130 British Association for the Advancement of Science. 



tion under different circumstances, and a peculiar selection of seed 

 and soil, have reduced the period of this plant to five months. 

 A quick crop might be produced by pressing and compacting the 

 soil, and in light soils, well manured, a quicker growth is ensured. 

 One great means of obtaining early crops is the use of seed pro- 

 duced by plants that were themselves of early growth. 



Mr. Felkin exhibited the results of an experiment in the growth 

 of silk at Nottingham. The circumstances of the case had been 

 unpropitious, but the result was successful. Land and labor being 

 high in England, it is improbable that she can in silk culture 

 compete with other countries, but in her colonies, and in the vast- 

 regions of Hindoostan, she has the means of raising immense 

 quantities at a low rate. He imagined that the whole world 

 might be supplied from India with raw silk, at half its present 

 cost. 



Mr. George T. Fox communicated some observations on whales, 

 in connexion with an account of the remains of a whale recently 

 found at Durham. In recently clearing out the rubbish from 

 the basement story of the old tower of Durham Castle, the work- 

 men were surprised to find several large bones ; and as they ad- 

 vanced these accumulated, until twenty vertebras, and about as 

 many ribs were taken out, and also two large jaw bones. Mr. F. 

 on examination, determined that the bones belonged to a sperma- 

 ceti whale. The discovery excited much interest in the town, 

 and while the subject was in agitation, Rev. Jas. Raine discov- 

 ered a curious letter from Jo. Duresme to Mr. Stapylton, dated 

 London, June 20, 1661, which at once accounted for the discov- 

 ery of these animal remains. The letter clearly shows that the 

 bones belonged to an animal cast on shore on the coast of Dur- 

 ham at Earington, in 1661 ; and it is therefore the oldest whale 

 of the kind recorded to have been found on the British coast. 

 The bones have been collected and set up in the Museum of 

 Durham University. 



Dr. Prichard read a paper on the extinction of the human races. 

 He expressed his regret that so little attention was given to Eth- 

 nography, or the natural history of the human race, while the 

 opportunities for observation are every day passing away ; and 

 concluded by an appeal in favor of the Aborigines Protection So- 

 ciety. The paper gave rise to a long and desultory conversation. 



