Mr. J. B. Atkinson, the author had analysed some of the 
water glass imported from Berlin, and used by Mr. Maclise 
and others in fixing the frescoes at the houses of Parlia- 
I ment, and had found it to consist of a silicate of soda and 
potash, with rather an excess of the alkalies, and twelve per 
j cent, (on the dry salt) of alkaline sulphates, chlorides, and 
j carbonates; the presence of which he considered rather 
I prejudicial than otherwise, as liable to cause an effl )rescence 
! on the surface of the' picture. This paper was illustrated 
I with a collection of the materials and colours used in stereo- 
: chromic painting, kindly lent by Mr. Atkinson ; and the 
i author stated, in conclusion, that one object he had in view 
was to give an example of the short papers, occupying but 
a few minutes, which, the society wished to encourage, and 
which were very much wanted. 
The last paper read was by Mr. Charles Groome, on the 
nidification of British birds. Out of 8000 species of birds 
known, 320 visited Britain, and 187 bred here. The present 
1 paper was confined to the birds of prey, the flycatchers, and 
the thrushes. The golden eagle, found occasionally in 
j Scotland, laid three eggs, towards the end of March, of a 
j dirty white colour, and hard stony shell, in a nest of often 
! 20 years' accumulation, frequently lined with lambskin. The 
fishing hawk, a very rare bird, breeding near Loch Awe, 
had an enormous nest — weighing half a ton. The peregrine 
falcon, bred on the cliffs of the coast, and the hobby falcon 
j generally selected a magpie's nest. The kestrel hawk was bred 
i in every county in England, and the author showed six 
magpie's eggs taken from a nest, which was in a week's 
time usurped by one of these birds, the eggs laid by which 
were also shown. The kite, which once built in the streets 
of London, constructed a flat nest of sticks, dry grass, &c., 
and laid in April or May. The buzzard, which was becom- 
ing rare, built a large nest of sticks. The eggs of birds a 
year old were five in number and white in colour, while tbe 
older birds laid four eggs more variously marked. This 
law of colour in the eggs, appeared to run through all the 
birds of prey. Several birds, fast becoming very scarce, as the 
honey buzzard, the marsh and hen harriers, the montagues, 
&c., were then spoken of, and lastly the owls. The common 
barn owl remained all the year in the period of incubation, 
laying two eggs, and when they were ready to hatch, 
another two, and so on, so that six young birds of different 
ages, in pairs, were frequently found in an owl's nest. This 
paper was illustrated with specimens of nests and eggs from 
Mr. Groome's magnificent collection. 
In moving the thanks of tbe society to the author of that 
evening's papers, the president said he could not allow the 
meeting to adjourn without alluding to the loss the society 
had sustained by the death of the Rev. William Pippett, 
whose constant courtesy and scientific attainments had made 
him loved as well as respected by those members of the 
society who had been fortunate enough to become acquainted 
with him. 
WM. LANT CARPENTER, 
Honorary Reporting Secretary, 
