190 The Scottish Naturalist. 



making any dividend, gift, division, or bonus in money unto, between, or among 

 any of the members of the Society." The object of adopting this rule is to 

 relieve the Society in future of taxation, which had hitherto been felt a consider-' 

 able burden. Dr. Buchanan White gave a verbal explanation of what had 

 been done in regard to effecting a Union of the Societies in the east of Scotland ; 

 and he and Mr. R. Pullar were appointed representative members to a meeting 

 of delegates of the various Societies in the east of Scotland, to be held as early, 

 as possible, with this object. A paper by Prof. J. W. H. Trail, of Aberdeen, on 

 "Dimorphism in Oak-Gail Makers and in their Galls" was then read. 

 The subject was treated only in relation to the Cynipideous oak-gall makers in 

 Scotland, and descriptions of all the galls formed by this group that have as 

 yet been recorded from Scotland were given to facilitate their recognition. 

 The paper was illustrated by specimens and diagrams. 



January 10th, 1884. — After the usual election of new members, numerous 

 interesting donations to the Museum were announced. Among the more im- 

 portant of these were specimens of the timber of 17 indigenous trees of Perth- 

 shire, including longitudinal and cross sections, from the Duke of Athole, and 

 specimens of Perthshire minerals and animals from various donors. Dr. 

 White submitted notes on a hedgehog s nest found by him in his rock-garden, 

 formed of long withered grass so arranged as to form a ball externally. In 

 this the hedgehog was curled up for the winter. He also gave a list of plants 

 observed by himself in flower on the day of the meeting, amounting to 29 species, a 

 number of them being common weeds. Mr. Henry Coates then read a paper 

 illustrated by means of diagrams, specimens, and microscopical preparations, on 

 " The Life History of a Garden Snail." 



February 7th. — Several additions to the Museum were reported. Among 

 these additions was a specimen of Carex uslula'a presented to the herbarium 

 by Mr. John Knox, Forfar. This specimen was gathered by George Don, and 

 bears the label in his writing : " I discovered this plant on Ben Lawers in 

 1810." It has the aspect of a wild plant, and has on its roots the micaceous 

 soil characteristic of the plants of Ben Lawers. No one but Don has ever 

 gathered this species in the British Islands, hence doubt has been cast on his 

 claim to have discovered it ; and hence the very great interest attaching to the 

 specimen now in the Society's Museum. An able and interesting paper on 

 '•Evolution and some Things said regarding it," by Rev. Dr. Milroy, 

 followed. After it was concluded, Mr. Henry Coates read notes " On some 

 Varieties of Helix nemoralis" from the neighbourhood of Bargowan, and 

 showed the shells. They were remarkable for the extraordinary amount of 

 variation presented by them, which he had not seen equalled from any equally 

 limited area. He had been able to recognize nine varieties, besides the type, 

 among them ; but thinks that Jeffrey's opinion, that there is but one species of 

 snail included under the name H. nemoralis, is founded on arguments that are 

 conclusive as against the view supported by Mr. J. W. Taylor, that there are 

 two species confounded under this name. The varieties detected by Mr. 

 Coates were as follows : — I, The type quinque-fasciata has a shell .75 — .9 inch 

 in diameter, of a brown or chocolate colour, with five brown bands (dis- 

 tinguished 1, 2, 3, 4, 5) and a brown lip; 2, hortensis Mull, has the shell 

 rather smaller and more globular than in the type, the ground dull lemon 

 yellow, and the lips white (this form is often regarded as a distinct species); 3, 

 minor Moq. resembles hortensis, but is only about .31 inch in diameter of shell ; 



4, hortensis-lutea Moq. resembles hortensis save in absence of bands (o, o, o, o, o), 

 the lip is like white porcelain, and the animal is bright yellow (this variety is 

 not common, but Dr. White has found it in Glen Tilt at a height of 1,600 feet, 



5, libellula Risso ; and 6, castanea Moq. have a ground-colour of yellow and 

 chestnut respectively, a brown lip, and no bands (o, o, o, o, o) ; 7, hyalozonata 



