68 PROCEEDINGS OF THE SOCIETY. 
The President briefly brought before the members the sub- 
stance of what is now known respecting these remarkable ap- 
pearances, the apparent similarity of their orbit with that of 
Temple’s Comet of 1866—the influence which the planet Uranus 
has exercised on them—and the immense magnitude of the are 
of space which is probably filled with these extraordinary bodies. 
The Secretary read a long and comprehensive paper ‘‘ On 
English Plant-Names,” which was listened to with great atten- 
tion. Commencing by deprecating the notion that there is little 
or no meaning in our local plant-names, he proceeded to give a 
general idea of the various sources to which they might be traced. 
Examples were given of names adopted, or corrupted, from the 
Anglo-Saxon, Swedish, Danish, German, French, Latin, and 
Greek; the influence of the Church upon the people was illus- 
trated by many names, handed down from, or associated with, 
the middle ages; those plants which take their titles from a 
resemblance, real or imagined to other objects, were referred to, 
the ‘‘ doctrine of signatures” was glanced at, and its results were 
shown. The paper, which will be published in ‘ Science Gossip ’ 
for February next, was intended to give a general view of the 
subject ; and it was hinted that a second wasin preparation, in 
which the more strictly /ocal names would receive due attention. 
The meeting, which was prolonged until a late hour, closed 
with an exhibition of the President’s binocular microscope. 
Srcoyp Eventne Merrine, Drc. 29.—Held, by kind invitation, 
at the house of IT. Wheeler, Esq. Among the objects exhibited 
were the following: A very beautiful specimen of ‘‘ Venus’ 
Flower-Basket”” (Zuplectella speciosa), from the shores of the 
Philippine Islands; a box of Lepidoptera, including a fine Sphina 
Convolvuli, taken in the district; fossils, &c., by the President; a 
collection of British Orehidacee, by Mr. Ullyett; and some beauti- 
fully executed drawings of wild flowers, chiefly from our own 
neighbourhood, by the Misses Giles. Mr. Ullyett read an 
interesting paper on ‘‘ Winter Work,’’ which contained many 
useful hints and practical suggestions ; this was followed by one 
by the Secretary, on “ Additions to the Wycombe Flora, 1868,” 
which will be found at p. 59. The President gave one of his 
popular addresses, the subject selected on the present occasion 
being ‘‘Sharks.”’ The various scientific classifications of fishes 
was referred to, such as the division of this branch of Natural 
Science into the Heterocercals, or unequal tails, and the Homo- 
cercals, or equal tails; the Osseous and the Cartilaginous fishes ; 
and the Placoids (plate-form), the Ganoids (shining-form), the 
Ctenoids (comb-form), andthe Cyeloids (circle-form). Thesenames 
refer to the shape of the scales. The position in each of these 
great divisions which the Shark tribe occupied was referred to. 
The subject was treated geologically, reference being made to the 
