Royal Physical Society of Edinburgh. 3795 



from the ' Proceedings of the Entomological Society,' which went very far to prove 

 that there actually exists in India a bird-catching spider, little inferior in dimensions 

 to the Mygale Avicularia, but belonging to another division of the order, and proba- 

 bly a gigantic species of Epeira. Among the other insects was a beautiful Mantis, 

 and a Coleopterous Lamellicorn larva, three inches in length, and one in breadth, of 

 a dark olive colour, clothed anteriorly with reddish brown hairs, and with very distinct 

 black spiracles. 



It was then mentioned that the snakes were in the course of being examined by 

 Professor Traill, and would probably form the subject of a future communication. 



The cordial thanks of the Society were given to Mr. Waddell for the interest he 

 thus exhibited in the promotion of science, and for the kind and handsome manner 

 in which he had presented his collection to the members. 



IV. A variety of living land-shells were then shown. They had been collected by 

 Dr. Knapp last summer, during an excursion in Switzerland, and he had brought them 

 home and kept them since alive in the glass globe in which they were exhibited. Dr. 

 Greville enumerated the species which were shown, and gave some interesting details 

 relating to them. The thanks of the Society were voted to Dr. Knapp for the exhi- 

 bition. 



V. A serpent from the Amatola, Kaffirland, and supposed to be identical with the 

 Egyptian cobra or asp, was exhibited through the kindness of the Kev. A. Somerville, 

 and excited much interest, the fangs being fully displayed, and having the poison con- 

 densed around their orifices. 



VI. An interesting paper was then read on the Injurious Effects of Cedar-wood 

 Drawers, by Professor Fleming. 



VII. Note on the Helix aspersa, by Mr. Hugh Miller. 



In a conversation which followed the reading of Dr. Fleming's paper, for which 

 he received the thanks of the Society, it was stated by Mr. John Stewart, in confirma- 

 tion of the view taken regarding the pernicious effects of cedar-wood on natural history 

 specimens, and works of art and vertu, that, having committed to the keeping of a 

 cedar-wood drawer a set of delicate photographs, he found, on examining them after 

 the lapse of some time, that they had almost all suffered, and that from most of them 

 the images were wholly effaced. 



At the conclusion of the meeting, James Wilson, Esq., Woodville ; William Brown, 

 Esq., F.R.C.S.E., Dublin Street ; and John William Hadden, Esq., from Van Die- 

 man's Land ; were elected members of the Society ; and the following gentlemen were 

 unanimously chosen office-bearers for the ensuing year: — 



Presidents. — John Coldstream, Esq., M.D., F.R.C.P. ; Hugh Miller, Esq.; Rev. 

 John Fleming, D.D., Professor of Natural Science, New College, Edinburgh. 



Council. — James Cunningham, Esq., W. S. ; Robert K. Greville, LL.D. ; Robert 

 Chambers, Esq.; William H.Lowe, Esq., M.D. ; Charles Maclaren, Esq.; and An- 

 drew Murray, Esq., W. S. 



Treasurer. — William Oliphant, Esq. 



Secretary. — John Alexander Smith, Esq., M.D. 



Assistant Secretary. — George Lawson, Esq. 



Honorary Librarian. — Robert F. Logan, Esq. 



Library Committee. — William Rhind, Esq.; John Murray, Esq., M.D. ; and 

 Patrick Dalmahoy, Esq., W.S. 



