90 THE CANADIAN NATURALIST. [March 



to supply an existing want in this community, and to enable the 

 coming generation to develop the immense mineral resources of 

 this rich country. 



Illustrations of the luminous and chromatic properties of flame 

 were shown after the lecture by the aid of the photometer, the 

 electric light, the sodium light, &c. ; also, the process of dyeing 

 silk by Aniline colours. 



His Royal Highness then proceeded to examine with some care 

 the various objects in the museum, the curator pointing out any 

 of special interest. He paid particular attention to the collection 

 of mammals and birds, also to the series of Canadian insects, the 

 study of entomology, particularly of the lepidoptera, seeming to 

 have had special attractions to His Royal Highness. The company 

 separated a little after eleven o'clock. j. f. w. 



ABSTRACTS OF THE PROCEEDINGS OF THE 

 GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF LONDON. 



At a recent meeting of the Geological Society of London, 

 the following communications were made, of which we present 

 abstracts to our readers : 



" Notes on some specimens of Lower-Silurian Trilobites." By 

 E. Billings, Esq., F.G.S., Palaeontologist of the Geological Survey 

 of. Canada. 



The author first described a s^eGimen of Asa^hus platycephalus, 

 in which the hypostome was not only preserved in situ, but also 

 the remains (more or less well preserved) of eight pairs of legs, 

 corresponding with the eight segments of the thorax, to the 

 underside of which they had been attached. The appendages 

 take their rise close to the central axis of each segment, and all 

 curve forwards, and are thus most probably ambulatory rather 

 than natatory feet. They appear to have had four or five articu- 

 lations in each leg. 



Three small ovate tubercles on the pygidium may, perhaps, 

 indicate the processes by which the respiratory feet were attached. 



Mr. Billings referred to the large number of Trilobites which 

 have been examined, and expressed his belief that only the most 

 perfectly preserved specimens are likely to have the organs on the 

 underside preserved. 



