Miscellaneous. 479 



then read some extracts from M. A. Decandolle's Memoir on Alimen- 

 tary Plants, accompanied by a chart of the world, in which were 

 laid down the boundaries, north and south, as mentioned by Decan- 

 dolle. 



Dr Bossey exhibited specimens of grasses aiFected with ergot. 

 Mr D. Cooper stated that he had had in the course of the season, 

 much conversation with the Essex farmers, and they informed him 

 that since the increased navigation of steam-vessels in the Thames, 

 their lands had been considerably more productive of late years, — 

 which they attributed to the prevailing winds blowing the smoke 

 and soot over their lands. This point having been fully discussed, 

 the meeting adjourned until November 2d. 



November 2d.— Dr Macreight, F. L. S. V. P. in the Chair. — 

 Donations of plants were announced from Mr W. A. Lewis, Mrs 

 Dennison, Mrs Gawler, Mr Hopkins, &c. Dr Bossey then read his 

 paper on the Fungi which he had observed to attack grain. The 

 paper led to an interesting discussion, and the meeting adjourned 

 until November 16th. 



Natural History Society of Neavcastle. — On Thursday the 

 21st Sept. the anniversary meeting of the Natural History Society of 

 Northumberland, Durham, and Newcastle upon Tyne, was held in 

 the Society's new building, C. J. Bigge, Esq. the society's treasur- 

 er, in the chair. Mr W. Hutton, the senior secretary, read the re- 

 port of the committee for the past year, which stated that they had 

 to congratulate the members on the continued prosperity of the so- 

 ciety. The treasurer's account showed a larger income than ever 

 they had received in one year, and, though there was a balance 

 against the society, the subscriptions which they had yet to receive 

 would do more than cover that amount. They had often had to re- 

 cord the donations made to the society, and it was with pleasure 

 that they now referred to the munificent ^ift of the Earl of Tanker- 

 ville (in addition to a handsome annual subscription,) consisting of 

 500 specimens of corals, corallines, fossils, &c. in a large glass case. 

 This splendid donation imparted quite a new feature to the museum, 

 and the committee thought it their duty to order a new case for the 

 reception of the specimens, in which they can be properly arranged 

 and named, a display which the size of the original case did not ad- 

 mit of, and which, when completed, will form one of the most attrac- 

 tive portions of the museum. It was stated, in the report of last 

 year, that the society expected a present of a series of casts from 

 the fossil bones and shells in the Jardin des Plantes ; the committee 

 had to announce that these had arrived, and were very valuable, but 



