Linncean Society. 439 



June 9. — Description of a method of determining the direo 

 tion of the meridiim. By John Pond, Esq. F.R.S. Ast. Roy. 

 — Further researches on tlie preservation of metals by electro- 

 chemical means. By Sir Humphry Davy, Bart. P.R.S. 



At this meeting, MM. Bessel, Encke, Chaptal, Fresnel, and. 

 Brongniart, were elected foreign members of the Society. 



June 16. — On some new compounds of carbon and hydro- 

 gen, and on certain other products obtained during the de- 

 composition of oil by heat. By M. Faraday, F.R.S. — Ac- 

 count of the repetition of Mr. Arago's experiments on the 

 magnetism developed in various substances during the act of 

 rotation. By Charles Babbage, Esq. F.R.S. and J. F. W. Her- 

 schel, Esq. Sec. R.S. — Experiments on magnetism produced 

 by rotation. By S. H. Christie, Esq. M.A. F.R.S. — On the 

 annual variation of some of the principal fixed stars. By John 

 Pond, Esq. — Description of an improved hygrometer. By 

 Mr. Thomas Jones. Communicated by Capt. Kater, F.R.S. — 

 On the nature of the function of mortality, and on a new mode 

 of determining the value of life contingencies. By Benjamin 

 Gompertz, Esq. F.R.S. 



The Society then adjourned to the 17th of November 

 next. 



LINN.EAN SOCIETY. 



June 7. — Some communications were read from Lieut. J. 

 H. Davies, and Charles Wilcox, Esq. relative to a species of 

 Mitylus {M. bide?is) found in great quantity adhering to the 

 bottom of H. M. ship Wellesley, built at Bombay, and which 

 has been lying in Portsmouth harbour ever since 1816. It seems 

 to be quite naturalized there, and to propagate abundantly. 

 Also a paper On the crepitacula and organs of sound in 

 oi'thopterous insects ; and particularly in the Loaisia camelli- 

 folia, a description of which is subjoined. By the Rev. Lans- 

 down Guilding, B.A. F.L.S. 



June '21. — Read, A descriptive catalogue of the Australian 

 birds in the cabinet of the Linnaean Society. By Thos. Hors- 

 field, M.D. F.L.S., and N. A. Vigors, Esq. I^'.L.S. In the 

 introductory remarks, the writers express their confident ex- 

 pectation that the deficiency of our knowledge of the habits of 

 the birds of Australia may be in great measure supplied by 

 the exertions of Mr. MacLeay during his residence in that 

 country, for which he is shortly about to depart. — Read also, 

 A notice on a peculiar property of a species of Echinus. By 

 E. T. Bennett, F.L.S. Communicated by the Zoological Club 

 of the Linnavin Society. 



3 M 2 (;r:o- 



