25 



of the Merchant and the State," by Swinton Boult, Esq. ; which has 

 been published by the author. 



" On the Mosses and Jungermannia: found within twelve viiles of 

 Liverpool aiid Southjwrt," by Mr. F. P. Marrat ; [vide Appendix). 



FOURTEENTH ORDINARY MEETING. 



Royal Institution. — May 14th, 1855. 

 JOSEPH DICKINSON, M.D., F.R.S., i-c, President, in the Chair. 



It was resolved, upon the recommendation of the Natural History 

 Sectional Committee, confirmed by the Council, that during the recess 

 the Society should make two Natural History excursions. 



Mr. T. C. Abcher exhibited two specimens of the Trepang, a species 

 of Holothuria, from the Indian Archipelago, — an animal largely ex- 

 ported to China, and used as food. 



Mr. Byerley exhibited two new Crustacea found at New Brighton, 

 the Dexanmie carincspinosa and Idotea linearis. 



Mr. Morton exhibited a fine specimen of the Pliascolotherium 

 Bucklandii, from the Stonesfield slate — green oolite. 



Dr. Thomson presented a specimen of Vitrified Fort, which he had 

 got on the " Top of Noth," in Aberdeenshire, and described the 

 appearances. 



Mr. J. B. Yates exhibited a copy of the Whitehall Evening Post, or 

 London Intelligencer, of August 2, 1750, containing a drawing and 

 description of a chariot which was to run with four horses, at New- 

 market, at the rate of 19 miles an hour, and accomplished the feat. 



Dr. Dickinson communicated ''Additions to the Flora of Liverpool," 

 (vide Appendix) ; and the following paper was read : 



ON THE MEANING AND HISTORY OF SURNAMES. 

 By rev. a. RAMSAY, M.A. 



"What's ill a name? That which we called a rose, 

 " By any other name would smell as sweet." 



Thus sings our great dramatist ; and yet all things that we see and 

 know of around u.s — countries, towns, animals, plants, minerals, and 



K 



