r 



Society of Antiquaries. 85 



• investigate in a second part of this paper. It may not be 

 improper to remark here, that many of the author's observa- 

 tions on Newton's theory of colours have been anticipated 

 both by Dr. Bancroft and by an anonymous writer* on that 

 subject. Perhaps it was a knowledge of this circumstance 

 that induced him to mention so pointedly that most of his 

 experiments were made several years ago. 



Feb. 12. The right hon. the earl of Morton, vice-presi- 

 dent, in the chair. — A paper, by E. Home, esq. containing 

 observations: on the stomachs of animals of the cetaceous 

 genus. The late Mr. Hunter observed that this genus, 

 contrary to what is common in other carnivorous animals, 

 had stomachs composed of four cavities, or bags, through 

 which the food passed before it was prepared to form chyle, 

 Mr. Home, although be has examined, he says, several of 

 these animals, and in the present instance has dissected a 

 bottle-nosed porpoise, which had six of these bags consti- 

 tuting its stomach, has succeeded only in ascertaining the 

 relative dimensions of these parts, v/ithoiit being able to 

 assign any satisfactory cause for such an important differ- 

 ence of organical structure. 



Feb. 19. The earl of Morton in the chair. — The intro- 

 duction to an interesting paper on the bark of trees, by 

 T. A. Knight, esq. was read. In this preliminary matter 

 Mr. Knight expressed himself, after twenty years experience, 

 in terms of great modesty and rational scepticism respecting 

 our knowledge of the growth and importance of the bark of 

 trees. 



SOCIETY OF ANTiaUARIES. 



Jan. 29, I8O7. Craven Orde, esq. in the chair. — The 

 reading of a curious and ingenious paper on the origin of 

 the fust race of Britons, bv Mr. Grealhead, commenced ; in 

 which the author took a view of ihe different nations suj)- 

 poscd to have been the aborigines of the antient Britons, and 

 pointed out their dissimilarity. 



Feb. 5. Craven Orde, esq. in the chair. — A large stona 

 ring, taken from the finger of Tippoo Saib, was exhibited, 

 containing the following inscription graven on the stone \\\ 



• Sec I'hilosopliical Magazine, vol. vlii. p. 7S. 



F3 Arabic: 



