Cork Society.— Royal Institute of France. 61 
continue with little abatement. None of the ordinary practices 
judiciously enjoined by the Humane Society, should ever on such 
occasions be neglected. For it is surely criminal to spare any 
pains which may contribute, in the slightest degree, to recall the 
fleeting breath of man to its cherished mansion.” 
CORK SOCIETY FOR PROMOTING KNOWLEDGE. 
In a paper read some months ago before this Society, the au- 
thor states, that on opening a paper in which he had some time 
before put some sulphate of zinc, he found in its place a yellowish- 
brown substance entangled in a fine silky thread. On searching 
the bottom of the box in which this little parcel with others had 
been deposited, he found a portion of the lost sulphate and a large 
spider of the species Aranea scenica. To ascertain whether the 
spider was the thief, the author closed him up in the box with 
two ounces of the sulphate, of which it was found, at the end of 
ten weeks, he had eaten a considerable quantity. At the time 
the paper was read the insect seemed in perfect health, having 
in about six months eaten nearly four ounces of the sulphate. 
Other metallic salts—sulphates, muriates, and nitrates, were also 
offered to the spider, but he would not touch them, even when 
denied his favourite salt. From some experiments made on the 
yellow powder, the author concludes that the sulphate of zinc had 
been deprived of part of its acid in passing through the spider. 
ROYAL INSTITUTE OF FRANCE. 
Sitting of the 18th Jan. 1819. 
M. Thenard read a memoir, which he aceompanied with a re- 
petition of a part of his new experiments on the absorption of 
oxygen by water. 
M. Dupree read a notice on the Scientific Establishments, 
and onthe ancient and modern Edifices of the Scottish Capital. 
M. Serres read a memoir on the Laws of Osteology, and par- 
ticularly on the formation of articular cavities. 
M. Fourier read a memoir on the Mathematical Theory of In- 
surances, 
M. Yvart made a verbal report on the work of Mr. Farey on 
the agriculture of Derbyshire. 
ROYAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES, PARIS. 
A gift of a sum of money from an anonymous donor having been 
transmitted to this Academy for the foundation of a prize in phy- 
siology, a gold medal of the value of 440 franks will be given to 
the author of that printed work, or manuscript, sent to the Aca- 
demy before the Ist of December 1819, which shall be cr 
erec 
