4 
the Aurantiaceae, and other interesting plants grown in his garden at 
La Mortola; Mr. F. J. Hanbury provided rare and extinct dried 
British plants, chiefly Orchids. 
Among the exhibitors of cases of stuffed birds, nests, eggs, &c. were 
Messrs. J. A. Clark, F. J. Hanbury, J. T. Crockett and G. B. Askmead. 
Mr. D. C. Bate exhibited a piece of telegraph pole, upon which was 
mounted a Green Woodpecker ( Gecinus viridis). The specimen was 
from Norway, where the bird makes considerable trouble by piercing 
the jDoles to such an extent as to cause many of them to break off. The 
birds, it is supposed, are deluded into the idea that there are insects in 
the poles by the humming caused by the wires. 
Geology, conchology, and other branches were not neglected. Mr. 
Alfred Sich exhibited two rare shells— Helix aspersa monstrum and 
Clausila biplicata; Mr. Gurney, a case of coral and the jaws of a shark; 
Messrs. J. A. Clark and C. Oldham, polished agates and madrepores. 
One feature of the Conversazione, which, as usual, attracted much 
attention, was a fine display of microscopes. Nearly twenty instru¬ 
ments of various sizes and patterns were actively engaged during the 
whole evening in revealing some of the marvels, both living and dead, 
of the animal and vegetable worlds to the wondering observers. The 
exhibitors were Messrs. F. Coles, W. B. Dodd, J. D. Harding, P. S. 
King, A. J. Bose, J. S. Soul, C. Willmott, A. Bacot, J. A. Clark, F. J. 
Hanbury, W. H. Jackson, H. H. May, C. Nicholson, Dr. J. S. Sequeira, 
and others. A recent invention in connection with the production of 
Photo-micrographs was exhibited and explained by the inventor, Dr. 
W. A. Kibbler. 
We must not omit to mention the collection of rare and otherwise 
interesting books on Natural History, which were very kindly lent from 
the Library of the London Institution, by the Secretary, Mr. B. W. 
Fraser.” 
The following resolution was then put and carried unani¬ 
mously :—“ That a hearty vote of thanks be accorded to all who assisted 
the members of the Society at the recent Conversazione in the matter of 
exhibits, and to those ladies and gentlemen who kindly gave their 
services in respect of the musical programme.” Exhibits :—Mr. Clark : 
a sooty-black specimen of Dicranura vinida , which he had purchased at 
a recent sale at Stevens’. Mr. May: Catocala nupta from Tooting 
Bee Common, which had been relaxed slightly with damp sand, and 
then with wood naphtha ; one of the specimens had an unusually pale 
central patch on each fore-wing, thus resembling its congeners C. 
sponsa and C. promissa . Mr. Bacot: a bred specimen of Nyssia hispi- 
daria, having male head and thorax, and a female body. On behalf of 
Dr. Knaggs, Mr. Clark showed a sample of a preparation of linoleum, 
which is superior to cork for setting-boards, &c., on account of the 
closeness of its substance ; also samples of the new “ nickel ” pins, by 
Messrs. Deyrolle of Paris. Some of these having been exposed to the 
vapour of butyric acid, were covered with a green coating resembling, 
and akin to, verdigris; this being butyrate of copper, indicated that the 
