467 



The following papers were read, viz. — 



1. "Magnetic-term Observations for January, February, March, 

 and April 1 843," made at the Observatory at Prague, by Professor 

 Kreil. Communicated by Samuel Hunter Christie, Esq., Sec. R.S. 



2. "Hourly Meteorological Observations, taken between the 

 hours of 6 A.M. March 17th, 1843, and 6 a.m. of the following day, 

 being the period of the Spring Tides of the Vernal Equinox, at 

 Georgetown, British Guiana." By Daniell Blair, Esq., the Colonial 

 Surgeon, transmitted by Henry Light, Esq. Communicated by the 

 Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty. 



3. " On the minute structure of the Skeletons, or hard parts of 

 Invertebrata." By W. B. Carpenter, M.D. Communicated by the 

 President. Part II. " On the structure of the Shell in the several 

 families and genera of Mollusca." 



The author here gives in detail the results of his inquiries into 

 the combinations of the component elements of shell as they are 

 met with in the several families and genera of the Mollusca ; and 

 considers all these results as tending to establish the general propo- 

 sition, that where a recognizable diversity presents itself in the ele- 

 mentary structure of the shell, in different groups, that diversity af- 

 fords characters which indicate the natural affinities of the several 

 genera included in those groups, and which may therefore be em- 

 ployed with advantage in classification, and in the recognition and 

 determination of fossils. 



The Society then adjourned over the Whitsun Recess, to meet 

 again on the 15th instant. 



June 15, 1843. 



The MARQUIS OF NORTHAMPTON, President, in the Chair. 

 The following papers were read, viz. — 



1. " On the supposed developement of the Animal Tissues from 

 Cells." By James Stark, M.D., F.R.S.E. Communicated by James 

 F. W. Johnston, Esq., M.A., F.R.S. 



The author controverts the prevailing theory of the developement 

 of animal tissues from cells, and denies the accuracy of the micro- 

 scopical observations on which that theory is founded, as regards the 

 anatomy of the adult as well as of the foetal tissues. He asserts that 

 at no period of foetal life can rows of cells be discovered in the act 

 of transformation into muscular fibres : and he denies that these 

 fibres increase either in length or in thickness by the deposition of 

 new cells. He contends that the ultimate filaments of muscles, as 

 well as all the other tissues of the body, are formed from the fibri- 

 nous portion of the blood, which is itself composed of globules that 

 are disposed to cohere together, either in a linear series, so as to 

 form a net-work of fine filaments, or in aggregated masses of a form 



