94 Proceedings, &c.,for 1880. 



'•'On the 21st October Mr. T. Harrison described the various 

 forms of Automatic Railway Brakes now in use; the President 

 read a paper by Mr. E. L. Marks on ' A New and Economic 

 Method for the Scientific Production of some Acids ;' the Hon. 

 Secretary read a paper by the Rev. J. E. Tenison- Woods, F.G.S., 

 on 'New Marine Mollusca.' Mr. Sutherland, M.A., read some 

 notes on the Boro Boudour of the Island of Java, described in a 

 publication recently presented to the Society by the Government 

 of the Netherlands. 



" On the 1.8th November Dr. MacGillivray read a paper on 

 ' Some New Species of Catenicella and Dictyopora,' and on 

 6 Urceleopora : a New Species of Polyzoa ;' and Mr. Kernot, M. A., 

 read ' Notes on Professor Bell's Photophone.' 



"On the 16th December Mr. Ellery, F.R.S., read a paper by 

 Mr. Robert Morrice on ■ The Lowan, or Mallee Hen.' Mr. Ellery 

 also exhibited a ' Sunshine Recorder,' and explained the method by 

 which the duration of sunshine is recorded by that instrument. 



" Volume XVI. of the transactions of the Society was issued 

 on the 30th April, and forwarded to the members and to the 

 societies entitled to receive it. Vol. XVII. is now in the press, 

 and will be ready for delivery in the course of next month. 



" During the past year 15 members, 2 corresponding members, 

 and 14 associates have been elected. 



" Since the last annual meeting the number of books in the 

 library has been increased by the addition of 78 volumes and 269 

 parts, presented principally by learned societies in various parts of 

 the world — viz, from Europe. 31 volumes and 119 parts, of which 

 29 are British; from Asia, 2 volumes and 11 parts; and from 

 America, 20 volumes and 91 parts ; the remainder having been 

 received from New Zealand and the several colonies of Australia. 



" Sections A and B C and D have held meetings during the 

 session, reports of which will be duly read at the annual meeting. 



" In compliance with request from the Commissioners of the 

 Exhibition, the use of the Society's rooms has been placed at their 

 service for holding meetings of the juries. 



"In the Estimates for the year 1881 your Council was surprised 

 to note the omission of the customary annual Government grant 

 of £200; but on bringing it under the notice of the Hon. the 

 Chief Secretary, and making representations of the circumstances 

 under which it was originally made, he courteously agreed to place 

 the amount upon the Additional Estimates for 1881. 



il During the year your Council was glad to avail itself of a 

 favourable opportunity for cementing the exterior of the building, 

 which for a long time had presented an unfinished and somewhat 

 unsightly appearance. 



" Your Council has with regret to record the loss of four of its 

 members — viz., Mr. Thomas Higinbotham, M.I.C.E., Sir Redmond 

 Barry, M.A., Mr. A. K. Smith, M.L.A., and Mr. H. S. Patching." 



