Proceedings. ciii. 



plants preserved by a new process. Mr. Low- Sergeant has 

 since communicated the following description of the method 

 pursued in the preservation of the plants : — " A mixture is 

 made of equal parts of lime and plaster of Paris which has 

 been exposed to the action of the air until it has lost its 

 setting properties. A flower pot or other vessel of convenient 

 size to contain the flower or fern to be preserved is taken, the 

 bottom of which is covered with the mixture, and the flower is 

 placed on it in the position in which it is required to dry it, 

 the mixture is then carefully sifted over the plant so as to 

 thoroughly cover and bury it. The vessel and contents are then 

 to be heated up to about go° or ioo° Fah., and kept at that 

 heat for several hours (8 to 24) according to the nature of the 

 plant. The plant when dry is removed from the plaster, 

 carefully dusted, and then varnished with a varnish composed 

 of gum dammar dissolved in benzole and turpentine."' Mr. 

 Collyer, specimens of blue fluor and iron pyrites. 



Ordinary Meeting, April 12th, 1882. 

 Philip Crowley, Esq., F.Z.S., President, in the Chair. 



The minutes of the meeting held on the 15th March were 

 read and signed. 



The following gentleman was balloted for and duly elected a 

 member : — Charles W. Willoughby. 



The following donations were announced : — ■" Science 

 Gossip," from the publishers; and "Notes and Observations 

 of the British Stalk-eyed Crustacea," from Messrs. Carrington 

 and Lovett. 



The President reminded the members that the excursion 

 of the Holmesdale Club, which was announced at the last 

 meeting, would be held on Saturday the 22nd April, and that 

 the members attending it would assemble at the Water Tower 

 at three o'clock in order to proceed, under the direction of Mr. 

 Flower, to inspect the strata which are exposed at the adjacent 

 railway cutting. 



Mr. Henry Dresser, F.L.S., F.Z.S., &c., now delivered 

 a most interesting lecture upon " Species and Varieties in 

 Birds" (see Transactions, article 31). 



After some remarks from Mr. Foottit upon the subject the 

 meeting passed a hearty vote of thanks to Mr. Dresser. 



The lecture was illustrated by a large series of skins of birds. 



The following objects were exhibited : — By Mr. Henry 

 Turner, series of fossil plant remains from the beds exposed in 

 the Park Hill section ; by Mr. McKean, under his microscope, 



