NOTES; 
* XI.—The Trepang or Sea-Cucumber—sy Mr. J. Rew. 
FEBRUARY 3, 1885. 
Specimens ot Holothuria tuberculata, variously called Trepang, 
Béche-de-Mer, Sea-slug, or Sea-cucumber, were presented by 
R. E. Thomson, Esq., of Kenfield Hall, who had received them 
from Australia, where they were used as an adjunct and basis of 
soup consumed at the dinner parties of the highest circles. Mr. 
Reid, from softened specimens, demonstrated some of the characters 
of the structure of the animal, and further described its nature, 
habits, and position in the animal kingdom. He pointed out that 
these creatures form an article of important commerce in the Indian 
Seas, high prices being given for the rarer kinds, the annual worth 
of the merchandise reaching a great sum. The mode of preparing 
them was also described. 
XII.—Some properties of Tannin—sy Carr. McDaxin. 
MARCH 3, 1885. 
Mr. S. Harvey, F.C.S. exhibited specimens of different 
species of gall nuts. Capt. McDakin followed with a short paper 
on the properties of Tannin, accompanied by chemical demonstrations, 
in which some peculiar results were pointed out. 
XIII.— Destruction of Oysters by Star-fishes—py Mr. Steer 
: ~ SAUNDERS. 
E : MARCH 3, 1885. 
Mr. Saunders demonstrated from specimens the method the 
_ Star-fish pursues in first strangling the Oyster and then devouring 
peat. 
. XIV.—Sea Stars—sy Mr. Srpert Saunvers. 
e 
APRIL 8, 1885. 
This paper (which was too long for publication here) dealt 
with all the most generally known British species belonging to the 
_ first three orders of Echinodermata, viz.: the Crinoidea—Feather 
Stars; the Ophiuroidea—-Sand Stars and Brittle Stars; and the 
_ Asteroidea—True Star Fishes. 
The chief object of the writer was to direct attention to the 
element of beauty which is strikingly manifested in these animals, 
