Musophaga violacea— from the Gambia to Ireland, where 
the splendid crimsoa of their plumage soon faded to a dull 
gray, though the birds appeared healthy. A third specimen 
was obtained with the same resalt. Some feathers from 
another bird of the same species were then sent to England, 
but Mr. Owen had been unabled to alter the colour, even by 
strong chemical re-agents; his correspondent, however, stated 
that if a feather was washed in hot water soon after its re- 
moval from the bird the colour disappeared, while a trace of 
soap caused it to leave the feather immediately, staining the 
fingers, the water, or paper. Specimens of feathers and 
paper so treated were exhibited. The colour appeared to be 
1 pigmentaceous and soluble—not pulverulent. Mr. Owen 
believed that this fact had never been published before. He 
also took the opportunity of correcting two inaccuracies in 
the published accounts of this species— first, it was capable 
of reversing the outer toe, and further, that two varieties 
existed, one with and one without a white strip under the 
1 eye. 
I Some conversation took place on the subject of this paper, 
and Mr. Groorae Napier called attention to the disappearance 
j of the colour from many birds' eggs, especially when freshly 
blown. An instance was mentioned of a blue parrot turning 
i grav in confinement. A vote of thanks having been passed 
I to Mr. Owen, 
I Mr. C O. Groome Napier, F.G.S., read a paper on the 
\ food and attractive qualities of birds, extracted from his 
work entitled " The food, use, and beauty of British Birds," 
I which is in course of publication by Messrs. Kerslake and 
' Co., of Bristol, and Groombridge and Sons, of London. He 
also exhibited a synoptical table, which gave at one view, 
and in a manner easy for reference, the results of a long 
series of researches upon the contents of birds' stomachs at 
different periods of the year, together with notes on their 
habits, (fee, all of which will be found in the volume referred 
to. At the conclusion of the reading, the President spoke of 
- the value of the immense mass of information which Mr, 
Napier had collected, and remarked that as the paper was 
already printed, it was scarcely fair to the author to invite 
discussion. 
Mr. Thomas Grundy exhibited some silkworms from a 
second hatch this year. They were about two months old, 
and the eggs from which they came were laid a month 
previous to that time. This was the only instance known 
to the members present of a second brood being raised in 
one year. Mr, Grundy also showed a good specimen of the 
Eunonymus, or spindle-tree, from Durdham-down, not 
generallv noticed there. 
Mr. W. W. Stoddart showed specimens of the freshwater 
cray-fish, Astacus fluviatilis, living and dead, taken in the 
river Windrush, near Witney, Oxfordshire. Mr. Leipner 
remarked that they were very abundant in nearly all 
mountain streams abroad, and reached a much greater size 
than these, though they were the same species. 
In closing the meeting, the president drew attention to 
the discussion promoted by the specimens shown that 
evening, and expressed the hope that all members would 
follow the example thus set, of providing subjects of 
interest for the meetings. 
WM. LANT CARPENTER, 
. Hon. Reporting Secretary. 
