surrounds it. Then its cork-like buoyancy raises it to the surface of the water, its contents issue through a small round aperture left in the capsule (hermetically sealed during the drought), and, caught by the first branch, twig, or floating stick, the development of the embryo sponge very rapidly proceeds. Spongilla coralloides, living in the deepest parts of these mighty South American rivers, is never exposed to the heat of the sun or to drying winds, and therefore its ova need no such protection as those of the other species, and we are not surprised to learn that the most diligent search has hitherto failed to discover in it any of the capsules peculiar to the Spongillida. Nothing is indeed known as to the reproduction of this species, and it will be very difficult to acquaint ourselves with it, because it is in the oviparous state when the waters of these rivers reach their greatest depth.

Differing as it does in its outward form from other freshwater sponges, and bearing a strong resemblance to some littoral species, the question naturally arises, Has this sponge always been a fresh-water species? It certainly is a genuine fresh-water sponge now, and exists hundreds of miles above any point reached by tides, but it may not have been always so, and perhaps the further investigation of the sponges found on the coast may throw some light upon this interesting enquiry. It is possible that this remarkable sponge may by-and-by be found to be descended from a marine species, which has survived the changes which have been slowly taking place over a long period of time, and gradually adapted itself to the altered condition of its surroundings.

The waters of the Uruguay, at Salto, have very strong petrifying qualities, and Mr. George Higgin has kindly supplied us with the following analysis of the water from which this sponge was taken. It is remarkable for the large quantity of Silicic Acid it contains, and the absence of Chlorine :

Analysis by Professor Kyle, of Buenos Ayres, of water taken from the River Uruguay (middle of the stream), in front of Salto, November, 1877 (river full).

Mr. C. H. STEARN exhibited a new portable and rapid Sprengel pump and M'Leod's gauge for low pressures. The object of the apparatus was to obtain a nearer approach to a vacuum, for the action of a column of mercury, than was at present attainable.

Mr. T. J. MOORE exhibited the following selection from additions to the Free Public Museum since the last Session :

Specimens from an extensive collection of fossil shells, chiefly from the Paris basin, presented by Mr. Frank Archer and his brother, Staff Surgeon-Major S. Archer.

A remarkably fine dried specimen of Physalia, or "Portuguese Man-of-war," retaining much of the brilliant life tints, prepared by Captain Mortimer, Associate of the Society; together with photographs greatly enlarged under the microscope by Dr. J. Habirshaw, of New York, of the thread-cells, &c., of Physalia, previously prepared by Captain Mortimer.

A selection of mounted skeletons illustrating types of all the classes of Vertebrates, prepared and presented by Mr. Alfred Higginson.

A series of Corals and Sponges from Honduras, collected and presented by Staff Surgeon-Major S. Archer, Corresponding Member of the Society.

Teeth of the Diprotodon Australis and Macropus Titan, extinct gigantic Marsupials of Australia, presented by Dr. George Bennett, of Sydney.

A Striped Bonito fish, taken off the Isle of Man, and rare in the British seas, presented by Messrs. Duncan, of St. John's Market, Liverpool.

Mr. F. P. MARRAT exhibited the following:

Selections from the Rutter-Phillips' Collection of Minerals, recently presented to the Free Museum by the Trustees of the Liverpool Medical Institution. This important collection was made by the late Mr. William Phillips, and formed the basis of his well-known text books on Mineralogy.

The type specimen of Gladius Martinii, Marrat, a new shell from Cebu, Philippine Islands, from the collection of Mr. S. Trice Martin, of Manchester, recently figured and described by Mr. Marrat in the Leeds Quarterly Journal of Conchology, and presented by him to the Free Museum.

SECOND ORDINARY MEETING.

ROYAL INSTITUTION, October 29th, 1877.

JOHN J. DRYSDALE, M.D., PRESIDENT, in the Chair. Messrs. J. C. Rosenheim, R. F. Green, and E. Whalley were elected Ordinary Members.

The HONORARY SECRETARY reported some proceedings

which had taken place for holding a General Soirée of all the Literary, Scientific, and Art Societies of Liverpool.

Mr. JOSEPH BOULT read a paper on "The Credibility of Venerable Bede."*

Ladies were invited to this Meeting.

THIRD ORDINARY MEETING.

ROYAL INSTITUTION, November 12th, 1877.

JOHN J. DRYSDALE, M.D., PRESIDENT, in the Chair.

Messrs. Jno. Galley, G. W. Allman, and John Atkinson, were elected Ordinary Members.

Some inquiries were made with regard to the Society's Library, and suggestions offered as to the best mode of bringing the donations of books and Transactions presented to the Society under the notice of the Members. It was ultimately moved by Mr. UNWIN, seconded by Mr. YATES, and carried :-"That the Council be requested to take into consideration the printing of a Catalogue of the Society's Library, and also to ascertain whether this could be done in conjunction with a similar proceeding on the part of the other societies meeting in the Royal Institution."

Mr. ALBERT J. MOTT gave a brief epitome of the discoveries of Stanley in Africa, and pointed out the immense influence they would have upon the future commerce of that continent.

The Rev. HENRY H. HIGGINS, M.A., read a paper on "Developmentalists and Evolutionists: or the Use of Dogma See page 127

in Science," which was ordered to be printed at once in order that it might be discussed by the Members at the next meeting, in connexion with the President's Address.

Ladies were present at this Meeting.

FOURTH ORDINARY MEETING.

ROYAL INSTITUTION, November 26th, 1877.

JOHN J. DRYSDALE, M.D., PRESIDENT, in the Chair.

Messrs. E. W. Bindloss, Chas. T. Gatty, Jno. G. Roberts, and Griffith Jones were elected Ordinary Members.

The HON. SECRETARY reported progress with regard to the arrangements for the Soirée which had been fixed for the 14th of December.

A conversation followed on the Meteor recently seen from this neighbourhood.

Mr. T. J. MOORE introduced Mr. Frederick Mather, of the United States' Fish Commission, who had come to England at the instance of Professor Baird, for the purpose of transporting living British Turbot and Soles to the American seaboard.

Mr. MATHER described, at the request of the President, the methods adopted in the United States for the artificial breeding and the transportation of Salmon and other Food Fishes; and also described the arrangements by which he had recently successfully brought large quantities of American Salmon Ova to the Continent of Europe.

* See page 67.