Proceedings. xli 



In this able and interesting paper Mr. Topley referred to the 

 more important changes, involving loss and gain of land, along 

 our coasts, pointing out the great importance of the shingle 

 beaches and their movements along our southern coasts, and the 

 mischief done by artificial interference with them for supposed 

 local advantages. His general conclusions were, that although 

 the losses in certain localities had been very great, taking the 

 whole coast-line together, the gains and losses had been fairly 

 balanced, and that the land area of Great Britain has remained 

 pretty nearly the same for many centuries. 



An interesting discussion followed the reading of the paper, in 

 which many members took part. 



Tliird Evenimj Meetinii, April 14th, 1886. — At the third Evening 

 Meeting, held on Apnl 14th, 1886, Mr. Philip Crowley made 

 some remarks on the habits of the larvae of some species of large 

 African moths, which he had previously exhibited. 



Mr. McKean also exhibited platinotypes of type-specimens 

 fi'om the Eoyal Herbarium of Brussels of Arctium nemoroswn, a 

 species of Burdock, and pointed out the value of such repro- 

 ductions of rare and critical species, and how admirably adapted 

 for the i^urpose the platinotype process is. 



Dr. Alfred Carpenter then read a paper, " On Disease-Germs 

 as at present Established" (Trans., art. 60), illustrated by 

 numerous and admirable diagrams. Dr. Carpenter described 

 the various forms of Bacteria and Bacillus which are known to 

 be associated with specific diseases, and the present state of our 

 knowledge respecting them. He described the methods of research 

 and identification, and the bearing of the facts described upon the 

 prevention and suppression of zymotic diseases. 



A discussion followed, in which Dr. Keith Brebner and Dr. 

 Perkins Case took part. 



Microscopic preparations of Bacilli, &c., illustrating the lecture 

 were exhibited by Dr. Carpenter and Mr. Low Sarjeant. 



Fovrth Evenimj Meetimj, Mmj 12th, 1886. — At the fourth 

 Evening Meeting, held on May 12th, Mr. J. H. Drage exhibited 

 and described some peculiarities in the structure of the bones of 

 the Eared Grebe. 



Mr. F. C. Bayard showed and described a series of self- 

 registered curves from a IHcard Thermograph, a liicard Baro- 

 graph, and a Jordan Sunshine Eecorder. 



Dr. Carpenter mentioned an interesting fact, showing the 

 severity of the weather in March. He stated that on March 3rd 

 some branches were lopped off a large maple in his garden, and 

 on the IStli he observed icicles hanging from the ends of the 

 branches, which gradually increased until on the 17th they 



