227 



Mr. Marrat submitted the Veronica montana, from 

 Bromboroiigh. 



The Secretary, in the absence of the Author, read a 

 paper, — "■ On the Adaptability of Western Africa for 

 a Cotton Supply, with a Synoptical Notice of Mr. 

 James Lees's Opinion on the Six Months' Course of 

 Seasons in the Tropics." By Thomas J. Hutchinson, 

 Esq., F.R.G.S., H.B.M. Consul, Fernando Po. 



The following paper was then read : — 



ON THE LIABILITY OF SHELLS TO INJURY 

 FROM THE GROWTH OF A FUNGUS. 



By the Rev. H. H. HIGGINS, M.A. 

 It has often been observed that shells kept for a conside- 

 rable time in cabinets, are apt to lose much of their- 

 original freshness and beauty of appearance. This kiud 

 of injury chiefly aiFects such specimens as have a bright 

 enamelled surface, which at length becomes dull, and less 

 pleasant to the touch. Several suggestions have been 

 made with refei-ence to the probable cause of the change 

 which has often been attributed to the efflorescence of 

 saHne matter absorbed by the shell ; but, so far as I have 

 observed, the specimens most liable to injury from saline 

 incrustation, belong to genera in which the shells are 

 without enamel, as Littorina, Turritella, &c., and many 

 collectors are in the habit of steeping their specimens in 

 fresh water for some days before placing them in their 

 cabinets, a process which is said to be an eifectual pre- 

 servative from injury by saline efflorescence. Mr. Denni- 

 son of Woolton attributed the loss of lustre in enamelled 

 shells to the ravages of a minute insect, but had not 

 been able to detect the depredator. Many of the shells 

 in my own cabinet sufi'cred such serious injury during 

 last winter that I was led to investigate the cause, which 

 indeed became obvious enough by the use of a ruicroscopc. 



