Proceedings, d^c, for 1886. 261 



The Librarian produced the first number of t\iQ Journal of the 

 British and American Archoiological Society of Rome, with a letter 

 proposing to exchange publications, which it was agreed to do. 



The President read a letter from Professor Foster, Secretary of 

 the Royal Society, London, respecting the proposed affiliation with 

 that Society, and acknowledging the letter from this Society, dated 

 26th February. 



The President invited discussion upon Mr. Wakelin's paper 

 now printed and circulated. 



Mr. Ellery found the subject very difficult and obscure, and wa& 

 not prepared to enter upon it. 



Dr. M'Gillivray's'' Descriptions of New, or Little Known, Polyzoa, 

 Part XL," was accepted as read. 



Mr. Griffiths presented a memorandum, prepared by the Joint 

 Committee on Antarctic Exploration, showing the advantages to be 

 derived therefrom. This had been widely circulated. 



Conversation ensued, in which Mr. Ellery, Mr. White, and others 

 took part, and in which it transpired that, though whale oil is not 

 now so much in demand as formerly, whalebone had risen to £2000 

 a ton. The commercial view of the question was therefore becom- 

 ing important. 



Mr. Ellery then produced Dr. R. D. M. Verbeek's report (French 

 translation) on the Krakatau eruption, which he had just received 

 from Mr. Ploos van Amstel, whom he introduced to the President. 

 Mr. Ellery also produced some geological and other specimens of 

 the ejecta. He mentioned Professor Milne's (of Tokio) theory of 

 the profile of volcanic mountains, furnishing a basis of calculation of 

 the specific gravity and character of the rocks composing their 

 structure. 



Mr. Ploos van Amstel said he was very glad to be able to 

 serve the Society, and could say the same for Dr. Verbeek. 



Mr. Ellery moved that the Council be requested to take the 

 necessary steps, under clause 24, to elect Dr. Verbeek an honorary 

 member, and that was agreed to. 



The President suggested a probable connection between the 

 outbreaks at Krakatau and Tarawera, and of both with the reported 

 extinction of the volcano of Kilauea, in the Sandwich Islands. 



Mr. Griffiths added some remarks as to the forms of volcanic 

 mountains being indicative of their geological composition. 



The President notified the engagement of Dr. Wild as assistant 

 secretary to the Society. 



August \Oth. 



Present, the President (in the chair) and 22 members and 

 associates. 



