lately mounted, and the more striking difference the two were pointed out.

Mr. MOORE also exhibited a stuffed specimen o fish, Platax vespertilio? part of a collection lately pr the Museum by Captain Mackay, of the ship "Bedfo also specimens in spirit of the same genus, forming very extensive and valuable collection of fish, & Singapore, presented by Robert Baker, Esq.; also s of a new genus of frogs, forming part of a large coll Natural History specimens collected at Lagos and th bourhood, by R. B. N. Walker, Esq., and presented to the Museum. This is an instance of the addition important, that may be made to science by collect commonest objects of a district, as they are so g neglected as often to be the least known. These fro found in abundance, in the tadpole state, in a pond a the garden of Mr. Walker's residence, and on some o being submitted to Dr. Gray, of the British Muse immediately described them (in the annals of Natural for this month) as a new genus, under the name of Si tropicalis. They present a remarkable resemblan certain fish of the Siluroid family, in the peculiar flat f the head, and in the possession of long filamentous or like processes from the lips. Also a living specimen alligator tortoise, or terrapin, Chelydra serpentina, br over with several other North American tortoises, by Ca Anderson, of Richmond Terrace, Associate of the Soc also examples of ten species of small Cephalopods, or fishes and squids, and a specimen of the rare genus Cran also some fine specimens of Pyrosoma, which in the 1 state are highly luminous, forming part of a rich and resting collection of small marine specimens from Atlantic and Pacific, collected and presented by Cap Whiteway, ship "Annie Chesshyre," proposed as an Assoc

of the Society; also a series of twenty-one species of the delicate and beautifully transparent shells of Pteropoda and Heteropoda, obtained by skimming the surface of the sea during the same voyage by Captain Whiteway, and by him presented to R. J. Keen, Esq., by whose kindness they were now exhibited. So large a series is probably unrivalled in a private collection as the result of a single voyage.

Mr. MOORE also reported the occurrence of the short sunfish Orthagoriscus mola at Southport. This is the first

Also,

recorded instance of its capture in the Liverpool district. The skeleton has been obtained through Alderman Woodruff for the Museum. Also, the capture of a fine specimen of Rossia macrosoma at Egremont, of which only one or two specimens have been previously taken in the district. specimens of a very delicate and beautiful little crustacean, the Pasiphaa sivado, very rare in the Mersey. Also, a large specimen of the angel fish, Squatina angelus, taken in Liverpool Bay, and of which Mr. Byerley only records a single example, which was thrown ashore during a storm. The recent occurrence in the Mersey of three very large specimens of the angler fish, Lophius piscatorius, within as many weeks, was also mentioned, and the good service that would be done by the destruction of these ravenous monsters. which prey most greedily upon good edible marketable fish, of which they destroy large quantities. Mr. Isaacs had informed him of one instance, in which several pairs of soles were taken from an angler's stomach; and one instance had come under Mr. Moore's own observation, where a fourteenpound codfish had been swallowed whole; and another, where two conger eels, two feet in length, and a large fluke, met with a similar fate; and almost every specimen taken will afford similar evidence of their destructiveness.

SECOND ORDINARY MEETING

ROYAL INSTITUTION, October 30th, 18

The Rev. C. D. GINSBURG, LL.D., VICEin the Chair.

Mr. Thomas Jevons, Mr. William Fearen Mr. William Bromham were balloted for and d members.

The following gentlemen were elected Associa Society, on the recommendation of the Council: Thompson, ship "Admiral Lyons;" Captain Edwa ship "Charmer;" Captain Alexander Browne, 'Agia Sofia;" and Captain Whiteway, ship Chesshyre."

The SECRETARY read letters from Dr. John Edwa F.R.S., British Museum, and Professor Rolleston, Oxford, who were elected honorary members of the S the last meeting, acknowledging the distinction.

Dr. NEVINS explained, and illustrated by some sections and drawings, the remarkable form assumed stems of tree ferns, whereby, although they only their summits, they appear to be thicker at the commencement of growth than higher up the stem, o the accumulation of ramentum about the base to support to the superstructure.

Mr. MOORE exhibited a specimen of the Hippocamy sea horse, in spirit. It was captured on the co Nantucket, Massachusetts, by Captain Mortimer, of th

ING.

1864.

ICE-PRESIDENT,

renside, and duly elected

iates of the :-Captain vard Berry, steamship "Annie

rd Gray, F.R.S., ociety at

curious

by the

ow by

se or

g to

ford

ΟΙ

of

ip

"America," an associate of the Society, on his voyage to
New York. It was their described by Colonel Pike as a
new species, under the name of Hippocampus Mortimeri, in
honour of the discoverer, who endeavoured on his return
voyage to bring it alive to the Derby Museum, but unfortu-
nately it died the day before the vessel reached Liverpool.
At the conclusion of the miscellaneous business, Dr.
Nevins, Vice-President, having taken the Chair, a paper was
read

ON THE ANCIENT VERSIONS OF THE BIBLE.
BY THE REV. C. D. GINSBURG, LL.D.

This

paper will appear in the succeeding volume.

THIRD ORDINARY MEETING.

ROYAL INSTITUTION, November 13th, 1864.

J. A. PICTON, ESQ., PRESIDENT, in the Chair.

Ladies had been invited to this meeting, and, notwithstanding the inclement nature of the weather, there was a large attendance.

The PRESIDENT, in welcoming the visitors for the evening, said :

LADIES AND GENTLEMEN,-It gives me great pleasure to welcome here this evening his Worship the Mayor, Edward

Lawrence, Esq., whose election to the office of trate has met with the cordial approval of all Lawrence is a gentleman of education, and has promise, by his conduct in his public as well as i capacity, of the manner in which the functi mayoralty will be discharged during the ensuing a great pleasure and satisfaction to us that M should show his desire to encourage literature and making his appearance here to-night the first p his official life. I will not ask Mr. Lawrence t member, but I feel sure that, whether a member presence here to-night proves that he will be a of the Society, and I call upon the members to worship for the countenance he has so readily given

The MAYOR briefly replied to the President's thanking the Society for the welcome they had g and adding that the countenance of his official posit always be readily accorded to an institution suc whose members he now addressed, the object of v the encouragement of literature and science. Wi to the fact of his visit to the Literary and Phil Society being his first public act, he could not do bo he thus was willing to show his interest in their He himself felt considerably indebted to a kindred for it was in the Chatham Society that he learned. facility in public speaking he had been successful in a But whether a member of this Society or not, he them that he appreciated their labours and felt an int their success.

Mr. Henry Imlach, jun. and Mr. J. M. Benne balloted for and duly elected members of the Society.

The Rev. H. H. HIGGINS exhibited a specimen of hygrometricus, recently found on a bank at Rainhill, g upon a portion of a decayed root of a beech tre