Ill 



and Admiral Stirling's convention, instead of in any way rendering it accessible to us, 

 seems to me to have quite a different bearing. I had quite been looking forward to 

 the receipt of a host of curious forms from that extraordinary country, but 1 have 

 completely given up all such expectations." 



Mr. Newman communicated the two following notes: — 



Note on TrochiUum Chrysidiforme. 

 " In the report of the August meeting our Secretary has appended to the 

 interesting record of the capture of Trochilium Chrysidiforme an assertion that the 

 species had previously but two British representatives: if he will turn to page 328!) 

 of the 'Zoologist,' he will find a record by Mr. Barron of the capture of a third 

 specimen near Haslar Hospital." 



Hats manufactured of the Silken Felt spun by Saturnia Spini. 

 " It will be recollected by several of our members that I had the pleasure of 

 mentioning, at a former meeting, the fact of the silk of Saturnia Spini being applied 

 to economical purposes at Vienna. I have lately learned from my friend Mr. Pretsch, 

 who was also my original informant, that the silken felt which I then described has 

 been most successfully applied to the manufacture of hats by Herr Flebus, of Vienna, 

 who has taken out an Austrian patent for this object. The hats are extremely 

 durable and perfectly waterproof, being rendered so by the glutinous nature of the 

 silk itself: they are held in great estimation by sportsmen and gentlemen much 

 exposed to the weather, but the cost has hitherto been too great to admit of any 

 extensive sale. Herr Flebus is, however, about to establish a fiictory in the district 

 of Erzgebirge, situate between Bohemia and Bavaria, induced by the abundance of 

 the food of the caterpillar and the cheapness of human labour.'' 



New Locality fur Geodephaga. 

 Mr. Douglas said it might be worth while to inform Coleopterists that a week 

 since he took Tarus axillaris and Licinus depressus three miles beyond Croydon: 

 these species had not hitherto been found nearer to London than Reigate or 

 Boxhill. 



November 5, 1 855. 

 John Cuktis, Esq., President, in the chair. 



The Meeting was made Special, in pursuance of a Requisition addressed to the 

 Council, for the purpose of considering the By-Laws relating to Associates, and it was 

 decided that these By-Laws should be annulled. 



Donations. 

 The following donations were announced, and thanks ordered to be given to the 

 donors: — 'Smithsonian Contributions to Knowledge,' Vol. vii. ; 'Eighth and Ninth 

 Annual Reports of the Board of Regents of the Smithsonian Institution ;' ' Descrip- 

 tions of some New Marine Invcrlebrata from the Chinese and Japanese Seas,' by 



