18 Proceedings. 



Mr. George Howes exhibited some specimens of moths and butterflies. 



Dr. Marshall gave an address upon the geology of the Cook and Society 

 Islands, and made interesting references to the features he had observed 

 during a trip to the Islands. He dealt with the theories advanced by 

 Darwin, Sir John Murray, and Professor Agassiz as to the formation 

 oi: the coral reefs around the Islands, and said that his own observations 

 supported Darwin's theory. Dr. Marshall, with the assistance of Dr. 

 Benham, showed a number of photographic views of the Islands, which 

 he commented upon and explained in a vei-y lucid manner. 



Thikd Meetino : ofli Jiihj, 1910. 

 The President, Pi'ofessor Waters, in tlie cliaij-. 

 Xeiv Member. — Mr. Peter Barr. 



Papers. — 1. " Description of an Tudescribed Barnacle of the Genus 

 ScalpeUum from New Zealand," by Dr. Annandale, Superintendent of the 

 Indian Museum, Calcutta; communicated by Dr. Benham. 



2. '"The Occurrence of the Starfish Nectria in New Zealand," bv 

 W. B. Benham, F.R.S. 



3. "Note on a Male Coccid {J.eacliia •eeiJandica Maskell), Ijy W. B. 

 Benham, F.K.S. 



Dr. Pick.M'ill showed the tooth of a deer which was supposed to have a 

 coating of gold upon its grinding surfaces. He then read an interesting- 

 paper entitled " Golden Teeth." 



Dr. Pickerill pointed out that, though cases of alleged golden teeth had occurred 

 from time to time in human beings and various lower animals, when the matter 

 came to be carefully investigated it was evident that the golden sheen or fluor- 

 escence upon the teeth was really due to the presence of an organism which had 

 the power of giving a greenish-golden tint to any substance on which it was 

 growing. It is probable that a thin deposit of calculus on the teeth was thus 

 coloured, giving them a peculiarly golden appearance. 



Dr. Benham exhibited the decorated skull of an Andaman- Islander, 

 which was a most interesting relic of mourning worn b}^ the widow on 

 various occasions. The skull was curiously marked with circular patches 

 of colour, decorated with shells, and was worn suspended from the back 

 of the head. Dr. Benham also showed a human lower jaw from the 

 Andaman Islands, which was similarly worn by relatives of a deceased 

 native, as a mark of mourning or respect. These interesting exhibits had 

 been presented by Captain Malcolm Thomson, M.B., late of the Indian 

 Medical Service. 



Dr. Fulton then read a paper giving a description of a visit to Rio 

 de Janeiro in li^89. 



Dr. Fulton pointed out the very unhealthy condition of the city at that date, 

 yellow fever being very prevalent. He described many prominent features of the 

 city, its magnificent harbour, the interior of the Cathedral, the Jardin Botanique, 

 the Corcovado Railway, and, after giving a few statistics of modern Rio, showed 

 how, under improved conditions of sanitation, destruction of the mosquito-larva, 

 establishment of electric tramways and lighting, the city had become one of the 

 fines-t and most up to date of the New World. In concluding the lecturer showed 

 some fine photographs of Rio and suburbs, which were kindly exhibited by means 

 of the lantern by Dr. Benham. 



