lie 
supposed to have been a Northern species. Many writers had 
indentified the Sacred Hawk with the Kestril ; this Air. Gurney 
thought was a mistake, he believed it was intended for the Lanner 
falcon, an opinion, which he informed us was shared by his father ; 
this latter bird is far from common. He also stated that birds of 
prey abounded, and that there was an unlimited amount of food for 
them in the shape of countless hordes of semi- wild pigeons ; and 
that Kites and Vultures, (these latter popularly called Pharaoh’s 
liens,) are the sanitary police or scavengers, and for this useful but 
disgusting service they are very favourably looked upon ; and 
he believed that it was sight which guided these raptores 
to their food and not scent. The Sacred Ibis he informed us 
contrary to the general opinion of ordinary mortals, no longer 
inhabited Egypt, but had gone further south. He then entered 
into a description of the different kinds of Herons, as well as the 
peculiar method of catching Coots on the lakes with a casting net, 
which bird is there more highly prized by the fishermen for the table 
than the wild ducks : after alluding to the Karens, Mr. Gurney 
finished a very interesting lecture by glancing at the Entomology 
of the country, which as far as he was concerned, was confined 
to some of the noxious insects ; fleas, flies, and mosquitoes, he 
said were in enormous hosts, and rendered themselves exceedingly 
disagreeable. 
Our thanks are due to Air. Stevenson for his very valuable 
ornithological summary for the past year, also to Air. J. H. Gurney 
and to Air. J. H. Gurney, jun., for interesting notes. Dr. Lowe has 
called attention to the occurrence of a rare alga Clatlirocystis 
ceruginosa in this country. Air. Geldart is also a contributor to 
the Botanical notes. 
Four excursions were organized by the Committee, and very ably 
carried out by the excursion Secretary, Air. Orfour, to whom the 
Society is greatly indebted. Excepting on one occasion, the 
principal element of enjoyment was present, I mean fine weather, 
but these excursions, although successful in many points of view, 
were not productive of much fruit, looking at them in a scientific 
light, as with the exception of Air. Plowright’s list of the Fungi 
