582 Meeting of the British Association. [Oct., 



spray might, he considered, without doubt, he made a valuable 

 means of research in this manner. 



Dr. G. Eobinson, in a paper on " Certain Effects of the Concen- 

 trated Solar Rays upon the Tissues of Living Animals immersed 

 in Water," tried to show that it was not the calorific effect by 

 which aquatic animals were killed when placed in a focus of sun 

 light, but some other actinic or electric action. 



Professor Hughes Bennett read two papers, one being an 

 account of "New Investigations to determine the Amount of Bile 

 secreted by the Liver ;" the other, on "Protagon,'' a body which 

 may be obtained by treating yolk of egg with alcohol — the chemical 

 composition Dr. Bennett does not appear to know. This Protagon 

 when placed in water assumes " cell-forms," and re-acts with acids 

 and other re-agents, as many cells do. 



Mr. E. Bay Lankester read a paper on " Observations with the 

 Spectroscope on Animal Substances," and obtained a grant of 157. 

 to continue his researches. 



Other Physiological papers were, by Dr. Polli, " On the Antiseptic 

 Properties of the Sulphites ; " by Mr. Wesley Bennet, " On the 

 Influence of Fluids on the Body ; " by Mr. Wentworth Scott, " On 

 the presence of Quinine and other Alkaloids in the Animal 

 Economy ; " by Mr. Dunn, " On the Phenomena of Life and Mind ; " 

 and by Mr. Melville, " On Life— its Nature, Origin. &c." The last 

 two papers were highly metaphysical, and called forth considerable 

 discussion, though hardly rightly belonging to Physical Science 

 at all. 



We now have briefly to mention certain papers read which are 

 of considerable importance, and come under our fourth heading of 

 Practical papers. 



They are — Mr. Andrew Murray, " On the Future Administration 

 of the Natural History Collections of the British Museum ; " Mr. 

 W. Brown, " On the Claims of Arboriculture as a Science ; " Dr. 

 Lauder Lindsay, " On the Conservation of Forests in our Colonies ; " 

 "On Lichen Growth as a Criterion of the Age of Prehistoric 

 Structures ;" " On Lichen Growth as Detrimental to Forest and 

 Fruit Trees ; " " On Plant Acclimatization in Scotland, with special 

 reference to New Zealand Flax ;" Dr. Grierson, " On the Destruction 

 of Plantations at Drumlanrig by a species of Yole ; " Bev. H. B. 

 Tristram, " On the Zoological Aspects of the Grouse Disease ; " Sir 

 James E. Alexander, " On the Preservation of Fishing Streams." 

 Mr. Murray advocated the appointment of a single Crown minister 

 who should be responsible for the management of the British 

 Museum, instead of the irresponsible board of trustees who govern 

 it now and who cannot be got at. He also advocated the exchange 



