NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY OF GLASGOW. 13 



be more cornnion, were it not that its marked plumage has often 

 proved the cause of its destruction. It is found as a regular 

 breeding species in the south and south-east of Europe, and north- 

 east of Africa. In winter it migrates to the south of these 

 regions, and is common in India at that season. In summer it 

 seeks the north, and has once been found in Spitzbergen. Accord- 

 ing to Dr. Tristram, the Arabs have a superstitious reverence for 

 the bird, and call it the Doctor bird, as they believe it possesses 

 marvellous medicinal powers. Its head is an indispensable 

 ingredient in all their charms, and in the practice of witchcraft. 

 The Hoopoe is the Lapwing of the Bible, and is the bird mentioned 

 in the unclean list given in Leviticus xi. 19 and Deuteronomy 

 xiv. 18. 



Professor Young exhibited mounted specimens and enlarged 

 drawings of the silicious spicules of a new Lithistid sponge from 

 the Carboniferous limestone of Ayrshire, on which he made 

 lengthened remarks. 



PAPERS READ. 



I. — On Rhynchopova, a Genus of Brachiopod Shells, neio to Carboni- 

 ferous strata. By Mr. John Young, F.G.S., Vice-President. 



The writer stated that he had discovered in the upper limestone 

 series at BoAvertrapping, near Dairy, a species of Rhynchopova new 

 to Carboniferous strata. The genus Rhynchopova was established 

 by Professor W. King, of Queen's College, Galway, for a species 

 of Bhychonillid shell, showing a distinct perforated structure, found 

 in one or two places, in the Permian formation, on the Continent. 

 This, the only previously known species of the genus, is now 

 named Rhynchopova Geinitziana. Before the discovery of a 

 perforated structure in this species, it was stated by Dr. Carpenter 

 that no Pthynchonillid shell was perforated, and consequently the 

 finding of perforations in what was then known as Rhynchonella 

 Geinitziana, led to a warm and rather interesting discussion 

 between Dr. Carpenter and Professor King, the former stating that 

 only the inner layers of the shell in this species were punctate; 

 while the latter asserted that the shell was perforated throughout 

 its entire thickness. Mr. Young, finding the Carboniferous species 

 to be distinctly perforated, sent an example of the shell to Mr. 

 Thomas Davidson, F.R.S., Brighton, author of the great work on 



