Proceedings of' tlie Royal Sociefi/. 379 



effects of the sun*s rays are prevented by an artificial blackening 

 of the surface of the skin ; that perspiration becomes more 

 copious, as is especially remarked in the negro ; and, in short, 

 that the conversion of the radiant matter of the sun into sen- 

 sible heat, which conversion is effected by the black surface, 

 tends to prevent the scorching effects, and to promote the cu- 

 ticuiar secretion. , 



Thursday, Nov. 16. — A letter was read from Sir H. Davy to 

 the President, on the magnetic effects produced by electricity ; 

 to part of this letter we have elsewhere adverted. 



Thursdai/y Nov. 23. — The Earl of Morton communicated, in 

 a letter to the President, a singular fact in Natural History. 

 Some years ago his lordship imported a male Quagga, or 

 Quacha, from the Cape of Good Hope ; he bred from this 

 animal and a young chestnut mare of Arabian blood, and the 

 result was a female hybrid, bearing both in form and colour, 

 decided indications of her mixed origin. The same mare passed 

 into other hands, and was afterwards bred from by an Arabian 

 horse ; and this progeny, though possessed of the leading cha- 

 racters of the Arabian breed, retains in certain stripes and 

 marks of the body and in the hair of the mane, certain cha- 

 racters decidedly belonging to the quagga, characters which 

 appear to be transmitted to the progeny by the exclusive in- 

 fluelice of the mare. 



Thursday, Nov. 30. — This being St. Andrew's day, the So- 

 ciety proceeded, according to annual custom, to the election of 

 a President and officers for the year ensuing. Dr. Wollaston, 

 who in consequence of the death of Sir Joseph Banks, was ap- 

 pointed by the Council to succeed to the President's chair until 

 the anniversary, signified at that time his decided intention of 

 withdrawing from the office upon St. Andrew's-day. The Scru- 

 tators having duly examined the ballotting lists, announced the 

 result of the election as follows : — 



2 C 2 



