Anatomy and Medicine — Statistics. 365 



to extend in that direction, and the introduction of certain tubular 

 flowers into the gardens of Florida, has enticed species of hum- 

 ming birds thither from the south. Some details were then given 

 of the distribution of the various families of birds, and a table in 

 the report exhibited the absolute number of species, as well as the 

 number of such as breed in Philadelphia, Massachusetts, and Sus- 

 katchewan. 



Mr Phelps read a communication " On the formation of Peat.'* 



Mr Mackay then read a communication he had received from Mr 

 Nuttall, " On the management of the Pine Tribe.'* 



Dr Lloyd read a communication on the Marsileacese. 



An abstract of a paper from Mr P. Teale was read, " On Alcyo- 

 nella stagnorum ;" and very beautiful preparations and specimens 

 of it were placed on the table. It was found in great abundance 

 from August to November, in 1835, in a small pond near Leeds. 

 It was supposed to be new to Great Britain. 



Dr Riley mentioned a circumstance in the osteology of the two- 

 toed ostrich, which had escaped observation. He shewed, that the 

 third toe was really present in a rudimentary state concealed by 

 the integuments. It consists of two phalanges, and is articulated 

 with a well-defined condyle of the tarsal bone, and projects on the 

 same plane with the other two. 



Section E. — Anatomy and Medicine. 



Dr Hodgkin read a paper on the connexion between the veins 

 and absorbents. 



Dr Reid of Dublin then read to the section a paper, entitled, 

 " A short Exposition of the Functions of the Nervous System.' 



Section F — Statistics. 



Professor Forbes described the result of his application of Que- 

 telet's principle, of describing the increase of stature, weight, and 

 strength by curves. He had carefully experimented on English 

 and Scotch students, between the ages of fourteen and twenty-five, 

 in the University of Edinburgh. The general laws of the curves 

 were nearly those established by Quetelet. In the comparison of 

 nations, the Irish appeared to be the first in all physical develop- 

 ments, the Scotch ranked next, the English were the lowest of the 

 three nations, but they were above the Belgian. It was generally 



VOL. XXI. NO. XLII. OCTOBER 18S6. B b 



