Xviii SIXTH REPORT — 1836. 



stratification, the chemicnl quality, and molecular aggregation 

 of the rocks, and other circumstances, was recommended for the 

 purpose of procuring accurate data on this part of physical 

 Geology. 



The Officers of the Ordnance Survey in Ireland were requested 

 to make such excavations in the Peat Mosses of Ireland, as 

 may tend to ascertain the relative periods at which they were 

 deposited ; and the sum of 50/. Avas placed at the disposal of 

 Colonel Colby for this object. 



NATURAL HISTORY. 



Mr. R. Ball and Mr. Thompson, of Belfast, were requested 

 to prepare an exact catalogue of the Animals inhabiting Ireland. 



A Committee was named, consisting of Professor Henslow, 

 Dr. Daubeny, Mr. James Yates, Dr. Henry, and Dr. Dalton, 

 to institute Experiments on the growth of Plants under Glass, 

 and excluded from the external Air, on the plan of Mr. N. G. 

 Ward (described in the Transactions of the Society of Arts), 

 and the sum of 251. was placed at their disposal for the purpose. 



Mr. R.Bali was requested to investigate the mode bywhichMol- 

 lusca, Annelida, and other marine Invertebrata excavate rocks. 



Dr. Richardson mentioned the following desiderata in North 

 American Zoology : 



1 . Fauna of Mexico, California, New Caledonia and Russian America. 



2. Local Lists of the Animals of the Atlantic States of America, such 

 as the one prepared by order of the Government of Massachusetts for 

 that State. 



3. Accurate Comparisons of the Skeletons and of Living Specimens 

 of European and American Species supposed to be common to the 

 two countries. 



4. Monographs of the various FamiUes of North American Mamma- 

 lia, including notices of the habits of the Species, from personal obser- 

 vation only; and particularly of the Bats, Seals, Deer, and Pouched Rats. 



5. Comparison of the Northern and Woodland Rein Deer. 



6. An account of the Reptiles and Amphibia of Canada and the more 

 northern parts of the Continent. 



7 . Notices of the North American Mollusca. 



8. Determination of a Species of Fish which makes a loud drumming 

 noise on the bottoms of vessels anchoring on the Coasts of Georgia and 

 Florida, and the investigation of the causes and manner of its drumming. 



The Committee of Natural History likewise requested atten- 

 tion to the Chemistry of Entomology, and to the Geographical 

 distribution of Insects, more particularly with respect to the 

 influences exercised by geological conditions and by vegetation. 



