In this paper the author shewed that pure dry bicyanide of mercury, when heated in close vessels, gave off mercury and pure cyanogen only, yet that there remained always in the retort a portion of a black substance of variable density and lustre. He then proceeded, by a new series of analyses, to confirm what he had stated several years ago, that this black substance is identical in composition with cyanogen, being, like that gas, represented by the formula NC2.

The author commenced his observations by remarking that this very interesting entozoon was discovered in 1833, by Mr Hilton, who first saw the cysts enclosing the worms, and supposed them to be cysticerci. Shortly thereafter, Mr Paget discovered the worm itself. Further information was given in two excellent memoirs by Dr Farre and Mr Owen; and to the views of the former of these gentlemen the author chiefly leans.

Throughout the observations, he endeavours to shew, that the origin of this entozoon is very obscure, and is not referrible to any known bodily ailment or mode of life. He differs also from preceding observers, both in respect to the form of the cyst, its structure, and its connexions; the form he makes out to be oval, the structure distinctly granular and not cellular, that is, not composed, as some have conjectured, out of the surrounding cellular tissue; and the connexion not universal, but towards the extremities. He conjectures also, that the granular structure discovered by him on the exterior of the cysts may be the germs of future individual worms and cysts.

The aged person, whose muscles after death presented these entozoon in such numbers, was quite healthy until a short period before her demise.

The principal object of this paper was to exhibit the manner in which, in the early stages of the history of language, the adjective may be supposed to have originated from the noun. Before stating his views of this subject, the author dwelt at some length on the universal principle which influences the formation of all languages, according to which man, when he has once acquired a small stock of words, will have recourse to all manner of expedients to save himself the invention of new terms; and an instance was given in the various applications of the derivatives and compounds of the Latin word Calx.

The author began by endeavouring to state with precision the nature of the difficulty which has been long felt on this subject. Two general facts are well ascertained, and present fair objects of inquiry, 1. That images formed on corresponding points of the retinæ of the human eyes, and on these only, naturally affect the mind in the same manner as a single image, formed on the retina of either eye; and, 2. That impressions made on different points of the retina of the eye, are naturally followed by inferences as to the relative position of the objects producing them, exactly opposite to those which follow impressions made on different points of the surface of the body.

The object of this paper is to propose a modification of the nomenclature of inorganic compounds now in use among chemists, which shall display with accuracy the ingredients of each compound, and the atomic ratios of each ingredient.

After stating the introduction of the principle of employing a descriptive nomenclature in chemistry by Bergman, and the happy application of it by Lavoisier and his associates, and subsequently by Berzelius, he traced the various changes rendered necessary by the improved knowledge of the more intimate constitution of compounds, resulting from the discovery of combination in definite proportions, and the atomic ratios in which combinations take place, adopted by Wollaston, Thomson, Thenard, Turner, &c.

Dr Parnell endeavoured to state the specific characters by which the white bait may be distinguished from the shad, the herring, the sprat, and the pilchard.

In the white bait, the tongue and roof of the mouth are furnished with three or four rows of distinct teeth; these parts in the shad are destitute of teeth.

The dorsal fin of the herring is placed half way between the point of the upper jaw, and end of the long caudal rays; the same fin in the white bait is situated much nearer the tip of the tail than to the point of the upper jaw; the body is more compressed, of a lighter colour, and the belly is much rougher to the touch, under the pectorals, than is observed in the herring.

The object of this paper was to ascertain the position of the Athenian and Syracusan lines from the language employed by Thucydides, particularly the prepositions. The author was led to examine the account of these lines given by Goellen and Dr Arnold, in their editions of Thucydides, and the maps they have subjoined, and to compare them with the historian's descriptions. He pointed out the error into which both seem to have fallen, respecting the fortifications of Temnites, as it did not appear, from the historian's statement, that the district was entirely inclosed, but only that part fronting Epipolæ. He also endeavoured to shew that the cross wall, built by the Syracusans, to intercept the Athenian lines in the direction of Trogilus, could not have been constructed on the south of the Temnites, as Dr Arnold supposes, but on the north of the slope of Epipolæ, and that it was not entirely destroyed by the Athenians.

The author states, that in a former paper on this subject, having confined himself to the establishment of a number of new facts in the science of heat, embracing its polarization by reflection, refraction, and double refraction, and the depolarizing action of doubly refracting crystals, he proceeded, on resuming the subject, to ascertain more accurately the laws of these phenomena.

The first section of the paper relates to the methods of observation employed, and the examination of the values of the degrees of the galvanometer, which, for the most part, do not indicate equal increments of force. Two tables are given. By the first, the statical deviations of the needle are reduced, so as to be measures of the force producing them; and, by the second, the dynamical effect, or arc moved over by the initial disturbing action, is reduced to the final or statical effect, and thence to the true measure of heat. Several peculiarities attendant on the use of the galvanometer are kewise discussed.

When a longitudinal section of one of these teeth is made, two substances present themselves, viz. a central and a cortical; these differ from each other both in appearance and in structure. The central substance resembles, and is no doubt analogous to the ivory of other teeth, but the cortical exhibits not the slightest analogy to enamel. In texture it is softer even than the ivory portion, and probably continues to grow or be deposited during the greater part of the life of the Cachalot, until it in fact at last completely encloses the central part, which can be nothing but an ossified pulp: it encloses the central portion in the manner that the ivory of the human tooth encloses the soft dentar pulp.

In this paper the author commences with a summary of the present state of knowledge as to the internal constitution of crystalline bodies; and he then proceeds to describe the optical figures produced by the disintegrated surfaces of minerals and artificial minerals, according as the disintegration is effected—1. By the action of solvents while the crystal is forming, or remains in the bowels of the earth; 2. By the action of solvents on the surface of perfect crystals; and 3. By mechanical abrasion.

The author here first describes briefly what has been done by previous physiologists towards determining the differences produced on the pulse by varieties in posture, by digestion, by age, by stature, by the period of the day, and by muscular motion. He then proceeds to relate the particulars of many new observations he has himself made upon these and other points connected with the circumstances which influence the rate of the heart's contractions.

The author states that, whilst it has been pretty generally agreed by authors on animal mechanics that the measure of muscular effort is generally expressed by the weight multiplied by the vertical height through which it is raised, it is clear that this cannot be universally true, since, in the particular case of horizontal motion, no vertical height can be obtained; and, when the ascent is vertical, it is very unlikely that the same advantage of ascent should be obtained as at lower angles.

The author has suggested an empirical law, which seems to him to regulate the arrangement of the planets and satellites. Bode long ago proposed an empirical law, which he thought regulated the distances of the planets from the sun; namely, that their distances form a series, increasing by the successive powers of the number 2. Mr Paterson has propounded another similar law, in regard to their sizes; namely, that throughout the planetary system there is a regular alternating increase and decrease in size, as the planets increase in distance from the sun, or the satellites from the planets they accompany: that there is a progressive increase from the first to the third, a decrease from the third to the fifth, an increase, again, from the fifth to the seventh, and again a decrease from the seventh to the ninth.

The author stated that a species of sturgeon, for which he has proposed the name of Acipenser latirostris, as characteristic of the species, is occasionally met with in the Frith of Forth, in the Solway Frith and in the Tay. It is called by the fishermen the Broad-nosed Sturgeon, to distinguish it from the Acipenser sturio, or sharp-nosed species. The length, in general, seven feet; weight, about eight stone. The colour of the head, back, and sides, is of an olive-grey; the belly dirty white. The body is armed with five rows of osseous shields, extending from the head to the tail. The first row runs down the central ridge of the back. The two next rows arise one on each side of the former, and immediately on the lower margin of the pectorals the other two rows commence. The dorsal shields are but very slightly carinated, the fifth being the highest in the series.

The new localities in which the author has found alluvial deposits containing marine remains, occur on both sides of the river Clyde, in Loch Ryan, in the island of Skye, and on the east and west coast of Ireland. Near Glasgow, and in the county of Limerick, sea-shells were found about 80 feet above the level of high water. In the vicinity of Dublin the marine deposit was upwards of 200 feet above the sea. Mr Smith considers that indications of this change of level will be found on every part of the coasts of the British islands.

This notice is intended as a supplement to the observations read last session by the author, on the composition and sources of the different kinds of Gamboge. It is well known that Linnæus referred gamboge to the Garcinia cambogia, Willd.; and others have supposed that a kind of gamboge is also produced by the Xanthochymus pictorius. Both are natives of Ceylon, where, as appears from the former investigations of the author, a substance is produced almost or absolutely identical with Siam gamboge. It appeared, however, from the inquiries of Dr Graham, read before the Society last session, that this Ceylon gamboge is produced by an undescribed species of tree, and not by either of the species just mentioned.