20 



when it fell to 28"096. In the further discussion of the meteor- 

 olog)' of the season, Mr. Glaisher stated that from the 2nd 

 November to 12th December, 1871, the temperature was the 

 lowest known at that period for 98 years, being 20° below the 

 average. 



Mr. "Weir made some remarks on the geographical distribution 

 of the Phasianidoe, elicited by a statement, which had recently 

 been made in a celebrated trial, that a pheasant had been shot by 

 the plaintiff when in South America ; it being a well ascertained 

 fact that the Phasianidoe are entirely confined to the Old World. 



Specimens of the Lepidopterous families, Heliconidae and 

 Acrseidte, were exhibited and commented on by the same gentle- 

 man. 



February 2^th. — The Annual Meeting of the members was held, 

 and the various oflBcers for the yeai* elected. After the formal 

 business, the retiring President, F. Currey, Esq., F.R.S., Sec. & 

 F.L.S., delivered an able address, reviewing the chief points of 

 scientific discovery and investigation during the year 1871. This 

 addi'ess was published in the last report of the Society. 



March 21 th. — The President exhibited a collection of the 

 Pieridoe. He pointed out how they differed from the families 

 exhibited on the 24th January, by possessing six legs in the 

 perfect state in both sexes. He also directed the attention of the 

 meeting to the curious fact, that in an order in which eye-like 

 spots are so common, the Pieridce are entirely without ocelli on 

 the wings. 



April 24th. — Dr. Spurrell exhibited a series of drawings of 

 Fruits, Flowers, and Insects from Jamaica, and gave some in- 

 teresting information respecting them. 



The Eev. E. S. Dewick.then read a paper on the sections 

 exposed by the railway tunnel and cuttings at Sundridge Park, 

 near Bromley. The paper was illustrated by drawings, and a 

 collection of the fossils found in the cuttings. 



May 22nd. — The President exhibited specimens of Gonepteryx 

 Rhamni, the eggs of which had been deposited on the Rhamnus 

 Alatemus in his o'wn garden. From these eggs the perfect insect 

 had been reai-ed. The wonderful instinct of the butterfly had 

 enabled it to select this shrub, which is a continental species, and 

 totally different in appearance from the two species of Rhamni 

 indigenous to this country. 



