22 
Mr. Allis made some remarks on the bones of the Dodo, -which 
had been presented, and said that in the Fenny Cyclopaedia published 
in 1837 it was spoken of as a genus of birds generally supposed to 
be extinct, and whose very existence had been doubted. He re¬ 
ferred to the discovery by Mr. Strickland of fragments which 
were ascertained to be genuine relics of the Dodo. It was only 
within the last few months that the predictions of Mr. Strickland 
as to the discovery of more bones had been fulfilled. Mr. Allis 
had heard that Professor Owen had received two large drawers full 
of them, and he thought it likely he might be able to construct a 
perfect skeleton of them. These bones must have been buried 200 
years ; he thought the wings of the bird would be short, and that 
they would assist it in running if unable to fly. 
May 1.—A “ Notice of Eecent Researches in the Poman Cata¬ 
combs,” by the Rev. John Kexrick, was read. The paper was 
illustrated by plans, drawings, and copies of inscriptions in the 
Catacomb of St. Calistus, Rom the “Roma Cristiana Sotterranea” 
of De Rossi. 
The following paper, by the Rev. Johx Kexrice:, was also read. 
Among the objects presented by Mr. W. W. Hargrove, there are 
two which deserve particular notice : —A silver plate, inscribed on 
the one side with 16 squares, with two Hebrew letters in each 
square and Hebrew letters in the margin, and the sign of the planet 
Jupiter with the number 136; on the other side Confirmo 0 Feus 
potentissimus, with the sign of the same planet and other marks 
apparently astrological. A hole for suspension, as if it had been 
worn as an amulet, has been drilled through the top. It was ob¬ 
tained by the late Mr. Hargrove, in 1841, from a workman, who 
said he had found it, in 1829, under the foundation stone of Old 
Layerthorpe Bridge, destroyed in that year. It is what is called a 
Magic Square, in which the figures taken vertically, diagonally, or 
horizontally, give the same amount, in this case 34, which multi¬ 
plied by 4 gives 136, the number engraved on the margin. The 
numbers in the squares are the Hebrew Alphabet, used according to 
their numerical value. The Hebrew words on the margin are made 
up of the letters which represent respectively the numbers 4, 34, and 
136 ; but in framing these words it seems to have been the object to 
give them some religious significance. Thus 4 is Aba, Father ; 34 
A1 Aba, God—Father. From its general appearance, its Arabic 
figures and Italic letters, it is not conceivable that it should be of 
