26 
me, and which will contribute to complete our knowledge of 
the osteology of that rare bird. They ought to be given to 
science by yourself, and in your own words. At present my 
memory does not recall any addition from my pen to the subject, 
save in vol. iii. of the Zoological Transactions,” p. 31, and 
plate 43, fig. 8 , where the imperforate sternum of an older 
kind than I first dissected is represented ; also ‘^Anatomy of 
Vertebrates,” vol. ii., p. 24. 
October 1st.-— Mr. J. F. Walker, M.A., F. C.S., read a 
paper illustrated by explanatory diagrams, on Benzyl-ethyl- 
benzol. He said he had already brought before the notice of 
this Society Professor Kekule’s theory of the constitution of 
Benzol, and of its substitution compounds, and also how it can 
he formed by passing Acetylen through a red hot tube, which 
may be obtained by direct union of Carbon with Hydrogen. 
By substituting hydro-carbon radicals for one, or more atoms of 
H, in Benzol, other hydro-carbons are formed. Several of these 
are found in coal tar oil along with Benzol; as Toluol, Xylol, 
&c., all these contain the radical Methyl. Others have been 
formed by the action of sodium on hromhenzol and iodides of 
ethyl, &c. The ethyl-benzol thus obtained is a colourless 
liquid, boiling at 133°C. By the action of chlorine on boiling 
toluol benzyl chloride is obtained, an atom of H in the methyl 
radical having been replaced by chlorine ; this is also a colour¬ 
less liquid, boiling at 176°. Dr. Zincke, when engaged on the 
synthesis of aromatic acids, found that benzyl chloride when 
heated in a sealed tube with finely divided copper formed a 
resinous substance which had the formula O 7 Hq probably a 
polymeric stilben. When the benzyl chloride was diluted with 
an aromatic hydro-carbon, this resin was not formed, but a 
peculiar smelling oil. He afterwards observed that when finely 
powdered zinc was substituted for copper, the re-action com¬ 
menced under 100°0. The zinc was only slightly attacked, 
much hydro-chloric acid was liberated, and the liquid became 
coloured red-purple. He obtained in this way Benzyl-benzol 
and Benzyl-toluol. He (Mr. Walker) had in like manner 
formed a new hydro-carbon, Benzyl-ethyl-henzol, by the action 
