Royal Society. 583 



which they receive the male influence; after this the contents of 

 the ovum, previously fluid, coagulate and expand, the central part 

 being converted into brain and spinal marrow, while in the darker 

 substance of the egg, the heart and other viscera are formed. 



The membrane forming the vesicles, being destined to contain 

 the embryo when it has become a tadpole, enlarges as the embryo 

 increases, and may be said to perform the office both of the shell 

 and its lining membrane in the Pullet's egg, serving as defence, 

 and allowing of aeration. 



The black matter which lines the vesicles, probably tends to 

 the defence of the young animals from the too powerful influence 

 of the solar rays, frog-spawn being Usually deposited in exposed 

 situations. Sir Everard observed, that in the Aquatic Salamander, 

 an animal whose mode of breeding closely resembles that of the 

 Frog, this nigrum pigmentum is wanting; but that that animal de- 

 posits its eggs within the twisted leaves of water-plants, which 

 afford them an equivalent protection. 



November 30.— This being St. Andrew's Day, the Anniversary 

 Meeting of the Society was held, at which the Council and Officers 

 for the ensuing year were elected, as follows : — 

 Of the Old Council.— Sir Humphry Davy, Bart. ; W. T. Brande, 

 Esq. ; Samuel Goodenough, Lord Bishop of Carlisle ; Major 

 Thomas Colby; John Wilson Croker, Esq.; Davies Gilbert, 

 Esq.; Charles Hatchett, Esq.; Sir Everard Home, Bart.; 

 John Pond, Esq. ; William Hyde Wollaston, M. D. ; and 

 Thomas Young, M.D. 

 Oj the Ne is Council— William Babington, M.D. ; Francis Baily, 

 Esq. ; John George Children, Esq. ; John William, Viscount 

 Dudley and Ward ; John Frederick William Herschel, Esq. ; 

 Captain Henry Kater; Thomas Andrew Knight, Esq. ; Alex- 

 ander MacLeay, Esq.; Sir Thomas Stamford Raffles, Knt.; 

 and Edward Adolphus, Duke of Somerset. 

 President— Sir Humphry Davy, Bart. Treasurer— Dairies Gilbert, 

 Esq. Secretaries— W. T. Brande, Esq. and J. F. W. Her- 

 bchel, Esq. 



