1869.] Biology. 607 



nation of the phenomena, and waited for further observations to 

 clear up the difficulty. 



Mr. T. Blandford read a paper " On the relations of the Fauna 

 of British India to that of the Ethiopian and so-called Indian 

 Regions." He showed that the Indian peninsula could be divided 

 into several districts characterized by the predominance of African, 

 Malayan, or purely Indian types. 



Mr. W. F. Webb gave his " Five Years' Experience of Artificial 

 Fish-breeding, showing in what waters Trout will and will not 

 thrive." He believed it was a question of the temperature of the 

 water, which requii-ed to be cool and equable. 



Mr. Frank Buckland then gave an account of "The Salmon 

 Eivers of Devon and Cornwall," in his usual humorous and impres- 

 sive style, offering many suggestions for theu' improvement by puri- 

 fication, clearing away obstructions, forming spawning beds, and by 

 artificial hatching. 



Mr. Antonio Brady exhibited some specimens of Gum Anime 

 from Zanzibar, containing insects and a hzard. It was found in 

 sandy deposits where there are now no trees, and is probably of 

 high antiquity. 



Mr. Spence Bate read an elaborate report " On the Marine 

 Fauna and Flora of the South Coast of Devon and Cornwall," 

 describing the new and rare sj)ecies which have been recently 

 obtained. 



Other papers read were, " On a Variety or Hybrid of Perdix 

 cinerea," by Dr. Scott ; " On Initial Life — Infusoria," by Mr. 

 C. S. AVake ; " On the Eemains of a Whale washed ashore at Bab- 

 bicombe. South Devon," by Mr. Pengelly; "On the Mammahan 

 Fauna of North- West America," by Mr. Piobert Brown, F.E.G.S. ; 

 " On the Land and Fresh- water Shells of Nicaragua," by Mr. 

 Ealph Tate, F.G.S. ; and " On some curious Fossil Fungi from 

 the Black Shale of the Northumberland Coal-fields," by A. 

 Hancock, F.L.S., and Thomas Atthey. 



In the department of Anatomy and Physiology, Mr. Busk pre- 

 sided. The first paper was Dr. Eichardson's Eeport " On the Phy- 

 siological Action of the Methyl Series," a subject whose chief 

 interest was medical. 



Mr. E. Eay Lankester read a report "On the Spectroscopic 

 Examination of Animal Substances." He first exj)lained the 

 methods of studying absorption spectra, and the value of the evi- 

 dence they afibrded in physiological research. He then discussed 

 the distribution of Haemoglobin (the red oxygen-condensing matter 

 of the blood corpuscles) in the animal kingdom, showing it to be 



