346 Proceedings of the British Association. 



which Professor Nilsson had identified as his Ilalioehoerus griseitSf 

 predominated in Ireland over the Phoca vitulina, though it had 

 been hitherto neglected ; and that the great difference in the teeth 

 of these species, justly entitled them to be considered as forming 

 distinct genera. — Dr Riley exhibited the stomach of the specimen 

 alluded to, as having been caught in the Severn, in which he had 

 found from thirty to forty pebbles, and states that other instances 

 had occurred of a similar nature ; and that it was a popular notion 

 that they assisted the seal in the way of ballast whilst catching his 

 prey, which it did by rising vertically upwards, and seizing it from 

 below. But Sir Francis Mackenzie then asserted that he had re- 

 peatedly seen the seal chase salmon into the nets, and that it was 

 not usual for it to capture its prey in the way described. Neither 

 he, nor Professor Nilsson, nor Mr Ball, had ever found stones in 

 the stomach of this animal. 



Dr Hancock read a paper on a new species of Norantea, from 

 Guiana, termed by the natives Corocoromibi. 



Mr Hope exhibited a remarkable specimen of the Lucanus came- 

 lus, Fabr,, from North America, the right side of which had the 

 configuration of the male, and the left of the female sex. 



Mr Hope read a communication, expressive of the probability 

 that some of the early notions of antiquity were derived from ob- 

 servations made on the habits of insects. 



Mr P. Duncan offered a few remarks upon the subject of Mr 

 Hope's speculations. 



Mr 6. Webb Hall commented on the effects of lime as variously 

 applied to different soils. 



Section E Anatomy and Medicine. ' 



The first paper read was entitled, " Observations on Remedies 

 for Diseases of the Brain," by Dr Prichard, of Bristol. 



The second paper read was by Dr Houston, on a human foetus 

 without heart or lungs. 



The third paper was by R. Carmichael, Esq. on Tubercles. 



Section F Statistics. 



Mr Kingsley presented and described several forms of tables, for 

 more accurately displaying the revenue and expenditure of the 

 United Kingdom, and procuring accuracy in Parliamentary Re- 

 turns of the state of Savings Banks, &c. 



