79 
in. The natural soil extended about four or five feet ; then came about 
nine feet of very sandy clay ; and at the bottom a great quantity of 
flints lying on the Elephant bed. The excavations at Portslade for 
Coombe Rock (Mr. Hudson’s) were also worth inspecting, some in- 
teresting points being opened up there. : 
Mr. ScoTT said he had examined the Russell-street excavations, 
and they were certainly singular ; and it was his intention to take a 
run over to Portslade at a convenient opportunity. 
OTHER SPECIMENS. 
Mr. E. C. PANKHURST also exhibited several specimens of 
elatenite, a singularly bituminous mineral, fossil fern, calamite, &c. 
The Rev. J. H. Cross, a piece of the lace bark tree and other 
objects from Jamaica. 
Mr. W. CLARKSON WALLIS and Mr. F. E. SAWYER, various small 
bones which had been found in the neighbourhood. 
Mr. G. SCOTT submitted a piece of decayed wood, similar to that 
used in making Tunbridge ware, and which was found in the 
neighbourhood of Petersfield, and enquired what was the nature of 
the colouring substance, and if the wood was durable ? 
Mr. T. W. WONFOR remarked that it was not unless impregnated — 
by something to make it so, and that the colouring was produced by 
fungus growth, and that it was the mycelium of the fungus, termed 
flelotium eruginosum. 
May 28TH. 
MICROSCOPICAL MEETING—DR. HALLIFAX ON 
“THE VEGETABLE CELL.” 
By the term “ Cell” was denoted the primary and elementary com- 
ponent of vegetable, and, almost, if not all, animal tissues and organs. 
The entire vegetable kingdom was made up of cells, in which every 
vital action was performed, and while some were of extreme minute- 
ness, others were of considerable size. 
