0:4 
vomer, and also on four separate protuberances (probably connected with 
the pharyngeal and branchial bones) guarding the entrance of the very thick 
and tough cesophagus: I found only a small crustacean (in fragments) in 
the stomach. The longer filaments of the ventral fins seemed to be vascular, 
and are probably furnished with sensitive nerves. Are the tubercles in the 
sides, connected with a more abundant supply of mucus on the scales? 
In March last, a Durgan fisherman brought to me a Sparus Bodps (or 
Ox-eyed Bream), of which the first recorded British specimen is in your 
Museum. The visits to our coast, of the Raniceps, of the Boé’ps, and of 
the Silver Hair-tail, seem to beckon us on to dredge south-west in the deep 
sea, if haply we might draw up living organisms of the Lusitanian region, 
such as rewarded the labours of Dr. Carpenter and others,—the Cestum 
Veneris, the Japanese Hyalonoma, a beautiful subtropical Dendrophyllia 
Coral, are living representations of fossils of the older rocks.” 
From Mr. Charles Fox, Trebah ; May 16, 1872. 
‘A pair of Hoopoes was seen in this valley, on the 10th, and again on 
the 13th of March. I had some hope of these birds remaining through the 
summer, as they showed but little shyness, alighting on the lawn or perching 
on the lower branches of trees near the same. In Egypt (where I have often 
seen the Hoopoe) it has from early ages been associated with other symbols 
of royalty; and, having been thus honoured in the eyes of the people, 
might naturally look for protection even in bird-killing Britain. C. W. 
Peach mentions that one was seen in Wigtonshire on the 10th of March 
last.” 
Mr. AvuGcustTus SmiTH said the Hoopoe had been again seen 
at Scilly. Formerly there was hardly a year that it did not visit 
the Islands; but for the past few years its place seemed to have 
been taken by the Golden Oriole, which had remained so late that 
he had on some occasions hoped they would breed, and he took 
great pains to have them kept quiet.—The Hoopoes were particu- 
larly tame. 
Mr. Couuins, on behalf of the Royal Cornwall Polytechnic 
Society, of which he is Secretary, stated that that Association had 
determined upon inviting the Institution of Mechanical Engi- 
neers to hold their meeting for 1873 in Cornwall. It was felt 
desirable that it should be held at the same time as the Poly- 
technic Exhibition ; and the latter it was wished should take place, 
if arrangements could be made, in Truro. A subscription of 
something like £100 would indemnify the Society against loss, if 
rooms could be provided free ; if not, the rent of the rooms would 
have to be added. The Polytechnic Society were anxious to have 
the co-operation of the Royal Institution.—It was decided that 
the subject should be referred to the Council. 
On the subject of Meteorology, Dr. BARHAm said that, had 
there been more time at his disposal, he should have been glad to 
‘make some remarks on a comparison of observations recorded at 
Cc 
