42 PROCEEDINGS OF SOCIETIES. 



Darwin includes 80 species, while the birds consist of 450 specimens, including 

 150 species, some of them obtained from the Gallapagos Islands, and stated by 

 Mr. Gould to be entirely new forms in this country. Mr. Gould also described 

 two species of Quail, from Australia, where five kinds are at present known ; 

 likewise, two specimens of Hcemapodii. — The Secretary read a communication 

 from Mr. Bennett, " on the luminosity and phosphorescence of the sea," the 

 writer being of opinion, that this phenomenon is produced by Moltusca, and other 

 animals, as well as by a highly charged electrical state of the water. 



ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



Jan. 2.— The Rev. F. W. Hope, F. R. S., in the chair.- -Mr. Rudder, of 

 Bristol, exhibited numerous specimens of North American insects obtained from 

 Turpentine, and several insects found in gum cepal and gum animi, the latter 

 being obtained by dissolving the gum in exotic oil of Lavender, and solution of 

 ammonia. The President complimented Mr. Rudder upon his labours, and 

 expressed his belief, that a complete collection of the insects of North America 

 might be obtained from this source. The following memoirs were also read : — 1. 

 Descriptions of new species of Australian HalticcE, by Mr. Waterhouse, one of 

 the species being identical with the English Turnip Fly. 2. Description of the 

 nest of the West-Indian Trap-deer (Cteniza nidulans), by Mr. Sells. 3. Some 

 observations on Agoum paradoxum, by Mr. Westwood. 



BOTANICAL SOCIETY. 



Jan. 5. J. E. Gray, Esq., F. R. S„ in the chair. A paper was read by the 

 Curator, Mr. Cooper, "On the distribution of the localities of plants in 

 Battersea Fields." The plants were characterised under the following heads : 

 I. those found in meadows and pastures; 2. in cultivated fields; 3, in Osier 

 grounds; 4, on commons; 5, in ponds and ditches; and 6, in market gardens. 

 So numerous are the indigenous plants of Battersea Fields, that of 104 na- 

 tural orders described in Lindley's British Flora (1st edit.) 61 were found in 

 this locality. 



Jan. 19. Mr. W. H. White, in the chair. Dr. Macintyre read a paper — 

 " On the plants to be met with on Warley Common, near Brentwood." Among 

 them were the following : — Aspidium clilatatum, A- angulare, A. libatum, A, 

 trickiomanes, and Asplenium nigrum. 



