168 ACCOUNT OF THE GENERAL AND ANNUAL MEETINGS. 
THE 447th GENERAL MEETING. . 
March 4th, 19 15. 
"Impressions of Java," by Prof. S. H. Reynolds, F.G.S. 
The Island of Java, which belongs to the Dutch, and is densely 
inhabited, has on its surface many evidences of highly volcanic 
origin. It was under the Buddhists from India of the 6th and 
7th centuries that the numerous magnificent temples and other 
buildings arose, to be added to in a less grandiose style by the 
Brahmins of the 15th century, both sets being entirely neglected 
by the Portuguese traders, who took possession of the island 
from 1620 to the time of the Napoleonic wars. The British, 
however, were rulers for a few years, and Governor Raffles un- 
earthed and described these buildings, the grandeur of the carv- 
ings in which could be judged from the lantern slides shown. 
The inhabitants, as seen by the lecturer on his two visits, are 
of a mixed race, having much Dutch blood, and live in huts 
amongst groves of trees, with few towns, and cultivate their 
tropical regions with much success, being quiet and amiable 
under their native regents. Addicted to gambling, cock-fighting, 
and long theatrical dramas of Hindu origin, they have of late 
sought for education with much freedom of equality for both 
sexes 
Exhibit by Mr. G. C. Griffiths, F.E.S., of Butterflies from 
Darjeeling, N.-W. India, sent home by Major T. D. Broughton, 
R.E., a former member of the Society. 
THE 448TH GENERAL MEETING. 
April 8th, 1915. 
"The South Wales Tornado," by Dr. E. H. Cook, D.Sc. 
In October, 19 13, a tornado of extraordinary violence arose 
at Exmouth, South Devon, and travelled in a north-westerly 
direction for about 200 miles to Widnes in Lancashire, crossing 
the Bristol Channel from about Watchet to Barry and passing 
up the Welsh hills by way of Shrewsbury to its ending. 
It was amidst the hills of Wales that it was most violent, and 
there in its very narrow track it effected much damage to build- 
ings and trees with some curious freaks brought about by the 
sudden withdrawal of air pressure behind its gyrations. These 
caused windows to be blown outwards, and trees to be sucked 
under a house roof together with a tablecloth from a lower room. 
There was fortunately little loss of life or injury to anyone. 
Exhibits by Dr. C. K. Rudge of a live beetle, Carabus monilis, 
captured by his soldier son when trench-digging in France ; by 
Mrs. Sandwith, of some caddis worms ; by Mr. C. Bucknall, of 
abnormal catkins of Salix caprea in which the anthers had de- 
veloped into ovaries. 
