4 PEOCEEDIKOS OF THE 



Barber, Esq., John Sibley Hicks, Esq., Jobn Eichardson, Esq., 

 Balph Tate, Esq., Eev. Hilderic Friend, Eev. James Hanniugton, 

 and Henry Tisdall, Esq., were elected Fellows. 



The Botanical Secretary exliibited a specimen of " Mexican 

 Whisks," known also on the London market as " Chien-dent," 

 which are now imported in considerable quantity from the 

 vicinity of La Puebla, in Mexico. It is believed to be derived 

 from a species of Andropogon ; but it is in bulk coarser than the 

 similar material from Southern Europe from AnJropor/on Grt/Uus, 

 and finer than a species of Panicum, used in India for brushes. 



Mr. Arthur Bennett exhibited a specimen of Carex lujerica 

 gathered by Mr. Cunnack on the Scilly Isles, and believed by 

 him to be a sterile form of C. arenaria, but identified as C. 

 ligerica by Prof. Babiugton, and therefore new to Britain. 

 Mr. Bennett also drew attention to locally so-called " Vegetable 

 Hedgehogs," these being agglomerated Larch-leaves, having some 

 resemblance to a rolled Hedgehog, found in the Shropshire meres. 



A large number of Lepidoptera from the district of Greorge- 

 towu, Colorado, and a few from Missouri, were exhibited by 

 Mr. JErnest Jacob, who had collected them while engaged in the 

 U.S.A. Geological Survey in the above districts in 1880-81. 



A series of dried Plants from Australia was shown on behalf 

 of Mr. James Eobinson. 



The following paper was read : — 



1. " A posthumous Essay on Instinct." By Charles Darwin, 

 F.E.S., F.L.S. (Communicated by J. Gr. Eomanes, Sec. L.S.) 



December 20th, 1883. 

 Aleeed W. Bennett, M.A., in the Chair. 



The Minutes of the last Meeting were read and confirmed. 



Nathaniel Cantley, Esq., "William Lambert Dobsou, E.^q., 

 Francis Gray Smart, Esq., and Eev. E. Thorn were elected Fellows. 



Mr. Stuart 0. Eidley exhibited and made remarks on a series 

 of 170 vertical sections of Sponges collected in the neighbourhood 

 of Galle, Ceylon, by Dr. "W. C. Ondaatje, F.L.S. , and transmitted 

 to England by him in letters, being in most instances suificient 

 for the identification of the species. 



Mr. F. M. Campbell showed the cocoon of a Spider, Teyenaria 

 Gvyonii, which had been suspended in the centre of a pasteboard 

 cylinder, thr usual position being close to the sides of objects. 

 The Spider itself, just ripe with eggs, was pljiced in the cylinder, 

 and had adjusted itself to the surrounding conditions ; the 

 cocoon was of natural form, slung like a hammock. 



The following papers were read : — 



1 . " On the Structure of the Stem oi Rhynchopetalmn montanumy 

 Freseu." By F. O. Bower, M.A., F.L.S. 



