Proceedings of the Royal Society for the month of October, 1880

The monthly evening meeting of the society was held on Monday,, the 11th October; His Honor Mr. Justice Dobson, vice-president, in the chair. Robert Henry, jun., Esq., Superintendent of Telegraphs, who had been previously nominated by the Council, was balloted for, and declared duly elected a Fellow of the Society. The Secretary reminded the meeting that Mr. Charles Gould, then a resident member, read a paper about eight years ago, before the society, "On the existence of large animals (probably seals) in the upland lakes of Tasmania," and connected the possible existence of such animals on the neighbouring continent with the traditions of the "bunyip," Mr. Gould having recently written to enquire if any further information on the subject had been obtained, he (the Secretary) had now to report that a mutual friend had brought the matter under the notice of Professor McCoy, probably the most competent authority to give an opinion ; and he would read an extract from the learned Professor's reply, dated 22nd September, which would appear to confirm Mr. Gould's suggestion that the so-called bunyip had probably a real existence, and if so, that it was in fact a seal. Includes time of leafing and flowering of a few standard plants in the Botanic Gardens during Septembe