sheaths, and inflorescence all received attention, the remarks being 

 illustrated by means of a large bamboo and a sugar cane, as well 

 as by several small specimens and diagrams. Silica abounds in 

 the stems (or culms, as botanists call them) of grasses generally. 

 It is no doubt taken up from the soil chiefly in the form of sihcate 

 of potash, and is of great service in giving firmness to the stem. 

 Grasses and Sedges are very widely distributed, some of the former 

 even flourishing in the sea. As to height, they range from one 

 inch to fifty feet. Both orders differ greatly in their flowers from 

 other monocotyledonous plants Instead of the brightly coloured 

 perianth of such flowers as the lily, we find here dry scales called 

 glumes, enclosing other glumes and either stamens or pistils, or it 

 may be, both. After touching upon other interesting topics the 

 lecturer concluded with a hope that questions and discussion would 

 follow. 



A vote of thanks was proposed by the Eev. W. Hall and carried 

 unanimously. 



The whole of the grasses of the locality were illustrated by dried 

 specimens. 



December 13th, 1888. 

 The meeting was held at the Town Hall. Dr. Fitzgerald, the 

 president, occupied the chair, and there were present the Revs. C. 

 Bosanquet, W. Hall, and G. C. Martin, Dr. T, Eastes, Dr. Tyson, 

 Mr. Walton, and other gentlemen, and also several ladies. Dr. 

 Tyson read the following paper on 



VARIOUS FORMS OF BURIAL. 

 We must all die ! The difliculty of dealing with the body must, 

 however repugnant the subject is to us, be faced. I will begin my 

 paper by giving a short history of the modes of burial that have 

 been adopted in various countries. The first method was that 

 which is, of course, common to all the lower animals, except house- 

 hold pets, viz., of simple exposure, or wbich might be better 

 described as no burial at all. Thus bodies have been hung up on 

 trees, placed on wooden planks, supported by tall poles, or nations 

 have purposely so exposed their dead, that predatory animals have 

 destroyed them. The next method is that of water burial ; of 

 course, this has been more common among maritime nations, than 

 nations who have no sea-board, and is the method still used when 

 death occurs " at sea." The bodies thus buried are doubtless soon 

 devoured by fish. It is interesting to note that the above form has 

 lately been recommended as a universal system, to avoid evils re- 



