XIV PROCEEDINGS, 



properties with whicli they were supposed to be endowed, and to 

 tlieir use in connection with nearly all religious beliefs. He then 

 passed on to the consideration of their physical properties, stating 

 that crystals are the natural forms which many substances take 

 when passing from a liquid to a solid state ; that gems are trans- 

 parent crystals whose hardness equals or exceeds that of quartz ; 

 and that precious stones are substances remarkable for their beauty 

 and rarity, such as turquoise, lapis-lazuli, opal, onyx, pearl, and 

 coral. The diamond, as the most lustrous, the hardest, and the 

 purest of all gems, received a large amount of attention. 



After treating of the chemical composition, the crystalline form, 

 and the characteristic properties and appearance of all the better- 

 known, and some of the little-known precious stones, Mr. Wailes 

 devoted the concluding portion of his lecture to the folklore of 

 gems, giving a large amount of information on the superstitions 

 which have been connected with them in almost all times and all 

 countries. 



Specimens, models, and diagrams were exhibited in illustration 

 of the lecture. 



Mr. T. J". Broad and Mr. G. H. Wailes were elected auditors 

 of the accounts for 1893. 



Anniversary Meeting, 27th Febrtjary, 1894. 

 (At Watford.) 



Arthur Stradling, Esq., M.E.C.S., F.Z.S., President, in the 

 Chair. 



The Ecport of the Council for 1893, and the Treasurer's Account 

 of Income and Expenditure, were read and adopted. 



Mr. James Saunders, 49 Rothesay Eoad, Luton, was elected a 

 Corresponding Member of the Society. 



The President delivered an Address on " A "Wonderful Animal." 

 [Transactions, Vol. YIII, p. 85.) 



The following gentlemen were duly elected as the Officers and 

 Council for the ensuing year : — 



Fresident.—kxi\xm Stradling, M.Pt.C.S., E.Z.S. 



Vice-Presidents.— YxoiQ^mx John Attfiold, M.A., PhD., E.R.S., 

 E.C.S., F.I.C.; Sir John Evans, K.C.B., D.C.L., LL.D., Sc.D., 

 Treas.R.S., V.P.S.A., &c. ; Upfield Green, F.G.S. ; John Morison, 

 M.D., F.G.S. 



Treasurer. — John Woall. 



Honorary Secretaries. — Jolm Hopkinson, F.L.S., F.G.S., F.R.M.S., 

 F.R.Mct.Soc. ; F. M. Campbell, F.L.S., F.Z.S., F.R.M.S., F.E.S. 



Lihrarian. — W. E. Carter, P. A. 



Curator.— k. E. Gibbs, F.L.S., F.E.S. 



Other Memlers.—kxi\i\\x P. Blathwayt ; Alfred T. Brett, M.U. ; 

 E. B. Croft, E.K ; Augustus Hawks; Daniel Hill; Henry Lewis; 

 William Eansom, F.S.A., F.L.S. ; T. Vaughan Roberts; George 

 Eooper, F.Z.S. ; Stephen Salter; F. W. Silvester; Henry Warner. 



