156 THE NATURALISTS’ JOURNAL. 
in the case of the eruptive prominences metallic vapours were intermixed and 
the flames were shot out to 200,000 or 300,000 miles from the sun’s surface, 
with a velocity of from 200 to 500 miles per second when first ejected. The 
corona was a luminous appearance surrounding the sun, but only to be seen 
during eclipses, the sun’s light at other times rendering it invisible. It was 
made up partly of gas and partly of solid particles, but its matter was of such 
extreme tenuity that even that most delicately constituted body, a comet, 
would pass through it wfithout being influenced in any way. Mr. C. H. Hol¬ 
den will deliver a lecture entitled “ A Ramble in the "Woods,” on April 2nd ; 
the lecture will deal with British trees and will be illustrated with wood sec¬ 
tions etc. 
Hastings and St. Leonard’s Natural History Society. — A verv 
j 
successful meeting of the Hastings and St. Leonards Natural History' Society 
was held on Thursday evening February 22nd, in the Museum Room of the 
Brassey Institute. Mr. H. F. Cheshire presided over a large attendance, 
which included : — Dr. Gray, J. P., the Rev. E. N. Blomfield, Messrs. Me. 
Cormick, Field, Bennett, Lyon, Clarke, Esam, Butterfield, Compton, Stevens, 
E. Connold, Hall, Lindsay, Ford, Gildersleeve, Brooke, Mann, and Connold 
(hon. sec.), and fourteen lad}^ members. Letters of apology for non-attendance 
were received from the President, Messrs. Turner, Rufford, and Jeffery. The 
Chairman explained that the object of the meeting was the reading of short 
papers and agreeable conversation. The Rev. E. N. Blomfield, in making a 
few remarks, said he took a great interest in all natural history, and especially 
the natural history of this neighbourhood, He mentioned his connection with 
the old Philosopnicai Society thirty six years ago, coupling the name of Mr. 
A. E. Butler with his own as amongst the first to commence the formation of 
a local list of the flora and fauna. He then dealt with the “ Hemiptera,” a kind 
of tree bug, describing the peculiar characteristics of the insect, one of which 
was the wonderful care it manifested towards its eggs, upon which it sat like a 
hen. He said he had a very good collection of insects at his home at Guest- 
lmg, and if any of the members chose to come ovei there he should be very 
pleased to show them. Mr. E. Clarke gave a short description of a bicycle 
ride he made to Udimore for the purpose of inspecting a herony in a wood 
there, and he gave some interesting particulars of ornithological specimens he 
saw there. Mr. Butterfield then spoke with reference to the serrated claw of 
the nightjar, stating that it was mostly considered to be for the purpose of 
cleaning the hairs which accumulate from feeding on various moths, but it was 
a disputed point. The Chairman, Mr. Bradshaw, Mr. Clarke, and Mr. Field 
also offered some remarks 011 the same subject. Mr. Connold (the hon. sec.) 
made a short statement with relerence to the position of the Society. The 
membership roll had reached one hundred and one, and of that number seventeen 
were lady members. That night they had admitted fifteen new members. He 
then proceeded to read a short paper on “ The common duck barnacle ” 
(lepas anatifera). He said in the earliest stages of their life they were free 
agents, moving and swimming about where they pleased. After having 
changed their appearance — that was to say, having cast their skin several 
times — they became in the course ot time fixed, and assumed the form of a 
barnacle. Their growth was very rapid indeed, and often a vessel going to 
and returning from tropical stations became so thickly covered below the water 
line that its progress was considerably impeded. Some of the creatures were 
upwards of sixteen inches long. At the extremity were the shell plates, which 
enclosed the entire animal with its wonderful feet. There were twenty-four of 
these feet, clothed with a total of over 8,000 hairs. He also gave some further 
particulars with reference to these creatures, all of which were very interesting. 
The chairman exhibited a live guinea-pig, and gave a verv entertaining account 
of its habits. The meeting closed with the usual vote of thanks to the chair¬ 
man. 
N.B. Several reports of Societies are held over until next month, through 
want of space. 
’5 AUG. 94 
