558 Proceedings. 
4. “ Description of a new Crustacean from the Auckland Islands,” by 
George M. Thomson. (Transactions, p. 249.) 
Ninto Meetine. 24th September, 1878. 
W. N. Blair, President, in the chair. 
New Members.—C. H. Robson, A. Moritzson. 
The Rev. A. R. Fitchett gave a lecture on “Domestic Aisthetics, and 
the Higher Education of Women.” 
Trento Meeting. 8th October, 1878. 
Prof. Hutton, Vice-president, in the chair. 
New Members.—Mrs. Edwards, Miss V. Edwards, W. G. Jenkins. 
1. ** On Magnetic Dip," by A. H. Ross. 
ABSTRACT. 
After describing the nature of magnetic dip and the circumstances that 
led to its discovery, the author proceeds to state that “the first magnetical 
observation taken on the shores of New Zealand of which I can find any 
record was taken by Captain Cook at Dusky Bay in May, 1773, one hun- 
dred and five years ago. He then found by three different needles the 
variation or declination to be 18° 49’ E., and the dip or inclination 70° 5’ 45". 
The next observation, in the same place, was taken by Captain Stokes in 
1851, the declination then being 15? 34' E., and the inclination 69? 47', the 
decrease in the angle of inclination having been 18' 45” in seventy-eight 
years. lt is not at all improbable, however, that the inclination was 
inereasing in 1778, and having attained its maximum at some period of 
which we have no record, had decreased to the amount observed by Captain 
Stokes in 1851. 
** The inclination of the needle is also subject to diurnal variation, being 
in the morning of each day 4' greater than in the afternoon ; it also changes 
when the needle is elevated to considerable heights. 
“I have made these few remarks in reference to the inclination with a 
view of compensating for the dryness of what is really my paper of to- 
night, and which consists solely of a tabulated statement of observations 
made by me during a recent voyage from England, chiefly with the object 
of ascertaining the position in reference to the geographical equator of the 
point in the magnetic equator over which our vessel passed, and which is 
shown to have been situated in latitude 8? 80' S. and longitude 25? 30' W. 
The observations were taken whenever practicable by means of an instru- 
ment specially constructed for the purpose by Mr. Casella, of London. At 
the commencement of the voyage, the case containing my instruments was 
