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GERANIUM LUCIDUM, L.-Quarry, Green-bank. H. S. Fisher and F. P. Marrat.

To the FLORA, the following additions were made by Mr. F. P. Marrat:

WEISSIA VERTICILLATA.-Abundant on the rocks by the Dingle. F. P. M.

TRICHOSTOMUM MUTABILE.-On the rocks on the river bank, between Eastham and Bromborough Pool and at the Dingle. F. P. M.

TRICHOSTOMUM RIGIDULUM.-A very singular form of this plant resembling Trichostomum strictum, (Bruch and Schimper,) having a thick excurrent nerve, occurs on a wall in Bromborough village.

GYMNOSTOMUM TENUE.-New Brighton. F. P. M., H. Fisher.

DICRANUM CRISPUM.—In a quarry at Childwall. Ꭲ . Palgrave, Esq.

DICRANUM PALUSTRE. - Very abundant on a small heath near Bromborough Station. F. P. M., H. Fisher.

DICRANUM RUFESCENS.-Upright capsules of D. varium have been mistaken for this species. On a ditch side, Rainhill. Rare. F. P. M.

DISTICHIUM CAPILLACEUM.-The plant found on Rainford Moss, is Campylopus torfaceus.-I have examined. plants from Mr. Skellon.

SCHISTIDIUM APOCARPUM.-A very small form of this moss is found on dry walls at West Kirby, Willaston and Sutton.

SCHISTIDIUM MARITIMUM.-Very plentiful with Tremostomum mutabile as above. F. P. M.

HEDWIGIA CILIATA.—On a wall at Willaston. F. P. Marrat and H. Fisher.

AULACOMNION ANDROGYNUM.-Prenton, F. P. Marrat. Wavertree, H. Fisher.

BRYUM MARRATII.-Near Ainsdale; the old locality destroyed.

HYPNUM SALEBROSUM.-Occured very plentifully last season from Crosby to Southport.

HYPNUM CHRYSOPHYLLUM.-On a wall in Eastham Wood. F. P. M.

HYPNUM STENOPHYLLUM, (Wilson's MSS.) — New species. Floating on a pond, Simon's Wood Moss. F.P.M. HYPNUM SPECIOSUM.-This rare species was found by some of the Southport botanists, and recognised by Dr. Wood.

To the FAUNA the following additions were communicated by Cuthbert Collingwood, M.B. :—

on Sept. 11th, 1854.

OCTOPUS VULGARIS.-One was taken in Albert Dock It was a large specimen, and is preserved in the Derby Museum, whence it is now brought forward by Mr. Moore.

BOTRYLLUS POLYCYCLUS.-A tunicated Mollusk, found
amid the Tubularia on the Landing-stage. C. C.
EOLIS RUFIBRANCHIALIS.-At Hilbre. C. C.
EOLIS CONCINNA.-At Egremont, on Laomedea gela-
tinosa. This species has only once before been
found, viz., at Whitley, Northumberland, by Mr.
A. Hancock. C. C.

EOLIS DESPECTA.-At Egremont, also on Laomedea.
C. C.

EOLIS LANDSBURGII.-Found in the Mersey for the
first time. C. C.

ANTIOPA CRISTATA.-At Hilbre. A Mediterranean species, found in the same rock pool with the next, and completing this curious genus. C. C.

ANTIOPA HYALINA-had been taken for the third time, during this summer, by Mr. Moore; and at the same time a pure white Tritonia Hombergii was found. Mr. Alder had never met with the latter of that colour.

SAGARTIA (Anguicoma) VIDUATA (Gosse.)-Sparingly taken at Hilbre.

SAGARTIA SPHYRODETA (candida) Gosse.-Not uncommon at Hilbre.

These two species have hitherto failed to be recorded. CALIGUS DIAPHANUS.-An Entomostracon, found by Mr. Byerley and myself in some numbers upon a specimen of Cyclopterus lumpus taken in the Mersey.

FREDERICELLA SULTANA.-One of the freshwater Polyzoa found by Dr. Edwards and myself in the Canal, Great Howard-street, beneath the bridges.

Dr. THOMSON described Mr. M'Ardle's model of an underMersey communication with Birkenhead, by means of an iron tunnel (double tube) sunk in the bed of the river. The model was much admired, and led to a number of inquiries relative to the engineering difficulties and natural obstructions in the

way.

Professor ARCHER drew attention to an extraordinary letter which had appeared in the Athenæum, describing the discovery of Gothic architecture in the new-red sandstone. The fact was, that an impression of a fucoid plant had been mistaken by the non-scientific writer.*

Dr. EDWARDS then delivered a lecture upon the progress of Electrical Science; directing his attention mainly to that feature in its progress which was dwelt upon in the inaugural

The origin of these impressions, which so much resemble the plant,-a drawing of which may be obtained from the Secretary-formed the subject of debate on several subsequent occasions, the general opinion being that they were water runs, and not of vegetable origin.

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address of the President, in reference to the recent progress of all departments of knowledge:-namely, to the breaking down of those boundaries between departments of science which had been set up by early discoverers, and framed into systems, which were supposed to be as imperishable as the truths which they embraced.

Experiments were shown, by means of a powerful plate machine, magnets, voltaic batteries, and a Rumkorff's induction coil, illustrating the production of the various forms of attraction from the latter instrument, which was worked by a small Grove's battery. Electricity was also passed through rarefied air and other attenuated gases, showing some important illustrations of phenomena observed in the atmosphere.

At the close of the lecture, a cordial vote of thanks was offered to Dr. Edwards, for his instructive communication and extremely interesting experiments; to Mr. M'Ardle for the exhibition of his model; to Messrs. Elkington and Co. for the valuable bronzes sent up to the Gallery of Ancient Art; to Mr. Foard, Mr. Scott and Mr. Ferranti, for the exhibition of their delicate photographs; and to Mr. Moore for the exhibition of several living salamanders, several gold fish from Japan, and an interesting collection of well-mounted skeletons.

At this meeting the following were elected Ordinary Members:

Mr. F. W. BLOXAM,

Mr. THOMAS BATTY,

Mr. CHARLES H. CLARK,

Mr. JAMES BIRCH,

Mr. THOMAS J. MOORE.

FOURTH ORDINARY MEETING.

ROYAL INSTITUTION, 14th November, 1859.

The Rev. H. H. HIGGINS, M.A., PRESIDENT, in the Chair.

A Supplemental part of "Gould's Birds of Australia," and an additional part of the "Mammals" were laid upon the table, and it was announced that the valuable gift of Works on Art, from his Imperial Majesty, NAPOLEON III., had arrived. There were altogether 124 volumes presented to the Royal Institution by the Emperor of the French.

Mr. MORTON, F.G.S., submitted a slab of New-red sandstone, taken from a spot between Parkhill-road and the Dingle, bearing marks of abrasion by the passage of a heavy body, which he believed to have been ice, and made the following remarks on

TRACES OF ICEBERGS NEAR LIVERPOOL.

The New-red sandstone in this neighbourhood is usually covered with deposits of hard clay, containing rounded stones of all sizes, from that of a pea to such as are five or six feet in circumference, and sometimes scratched and polished. There are also beds of sand and gravel containing shells, which are generally beneath the clay. The whole of these deposits are referred to the Boulder-clay, or Northern-drift. It is assumed that the clay, sand, gravel, and boulder-stones were all dropped from melting icebergs as they descended from more northern latitudes. I am not aware that we have hitherto had any other evidence of icebergs in this district than that afforded by the boulders, though that evidence is very conclusive. During the month of May last my attention

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