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 ihe 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. 
