Prucvedinys. 19 



water-snails, tadpoles, or frogs which come within reach are 

 suddenly seized and devoured, and it is averred that the 

 water rat even is liable to the same fate." 



Mr. J. B. Crosfield read a paper by Dr. R. H. Clarke on 

 " Septicemia Canaeiensis " : 



In this paper Dr. Clarke described a sudden outbreak of 

 epidemic disease amongst a number of Canaries kept by Mrs. 

 Clarke, from which nearly sixty birds died. It appeared 

 probable that the disease was communicated to the birds by 

 mice. 



Dr. Clarke kindly sent for exhibition a number of prepara- 

 tions from the spleens of the diseased Canaries, in some of 

 which bacteria could be seen under a powerful microscope. 



Messrs. E. S. and C. E. Salmon exhibited very beautifully 

 mounted specimens of many of the plants named in their list 

 of localities. 



Evening Meeting. — December 19th, 1890. 



Mr. E. S. Salmon sent for exhibition a Duke of Burgundy 

 Fritillary butterfly, captured near Godstone. 



A paper from Mr. Sydney Webb, " On Hybeknating 

 Ckeatuees and Hybernation," was then read. 



Mr. Webb referred to the fact that many animals of 

 different orders pass the winter season in a somnolent 

 or torpid condition, a condition well known, although the 

 laws which govern such condition have only lately been 

 thoroughly understood. He referred to the Rev. Gilbert 

 White, of Selborne, having reluctantly given up the idea that 

 Swallows occasionally hybernated in the country during the 

 winter, and to the fable, once generally believed, that Bears 

 were sustained in winter while in a dormant state by sucking 

 their paws. Mr. Webb stated that the quadrupeds in this 

 country which hybernate in the winter are the Badger, Field 

 Mouse, Vole or Water Rat, the Squirrel, and Dormouse. 

 Bats pass the winter in seclusion ; the Hedgehog not 



