28 



A specimen of a very rare bird was exhibited — " only 

 one specimen of which is known." 



Mr. Gray exhibited a Metallic Basin found in Lochar 

 Moss, in Dumfriesshire. 



Mr. Gray also exhibited a Saxon Collar or Tore, found 

 along with the vessel, apparently of bronze. 



Dr. Hibbert Taylor exhibited a very large larva of 

 one of the Curculionidce, or Weevils, found in the centre 

 of a cocoa nut. 



Mr. McAndrew exhibited a slug of the genus Parma- 

 cella, from Seville. 



Dr. Hume exhibited an Australian Necklace, consisting 

 of small sections of reed strung together on a thin cord. 



Dr. Hume also exhibited a couple of poisoned Spears 

 from New Zealand. 



The President again read some letters from the MSS. 

 copied in 1708 One was from Sir Thomas Cromwell, 

 addressed to Sir Thomas Wyatt, and gave an interesting 

 account of the domestic intelligence of the Court of Henry 

 VIII., and of his Queen, Jane Seymour. 



THE PAPER FOR THE EVENING WAS : 



"THE HISTORY OF BRITISH ARMOUR"— (Concluded.)-Bi/ Mr. 



PlDGEOy. 



With the reign of Henry IV. the era of plate armour 

 commenced. The last remains of chain mail, in the aper- 

 tures between the breast and back-plates, and the coverings 

 of the arms, gave way to small circular plates attached by 

 points, tied at their centre. The apron of chain was dis- 

 continued, and bands of steel (called tassets, from covering 

 the pockets) protected the abdomen, and extended to the 

 middle of the thigh. It is true that sometimes chain does 

 appear below a less extended series of tassets, but it is 

 simply additional, and forms no longer a complete portion 

 of the armour. 



The head was protected, during this reign, by helmets 

 of various forme, but a distinctive character was given 

 when, in the reign of Henry V., feathers became commonly 

 worn in the helmet ; when two or three feathers were fixed 

 at the top of the helmet, it constituted the panache ; when 

 feathers were introduced at the side or front of, or behind 

 the helmet, they constituted tbe plume. On the helmet 

 was worn a jewelled wreath, called the orle, and in front, on 

 the forehead, was often seen a legend, such as Ave Maria, 



