Proceedings of the Royal Society for the month of August, 1884

The monthly meeting of the Royal Society of Tasmania was held on Monday evening, 11th August. Mr. James Barnard, V. P., occupied the chair. Mr. J. McAlpin, F.L.S., Edinburgh, was introduced as a visitor. A very large number of Fellows were present. The following were duly elected as Fellows of the Society:—Miss Mary Lodder, the Hon. John Lord, M.L.C., Rev. John Vansittart Buckland, B.A., Messrs. Crawford John Maxwell, J. R. McClymont, M.A., W. Saville Kent, F.L.S., F.G.S., etc., W. Harvey Buckland, B.A., H. C. Kingsmill, B.A., J. McCance, F.R.A.S., R. Sydney Milles, C.E., Chas. Ellis Davies, J. G. Davies, Philip Seager, Henry Cook, jun., T. C. Just, W. H. Charpentier, Frederick Pedder, Alex. North. The Hon. Secretary brought forward the usual returns, including the time of leafing, flowering, and fruiting of a few standard plants in the Royal Society's Gardens during the month of July, 1884, meteorological observations, India (January), from the meteorological office, India, list of presentations to the Museum for the month of August, 1844, including a Tasmanian tiger, (Thylacinus cynocephalus). Further discussion arose on the destruction of ferns on the Mountain. A paper was read by Mr. R.M Johnston entitled: "Remarks on the observed periodicity of the death-rate, with suggestions as to its possible relation with the periodicity of solar and other super-terrestrial phenomena." Another paper was read by Dr. H.A. Perkins on Osteosarcoma or cancer of the jaw in cattle. Other papers were read by John McCance and R.M Johnston. Specimens of Silurian limestone, orthoceras, and part of a small boulder with casts of Orthis were inspected by the members. Mention was made of an enormous whale captured in Behring's Straits in June, 1883. A collection of ethnological specimens, consisting of bows and arrows etc were presented by Mr. Just from the Andaman Islands. The Minister of Lands was in favour of granting a new boating club a site for a shed, and he trusted the hon. gentleman would add to that another shed or hoarding, so that a swim or a wash could be had at any time free of charge, as the possession of such an advantage would be the means of adding to the health and manliness of the rising generation