The late Professor Gratiolet, in his elaborate and beautifully illustrated memoir, “Sur les Plis Cérébraux de l'Homme et des Primates,” attaches great weight in his differential diagnosis of their cerebral characters to the presence or absence of one or more members of a series of convolutions, which he designates as the plis de passage. When present, these convolutions bridge over the external perpendicular fissure of the hemisphere, and connect the parietal and temporal with the occipital lobes. By various anatomists in this country they are called bridging, connecting, or annectent convolutions. In the brain of the Chimpanzee M. Gratiolet states that the first bridging convolution is altogether wanting; that the second is present, but concealed under the operculum of the occipital lobe; that the third and fourth are superficial.

Supposing the phenomena of light to be caused by the indefinitely small vibrations of a highly elastic medium pervading space, it is a simple problem to determine the motion of such a medium in vacuo, or in space, where matter does not exist, as in these cases the problem is reduced to the determination of the motion of a homogeneous elastic medium.

On proceeding, however, to investigate the motion of the ethereal medium in crystals, for the purpose of accounting for the phenomena of crystalline refraction, the question arises, whether there is an action between the material molecules and the etherial medium. In other words, are the laws of the refraction of the ether within crystals, independent of the existence of material molecules, so that the ether may be treated as a single elastic medium, or are the phenomena of crystalline refraction produced, wholly or partially, by a direct action between the material molecules and the ether?

This communication was intended to illustrate by experiments with the solution of glycerine and oleate of soda, devised by Plateau, the mode in which a soap-bubble is detached as a closed shell from the mouth of a funnel; the mode in which two bubbles unite; and the process of cutting one into two or more.

A statical investigation of the form of an unclosed film, blown with coal gas, was given (the kinetic problem presenting very grave difficulties), and the results were shown to be in accordance with observation, so far as the eye can follow the rapid change which takes place in the neck of the film just before the closed bubble is detached.

In a previous paper, it was pointed out that the characteristic problem of the third branch of the higher calculus, is to discover the relation between the primary variable and its function, when the relation subsisting between the function and its derivative is known. The present paper treats of the solution of the simplest case of this general problem, that in which the function is equal or proportional to its derivative.

The proposition in hand is naturally divided into cases, according to the order of derivation: The first two of these can, by well-known artifices, be brought under the dominion of the integral calculus, and their relations can therefore present nothing new. But for the sake of the continuity of the treatment, and of certain relationships which otherwise could not have been so well explained they have been discussed in the paper.

Mr Wyld stated that he considered the philosophic treatment of this subject important, as there existed a great amount of loose ill-digested opinion in the public mind regarding it, and possibly also in the minds of many men of science.

The first object of the paper is to direct attention to the fact of the existence of general laws, alike in the physical and in the moral world; to consider these as designed for the benefit of the human race; and to enforce the duty of reviewing them as the appointed paths to human happiness and progress.

Mr Wyld showed that the doctrine is not only not necessarily connected with what is called infidel opinions, but, on the contrary, is far more naturally allied with the belief in a supreme Ruling Intelligence.

In this paper a detailed description is given of a species of Pygopterus (P. Greenockii) from the carboniferous shales of Wardie, Mid-Lothian, which was named by Agassiz, but without any figure or description, beyond the mention of the fact that the scales of the anterior part of the trunk are higher than broad, a circumstance distinguishing it from all the other species of this genus.

According to specimens exhibited by the author, the scales are of different forms on different parts of the body, being very minute, and nearly equilateral along the belly; the fins are large, and the dorsal is placed so far back as to be nearly opposite the anal; the interspinous bones of the azygos fins are well developed, and there are traces of vertebral apophyses, but none of vertebral bodies.

The surface of the island is less richly supplied with animal life than the ocean, and, indeed, with vegetable likewise. The grass is coarse and stunted, and even the hill tops are boggy; while the sea border has rich crops of Fuci, Laminarise, and other sea-weeds, and harbours hosts of animals, both vertebrate and invertebrate. The inhabitants seem to take certain of the circumstances in which they are placed to the best advantage. Kelp is manufactured from the sea-weeds; the drift-wood makes the framework of their hovel roofs, and is applied, besides, to many other useful purposes; while fishing is universal. The soil, again, on the eastern side, with a single exception, is cultivated with neither vigour nor profit, the islanders having a tendency to be a pastoral and fishing, rather than an agricultural race.

Comparatively little attention has been given to the natural history of Lewis. Stray notices of the geology, botany, and zoology of the Outer Hebrides are to be met with, but, with one or two exceptions, these are not of much value. Martin's “Description of the Western Islands (1703),” is chiefly interesting for its full account of the industrial and moral condition of the people. Little, however, can be made of his incidental references to the natural history of the islands. Two volumes on the “Economical History of the Hebrides,” by Rev. Dr Walker, Professor of Natural History in the University of Edinburgh, were published in 1808, after Dr Walker's death. This work contains a good deal of information on indigenous plants, but almost none on zoology. Dr Maculloch's “Description of the Western Islands of Scotland (3 vols., 1819)” is in every way an abler and better work than either of the two now named. Its notices of the geology and mineralogy of the Outer Hebrides are even still valuable.

Some twelve years ago M. Mége Mouriés had his attention directed to the composition of the grain of wheat, and to the processes of grinding and panification. The object of that gentleman's investigations was to show the defective knowledge and waste of material in the ordinary practices of the trade; but although these were fully proved by the results, there appeared to have been trade and other difficulties in the way of its general adoption. Having last year acted as juror on “Food Substances” at the Dublin Exhibition, I had my attention recalled to the subject by an article which was submitted to the jury under the name of “Cerealina,” purporting to be a preparation of wheat flour by the process indicated by M. Mége Mouriés, and which, on examination, confirmed the opinions which had been previously formed of its food value. On further inquiry, it was found that a simple mechanical process had been devised in the United States, where the flour had been prepared, for effecting the most difficult part of M. Mége Mouriés' process—that of decorticating the grain.

Animal food is of so much importance, in relation to our wants as to diet, that I have been induced to make some experiments on it, with the hope of obtaining useful results. These I now submit to the Society, imperfect as they are, trusting that they may not prove altogether useless, and that they may lead to further inquiry.

This communication is an attempt to eliminate the geological history of our Scottish peat mosses, which appear to contain the record of certain changes of climate, that have not hitherto fully engaged attention. The phenomena revealed by our peat mosses are threefold—First, the buried trees, and the condition of this country at the period of their growth; second, the causes which led to the destruction of these trees; and, third, the present aspect of the peat mosses. Under the first head is to be considered the continental period of Great Britain, to which the buried trees in the older peat bogs of the country belong. Under the second head, the causes of the destruction of these trees are chiefly assigned to the upward growth of wet mosses, the chilling effects of which caused the overthrow of the trees.

This address, which was illustrated by specimens, models, drawings, and stereoscopic photographs, referred chiefly to the four months' labour of the author in the winter and spring of 1864 and 1865 at the Great Pyramid; where he went with the approval of, and also, he thankfully acknowledges, a considerable amount of assistance from, His Highness the Viceroy of Egypt. The observations then made, comprised measures of length, angle, and heat; and are enough to fill several MS. books, which are being prepared for publication. The author, indeed, had hoped to put all these foundational facts into the hands of the public before venturing to announce any of the conclusions, but was overruled by respect for the appeal made to him by the Council of the Society on this occasion. He trusts however, still, that no one will prejudge the pyramid question on hearsay, but wait until they have all the instrumental particulars before them.

In this paper its author describes the results of experiments made with two intents—one, to endeavour to ascertain whether there can be a complete arrest of vital action without the death of the egg; the other to ascertain the changes which take place in those instances in which, during incubation, the egg proves unproductive.

The eggs used were chiefly those of the common fowl. The trials to which they were subjected were of three kinds—the airpump, the ice-house, and immersion in lime-water.

Some time since, during the performance of a series of analyses of the Brown Coals of Otago, my attention was directed to the very large quantity of sulphur which several of them contained, even where the most careful examination failed to detect more than traces of sulphates or sulphides in the composition of the coal, a singular fact which has been before commented upon by Dr Percy in his work on Metallurgy.

After several unsuccessful efforts to discover the form in which the excess of sulphur was present, it occured to me, that possibly the sulphur might be retained to the coal in combination with hydrogen, by a similar absorptive power to that which charcoal exercises over that gas.

In the beginning of January 1865, the author received from the Rev. Alexander Robb, Old Calabar, a package of specimens of natural history preserved in spirits. Among these were two small ganoid fish. They were, however, imperfect, having been torn across near the anal region, and their caudal extremities were wanting. The characters of the fish could not, therefore, be completely determined. The author, however, exhibited them at a meeting of the Royal Physical Society, on the 22d March 1865, and stated that they were allied to the genus Polypterus; but from various differences in character, to be afterwards detailed, and especially the great relative length of their bodies, and the apparently total absence of ventral fins, he would place them provisionally in a new genus, which, from their general aspect and form, he designated Erpetoichthys, the reptile or serpent fish; and the species, from the locality where it was found, he named E. Calabaricus.