NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY OV GLASGOW. Mi 



been captured in Greenock, where the Black Rat has been re- 

 introduced, probably through the agency of shipping, and is at 

 present rather abundant in one part of the town. There was also 

 shown for comparison a large specimen of the Brown Rat, which, 

 on being suddenly exposed to the light, gave audible demonstration 

 of its terror and resentment at being made the object of general 

 observation. Remarks on the specimens were made by Mr. W. 

 Anderson Smith, Corresponding Member, Dr. James Colville, 

 M.A., Mr. Thomas King, and others. 



Mr. A. Somerville, B.Sc, F.L.S., exhibited a specimen of Trophon 

 truncatus, Strom, var. scalaris, Jeffreys ( = T. clathratus, L., var. 

 Gunneri, Loven), a gastropod shell dredged by him in 40 fathoms 

 off the Soay Isles, Iona, in October last. He stated that the 

 typical T. truncatus is commonly met with throughout the West of 

 Scotland, and more sparingly farther south ; but the variety scalaris 

 has hitherto been regarded as a Norwegian or Arctic form, not 

 occurring farther south than the Shetland Isles. There were also 

 shown for comparison specimens of T. truncatus dredged by Mr. 

 Somerville in Oban Bay ; a fine series of examples of the var. 

 scalaris from Norway, lent by Mr. Alfred Bell, London, for exhi- 

 bition to the Society ; and specimens of typical T. clathratus from 

 the post-tertiary beds of Garvel Park and Dalmuir. With refer- 

 ence to the last-mentioned shells, which were exhibited by Mr. D. 

 Corse Glen, C.E., F.G.S., Mr. Somerville stated that T. clathratus 

 does not now exist in a living state in British waters. 



Mr. Somerville also showed several large woody growths found 

 at the root extremities of Cvpressus Lawsoniana, Murray, at 

 Glenoran, near Helensburgh, and made some remarks on the 

 various causes which had been suggested for the appearance of these 

 abnormal excrescences. 



Mr. R. S. Wishart exhibited a collection of Flowering-plant?, 

 gathered in Switzerland in July and August, 1887, and compris- 

 ing 52 specimens, arranged to illustrate the natural orders from 

 Eanunculacece to Composites inclusive. 



On behalf of Mr. John Kirsop, Mr. John Renwick exhibited a 

 fine stem of Lepidodendron from the Victoria Park, Whiteinch, 

 where a remarkable group of fossil trees has recently been discovered. 



The following papers were read : 



u Dredging off Portincross, Ayrshire," by Mr. A. Somerville, 



