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the hairs might be beneficial in the case of intestinal worms, the cater- 
pillars might serve as medicine to those birds which ate them. Anyhow 
the hairs were not protective against some birds, and other enemies of 
the caterpillars—the ichneumon fly, for instance. 
As regarded the mechanical or fluid action of the hairs, it was 
considered by Mr. Scott that they should not call upon Mr. Wonfor to 
name some irritating fluid, when he had given so many irritating Zozzts 
(laughter). 
Mr. WONFOR said that he should like some chemist to take charge 
of a few caterpillars in order to examine them, and ascertain whether 
or not there was an irritating fluid. He would certainly be rewarded 
for his pazus (laughter). In reply to Mr. F. E. Sawyer, Mr. Wonfor 
explained that hairs came from off the body of the caterpillar without 
being touched. 
The meeting then became a conversazione, when hairs of the 
caterpillars alluded to, with papers, and others, were exhibited by the 
President, Messrs. Wonfor, R. Glaisyer, Puttick, and F. E. Sawyer. 
AUGUST 13TH. 
ORDINARY MEETING.—MR. H. PRATT ON 
COGGIA’S COMET. 
After referring to the early observation of comets, which had been 
found even in the Chinese annals ; to their almost infinite number,— 
Kepler declaring that the ocean was not fuller of fishes than the cether 
of comets ; and to the ‘existence, as demonstrated by mathematical 
astronomy, of a connection between comets and the various meteor 
streams ; attention was drawn to the various theories as to the office 
of comets: namely, that they restored to the planets the electrical 
equilibrium which they, in turn, continually displaced ; that they might 
deluge a world with water or melt it with heat, or drive our earth from 
her orbit or set a star on fire. 
None of these hypotheses had been established, and even the 
nomenclature of the comet was very imperfectly settled. There was 
an increased interest awaiting the visit of a comet, owing to the 
