1820.] Royal Society. 449 



that this close should be repeated at proper intervals. He 

 directed also that sinapisms should be applied to the region of 

 the stomach and extremities to promote reaction. Bitters and 

 astringents also were stated to be occasionally useful. 



At this meeting a paper was also read, on the Mode of Form- 

 ation of tlie Canal for containing the Spinal Marrow, and on the 

 Form of the Fins, if they deserve that name, of the Proteosaurus, 

 by Sir E. Home. The structure of the vertebrae of this animal 

 was stated by Sir E. to be intermediate between that of lizards 

 and cartilaginous fishes ; and to bear so close a resemblance to 

 those of the shark as to have been often mistaken for them. 

 They are composed of bone, and have a body, canal for the 

 spinal marrow, and a process for the attachment of muscles, but 

 the body consists of one piece, while the spinous process and 

 two lateral branches which adhere to it constitute another, 

 and between these two pieces there is no bony union, but 

 a species of joint peculiar to themselves. Hence the fora- 

 men in the middle thus formed appears imusually small. In 

 the specimen from which the above description is taken there 

 is also a fore foot, paddle, or fin (for it is difficult, according 

 to Sir E. Home, to say which it ought to be called), which, 

 though not quite perfect, is much more so than any that has 

 hitherto been found. This was stated to present nothing like the 

 thumb or claw for laying hold, which distinguishes the animals 

 that occasionally inhabit the sea, and come to shore to lay eggs, 

 or deposit young. If it be called a fin, it must be considered as 

 made up of bony materials, the joints of which are very nume- 

 rous, so that it may possibly perform such an office. 



May 11. — A' paper was read, entitled, " On the Fungi which 

 constitutes the colouring Matter of the Red Snow discovered in 

 Baffin's Bay," by F. Bauer, Esq. The author stated that in the 

 winter he put a small quantity of the red globules composing the 

 substance in question into a phial filled with compressed snow, 

 which was placed in the open air in a north-west aspect. A 

 thaw coming on, the snow^ was found melted, and the water 

 being poured off", more snow was added. In t\yo days the mass 

 of fungi was observed to be raised in little pyramids, which 

 gradually increased in height, occupying the cells of the mass of 

 ice. A thaw now continued for some time, and the fungi fell to 

 the bottom of the water in the phial, where they occupied a space 

 aboutdouble that of their original bulk. These fungi also appeared 

 to be capable of vegetating in water, but in this case they produced 



freen, instead of red globules. By exposure to excessive cold, 

 Ir. B. found that the original fungi were killed ; but that their 

 seeds still retained vitality, and if immersed in snow, they rege- 

 nerated new fungi, generally of a red colour. The author 

 supposes that snow is the proper soil of these fungi. The paper 

 was accompanied by beautiful drawings illustrating the diffi?rent 

 appearances described. 



Vol. XV. N^ VI. 2F 



