addition of fluxes, and the pure metal was left. The sim- 
plicity of this process contrasted strongly with the means 
now used to obtain some of the comparatively new metals, 
as sodium, potassium, &c., first obtained by Sir H. Davy in 
a mercury amalgam with the aid of a voltaic battery, and 
now prepared by a less expensive, but still very elaborate, 
series of operations. The manufacture of alaramum and of 
magnesium, two metals perhaps the most widely distributed 
of any, was then described in detail, and some of their 
probable applications suggested. After a slight discussion 
the meeting separated. 
Entomological Section, Feb. 14.— Mr. Stephen Barton, 
president, in the chair, who exhibited three loogicorne 
insects, Thryneta leprosa. Fab., taken by the celebrated 
traveller, Du Chaillu, in Africa ; Macrotorna Natala, Bohe- 
maun, taken by Dr. Livingstone; and also a few Australian 
Lepidoptera. Mr. ;,Hudd exhibited Boarmia perfumaria, 
Newman, a new species taken in the London district. Mr. 
Barber, the hon. secretary, then read a paper on the wings 
of insects. These appendages might be classed in six divi- 
sions—elytra, hernelytra, tegmina, membranaceous wings, 
halteres, and pseudo halteres. When the anterior wings 
were hard and horny they were called elytra, aad the 
halteres, or balancers, were only found when one pair of 
wings was absent, of which they were regarded as the repre- 
sentatives. The author then described the wings of each 
order of insects. In the Coleoptera, or beetles, the elytra 
were leathery, of various colours, and of no use in flying; 
the posterior wings were membranous, and the axis of the 
body was nearly vertical in flight. In the Euplexoptera, ear- 
wigs, the posterior wings were very delicate, and folded into a 
remarkably small space. The Orthoptera had parchment-like 
anterior wings, but were occasionally deficient in one pair, or 
possessed both pairs, but of very unequal size. The peculiar 
noise of crickets was produced by the friction of one wing 
case upon another, and that of locusts and grasshoppers by 
the thighs of the hind legs upon the wings. The wings of 
all other orders were membranous, but the lepidoptera were 
omitted as being too extensive for consideration that even- 
ing. The neuroptera had the forewings very finely reticu- 
lated, and were remarkable for the rapidity of their flight 
and power of turning' in all directions. The hymenoptera, 
bees, had two pairs of naked membranous wings, the hinder 
smaller, and connected to the forewings by a series of minute 
hooks. In some of the heteroptera there was a scutellum 
covering the back, resembling an elytron in appearance. In 
the diptera, flies, there were two membranous wings only, 
with halteres constantly vibrating. At the conclusion of the 
paper much time was spent in the examination of a beautiful 
series of microscopic preparations of wings, provided by Mr. 
Barber. 
Botanical Section, Feb. 16th.— Mr. Leipner, president, 
occupied the chair, and delivered an address on the fructi- 
fication of the Rhodosperm Algae, or red sea weeds. The 
higher Algae were ranged under three divisions, according 
to their colour, named Chlorosperms, Rhodosperms, and 
Melanosperms, and the general character of each of these, 
as to colour and place of growth or region, was given. The 
Khodosperms reproduced themselves by two kinds of fructi- 
fication, which have been found upon all species, but the 
