Cxxiv Proceedings. 
October 20th.—Dr. Franklin Parsons exhibited some Pholas 
borings in hard lias rock. These molluscs bury themselves in 
the rock, but as to the precise manner in which they are enabled 
to excavate their domiciles there is some difference of opinion, 
whether by the motion of the shell, which is very fragile, or by 
an acid secretion. lLimpets are also able to excavate shallow 
depressions on rock, a specimen of which was shown. 
The President exhibited a series of fossils from the Car- 
boniferous Limestone of Derbyshire, consisting of several 
species of Producta, Spirifera, and other brachiopods, molluscs, 
and corals. 
Mr. E. W. Johnson read a very interesting paper on ‘‘ The 
Solar Eclipse of August 9th, 1896.”" To see an eclipse of the 
sun, we must place ourselves in the line of the moon’s shadow 
as it speeds across the earth’s surface, and as nearly as possible 
in the centre of the shadow. In this case the shadow com- 
menced in the North Sea about two hundred miles to the north 
of Scotland, and entered Norway a little to the south of Bodo. 
The line of totality, after crossing some inaccessible mountains, 
emerged from Norway at Vadsé, then crossed Nova Zembla and 
_ Siberia and the northern parts of Japan, finally disappearing in 
the Pacific Ocean at a point in 180° longitude and 20° north 
latitude, after a mighty journey of 10,000 miles. The ‘‘ Norse 
King”’ left Tilbury on July 25th, having on board the official 
members of the permanent eclipse committee of the Royal 
Society and the Royal Astronomical Society, besides many 
members of the British Astronomical Association. As is well 
known, the actual observation of the eclipse was marred by 
cloudy weather, but in spite of that the observers were repaid 
for their trouble. Mr. Johnson described the effect of the 
sudden darkness on the surrounding landscape and upon birds 
and animals. Altogether it was most impressive. 
Mr. Keatley Moore, who also accompanied the expedition, 
added some interesting remarks. 
November 17th.—Dr. G. J. Hinde, F.R.§., read a paper on 
‘‘The Valley Gravels in the Neighbourhood of Croydon,” which 
will be published in our ‘ Transactions’ (Trans., Art. 132). 
Dr. Parsons exhibited ammonites and other fossils from the 
Gault at Folkestone. 
December 15th.—Mr. H. F. Robarts, F.G.8., read a paper on 
‘‘Mammalian Remains recently discovered near Purley.” These 
consisted principally of tusks and teeth of mammoth and rhino- 
ceros. The paper will be printed in-the ‘ Transactions’ (Trans., 
Art. 138). 
