746 Meeting of the British Association. [Oct., 



the Praniza of Leach being apparently the female anceus. Mr. E. 

 Newton related the discovery of bones of Didus in the Island of 

 Rodriguez. The Eev. F. Hewlett described various bones of the Moa, 

 discovered in New Zealand, in the same oven as those of the Pig. 

 Sir J. Lubbock described the metamorphoses of Ephemera (Chlaeon). 



Messrs. J. G. Jeffreys, A. M. Norman, and C. Spence Bate, gave 

 in their reports of dredging expeditions in the Cbannel Islands, on 

 the coast of Aberdeen, and on the marine flora and fauna of the south 

 coasts of Devon and Cornwall. 



Dr. Mcirck read papers " On the Classification and Zoological 

 Affinfties of the Mollusca." 



Mr. Frank Buckland made his report on oyster culture, in which 

 he showed that the young spat preferred the following objects to cling 

 to, — the shells of oysters, muscles, periwinkles, whelks, pieces of 

 crockery, glass, tiles, tobacco pipes, iron, and wood, the first-named 

 being those usually selected. The fascines or faggots of wood 

 employed in some localities would not pay the expense of laying 

 down. 



Dr. P. L. Sclater gave an account of the birth of a young hipjDo- 

 potamus in the gardens of the Zoological Society at Amsterdam ; and 

 Mr. Thomas Moore, of the Derby Museum, Liverpool, described some 

 improved methods of displaying birds in public museums, which he 

 had introduced into that institution. 



A report, " On Zoological Nomenclature," prepared by a committee, 

 was read by Sir William Jardine. They had come to the conclusion 

 that permanency of names and convenience of practical application 

 were the two chief requisites, and they deemed it undesirable to dis- 

 turb by any material alterations the rules authorized by Section D, at 

 the meeting of the British Association in Manchester, in 1842. 



An important resolution, respecting Section D and its Sub- section, 

 was arrived at by the General Committee of the Association : — That 

 in future years Section D be entitled ' Biology,' and that the Council 

 be charged with making the requisite arrangements to subdivide it 

 into such departments as may seem best fitted to ensure its practical 

 working. w T 



Geography and Ethnology. (Section E.) 



The geographical subjects which came before the meeting were of 

 most varied interest. Commencing with Europe, there was a cluster 

 of three papers on the Mont Blanc range of the Alps, contributed by 

 Alpine climbers and geographers. The one of most scientific interest 

 was undoubtedly that of Mr. A. Adams-Beilly, " On a recent Survey of 

 the Chain of Mont Blanc ;" although a paper by Mr. E. Whymper, the 

 hero of the Matterhorn, " On the Ascent of the Aiguille Verte,"— a 

 mere narrative of bold adventure, — seemed to have most attractions for 

 the crowded audience assembled on the day the three memoirs were 

 read. Mr. Adams-Reilly is now well known as the author of a much 



