304 Society of Antiquaries of London . 



mixing them with saliva, and finally passing them to the 

 fourth stomach, there to be digested. The process of di- 

 gesiion in iicesc and swans is extremely slow, as it is ef- 

 fected bv ihc action solely of the niuscles of their stomachs. 

 Mr. Home examined the structure of their stomachs by 

 filling ihcm with plaister of Paris, and boiling them ; when 

 they appeared composed of straight muscles united by fila- 

 Uients, as observed by Spallanjsani. 



April 11. — A part of a curious paper by Mr. Macartney 

 on luminous animals was read. Mr. M. took a brief review 

 of the different creatures in the animal kingdom which 

 e'mit light, whether in or out of the sea, as the lampyris, 

 fulgora, &c. He examined minutely the assertions of some 

 French naturalists, who maintain that conmion earth worms 

 have occasionally appeared luminous, and proved that they 

 are unfounded. The luminous appearances in the sea, which 

 have been so often noticed, and yet so imperfectly explained, 

 were next discussed ; and also how far it is probable that 

 the emission of light depends on the will of the insect 5 and 

 whether nature has given this faculty to females in order 

 to attract the males to them, as has been alleged. 



The reading of ihe remainder of this paper was postponed 

 till next meeting, and the society adjourned till the 3d of 

 May. 



SOCIETY OF ANTIQUARIHS. 



Monday, April 23, being St. George's Day, the Society of 

 Antiquaries met at their apartments in Somerset-place, in 

 pursuance of their statutes and charter of incorporation, 

 to elect a president, council, and officers, of the society for 

 the year ensuing : whereupon 



The most noble George, marquis of Townshend and ear! 

 of Leicester, 



F. A. Barnard, esq. William Hamilton, esq. 



W. Bray, esq. Samuel Lysons, esq. 



Nich. Carlisle, esq. Craven Ord, esq. 



Sir H. C. Englelield, hart. Matthew Raper, esq. 



Anthony Hamilton, D. D. Joseph Windham, esq. 

 Eleven of the council were re-chosen of the new council f 



and 

 Charles Baratty, esq. JLdward Jerningham, esq. 



Right Hon. P. R. Carcw, Charles duke o"f Norfolk, 



William, lord bishop of Cloyne, John Towneley, esq. 

 Henry Ellis, esq. Brig. -gen. T. H. Turner, 



Henry viscount Harberton, Key. Stephen Weston, 



len 



