124 Proceedings of Learned Societies. 



Genera of Recent and Fossil Shells. 



The 22d number contains Melania, Melanopsis, to which is 

 united Pirena of Lam. ; Serpula including Spirorbis, Vermetus, 

 and Vermilia, Lam.; Cassis; and Umbrella; in his account of 

 this latter genus Mr. Sowerby has explained the cause of De Blain- 

 ville's mistake, which gave rise to the name Gastroplax, which 

 he has applied to the animal ; for he has shown that in the iden- 

 tical specimen examined by De Blainville, the shell has been de- 

 tached from its natural situation on the back, and fixed with cement 

 to the under part of the foot. 



Aut. XVII. — Proceedings of Learned Societies on subjects 

 connected with Zoology. 



ROYAL SOCIETY. 



The first meeting of this Society for the present session took place 

 on the 20th of November last, when the Croonian Lecture was read, 



On the Anatomy of the Human Brain, as compared zcith that 

 of Fishes, Insects, and tVorms ; by Sir E. Home, Bart. V. P. 

 R. S. 



This lecture was very short, and consisted, principally, of re- 

 marks illustrative of the microscopical drawings by Mr. Bauer, 

 with which it was accompanied, some more particular observations 

 being reserved for the explanation of them. Occasion was taken 

 to award a high and just tribute to the micrpscopical investigations 

 of Swammerdam, which were unequalled by any, it was remark- 

 ed, except those of Mr. Bauer. The ability of both observers was 

 of such and so rare a nature, that, with respect to each, it had 

 been ascribed to some particular construction of the microscope j 

 and it had even been suspected that Swammerdam had a peculiar 

 method of using the instrument, which had died with him. 



