Linncpan Society. — Geological Society. 463 



eluded ; and a paper was read, communicated by the Presi- 

 dent, On a new Photometer, by A. Ritchie, A.M. 



Dec. 23. — Two papers by the Rev. B. Powell, F.R.S. were 

 read, supplementary to a former paper, relating to the Solar 

 Light and Heat : — when the Society adjourned to January 13. 



LINNjEAN society. 



D ec . 7. — W. G. Maton, M.D., Vice-president, in the chair. 



Mr. Sowerby exhibited some specimens of Beryl from the 

 Mountains of Morne in the county of Down. The reading 

 of the Third Part of Dr. Hamilton's Commentary on the 

 Hortus Malabaricus was continued. Among the plants which 

 were the subject of investigation were the following : Codda 

 Pa?ina, Niti Panna, Todda Panna, Katou Indel, Tsjaka Ma- 

 ram, Ata Maram, Anona Maram, Ansjeli, Kato Tsjaka, &c. 



Dec. 21. — A letter from Mr. Youell was read, stating that 

 Ardea cayanensis had been taken near Yarmouth : also a fine 

 specimen of the Green Ibis of Latham, and which had been 

 deposited in the Norwich Museum. Mr. Y. also corrects 

 some erroneous statements of Mr. Bewick respecting the Fu- 

 lica atra. 



Read also an account, by the Rev. W. Kirby, of a remark- 

 able Fungus, which he names Atractus, and places between 

 Clathrus and Phallus : and a Description of such Genera and 

 Species of Insects, alluded to in the " Introduction to Entomo- 

 logy" of Kirby and Spence, as appear not to have been before 

 sufficiently noticed and described : by the Rev. W. Kirby. 



GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



Dec. 3. — A notice was read, " On some Fossils found in 

 the Island of Madeira;" by the late T. E. Bowdich, Esq. 



In this notice, the author describes a formation of branched 

 cylindrical tubes incased with agglutinated sand, which occur 

 in great abundance near Fanical, 1 5 miles from Funchal, in 

 the Island of Madeira. Mr. Bowdich is inclined to refer these 

 to a vegetable origin. They are accompanied by shells, some 

 decidedly terrestrial, and others which appear to belong to a 

 marine genus. In conclusion, some account is given of the 

 general features and structure of the neighbouring district. 



An extract of a paper was then read, entitled "An Inquiry 

 into the Chemical Composition of those Minerals which be- 

 long to the genus Tourmaline ;" by Dr. C. G. Gmelin, Pro- 

 fessor of Chemistry in the University of Tubingen, and For. 

 Mem. G.S. 



Professor Gmelin, in tliis memoir, details at length, the 



various 



