128 



determine where it is lodged, and how it is injected. I incline to 

 the hypothesis, that the cavity of the ecthoraum in its primal in- 

 verted condition, while it yet remains coiled up in the cnida, is 

 occupied with the poisonous fluid, and that it is poured out gradu- 

 ally, within the tissues of the victim, as the evolving tip of the wire 

 penetrates farther and farther into the wound. 



The paper is illustrated by figures of the organs described. 



February 11, 1858. 

 Major-General SABINE, Treasurer and V.P., in the Chair. 



The following communication was read : 



" An Account of some recent Researches near Cairo, undertaken 

 with the view of throwing light upon the Geological 

 History of the Alluvial Land of Egypt/' Part II. By 

 LEONARD HORNER, Esq., V.P.R.S. Received January 25, 



1858. 



(Abstract.) 



In the first part of this Memoir, read on the 8th of February, 

 1855, and published in Part I. of the Transactions of that year, the 

 author states the main object of the inquiry to have been, to endea- 

 vour, by probing the alluvial land in appropriate places, to discover 

 the probable time that has elapsed since the lowest layer of Nile 

 sediment was deposited, and thus to connect geological and historical 

 time. This object, in the opinion of the author, can only be at- 

 tained by means of shafts and borings of the soil in the immediate 

 neighbourhood of monuments of a known age. The places he selected 

 for these excavations were the vicinity of the Obelisk of Heliopolis, 

 and the site of ancient Memphis. The general introductory matter, 

 and the analyses of the various soils penetrated, together with a 

 description of the researches at Heliopolis, are given in the first part 

 of the memoir ; but the author deferred his general conclusions, and 

 all inferences as to the secular increase of the alluvial deposits, until 

 he should have an opportunity of laying before the Society an account 

 of the more extensive researches in the district of Memphis. That 



