294 PROCEEDINGS OF METROPOLITAN SOCIETIES. 



produced by the partial fusion of the latter. A notice was then read, 

 from Mr. Murchison, of certain rocks in the British Channel, called 

 the Culm Rocks, situate not far from Little Hampton. They con- 

 sisted of a hard grey calcareous grit, resembling the Bognor Rock, 

 and were deemed to be of the tertiary sera. Dr. Buck land then ex- 

 hibited some specimens of fossil fishes from the Bagshot Sand, dis- 

 covered in excavating the Southampton line of railroad. Among 

 them were teeth of Sharks, Rays, and Saw-fishes, and three new 

 genera of bony fishes, which he characterized. These fossils con- 

 firmed the opinion that had been previously entertained, of the Bag- 

 shot Sand being referrible to the oeocene period. Dr. Buckland also 

 exhibited a siliceous fragment of the sacrum of a bird of the size of a 

 Goose, which had been obtained from the Stonesfield Slate. Lastly, 

 an elaborate paper was read by Mr. Stokes, containing descriptions of 

 Orthoceratites, chiefly from the neighbourhood of Lake Huron, and 

 some localities in Arctic America, whence they had been brought by 

 the oflicers of the different arctic expeditions. A long conversation 

 followed, which was sustained till a late hour, in the course of which 

 Mr. Sowerby made several important statements, announcing some 

 curious variations of structure and position in the syphuncles of dif- 

 ferent chambered shells. 



ORNITHOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



May 5th. — The Report of the Council stated that the Commis- 

 sioners of Her Majesty's Woods and Forests had caused some ponds 

 and shallows to be made in the larger island in St. James's Park, in 

 compliance with a request to that effect made to them by the Council 

 of the Society. It further announced that the Duke of Buccleugh 

 had been proposed for election as President, in the room of the Earl 

 of Liverpool, whose term expired on the 18th. W. Holl, Esq., had 

 also been proposed as Secretary, and F. B. Long, Esq., as Treasurer. 

 The followiug noblemen and gentlemen were mentioned as to retire 

 from the Council : viz., His Grace the Duke of Bedford, W. G. 

 Chapman, Esq., the Earl of Liverpool, Capt. Mangles, R.N., and Sir 

 J. D. Paul, Bart. ; and the following were named for election in their 

 stead : viz., His Grace the Duke of Buccleugh, Hon. P. C. Scarlett, 

 M.P., F. B. Long, Esq., E. Jesse, Esq., and O. Morgan, Esq. 



Mr. Blyth then exhibited specimens of the three wild British Geese 



