TRANSACTIONS OF THE SECTIONS. 89 



during the last four years, for tlie same weight of material, and thus 

 greatly to limit the extent, and even to risk the safety of the silk 

 manufacture itself. 



Some Observations on Whales, in connexion with the account of the 

 Remains of a Whale recently discovered at Durham. By George 

 T. Fox, Esq. 



Among the rubbish in some crypts or cellars, beneath the old Tower 

 of Durham Castle, several large bones were found ; twenty vertebrae, 

 and about the same number of ribs, of enormous size were taken out ; 

 and in a crypt or room on the opposite side of the tower, two large jaw 

 bones were laid bare. This latter discovery enabled Mr. Fox to deter- 

 mine, from the form and position of the jaws, that the bones belonged 

 to a spermaceti whale. The discovery excited considerable interest in 

 the town. But while the inquiries, to which the circumstance had 

 given rise, were going on, the Rev. James Raine discovered a curious 

 and interesting letter, in a MS. volume of the late Mr. Surtees' collec- 

 tion, relative to the history of the Castle of Durham, which at once 

 accounted for the discovery of animal remains under such circum- 

 stances. 



The letter is from John Cosin, Bishop of Durham, addressed to his 

 Secretary, Mr. Miles Stapylton, dated Pall Mall, London, June 20, 1661, 

 and clearly shows that the bones discovered in Durham Castle be- 

 longed to an animal cast on shore on the coast of Durham, at Earing- 

 ton, and the date (1661) proves it to be the oldest whale of the kind 

 recorded to have been found on the British coast. The remains of the 

 animal, when collected, were found to consist of twenty-six vertebrae, 

 fourteen ribs, and two lower jaws, of the great blunt-headed Cetodon 

 {Physeter macrocephalus). 



On the Statistics of British Botany. By Mr. Brand. 



This paper consisted chiefly of remarks on the Catalogues of Plants, 

 on which Mr. PI. C. Watson had founded his conclusions in his work 

 on the Geographical Distribution of the Plants of Great Britain. Proof 

 sheets of the Catalogue formed from this source were exhibited to the 

 Section. Also the proof sheet of a catalogue for arranging the Society's 

 General Herbarium. 



On the Extinction of the Human Races. By Dr. Pritchard. 

 He expressed his regret that so little attention was given to Ethno- 

 graphy, or the natural history of the human race, while the opportuni- 

 ties for observation are every day passing away ; and concluded by an 

 appeal in favour of the Aborigines' Protection Society*. 



Mr. J. E, Bowman exhibited specimens of a species of Dodder 

 * Sec in this Volume the Synopsis of Giants of Money at Biiiningham. 



