160 Proceedings of Societies. [April, 



essential to life, effected in that process, are influenced ; perhaps principally the 

 consumption of oxygen and evolution of carbonic acid gas. This state of dis- 

 order, Mr. H. considers to be the consequence of certain noxious changes, either 

 in the electrical or gaseous constitution of the atmosphere ; (most probably, by 

 the former remotely, and the latter more directly;) by which the delicate nervous 

 tissue of the lungs becomes impaired in its energies, and oxygen ceases to be con- 

 sumed in the quantities essential to life. 



3. — Natural History Society of the Mauritius. 

 Tuesday, 20th July, 1831. 



M. Delisse, sen. communicated a letter received by him from M. Cailand, 

 Conservateur-arfjoint of the Museum of Natural History at Nantes, in which he 

 proposed to effect a mutual exchange of objects with such of the members as 

 might desire it. 



The President read a letter from Sir Alexander Johnstone, to his excellency 

 the Governor Sir Ch. Colville, dated London, 2fith Feb. begging him to apprize the 

 Society that H. R. H. the Duke of Sussex, now Pres. of the Royal Society of 

 London, would extend his patronage to all scientific or literary Societies which 

 mMit be formed at the Mauritius. The same letter mentioned the favorable 

 reception of Professor Dabadie's observations on the comet of 1830, both by the 

 Royal and by the Royal Asiatic Society, of which he had been elected an hono- 

 rary member. 



The Secretary was directed to acknowledge the honor of H. E.'s communication. 



Mr. L. Bouton read an extract of a letter from Mr. Ad. Brongniart, inviting 

 the aid of the Society in aiding the objects of the new school of arts and manu- 

 factures of Paris (where a new course of studies is recently opened,) by forwarding 

 specimens of all substances employed in the domestic arts and manufactures of 

 the island. 



Mr. Lienard, sen. having proposed to write to the Governor, praying his 

 support of the classes of physic, chemistry, and natural history, which had lately 

 taken the place of the Botanical lectures at the Royal College, — Mr. Delisse, sen. 

 read a work he had drawn up on the subject, which met with approbation from all 

 the members present, and he was requested to undertake the drafting of the pre- 

 sent address. 



Mr. Bojer gave verbally the description of two birds of Agal^ga, (male and 

 female,) which he took to be the Ibis of the ancients : the specimens were 

 from M. Delisse's collec tion. 



The number of objects presented at this meeting was considerable. 



A tiger skin, 12 feet long, — by M. Wieke". . 



A mummified head from New Zealand, of the chief Mallowolla, sent from 

 Sydney by Captain Foreman, — by Mr. C, Telfair. 



The rib of a woman which fell to his share in a feast among the cannibals of 

 the same place, — by Captain Briggs. 



Mr. Briggs saved and brought away a child of 7 or 8 years old, which was 

 about to be sacrificed; its features are those of the Malgaches, or Creoles of the 

 Isle of France. , 



The skins of two Maki, also some minerals and insects, with descriptions, — by 

 Air. Cameron. 



Capt. Briggs, Mr. R. Campbell of Sydney, and Mr. S. Lair, of Paris, were elected 

 honorary members. 



