IX 
published in the Journal u Nature ” concerning the des- 
truction of forests and its influence on temperature and 
on public health. In presenting this translation, he re- 
called to memory that at the Anniversary Meeting of the 
Society, 24th August 1837, under the Presidency of Sir 
William Gomm, he had already pointed out the dangers 
which the destruction of our forests would entail, and the 
necessity of replanting the lands which had been cleared. 
This is now performed on a large scale, in Europe, 
America, and particularly in British India and in other 
possessions of the British Crown, in which the work is 
carried on by Government. 
Col. Pike, thanks to his varied knowledge and led by 
his love of Natural Sciences, communicated to us the 
summary results of his studies of the large fishes which 
inhabit the neighbourhood of our Island. 
The first he mentioned u'as a Shark resembling in many 
respests the one described by Dr Gunther in “Fishes of Zan- 
zibar” under the name of Ginglymostoma brevi-caudatvm. 
But a more minute examination shewed that it differed 
in several points. The Colonel is of opinion that it is the 
Nobricus concolor which is found in the Red Sea and in 
the Indian Ocean. Several specimens have been sent to 
the British Museum from Java and Penang, but none 
from Mauritius. 
Col. Pike was able to procure two other Sharks and 
three heads of Raja of which he made a drawing. He 
had also an opportunity of examining another Sgualus 
which was caught in the harbour by the sailors of the Mes- 
sageries Maritimes Steamer “ Emirne which Mr Bewsher 
placed at his disposal to be studied and described. This 
fish was 13 feet 7 inches in length. 
“ One reads and hears of horrors relating to sharks, 
“ Col. Pike says, but it is only on examining the mouth 
“ of one, that I think a true idea of their power of des- 
