34 



astronomers, discussions of astronomical problems were not in- 

 frequently included in the proceedings, and Christopher Wren, 

 'that rare and early prodigy of universal science,' was even 

 charged by the Society, in the King's name, to make a globe of 

 the moon, on which he delineated the superficial features of the 

 satellite. On the biological side the inquiries were no less 

 varied. The vegetation of plants, the anatomy of trees, the 

 circular rings in their wood, the spirals of nut-trees, and other 

 botanical matters came up for consideration. Still more extended 

 and diverse were the inquiries in zoology. Christopher Wren, 

 who among his many accomplishments studied insects with the 

 microscope, described to the Society and exhibited drawings of 

 those which he examined. Other communications, accompanied 

 where possible by experimental illustration, included the effects of 

 poison on different animals, the effects on animals of being placed 

 in Boyle's air-pump, the ligature of vipers from the tail to the 

 head, the history and generation of insects, the history of vipers, 

 observations on a live chameleon, and many more. Medical 

 subjects were likewise discussed. In the Journal-book for June, 

 1661, curators are stated to have been appointed for * the proposal 

 of tormenting a man with the sympathetic powder ' ; while in 

 the same month, Sir Kenelm Digby gravely ' related that the 

 calcined pouder of toades reverberated, being applyed in baggs 

 uppon the stomach of a pestiferate body, cures it by severall 

 applications '. No art or craft appears to have been thought 

 unworthy of consideration with a view to the possible improve- 

 ment of its methods. We read in the Journal-book of a catalogue 

 of trades, and of inquiries into the history of engraving and 

 etching, shipbuilding, cloth-making, the manufacture of hats, 

 cider, copperas, and other articles. 



An important feature in the history of the Royal Society has 

 been its long and intimate connexion with the Royal Observatory 

 at Greenwich. This institution, the most important observatory 

 in the world, and from which the longitudes in all countries are 

 now counted, was somewhat hurriedly established by Charles II. 

 The erection of a building was begun in 1675, for the purpose of 

 'finding out the longitude for perfecting navigation and astro- 

 nomy '. An ' astronomical Observator ' was appointed, and the 



