186 PROCEEDINGS OF THE 



clear weather, is visible from the top of the college tower, the 

 eggs, lying as they were on part of the lining of the nest, excited 

 unusual interest and attention. 



ANDERSON'S UNIVERSITY BUILDINGS. 



April 27th, 1872. 



Professor Alexander Dickson, M.D., Vice-President, in the chair. 

 Mr David Kidston was elected a resident member. 



SPECIMENS EXHIBITED. 



Mr Gray exhibited two eggs of the AVater Eail (Ralhts aquaticus), 

 taken from a nest of seven found last month in Possil marsh, and 

 remarked on the singular fact that the principal writers on British 

 birds had been unable to describe either the nest or eggs of that 

 bird from personal observation. This may have arisen from the 

 circumstance that Montagu had mistaken the eggs of the Little 

 Grebe for those of the Water Rail, and that his description had 

 been handed down from one author to another in the belief that 

 it was correct. Sir William Jardine, Mr Selby, Professor Mac- 

 gillivray, and Mr Yarrell had all admitted, in their published 

 writings, that they had never met with the nest. It was, therefore, 

 a fact of more than usual interest that one should have been dis- 

 covered in a situation like Possil marsh, which may now be said 

 to be in the very centre of a large mining and manufacturing 

 population. Mr J. S. Dixon remarked that a few years ago he 

 had found a nest in the same place, but had been unable to identify 

 it. He had no doubt, however, on looking at the eggs exhibited 

 by Mr Gray, that he was right in his recollection of the species. 



Mr John Kirsop exhibited an Ermine in the pure winter fur, 

 from Loch Ascog, in Bute. It had been sent to him by Mr Henry 

 Stevenson, who informed him that another, of a browner shade, 

 had been seen in its company. As the white and spotless winter 

 fur is supposed to characterise only those Ermines frequenting 

 mountain ranges at a considerable altitude, it was suggested that 

 these examples found in Bute might have crossed at the narrowest 

 part of the Kyles by swimming, these animals being known to 

 travel long distances in quest of prey. 



