Reports op Societies. 



45 



of the existence of molecules derived from the processes of solution of solid 

 bodies, the condensation of gases, the evaporation of liquids, and other 

 phenomena of heat and light, all of which confirm the idea that matter 

 consists of exceedingly small particles difiused through the space appar- 

 ently occupied by it. He gave the results of the calculations made 

 respecting the size, number, and velocity of these particles in the case of 

 certain kinds of matter. The lecturer proceeded to explain the difference 

 of meaning now attached to the terms "molecule" and "atom," 

 especially in their application to the chemical phenomena relating not 

 merely to the composition of substances, but to the probable arrangement 

 of the atoms in them. Finally he referred to the great importance of 

 measuring the heat liberated during chemical actions, since the heat is 

 strictly equivalent to the chemical force called into play in any given case. 

 At the close of the lecture Mr. Fairley exhibited and described new 

 compounds discovered by him since the date of his last lecture before the 

 Society, and also new and more perfect apparatus for the exact measure- 

 ment of the heat liberated during certain chemical actions which he is now 

 investigating. A vote of thanks concluded the meeting. — W. D. R. 



OvENDEN Naturalists' Society. — Monthly meeting at lUingworth, 

 August 19th, Mr. Roger Earnshaw, vice-president in the chair.— A great 

 number of botanical specimens were laid on the table, which were named 

 by Mr. Dennis Wilson, including Scutellaria minor, Lysimachia vulgaris, 

 Sparganium ramosum, Veronica Beccahunga, Scahiosa succisa, Betonica 

 officinalis, Fragaria vesca, Achillcea ptarmica, Lamium purpureum, 

 Senecio aquaticus. Erica cinerea, Angelica sylvestris, Lotus major, Eupa- 

 torium Gannabinum, and Epilohium palustre. Mr. T. Cockroft 

 exhibited a few geological specimens from the new railway cutting, 

 Queensbury, and from Ringby quarries Cardiocarpons, Pectens, Halonia 

 regularis, &c. Mr. T. Hirst exhibited and named a number of foreign 

 birds, including the Chinese golden pheasant, and a pair of long-tailed 

 sparrows from the Cape of Good Hope, three sun birds (one the red- 

 breasted sun bird), guillemot, kittiwake gull, green-fronted paroquet, and 

 ash-backed cockatoo, shot at Thornton. Mr. J. Ogden named the 

 specimens in entomology, which included a splendid stag-beetle, Lucanus 

 cervus, sent from Kent, and various lepidoptera. — J. Ogden, Sec. 



Richmond and J^orth Riding Naturalists' Field Club. — Monthly 

 meeting Sept. 4th. Mr. Roberts, vice-president, in the chair. Mr. 

 Falconer exhibited male and female specimens of the saw beetle, Coleop- 

 tera lucanides, from Dominica, well preserved ; length of body six inches, 

 outstretched wings ten inches. Mr, Hibbert exhibited specimens of 

 Derbyshire spars and sulphate of barytes from Ireland. Mr. Durham, of 

 Dalbeattie, presented to the museum a Roman medal of St, Paulinus. 

 Mr. John Hauxwell, the curator, exhibited a case containing several 

 varieties of the humming bird, Trochiledie, in excellent preservation, and 



