1891-92-] Exhibits in Natural History. 43 



becomes changed into a white vegetable substance while still retaining its 

 caterpillar shape. It is from 3 to 3| inches in length, and when about to 

 assume the chrysalis form, buries itself in the ground ; and it is supposed 

 that in doing so, some of the minute seeds of a fungus become inserted 

 between the scales of its neck. These the insect, being in a sickly condition, 

 is unable to rid itself of ; and they vegetate, and spread through the whole 

 of the body, completely filling and changing it entirely into a vegetable 

 substance, though retaining exactly the caterpillar form, even to the legs, 

 head, mandibles, and claws. ... In every instance the caterpillar is found 

 perfect in shape and size, without any sign of contraction or decomposition ; 

 and it is therefore presumed that the vegetating process takes place during 

 the insect's life." 



Vertebra of Razor-back Whale. — The vertebra exhibited was dug out of the 

 White Sands, near Aberdour ; and was one of fifteen vertebras discovered by 

 some workmen while driving piles in connection with drainage operations. 

 Professor Struthers states that the vertebra is that of a Razor-back Whale, 

 so called from the great lateral compression of the hinder part of the trunk 

 (caudal region) behind the dorsal fin — this being so compressed that it sug- 

 gests a two-edged knife. Its scientific name is Balcenoptera musculus ; the 

 specific name being given to it in consequence of its great activity com- 

 pared with other large whales. It may attain a length of from 60 to 70 

 feet, with a pectoral fin of nearly 8 feet. It is clear that the animal to 

 which this vertebra belonged was stranded on the sea-shore, in the same 

 way as whales have every now and then been stranded in our neighbour- 

 hood in recent years. The vertebra is comparatively recent, and not fossil- 

 ised, as has been stated in the newspapers. 



Opalescent Lenses from the Eye of a Cuttlefish. — The base of each lens is 

 nearly flat ; and there are two lenses of unequal size in each eye, their 

 plane surfaces facing each other, with a thin membrane between. Lenses 

 such as those exhibited are found, along with arrow-heads, &c, in the tombs 

 of the ancient Peruvians. They are sometimes made into solitaires by 

 jewellers, but they would probably not stand rough usage. 



Mummied Cats. — The following account of the arrival in this country 

 of a "cargo of cats" appeared in the 'Scotsman' of February 4, 1890: 

 "There has just arrived from Alexandria at Liverpool, by the steamers 

 Pharos and Thebes, a consignment of nearly 20 tons of cats, numbering 

 180,000 head, taken out of an ancient subterranean cats' cemeterj r , discovered 

 about 100 miles from Cairo, by an Egyptian fellah, who accidentally fell 

 into the cemetery. The place was found to be completely filled with cats, 

 every one of which had been separately embalmed and dressed in cloth. 

 They were all separately laid out. Specimens of these have been taken by 

 Mr Moore, curator of the Liverpool museum, where they can be seen. The 

 cargo, consigned to Messrs Levington & Co. of Liverpool, was purchased in 

 Egypt at £3, 13s. 9d. per ton, and will be used in this country as manure. 

 The curator of the Liverpool museum fixes the date of the interment of the 

 cats at 2000 before Christ." 



Mrs Sprague, having read this account, wrote to Messrs Levington & Co. 

 for specimens of the mummies, and received a printed circular stating that 



