November lOth, I860. — Dr. Iliff, of Epsom, forwarded for exhibi- 

 tion a small cubical hard and stone-like substance, which, with ten 

 others precisely similar in character, had been taken from the stomach 

 of a sole. The object exhibited was nearly cubical, sides quite flat, 

 and e.x:terior angles slightly rounded, and was exhibited with the hope 

 of gaining some information as to the nature of this substance. 



The President exhibited a series of Gourds grown at Reigate duriug 

 the present year. They were almost all varieties of the 2[elo pepo, 

 which are good for food, and known by their yellow flowers and fur- 

 rowed fruit-stalks. Two or three varieties of other gourds were 

 shown, possessing qualities which render them unfit for human food. 

 The fruit-stalks of these were smooth, and their flowers white, cha- 

 racters which readily distinguish them from the edible species. 

 Among the edible varisties exhibited, some had the shape and size 

 of pears and oranges, while others were much elongated and weighed 

 many pounds each. Upwards of twenty well-marked varieties were 

 placed upon the table. The President stated that the past summer had 

 offered conditions for the growth of the gouid tribe not often found in 

 this country — viz. heat, with bright sunshine and a moist atmosphere. 

 Besides gourds, many other fruits had come to unusual perfection 

 this season, several of which ripened but very rarely in the open air. 



The President also brought for exhibition a number of skulls, by 

 which he proved that the skull found on Reigate Hill, and was pre- 

 viously before the Club, was that of a Badger, and that the skull 

 from Buckland, exhibited at a recent meeting of the Club, was that 

 of the common Dog : both had been long in the ground. 



He also exhibited a curious fungus of a reddish mahogany colour, 

 Polyporus lucidus, which had been found in this country. The fungus 

 is a tropical species, and seldom found so far north as this latitude. 

 He also exhibited some fruits of the Edible Myrtle [Eugenia ugiii) 

 from Chili, which were handed round among the members. 



The President drew the attention of the Meeting to the rainfall in 

 the South of England during the past month, which he believed to 

 have been greater than ever before recorded. It varied in different 

 localities from 7 to 11 inches. At Reigate the amount collected in 

 the suage was a little more than 7 inches. 



