156 



dead. It had been discovered that by adding a small quantity 

 of bisulphuret of carbon to the solution containing the metal, 

 that it was deposited in a form capable of reflecting light, and 

 so not requiring any additional polish. 



Mr. Sansom exhibited a Fungus (Sphoeria Eobertsii of 

 Hooker) on the larva of Hepialus Yivescens of Doubleday, 

 from New Zealand ; this fungus is deposited while the body of 

 the larva is very small, and continues in its original condition 

 until the animal is full grown. It then develops itself very 

 rapidly, and converts the whole body into a fungus ; when the 

 change is complete, the fungus throws out a long filament of 

 considerable size, which dies away and is reproduced annually 

 from the converted body of the insect. 



Mr. Yates exhibited a beautiful English manuscript of the 

 time of Edward III., called "Stinmlus Conscientise," by 

 Richard Eolle, hermit of Hampole, near Doncaster. It is a 

 poem in the rude language of the time, describing the joys of 

 heaven and the pains of hell and purgatory, and setting forth 

 the ethics and theology of the day. A more full account of 

 this interesting manuscript has been given by Mr. Yates in 

 the 19th volume of the " Archseologia." 



Mr. Byebley then read the following paper on the Traelii mts 

 Draco, Otter-pike, Sting Fish, or Weever : — 



The fishes called Weevers, Otter-pikes, or Stingers, are very 

 abundant round the neighbouring sandy coasts, and are a per 

 feet terror to the fishermen — in consequence of the painful and 

 sometimes serious effects which ensue after punctures which 

 they make, when irritated, by means of sharp spines which 

 project from their dorsal fins and opercula. The cause of 

 these severe consequences I have never seen satisfactorily 

 explained, and I have been induced to lay something of their 

 history before the Society, not without a hope that I may be 

 able to clear up the mystery in some degree. All authors who 

 have noticed these creatures have given them credit for inflict- 



