SECRETARIES’ REPORT. Lid 
ever arranged in the West of England, was managed almost entirely 
by Members of our Society. 
There were two Conversazioni held during the Session, both of 
which were well attended. At the first, on October 11th, 1877, 
there was exhibited a collection of curiosities and photographs, 
illustrative of the habits of the natives and the produce of the 
little-known regions visited by H.M.S. Challenger, lent by Mr. 
Spry, R.N., an officer of the ship. The valuable collection of local 
fossils belonging to the Institution, which had been re-arranged 
by Mr. R. N. Worth, excited much attention in the museum, where 
also was a collection of prehistoric stone implements, lent by Mr. 
F. Brent. Mr. Square exhibited, by the aid of the Oxy-Hydrogen 
microscope, a series of photographs illustrative of glacial action, 
which were explained by himself; and during the evening some 
excellent vocal quartettes were rendered by Mr. Square and his 
friends. 
At the second Conversazione, held on January 10th, 1878, the 
experiment was tried of having a purely scientific evening; this 
proved a success, and deserves to be repeated. The following 
apparatus was exhibited and explained : 
The Telephone, lent by Mr. R. Bayty, explained by Mr. R. N. 
WoRTH, F.G.S. 
The Harmonograph, 
Savart’s Wheel, lent and explained by Mr. W. F. Wess. 
The Monochord, 
Gas Furnace, lent and explained by Dr. R. Oxuanp, F.c.s. 
Radiometer, lent and explained by Mr. Witt1am Heatu. 
Nautical Instruments, lent and explained by Dr. J. MERRIFIELD, 
M.R.A.S. 
The Spectroscope, lent and explained by Dr. Copp. 
In addition to the above were a valuable collection of coins and 
medals, lent by the Very Rev. Canon Woollett; a unique and 
very valuable collection of English gold coins, and of Roman gold 
coins of the Cesars, lent by Mr. J. E. Moon; the Devonport col- 
lection of diamonds, emeralds, rubies, &c., lent by the Mayor and 
Corporation, which was described by Mr. R. N. Worth; also 
a selection from the Crustacea obtained during the cruise of 
H.M.S. Challenger, which was explained by Mr. C. Spence Bate, 
F.R.S., With many other objects of great mterest. 
The Society has to regret the loss by death of Mr. R. Were Rae 
