368 University of Ed'mlurgh. — JVernerian Society, 



UNIVERSITY OF EDINBURGH. 



We congratulate the lovers of science, as well as the pub- 

 lic in general, on the Sj>lendid acquisition which this Uni- 

 versity has just now made by the magnificent collection of 

 minerals bequeathed by the late Dr. Thomson of Naples. 



This celebrated mineralogist, during a long residence in a 

 country extremely fertile in the most interesting products of 

 the mineral kingdom, has lost no opportunity of forming a 

 most splendid collection, which, having lortunately escaped 

 every danger, has arrived in Edinburgh untouched. Go 

 vernment not only indulgently remitted the duties> but 

 allowed the whole to pass unsearched. 



The liberal endowment (with which Dr. Thomson has ac- 

 companied this l^equest) of 1500'., the interest of which 

 he has destined for the payment of a lecturer on mineralogy, 

 and the support of the cabinet, we hope, will be the means 

 of handing it do-wn to posterity in its present high state of 

 preservation. — It is contained in forty very large boxes, 

 •which are deposited in the museum of the University ; and, 

 we understand, proper cases are making for the reception of 

 the specimens. 



The interesting and valuable collection of the late inge- 

 nious Dr. Hutton, of this place, has also been deposited in 

 the museum. 



WERNERIAN NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY. 



At the last meeting of the Wernerian Natural History 

 Society (14th May), Mr. P. Walker read an account of the 

 Birds that frequent the neighbourhood of Edinburgh. He 

 enumerated 178 species; of which 11 belonged to the. genus 

 Faleo ; 4 to the genus Strix; 1 to Lanius ; 8 to Corvus ; 

 1 toOriolus; 1 to Cuculus ; 1 Picus ; 1 Alcedo; J Upupa ; 

 I Certhia ; 2Sturnus; 6 Turdtis; 1 Ampelis ; 2 Loxia ; 

 CEmberhiza; 8 Fringilla ; 1 Muscicapa; 3 Alauda; 15Mo- 

 tacilla ; 4 Parus ; 4 Hirundo ; 1 Caprimulgus; sCoIumba; 

 1 Phasianus; 6 Tetrao; 3 Ardea; 6 Scolopax ; 7 Tringa ; 

 4 Charadrius ; I Hasmatopus ; 3 Rallus ; 3 Fulica; 4 Po- 

 ^iiQcps ; 4Alca; 6 Colymbus : 2 Sterna 5 12 Lai us: 1 Pro- 

 3 cellaria; 



