296» Zoological Procctdings of Societies. 



March 20. — Among the presents to the Society, announced at 

 this meeting, was that of a collection of birds from New Holland, 

 sent by Alexander MacLeay, Esq. Secretary of the Colony, and 

 formerly the much-respected Secretary of this Society. The 

 reading of Mr. W. S. MacLeay's paper was further continued ; 

 which also occupied the meetings on Jpyil 3 and 17. 



3Iai/ 1. — An extensive collection of New-Holland Birds and 

 Quadrupeds was presented by Sir John Jamieson. 



The following gentlemen were elected Foreign Members of 

 the Society : Henry Ducrotay de Blainville ; C. L. Bonaparte, 

 Prince, of Musignano ; Leopold von Buch ; Viscount Henry de 

 Cassini ; Henry Frederic Link, M.D. ; C. F. P. von Martius, 

 M.D. ; C. G. Nees von Escnbeck, M.D. ; Ch. Asmund Rudolphi, 

 M.D.; M. Auguste deSaint-Hilaire; Frederick Teidemann,M.D. 



Mai/ 24. — The Anniversary was held on this day, as directed in 

 the Charter, at the Society's house, A. B. Lambert, Esq. V. P. 

 F.R.S., in the chair; when the Fellows named below were 

 chosen Officers and Council for the year ensuing : — 



President: Sir James Edward Smith, M.D. F.R.S., &c.— 

 Vice-Presidents : Samuel Lord Bishop of Carlisle, LL.D. V.P.R.S. 

 F.A.S. ; A. B. Lambert, Esq. F.R.S. A.S. & H.S. ; W. G. Maton, 

 M.D. F.R.S. & A.S.; and Edward Lord Stanley, M.P. F.H.S.— 

 Treasurer : Edward Forster, Esq. F.R.S. & H.S. ; — Secretary^ 

 J. E. Bicheno, YiSq^.Y.KS. Assistant-Secretary : Richard Taylor, 

 Esq. F.S.A. : also to fill the vacancies in the Council ^ Arthur 

 Aikin, Esq. V.P.G.S. ; John Barrow, Esq. F.R.S. ; Francis Boot, 

 M.D.; Mr. George Loddiges,F.H.S; and Richard Waring, M.D. 



June 5. — A paper was read, entitled. Observations and ex- 

 periments made with a vicis to ascertain the means by zchich the 

 Spiders that jiroduce gossamer effect their aerial excursions ; by 

 John Blackwall, Esq. F.L.S., ofCrampsallHall, near Manchester. 

 After noticing that in the absence of accurate observation the 

 ascent of gossamer spiders through the atmosphere had been 

 conjecturally ascribed to several causes, such as the agency of 

 winds, evaporation, electricity, or some peculiar physical powers 

 of the animals, or from their webs being lighter than the air, Mr. 

 Blackweli states that the ascent of gossamer takes place only in 



