or less straight course of varying lengths, whence it presi ay curves inward, and finally impinges on the opposite wall ; that cliff and alluvium confine the river alter nately on the one side, and alluvium and cliff on the other. The course of the river is not so circuitous in this section as it is in the upper, where the river for long distances meanders through the alluvium; and here the course of the river is undergoing rapid change. The concave bank is continually being worked upon by the falling waters, whilst considerable deposition takes place on the corresponding convex-face. In some instances the periodic extension of the alluvium is dis- tinctly marked by lines of red gum trees, graduating from saplings near the water’s edge to full grown trees at several chains inward. ORIGIN OF THE GORGE OF THE RIVER. I think it will be conceded by all who have thoughtfully examined the rocky walls between which the river flows that they were once continuous, and that their separation is the result of the wearing action of the river itself. Iam also of opinion that the gorge from Overland Corner to Wellington was at one time occupied by a stream covering its whole breadth. The irregularities of the gorge might be explained by the contour of the or iginal surface and the varying degree of hardness of its rocky material rather than by the variability of the rock structure at present water-level, though the latter circumstance might have operated to form ‘the minor sinuosi- * Determined by difference. 31 ties of the gorge. The plateau of the Older Tertiary rocks in which the gorge of the lower section of the river has been formed ends in a comparatively lofty escarpment at Overland Corner, which Captain Sturt estimated at 200 to 300 feet. This was an over-estimate for the cliffs, though it might be correct for the plateau. The cliffs are, however, higher there than anywhere else on the river. What is the line of the es- carpment back from the river I do not know, but abutting against that escarpment are beds of Newer Tertiary age, formed chiefly of loose material, constituting a plateau the mean elevation of which is below that of the escarpment at Overland Corner. The materials of the minor plateau are of fresh-water origin —at any rate, no paleontological evidences have been adduced for or against—whilst the extreme angularity of the sand con- stituents and their false bedded arrangement demonstrate rapid accumulation such as takes place where torrential streams debouch into lake basins. We may apply here Sir A. C. Ramsay’s opinion to the determination of the physical con- ditions under which the formation was deposited. He has stated* that the red colour which stains the Keuper Sandstone and Marl is due to the presence of peroxide of iron, which he believes to have been precipitated from carbonate, and which could only have taken place in inland isolated waters; an opinion that is confirmed by other facts which tend to prove that the rocks in question were formed in a lake or lakes. This belief he afterwards+ extended to formations of older date. The sharp sands, which form a considerable part of the material of the cliffs of the upper. section of the river, not only vary in size, but also in colour, some portions being quite colourless, whilst others are deeply stained with red, and in several instances the oxide of iron has compacted the material into a firm grit-stone. In all cases the red colour of the sands or grits is superficial, as by treatment with hydrochloric acid it is totally discharged. Here, then, we have non-fossiliferous sands, highly stained with hydrated oxide of iron, whilst the other physical conditions under which they were accumulated all tend to confirm the view that they were formed in inland waters, and not in an open sea. However, this much is certain, that since the elevation of the Older Tertiary sea-bed to form the Murray Plain, some portions beyond Overland Corner have been denuded, and that a considerable depth and vast quantity of sands and loam have been deposited against the escarpment * Quart. Journ. Geol. Soc., vol. xxviii., pp. 189, 1871. t Op. cit., p. 241. 32 by the action of fresh water. To allow of such an “accumula- tion the water must have been impounded by that escarpment. The surplus water would escape at the lowest level, and follow the trend of the ground—deflected at intervals by obstructions —and would discharge itself over the littoral escarpment near Wellington. Thus while the river was reducing its bed to an uniform slope throughout its length from Overland Corner, it would at its effluent end be cutting its way back. Probably, because of the soft nature of the material forming the channel, the rate of excavation by the moving water has been greater than that at the falls; however, by their united action there has been formed the mighty gorge. As the level of the im- pounded waters fell below the upper level of their sediments, so they would be eroded by the current thus established, and initiate the gorge of the upper section of the river. Finally, the whole gorge is excavated to its present depth, and a uniform slope of the river bed being formed erosion has ceased. As the volume of water in the bed decreased, so its shallow parts be- came silted up and finally dry, except when floods occurred and deposited fresh sediments upon the flats. My theory may seem at first sight so startling as to place it beyond the pale of acceptance, as it involves the existence of a vast lacustrine area and a river of far greater volume than is at present, and this implies a correspondingly increased rain- fall if the drainage area were the same then as now, which may be taken for granted. There are many independent evidences. existing that this continent has passed through a period when its rainfall was greatly in excess, and was perhaps augmented by glacial conditions. The storage capacity for water of our lake basins in the dry zone of Central Australia is vastly superior to their present condition. Lake Eyre, for instance, its margin is 40 feet below sea-level, whereas if filled its depth would be increased by not less than a hundred feet, and its area enlarged many times. And yet there is evidence that at one time it was a vast expanse of water, and the vegetation in its vicinity capable to sustain life in such huge creatures as the: Diprotodons, whose remains are scattered widely in and around its basin; a country in its present state abandoned, even by the kangaroo. As I have elsewhere* pointed out, the existence of those gigantic herbivorous marsupials in such localities de- mands climatic conditions favourable to the growth of a vege-. tation capable of supporting them, and that their extinction is. attributable to those climatic changes which brought about dessication, involving a reduction in volume of the waters of inland lakes, and finally converting their basins into salt-pans. * Trans. Roy. Soc., 8. Aust., vol. ii., p. Ixvii., 1879. 33 Though there is no paleontological evidence by which to correlate the sands and loams forming the cliffs of the upper section of the Lower Murray River with the Drifts charac- terised by the Pliocene marsupials; yet the physical conditions under which each seem to have been accumulated point to contemporaneity. SECTIONS OF THE OnpER TertIary DEposits OF THE LOWER SECTION OF THE RIVER. In a paper Notes on the “Correlation of the Coral-bearing strata of South Australia,”* I presented a generalized section of the strata in the cliffs of the River Murray, in which the following subdivisions in descending were adopted :—Lacus- trine, Upper (Marine) Murravian, Middle (Marine) Murra- vian, and Lower (Marine) Murravian. In the following year, in my presidential address, ‘‘ Outlines of South Australian Geology,’’t these views are repeated, and are accompanied by a numerical statement as regards the community of species be- tween the Upper Murravian and the Muddy Creek deposits. Further studies at the section which supplied the chief material for the comparison have convinced me that my Upper Murra- vian should be restricted to the oyster banks,t and that the underlying beds, rich in gastropods, merge into the main mass of the Middle Murravian. This re-arrangement, which places the Muddy Creek beds on the horizon of the Middle Murra- vian, does not materially affect the deductions drawn from my survey of the census of the fauna at each of the two localities. I may best describe the strata of the Older Tertiary cliffs by means of an illustrative SECTION TAKEN NEAR GLENFORSLAN, FOUR MILES NORTH FROM BLANCHETOWN. Lacustrine. FT. IN. 1. Travertine cover and thin-bedded sandy limestone 7 5 2. Red and blue clay ... fe: at tbs sh UNE 3. Compact earthy argillaceous limestone ... ISI es 4, Friable sandstone, with occasional layers of coarse sand ee 8 ae alee of ed HOS Upper Murravian. 5. Oyster-bank ... fe on ri: ore! Foy LG 6. Friable sandstone, with fragments cf shells and cidaris ue ae ss re et ae Shoe 7. Oyster-bank ... "ie 2 ra: oe ae 2G 8. Red and yellow clayey sand, with scattered oysters 2 4 * Trans. Roy. Soc. 8. Aust., vol. I., p. 120; 1878. t Op. cit., vol. IL., p. liii.; 1879. t Poste p. 34 Middle Murravian. 9. Dense mass of Cellepora Gambieriensis in a reddish calcareous paste ; a few oysters and fish teeth 2 O 10. White friable earthy limestone, stained atop with iron ; phosphatic concretions. Highly charged with Waldheimia Macleani, and casts of molluses ET. IN. in gypsum .. 4 4 1l. Yellow limestone, with Zoricula Murray yana in gypsum ..... 0 6 22. Light grey calciferous sandstone, with a thick bank ‘of Cellepora Gambieriensis Ai ioe 13. Id. with banks of Cellepora Gambieriensis.. .. 43° 4 Lower Murravian. 14. Hard grey calciferous sandstone, with Lovenia Forbesi, Cellepora Gambieriensis, Nautilus sp. in gypsum.. dae: 15. Brown friable calciferous ‘sandstone, weathering with a rough exterior... 2 16. Hard grey calciferous sandstone, with casts of Torcula Murrayana 7 17. Brown friable calciferous sandstone h! ods.) ee TS. As Wo. Ge sss ay: ee ee 19. As Nos. 17 and 15, Panopea sp. 1 6 20. AS ING. 18°" 42 1 21. Yellow-grey friable calciferous sandstone, with casts of Zorcula in gypsum ae ae . ae Total to river level ... we % 120 3 From Overland Corner to south of Blanchetown, the beds show decided undulations particularly noticeable in those of the Lower Series, the brown hard sandstones of which ecquire locally enlarged proportions. To the eastward of the North- WestBend the calciferous sand-rock shows local attenuations and the Upper Murravian is proportionally thickened (see North-West-Bend Section). Hence the dip is referable to variations in the thicknesses of the several beds, for if we note the levels for a long line of cliffs, it will be found that the beds have no general inclination. SECTION AT NORTH-WEST-BEND HEAD STATION. Lacustrine. EL. EX: 1. Sand - ee 2. Marly clay, with travertine corer (13’) ie i, 35 Upper Murravian. FT. IN. 3. Hard sandstone dn; ae sie nay 4. Soft sandstone, false-bedded a 8 2 5. Oyster- bank—a dense mass of shells in a cal- careous paste. Oysters, pearl-shells, Zrigonia acuticosta, &c., and casts of univalves ... aa 8 0 6. Sand-rocks unfossiliferous ... ied vr va <10::-0 Middle Murravian. 7. Yellowish-grey calcareo-argillaceous sand-rock with hardish bands of Cellepora Gambieriensis. Polyzoa abundant, numerous palliobranchs and echinoderms. ¥* et ae oe: ae VEN HS Total to river level es a0 Ae Th Oe Going eastward, the oyster-bed thickens and at a mile from the Station the section consists of about 40 feet of oysters and 20 feet of yellow calciferous sand-rock. SECTION AT FOUR MILES SOUTH FROM MORGAN. Lacustrine. i i FT. IN. 1. Reddish-coloured ealciferous clays wis wee OA UO Upper Murravian, 2. Oyster bank ... ey a +o Fil we. dee, oO Middle Murravian. 3. Hard, lumpy, yellow sandstone _... 10 0 4. Yellowish-grey limestone with clayey- sand layers 10 10 5. Yellowish-brown clayey-sand with Cellepora Gam- biervensis Al 6. Id. with hard lumps and imperfectly stony bands. Very fossiliferous, particularly rich in penn: pods 16 5 7. Shell sand with streak of stiff blue clay 0 3 8: As No.6 oP 9. Yellow soft calciferous sandstone... 43 6 Total to river level oe ae fabio «OY feat | PALEONTOLOGY OF THE OnpER TeERTIARY DEpostrs. Bibliography.—So far as known to me, the following isa brief digest of previous writings in connection with Murravian fossils. The earliest reference to the existence of fossils in the 36 Murray cliffs is by Captain Sturt, who collected on his voyage down the river, some of which are figured in the account of ‘his exploration. * Tnan appendix, pp. 253 and 254, the author gives a list of the fossils collected from this formation, em- bracing Polyzoa, 8; Echinoderms, 3; Lamellibranchs, 16; Palliobranch, 1; Gastropods, 14. Most of those of the first three classes are referred to by specific names employed for European tertiary fossils. Of those figured a shrewd guess: can be made at the species referred to, but in no case can Captain Sturt’s determination be accepted. As giving a better insight into the present state of our knowledge of the paleontology of the formation, I arrange the subject matter of this progress report according to eh classification. CLASS MAMMALIA. Zeuglodon Harwoodii, Sanger, is figured and described in Proc. Lin. Soc., N.S.W., vol. 5, p. 298, 1880. Remains of this interesting and aberrant cetacean were obtained near Welling- ton. CLASS GASTROPODA. Marginella Wentworthi, Tenison Woods, and J. propinqua, Tate, are recorded in my ‘‘ Fossil Marginellide of Australasia,’” Trans. Roy. Soc., 8. Aust., vol. 1., pp. 92 and 94, 1878. Cassis textilis and Fissurellidea malleata are described id. vol. v., pp. 45,46; and Yorcula Murrayana and Leiostraca Johnstoniana in Proc. Roy. Soc., Tasm., 1884. ' CLASS LAMELLIBRANCHIATA. Trigonta acuticostata is recorded by Bednall, Trans. Roy. Soc., S. Aust., vol. i., p. 82, 1878. Zenatiopsis angustata,, gen. et spec. nov., and Lepton crassum are described in vol. u. of the same Proceedings, pp. 129 and 130; and Corbula ephamilla, Chione dimorphophylla and Lima Jeffreysiana in Proc. Roy. Soc.,, Tasm., 1884. CLASS PALLIOBRANCHIATA. Waldheimia Taylori, Etheridge, is figured and described in Annals and Mag. Nat. Hist., January, 1876; and in my mono- graph of the Tertiary Palliobranchs of Australia (Trans. Roy. Soc. S. Aust., vol. 111., pp. 140—17, plates vii. to xi., 1880) the following are described and recorded:—Terebratula vitreoides, Woods; Waldheimia Garibaldiana, Davidson; W. divaricata, Tate ; W. Tateana, Woods; W. grandis, Woods; W. Maclean, Tate; W. Coriensis, McCoy; Terebratulina Scoulari, Tate ; * Two Expeditions into the Interior of Southern Australia, 1834, vol. ii., plates 2 et 3. 37 PT. Davidsoni, Etheridge; Magasella compta, Sowerby; J. Wood- siana, Tate; and Rhynchonella squamosa, Hutton. CLASS POLYZOA. The Rev. J. E. Tenison Woods, in Trans. Roy. Soc., Victoria, vol. vi, apphed new names to some of the forms ficured by Sturt, but these have been ignored by Mr. Waters in his several papers dealing with this class in the Older Tertiary of Australia. Mr. Woods has, moreover described and figured from the Murravian deposits, the following Selenariade :—Cupularia rutella and Selenaria alata. Trans. Roy. Soc., 8. Aust., vol. 111., 1880. Mr. Waters has recently occupied himself with the deter- mination of the Cyclostamatous and Chilostomatous species occurring in the River Murray cliffs from material furnished _ by me. ‘His paper wili appear in a forthcoming number of the Proceedings of the Geological Society of London; in the meanwhile an approximate summary of his results, as com- municated by letter to me, is given at p. 18. CLASS CRUSTACEA. Prof. G. Brady furnishes a list of four species of Ostracoda obtained from the Government Well between the Burra and North-West Bend (Geological Magazine, July, 1876). The species are Bairdia ovata, G.B.; Macrocypris acuminata, Reuss; Cythere Normani, G. B.; and Paracypris decora, G. B. CLASS ECHINODERMATA. Dr. Laube (“ Ueber einige fossile Echiniden von den Murray Cliffs” in Sitz. d. k. Akad. d. Wissench., Wien, 1869) describes and figures, as new, eight species, viz., Hehinus Woodsii (Psam- mechinus), Zemnechinus novus (Paradoxechinus), MWicraster brevistella, Arachnoides australis (Monostychia), Catopygus elegans, Echinolampas ovulum (= E. Gambieriensis, Woods), Eupatagus Murrayensis, EB. Wrightit, and records Lovenia Forbesit. Professor Dr. Duncan, in Quart. Journ. Geol. Soc., vol. XXX1l1., p. 44 et seq., 1877, adds as new species Eupatagus rotundus and Ilegalaster compressus. CLASS ACTINOZOA. The coral fauna of the Murray Cliffs has been catalogued by me in the first volume of our Transactions. It comprises seven species, one of which, Deltocyathus alatus, was described and figured as new by Tenison Woods in the same volume. The other species are D. viola, Sphenotrochus australis, Flabellum 38 Victorie, Placotrochus deltoideus, Antillia lens, and Balano- phyllia australiensis. CLASS FORAMINIFERA. Mr. H. B. Brady, in Geological Magazine for July, 1876, gives a list of 24 species determined by him from material obtained in sinking the Government Well between Burra and North-West Bend. Summary of recorded species. Mammalia 1 Gastropoda _... 6 Lamellibranchiata 6 Palliobranchiata if Polyzoa 39 Crustacea 4. Echinodermata... 11 Actinozoa 7 Foraminifera 24: Total « at: The major part of the species upon which the above sum- mary is based consists of those which have been described from. the actual beds, whiist the rest has been included on good authority. Many more remain to be catalogued, as may be gathered by reference to a census of the fauna of the Gastropod- bed near Morgan submitted by me in the second volume of our Transactions, p. liv., 1878. Since that time gatherings: have been repeatedly made, and the elaboration of the species has received some attention. Many species have been identified with those of the Mollusca described by Woods and McCoy, and of Echinoderms by Duncan; but a large proportion has. yet to be named. However, the Lamellibranchs are in course of treatment by me after the plan adopted with regard to the Palliobranchs of the Older Tertiary of Australia, and I trust that before the lapse of many months the results will be before you. When the Gastropods shall have been similarly elabo- rated, it will then be possible to correlate the various fos- siliferous beds, and to promulgate more decided opinions as to. the relationship of the faune inter se and to those of other Tertiary areas and to recent ones. In the lists of the characteristic species of the several sub- divisions of the Murravian formation which follow I have included only those of which diagnoses have been published, rage of which are for the first time recorded as Murravian ossils. 39 SPECIES OF UPPER MURRAVIAN. The fauna of this subdivision is very meagre, and it is only at few spots where other than the ubiquitous oyster is found ; and then, for the most part, the tests have more or less exfoliated, so that it is not always possible to refer them to their generic position. Besides the oyster there is a large Margaritifera, Trigonia acuticostata, McCoy, Pectunculus laticostatus ? Arca, 2 spp., Lellina, Mactra, &c., Clypeaster Gippslandicus, McCoy. SPECIES OF THE MIDDLE MURRAVIAN. The soft calciferous sandstone which makes up the chief ‘part of the sub-formation, and which maintains a uniform character from Overland Corner to many miles south of Blanchetown, is especially rich in members of the families Ostreide, Limide, Anomiadz and Pectinideg, in Palliobranchs, Polyzoa, and Echinoderms. About Mannum the formation consists of red raggy lime- stones, full of Lovenia Forbesii throughout its whole thickness of about 150 feet, and of overlying coarse polyzoal rock of about 10 feet; in the latter Catopygus elegans occurs. The upper 40 or 50 feet contain the same assemblage of fossils as the Middle Murravian further north; and I incline to the opinion that the whole embraces both the Middle and Lower Series, but because of its lithological and, concurrently, pale- ontological uniformity they are here not separable. Referring back to the ‘Section at four miles south from Morgan,’ the beds numbered five to eight inclusive deserve especial notice from the profusion of their fossils and from the circumstance that the habitat is unique so far as regards the cliffs. Here because of the slight admixture of argillaceous matter in the matrix, the tests of gastropods and of many bivalves have been well preserved, but this condition is main- tained only for about 3850 yards, measured along the front of the cliff, beyond that the shells gradually disappear with the diminution of clay, and finally at half-a-mile distant the beds have merged into the limestones, caverned with casts, and the ordinary calciferous rock. The absence of argillaceous matter in the marine beds forming the gorge of the river is remarkable; but at varying distances beyond, well-sinkings have revealed the occasional presence of clays, which are usually rich in fossils identical with those of beds 5 to 8 just treated of. The blue marl in the following section yielded fossils of this character :— 40 GOVERNMENT WELL, BETWEEN BURRA AND NORTH-WEST-BEND. FT. Red loamy clay (Pliocene)... elena A Light-coloured sandstone with casts of shells ... 10 Gravelly ironstone and layers of clay... 81 Blue marl . .... bes et nt ‘i Sandstone without shells... 2. ae eee Running sand bh te ee ba Ste Tai Total ome Psp ... Low Similar results were obtained in a well-sinking five miles east of the above, and at “nine-mile camp,” near North-West Bend. Again, at Westbrook, about eleven miles north of Wellington and one and a-half east from the river, a blue marl occurs near the bottom of a well, sixty feet deep, charged with fossils in an excellent state of preservation. Charcharodon angustidens, 4g.; Otodus Desori, 4g.; Lamna elegans, 4g. Aturia australis, McCoy. Typhis McCoyi, Woods ; Triton Abbotti, Woods; Ranella Prattii, Woods; Nassa Tatei, Woods; Ancillaria semilevis, Woes A. mucronata, Sow.; Ti) Caladenia filamentosa. Hog Bay River (T. W.!) Emu Bay to Discovery Flat (F. W. H.!) Caladenia latifolia. Same as last. (s) The following species are no longer restricted in South Australia to Kangaroo Island, having been observed in the respective localities annexed :— Hydrocotyle tripartita, at Lowan, near Tarpeena (R. T.) Lobelia platycalyx, at Lake Edwards (R. T.), and at Yallum, Penola, by Miss Allen ! Schenus sculptus, at Port Lincoln, by Mr. 8. Dixon! (c) Additional Localities :— Drosera Menziesit, Thomasia petalocalyx, Kennedya prostrata, Pomaderris obcordata, Styphelia Richei, and 8S. ovalifolia, at Hog Bay River (T. W.!) Grevillea ilcifolia. Between Emu Bay and Shoal Bay and towards Kinch’s Station (F. W. H. !) *T.W.—Mrs. T. Willson, of Hog Bay River. + F.W.H.—Mr. F. Wm. Hicks, sometime resident near Kmu Bay. 75 Diuris longifolia and Caladenia deformis. Emu Bay to Dis- covery Flat (F. W. H.) and Hog Bay River (T. W.!) Caladenia carnea. Emu Bay to Discovery Flat (Ff. W. H. !) Pterostylis precox. Hog Bay River (T. W. !) 2. River Murray. The following species, which are additions to the flora of this region, were observed by me in January of this year :— Hibiscus Krichauffianus. Desert towards the Victorian Boun- dary. Le es Erechthites quadridentatus, and HE. arguta. On the river-alluvium east from Overland Corner. Sarcostemma australe, as a low shrub with erect stiff branches ; on the desert between Chowilla and the Boundary. Ottelia ovalifolia. Lagoons and still waters of the river above Overland Corner. Lappago racemosa. Desert beyond Chowilla. Danthonia nervosa and Eragrostis diandra. Alluvial flats above Overland Corner. 3. ADELAIDE DISTRICT. Scleranthus pungens and Quinetia Urvillet. Cliff slopes by the sea between Marino and Hallett’s Cove (R. T.). Scirpus littoralis. Margins of the River Torrens; it grows also at Wilpena Pound (R. T.). 4, Lake Torrens DIsteRict. Salicornia tenuis. Stony ground on Mount Parry, Aroona Range (R. T.). BIBLIOGRAPHICAL NOTICES. Recent PAPERS RELATING TO THE PALXONTOLOGY OF SoutTH AUSTRALIA. 1. Fossils from near Mount Hamilton and Peak. By W. H. Huddleston, in “ Geological Magazine,” August, 1884, p. 339. Here are figured the following, to which the appended notes are mine :— Natica, sp. WV. variabilis, Moore. Myacites (?) australis, n. sp. May be a Plewromya. Cytherea Woodwardiana, n. sp. Genus uncertain. Cyprina, sp. Moonta .. ya Bid Port Adelaide Me Sie Adelaide. sik o Adelaide... sf Adelaide .. Adelaide .. Adelaide .. Adelaide.. Adelaide . Hydraulic ‘Engineer’s Office | Hydraulic Engineer’ s Office Norwood... e ° e e e e e a e Glenelg .. Government Printing Office North Adelaide .. s- Adelaide .. on Be North Adelaide : Adelaide .. Woodville = i Millswood mf zs Register Office BS aa Adelaide . ve afi Adelaide . aa Adelaide Univ er sity ‘ General Post Office Mount Gambier .. ts North Adelaide .. Meadows st x Adelaide . f. St. Peter’s “College = Parkside... ee : Adelaide .. a : Adelaide .. bb. 3 Adelaide. 111 ‘White, R. A. we ats .. Adelaide.. ae os, 8a Whitne, J.B.» .. a .. Destitute Board Office .. 882 *Whittell, H., M.D. ve j.. (Glenele .. - -- 1882 Woodward, H. O. Be .- Gov. Geologist’s Office hen) Oe *“Wragge, C: L., F.R.G.S.. .. .-. Torrens’ Observatory vier LSE Wyatt, Wm., M.R.C.S... .. Burnside.. se oe | 1809 Young, Wm., M.A. ve .. Hindmarsh aie as 2580 ASSOCIATES. Burchell, D. dé es .. Surveyor-General’s Office .. 1883 Hoégson, Mrs. .. Sis -« Port Victor oe -. 1884 APPENDIX. TRANSAC®T1TONS OF THE Field Maturalists’ Section of the Royal Society OF SOUTH AUSTRALIA: This Section was established by a resolution of the Royal Society of South Australia on September 4th, 1883, and the — rules adopted at the following meeting held on October 2nd, as recorded in Vol. VI. of the Transactions. In the first week of November Prof. Tate delivered a preliminary lecture in the Town Hall, under the auspices of the Royal Society, on the objects of this Section, Dr. H. T. Whittell presiding. The Chairman said that the establishment of the Section was owing to the desire of the Royal Society to meet the wishes of a number of studiously disposed persons who wished to undertake the study of Natural History from a more elementary point than that pursued by the Royal Society. Prof. Tate, in the course of a very interesting lecture, stated that it was not intended to exclude those who solely sought pleasant com- panionship and agreeable change, and that ladies as well as gentlemen world be welcomed. The lectures should deal with subjects alike entertaining and instructive, and that one of the chief features should be the microscope. Mr. W. H. Selway, jun., proposed a vote of thanks to the Professor, which was carried with acclamation, when the proceedings terminated with a similar vote to the Chairman. RU LES. 1. The general management of this Section shall be con- trolled by a Chairman, two Vice-Chairmen, a Secretary, and a Committee of eight, five to form a quorum. 2. The Chairman, Vice-Chairmen, and Committee shall be elected at the annual meeting in October. 113 3. The Chairman shall not be eligible for office for more than two consecutive years, and one of the Vice-Chairmen shall retire each year. 3 4, Candidates for admission, not being members of the Royal Society, must be proposed and seconded by two members of the Section at one meeting, and be balloted for at the next ensuing meeting; one black ball in five to exclude. 5. Evening meetings shall be held on Tuesdays, at the dis- cretion of the Committee of Management, for the purpose of reading papers, dealing with the natural history of Australia (more particularly of the neighbourhood of Adelaide), or for the purpose of mutual instruction. 6. There shall be at least eight Field Meetings during the year; the time and place to be arranged by the Committee. 7. At the annual general meeting a statement of accounts shall be submitted by the Secretary and duly certified by two auditors appointed at the previous ordinary meeting, pre- paratory to being handed to the Treasurer of the Royal Society. 8. The Section may from time to time elect as honorary members those who have been proposed and seconded in the usual way, and have been unanimously elected by ballot. This shall also apply to corresponding members. 9. Any member owing the subscription to the Section and neglecting to pay the same on or before the first day of January, shall be hable to have his name removed from the list of members of the Section ; provided always that written appli- cation for the same shall first have been made by or on behalf of the Treasurer of the Royal Society ; and, provided also, that the Committee shall have power to restore the defaulter’s name at his request, after payment of arrears. 10. The rules and regulations of the Section shall not be altered unless a written notice of motion, signed by not less than five members, be given at a meeting of the Section; and thereupon such motion may be brought forward at the next meeting. 11. Any resolution passed under rule 10, altering or re- pealing the rules of the Section, shall be in force until the meeting held in the month of October following; and if not then confirmed, shall thereafter be held void and of no effect. 12. On the written requisition of twenty members, delivered to the Secretary, an extraordinary general meeting may be: called to consider and decide upon the subject mentioned in the requisition. 13. The Committee shall be empowered to frame rules for the conduct of excursions arranged for by them. 114 RULES FOR THE CONDUCT OF FIELD EXCURSIONS 1. Each member shall have the privilege of introducing two friends ; such privilege not to extend to any person who shall have been a Visitor at two successive meetings. 2. A Chairman to be elected as at ordinary meetings. 3. The Secretary to act as conductor, or in his absence, some member of the Committee nominated by him. 4. No change to be made in the programme, or extra expense incurred, except by the consent of two-thirds of the members present. 5. No fees, gratuities, or other expenses to be paid except through the conductor. 6. Every member or visitor to have the accommodation assigned by the conductor. Where accommodation is limited, consideration will be given to priority of application. 7. Accommodation cannot be supplied unless tickets are obtained before the time mentioned in the special circular. 8. Those who attend an excursion without previous notice will be liable to extra charge, if extra cost be thereby incurred. 9. No intoxicating liquors shall be provided at the expense of the Section. EX CU RS FONG: First Excursion—Saturpay, NOVEMBER 24, 1883. Just before 2 o’clock p.m., about 60 members met at the Railway Station, North-terrace, and proceeded in a reserved carriage to Belair, where the party was met by Mr. Cooke, the keeper of the Government Farm, under whose guidance the party was placed. After passing a short distance along the line, a halt was called, and Prof. Tate explained that they were in the centre of a curiously formed basin. The sides of the railway cutting indicated that the soil was decomposing taleose slate, and that in the next cutting they would find the debris of this talcose slate, viz., angular gravel and sandy beds with underlying clays. The vegetation was entirely different from that of the surrounding area, being similar in character to heathy scrub lands. Judging from the lithological evidence, he considered these superficial beds, which were generally gold- bearing, to be of fluviatile or lacustrine origin, and co-eval with the Upland Miocenes of the Gawler district. The elevation at which they stood was just on the verge of the upper limits of the Peppermint Gum (Eucalyptus odorata) and the lower limits of the White Gum (E. leucoxylon). The characteristic flora of the heathy ground were indicated by the Grass Tree (Xanthor- 115 vhoea semiplana), the Serub Sheaoak (Casuarina distyla), Hakeas, and other proteaceous plants, and the fact that Leptospermums and other myrtaceous plants grew here was always an assurance that the ground was amply supplied with water. The season was too late for most orchids. The pro- fessor pointed out a very rare one, Diuris sulphurea, which until last year was not known westward of the South-Eastern District. Mr. Tepper secured a specimen of Pterostylis rufa, a sensitive orchid, otherwise only occurring in the mallee regions. Professor Tate also drew attention to the most curious and interesting Pterostylis barbata, which he roughly described as a flower resembling a hood-like trap witha shutter. Should any small insect alight on this shutter, or irritable labellum, it flew up and imprisoned the insect without hurting it. For a period of some twenty minutes it would be encased, and by its efforts to escape would cover itself all over with the pollen. At the expiration of the period mentioned, the tension would be relaxed, and the fly escape, only to be caught by some other orchid, where the pollen it had brought would be utilised to secure cross fertilization. The higher slopes and the water- fall were visited, which latter is formed by an escarpment of quartzose sandstone. The following plants were found, viz. : —wNative indigo (Indigofera australis), Verbena officinalis, Cynoglossum australis and suaveolens, Meionectes Brownii, and the rare Cyperus tenellus, only added to our flora in 1882. Rich fern banks were met with, and six species collected. At halt-past 5 the party assembled at the Railway Station, and returned in a reserved carriage to town. Seconp Excurs1on—DecemBer 8, 1883. Between 60 and 70 members proceeded to Crafers by the 2 m. train in a reserved carriage. On arrival the party pro- ceeded under the leadership of the Hon. Secretary, Mr. Pickels, to the neighbourhood of Mount Lofty, when, after walking about a mile, Prof. Tate called attention to the fact that they were now in the region of the stringybark forest, and indicated the soft coarse-grained sandstone that appeared on the surface of the stringybark country, and that so far as the Mount Lofty Ranges were concerned, both were co-terminous. Of the stringybarks, two species existed here, viz., Eucalyptus obliqua and E, capitellata. The sandstones rested unconfor- mably upon the slaty rocks. Both had a dip to the south-east, but that of the former was much the less inclined of the two, and in consequence water was encountered all along the eastern slope of the range in the form of springs issuing from the junction of the two sets of beds. At the heads of gullies, 116 especially on the eastern flanks, ferns, lycopodiums, and other plants characteristic of humid stations abounded. With res- pect to the geological age of these formations little had as yet been forthcoming to replace conjecture with certainty. It was often thought by the inexperienced that the underlying slate rocks contained plant remains, and these were appealed to as affording conclusive proofs that the series contained coal. These plant-like markings are produced by the infiltration of oxide of manganese, and are not of organic origin. Though the stringybark country was not rich either in animal or vegetable life, yet in the course of the day many characteristic species of this tract were found—notably Aster Sonderi, with its large oak-lke leaves and glorious white flowers supported on stalks a foot in length, the only known locality for this plant being the stringybark forests of the Mount Lofty Ranges ; the graceful Marianthus bignoniaceus, with pendulous, yellow and orange flowers ; and the Stylidium (Candollea) graminifohum. ‘The last-named, being a sensitive plant, amused and interested many of the party on testing its irritability. The style, crowned by two anthers, hangs down through a notch in the corolla. When touched by an insect, or anything else, it assumes an horizontal position with great rapidity, and then rests upon the corolla. The object to be gained by this action was stated to have remained a mystery, in spite of the earnest attention which scientific men have given to the matter, and that its discovery would be hailed with satisfaction by botanical students. An al fresco business meeting was then held, Professor Tate presiding, when eighteen new members were elected unani- mously, after which the meeting terminated, and the party returned to Crafers. — Tuirp Excursion—Nerw Yerar’s Day. About 90 ladies and gentlemen proceeded by three coaches to Hallet’s Cove for a whole-day excursion, noting by the way the thinly bedded slaty rocks and limestones interstratified by thick quartzites which compose the ascent to Tapley’s Hill, and the highly crystalline arenaceous marbles occupying the higher levels. Drawing up at a house on Mr. Rymill’s estate the party walked down to the valley of Field’s River, a small rivu- let with high and steep banks, except near the mouth where it euters the sea at Hallett’s Cove, named after Capt. Hallett, who had an interest in the now deserted Worthing Mine, about a mile inland from the shore. After lunch Professor Tate led the way to the shore. The river empties itself into the sea between two bold headlands LEZ about a mile apart, the beach being strewn with stones from the size of a pebble up to large boulders. The presence of granite was noted among these shore pebbles, having been prob- -ably transported froma distance by some natural agency, as granite does not occur in situ in the neighbourhood. The larger boulders were seen to be massive conglomerates contain- ing pebbles of gneiss and quartzites. Professor Tate explained that this conglomerate was to be seen iz situ some distance northward, and that it formed part of a series that occupied a much lower position in the sedimentary rocks of the colony. The southern headland, appropriately called Black Point, is formed of dark shales of a purple color standing nearly on edge. By approaching this point from the rear, the crest was reached, -and, by looking down, it was seen that the stratification is inter- rupted by curves and intricate foldings. Proceeding along the top by a narrow terrace, hemmed in -above by the second cliff of horizontally stratified grey sand- stone, the party arrived at a place scarcely a quarter of a mile distant from Black Point, where the surface of the underlying slate was laid bare, quite smooth, and scratched and grooved in a generally north and south direction. These polished and scratched features Prof. Tate explained as due to the action of ice at some former period, whereupon a lively discussion took place, those members well versed in recognising the toolmarks made by ice acquiescing with the opinion of the Professor. On returning, the party proceeded to examine the second line of cliffs, composed of red and grey Tertiary sandstone, and. found that the sandstone, at about half the height of the cliffs, contained a number of fossil shells. Prof. Tate said that he had found between 50 and 60 species of fossils in this formation, which could be seen to better advantage at Aldinga, where cor- responding beds rest on older fossiliferous rocks. This upper series he referred to the Miocene period, and the lower, at Aldinga, to the Eocene. It was the nearest place to Adelaide where the formation could be studied. The surface was of an arid character, but in spring yielded many interesting plants. Of these the following were more particularly observed, viz. :— Goodenia amplexans, G. albiflora, Myoporum parvifolium, Pittosporum phyllireoides, Ptilotus nobilis, Sida corrugata, Boerhevia diffusa. On re-assembling at the encampment by the stream a meeting was held, Prof. ‘Tate presiding, when several members were elected. After tea had been partaken of and an early return party taken their leave, the remain- ing members were conducted up the gorge, where Pro- fessor Tate pointed out the rocky walls of massive lime- stones, here and there crumpled and bent in a most intricate 118 manner. Attention was also directed to a plant growing among the rocks, and gathered by Mr. Tepper, viz., Euphorbia eremophila, which the Professor said was well known to the sheeptarmer of the Far North on account of its poisonous. qualities, but has rarely, if ever before, been seen in the southern parts of the colony. At about 6 p.m. the coaches started on their homeward. journey, and the city was reached at an early hour. —_— FourtH Excurs1ion—FEprvuary 2, 1884. About 90 ladies and gentlemen proceeded in reserved car- riages to Aldgate, from whence a special engine took them on to Bridgewater. Here they were met by Mr. E. Guest, of Bal- hannah, who had consented to undertake the guidance of the party through the grounds of Messrs. Dunn & Co., who had kindly granted permission. Following the mill-race the direc- tion towards Mount George was taken. Around the sheet of water known as Dunn’s dam, the fellowing introduced plants: were noticed, viz., the ribwort (Plantago lanceolata), Dutch clover (Trifolium repens), chamomile (Matricaria camomilla), sheep’s sorrel (Rumex acetosella), dock (R. obtusifolius), and. the yarrow (Achillea millefolium). An unsuccessful search was made for a lamprey inhabiting Cox’s Creek, and believed to be a species at present unknown to the scientific world. The following native plants were pointed out by Prof. Tate as rare, viz., Siegesbeckia orientalis, Gratiola Peruviana, Prunella vul- earis, Polygonum minus, Juncus prismatocarpus, Scirpus inun- datus, and one of the native fuchsias, viz., Correa decumbens, the latter said to occur nowhere else than in the valley of the Onkaparinga River. An open-air meeting being called, presided over by Prof. Tate, ten new members were elected; and a few unimportant business details being disposed of, the party proceeded towards Mount George. On arriving at the summit, Prof. Tate stated that the upper part of Mount George was a grand rocky bluff of quartzose grits, as were also those of all the peaks in the Mount Lofty Range, whilst the slopes were composed of talcose slates. The contour was obviously due to the difference of the structure and composition of the two sets of beds. This bluff, like all the high ground around, was covered with stringybark forest, seemingly of one species, viz., Eucalyptus capitellata, corroborating the observations of Mr. J. E. Brown, F.L.S., im the “ Forest Flora,” that “trees of this species are more numerous in the inland stringybark forests than those of its compeer, E. obliqua.” Few shrubs and plants were in flower, except Bursaria spinosa, a myrtaceous shrub; and Ixodia 119 achilleoides, an everlasting composite. Here was also seen in great abundance a leafless orchid, Dipodium punctatum, about two feet in height, bearing numerous purplish flowers with darker spots. A few plants of Tetratheca were still found in bloom, and special attention was directed to a white double variety gathered. A few specimens of the rather rare legu- minous shrub, Viminaria denudata, were found, Prof. Tate stating that its specific name alluded to its want of leaves, whose functions were performed by its long, green, filiform leafstalks, several of which were found with a small oval leaf still attached to theirends. After accomplishing the steep des- cent from Mount George, the members left Bridgewater by the 6.16 p.m. train, and arrived in town at half-past seven. — Firra Excurston—Sarurpay, Marcu 1, 1884. Eighty ladies and gentlemen proceeded in reserved carriages by the 2 p.m. train to Aldgate, and were then, by the courtesy ot Mr. A. G. Pendleton, the Traffic Manager, sent on to Ambleside by a special engine. Here they were met by Mr. Guest, of Balhannah, who had consented to take the lead. Following the Onkaparinga, a large red-gum tree was pointed out by Mr. Guest as one of the largest, if not the largest gum tree in the district. It was estimated to be 150 feet high, and the stem 25 feet in girth. In one of the main forks ot the branches, high above the ground, a tuft of the common Bracken (Pteris aquilina) was seen growing. Under this giant of the forest a meeting was held, Prof. ‘late, F.G.8., &c, presiding. Eight new members were elected. Mr. Guest exhibited the following ferns collected on his way there, viz., Gleichenia circinata, Grammitis rutefolia, and G. leptophylla. Proceeding along the river, Prot. late called attention to the fact that it was margined by thickets of the Teatree (Lepto- spermum lanigerum), Silver Wattle (Acacia retinodes), and the native Raspberry (Rubus parvifolius). On and near the banks were the native Daisy (Brachycome graminea), Cyperus lucidus, Goodenia ovata, Hydrocotyle vulgaris, H. asiatica, Cladium glomeratum, the Maiden Hair fern (Adiantum zethiopicum), and Potentilla anserina, hitherto not known in South Australia except in the South-East. The Onkapringa was fairly rich in aquatic species, among which the following were collected :—Heliocharis sphacelata, Potamogeton natans, Trizloetim procera, Myriophyllum varie- folum, and Ranunculus rivularis, to which some others succeeded in adding Polyganum prostratum, Ottelia ovalifoha, and Potamageton crispus as rare plants about Adelaide. A few fresh water molluses were obtained, viz., the river mussel 120 (Unio ambiguus) and a small water snail (Bulinus bullatus). The forest trees consisted chiefly of the Red Gum, Eucalyptus rostratus, E. goniocalyx, and E. capitellata. In open grassy spots were seen Calocephalus lacteus, Eryngium vesiculosum, and Lagenophora emphysopus. , The members started for town at 6 p.m., and arrived about half-past 7. SixtH Excurston—Saturpay, Marcn 22, 1884. The party, consisting of 85 members, including two ladies, proceeded in a reserved carriage to Alberton by the 1.50 p.m. train. On arrival Mr. Councillor Kestel met the party, and conducted them to a gravel pit near the Station sunk through two feet of loam and fourteen feet of gravel. Mr. Kestel exhibited a piece of miocene limestone containing Turritella Aldinge ; pieces of jasper, quartz crystals, and titaniferous ironsand as found in it; also some valves of the Victoria eockle or Arca trapezia. Prof. Tate said he had no hesitation in regarding the gravel as of fresh-water origin, and of the same character as that intercalated with the red loams forming the drift or pliocene deposits of the Adelaide Plain. The shells of the Arca trapezia had doubtless been found at or near the surface, and he would hazard the theory that they had been left by the aboriginals at some time, who had cooked and eaten the mollusc at their camp, as evidenced by the number of pel- lets of burnt clay found with the shells. Exhibiting a geo- logical map, he showed that they were standing on the margin of a marine formation about fourteen feet above sea level, and embracing the Dry Creek marshes. lt was rich in fossils, all of which, as far as known, belonging to living species. The Area was one of the most characteristic of these, but no longer a denizen of our waters. A business meeting was then held, at which Prof. Tate pre- sided, when the following gentlemen were elected as honorary members, viz.:—Messrs. H. Watt and D. Best, Vice-President and Hon. Secretary of the Victorian Field Naturalists’ Club respectively, and three new ordinary members. A vote of thanks was offered to Mr. Councillor Kestel for his kindness in calling attention to the gravel pit. Prof. Tate having indicated that the route they would follow was restricted to the marine deposit just referred to and its littoral sandhills, the party proceeded through Rosewater to the North Arm, noting the characteristic vegetation by the way. Amongst these were Salicornia australis, 8. arbuscula, Kochia oppositifolia, Atriplex paludosum, Frankenia levis, Sueda maritima, Mesembrianthemum australis, and Polyene- 121 mon (Hemichroa) pentandrum. Approaching the level of ordinary tides, thickets of Avicennia offcinalis were met with, now in full bloom. Prof. Tate explained that the seeds mature in November, and germinating before shedding, the young plants were wafted by the wind to the mud flats, where they rooted at once. A large number of these, with their remark- ably large embryonic leaves, were gathered by the party. Among the samphire shrubs near high water mark some novelties peculiar to this station were obtained, viz., the pul- moniterous snails, Alexia meridionalis, Brazier, Plecotrema ciliata, Tate, and Ampullarina Quoyana ; also, an undescribed Assiminea and a Modiola, the latter anchored in the mud by its byssal threads or beard. Returning from the powder-magazine the party followed the railway loopline to Dry Creek. Along the line and inter- secting the sandhills, at a low elevation, fragments of shells and sea pebbles were observed, and the Professor stated that abouta quarter of a mile from the Dry Creek Station the margin of the elevated sea-bed was traceable as a white earthy hmestone highly charged with Ampullarina Quoyana, Blandfordiastriatula, Truncatelle, and other estuarine species of mollusca. The ground here being comparatively dry the difference of vegetation was most marked. The Salsolacee were most con- spicuous, such as Kochia brevifolia, K. sedifolia, K. aphylla, Bassia diacantha, Atriplex semibaccatum, Chenopodium cari- natum, Salsola Kali, and Angianthus tomentosus, the latter being very rare here. A quantity of the fruits of Nitraria Schoberi, the Native Grape bush, was gathered, and Euphorbia Drummondi, a spurge, specially pointed out by Professor Tate on account of its poisonous qualities. Reaching Dry Creek the party returned in a reserved car- riage by the 6.52 train to town. SevENTH Excturston—Eastrer Monpay, Aprit 14, 1884. At half-past eight a.m. 60 ladies and gentlemen started in two coaches for Noarlunga jetty, which was reached near noon. After luncheon a meeting was held, when one member was elected, and then a start made for Whitton Bluff. On the road along the beach a dead specimen of the cuttle fish was found, considered as undeseribed by Prof. Tate, who had attached the MS. name — “Sepia brevimana’’ — to it on account of its short tentacles. The tide prevented a near approach to the Bluff, which is very picturesque, and presents a grand and complete section of the older Tertiary rocks. The beds of the detached islet, known as the Gull Rock, were stated by the Professor to have the same dip as at the Bluff, and it was not 122 therefore a part fallen from the latter. Fossils abounded in the cream-coloured chalky rock, but mostly ill-preserved. Among them the fragments of the stem of a Pentacrinus, or Stone Lily, were abundant. The upper part of the cliff was formed of mottled sands, which by the weather are worn into fantastic shapes. Moving on to the mouth of the Onkaparinga, great numbers of small Crustacea were noticed in the pools, and numerous fossils were obtained from a very fine exposure of polyzoan limestone in the cliff near the mouth of the river. Two cannons were also noticed that had been left by the ‘‘ Rapid’’ in the early years of the colony, their rusty condition showing the neglect with which these historical relics were treated. A rare salsolaceous plant—Threskeldia diffusa—was found here, almost its only station. Prof. Tate mentioned that in his drive from Aldinga he had met the purple amaryllid, Calostemma purpurea, and also Atriplex semibaccatum—the latter ou the dry hillslopes of Pedlar’s Creek, a very long way from its usual habitat. Conchologists were rewarded by finding various shells, almost peculiar to this station, among them being Marcia faba. At half-past four the members assembled at the rendezvous, had tea at the Reynella Hotel, and arrived in town ata quarter past eight. EigutH Excurstion—SatTurpay, May 3, 1884. A large number of ladies and gentlemen proceeded to Glenelg in a reserved carriage at 1.45 pm. After crossing the bridge over the Patawolonga Creek at St. Leonards, a short) business meeting was held, Prof. Tate presiding, at which eight new members were elected. The party then walked along the banks of the Patawalonga and the sandhills skirting it towards Henley Beach. Attention was directed by Prof. Tate, F.GS., to the shell-beds and their contents, indicating several changes. of level since they had lived at the localities where now seen. Near highwater-mark was found the remarkable pulimoniterous snail, Ampullarina Quoyana; and higher up in less brackish water, Bythinella Victorie, globose in shape, and not much larger than a pin’s head; and Tatea rufilabris, pyramidal, and about a quarter-inch long. Many objects interesting to the microscopist were also taken. Among the plants in the sand- hills, Melaleuca parvifolia and M. pustulata were noticed, and the rush lily (Xerotes leucocephala) was found in full flower, the attention of the members being directed to the difference in the male and female flowers. Reaching the rich flat of the Reedbeds, the party was disappointed as to the expected rich- ness of this locality, drainage having converted it into a 123 desert for the naturalist. A few plants of some interest were found in flower, viz., Mimulus repens, Heliotropium Curassavi- cum, L. (the latter previously unknown in the Adelaide dis- trict), and Polygonum minus. Of introduced weeds, Solanum nigrum and the Bathurst burr (Xanthium spinosum), were specially noticed. On arrival at Henley Beach the special tramcar ordered did not make its appearance, owing, as subsequently ascertained, to the carelessness of the manager of the Tram Company ; and the party had to crowd into an ordinary car, reaching town about a quarter-past seven. Spectan Excurston—Saturpay, May 17, 1884. About 50 ladies and gentlemen proceeded by special tramcar to Unley at 2.30 p.m. in order to visit the apiary of Mr. Robertson, at his residence, Unley Wurlie. On arrival, the company were met by Mr. Robertson, who most courteously conducted them to his collection of hives, showing them both the common dark bee and also the Ligurian, and explained the structure of the hives as well as the interesting economical points connected with the bees and their keeping. When the examination was completed, a vote of thanks was tendered to Mr. Robertson for his kindness. Nexto Exctursion—Saturpay, Aucust 2, 1884. Between 50 and 60 ladies and gentlemen assembled at the Holdfast Bay platform about 2 p.m., and proceeded to Glenelg in a special carriage. On arrival at the beach a business meet- ing was held, presided over by Mr. W. Howchin, F.G.S., when two new members were elected. The Chairman stated that in the absence of Prof. Tate they were favoured with the presence of Mr. W. T. Bednall, who had kindly consented to give the party the benefit of his extensive knowledge respecting Aus- tralian conchology. After some time the members were again called together, when Mr. Bednall named the specimens obtained, mentioning interesting facts connected with their life history. The follow- ing were the more noticeable:—Murex triformis, Trigonia margaritacea, a shell never taken alive in South Australian waters as far as known, though not uncommon in Tasmania, Mactra polita, Soletellina biradiata, Phasianella australis (the Pheasant Shell), and species of Pecten, Chama, Trochus, Haliotis, Fusus, Nassa, Purpura, Natica, Conus, Cyprea, Bit- tium, Turritella Siliquaria, Anatina, Venus, Lucina, Mytilus, and Spondylus. Along the Patawalonga empty shells only of Marcia levigata and Tellina decussata were found. 124 A detour among the sandhills was now made, when Mr. J. G. O. Tepper, F L.S., explained their formation and the fixing of the loose sand by the roots of various peculiar plants, such as Spinifex hirsutus—(the “Spinifex”’ of explorers is a grass, Triodia irritans)—Scirpus nodosus, Lepidosperma gladiatum, Aster axillaris, Styphelia australis, Kunzea pomifera, Myopo- rum parvifolia, &c., all of which were indicated. Other plants collected were Banksia marginata, Calocephalus Browni, Tetragonia implexicome, Atriplex cinerius, and Sali- cornia australis. Attention was directed to the uniform slope of the sheaoaks, indicating the prevalence of south- west winds. TentH Excursion—Monpay, SEPTEMBER 1, 1884. Thirty members started at 8.30 a.m. per special coach for Clarendon. The morning promised fair weather, but a heavy shower on arrival and the prospect of more to follow made it unadvisable to proceed, as was contemplated, to the botanically rich scrublands between Clarendon and Kangarilla. It was therefore decided to inspect and examine the river scenery along the Onkaparinga, east of the bridge, instead. After lunch a meeting was held, presided over by Mr. J. G. O. Tepper, F.L.S., at which one new member was elected; and then the members proceeded up the right bank under the guid- ance of Mr. Tepper and Dr. Schmid. At the first bend it was observed that all the pines peculiar to the valley of the river Callitris cupressiformis—had been cut down, and thereby the beauty and interest of the place much marred. Attention was directed to the unequal denuding action of the atmosphere upon the alternating texture of the rocks, viz., micaceous and talecose shales and quartzites. The following were the more semarkable plants gathered (mostly in flower), the names of which, with a running commentary, were fur- nished by Mr. Tepper :—Styphelia virgata, serrulata, australis, fasciculiflora, Callistemon salignus, Melaleuca decussata, Accacia melanoxylon (the Blackwood, occasionally overloaded by the parasitic Loranthus linophyllus or Preissii), vernicifiua, retinodes and obliqua, Anguillaria dioica, Cesia vittata, Cym- bonotus Lawsonianus, Microseris Forsteri, Spyridium micro- carpum, Correa decumbens, Adriana quadridentata (female flowers just opening, male blossoms still immature), Glycine clandestina, Kennedya prostrata and monophylla, Hibbertia stricta, acicularis and fascicularis, Logania longifolia, Mesem- brianthemum equilaterale (depending in long festoons from ‘some of the inacessible rockwalls), and Cassytha melantha, which spread over whole shrubs in an intricate network of 125 cords. Of orchids only Pterostylis nana, Caladenia carnea and difformis, Diuris palustris and maculata were observed. Of sedges only one specimen of Cladium mariscus was noticed along the river bank, but very many of the pretty Luzula campestris (in flower) on the hillsides. ~ At 4 p.m. the coach started homeward by way of Chandler’s Hill, Happy Valley, and the South-road, pelting showers at times greatly marring the pleasure of the drive. ELEVENTH Exctrston—Sattrpay, Ocroser 18, 1884. Some 30 ladies and gentlemen assembled at the Railway Station, North-terrace, and proceeded by the 1.10 p.m. train to Belair, and from thence walked over the Government Farm or Park. The special object was the collection of Orchids, of which fifteen species were obtained, among which were Thely- mitra grandis, T. longifolia (blue), T. antennifera (yellow), T. McKibinii (blood-red), Glossodia major (blue to white), and several Caladenias, among which latter a large one with white flowers and pink streaks may prove an addition to our flora. In the shade of the forest composed of red-gum (E. rostrata), white-gum (E. leucoxylon), and peppermint (E.odorata), were found plants of almost every temperate clime, as Gnaphalium Japonicum, Geranium Carolinianum (North America), Oxalis corniculata, Cape Dandelion (Cryptostemma lavendulacea), Sherardia arvensis, and numerous others to which Prof. Tate drew attention, as also to the fact that the vegetation of the scrub lands was very different from that of the Park, owing to the difference of soil and the moisture retained by it. Wandering along the watercourse, and crossing the scrub lands at the foot of Steep Hill, the party passed into the gorge of the southern branch of Brownhill Creek, the passage of which was exceedingly rough. The most notable plant found here was Logania longifolia. In due time the members arrived at Mitcham, and returned to town by the tramcar, arriving about half-past 6 p.m. EVENING MEETINGS. First Eventna Mrretina—Tvespay, Aprit 22, 1884. This was held in the University, when about 60 ladies and gentlemen attended. Prof. Tate presided, and in his address reviewed the work done, advised that the proposed conversazione be postponed till they had better collections, and intimated that he was prepared to devote several evenings during the session to lectures on subjects he had made a special study. After the Hon. Secretary, Mr. W. E. Pickels, F.R.M.S., had 126 read the correspondence, one new member was elected, and the announcement made that two excursions were being arranged for. Mr. J. G. O. Tepper, F.L.S., exhibited fresh specimens of two orchids, the earliest of the year, viz., Eriochilus autum- nalis, from the Mount Lofty Ranges, and Prasophyllum despec- tans, from Clarendon, its only known station in the neighbour- hood, where it was discovered by hin a year or two ago; also a new sundew, Drosera aphylla, from the same locality, and a beautiful lichen from Kangaroo Island, Cladonia retepora. Mr. E. Davies brought some pink rocksalt and crystals of selenite. Mr. W. Howchin, F.G-.S., showed some micro- scopical preparations of recent South Australian Foraminifera, illustrating the genera Biloculina, Triloculina, and Quinquelo- eulina; and Mr. Pickels, F.R.M.S., exhibited a fine Phasma, Tropidoderes iodomus, and some spiders sent by Mr. Guest, of Balhannah. Prof. Tate then delivered an instructive lecture on the Australian Lamprey, Geotria australis, which was fol- lowed by an animated discussion. SEeconD Eventna Mrrrina—Tvespay, May 20, 1884. This was held at the University, North-terrace, when about 30 ladies and gentlemen attended, and Prof. Tate presided. The Hon. Secretary read some correspondence, and three new members were elected. A formal vote of thanks to Mr. Robertson was passed for his kindness in inviting the members to view his apiary. A number of plants collected by Miss J. R. G. Rogers, some 200 miles north of Farina, were exhibited. Among them were Marsdenia Leichardti and Eremophila maculata. Mr. W. Howchin, F.G.S8.. showed under a microscope @ aumber of micro-ichthyolites and other objects from the Tertiary beds underlying Adelaide, obtained from a bore in the Water- works yard. at Kent Town. An intere sting specimen of an Aphrodite, or Sea Mouse, was shown by Mr. W. H. Baker, and some letters were read corm America, Russia, Switzerland, and Germany desiring exchanges of entomological and botanical specimens. The President then called upon Dr. Haacke to deliver his lecture on ‘* How to Preserve Zoological Specimens.” The lecturer explained that only the best spirit and pure water should be used ; that at first weaker and gradually stronger mixtures should be used ; that occasionally the glass with the specimen should be shaken, as the water tended to eravitate towards the bottom, and the spirit at the top, so that the lower part of the specimen was in danger of beeoming caees Too many specimens should not be put into the same glass. Pe Se hae bone We fection ait ies aes yey ke bint. oT 3 Rta. 4 i er i BON eth eit MS ie aN abialahh: a - a" Kyle ay + Ane: ; Siete hy batt afié, one cele eB ane Bt ‘ oe ey Ta igi A. so yecdits iE Fore shat 738% ei | es PMT aa hhc yee Bea Or fitld ie lant alow * eS ie esl Fane: rt: wif Le lifpint) ‘ue ilir songs Be 7 tent eS ar) & 4 ‘obiadab, f maa SB J ‘ponent “etal; AGS fosilee atelnolGd iL. ; ae ace eo . pbielah: A are £2 a ‘a cme: tf ai poultiot) bette aohenc Wate if Koll, eR ee 2 ie tape mata cohsind rtd ‘i ome is nT, he : oe a ee ee eae hy “lon a fs. Tala vac (6. Ge Oo | MR Ee ERE Ail Rae RD. Oo 7To oh Letaka Wi ee J€3 pe Be Par he) A ak Hi rtivedes Mets a nce oe y of hE on. . f- ' vars 4 ‘ ¢ 5 : fr J afl tha ve glenn SOF) era) CT PUR DIL gteut ua L ( Say fbiial = ax per a8 G i “ J 3 a a a 4 Lp oft as J Twi + ey) tl svt 2 4 > rf? os Pri oa nian ie si uu 7 BG ; 4 - 2, ayy, wi beat i nM : iar Pe NN: 7 a Nie iy : i rs cl : See, oe eT ea a i RG a M4) a) vt es ag be a iy, * la , yh i eae maa oe oe ube ae ‘8 ie © i Aca ae, i i" T we EW uk See.” ae “his Pe eee 7 ae, Lay cr a oP 5: aoe oh oa Pa ay ay Pag |). os lt es og as pi eh . Phe Bee, ieee 1 Wie mene Po a ue 7 ven et ie i ys ie " ni ar fb, iar eens Pan at A r i i Pea 65, cz re Re oe, ite 4) fn ae be Og . marl Pl ‘ ; . i ag ie Bae ait si ee I Aaa mm) LF ee ae i ee a ae - wit ot. in at a We al wy : Rt : a oS ia nent Ly Y - Pa) A) : - DA 7 ( ‘ / ote} OMS a eee “jae ars at or : - ener fe NE Ae (i a, oa = i Fs Be: om ey \ ome Mit ian ‘A ie. ae Pe #0. ra Per!) “ep da ag hd ee, RR a Pe 2 5 bie a ae ee oN aa ree y nal re Pa =o . ou ae Wi ma. i wo er : a a Gay Pahed ry a vt ee 1" va ie pes ore) a ; +) who a ih aha hs an, ey Whe ; Pane, sa? i‘ Nie dred ts 8 ei. m ae fan A mM aim ae We " ae ee - a te Pas Oe a ain a . ee ‘eaier an i a ry he: he i ae nian meg ou Ve Lae - A, ; i bs a is ‘ oor a Hae, “) pea) ae Mie nee: eh if an Jes vn Pic, Ms ; ial, a et ' a) ae i a. eg age | : Line ny a ihe oe mf in Bie ey aoe ss 7 “a f bet ol ey, | 4, Bes ht” iors ae ifs wi oe we.) Oe ee ee a ae rae DANCE ie SAR ier an ‘at rere, ns gene LO, a Atv} 84 nt apts : an ee § dais i) as ‘ it Pa uy Pe iy a en, AE ' Ho as : Ld I ok A Rath oa, ae ' ; ee. ae nai eon ate i ,, had aah: Pmtee ee aye iat en | a vi . SMT SE ba ‘ : : oh | > ta a. De Tt ea a ol ipe . s D ve em pad yy ah an y ea ee 4 7. i y : a + te a vor’ ; " : 7 y - . igh, ‘ J oe ee Sie | fe ae at vid. Oi ae “i PL eA oh ie by, ri ey 7 7, Se aie : Tie? pe Pant on ‘i Pm nye ie i Waa "eos bi i, “a ee Aon y “Teta a" * Te ‘aap ey ‘ amar ¥. my Ta a = x 2 Nie Ce nial > he ae ) . AAOt, a 7 \ as aa Uc GOs nie | it ne ify i? Y a gt Se ey ee a | ease oe an. i fe Phe er Aer Pe, Des “sR on las ares me ) ws fs wae in ef a : 7 re “Te , oe | eee VAT eee aw ve veal * 5 , hes ae » “aan 7 Ait bey Ms, 7 HN : i, ae ms * or): : nr 7 * PMG ae ee ee: Bi oo " oh es eli os ae ithe). oa a, ety ta bal ne ra von iy me. bil Le a) va e ‘ ‘ ot 7 0 ei 4 Pe AG Pe iy he) wn ag wh Sa ar Shahn! ap a a ay eit” 1G Pe rae = ; A ys tif) : F ay , I, 7 ae MN rs oe nie an Mf fe He! o te a ae : Ja, a « a a li de J a alt 7 | ~ “a1 wie » ci af 7 5 Ot: ae ae Sie a es Ay ae re he Peak d,s a hae rua is , w+ sf at a Tae: (22 ve ne Mos, do | Oe ee pes > ue Dae aN a My Tie ions 7 ee th wi ay ~ : i 7 “ Five alae SOO er cr Lt a “a ¢ a ed oe (un : } i eS ie i” a. + * ore wa Py. a a ny ia yr," : a , cc aaa ‘ee 10) Re F 2 ae, -! ‘) a ae a ae Fae | an 4 Oaraleh aly We ori a Me ee Mm 3 2044 106 — An < ede tgs’ NNtbony i ‘ « .