Miscellaneous. 383 



found among- recent shells at a higher level than the present high 

 water, and which are not known to exist in a recent state. 



Mr Macleay exhibited portions of the pier of Southampton, 

 which had been forwarded to him by Captain Ducane, and which 

 were completely destroyed by the operations of the Limnoria tere- 

 brans. Mr Macleay stated that this pier had been erected only a 

 few years since, at an expense of between L. 8000 andL. 10,000, and 

 that its state of decay was now such that it would require to 

 be rebuilt, and would cost nearly a similar sum. Mv Francis sug- 

 gested, that if the wood had been cayennised, it would have resisted 

 the eifects of this destructive insect, and detailed many experiments, 

 by which, under other circumstances, its efficacy had been proved. 

 Mr Francis was requested to bring before next meeting the result of 

 a series of experiments which were now in progress, and also to di- 

 rect his attention to the power of this preparation in resisting the at- 

 tacks of insects. 



Mr J. E. Gray exhibited some new land shells from the Museu.m 

 of the Royal Institution, and remarked on their peculiarities. One of 

 m.ore than usual interest was a new species of Anodon, found near 

 Broughton in Craven Yorkshire, and named A. Roisii. 



The Rev. J. Meade read a paper on the solid materials found in 

 the ashes of plants and animals. This paper went chiefly to prove 

 that the earthy, saline, and metallic ingredients contained in plants, 

 were the maintaining substances of vegetable life. 



Mr J. Taylor exhibited a specimen of Goliathus tnagnus from the 

 collection of the Institution ; also the jaws of a large shark, and spe- 

 cimen of the oil obtained from its liver. Mr Macleay made some in- 

 teresting remarks on the history and affinities of Goliathus, but was 

 prevented entering so deeply into the subject as he could have wished 

 from the time of the section being nearly run. The same reason pre- 

 vented the reading of several other valuable papers which had been 

 entered in the list, particularly one on the affinities of birds by Mr 

 Vigors, in which he proposed to illustrate the subject, and explain 

 some of his views, which the opponents of the circular arrangement 

 had either misconstrued or not understood. 



In the Committee of this section, which was not publicly open, 

 the following grants were made from the funds of the association 

 for the purpose of performing experiments. A grant of L. 50 was 

 proposed by Professor Henslow, to be placed at the disposal of the 

 committee in Liverpool, appointed for the purpose of ascertaining 

 i the results of experiments made for growing plants in apartments 



