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it as a native. It seems to have been first noticed in Russia, where it obtained the name of Mytilus polymorpha. The first record we have of it in England was in 1824, by Sowerby, who speaks of it as being in great abundance in the Commercial Docks on the Thames. But Bellars says, many years previous to that it had been observed in great profusion in Whittlesey Mere, Chester Canal, River Thames, "and the River Nene at Wisbeach." Since that time it has spread very rapidly over almost every part of England, as will appear by the following quotation from Tate's Mollusks of Great Britain, published 1866

"In 1833 it was found in vast abundance in the Clyde "and Forth Canal, Glasgow; in 1834 it appeared in the "Union Canal, Edinburgh; and in 1836 it was found in "considerable numbers on the piers of the bridge which "crosses the Nene, at Fotheringay, in which locality it had "been introduced from Wisbeach, on timber, since 1828. In "1837, the late Hugh Strickland found it completely estab"lished on the beds of gravel in the river Avon, at Evesham,

and also in the canal between Warwick and Birmingham, "and in the canals near Wednesbury in Staffordshire. He "remarked that, as its propagation was so astonishingly "rapid, it would become in a few years one of our commonest "British shells. This has proved so true, that not only has "it found its way throughout England, literally paving with "its shells the beds and sides of our navigable rivers and canals, but it has even taken up its quarters in the water pipes of London and Manchester, &c.

"The Zebra Mussel made its appearance in the neighbour"hood of Gloucester a few years after the opening of the "Gloucester and Berkeley Canal, and has increased in "numbers to such an extent, that it may be said to line "the banks from the edge of the water to a considerable "depth, throughout its entire length of sixteen miles. It

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appears in every available inch of space, from the water-line to the depth of fifteen or sixteen feet, upon the dock walls "at Gloucester. It is very tenacious of life, and exceedingly "prolific, provided the locality is favourable."

I have specimens which I found in the canal near Litherland, the Chester Canal, Regent's Canal, and the River Leam.

I may say, in conclusion, that GOD, who created the heavens and the earth, the sea, and every living creature that existeth therein, has given these little mollusks a very important part to perform in the economy of nature. They serve as food for ducks, geese, and other poultry; wild birds of various kinds; for fish, and various other inhabitants of our waters. They are also food for a great number of animals, and some of them both food and medicine for the human race. They act as scavengers, clearing away various sorts of animal and vegetable matter when in a state of putrefaction. They also neutralize the poisonous quality engendered by too much vegetation in our stagnant waters; and though they number. one hundred and thirty-two species, we are accustomed to call them all by one common name.

GENERIC AND SPECIFIC NAMES.

As the majority of those who devote themselves to the pursuits encouraged by this Society can only do so in those snatches of leisure which are taken out of the imperative occupations of daily life, it seems worthy of observation that the writer of the above paper is a gentleman in his 73rd year: who up to the last few years was so absorbed in business as to have no leisure for other pursuits, nor any knowledge of scientific matters. It was not until his retirement, and indeed till the commencement of the Naturalists' Field Club" on the 8th of June, 1860, when 65 years of age, that he turned his attention to Conchology, Botany, and kindred subjects in Natural History, in which he is now well known to be a most persevering and successful student and searcher, and to have made a most complete and valuable collection. His example may well be pointed out to encourage others.

PROCEEDINGS,

TWENTIETH SESSION, 1867-68.

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING,

Royal Institution, Colquitt Street, Liverpool, 18th October, 1867.

PETER R. M'QUIE, Esq., IN THE CHAIR.

The SECRETARY read the following

REPORT.

DURING the last year, eighteen ordinary Meetings have been held, three of which have been of a miscellaneous character, when the friends of Members, including ladies, were present. The plan of conducting the business of the Society by Committees of the various Sections having been found inconvenient, it has been thought desirable, while preserving intact the objects for which the Society was established, to make such changes in its constitution as it is hoped will tend to its more successful working. Early in the Session, the Council appointed a Committee to consider whether it would be desirable to alter the laws, with a view to the abolition of the Sectional divisions; also, whether the Meetings should be held fortnightly instead of thrice a month; and further, whether the Society's place of meeting could be changed with advantage. This Committee, after due consideration, recommended that the existing laws be repealed, and a new code adopted in their stead, which should effect the following changes in the constitution of the Society, viz. :1.-Abolition of the Sectional Divisions. 2.-Re-arrangement of Meetings.

3. Reduction of the number of the Members of the Council.

4. Provision for the appointment of Associates.

5.—Provision for the appointment of Local Secretaries.

It was also recommended that the Society's place of meeting should be changed from the Free Library to the Royal Institution, Colquitt Street.

The proposed changes were submitted to the Members for approval at a Special General Meeting, held July 1st, 1867, when they were unanimously adopted. In accordance with this resolution, the new code of Laws has been printed, and will be included in the current volume of the Proceedings. The Library and other property of the Society has been removed to the Royal Institution, where the future Meetings of the Society will be held.

During the year, the Society has lost the valuable services of Mr. Genn, as Assistant Secretary. He had been the stipendiary Secretary of the Society for about ten years, and by his zeal and ability contributed in no small degree to its success. Mr. Genn's services were acknowledged by a special resolution of the Council, recording their sense of the admirable manner in which he had fulfilled the duties of his office, and recommending his election as a Life Member, without payment of fees, which proposal has been adopted. Mr Chas. Dyall succeeds Mr. Genn as Assistant Secretary. Changes have also taken place in the Honorary Officers of the Society. Mr. Waterhouse has resigned his position as Honorary Secretary, and Mr. David Buxton, at the request of the Council, has undertaken the duties of that office, Mr. Waterhouse succeeding him as Honorary Librarian. A further change will have to be made at the present Meeting. Mr. Burke, after seven years

of as-iduous attention to the interests of the Society in the office of Treasurer, feels bound by the state of his health to discontinue his services, though his colleagues hope to enjoy the benefit of his experience and advice as a Member of the Council.

The Balance Sheet exhibits a satisfactory result, and the Annual Volume is now ready for distribution among the Members.

The Society may be congratulated upon the fact that, during the past year, the noble collection of objects of antiquity which belonged to Mr. Joseph Mayer, President of this Society, has become, by his free gift, the property of the public. In a community like this, it could hardly fail that so much disinterestedness and public spirit should meet with suitable acknowledgment. Many such acknowledgments, in which the Members of the Historic Society have taken their part, have already been made; but the Council think that special allusion by them in the Report of the Society is peculiarly appropriate and due, on account of the character of the collection itself, as illustrating their own pursuits and purposes, and because of the intimate connection of the donor with this Society, as one of its founders, and from the first one of its chief officers, and now its President. This sentiment, they feel assured, will be heartily approved by the Society.

It was moved by Mr. HENRY DAWSON, seconded by Mr. SANSOM, and resolved unanimously :

That the Report now read be adopted, and printed and circulated with the Proceedings of the Society.

On the motion of Mr. BRAKELL, seconded by Mr. GREENWOOD, it was resolved :

That the thanks of the Society be given to the Officers and other Members of the Council for their services during the

past year.