which it is completely enveloped while it tunnels its way through the muscles and viscera of its host. A very interesting and instructive history of this worm is given by Dr. Cobbold in the September number of the Intellectual Observer for the year 1862. The specimens now exhibited were adhering in tangled masses to the integuments of the liver, while the substance of the liver itself had been almost entirely destroyed by being tunnelled through and through in all directions by hundred of these Helminths.

No. 3 is the Distoma Contortum (Rudolphi). This trematode was found in considerable number in the substance of the gills.

No. 4 is probably a Cysticercus, and is no doubt the scolex form of the taenia of some species of shark. One specimen only was found adhering to the long intestine.

No. 5 is an epizoon, found abundantly on the skin of the fish, and is most probably identical with the Lernea mentioned by Captain Grey in his "Travels in Australia," as having been taken in quantity off the head of a Sunfish caught by him in Western Australia; it causes irritating sores about the nose of the fish.

No. 6 is also a parasitic Crustacean, but the genus I have not been able to make out. It was found in limited numbers upon the gills of the fish.

These are all the parasites that Mr. Brazier was able to detect, but they are by no means all the ills that the unfortunate Orthagoriscus Mola is heir to, for there are five other Entozoa mentioned by Rudolphi, as peculiar to this animal. I may add that no instance is known of the capture of a large Sunfish in which the viscera and muscles were not completely riddled by various species of Helminths, and from this circumstance no doubt the belief has arisen that it is only when in a dying state that the adult animal leaves its natural home in the depths of the sea, and approaches the shallow waters, where it at once becomes the prey of man.

A valuable microscope was presented to the Society by the President.

MONDAY, 23RD FEBRUARY, 1875.

WILLIAM MACLEAY, ESQ., PRESIDENT, in the Chair.

NEW MEMBERS PROPOSED.

Dr. Fyffe was proposed by Captain Stackhouse, seconded by Dr. Alleyne.

Dr. Tucker was proposed by Captain Stackhouse, and seconded by Dr. Belisario.

Dr. Wright was proposed by Captain Stackhouse, and seconded by Mr. Kater.

MEMBERS ELECTED.

F. G. Waterhouse and Douglas Helsham, Esqrs.

Mr. Brazier read an amusing account of a dredging excursion along the coast of New South Wales.

Mr. Kater exhibited some microscopic preparations of Diatoms, &c., from soundings taken by H.M.S. Challenger.

MONDAY, 29TH MARCH, 1875.

WILLIAM MACLEAY, ESQ., PRESIDENT, in the Chair.

NEW MEMBERS PROPOSED.

Edwin Chisholm, Esq., Surgeon, proposed by Captain Stackhouse, and seconded by Mr. Icely.

C. A. Fraser, Esq., proposed by Captain Stackhouse, and seconded by Mr. Phelps.

MEMBERS ELECTED.

Benjamin Fyffe, Esq., Surgeon

G. A. Tucker, Esq., and H. G. A. Wright, Esq., Surgeon.

The following papers were read;

NOTES ON A NEW SPECIES OF DENDROPHIS FROM CLEVELAND BAY.

BY WILLIAM MACLEAY, F.L.S.

During the last twelve months I have had sent to me, by Mr. Edward Spalding, from the Endeavour River and Cleveland Bay, several species of snakes, which I have not been able to identify with any of those hitherto described. I have, however, abstained from attempting a description of them, or even affixing cabinet names to them, until I became possessed of a sufficient number of specimens to enable me to trace the various changes in marking and coloration which snakes generally undergo at various stages of their existence.

In the case of the tree snake, of which I now exhibit a specimen, all necessary requirements in that respect have been fulfilled, for I have about eight examples representing the animal at various periods of its growth.

Two Australian species of the genus Dendrophis are known and have been described by Dr. Gunther, of the British Museum. D. punctulata, the well-known green tree snake of Sydney and the coast districts of New South Wales; and D. calligastra, from Cape York, specimens of which I have also had from the Endeavour River.

The species now before you is from Townsville, Queensland, and as it is the most elongate and slender of the genus I have seen, I propose to give it the name of

DENDROPHIS GRACILIS.

The entire length of a full-grown specimen is about 4 feet, of which the tail is quite 14 inches and very taper. The abdominal plates number 212, and the subcandals over 130 in a double row. The head is one inch long, flat, and moderately narrowed behind. The superciliary shields abut prominently over the eyes, and the loreals are more nearly square and less elongate than in the other

two species. Dr. Gunther, I observe (Ann. and Mag. Nat. Hist. Series 3, vol. 20, p. 53), describes D. calligastra as having no loreal; but what I take to be the loreal shield in that species is of remarkable length.

The scales of the back are in thirteen rows, all elongate excepting the central and external ones. The abdominal plates are strongly bicarinated, making the central half of each quite flat; this double ridge or keel is stronger than in the other two species and extends to the very tip of the tail.

The entire upper surface is of an olive black, the under surface is yellowish white, clouded more or less with black according to the age of the individual, the young specimens being much darker than the adult. In the specimen before you, which, though full grown, is probably not an old one, the first thirty or forty abdominal plates are without any black marking whatever, the next 100 plates or so are only slightly marked on each side near the ventral ridges, but every plate getting distinctly darker as you descend. The remainder are nearly black with their posterior edges, and a broad vitta outside of each ventral ridge white. The subcaudal plates have each a black patch at its point of contact with its opposite plate, presenting the appearance of a continuous black line of lozenge-shaped markings along the entire length of the tail. The upper labial shields are white, with the exception of the eighth and the upper portion of some of the others. The lower portion of the rostral shield is also white.

DESCRIPTIONS OF EIGHT SPECIES OF AUSTRALIAN AND TASMANIAN LAND AND FRESH WATER SHELLS.*

BY JOHN BRAZIER, C.M.Z.S.

1.-HELIX (HADRA) RUFOFASCIATA.

Shell moderately umbilicated, globosely depressed, thin, minutely rugosely granulated; pale brown, marked with dark chestnut, spiral bands, whorls 5, slightly convex, regularly increasing, the last large and inflated in front, roundly convex, below the periphery the chestnut band becomes broader and runs spirally into the aperture; base white with chestnut brown round the umbilicus, aperture roundly lunate, slightly angular, peristome thin, acute, margins rather distant, the columella margin dilated partly over the umbilicus, interior of aperture white or pink, the brown bands are seen through the shell.

Diam. maj. 12, min 93, alt. 7 lines.

Hab. Yardea, 360 miles north of Adelaide, South Australia.

This fine shell approaches near to Helix Cassandra, Pfr.; it differs very much from that species in having dark chestnut bands above and below with a large broad white band on the base, and chestnut brown round the umbilicus. I am indebted for it to Mr. Waterhouse, the Curator of the South Australian Museum.

2.—HELIX (HADRA) COOKENSIS.

Shell umbilicated, turbinately globose, thin, finely obliquely striated (under the lens), rugosely granulated spirally banded and lineated with deep chestnut lines and bands, spire conoid, whorls 5, moderately convex, the last large and roundly convex, base convex, umbilicus deep and narrow, aperture oblique, ovately lunate, purplish within, peristome slightly reflected; margins approximating, the right partly descending, columellar margin straight and broadly expanded partly over the umbilicus; with thin coating of callus across the body whorl to the upper part of the peristome.

* In cabinet of Linnean Society, New South Wales.