285 



Hftcinti)l8 ilifleeunsgi 



OF THE 



Mci|)al Irnstitutiou of Corninall. 



A series of Monthly Meetings was held at the Rooms of 

 the Institution during the last winter, chiefly devoted to subjects 

 of Natural History, for the study of which a society has been 

 formed amongst the Members. The Lectures excited much 

 interest, and were well attended. 



At the first of these Meetings, which took place on 

 2nd February, 1887, Me,. J. Snell read a paper "On Ferns, past 

 and present." He described the structure and histology of the 

 spore, sporangium, and the prothallium, making reference to the 

 doctrine of the alternation of generations as illustrated in the life 

 history of a fern. The Herbarium of the Institution was 

 noticed as possessing specimens of every British Fern, and the 

 Q-eological collection as furnishing examples of the ferns 

 of past epochs. 



February 21st, 1887. 



Dr. Rtjistble gave a paper " On the instincts of fishes and 

 other aquatic creatures." In the course of his remarks, he 

 referred to the various wonderful instincts to be found in fishes 

 and other aquatic creatures, instincts which impelled them to 

 use various weapons and appliances for divers purposes : — to 

 capture prey, and as a means of protection against their foes. 

 He described the manner in which fishes and other marine 

 creatures put to their respective uses their weapons and 

 appliances ; — some, like the sea anemones, hang out tendrils 

 similar to a net, and await the approach of their prey. At the 

 moment this takes place these tendrils are entwined around the 

 unsuspecting victim, a poison is secreted which has a benumbing 

 influence, and in a few moments an easy capture is effected. 



