11 



Mr. Henry Ullyett proposed a vote of thanks to Dr. Eastes, and 

 took the opportunity of calling attention to one or two points of 

 interest — the way in which the jaws were united in birds and in 

 some reptiles, thus showing their connection. It enabled them to 

 gape and swallow substances very much larger than could otherwise 

 be got down, and it supported the theory of those who believed 

 that some of the birds were developed from reptiles. Turtles and 

 lizards, he remarked, had horny beaks and no teeth, and fossil 

 birds were found with actual teeth. He also referred to cases of 

 malformation of beaks which had come under his notice. 



Mr. Nicholson seconded the vote of thanks, which was heartily 

 accorded. 



Mr. Walton asked Dr. Eastes if he had given any attention to 

 the point as to what class of beaks made the most perfect nests. 



Dr. Eastes replied that he had not. 



Mr. Hills asked if anyone could give the reason for the pro- 

 tuberance on the head of a liornbill ? Was it used as a protection ? 



Colonel Frere said he lived in the land where those birds were 

 common. It was subject to terrific monsoons, aud the birds 

 selected trees with a proper sized hole in it ; tlie female took her 

 place, and the male commenced to plaster up the hole, leaving 

 nothing of his mate sticking out but just the head, and there she 

 had to sit till the nesting was over. The protuberance was a kind 

 of gutter, and it prevented the rain from runnii^g into the nest. 

 The bird used a quantity of yellow oil in dressing its plumage 

 to protect it from the wet. 



Mr. Ullyett remarked tbat it might be what Darwin told them 

 was *' female development." The females selected the male with, 

 the grandest and most perfect protuberance on its beak. 



March 19th, 1896. 



Fifty members present, the President in the chair. Mr. S. G 

 Hills read the following paper, illustrated by lantern sUdes and 

 specimens, on 



"PEOTECTIVE RESEMBLANCE AND OTHEB MEANS OF 



DEFENCE IN INSECTS, WITH SPECIAL REFEEENCE 



TO BUTTERFLIES AND MOTHS. " 



In the few words that I shall address to you this evening 1 

 propose to put before you some facts which may be new to most, 

 and, I hope, interesting to all, with respect to the protection 

 derived by insects from assimilating themselves by changes of 



