2126 Microscopical Society. 



cautious not to venture out in hard blowing weather, a strong gale frequently obliging 

 them to come to the ground. 



There is a large snake, the bukkoron, often found on Timolson hill, in Magnidan- 

 do. This hill, during great floods, resembles an island. There is a story told of a 

 man seized by one of these enormous snakes, which, having thrown him, swallowed 

 his leg and thigh. The snake not being able to get higher, the man pulled out his 

 knife and cut the monster in the mouth, which then disgorged him ; the man, with 

 leg and thigh much torn, survived. 



The reader must by no means imagine we have presented him with anything ap- 

 proaching to a complete sketch of the zoology of the Indian islands ; to accomplish that 

 in the pages of the ' Zoologist ' would be impossible. We have, as we before observed, 

 merely galloped through the animal kingdom of the Eastern Archipelago, and selected a 

 few specimens here and there. The birds we have scarcely glanced at ; the fishes we have 

 left unnoticed. Perhaps on a future occasion we may touch on these interesting sub- 

 jects ; subjects with which, considering the rapid multiplication and strengthening of 

 the relations which have so lately sprung up between these kingdoms and the little- 

 known regions of Insular Asia, the public cannot be too well acquainted. Mean- 

 while, from what we have already said, it will have been seen, that — abounding as 

 they do in metal of all descriptions, in timber, in the productions of agriculture, in the 

 treasures of the floral kingdom, indeed in all those numerous and varied materials 

 which go to the making up of the wealth and prosperity, the beauty and attractiveness 

 of a country — the islands of the Indian Archipelago afford most of the varieties of 

 known living creatures, and will doubtless, in future years, offer to the naturalist new 

 fields for speculation and discovery. Birds, beasts, fishes, reptiles and insects, abound 

 in the islands and the seas of the Eastern Archipelago. 



Report of the Microscopical Society's Meetings. 



[I have to regret that the interesting Keports printed below were not furnished me 

 at an earlier date. I have reason to hope they will in future be transmitted with 

 greater regularity. — E. iV.] 



October 27, 1847. — J. S. Bowerbank, Esq., F.R.S., President, in the chair. 



The minutes of the preceding meeting were read and confirmed. 



A. Rosling and Wm. Delferrier, Esqrs., were balloted for, and duly admitted mem- 

 bers of the Society. 



Certificates in favour of Charles Sterry, Esq., of 38, Trinity Square, Tower Hill, 

 and W. S. Gillett, Esq., of 17, Upper Gower Street, were read, and ordered to be sus- 

 pended in the meeting-room. 



Two books were presented, and the thanks of the Society voted to their respective 

 donors. 



The President announced that the late E. Quekett, Esq., had bequeathed his mi- 

 croscope to the Society, and the instrument was placed on the table. 



