60 Royal Society. — Liiinccan Society. 



Jan. 22. — A paper was read, On the Cause of the Corrosion- 

 and Decay of Copper used for covering the Bottoms of Ships, 

 by the learned President, Sir H. Davy, Bart., in which he 

 pointed out a simple and oeconomical method of remedying 

 this evil. The cause, he ascertained, was a weak chemical ac- 

 tion, which is constantly exerted between the saline contents 

 of sea water and the copper, and which, whatever may be the 

 nature of the copper, sooner or later destroys it. The same 

 general principle of the manner in which chemical changes 

 may be exalted, destroyed, or suspended, by electrical powers, 

 which led him to the discovery of the decomposition of the al- 

 kalies and the earths, likewise afforded him this new and more 

 practical discovery. He finds that a -coy small surface of tin or 

 other oxidable metal any where in contact with a large surface 

 of copper, renders it so negatively electrical that sea water has 

 no action upon it; and a little mass of tin brought even in com- 

 munication by a wire with a large plate of copper, entirely pre-; 

 serves it. By the desire of the Lords of the Admiralty, he is 

 now bringing this discovery to actual practice on ships of war. 

 It is needless to point out the uses and oeconomical advantages 

 of a result which must add so much to the permanency and 

 strength of our navy and shipping, and be so beneficial to 

 our maritime and commercial interests. 



The reading was commenced, likewise, of a paper On the 

 Development of Magnetism in Iron and Steel, by Percussion ; 

 Part II ; by William Scores jun. Esq. F.R.S.E. 



LI N NVLAN SOCIETY. 



Jan. 21. — A communication from Mr. Jonathan Couch, 

 F.L.S., was read, " On a new Species of the Genus Gadus." 

 This diminutive species, called by fishermen the Mackarel 

 Midge, is only an inch and a quarter in length, the propor- 

 tions being near to those of the Whiting. 



Part of a paper, communicated by the Zoological Club of 

 the Linnaean Society, was also read, On the Natural Affinities 

 that connect the Orders and Families of Birds. By N. A, 

 Vigors, Esq., M.A. F.L.S. 



The following were among the presents on the table : — A 

 Collection of Birds, including several species of Gull, among 

 which was a specimen of Lotus Sabini ,■ a box of Minerals, 

 and a skull of the Walross, Trichecus rosmams, presented 

 by Mr. Mogg, one of the gentlemen who accompanied Capt. 

 Parry in his late voyage. Also, a specimen of Syren lacertiua, 

 and a new species of Ct/priiuts vivlparus, from Don Yincente 

 de Cervantes, Professor of Botany in the University of 

 Mexico. 



ASTRONO- 



