Linnaan Society.— -Astronomical Society, 377 



On removing the panniculus carnosus a pair of muscles (Of which 

 the attachments and uses have been hitherto incorrectly described) are 

 brought into view. Each of these muscles is of a triangular shape, 

 being attached by a narrow origin to the posterior part of the pelvis ; 

 and expanding in its course, is continued transversely round the lower 

 part of the belly, before the abdominal muscles, and immediately 

 above the brim of the pelvis. Each of these triangular muscles en- 

 closes, between an anterior and posterior layer of its fibres, the mam- 

 mary gland, and the two muscles afterwards cross the fore part of the 

 abdomen to unite in front of the linea alba. By this union a perfect 

 muscular girdle is formed, by the contraction of which the mammae 

 are compressed against that part of the abdomen in which the mar- 

 supial bones lie imbedded. 



The conclusion of this paper, containing further particulars of the 

 dissection of the mammary organs as well as of the muscles attached 

 to the marsupial bones of the adult and impregnated animal, together 

 with the author's opinion respecting their physiology, remains to be 

 read at a future meeting. 



ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY. 



Feb. 8. — This day being the Anniversary, Dr. O. G. Gregory, one 

 of the Secretaries, read the following Report of the Council to the 

 Eighth Annual General Meeting. 



Your Council are happy in being able to commence this, their 

 Eighth Report, with a general expression of congratulation on the 

 progress of the Society, and on the prospects of increased and in- 

 creasing utility, which a view of its actual state and resources, and a 

 consideration of the events of the year now closed, in their minds 

 appear to justify. They trust, too, that a review of these events will at 

 the same time justify the confidence reposed in them, by showing that 

 they have not been neglectful of the opportunities which have offered 

 of advancing in various ways the objects and interests of the, Society. 



One of the first acts of the Council of the year elapsed, was to 

 enter into an arrangement with Mr. Taylor, the printer to the Society; 

 and who is also one of the editors of the Philosophical Magazine, for 

 the publication of a series of monthly notices of its Proceedings, 

 and for the supply of a sufficient number of copies of them, in suc- 

 cession, for distribution among the members. The convenience and 

 advantages of this plan have been sufficiently proved by the trial which 

 has been given it, and it will of course be continued. The public is 

 hereby brought more immediately into contact with the Society — the 

 labours of its contributors are canvassed and discussed, while the in- 

 terest of the author in his subject is yet warm, and when the inter- 

 change of ideas respecting it is most beneficial, not only to the pub- 

 lic, but to the author himself, whose views may, and probably in 

 many instances will, be enlarged or corrected by such intercourse. 

 An authentic and at the same time public record is, as it were, opened, 

 of the papers read, and the outlines of their contents rendered matter 

 of history - } — thus affording ready means of establishing the claims of 



New Series. Vol. 3. No. 17. May 1828. 3 C authors 



