184 Linnean Society. [Jan. 16, 



The letter is dated Agra, Oct. 21st, 1843, and describes the oc- 

 currences of a journey from Allahabad. The extract is as follows : 

 " Between Cawnpore and this place I witnessed one of the extraor- 

 dinary phBenomena peculiar to tropical climates, viz. a flight of locusts. 

 The direction of the flight was nearly due east, and the rate four miles 

 per hour ; and you will form some idea of the immense host, when I 

 tell you, that travelling at the same rate and in the opposite direc- 

 tion, I was between two and three hours in passing through them. 

 During the whole time, the horizon, as far as the eye could reach, 

 was darkened, and every nearer object was obscured. On looking 

 directly upwards the appearance was that of a very heavy snow- 

 storm, and the ground, which was covered by them, resembled the 

 fields strewed by the dried leaves of the autumn. Several of them 

 flew into my Palken. They were 2^ inches long, of a pink colour, 

 marked with dark brown. The poor natives were shouting and en- 

 deavouring to prevent their devouring the crops, to which they prove 

 most destructive." 



Read also a continuation of the series of memoirs on the Radiata 

 of the Eastern Mediterranean. By E. Forbes, Esq., F.L.S., Professor 

 of Botany in King's College, London. 



The memoir now read relates to the order Echinidce, the Mediter- 

 ranean species of which Professor Forbes states to amount in num- 

 ber to between twelve and fifteen. Of these nine occur in the seas 

 of the Egean Archipelago, at various depths, some being found as low 

 as a hundred fathoms. They are enumerated as follows : — 



Fam. Spatangace^. 



Gen. Spatangus, L. 



Spatangus purpureus is rare to the east of the Morea, but more 

 abundant and attaining a larger size on the coasts of Sicilj' and 

 Malta. The Mediterranean specimens are in every respect identical 

 with the British, and Spat, meridionalis of Risso is the same species. 



Gen. Brissus, Klein. 



Fragments of Sea-urchins belonging to this genus were repeatedly 

 found in very deep water on several parts of the Archipelago and on 

 the coast of Asia Minor, but too imperfect to admit of determination. 

 One of these, probably belonging to a new form, -was taken in mud 

 at the depth of from 100 to 140 fathoms. 



