55 



among the driftwood floating down the Derwent near its junction with 

 the Ouse. An examination of the beak and feet proved them to belong 

 to a small species of Petrel {Procellaria), a bird which is very rarely found 

 so far inland. He also exhibited an almost new shell (Fo/wfa .S'c/'^Ye;■^■), 

 of which not more than three specimens have been seen, and which is 

 therefore highly valued by collectors. It was obtained near Kelso, by 

 Miss Sharland. 



As to presentation No. 11 Mr. Stephexs remarked that Mr. Legrand's 

 Monograph included 14 new species discovered since the publication of 

 the first edition. Several other members spoke of the great Zealand 

 energy of Mr. Legrand in this branch of Natural History. 



Mr. Allport, in the absence of the author, read a continuation of 

 Mr. Gould's remarks on the islands of Bass' Straits. (The first part was 

 read at the last monthly meeting.) 



As to the wanton and stupid destruction of the seals, referred to in the 

 paper, Mr. Allport remarked that nothing could more clearly show how 

 necessary it was that ihe Ici^islative measures for the protection and 

 preservation of our valuable fish and other animals should be strictly 

 carried out. 



Mr. Abbott read some notes as to the recent results arrived at by the 

 Royal Astronomical Society relative to the fluctuations of the star tj argus 

 and its surrounding nebula. 



Mr. S. Smith Travers read the following interesting and suggestive 

 communication : — " Our fellow townsman, Mr. Aldred, having descrioed 

 to me a process by which he was of opinion that fowls' eggs might 

 be imported from England, with their vitality so unimpaired, that they 

 might be hatched, I am happy to say that having tried the experiment 

 it has succeeded, and that an eg^ laid by a La Hecke hen in North Wales 

 on the 1st of May was hatched on 10th October, and produced a very 

 fine chicken. Mr. Aldred's instructions were to place the e^^, immediately 

 after laying, in an upright position, with the air bubble uppermost, that 

 is to say with the broad end of the eg^ upwards He insisted par- 

 ticularly on no time being lost between the moment of laying and the 

 placing the egg in this position. Whilst in this position they should 

 be dipped in a solution of gum arabic, and put in a case fitted 

 with holes, in which they would retain their vertical position. I 

 received only six eggs that were collected by a person in England 

 on whom I could depend for an exact obedience to these instructions, 

 and out of these six eggs two were found to be cracked. Of the four 

 which remained, and which were duly placed under a hen, one was 

 found to be decomposed. Two contained half-formed chickens, and the 

 fourth produced the fine chicken I have referred to. The success of the 

 experiment would have been on a larger scale, though not more perfect, if 

 more cure had been taken to preserve the case containing the eggs from the 

 effects of the incessant motion, and very often violent concussion incident 

 to a sea voyage. As it was, the case was fitted with a frame, in which 

 it hung by means of an universal joint. But the frame was screwed to 

 the deck, and only performed the part of keeping the eggs in the 

 desired vertical position. Had the frame been suspended by elastic 

 straps, I feel confident I should have had to report a larger measure of 

 success. I think it surprising the vitality of the eggs should have 

 survived the violent shaking that they must have endured owing to the 

 rigidity of their frame. The time that elapsed from laying to hatching 

 is remarkable, but still more when it is considered how much of that 

 time was passed in the tropics in a hot cabin ; and I hope that the ex- 

 periment will be carried out on shore, and for a longer period of time, 

 with the object of finding how long eggs under such conditions may be 



