48 Address. [Feb- 



paratus, by Mr. E. J. Jones, late Vice-President. On a species of Po- 

 dophrya ionnd in water from the "Triangular Tank" in Park Street, 

 by Mr. W. J. Simmons, the Secretary. On some Flosctiles found in 

 Calcutta tank- water and Notes on Indian Rotifers, by our member Mr. 

 H. H. Anderson. The latter paper has been published in our Journal. 



The Bombay Natural History Society, continues to flourish and 

 increase its sphere of usefulness. When in Bombay last December, 

 I was much pleased with the admirable little Museum of natural history 

 curiosities the Society has got together under the care of Mr. Phipson, 

 the energetic Secretary, who was kind enough to point out to me the 

 principal objects of interest. Four numbers of the Journal have been 

 published during the year containing several interesting papers which 

 will be noticed under their respective heads. Among them may be 

 specially mentioned Lieut. H. E. Barnes' papers on Nesting in Western 

 India, illustrated with 3 coloured plates. Mr. Oates' paper on Indian 

 and Burmese Scorpions, also illustrated with a plate. Mr. de Niceville's 

 on new and little known Butterflies from the Indian Region, with two 

 coloured plates. A note on man-eating Tigers, by Mr. Reginald Grilbert, 

 and Mrs. J. C. Lisboa's short notes on the Odoriferous Grasses of India 

 and Ceylon. 



Bombay Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society. Fi'om the last pub- 

 lished report this Society appears to be doing well and the member 

 list is increasing. Papers have been read at the meetings by Mr. J. J. 

 Modi — " The Karun River opened to trade by the Persian Govern- 

 ment;" by Dr. P. Peterson, " Nyayabindhu of Dharmotavra, a Bud- 

 dhist woi^k on Logic ; " by the Hon'ble Mr. Justice K. T. Telang, 

 C. I. E., "The date of Pui^anawarma and Sankaracharya." Dr. Peter- 

 son has been obliged to resign the Secretaryship after holding it for 6 

 years and is succeeded by Mr. Tajnik. 



Turning now to the work done by our Indian Museum and kindred 

 Institutions, it is satisfactory to observe that the various Museums 

 in different parts of India seem to be exerting a great educational 

 influence on the teeming masses in this country. It is reported 

 more than once that the native visitors to the Museums are com- 

 mencing to take a really intelligent interest in the collections and do 

 not come only as mere sight-seers. Mr. Thurston, the Superintendent 

 of the Madras Museum, has estimated the cost-rate of each visitor to the 

 Museum to be between 1 and 2 annas, and following up the same idea 

 and applying it to different other Museums in various parts of India, it is 

 somewhat remarkable to find how close the cost-rates are for all of them, 

 and at what a very small cost per visitor these Museums are maintained. 

 In most cases it is little over an anna, or about one penny a head. 



