460 Philosophical Society, London. 



and, what removes all doubt respecting the origin of the shells, 

 he was so fortunate as to discover some of the animal's eggs on 

 their marginjwhich satisfied him that theycauld not be the makers 

 of their actual habitation. He then detailed the natural history of 

 snails, whose progressive changes he considered as exactly cor- 

 responding to those of the animals in (uiestion ; he observed 

 that tiie ege;s of snails, which are found in little white clusters, 

 each egg beina; about the size of a common pin's head, and well 

 known to garde:iers, are altogether about 21 days in changing 

 from the state of eggs till the perfectly-formed snail can creep 

 from its nest. Kis description of tlie eggs and the yolks both 

 of snails and the animal in the nautilus, showed their great si- 

 milarity; and he concluded that it satisfactorily demonstrated the 

 justness of the President's previous observations on these shells. 



June 12. 19. Sir VVm. Herschcl communicated a paper on the 

 svsteni of the scattering of the stars, and the best mode of di- 

 viding them into classes, so as to form a correct and convenient 

 catalogue. The reading of this paper occupied the attention of 

 the Society both these evenings. 



The President and Council have adjudged the Gold and Silver 

 Medals on Count Rumford's Donation to Sir H. Davy for his 

 Papers on Combustion and Flame, published in the last Volume 

 of the Philosophical Transactions. 



ROYAL MEDICAL SOCIETY OF EDINBTJJRGH. 



. The Royal Medical Society propose as the subject of a Prize 

 Essay, the following question : 



" What changes are produced on atmospherical air by the 

 action of the skin of the living human body?" 



The members only are invited as candidates. The disserta- 

 tions are to be written in English, French or Latin, and to be 

 delivered to the Secretary on or before the 1st day of December 

 next. To each dissertation must be prefixed a motto, and this 

 motto is to he written on the outside of a sealed packet con- 

 taining the name and address of the author. 



rHiLOSOI'HICAL SOCIETY, LONDON. 



The Anniversay Meeting of the Philosophical Society of Lon- 

 don was held at the Society's Rooms adjoining Scots Corpora- 

 tion Hall, Crane Court, Fleet Street, on Thursday the 12th of 

 June. The following noblemen and gentlemen were chosen 

 Officers and Council for the ensuing year. 



President, 

 Right Hon. The Earl of Carysfort, K.P. F.R.S. F,A.S,D.C.L,, 



Fice- 



