ANNIVERSARY ADDRESS 129 



the interchange of functions between the roots and stems 

 of certain plants. Passing to another class of subjects, 

 a strange electrical phenomenon may be here noticed, 

 though not of a domestic character, unless a quick mode 

 of being undressed should be thought such. Under the 

 guidance of the President of a Natural History Society 

 in the South, the members were conducted over the 

 Museum of the Royal College of Surgeons of London. 

 We were shown the remarkable effect on the apparel 

 of a. man struck by lightning. It had been raining 

 hard at the time, and his clothes were soaked through. 

 The lightning, therefore, finding in the wet clothing a 

 good conductor, passed down them instead of through 

 the man, as is usually the case. The heat immediately 

 turned the water in the clothes into steam, the expansive 

 course of which blew them to pieces, and the man was 

 left practically naked. Though badly scalded, the man 

 himself was not otherwise seriously injured. In the 

 same Museum are to be found some specially interesting 

 specimens of Protective Coloration in birds. Though the 

 fact itself was generally known, it was thought by some 

 of the visitors that, in the singular case where the male 

 bird undertakes the duties of incubation, this special 

 coloration was not assumed pro hdc vice, but was so 

 ordained as a permanent arrangement for that class of 

 birds. We wert assured, however, that it was, as in 

 other cases, temporary only. If this be so, ample time 

 for the evolution of a new suit of clothes would seem 

 to be required in the case of the spouse ; for ' we were 

 informed that an exchange takes place, and that the 

 lady, released from home duties until the good-man has 

 reared the family, goes forth in my lord's fine plumage to 

 the enjoyment of the pleasures of the world !* Reference 

 may next be made to two interesting cases relating to 



* Probably Red-sided Lory (Eclecfcus polymorphus), native of New 

 Guinea. 



