XXX Prockkdings. [March jfst, igoj. 



The members having signified their api)roval of these pro- 

 posals, the Prksident announced that this procedure would be 

 followed in connectif)n with the forthcoming election of the 

 Council. 



Mr. Francis Nicholson, F.Z.S., stated that the recent 

 stormy weather did not appear to have delayed the arrival of 

 our migratory birds, some of which had, indeed, been noticed 

 at an earlier date than usual. The Wheatear was first noticed 

 at Southport on March 22nd, and the Redshank had been 

 reported from a few breeding stations in Lancashire and West- 

 morland as early as March 15th. Nests and eggs of the 

 Lapwing had been found on March 29th. 



Mr. R. L. Taylor, F.C.S., read a paper entitled " I. On a 

 Higher Oxide of Cobalt. H. A Method for the Volu- 

 metric Determination of Cobalt." 



Mr. W. E. HoYLE, M.A., communicated a paper by Mr. 

 Theophilus G. Pinches, LL.D., M.R.A.S., on "Hymns to 

 Tammuz, inscribed on a Tablet in the Manchester 

 Museum, Owens College." 



These interesting compositions are inscribed in six columns 

 on a Babylonian tablet of seemingly unliaked clay, which 

 unfortunately is by no means perfect. The style of the writing 

 is archaic Babylonian, closely resembling that in use at the 

 time of the dynasty of Babylon to which the renowned king 

 Hammurabi belonged. This establishes the date of the text as 

 about 2,000 B.C. Tammuz was the husband of Istar, whose 

 name occurs in the text under its Sumerian form, Innanna. 

 Istar calls to Tammuz, the siiepherd, the god of the summer 

 sun, to return to the place of pasture, the domain of delight 

 where he abides with her. Here the summons of Persephone 

 (Allat, Eres-e-gala) in the underworld seems to penetrate, and 

 is heard by Istar with sorrow and misgiving. Apparently some 

 evil voice calls Tammuz away from Istar, and the goddess 

 journeys to the underworld, "in night walking, in gloom 

 walking." Then, it seems, Tammuz comes forth from the 



