Nullipores Sponges of the Boulder Clay of Caithness. 101 



tions have been destroyed ; there is, however, no doubt about 

 the genus. Many species " existed during several geological 

 periods ; for instance, in the Crag, in the London Clay, in the 

 Paris Basin, in the Chalk, in the Greensand, and in the Oolite. 

 Mr Alder has detected it in a specimen of Pecten islandicus 

 from a raised beach at Bute," and to this list is now to be 

 added the boulder clay of Caithness. Many species of Clionia 

 also now exist in our seas, as shown in Mr Hancock's delight- 

 ful paper, published in the 3d vol., second series, 1849, of the 

 " Annals and Magazine of Natural History," from which the 

 above quotations were taken. I again beg to apologise for so 

 long delaying this paper. I trust that the additional matter 

 and facts collected by that delay will plead an excuse for me. 

 It is pleasant, when working in this once said to be barren 

 field, to be rewarded by adding to the shells of the age, first 

 zoophytes, and now sponges and plants. 



Wednesday, 27th April 1859. — T. Strethill Wright, M.D., 

 President, in the Chair. 



Thomas Boyle Grierson, Esq., surgeon, Thornhill, Dumfriesshire, 

 was elected a non-resident member. 



The usual Committees were appointed for conducting special investi- 

 gations during the recess. 



The following donations to the Library were laid on the table : — 



Memoirs of the Literary and Philosophical Society of Manchester, new 

 series, vols. iii. to xiv., and part 1 of vol. xv. — From the Literary and 

 Philosophical Society of Manchester. M^moires de la Societe Imperiale 

 des Sciences Naturelles de Cherbourg, tome v., 1857. — From the Society. 

 The Canadian Journal of Industry, Science, and. Art, new series, No. 

 xix., January 1859. — From the Canadian Institute, Toronto. Premiere 

 Centurie de Longicornes du Vieux Calabar. Par Auguste Chevrolat. 

 Paris, 1858. — From the Author. 



The communications read were as follow : — 



I. Report on the Pearl Banks of Arippo, Ceylon, for Season 1858. By 

 E. F Kelaart, M.D. Communicated by Dr R. K. Greville. 



In this paper the author states that he found in most of the 

 pearl-bearing shells a worm (a species of filaria), which he 



