*6 



: 2th February, 1884. 



The President, Dr. Cunningham, in the Chair. 



Mr. William Hancock, F.R.G.S., of the Chinese Imperial 

 Customs Service, read a Paper on 



NORTH FORMOSA. 



The lecturer sketched the leading geological features of the 

 district, describing the remarkable steam geysers and extinct 

 craters which he had investigated during his residence on 

 the island. Comparison was made between the flora of North 

 Formosa and other parts of China, and a description was 

 given of the plants from the sea level to the mountain 

 summits, with special mention of the extraordinary variety 

 of ferns, of which Mr. Hancock collected nearly 70 species 

 in one glen alone, and no less than 129 within a radius of 

 twenty miles round the treaty port of Tientsin. Amongst 

 these the rare Dipteris Wallichii was discovered, which, the 

 lecturer observed, was closely allied to the extremely rare 

 Dipteris Horsfieldii discovered by Dr. Horsfield in only four 

 places in Java during fourteen years' travel, and specially 

 referred to and figured by Wallace in his Malay Archipelago. 

 The typhoons and earthquakes of Formosa were discussed, 

 mention being made of the earthquake of December, 1867, 

 when the sea ran out of Kelung Harbour, and, returning, swept 

 the junks on to the houses, and when the towns of Kelung 

 Kimpaoli, Pachena, and Tientsin were partially ruined, and 

 many hundred lives were lost. Various interesting varieties of 

 birds were described, including the exquisite Pericrocotus 



