Miscellaneous. 303 
Mr Hope read a paper " on the probability that certain Opinions of the An- 
cients were derived from their observations upon Insects," in which he particu- 
larly noticed the apparently spontaneous generation of many of these from the 
mud of the Nile, and the metamorphoses which others must have been observed 
to undergo. From hence he considered that they had derived their notions of 
the vivifying influence of the sun, and their doctrine of the metempsychosis. 
Mr G. Webb Hall made some remarks upon the value of lime as a manure ; and 
stated, that he had found by experience the advantage of employing it fresh from 
the kiln, and ploughing it into the ground within twelve hours of the time when 
it was first scattered over the surface. 
Wednesday, 24th August. 
Col. Sykes laid before the Section a manuscript volume containing an ac- 
count of the fruits of the Deccari, which he had compiled during an extensive 
and minute statistical inquiry undertaken by him when in India. Most of the 
species enumerated were accompanied by accurately coloured drawings prepared 
by a draughtsman in his service, and each was furnished with a scale taken from 
actual measurement. His manuscript contained also the opinions of the Hin- 
doos respecting the various medical and other properties of most of these fruits ; 
and these he had compiled from five very ancient works obtained by him in the 
country, and written in Sanscrit. Col. Sykes then selected some of the more 
interesting species, both of the wild and cultivated fruits, .upon which he com- 
mented, mentioning such peculiarities as he considered most worthy the atten- 
tion of the Section. Of these, the golden plantain was remarkable for bearing 
fruit only once, and was a tree of great beauty. A plant, which he considered 
might be looked upon as the origin of the whole Citrus family, was abundant in 
a wild state over the western parts, and became a good sized tree. Near the 
source of the river Becara, he had found the wild nutmeg, also assuming the 
character of a large forest tree. A species of mulberry was noticed which he 
considered new. The Anona, Anacardium, and Carica are universally cultivat- 
ed, though supposed to be natives of the new world. 
Mr Mackay read a short report which he was requested last year to prepare, 
* < on the Geographical Distribution of the Plants of Ireland." He enumerated such 
species as were common to the neighbourhood of Dublin, Edinburgh', and the 
south coast of Scotland, and selected 195 of the more remarkable species by 
which to illustrate his subject. The more southerly position of Ireland, and the 
comparatively lower elevation of its mountains, deprived this country of many 
species, chiefly alpine, which Scotland possessed, and of these Mr Mackay enu- 
merated not less than 55. Many natives of the west coast are not found in 
Scotland, but belong equally to the mountains of Spain and Portugal. A list of 
21 species was given of plants indigenous to Ireland, but not hitherto met with 
in any other part of Great Britain. Mr Mackay considered that he had not sa- 
tisfactorily completed his researches on this subject, but proposed to give the Sec- 
tion an enlarged report on some future occasion. 
Professor Royle then read a paper " on the Properties of Caoutchouc, and the 
various plants from which it was possible to obtain it." He had learnt from the 
proprietor of an extensive manufacture of this substance, that there were great 
difficulties in the way of obtaining it in a pure state, especially that which came 
from the East Indies, where Professor Royle knew that any quantity might be 
