PROCEEDINGS OF SOCIETIES. 
443 
group.—Mr. Newport read a communication on the habits and construction of 
nests of gregarious Hymenoptera , in which he stated that he had effected a 
separation of the two connected cells of Bees, thus proving the hexagonal or an 
Approach-figure to be the original form of construction. 
LINNiEAN SOCIETY. 
April 2.—The Bishop of Norwich, Pres., in the chair.—Mr. Ingpen exhibited 
for distribution a quantity of the roots of Crocus vernus , the original English 
variety, which is not found in any part of the country, with the exception of the 
Nottingham meadows; and a flowering specimen of Salix precox. —Mr. Owen 
read a long paper on a new species of Lepidosiren , found by M. Natterer, in the 
Brazils, which was an amphibious animal, having many analogies with the Eel.— 
The most curious articles in the room were some specimens of photogenic etchings 
from Mr. Willmore. The glass, being first covered with varnish, is etched out 
by a graver the same as with copper-plates, and this is exposed to light with 
the prepared photogenic paper behind, when the effects of a very beautiful etching 
are immediately produced. 
ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 
April 4.—B. B. Cabbell, Esq., V.-P., in the chair.—The report of the Council 
gave the following as the statement of the accounts:—The balance in hand at 
the last report was £ 1,440 Os. 6d., and the receipts during the month were 
£1,138 16s. 6d. There had been expended on the gardens, £706 6s. 2d.; on 
the museum, £65 18s. 6d.; the general establishment, £195 19s. lid.; and 
invested in the purchase of stock, £800—making a total of £1,768 4s. 7d., and 
leaving a balance of £810 12s. 6. Amongst the new contracts it was stated 
that a more advantageous one had been made in letting the refreshment-room at 
the gardens, for which the sum of £360 had been received for one year in 
advance. Among the donations to the museum were several specimens from 
the Saffron-Walden Natural-History Society, the Durham Museum, &c. The 
number of visitors was 398. The most interesting presents to the menagerie 
were a pair of rare Golden Pheasants from Mr. Chester, and a Flying Opossum 
from Lady Maria Stanley ; and amongst other donors were the Earl of Derby, 
Sir John R. Boileau, Bart., &c. The number of visitors to the gardens was 
5,860, from whom £l 18 10s. was received. 
GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 
The Rev. Dr. Buckland, F.R.S., in the chair.—A communication was read 
“ On Impressions of Drops of Rain on Slabs of New Red Sandstone, in the 
Storeton Quarries, Cheshire, and coeval with the Formation of the Strata, 0 by 
VOL. iv. —no. xxxii. 3 M 
