^t^axiB of "^utmQB. 



GENERAL. 



THE past session has not been marked by any unusual 

 features. The usual eight meetings have been held, 

 and some excellent papers have been read. 



On Thursday, October 6th, 1892, Mr. H. J. Charbonnier 

 exhibited a stuffed specimen of the spotted flycatcher of a 

 light-grey colour. He then gave an account of the life- 

 history of a moth {Gracillaria syringella), and described the 

 method by which the grub rolls leaves to form its home. A 

 digest will appear among the " Proceedings." Mr. Percy 

 Leonard then read a paper entitled, " The Natural History 

 of the Downs." 



At the meeting held November 3rd, Dr. J. A. Norton 

 exhibited a stuffed specimen of an albino swallow, and 

 then read a paper in which he set himself to answer the 

 following questions : " Ls the coloration of birds' eggs pro- 

 tective ? " and " Why does the cuckoo select those nests in 

 which it deposits its eggs ? " A large collection of egg!^ 

 were exhibited to illustrate the paper. 



On December 1st, Dr. Shingleton Smith read a paper en- 

 titled, " The Structure, Function, and Preservation of the 

 Skin." Diagrams and microscopical sections helped to 

 explain the various points raised in the reading of the 

 paper. 



The usual exhibition was held January 12tli. The mem- 



137 



