[ 449 ] 

 LXXVI. Proceedings of Learned Societies. 



ROYAL SOCIETY. 



THE Royal Society re-assembled, for the session 1827-8, on No- 

 vember the 15th, when the following papers were read : 



The Croonian Lecture ; —On the muscles peculiar to organs of sense 

 in particular quadrupeds and fishes ; by Sir E. Home, Bart. V.P.R.S. 



Experiments to determine the difference in length of the seconds 

 pendulum in London and Paris; by Capt. E. Sabine, R.A. F.R.S. 



Nov. 22.— On a peculiarity in the structure of the ductui communis 

 choledochus, and of the pancreatic duct in man j by John Davy, M.D. 

 F.R.S. 



Observations on the action of the mineral acids on copper, under 

 different circumstances ; by John Davy, M.D. F.R.S. 



On the structure of the knee-joint in the Echidna setosa and Orni- 

 ihorynchus paradoxus ; by Dr. R. Knox, F.R.S. E. 



LINNiEAN SOCIETY. 



Nov. 6 —The Society first assembled for the session this evening j 

 A. B. Lambert, Esq. V.P. in the chair. 



A paper was read, entitled " An Account of a new species of Pinus, 

 native of California j" by Mr, D. Douglas, A.L.S. : communicated by 

 Mr. Sabine. 



This plant covers large districts about a hundred miles from the 

 ocean in latitude 43^ north, and extends as far to the south as 40°. 

 It attains its greatest size on low hills, where the soil consists of pure 

 sand. The trunk grows from 150 to above 200 feet in height, varying 

 from 20 to near 60 feet in circumference. The resin which exudes 

 from the trees when they are partly burned, loses its usual flavour, 

 and acquires a sweet taste, in which state it is used by the natives as 

 sugar. The seeds are eaten roasted, or in coarse cakes. This tree 

 Is most nearly allied to PinMS iS<ro6M5. Spec. Char. " P.Lambertiana; 

 foliis quinis rigidis scabriusculis, vaginis brevissimis, strobilis crassis 

 longissimis cylindricis ; squamis laxis rotundatis." 



A paper was also read, entitled " Remarks on the Jntilope Chickara;" 

 by Robert Hills, Esq. F.L.S. 



In this communication is described a specimen of the Chickara 

 brought alive to this country, but which lately died. Its skeleton is 

 deposited in the museum of the College of Surgeons. 



Nov. 20.— The following papers were read : The generic characters 

 of Formicaleo of Dr. Leach, with the description of two new species ; 

 by the Rev. Lansdown Guilding, B.A. F.L.S. M.W. & G.S. &c. 



" The writer states that though the lai-vae swarm under every rock and 

 shelter in the island, yet not a single perfect insect had been found. 



The two new species are, 



1. F. Leachii, fuscescens, flavido maculatus, alls hyalinis, subfal- 

 catis, immaculatis ; neuris ciliatis : oculis cupreis, pedibus pallidis. 

 •—In the dry sands of St. Vincent. 



2. F. <«r.s(//(i,nigro-fusccscens, flavido maculatus, alishyalinis, im- 

 Ncv: Scries. Vol. 2. No. 12. Dec. 1827, 3 M maculatis. 



