151 
An Account of Some Recent Researches near Cairo, undertaken 
with the view of throwing light upon the Geological History 
of the Alluvial Land of Egypt. Instituted by Leonard Horner, 
Esq. 4to. — From the Author . 
Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London, 162 to 169. 8vo. 
— From the Society. 
Transactions of the Zoological Society of London. Vol. IV. Part 
V. 4to. — From the same. 
77 New Charts, 4 Corrected Charts, and 15 Books and Pamphlets. 
— From the Admiralty. 
Notice of two new Maximum and Minimum Thermometers, by the 
Rev. J. G. Macvicar, H.D. of Moffat. — From the Author. 
Monday , 3 d January 1859. 
Professor KELLAND, Vice-President, in the Chair. 
The following Communications were read : — ■ 
1. Note on certain Vibrations produced by Electricity. By 
Professor Forbes. 
“ In the course of last summer (1858) I became acquainted with 
a phenomenon described by Mr Gore in the Philosophical Magazine 
for June (Supplement, p. 519), of the following nature: — A metal 
cylinder, supported on two metallic rods or rails, the latter being in 
connection respectively with the poles of a battery, revolves in either 
direction, at will, under the action of an electric current copious in 
quantity. Also continuous rotation of a light copper ball, supported 
on two circular metallic rails, takes place in either direction at plea- 
sure, depending on the first impulse. It appeared to me very pro- 
bable that this interesting fact might be applied to explain what is 
still obscure in the experiment on heated metals, generally known as 
the “Trevelyan Experiment,” described by Mr Trevelyan, in the 
“ Edinburgh Transactions,” vol. xii., where there is also a paper 
by myself on the same subject. With a view to elucidate the expe- 
riment, I had Mr Gore’s circular railway and ball constructed some 
months since by Mr Kemp. I had not an opportunity of seeing it 
tried until October 19th, when I found it to answer well, with four 
