Minutes of Proceedings. xlix 



Ordinanj Mo7ithly Meeting. 



Wednesday, July 31, 1889. 



Mk. W. H. Finlay, M.A., F.R.A.S., President, in the Chair. 



The undermentioned presents were announced and the thanks of 

 the Society voted to the donors : 



Bulletin de la Societe Imperiale des Naturalistes de Moscou, 



1888, No. 3. 

 The^ American Anthropologist, Vol. I. pts. 2, 3, 4, Vol. II. pt. 1. 

 Journal of the Cincinnati Society of Natural History, Vol. XI. — 4. 

 Proceedings of the American Philosophical Society, No. 128. 

 A Grammar of the Kwagiutl Language (IVansactions of R.S. 



of Canada, Vol. VI., Section II.) 

 Feuille des Jeunes Naturalistes, No. 22o. 

 Mikrographie der Mitteldermdriise (Leber) der MoUusken. 

 Versteinerungen der Cambrischer Schichtensystems. 



The Rev. G. H. R. Fisk exhibited two specimens of manganese 

 markings on sandstone. 



The President then read Mr. Carrington Wilmer's paper on " The 

 Relation of the Sand-dune Formation on the Soath-west Coast of 

 Africa to the Local Wind Currents." 



Mr. Peringuey said this large belt of sand extended down the 

 coast to Blaauwberg, and that from Cape Blanco to the Congo there 

 was a similar stretch of sand. He did not believe that these sand- 

 dunes were of recent origin for the following reason : There was 

 one genus of Coleoptera common to both the East and West Coasts 

 • of Africa, and the one found on the West Coast possessed a special 

 formation of the legs for moving quickly over sand. This formation 

 must have taken ages to bring about. 



Messrs. Fisk, Gill, Marloth, and Prof. Seeley (a visitor) -also took 

 part in the discussion. 



A vote of thanks was accorded to Messrs. Wilmer and Seeley. 



Mr. Finlay (President) announced the discovery of a new comet 

 by Davidson, Queensland, on July 22. It was observed at the Cape 

 on July 25, 26, 27, its orbit computed, and cabled to Kiel. The 

 comet has a bright round nucleus, almost star-like,' surrounded by 

 faint nebulous matter, and has a short faint tail. It was near the 

 <3arth when discovered, about one-third of the distance from earth 



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