36 MR SKLBV'S ADDRESS. 



character analogous to the Orange Jin of the Tweed, which there h? 

 every reason to believe is the fry of the Salmo Trutta of authors, the 

 common sea-trout of most of our northern rivers. I may also mention 

 that, in passing through the woods of the " Retreat," several ring-ouzels 

 (Merula torquata) were observed. These had apparently just arrived 

 from more southern climes, and were then wending their way to those 

 upland rocks and craggy dells, their appropriate summer retreats, there 

 to be engaged in those momentous offices connected with the reproduc- 

 tion of their species. The wheat-ear (Saxicola (Enanthe), another of 

 our summer visitants, and one of the first harbingers of spring, was also 

 seen flitting across the moory waste, catching the attention of the orni- 

 thologist, as it flew from stone to stone, by the conspicuous display of its 

 snow-white rump. The communications made to this meeting were, 

 1st, A paper by Sir William Jardine, on the hiding of the Solway, with 

 some observations on its habits and distribution ; and further shewing 

 that this fish appears to be identical with the silver-white of the river 

 Tweed. By most ichthyologists it has been considered a good specie* ; 

 in which opinion I am still inclined to concur, although, upon a late 

 occasion, it was deemed by Monsieur Agassiz, an authority of great and 

 acknowledged weight, to be a variety only of the Salmo Trutta of Linn. 

 Further observations, therefore, upon its structure and habits, must be 

 carefully instituted, in order either to establish its claim, by characters of 

 sufficient importance, to a specific distinction, or, if found wanting in 

 them, to erase at once its name from the station it has hitherto held in 

 our systematic arrangements. The same gentleman mentioned the fact 

 of the alpine swift ( Cypselus alpinus) having again been killed in Ire- 

 land, and the occurrence of the Larus Sabini in the same country. He 

 also adverted to the curious variety of the hare found in that country, 

 possessing a fur of a different quality and colour from that of the com- 

 mon kind, and more analogous to that of the alpine hare (Lepus varia- 

 bilis, Flem.) When first noticed, it was supposed to be a distinct and 

 undescribed species ; but farther observation leads to the conclusion, 

 that it is only a marked variety of the Lepus timidus, intermediate 

 stages, as it were, having been found, which connect the extreme variety 

 with the common type. Mr Henderson afterwards gave a portion of a 

 meteorological register, which he was requested to continue ; and after 

 the exhibition of a rare species of star-fish, the Ophiura granulata, 

 new to the Berwickshire district, by Dr Johnston, the meeting was con- 

 cluded by an interesting notice from the same gentleman, of some Ro- 

 man funereal urns, recently dug up at Murton, near Berwick. 



The first Summer Meeting in June, was held at Millfield, in the richly 

 cultivated vale of Till, but being at that time absent upon an excursion 

 to the wilds of Sutherland, I can only speak of the occurrences of the 

 day, from the minutes of the Club. From these it appears, that the anti- 

 cipation of a delightful and productive walk, to the hill of Yeavering- 



