NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY OF GLASGOW. 81 



He had arranged to be present this evening to exhibit a number 

 of specimens which he had lately acquired, but died suddenly on 

 Saturday, 18th inst. Dr Dewar was enrolled as a member in 

 1853, and shortly afterwards proceeded with the British army to 

 the Crimea; while passing through Turkey he transmitted to 

 the Society his observations on the birds of that country, his 

 attention being particularly directed to the eagles, a family in 

 which he took a special interest. He was always ready to aid in 

 promoting the interest of the meetings by the exhibition of 

 specimens from his own collection, or by observations on those 

 brought forward by others, and from his extensive knowledge of 

 natural history, especially of ornithology, his remarks were always 

 greatly appreciated. He had been so long identified with the 

 Society, and had become so much esteemed by the members for 

 his genial and cheerful bearing, and the willingness he always 

 showed to be of service to others engaged in similar pursuits, 

 that the blank occasioned by his death will not be readily filled 

 up. The meeting cordially sympathised with the sentiments 

 expressed by Mr Murdoch, and resolved to record the deep regret 

 of the Society for the loss of such an esteemed member, and of 

 sincere sympathy with the bereaved relatives. The Secretary was 

 instructed to furnish an extract from the minutes to Mrs Dewar. 



SPECIMENS EXHIBITED. 



Mr James Coutts exhibited a collection of ferns, and several 

 large pods from a plant belonging to the natural order Leguminosae, 

 which had been brought from Western Africa by Mr George 

 Thomson, a corresponding member of the Society. One of the 

 pods had a singular and curiously twisted appearance, seeming 

 to belong to the genus Pithecolohmm, the species uncertain, but 

 probably lohatum; it is not known to be put to any use. Another 

 specimen, about three feet long, appeared to belong to Entacla, a 

 genus which is remarkable for the great length of its pods, one 

 species, E. scanclens, having them of the length of six to eight feet. 

 Its large seeds are sometimes carried by the winds and waves from 

 the West Indies to the shores of the Outer Hebrides, and the 

 natives of the countries where they grow convert them into snuff- 

 boxes, scent bottles, and spoons ; in the Indian bazaars they are 

 used for weights, and in London they ate offered for sale in the 

 streets as Indian filberts, though they are not eatable. 



VOL. III. F 



