39 
It seems -deserving of special mention that the papers of Mr. Owen and 
Mr. Butler were contributed by gentlemen who, though not ordinary mem- 
bers, have kindly manifested their interest in the Society's proceedings by 
direct personal communication ; Mr. Owen, a corresponding member, 
having given himself the trouble of a long journey for the purpose, and 
Mr. Butler, by sending through our member, Mr. Ravis, a curious and 
valuable collection of specimens of amber for exhibition before the 
Society. 
The several papers were listened to with much interest by a very numer- 
ous audience, and the discussions and information elicited were throughout 
of a very satisfactory nature. The Council note also with gratification the 
fact of a numerous attendance (including visitors, both ladies and gentle- 
men). The printed reports of each meeting, and of the discussions which 
followed the papers, render any further detailed notice in this place un- 
necessary. General meetings have been held monthly from October to 
April inclusive. 
Sectional Meetings. 
The Geological Section held eight meetings and undertook two excur- 
sions. Independent of minor communications, the following papers were 
read at the meetings of the Geological Section : — 
Name. Subject. 
Mr. A. Leipner On two species of Devonian Corals. 
Mr. W. W. Stoddart On Fossil Otoliths. 
Mr. W. Sanders On the Old Red Sandstone formation of Europe. 
Mr. W. L. Carpenter. ... On Eozoon Canadense (a communication from 
Dr. W. B. Carpenter). 
" " On the Production of Artificial Silica. 
Mr. W. W. Stoddart On the Fossils of the Old Red Sandstone. 
On varieties of Ammonites Planorbis. 
Mr. Groom-Napier On a Fossil Skull of Rhinoceros tichorinus. 
The excursions of the Geological Section comprised a survey of the 
cuttings on the Portishead Railway, and of those near Whitchurch, on 
the North Somerset Railway. 
Chemical and Photographic Section. — The following papers were read 
at the meetings of this section. 
Name. Subject. 
Mr. W. L. Carpenter. . . . Notes on the Soap Bubble. 
Rev. W. Whiting On Effects of Polarised Light, illustrated by 
apparatus and specimens. 
