232 



The following papers were read, viz. : 



1. " Meteorological Register kept at Port Arthur, Van Diemen's 

 Land, during the year 1838, and Register of Tides at Port Arthur, 

 from August 1838 to July 1839, both inclusive." By Deputy- 

 Assistant-Commissary- General Lempriere. Communicated by Sir 

 John Franklin, R.N., F.R.S., &c. 



2. " Notice relative to the form of the Blood-particles of the 

 Ornithorhynchus hystrix." By John Davy, M.D., F.R.S. 



A portion of the blood of the Ornithorhynchus hystrix, mixed 

 when fresh with a strong solution of common salt, being examined 

 by the author, exhibited a few globules of irregular shape. Another 

 portion, preserved in syrup, contained numerous globules, most of 

 which had an irregular form, but many were circular ; none, how- 

 ever, were elliptical, like those of birds. Hence the author con- 

 cludes, that in form they accord more with those of Mammalia. 



3. " Researches on Electro-chemical equivalents, and on a sup- 

 posed discrepancy between some of them and the atomic weight of 

 the same bodies, as deduced from the theory of isomorphism." By 

 Lieut. -Colonel P. Yorke. Communicated by Michael Faraday, Esq., 

 D.C.L., F.R.S., &c. 



The author describes various experiments made with a view to 

 determine the electro- chemical equivalents of sodium and potassium. 

 Three experiments gave, respectively, 22*3, 22*9, and 25, as the 

 equivalent of the former ; and two other experiments gave, respec- 

 tively, 45 and 41*7, as the equivalent of the latter of these sub- 

 stances. He then inquires what would be the result of the electro- 

 lyzation of the aqueous solutions of soda and potash, on the hypo- 

 thesis of these bodies being composed of two equivalents, or atoms, 

 of metal, and one of oxygen. To determine this question he em- 

 ploys a solution of dichloride of copper in muriatic acid, as being a 

 substance composed of two atoms of metal and one of an electro- 

 negative element. Its electrolysis gave as the equivalent of copper, 

 52" 8, 59*4, and 61" 6, numbers approximating closely to 63*2, or 

 double the atomic weight of copper. After a long train of investi- 

 gation, he concludes that there is no reason deducible from the 

 theory of isomorphism for doubting the correctness of the received 

 atomic weights of silver, sodium, &c., but that the difficulty, or 

 anomaly, if it may be so called, should be considered as attaching 

 itself to the di- compounds of copper; and that Faraday's proposi- 

 tions on this subject remain unimpeached. 



4. Second series of AjDproximate Deductions made from about 

 50,000 observations taken during the 3^ears 1836, 1837, and 1838, 

 at the P. Louis Observatory, Mauritius, four times each day; 

 namely, at 8 a.m., at noon, and at 4 and Sf.m." By J. A. Lloyd, 

 Esq., F.R.S. 



5. " On the Solubility of Silica by Steam ; with an account of 

 an experiment on the subject, conducted in the East Indies by 



