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Mr. Dennet onteved into an explanation of the circumstances 

 which led to his taking up the subject of the utilisation of vegetable 

 fibre, and referred to the correspondence which had taken place 

 between Dr. Forbes Watson and himself on the subject. Government 

 had offered a premium of £5,000 for a machine which would separate 

 the fibre without injuring it, but this was subsequently withdrawn, 

 although he now had a machine which would do the work speedily, 

 cheaply, and well, and at a very much less cost than another 

 machine which had been brought out for the same purpose. 



April Sth. 



ORDINARY MEETING.— MR. F. E. SAWYER ON 



"THE BIRDS AND MAMMALS OF SUSSEX." 



At a meeting of this society, held about two years ago (on the 

 IGth April, 1873), their excellent Secretary (Mr T. W. Wonfor) read a 

 paper on " The Yerification of the Fauna and Flora of the County 

 of Sussex." This was considered by the President and all the 

 members present one of the most interesting and important papers 

 ever read before the society. He had therefore been somewhat dis- 

 appointed at not seeing any actual results from that paper. 



Now, he had always thought it to be an especial duty of local 

 scientific, and literary societies and institutions to develope the 

 local element to the utmost extent. For instance, to obtain, for 

 local museums, complete collections illustrating the geology and 

 the fauna and flora of the district, and, for libraries, complete sets 

 of the works of all local authors and all books relating to the 

 district. If this were done, a student of science and literature 

 would know that, on going to a particular place, he could obtain 

 complete information relative to that district, and an incalculable 

 impetus would thereby be given to the study of science and lite- 

 rature. He had accordingly endeavoui-ed in all previous papers he 

 had had the honour of reading before the society to confine his 

 attention to the county of Sussex. This, therefore, coupled with 

 his disappointment at seeing no results follow Mr. Wonfor's 

 admirable paper, had induced him to bring before them the present 



