20 
Various forms of Nebulz; Theory of the Origin of the Minor 
Planets ; Exhaustion of Light and Heat; Dark Stars; Scien- 
tific Hypothesis and Imagination. 
Thursday, December 18th.—“ Astronomy in the 
Poets.” 
Astronomical references in Chaucer, Spenser, Shakspeare, Milton, 
Tennyson. etc. 
A considerable number of members and their friends 
have visited the Society's Telescope during the year ; 
the total number of visits having been 135. The un- 
favourable state of the weather again proved a great 
hindrance on several occasions. 
roe 
Watural history Section. 
Friday, roth January, 1902. Professor Edgeworth, 
M.A., D.C.L., in the Chair. 
A collection of land and fresh-water mollusca from 
the United States, was exhibited by Mr. Hugh Findon. 
Mr. Basil W. Martin, F.Z.S., showed an exceptionally 
large Mole (Tapa europea, Linn.) which had been caught 
on Hampstead Heath, and sent by Mr. J. E. Whiting 
for exhibition. The specimen measured nine inches in 
total length. Mr. Martin also exhibited, on behalf of 
Mr. Whiting, a Hampstead specimen of the Lesser Red- 
poll (Linota rufescens, Vieill.) and pointed out that the 
bird was an occasional visitor to the neighbourhood in 
autumn and winter. Mr. F. W. Bourne of Messrs Ar- 
nold and Sons, showed a new “electric flash lamp,” 
which might be useful in “ mothing.” 
Pr... WV Williams, F.L.S., F.R.M.S., gave a 
