298 PROCEEDINGS OF SOCIETIES. 
«“ Mr. Charles Davis read a paper on the Natural History of 
Amber, and Mr. Hugh Owen communicated an interesting dis- 
covery by Mr. Jonathan Couch of an open tube leading from the 
ear to the air-bladder of certain fishes, analogous to the eustachian 
tube in the higher animals. 
“In November, Mr. W. W. Stoddart read to a large audience 
(including ladies amongst the visitors) an account of the tea-plant, 
its properties and adulterations. 
“At a very full meeting in December, Dr. Beddoe gave an 
account of the Maori race of New Zealand, and Dr. Joseph 
Swayne exhibited portraits drawn by himself of the chiefs of that 
race, lately resident in our city. Mr. Charles Ottley Groom 
also made observations on the cranial characteristics of the abo- 
riginal New Zealanders. On the same evening, Mr. Frederick 
Martin exhibited a collection of specimens illustrating the 
Marine Zoology of Clevedon, and read a paper descriptive of 
them. 
“ At the January meeting, Dr. Samuel Martyn read a paper 
describing two species of Holothuride, known in the commerce 
of the Chinese waters under the name of Trepang, and used there 
as an article of food. Specimens, drawings, and chemical demon- 
strations accompanied the paper. Mr. Henry Swayne then read 
a paper on ‘ Anthropoid Apes,’ illustrated by examples selected 
from the Museum. 
«At the February meeting, a proposition of the Council was 
made to the society to purchase a specimen of a rare bird 
(Apteryx) for the Museum. Mr. Leipner gave a short account 
of this bird, and the recommendation of the Council was adopted. 
Mr. Moore of Bath then read a paper entitled ‘ Results of a 
geological ramble to Patchway,’ illustrated with specimens. On 
the same evening, Mr. Collens exhibited an improved Burette for 
the purpose of volumetric analysis, which obtained the approval 
of several gentlemen experienced in that department of practical 
chemistry. 
“On March the 8rd, a numerous attendance of members and 
visitors demonstrated the increasing attraction of the society’s 
meeting. The new purchase (a fine specimen of Apteryx) was 
exhibited, after which Mr. Stoddart displayed a series of illumi- 
nated photographs of objects illustrating the natural history of 
our locality, and described the objects exhibited in his account of 
‘A Naturalist’s walk.’ 
“The concluding meeting of the winter session was occupied by 
Mr. William Lant Carpenter’s descriptive account of the material 
called ‘ waterglass,’ used in modern fresco painting, with a de- 
tailed analysis of a specimen of the material used for the decora- 
tion of the new houses of parliament. Mr. Chas. O. Groom 
read a paper on the ‘ Nidification of a few birds that breed in 
Britain.’ 
“This cursory notice of the many interesting excursions and 
meetings of the society during the past year, may suffice to give a 
