10 
This idea has, moreover, been lately adopted by Messrs. Brady 
and Eobertson, who, in their “ Account of the Ostracoda and 
Foraminifera of tidal rivers,” * describe our Broads as “ expan- 
sions of tidal rivers,” now occupying “ areas which were formerly 
depressions in the sea-bed.” 
A voluminous paper on “ The Geographical Distribution of 
Animals and Plants, Geologically considered,” possessing many 
points of great interest to the Zoologist, Avas also read by Mr. 
Taylor before this society, and has since been jaresented to the 
public in the pages of the “ Westminster EevieAv.” 
To our Secretary, Mr. Thomas Southwell, our thanks are due fOp 
a most entertaining paper on “ Barnacles,” in which he entered 
very fully into the mythical origin of the Barnical Goose, as 
described in tbe works of ancient authors, concluding with some 
valuable remarks upon the noAV acknowledged position of the 
Barnacle in the animal kingdom ; a sub-class of Crustacea, the 
Cirripedia, including all the known species. By means of speci- 
mens exhibited, he also described the views entertained by 
Darwin and others as to their different stages of groAvth, means 
of reproduction, and other pecularities. In deference only to his 
own expressed wish, — being considered by him unsuited to our 
publication, because not possessed of sufficient originality— has 
this] paper been omitted from the “ Transactions ” of the year. 
It was in fact, AAU’itten in accordance with the suggestion of one of 
our members, that a review of some scarce or little known work, 
might prove the foundation of an interesting essay, and in this 
instance Mr. Southwell took for his text-book Darwin’s splendid 
monograph of the Cirripedia. 
Mr. Kitton has again favoured us with a contribution towards 
the study of those lower organisms with which, as a microscopist, 
he is so intimately acquainted ; and in directing special attention 
to his paper on “ Sponges and the Spongeous Origin of Flint,” I 
may safely predict that it will command such an interest in our 
“ Transactions ” among strictly scientific men, as is due to the 
reputation of its author, and cannot fail to bo gratifying to ourselves. 
* See “ Annals and Magarine of Natural History,” July, 1870. 
