Reports and Proceedings — Mineralogical Society. 141 



followed. by a discussion, in which. Sir Ernest Shackleton, Professor 

 P. E. Kendall, Mr. G. W. Lanrplugh, Mr. Clement Reid, Dr. Tempest 

 Anderson, and Professor E. J. Garwood took part. 



II. — Mineralogical Society. 



January 24, 1911. — Prof. W. J. Lewis, E.R.S., President, in the Chair. 

 F. H. Butler : On Kaolin. The kaolinite in the Glamorganshire 

 Coal-measures originated in the decomposition of felspar by carbonated 

 underground water. The secondary mica and quartz of the 

 Carboniferous grits and greisens are due primarily to the formation 

 of potassium carbonate and aluniohexasilicic acid (Morozewicz), the 

 acid breaking up into silica and alumdisilicic acid (i.e. kaolin less 

 water of crystallization) and the latter combining with the carbonate 

 to yield muscovite and free carbonic acid. Kaolinite is destroyed 

 concurrently with the growth of schorl in kaolin-rock, and cannot 

 therefore be a product of boration. — Dr. G. T. Prior and Dr. G. E. H. 

 Smith : On Schwartzembergite. Analyses recently made by the 

 former show that this mineral is a complex iodate and oxychloride 

 of lead, Pb (I0 3 ) 3 3[Pb Cl 3 . 2 Pb 0].— A Hutchinson : An improved 

 form of Total Renectonieter. The instrument is a goniometer of the 

 suspended type, with a large base plate, to which a telescope and 

 collimator, a microscope bisecting the angle between them, and other 

 apparatus can be clamped, and is intended for the measurement of 

 minute crystals, and the determination of the optic axial angle of 

 biaxial crystals and of the refractive indices by Kohlrausch's method. — 

 T.Crook: A case of Electrostatic Separation. The apparatus consists 

 of two copper plates, one of which is coated on one side with a layer 

 of shellac. Good conducting minerals are attracted to the shellac- 

 covered surface of the upper plate when it is charged by means of an 

 electrophorus. 



III. — Zoological Society of London. 

 February 7, 1911-.— Professor E. A. Minchin, M.A., Vice-President, 



in the Chair. 



Dr. C. AV. Andrews, E.U.S., F.Z.S., exhibited a skull of a Sabre- 

 toothed Tiger (Smilodoti Califumicus) from an asphalt deposit in 

 California, and pointed to anatomical characters which tended to 

 prove that the animal used its large canines for stabbing and tearing, 

 not for biting. 



Professor J. Cossar Ewart, M.A., F.R.S., E.Z.S., gave an account 

 of his memoir entitled "Skulls of Oxen from the Roman Station 

 at Newstead, Melrose ", illustrating his remarks by lantern slides. 

 He stated that examination of the skulls from JSewstead lent support 

 neither to the descent of all European cattle from the TJi'us {Bos 

 primigenius) nor to the descent of all European, Indian, and African 

 breeds from the Asiatic Urus (B. nomadicus). He dealt with the 

 evidence to be derived from the niaxillse, the occiput, and the temporal 

 fossae, and stated his conclusions as follows : — 



1. That the Celtic Shorthorn (B. longifrojis) is probably more 

 intimately related to the Zebu of India (B. indicus) than to the 

 European Urus (B. primigenius). 



