Clifton College Scientific Society. 15 



wide hand, which is the great instrument of action, is sharpened 

 on its lower edge, and the outstretched claws are strong and flat. 

 The fur of the mole (as indeed of all our burrowing mammalia) is 

 always perfectly free from dirt ; this is, in part, owing to the 

 peculiar construction of the hair ; for it will be noticed that the 

 hairs do not point in any particular direction, that is, the fur has 

 no 'set/ A strong muscular layer lies beneath the skin, and by 

 means of this the animal is enabled to give itself a powerful shake, 

 which at once frees it from all the mould collected on the fur. It 

 is remarked by the Eev. J. G. Wood, in his account of the mole, 

 that there is an accessory bone, shaped something like a sickle, 

 projecting from the carpus; and he says that in this extraordinary 

 animal stiU exist certain remarkable peculiarities of structure 

 which are seen in no other living form, but have been discovered 

 in the fossil skeletons of animals long extinct. I trust that the 

 account I have given, however imperfect it may be, will show 

 you how many interesting points there are in the habits and 

 structure of an animal found so commonly in our fields, that by a 

 great many it is despised, and not thought worthy of consideration. 



J. C. Prinsep then gave a lecture on ' English Architecture,' 

 and exhibited a large number of well-executed sketches and plans. 

 The President and the Rev. J. Greene afterwards commented on 

 the paper, referring esijecially to the subject of the revival of Gothic 

 architecture in England. The Eev. J. Greene brought forward the 

 following resolutions, which were passed unanimously : — 



I. That members be requested to bring for exhibition at the 

 meetings of the Society specimens of Natural History, aud illustrations 

 of Natural and Physical Science in general. 



II. That members be invited to present donations of specimens 

 to the College Museum when they may have it in their power, such 

 donations to be acknowledged in the Society's Transactions. 



The Society then proceeded to the election of Directors for the 

 Chemical and Physical Sections, in the room of G. E. Rodwell, 

 Esq., and J. Perry, Esq., who had declined the office. 



For the Chemical Section, G. T. Atkinson, Esq., Messrs P. R. 

 Ogle, and W. A. Smith were proposed. On a ballot being taken, 

 W. A. Smith was elected. W. J. P. "Wood was afterwards elected 

 Head of the Physical Section. 



