19 
The coral reefs with central lagoon are now represented by 
the limestone hills surrounding an inland plateau. Thick deposits 
of phosphite of linie have been formed in places from the remains 
of sea-birds in past ages. 
The climate is like that of a hot English summer, tempered 
with sea-breezes, and is delightful and healthy. Good water 
abounds, 
The island is thickly covered with forests of lofty trees, creepers 
binding their tops together. The mammalian fauna consists 
only of two species of rat, a shrew and two bats. The rats are 
in huge numbers ; they entered the tent at night and ran over 
the sleepers. They are-good climbers. One of the species of 
bat is remarkable for its habit of flying in bright sunlight. The 
island is the breeding place of vast numbers of sea-birds—gannets, 
boobies, frigate-birds, etc. These form the ample food-supply 
of the island. Several species of land-crab infest the trees of 
the forests. A remarkable feature of \the fauna is the presence 
of four species of earthworm, two of which are peculiar to the 
island. As the nearest land is two hundred miles distant, and 
earthworms and their ova are destroyed by sea-water, their presence 
here is of interest. 
A After the lecture, refreshments were served in the Small Hall. 
small orchestra played a selection of music during the evening. 
Natural History, Photographic, Meteorological and other exhibits 
were on view. 
Friday, December 6th. Sir Samuel Wilks, Bart., F.RS., 
President, in the chair. 
Mr. A, D. Darbishire, M.A,, gave a lecture on “ Mendelism,”’ 
illustrated with the results of breeding experiments on mice and 
peas. The lecture consisted of a careful exposition of the 
phenomena accompanying hybridisation associated with the name 
of Mendel. 
ooo 
WHatural history Section. 
The record of this Section for 1907 is on the whole satisfactory. 
Though the average attendance at the meetings was not so large 
as in the previous year, the number of exhibits has increased. 
Ten papers and demonstrations were given before the Section, 
two only of which were by visitors. The interest and usefulness 
of the meetings have been materially increased by the coming 
